Iranian security forces suppress new wave of opposition protests in Isfahan

Times Online ^ | December 24, 2009 | Martin Fletcher

[myknowledge]

Iranian security forces violently suppressed opposition supporters in the city of Isfahan yesterday as tensions increased before nationwide demonstrations planned for this weekend.

Two days after massive demonstrations in the holy city of Qom, clashes erupted in Isfahan, Iran’s third city, as thousands of mourners gathered for a memorial service for Grand Ayatollah Hossein Ali Montazeri, the opposition’s spiritual leader, who died at the weekend. Opposition websites said riot police and Basij militiamen surrounded the Seyed mosque from early in the morning, and then attacked the mourners with batons, teargas and pepper gas.

Many were injured and dozens were arrested, including four journalists and a cleric, Masoud Abid, who was to deliver the sermon. Reformist website Parlemannews reported that more than 50 people were detained.

“Montazeri mourners shouted slogans against the top authorities,” another website, Rahesabz, reported. “They are beating protesters, including women and children, with batons, chains and stones.” Farid Salavati, an Isfahan resident who tried to attend the memorial, said that tens of thousands gathered outside the mosque but were savagely attacked by security forces. He saw baton-wielding riot police clubbing people around the head and kicking men and women, injuring dozens. “I saw at least two people with blood pouring down their face,” he said.

[myknowledge]

The Basij militiamen, aka the Mullahcracy's SS 'stormtroopers', strike again.

Look carefully in the cell phone snapshots. The 'stormtroopers' are shown thuggishly beating up a defenseless young woman.

Mullahcrats and their SS goons at their finest.

[Truth29]

Very telling contrast between the actions of the US against Honduras and our failure to act against Iran. Even worse, we continue to try to engage NutJob in dialog and lend legitimacy to the Mullahocracy.

[Prole]

Evidently I was harsh in my original statement, but it infuriates me to see so many innocent people getting beaten and murdered simply because they want freedom and democracy.

I pray for them, as I pray for the civilians of North Korea every single day.

Have you ever read about the living conditions in North Korea for the civilian population? They are just as bad as Iran, if not worse.

[Truth29]

Actually, I don't recall anything overly harsh in your comments. I was drawing the comparison of our efforts to destabilize the democratic government of Honduras with our failure to do anything regarding the oppression of those challenging the Mullahs in Iran. Obama is giving tacit approval to Ahmadinejad's brutal tactics.

[wny]

if these were anti-American protests with some anti-Bush signs, I’m sure the MSMwhores would have it on the “news” at 5, 6 and 11 o’clock every night and it would be on all the frontpages...