Iranian Protests Turn Violent (Updated)
[Guest post by DRJ]
The LA Times reports renewed protests in Iran may have resulted in 9 deaths, including the nephew of opposition leader Mir-Hussein Mousavi:
“Opposition websites reported as many as nine people killed in Tehran and the western city of Tabriz on Sunday during Ashura, a commemoration of the 7th century martyrdom of Imam Hussein, a grandson of the prophet Muhammad. Officials put the death toll at five.
Among those allegedly shot dead by government security forces or allied militias was Ali Habibi-Mousavi, described by websites as the nephew of opposition leader Mir-Hossein Mousavi.”
Officials denied shooting protesters and instead blamed the violence on “mysterious” forces. A photo at the link shows a protester facing government forces. It is eerily reminiscent of the 1989 Tiananmen Square protest photos.
Opposition cleric Mehdi Karoubi, who came in fourth in recent elections, condemned “this religious system that it orders the killing of innocent people during the holy day of Ashura.” And just yesterday in a Der Spiegel article, Iranian Ayatollah Mohsen Kadivar — currently a visiting professor at Duke University — said the recent death of opposition leader Grand Ayatollah Hossein Ali Montazeri would strengthen his followers’ resolve:
SPIEGEL: Montazeri succeeded in recent months in uniting the religious and secular wings of the opposition. Has his death weakened the dissident movement?
Kadivar: The exact opposite is true. The mourning will actually strengthen the opposition’s determination. The Shiite Ashura (a religious holiday to take place on Sunday), which is symbolically about justice, will provide a further boost for the protest. The authorities are not able to ban this ceremony, which coincides with the seventh day after Montazeri’s death.
Today’s news supports Kadivar’s analysis. While Kadivar does not rule out a “peaceful reform” of the Iranian state, he says the next step is “open rebellion” and he is “convinced the regime will collapse.” I’ll conclude with Kadivar’s advice to Western nations:
“SPIEGEL: Can the West do anything to support a democratic reform process?
Kadivar: The tightening of sanctions is not the right path ahead. They affect the people more than the government. A military attack is something I categorically reject. Perhaps Western countries should stop treating Ahmadinejad’s government as the legitimate government of Iran. Otherwise, I think the reforms must be pushed forward from inside the country.”
— DRJ
UPDATE: Two days after it started, President Obama finally responded to the Iranian uprising — but only as an afterthought during his Hawaii press conference on the Northwest Flight 253 terrorist attack. Charles Krauthammer says This is a moment in history, and he’s missing it.“
I don’t see how the regime can last if this continues. The situation keeps escalating and it’s starting to become the IRGC and Basij vs. the rest of the country. This is far from a climax but Khameini has lost the narrative, he’s losing everyone who isn’t a crony, and he’s fast approaching a revolution.
chaos (7c068a) — 12/27/2009 @ 6:25 pmGuess this sorta answers what their behavior will be once the entire world is Muslim eh?
Jamies and crony’s don’t realize that Israel will shed some light upon them. They have proven they will,twice now!
TC (0b9ca4) — 12/27/2009 @ 6:35 pmThe Administration said it stands by the Iranian people. Just like they did in June. The United States has failed spectacularly to live up to its obligations to liberty since this man became President and people around the world are sufferingly greatly because of it. The damage he is causing is intolerable.
chaos (7c068a) — 12/27/2009 @ 6:52 pmIsrael is bringing all it’s ambassadors home from around the world…… makes ya wonder, don’t it?
redc1c4 (fb8750) — 12/27/2009 @ 8:32 pmi find great, albeit darkly ironic, humor in the fact that the regime has spent years inculcating the people with the idea that martyrdom and death are to be embraced, only to end up trying to use force and the threat of death against the same people as a means of staying in power….
talk about short sighted planning. %-)
redc1c4 (fb8750) — 12/27/2009 @ 8:37 pmWow, red, if the recalling is true, that is huge…
Gazzer (d98659) — 12/27/2009 @ 8:47 pm… martyrdom and death are to be embraced …
Only by those we say are meant for such an end.
Now get off the street or I’ll martyr you myself. But you, you ass, will get no virgins, you get only my shoe, right after I blow your ass away!
TC (0b9ca4) — 12/27/2009 @ 9:58 pm*********
It’s no wonder this religion of piece, keeps their women tightly corralled, cuz I’d bet most of them are pretty gawd daaumed sick of raising soon to be corpses!
Israel recalls ambassadors, from the govt website
redc1c4 (fb8750) — 12/27/2009 @ 10:06 pmSpeaking of the LAT, which I mistakenly picked up today at the coffee shop, Doyle McManus has a big op-ed about Prez O warning him “ambition is not enough.”
Didn’t think this utopian regime would fall apart so quickly.
Patricia (b05e7f) — 12/27/2009 @ 10:38 pmI’ve updated the post with Obama’s belated response to the Iranian uprising and Charles Krauthammer’s reply.
DRJ (84a0c3) — 12/28/2009 @ 8:04 pm