Thousands of Iranian Students Protest The Mullaharcy... many wounded.

Iran Press Service ^ | 6.10.2003 | Press Release

[DoctorZIn]

Students and a number of Tehrani clashed late Tuesday night with Law Enforcement Forces (LEF) backed by plainclothes men from pressure groups at Tehran University dormitory and neighbouring areas, leaving an undisclosed number of wounded, according to eyewitnesses.

The clashes occurred after some 1.000 to 2.000 students protested to plans aiming at privatising universities, according to the independent students news agency ISNA.

"LEF and thugs charged the students with chains, electric cable and clubs, after slogans saying death to Khameneh'i, death to Rafsanjani were chanted", one eyewitness told Iran Press Service, adding that hundreds of ordinary people had joined the demonstrators.

The clerical regime is nearing its end"., the protesters chanted. "Oh Islamic dictatorship, the anniversary of the dormitory attacks is approaching", they shouted, referring to 9 July 1999 students rebellion against the Mullahrchy.

"The demonstrations started at about 20.30 local time (17.00 GMT) from in front of the student’s main dormitory, with more than 2.000 students marching peacefully towards Amir Abad cross roads, chanting songs concerning their protests and returned to their dormitory after a while", ISNA reported

Eyewitnesses told IPS that as the number of marcher increased because of many people joining, slogans also changed, to become political, with people chanting "death to Khameneh'i" and "down with Islamic Republic".

Demonstrators also called for the powerless President Mohammad Khatami to resign.

"Justice, freedom, this is the slogan of the nation" and "Khatami resign", the crowd chanted.

Angry demonstrators attacked public buildings, banks, set fire on buses and smashed shops and buildings windows, one eyewitness reported, while another, joined on his mobile phone, assured that those who attacked shops and looted where plainclothes thugs brought in to back the security forces.

"Students resisted the brutal attack of the Islamic regime's special units sent in rush to put an end to their peaceful gathering", reported the Los Angeles-based Students Movement Coordination Committee for Democracy in Iran (SMCCDI), which has branches inside the country.

Clubs, chains and tear gas were used against the students who shouted "Down with Repression" and "Referendum, Referendum", the SMCCDI said, confirming that thousands of local residents had rushed to the help of the students and several people have been injured and arrested.

"Many late drivers created traffic jam's to avoid the fast circulation of the regime's patrol car bringing in security forces", it added.

The brutal confrontation followed a resolution adopted earlier in the morning by the Office for Consolidating Unity (OCU), Iranian students largest union, harshly criticising ayatollah Ali Khameneh'i, the leader of the Islamic Republic.

This was the third open letter to Mr. Khameneh'i in the past two weeks, urging him to "choose between "continuing the present policy of dictatorship and oppression, a path that would lead to the collapse of the regime and eventually the interference of foreign powers, or to heed the voice and aspirations of the people for real changes, democracy and human rights".

"The signatories have reached the conclusion that Mr. Khameneh'i and the un-elected organs under his direct control are the main cause and root for the problems the nation faces. Either the leader changes course and policy, he submits himself to the people’s will and stop organs and institutions that suppresses people’s demands from abusing their unconstitutional powers or he could face the same fate as Saddam Hoseyn", one member of the OCU commented on the resolution. ENDS STUDENTS LEF CLASHES 10603

[DoctorZIn]

This is just the beginning. The nation is bracing for huge protests and strikes on July 9th, the anniversy of the governments brutal attacks on protesting students four years ago.

Hold on to your hats... the winds of change are coming to Iran, finally.

[RaceBannon]

Last Updated: Wednesday, 11 June, 2003, 02:11 GMT 03:11 UK

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Iranians protest against clerics


Previous protests have been peaceful
Thousands of Iranians have taken part in a late-night, anti-government demonstration in the capital, Tehran.
The action began as a protest by students against plans to privatise some universities.

But it turned into a wider demonstration, with crowds marching through the streets around Tehran University denouncing the hardline religious establishment.

One report says Iranian police dispersed the protesters.

Earlier on Tuesday, Iran's biggest student organisation criticised the country's supreme leader, Ayatollah Khamenei, urging him to choose the path of democracy, or suffer the destruction of the Islamic government.

Some residents said Tuesday's demonstration was the largest since students took action in 1999.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/2980102.stm

[MJY1288]

I'll be praying for them, Iran might be the best hope for that region, because the youngsters do not believe in the 9th century mentality foisted upon them by the Mullah's. The Shia in Iraq might be the majority, but that's not the case in Iran.

Yes.... The winds of change are blowing

[Libertarianize the GOP]

http://www.freerepublic.com/perl/bump-list

[Mo1]

Eyewitnesses told IPS that as the number of marcher increased because of many people joining, slogans also changed, to become political, with people chanting "death to Khameneh'i" and "down with Islamic Republic".

This is interesting news

[McGavin999]

Here's another one.

[xm177e2]

"death to Khameneh'i, death to Rafsanjani" ... "The clerical regime is nearing its end"., the protesters chanted. "Oh Islamic dictatorship, the anniversary of the dormitory attacks is approaching", they shouted, referring to 9 July 1999 students rebellion against the Mullahrchy.

Bump!

[xm177e2]

How many popular uprisings have overthrown totalitarian islamic regimes?

It takes time, but it's been shown to work in non-Islamic totalitarian regimes. It just might work in this one.

[Grampa Dave]

It has begun in earnest.

Pray for a swift regime change with minimal bloodshed re those wanting to be free of the murdering mullahs and their thugs.

[Unknown Freeper]

Interesting times bump.

[ganeshpuri89]

"mullaharchy" lol, liked that one.

But seriously now, note the difference between Persians and Arab youths.

Persians protest peacefully until attacked.

Arabs strap on a bomb vest or pick up Kalashnikov and go hunting Jews.

And don't start flaming me. I back the Persian youths and their cause, while I oppose the Palis means and their ends, ultimately the annihilation of Israel.

[ganeshpuri89]

Cancesceau

[TigerLikesRooster]

Re #9

If it causes a part of the Iranian military to side with protesters a la Romania in '89. The military may be the only ones who can take on LEF who would be increasingly brutal.

[xm177e2]

Cancesceau

I can never get his name right either :-)

Apparently the correct spelling is "Ceausescu"

[Robert_Paulson2]

now if the heads of mullahs were doing the same thing as the winds of change... we might have something....

[Cronos]

Persia seems to be shrugging off the yoke of 'slam. The cult's days are numbered.

[jalisco555]

How many popular uprisings have overthrown totalitarian islamic regimes?

Not Islamic to be sure, but Poland, Czechoslovakia et. al. present a hopeful precedent.

[Lady Heron]

Cancesceau

That was not a religious dictatorship, with a decent percentage of the people thinking that it is Gods will to prop up and defend the mullahs.

[The Old Hoosier]

Communism is a religion.

[Eala]

Rallies coming up here in the States:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/926976/posts

[Fee]

Iran's military is conscription. Many of the conscripts sympathize with the students. Cannot say the same for the Basij forces.

[SauronOfMordor]

That was not a religious dictatorship, with a decent percentage of the people thinking that it is Gods will to prop up and defend the mullahs.

The younger generation is increasingly disaffected.

This is bad news for the regime, because it's the young ones who compose the enlisted ranks in the military

[dmz]

what a short view you seem to take with the following statement "Hold on to your hats... the winds of change are coming to Iran, finally".

The word "finally" needs to be replaced with (in order to reflect reality) "yet again".

[k2blader]

Bump.

[sheik yerbouty]

The Persians had a great pre Islamic culture; the Arabs, from their owm Quranic verses "Our ancestors were bloodthirsty murderers'. Have the Arabs changed much?

[tet68]

The more the mullahs oppress them the more they will rise up.

This is just setting the stage for July 9th, may it be a
glorious new beginning.

[Vigilanteman]

The new chants have got to be music to the ears to those of us who endured 444 days of humiliation during the limp-wristed administration of Jimmy Carter.

Do not forget that the Persians had an advanced society and a logical religion (Zorastism) which respected and peacefully coexisted with it neighbors before being forcibly converted to Islam. Much of the uniqueness of Persian culture comes from their Zorastic roots.

[maro]

Something is happening in Iran that we don't fully understand. Spontaneously, thousands of young Iranians held candlelight vigils when they heard about 9/11. Their hearts have been moved, and they are ready to make a change.

[stboz]

Hold on to your hats... the winds of change are coming to Iran, finally.

Allah, raghead! Allah, Raghead!
Ptooey! Ptooey!
Rah! Rah! Rah!

Gooooo! Students!

I'll probably get banned for this one.

[Lady Heron]

I agree with you totally about the younger generation, and that there might even be a large portion of the older generation that wants out from under the Mullahs, but we were discussing the nature of falling dictatorships. I have never seen a islamic religion led dictatorship fall from within. I am not sure even historically it has happened, maybe with outside influence.

You still will have a portion of the population 10-20%(???) who will think that they are doing Gods work to destroy any uprising. I guess what I was trying to say is that Iran will be dealing with different dynamics than Romania was when that dictatorship fell. There was nobody defending Caucescu because it was God's will.

I read somewhere that in the American Revolution only a small portion of the population actually took a stand. It will depend on how many are actually prepared to fight (die) for freedom, and how many will die to save the mullahs. Not to mention that the ones wanting freedom have no guns and the mullahs do.

[SauronOfMordor]

The power and authority of the government of Iran rests upon the approval of the clergy, much like the authority of European kings rested upon the Church's teaching that the king was annointed by God to rule.

What seems to be happening in Iran is a feeling among the young that the mullahs are empowering and enriching themselves thru their offices. This leads to a growing dissatisfaction with Islam itself, leading to a perception that religion is a scam for the enrichment of the clergy

Rather than a repeat of the American Revolution, the dynamics in Iran may induce something more like the French Revolution, and the longer it is successfully repressed, the bigger the final explosion will be

[Lady Heron]

Rather than a repeat of the American Revolution, the dynamics in Iran may induce something more like the French Revolution, and the longer it is successfully repressed, the bigger the final explosion will be

Good point.

Only in the French Revolution, while it was also a reputiation of the Catholic Church, the Church did not do the governing just apporved the government, the daily governing did not have to get approved by the Cardinals and Bishops. It was a looser relationship with the Catholic Church having lost a lot of its control over the kings of Europe.

In Iran it is the mullahs that control the daily workings of the government. It is a government of religion. There will be a die hard element of the population that will fight to defend it.

I hope that this government falls easily. I just have this feeling that it won't. Islam demands islamic government and laws for its people. I think that religious islamics will feel that trying to destroy their islamic government will be a sin, and they must fight to keep it, to defend the faith.

[SauronOfMordor]

In that case, it will be a civil war between the Islamists and those who refuse to live under Islam any longer. If (as it appears) the non-Islamists are in the majority, the resulting conflict would have interesting implications for the whole Islamic world: a country which has lived under pure Islamic theocracy suddenly deciding to repudiate Islam.