Iranian Media on Ukraine Airliner, Protests

Iranian newspapers widely covered the revelation that the Revolutionary Guards accidentally shot down Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752, killing all 176 people on board. Some of the headlines were mournful while others expressed anger at the government, which denied responsibility for three days before admitting fault. The papers largely refrained from covering anti-government protests sparked by the news, probably due to censorship, but many outlets were critical of the handling of the situation. Reformist newspaper Etemad was the boldest. “Apologize, Resign,” read its front page on January 12. “Being Prosecuted by Public Opinion: 27 Questions on Disastrous Plane Crash,” read one headline in Shahrvand, another reformist paper. The following is a roundup of front pages and headlines with translation from IFP News. 

 

January 12

 

Etemad:

1- Apologize, Resign

* People Call for Apology, Resignation of Officials Involved

2- IRGC General: Armed Forces Didn’t Want to Hide Truth
 

Etemad

 

Khorasan:

Even More Bitter than Coffee

Khorasan

 

Iran:

Unforgivable: Three Days after Disaster, Human Error Blamed for Ukraine Plan Crash
 

Newspaper Headlines

 

Shahrvand:

Being Prosecuted by Public Opinion: 27 Questions on Disastrous Plane Crash
 

Shahrvand

 

Afkar:

We’re Deeply Sorry

Afkar

 

Arman-e Melli:

We Can’t Believe It

* Official Denials Unforgivable Sin

Arman

 

Donya-ye Eqtesad:

Second Shock of a Crash

Donya

 

Ebtekar:

1- IRGC Aerospace Commander Accepts All Responsibility, Blames Human Error

2- Rouhani: A Wrong Shot Created Big Disaster

Ebtekar

 

Hamshahri:

Embarrassment: Iranian Media Apologize to Nation for False News
 

Hamshahri

 

Javan:

1- Deep Apology for Painful Mistake

2- IRGC Aerospace Chief: I Wish I Had Died and Wouldn’t See That Incident

3- Zarif: US Adventure Resulted in Human Error behind Plane Crash

Javan

 

Aftab-e Yazd:

Unveiling Bitter Truth

* Boeing 737 Plane Crashed Not for Technical Problem, but by Air Defense Missile


Aftab

 

Resalat:

Double Catastrophe
 

Resalat

 

Shargh:

Big Apology for Huge Tragedy


Shargh

 

January 13 

 

Abrar:

IRGC Chief: I’m Sorrier than Anyone for Crash of Ukraine Plane

Abrar Jan13

 

Arman-e Melli:

1- Who’s Responsible for Airspace Above Imam Khomeini Airport?

2- Sporadic Protests in Tehran, Some Cities

Arman

 

Javan:

IRGC Chief: We’d Die for People’s Security and Welfare

* We Made a Mistake; Some of Our People Died for Our Mistake; but It Was Unintentional; We Apologize and Will Compensate
 

Javan

 

January 14

 

Arman-e Melli:

Celebrities Withdrawing from State-Run Fajr Festival One by One

* More than 30 filmmakers, artists and cartoonists said they would not participate in the Fajr festival, Iran’s equivalent of the Oscars, in April. It was an act of protest. "The only way out of the current situation is a crucial decision and straight talking by authorities with the people," they wrote in a statement.

 

Arman Jan14