Students Issue 'Final Warning' to Iran's Clerical Rulers

Ha'aretz ^ | 6.26.2003 | The Associated Press

[DoctorZIn]

TEHRAN - Disappointed Iranian students issued a "final warning" Thursday to the ruling Islamic establishment, saying their wrath was about to explode as security agents continued arresting classmates in a bid to undermine plans to mark the fourth anniversary of a fatal raid by hard-liners on a university dormitory.

"We openly declare that these words are the final words of dialogue between the student movement and the ruling establishment," students said in a strongly worded letter addressed to President Mohammad Khatami. Signed Thursday by 106 prominent students, the letter protested the trampling of legitimate freedoms and a government ban on street rallies to mark the July 9, 1999, raid on a Tehran University dormitory that killed one person and injured at least 20 others.

The 1999 attacks, led by police and hardline vigilantes who support Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, triggered six days of nationwide protests, the worst since the 1979 Islamic revolution that toppled the pro-U.S. Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi.

One of the letter's signatories, Saeed Razavi Faqih, said if Khatami failed to heed the students' warning, the students would even stop recognizing the legitimacy of elected reformists within Iran's ruling establishment. "The rulers should know that confronting the student movement will have a bitter ending for this establishment, which has lost almost all its legitimacy," he said.

Khatami, who was elected on a platform of delivering wide social and political reforms, has been criticized by fellow reformers for only deploring - not condemning - attacks two weeks ago by hardline vigilantes against two Tehran student dormitories.

Students criticized Khatami's silence as "painful and disappointing."

"We call on you (Khatami)... to react before it's too late and adopt a reasonable solution, or otherwise have the courage to resign so that you don't justify oppressive policies (of hardliners) and allow students to settle their accounts with the establishment," the letter said.

The protests earlier this month began with students demonstrating against plans to privatize universities and snowballed into broader displays of opposition to Khamenei's clerical establishment. Government authorities have said they arrested about 520 protesters, mostly "hooligans." But students say most of those detained are students.

Razavi Faqih said security agents this week detained several more student leaders, including Mahdi Aminizadeh and Abdollah Momeni.

The students' letter also accused the Interior Ministry of refusing to permit July 9 street rallies, while university officials have been opposed to holding ceremonies on university grounds.

While protesters have regularly condemned unelected hardline clerics and supported Khatami, the recent student-led protests had for the first time called for the establishment's ouster and denounced Khatami for failing to fulfill promises.

[DoctorZIn]

We look like we are nearing a tipping point in Iran.

[ewing]

Looks like tomorrow is a showdown...who is going to blink first

[jriemer]

Now if they would just start rolling over cars like US college students after winning / losing the "big game" the mullah's would have something to fear from these Iranian college students.

[Marysecretary]

I hope the US helps them accomplish their purpose!

[TigerLikesRooster]

Free Iran!

[bigghurtt]

I am reminded of the events leading up to the fall of communism...this could be a bigger issue than we realize even now.

my prayers that the ball is rolling towards freedom for iranians.

[jriemer]

The students' letter also accused the Interior Ministry of refusing to permit July 9 street rallies, while university officials have been opposed to holding ceremonies on university grounds.

Permit? We don't need no steekin' permit...

[Skibane]

Signed Thursday by 106 prominent students, the letter protested the trampling of legitimate freedoms and a government ban on street rallies to mark the July 9, 1999, raid on a Tehran University dormitory that killed one person and injured at least 20 others.

Just exactly how do you get to be a "prominent student"?

[norton]

Not arrested yet?

[bigghurtt]

by signing a petition against your mullah's, i suppose

[trebb]

Just exactly how do you get to be a "prominent student"?

I would imagine that they are well-known and from prominent/well-to-do families with substantial resources for sustaining a movement.

[ewing]

Sounds like 'double secret probation..'

[y2k_free_radical]

NOT THE MULLAHS

[DannyTN]

Attach the Mullahs to trees!

[SauronOfMordor]

I would imagine that they are well-known and from prominent/well-to-do families with substantial resources for sustaining a movement.

If the mullahs have ticked off a large number of the old families who had the wealth and power pre-revolution, and leave them with no choices between overthrowing the mullahs, or sinking from old wealth into poverty, then expect an explosion real soon.

[eyespysomething]

Go guys go.

Good for them. I hope too many aren't killed.

Prayers for them.

[Jeff Head]

It's a hard wind gonna blow over there.

Either it will gain momentum and we (the U.S.) will ultimately support it to the overthrow of the Mullahs...or it will lead to a more fundamental regime taking control.

I postulate the latter in my Dragon's Fury Series of Novels, which then leads to World War.

God bless and keep these young folks who are standing up to abject tyranny and risking all to do so.

[eyespysomething]

Go guys go.

Good for them. I hope too many aren't killed.

Prayers for them.

[theDentist]

hey Doc, once again, if it looks like the "security" folks are looking for you, get to safety. Too many people are "disappearing" out there.

[walford]

Your caution is well-warrented. Limited representative government can only survive if the potential electorate is ready and capable of accepting it. It took centuries for the British government and to gradually become acclimated to the idea.

We had to sit on the Germans and Japanese for years before they were able to manage their governments on their own. Look at Iraq. Unlike Japan and Germany, many Iraqis are blindly fighting against their liberators with no positive alternative to offer.

If factions that do not win elections are willing to remain loyal and non-violent when out of power, then there is a chance. That is a tall order in that part of the world.