[1]Tehran protests, via jomhour.info
Hundreds of thousands of Iranians in Tehran and several other cities have rallied [2]to support presidential candidate Mir Hussein Mousavi [3], defying a government ban on demonstrations. Protesters are calling for the annulment of the presidential election results, saying President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad [4]‘s victory in the 12th of June election [5]is a fraud. Security forces have struck down hard on demonstrators, and at least one person was killed [6] in Tehran today.
Although Twitter, Facebook and YouTube are currently blocked in Iran, many Iranians have been using proxies [7] 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 [8] earlier today:
“I confirm that there's a Basij [9] [Islamist militia] station around the square and they shot ppl from the roof. #iranelection”
Jadi tweeted: [10]
“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 [11].
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 [12] 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 [13], many students were jailed.
Below, is a film showing an Iranian woman taking on security forces by a bus stop.
Azarmehr comments [14] 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 [15] we have several photos of Iranian people's protest and resistance movement:
Green Vote tweeted [16] [fa] that one of people's slogan is, ‘Don't be afraid, we are all together’. Green Vote also tweeted [17] that Mohammad Ali Tarekh, a student activist, was arrested in Shiraz.
Several bloggers such as Zeitoon report [18] [fa] that people chant Allah-0-Akbar (God is Greater) from their houses during the night. Mousavi asked people to chant Allah-o-Akbar [19]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: [20]
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 [21] several photos of Iranian protests.
People are being chased by security forces here:
and here:
