Posted on 07/17/2009 4:50:12 AM PDT by TigerLikesRooster
Rafsanjani says many Iranians have election doubts
1 hr 48 mins ago
TEHRAN (Reuters) – Former President Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani said on Friday a "large group of Iranians" had doubts about last month's disputed presidential election and that something should be done about the situation.
Rafsanjani also called for the release of protesters and others detained after the June poll.
"In the current situation it is not necessary for us to have a number of people in prisons ... we should allow them to return to their families," he said during a Friday prayer sermon.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
This is the first real sign that I’ve seen that leads me to believe the “uprising” is officially over. Rafsanjani is very measured here and leaves a lot of room for reconciliation
Rafsanjani, old boy, we share your pain. Our Woodstock has come full circle. Stop whining. Our Bastille day has arrived and the whining and moaning will soon be deafening.
Ya think?
This is not over. There are Iranians still protesting...and more importantly, IMHO, they are planning.
That's because George Bush's legacy endures in the Mid East, despite, and in spite of Obama, and THAT is Obama's real dilema.
It was George Bush's policy of direct engagement and support of liberty that has led to the people of Iran seeing the measure of freedom now established on both sides of them in Iraq and Afghjanistan...and desiring it for themselves.
Obama cannot possibly go too far in recognizing that, or he absolutely repudiates himself and his entire foreign policy.
So the fight in Iran goes on, even weeks after the major events.
Tipping Point in Iran July 14, 2009
Iran cleric criticixes Tehran regime, issues fatwa July 13, 2009
Thousands defy crackdown & protest in Tehran July 9, 2009
New Demonstrations bring new violence July 9, 2009
Clerics in Qum defy Khamenie, say election illegitimate, July 5, 2009
6/24/2009 - Not all fights on June 24th were losses - Iranian people take back streets from Basif
Others were not.
Eyewitness Account to Slaughter in Iran 6/24/2009
While brave Iranians are slaughtered in the street by their own government as they seek liberty, Obama disinvited Iranian officials to American 4th of July celebration.
Meanwhile, they are axing students to death.
Young Woman (Neda) shot to death in Terhran. 6/20/2009
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9fVyGo7rZUI
Crowd Hunting Basij, Man shot. 6/20/2009
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VYaL4mA-bSY
AMERICANS ON FACEBOOK FOR IRANIAN LIBERTY
POEM FOR THE ROOFTOPS OF IRAN - INCREDIBLY MOVING
You can follow me on twitter if you want.http://www.twitter.com/Jeff_Head
"There is only one force of history that can break the reign of hatred and resentment, and expose the pretensions of tyrants, and reward the hopes of the decent and tolerant, and that is the force of human freedom.-
"All who live in tyranny and hopelessness can know: The United States will not ignore your oppression, or excuse your oppressors. When you stand for your liberty, we will stand with you.
"Democratic reformers facing repression, prison or exile can know: America sees you for who you are -- the future leaders of your free country.
"The rulers of outlaw regimes can know that we still believe as Abraham Lincoln did: "Those who deny freedom to others deserve it not for themselves; and, under the rule of a just God, cannot long retain it."
George W. Bush Jan 2005
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ScKyN8a-6zI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J4zfZuZuxxU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qPq19FY7YKA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D6xh6SX5nX8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ecELGwN6xbk
Rafsanjani has the “feel” of the real power in Iran. Imadamnnutjob is a useful lightning rod...
The real question is which of these guys will be the first to leave the country and tap their Swiss Bank accounts.
We received a call from an eyewitness in Tehran who told us what he saw at the Friday prayer.
Before the speech began, people where chanting three slogans:
* Death to dictator, Liar, Liar
* Hashemi, Hashemi, take back my vote
Hashemi, Hashemi, we support you
Hashemi, Hashemi, silence will make you a traitor
* Honorable clerics, support (us), support (us)
They were saying the last slogan so loud that several clerics were touched and took green items from the people and raised them in the air.
A very unusual event occurred before Rafsanjani’s speech, when the head of the organization that oversees the Friday prayers (Taqavi) spoke. In Friday prayers, people are supposed to repeat what the speakers chant. Today, it was different. When Taqavi said “Death to America,” people responded “Death to Russia” or “Death to China” instead. Also, when he said “The blood in our veins, is a gift to our leader,” people said “The blood in our veins, is a gift to our nation.” According to our witness, “whenever Taqavi mentioned the name of the Supreme Leader, people would whistle and boo.” Typically, when the Supreme Leader’s name is mentioned people chant “salavat” (a phrase in Arabic meaning “peace be upon Prophet Mohammad).
* Our witness also said that “right before Rafsanjani’s speech, police used tear gas to disperse the crowd. People, however, did not move and started to make fires to reduce the effect of the gas.
* “About half of Ahmadinejad supporters got up and left in the middle of Rafsanjani’s speech.”
* East of Tehran University, it was so crowded that men and women were mixed up. (In Friday prayers, men and women are separated). Ahmadinejad supporters were telling them “you reek of infidelity.
* About 2 out of 5 people were holding Ayatollah Montazeri’s picture.
* Our witness, who was hit by a baton on his back, added “I was able to get away after I got hit once, but as I was leaving they were beating people ruthlessly.”
http://niacblog.wordpress.com/2009/07/17/eyewitness-accounts-from-today/
the speaker after Rafi was urging people to shout “death to America” and “death to Israel” people responded in mass by shouting “death to Russia” and “death to the dictator”,
http://niacblog.wordpress.com/2009/07/17/fear-and-terror-less-and-less-effective/
Thank you very interesting!
Rafsanjani, Musavi, Khatami, Karubi, and Abtahi vs. Khamenei, his son Mujtaba, & Ahmadinejad
It’d be entertaining if it weren’t so serious. It still may be amusing though; the regime may yet fall apart.
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