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Clashes in Iran on Anniversary of Embassy Takeover

News Type: Event — Seeded on Wed Nov 4, 2009 9:35 AM EST
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The clashes came on a day of extraordinary tension across Iran. For weeks, hard-liners have been warning the opposition not to take advantage of the occasion for anti-government protests, and in recent days there have been fresh threats from the police, the Revolutionary Guard, and prosecutors. No rallies would be permitted except the state-sanctioned ones outside the old embassy and anyone chanting anything except "death to America" would be arrested.



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{"commentId":10466288,"authorDomain":"jcatom"}
JCAtom

The country’s campuses have been rocked by near-daily protests against the government, and in recent days the pace has increased in anticipation of the Wednesday rally.

Opposition Web sites have been calling for a major turnout, complete with planned gathering times and places. Mir-Hussein Moussavi, an opposition leader who placed second to Mr. Ahmadinejad in the June elections and who had not made a public statement in a month, issued a renewed challenge to the government over the weekend, as did the reformist former president Muhammad Khatami...

...For Iran’s beleaguered opposition, the rally is a crucial opportunity to show that it remains alive and relevant. The authorities have brutally suppressed the movement, with a combination of arrests, show trials, and threats. Many leading reformist figures remain in jail, and while some detainees have been released, the government continues to arrest more every week.

{"commentId":10466288,"threadId":"716370","contentId":"3459976","authorDomain":"jcatom"}
  • 2 votes
Reply#1 - Wed Nov 4, 2009 9:38 AM EST
{"commentId":10470016,"authorDomain":"jcatom"}
JCAtom

Here's more...

Large areas of Tehran are in chaos as troops fire tear gas and beat antigovernment protesters on the 30th anniversary of the U.S. Embassy's seizure. Demonstrations erupt in other cities as well.



For the first time in months, there were also credible reports and video footage of a sizable demonstration on the campus of the main university in the northwestern city of Tabriz, the capital of Iran's ethnic Azeri region and historically a hotbed of political activity.

As dusk settled, protesters in Tehran continued to gather in the streets and prepare for what they predicted would be a long night of clashes with security forces stationed at main squares around the capital.

"I was beaten up by a baton so badly that one policeman begged his colleague to have pity on me and stop beating me," said one protester, a 54-year-old mother of three who asked that her name not be published. "But I am not scared. I will keep protesting until the end."
{"commentId":10470016,"threadId":"716370","contentId":"3459976","authorDomain":"jcatom"}
  • 2 votes
#1.1 - Wed Nov 4, 2009 11:47 AM EST
{"commentId":10474422,"authorDomain":"jcatom"}
JCAtom

I think its heartening to see that the people of Iran are using this particular anniversary to show their opposition to the regime that came to power shortly before the hostage crisis.

From Wikipedia...

The holding of hostages was very popular and continued for months even after the death of the Shah. As Khomeini explained to his future President Banisadr,

This action has many benefits. ... This has united our people. Our opponents do not dare act against us. We can put the constitution to the people's vote without difficulty...

Seems that the people have changed their vote.

{"commentId":10474422,"threadId":"716370","contentId":"3459976","authorDomain":"jcatom"}
  • 2 votes
#1.2 - Wed Nov 4, 2009 2:07 PM EST
{"commentId":10490049,"authorDomain":"jcatom"}
JCAtom

Wondering why this story isn't of interest to the regular Viners. Hell, I've seeded stories about worms that have gotten more comments than this one.

The only other articles I see on this are on the main MSNBC site and there are a bunch of freaks commenting on those.

I think that it presents the possibility of a new regime down the road in Iran...may be wishful thinking, but the significance of the date and the tenacity of the protesters represent a change in the way the winds are blowing.

{"commentId":10490049,"threadId":"716370","contentId":"3459976","authorDomain":"jcatom"}
  • 1 vote
#1.3 - Thu Nov 5, 2009 9:21 AM EST
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{"commentId":10493453,"authorDomain":"marxfan123"}
Eamonn-1019078

What many people don't re-alise is that with Russia bordering on Iran, the threat to Russia from any influence on it's own Islamic population is very real and the oil fields in that area. Thats my opinion.

{"commentId":10493453,"threadId":"716370","contentId":"3459976","authorDomain":"marxfan123"}
  • 1 vote
Reply#2 - Thu Nov 5, 2009 11:29 AM EST
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