Thread by @tparsi

Important piece by @DavidBlock on how extremist voices in the Iranian Diaspora - in the name of the legitimate protesters in Iran - engaged in horrendous threats, harassment & silencing of debate.

He specifically names Kaveh Shahrooz & Sana Ebrahimi >>
politico.com/news/magazine/… \

2. Shahrooz engaged in threats and harassment, accusing skeptics of sanctions of "fellating" the Iranian FM, calling them Nazis and "collaborators." Ebrahimi told an Iranian human rights defender that when the regime falls, it will be “a sad and scary day in your life.” >>

3. Victims of Shahrooz and Ebrahimi, which include @nytimes reporter @farnazfassihi, have endured death threats, rape threats, and in the case of @NegarMortazavi, even bomb threats.

And all of this, supposedly, in the name of bringing democracy to Iran. >>

4. As Block writes, contrary to Shahrooz and Ebrahimi's claims, their victims are not supporters of the Iranian regime but proponents of a more nuanced debate on Iran as well as dialogue and diplomacy.>>

5. But instead of debating the merits of various Iran policy options, the likes of Shahrooz and Ebrahimi have engaged in efforts to cancel their political opponents for months. Again, in the name of democracy. >>

6. Where Block doesn't dig deep enough, though, is the likely state-sponsored dimension of Shahrooz and Ebrahimi's activities. Inauthentic engagement on Twitter has dramatically boosted their attacks and harassment. Much suggests there is more to this story...//

Sorry, this was written by @dblock94, not David Block