Hundreds of thousands of Iranians in Tehran and several other cities have rallied to support presidential candidate Mir Hussein Mousavi, defying a government ban on demonstrations. Protesters are calling for the annulment of the presidential election results, saying President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad‘s victory in the 12th of June election is a fraud. Security forces have struck down hard on demonstrators, and at least one person was killed in Tehran today.
Although Twitter, Facebook and YouTube are currently blocked in Iran, many Iranians have been using proxies to bypass filters and report up-to-the-minute news. Iranian authorities have also blocked SMS text messages, and are also filtering several news websites reflecting reformist opinions.
Iran09 tweeted earlier today:
“I confirm that there's a Basij [Islamist militia] station around the square and they shot ppl from the roof. #iranelection”
Jadi tweeted:
“People are still joining to the demonstration. Chanting ‘Mousavi! Mousavi! Take back my vote’ #IranElection”
Mousavi spoke and called for the election results to be reviewed. He said he is ready to take part in a new election. There are some video news clips about the election here.
As protest grows so does repression
Students who protested against the presidential election at diffrent universities were attacked by security forces. Here is a video film showing a dormitory of the University of Tehran on Sunday night.
Update: Here is a Flickr slideshow of photos showing more of the destruction left behind by security forces in University of Tehran dormitories on Sunday night. According to the Flickr user, Agha Hadi, many students were jailed.
Below, is a film showing an Iranian woman taking on security forces by a bus stop.
Azarmehr comments on this film:
Look at this brave Iranian lioness, first she swing kicks and then she side kicks the neanderthal truncheon wielding riot guard! She gets a few baton strikes but this is the price for freedom and she cares not.Blessed is our motherland Iran, for having such daughters. The fear is gone and the momentum continues.
Thanks to Tehranlive we have several photos of Iranian people's protest and resistance movement:
Green Vote tweeted [fa] that one of people's slogan is, ‘Don't be afraid, we are all together’. Green Vote also tweeted that Mohammad Ali Tarekh, a student activist, was arrested in Shiraz.
Several bloggers such as Zeitoon report [fa] that people chant Allah-0-Akbar (God is Greater) from their houses during the night. Mousavi asked people to chant Allah-o-Akbar from the rooftops of their homes. During 1978-79 Islamic Revolution people use to do the same as a protest move against Shah.
Where is Obama?
View from Iran, an American blogger, writes:
Ultimately, I know that rhetoric is just rhetoric. That the words of a president do not actually change history even though they become part of it. If ever there was a time for Obama to turn on his rhetorical charm, it is now. Today at 4 pm there will be demonstrations in 20 cities in Iran. My friends *want to be on the streets.* They are parents, civil servants, accountants, receptionists, and yes students. In the end, with all of the violence, I am not sure that they will show up.
So Obama, turn on your charm. Use your powers of rhetoric to tell Iranians that, while we won't be sending in the marines, our hearts are with you. I know you can do a better job than I can.
Isfahan's suffering
Tehran is not the only city where people protesting have been repressed. Protesters in Isfahan, have also been the targets of security forces.
Iranevents has published several photos of Iranian protests.
People are being chased by security forces here:
and here:
43 comments
“Blessed is our motherland Iran, for having such daughters.”
Iran has brave, wonderful women. My heart is with all of them.
Well done, they make us all proud.
uncle monty’s blog – thebiggerissue.org – has presented some interesting comments on “watching iran unravel.” thought you’d like to know … jl. june 17th, 2oo9.
THE CROWDS ARE IN FOR A LOUSY FEW MONTHS
This genie is out of the bottle, and change may be slow in coming, but it will come….
http://pacificgatepost.blogspot.com/2009/06/new-dawn-for-iran.html
As citizens of this world we must do what we can to stop the corruption that is plaguing Iran and the Iranian people. I don’t say this as an American, I say this as a human being who believes in rights for other human beings.
It is hoped that this is not so much a “revolution” as it is a beginning of serious change. Revolution within countries never work out because new egos and self interests get simply get in the way of people’s rights, as happened in ’79.
Gradual transformation would be preferred. The viciousness of the leadership will dictate whether or not a full blown revolution is in the making today in Iran.
http://pacificgatepost.blogspot.com/2009/06/new-dawn-for-iran.html
This must scare the hell out of the chinese and every other totalitarian regime in the world. We are looking at the new face of revolution. Despotes beware!