Posted on 12/21/2009 7:02:06 AM PST by nuconvert
Iran's opposition seized upon the death of one of the Islamic republic's founding fathers -- a revered ayatollah who was also a fierce critic of the nation's leadership -- to take to the streets in mourning.
Tens of thousands of Iranian mourners--many chanting protest slogans--joined the funeral procession Monday for Grand Ayatollah Hossein Ali Montazeri, who had described government crackdowns as the work of power-hungry despots.
Iranian authorities have barred foreign media from covering the processions in the holy city of Qom for Ayatollah Montazeri, who died Sunday at age 87. But witnesses said many mourners shouted protest cries including "Death to the Dictator" in displays of anger against Iran's ruling establishment.
There were no immediate reports of serious clashes from the witnesses, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of fears of arrest by Iranian authorities. Some opposition Web sites noted scuffles and violence, but the reports couldn't immediately be confirmed.
On Monday, access to the Internet in Iran was slow, and cellular telephone service was unreliable. The government has periodically restricted communications in an attempt to prevent protesters from organizing.
(Excerpt) Read more at online.wsj.com ...
End of January should be interesting. The fortieth day of mourning falls around there.
Remember how Tienanmen started, it was with the death of reformist Communist Party chief Hu Yaobang.
and how did Tienanmen end?
where is that man who stood down the tank?
how much democracy did those protests win?
how many years ago was that?
without support, democratic revolutions have a dismal record of failure.
do not forget that France was instrumental in the creation of this nation.
without the support of France, it is likely that we would still be subjects of the British Crown...
the American Revolution began the process of free democracies that swept the globe in the years since. without support, these free democracies will wither an die...
I really wish the word “cleric” was NOT used for Muslim leaders. The word “cleric” like the word “priest” is a Christian term, and should be left that way.
This man was no more of a cleric, than Billy Graham is an Imam.
I am on a break ‘til the New Year so will make it relatively short.
Spot on regarding French Help with American Revolution.
Also, American Revolution was not instigated to bring about the rule of Christian Clerics in America. American constitution specifically separates religion and state.
Iranian revolution of 1979 was specifically an Islamic Revolution, not a secular one.
The leader chosen by most Iranians, to bring about “Change”, was an Ayatollah called Khomeini, along with his lackeys including Grand Ayatollah Montazeri.
Slogans included “Allah Akbar, Death to the Shah”. The Shah and his socalled dictatorship, along with an array of other propaganda, including the concept of democracy were used to sell the revolution. But, people can not be fooled unless they are ready to be fooled.
I see parallels in the usage of “Democracy” back in 1979 and once again now in Iran. Back then too, if someone disagreed with ideals of democracy and revolution, they would be slapped on the hand and told off, to say the least. I see this happening again with this new Movement in Iran i.e. those who are not pro Ahmadinejad, but question Moussavi, Karroubi, and other Islamic Reformists, are very often castigated. There is a lot of propaganda and misinformation going around.
Finally, Iranians will not have a secular democracy in any foreseeable future. At best there will be a change of one Islamic government with another one. At worst, there will be civil war in time to come.
BTW, Islam in all its mainstream forms is hostile to a secular democracy. And, the notion of Islamic democracy is a false one.
Hey, people will go for whatever they are ready for, but let’s call a spade a spade.
Ad Holy City of such and such to your complaint.
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