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Tuesday Jul 21, 2009

The Persian Abyss: Latest news, photos and videos from Iran

Posted by R.B. Hartman

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More than a month after the Iranian elections led to widespread demonstrations and subsequent violent suppression following allegations that the results declaring Mahmoud Ahmadinejad the winner of a second presidential term rigged, news, photos and videos of violence and unrest are still being widely circulated.

Here is the latest:

17:55 pm: Unconfirmed reports of protests Tuesday:

Heavy traffic & heavy presence of secuirty forces in 7-Tir sq. Some people arrested. #iranelection
People moved to Karim khan Zand from 7 TIR Square. Heavy SF Presnt attack w/teargas right now
Rt Iran Clashes in 7Tir sq, tear gas in Vali Asr. Chanting "death to Khomenei, hail to Mossadegh"
Suppression forces have closed shops & passages in 7-Tir sq. & Vali-Asr sq. since hours ago. #iranelection

Iran police have issued a warning to protesters, according to Press TV:

"It is the duty of the police to ensure security and order in the society. Therefore any illegal gatherings which may lead to breach of the peace will be firmly dealt with." [Tehran's Police Chief Brigadier General Ahmad-Reza] Radan said.

The police warning came after unconfirmed reports said that defiant opposition supporters were planning to hold fresh protests in the capital Tehran on Tuesday.

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17:39 pm: Further to a New York Times analysis published Monday on who holds power in Iran - answer: The Revolutionary Guard (IRGC) - Iran's Fars new agency reportedly quoted the IRGC's commander of the ground force Brig-Gen. Mohamad Pakpour as saying that The Revolutionary Guard is prepared to suppress any threat to the Islamic republic, especially what he called "soft" threats, apparently referring to the popular protests.

"We, as guardians of the Revolution, enjoy the required (level of) preparedness to defuse the plots and threats of the enemies in all grounds."

The Iranian commander also underlined the necessity for the IRGC to identify enemy plots for the soft overthrow of the Islamic establishment, describing it as a top mission of the IRGC.

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17:15 pm: There have been several reports on Twitter that at 21:00 pm Iran time, people are planning to shut down the electrical circuit by turning on lights and appliances at the same time. Unverified, but here are examples, some with links to sites that indicate which appliances take up more energy.

RT People are calling each other by phone, informing of tonight's plan to shut Iran's electricity circuit down, 9pm. #iranelection
PLEASE RT: **Green Blackout** Tonight at 9 all appliances ON, at 9:05 all appliances OFF #iranelection
Planning to use high electricity 9pm 30Tir? Unsure which appliances consume most energy? Check http://is.gd/1ASep #iranelection #gr88 #iran

This is just another example of how people are using creative ways to protest, in addition to boycotting the baazar - "Iran's economic nerve" -, banks and even workplaces, as reported by the Wall Street Journal earlier this month. A.A. Sheida, this blog's regular writer, told us over e-mail earlier this week that universities are also being boycotted: "The spring semester finals were never given and the professors and students have refused so far to do it."

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13:12 pm: Video of what appears to be Basij forces shooting at protesters, uploaded July 20,2009

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Photo gallery of demonstrations in Iran.The photos are undated. Check this one out:

Click here for the rest.

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12:54pm: A list released Tuesday of what appears to be names of people killed, detained and released since the June 12 elections.

Iran's Press TV has reported that approximately 2,500 people have been arrested since June 12, 2,000 of which have been released.

...more than 2,500 people were arrested over the course of the unrest following the June 12 vote.

Iran's Prosecutor-General Qorban-Ali Dorri Najafabadi said earlier that from among approximately 2,500 detainees, 2,000 people had been released, adding that the remaining 500 individuals would be subject to court action.

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12:43pm: While the Guardian reported Sunday that 36 army officers who planned to attend Friday's prayers with Ayatollah Rafsanjani, a former president and current senior cleric, were arrested.

The officers intended the gesture to show solidarity with the demonstrations against last month's presidential election result, which was won by Mahmoud Ahmadinejad but which has been clouded by allegations of mass fraud.
Rafsanjani used the sermon at Tehran university to challenge the authority of Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, by questioning the result in the presence of the defeated reformist candidate, Mir Hossein Mousavi, and tens of thousands of his supporters.

Iran's Press TV reported similarly that 40 people were arrested on Friday but makes no mention of who they were or what position they held.

Following renewed street protests ensuing the Friday prayers in Tehran, Iran's police department puts the number of those arrested in the demonstrations at 40.

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Pictures reportedly from Friday's prayers in Teheran:

Click here for the rest and for excerpts and translation of Rafsanjani's speech.

Click here for an apparent eyewitness account of the Friday prayers where protesters shouted "Death to Russia" signaling the people's displeasure at what they viewed as Russia's support of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

The loudspeakers began blaring anti-Western rants from inside the prayer hall, which was led by the "slogan vizier," or chant leader. But people were a step ahead. Underground news sites had long denounced the Kremlin's support of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and his brethren in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. If the regime wanted to play the foreign intervention card, people had their own scapegoat ready.
Every "Down with America!" and "Down with Britain!" and "Down with Israel!" from indoors was drowned out by a roar of "Down with Russia!" on the streets.
A large Russian flag - I marveled at the foresight of whoever had brought it - was set on fire. People were turning the regime's tactics against itself.
We pushed forward, a deluge thickened by people spilling in from alleys on either side where they'd been praying. The drone of chanting carried over from other streets and we felt empowered in the knowledge that thousands more were on the move like us.
Those joining in from cross alleys told us that in all the streets north and east of us ending in Enqelab, hundreds of thousands were marching.
It was at that moment that I realized Mousavi's call to "Friday Prayer" had probably drawn a million people and the crackdown was soon to come.

To place this development in context, see this excellent analysis Russia, Ahmadinejad and Iran Reconsidered by the Austin-based Stratfor think tank.

* * *

12:36pm: Italian fashion designer Guillermo Mariotto wears what looks to be a 'Neda Alive' t-shirt while his runway models sport the green band on their wrists and make the "V" sign after a fashion show, apparently in solidarity with Iran's green movement. Green is the color adopted by opposition leader Mir Hossein Mousavi throughout his presidential campaign and thereafter.

For a picture gallery of the show, click here.

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Cracks in the Iranian regime have been showing for some time since the June 12 elections but on Monday, verbal warnings were exchanged over events after Friday's prayers.

Former Iranian president Mohammad Khatami reportedly called for a referendum in order to restore people's faith in the system:

Khatami said Iranians have lost their faith in the ruling political system following the June 12 election, and that a referendum would restore the government's legitimacy.

In response, Ayatollah Ali Khameini "issued a warning to the opposition in general and powerful cleric Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani in particular", as reported by AP:

"The elite should be watchful, since they have been faced with a big test. Failing the test will cause their collapse," Khamenei said Monday in a speech marking a religious holiday. "Anybody who drives the society toward insecurity and disorder is a hated person in the view of the Iranian nation, whoever he is."

Mousavi reportedly told Khameini:

"You are facing something new: an awakened nation, a nation that has been born again and is here to defend its achievements," opposition leader Mir Hossein Mousavi said Monday in comments that appeared pointed directly at Khamenei, in a tone rarely used toward the supreme leader.

For previous coverage of Iran in live-blog format see: