Despite some pre-emptive arrests and crackdowns, they’re going ahead with it.
Iranian officials have refused to grant a permit for Monday’s demonstration, but the text posted on Kalameh.com said that the Interior Ministry would be held responsible for the safety of the protesters.
“Do not allow the infiltrating agents of those seeking violence to derail the demonstrations with their aggressive behavior under any circumstances,” the statement reads. “The noble people of Iran should participate in the peaceful demonstration, with calm and resolve.”
Several student groups and a clerical council said they will join the demonstrations. Ayatollah Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, an influential cleric who is critical of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, also seemed to support the protesters. “I advise the discontented sections of society to come onto the scene. This revolution belongs to them as well. Everyone should come,” he said Saturday in an interview with Jam e Jam, a state newspaper. It was unclear whether he was speaking specifically about Monday’s event.
As I’ve said elsewhere, I have my doubts as to whether a people-power revolution could succeed in Iran. When it came down to it, the Tunisian and Egyptian governments just did not have enough public support to stand. But in Iran, they already have a kindasorta-elected government, and if Ahmadinejad does not represent the views of the majority, he does represent the views of a very large and zealous and well-organized minority. It would be much more of a two-sided street fight – something best to avoid; it could get really ugly. Like, Lebanon ugly, but in a country of 77 million.
I’ll take it seriously when mullahs hang from lamposts.
As much as I sympathize with the Iranian protesters, as long as they keep chanting “Death to the Dictator”, they aren’t going to get anywhere. They need to leave an out for the current rulers.
In fact, on CNN right now, the lawmakers are actually chanting “Execute them!” over and over on the floor of Parliament. Very loudly.
Man.
That’s the real stuff, dudes! That’s like what we remember from the “Death to America!” glory days! You’ve still got it! Khomeini in Paradise rejoices!
Alessan
February 16, 2011, 2:30pm
7
Every movement needs its martyrs.
And opposition leader Mir Hussein Moussavi is now simply . . . missing. (As both government and opposition renew calls for street rallies.)
Still going on, but not heating up.
February 20
The Fars News Agency released a report in the early morning of February 20, warning that “armed opposition groups plan to shoot at people in [the] protest rally set for Sunday afternoon.” The agency claims that this group is Mujahideen-e Khalq, which had entered the country for the sole purpose of attacking the protesters…[33]
On February 20, protesters began gathering in the tens of thousands throughout Iran and especially in Tehran. However, extremely large numbers of police and plainclothes Basij militia were stationed throughout the city, even outnumbering the protesters in some of the city squares. Tear gas was fired and there were witness reports of live ammunition being fired into the crowds of demonstrators, essentially dispersing the protesters. The police arrested a number of protesters and were seen stopping people on the streets and frisking them, along with removing people from vehicles.[34]
The protesters were seen occupying government buildings, such as the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting building. Eyewitnesses also reported seeing two men killed by the Basij, one each in the Vanak and Vali Asr squares. They have yet to be identified.[2]
There were also reports of other protester demonstrations going on in other major cities across Iran. However, coverage by journalists was thin, as the Ministry of Information had “sent a letter to foreign media offices in Tehran warning that their bureaus would be shut down and their reporters deported if they wrote “negative articles” surrounding the opposition protests.” At the same time as the protests, the IRNA news agency released television reports saying that things were “completely quiet and normal”. Furthermore, the Fars News Agency had released reports to the public saying that the February 20 protests would be especially violent, because the “opposition plans to shoot people.”[2]
It was later reported by witnesses that demonstrations had taken place in Isfahan and Shiraz, most of which were dispersed after being attacked by police and Basij militia.[35]
February 21
A statement released by the “Green Wave” movement in France on February 21 said that Ahmed Maleki, “first secretary and vice consul at Iran’s consulate in Milan”, along with being the nephew to opposition leader Ayatollah Medhi Karroubi, had defected to the side of the opposition movement. As the rest of his immediate family were already residing in France, he has applied for political asylum.[36]
