Iran protests: Fifth day of unrest as regime cracks down on critics

guardian.co.uk, ^ | Wednesday 17 June 2009 17.36 BST | Robert Tait, Ian Black and Mark Tran

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

• Estimated 500,000 in Tir square and surrounding streets
• Mousavi calls on supporters to mourn 'martyred' protesters

Supporters of Mir Hossein Mousavi protest in the streets of Tehran. Somayeh Soheily/The Guardian

Hundreds of thousands of demonstrators took to the streets of Tehran in a fifth day of protests as the government intensified its crackdown on opposition figures with the arrest of hundreds of leading critics.

Mainly dressed in black and wearing green wristbands and headbands to show their support for the defeated presidential candidate Mir Hossein Mousavi, crowds gathered in Tir square and streets around it. Most of the protesters were silent and made victory signs, according to Reuters news agency.

Witnesses estimated that as many as half a million people joined the march, with one street leading to the square packed for several kilometres. A young woman held a picture of one of those killed during the recent violence.

The protests pose a further challenge to a regime that has tried to quash all signs of opposition. On Monday, similar numbers congregated in the same square to voice their anger over last week's elections, which saw the incumbent hardliner Mahmoud Ahmadinejad win by a landslide.

Another potential flashpoint looms tomorrow after Mousavi urged supporters to stage peaceful protests or gather in mosques to mourn victims of the mass demonstrations. At least seven people have been reported killed, and there are fears the number could be higher.

"A number of our countrymen were wounded or martyred," Mousavi said in a statement on his website. "I ask the people to express their solidarity with the families … by coming together in mosques or taking part in peaceful demonstrations."

He repeated his call for "a new presidential election that will not repeat the shameful fraud from the previous election".

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

The protests spread as far as South Korea, where Iranian football fans denounced their government during a World Cup qualifying match. Dozens of Iranians unfurled a banner that read "Go To Hell Dictator" and chanted: "Compatriots, we will be with you to the end with the same heart."

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Ex President Bush must be smiling....

[4rcane]

wheres the million man protest all around the world in protest to the iranian government crackdown

[allmendream]

I wonder how many who called Bush a “Wilsonian idealist” will realize the depth and breadth of his vision?

The real shame is that such sentiments ever needed to be ‘sold’ to the American public. Were we not founded on the basis of the natural rights of all mankind and the universal appeal of freedom?

[tanuki]

Inspiring post. Thank you.

[Las Vegas Ron]

Not to hijack the thread but, we should be doing the same thing in our streets.

Seems we have much to learn about how to fight for freedom

[allmendream]

:)

As a yout during the cold war I was upset that all the revolutionary zeal seemed to be on the other side. Many people on our side bought into the “domino theory” of the inevitability of communist revolution and thought that propping up 3rd world dictators was an acceptable stop gap solution.

Reading our founders, they fully expected that eventually freedom would prevail over tyranny.

When did we as a nation lose this expectation?

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Well...our new CIC doesn’t believe in it...as I read it....he believes that his supporters need more government handouts.

[tet68]

Were we not founded on the basis of the natural rights of all mankind and the universal appeal of freedom?

Yes, but for too many years we have been taught that we
are not the guarrantee of those ideals, that we should not “meddle” in the affairs of others, to use the current occupant of the White House’s term.

That we should let corrupt elections be certified as representative of the ideas we hold dear, while powerful
forces work to dismantle everything we cherish. Then those self same voices denegrate us for accepting those results.
What fools we are, better to stand and hold those ideas up
for the invaluable tools they are than to see them sullied
by such as Chavez, Amadinejad, and their ilk.
If we are the standard bearers of Freedom we cannot allow
counterfeit or fraudulent versions to be foisted off on
the world.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

They are fighting back and using the new technology...I posted this to follow some of the action....we need to understand how they are doing it.:

Attempted Iran media clampdown meets Internet age

[tet68]

Reading our founders, they fully expected that eventually freedom would prevail over tyranny.

Actually our founders were well aware that tyranny could prevail and constantly warned us to be on guard. They set
what safeguards they could but we have turned a deaf ear
to them for over 60 years.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Skowcroft must be scowling with all of this instability in the world started by a President ?Bush ,....who many on the left said was carrying out a disastrous foreign policy....

[tflabo]

The mad mullahs and Admadi monkey are reaping what they have sowed. Since they have cursed and made trouble for Israel through Hezbollah and Hamas now they are reaping those curses upon their own heads and by their own people. Gen 12:3 is very real indeed! Since they trouble their own house too they will reap the swirling winds for reward.

[Las Vegas Ron]

Agreed. I've been following their Tweets since last Saturday.

I've heard of Twitter but was not really familiar with it. You're right though, it's a good lesson and we should be paying attention.

If we ever start in the streets the way they are doing, communication is going to be paramount.

[Gatún(CraigIsaMangoTreeLawyer)]

So when are we going to start instead of sitting on our fat asses whining?

[tanuki]

I don’t think that we, as a people or a nation, ever lost this expectation. I think we let our ‘betters’ tell us that other things were more important-cultural sensitivity, ideology, whatever the intellectual kool-aid of the day was. That in the affairs of men, the impulse to freedom was low in the level of priorities. Tell that to the Iranians.

[Marine_Uncle]

What is the end goal here? From the Iranian's standpoint that is.
Do they simply want someone who promised them a little bit more freedom, example, women do not have to wear cloths on their heads, and can wear lip stick in public, men and women can purchase and watch Hollywood crap, men and women can hold hands in public, and some's desire for better employment, and more western goods.
What percentage of this whole group would like to see the mullahs literally kicked out along with a total ban of the IRGC and associated foreign employed goons squads as well as the nutjob.
Thus far unless I have had my head in the sand I see no clear cut reason for these protest other then that one candidate has lost big time, and his supporters have taken to the streets on voter fraud issue.
Regardless if A or M gets the final approval from the big guy, the atomic bomb will be in the Iranian arsenal in due time. And for once zero made a accurate statement saying paraphrased, regardless of who gets in, their stance with the US will not change.