Iran Elections/Riots

[Jadestone]

I don't really know what to think or say. A friend sent me this, copied and pasted from antoehr site (sorry, no link for this one... I tried looking up the original but it seems it's been spread around the internet from person to person now)

On Friday, millions of people waited for hours in line to vote in Iran’s Presidential election. Later that night, as votes came in, Mousavi was alerted that he was winning by a two-thirds margin. Then there was a change. Suddenly, it was Ahmedinejad who had 68% of the vote - in areas which have been firmly against his political party, he overwhelmingly won. Within three hours, millions of votes were supposedly counted - the victor was Ahmedinejad. Immediately fraud was suspected - there was no way he could have won by this great a margin with such opposition. Since then, reports have been coming in of burned ballots, or in some cases numbers being given without any being counted at all…

…The people of Iran took the streets and rooftops. They shout “Death to the dictator” and “Allah o akbar.” They join together to protest. Peacefully. The police attack some, but they stay strong. Riots happen, and the shouting continues all night. Text messaging was disabled, as was satellite, websites which can spread information such as twitter, facebook, youtube, and the BBC are blocked in the country. At five in the morning, Arabic speaking soldiers (the people of Iran speak Farsi) stormed a university in the capital city of Tehran. While sleeping in their dormitories, five students were killed. Others were wounded. These soldiers are thought to have been brought in by Ahmedinejad from Lebanon. Today, 192 of the university’s faculty have resigned in protest.
Mousavi requested that they government allow a peaceful rally to occur this morning - the request was denied. Many thought that it would not happen. Nevertheless, first a few thousand people showed up in the streets of Tehran. At this point, it is estimated that 1 to 2 million people were there. Mousavi spoke on the top of a car. The police stood by. For a few hours, everything was peaceful. Right now, the same cannot be said. Reports of injuries, shootings, and killings are flooding the internet. Twitter has been an invaluable source - those in Iran who still know how to access it are updating regularly with picture evidence.

(looking again after I posted: found several sites directing back to the person who seems to have written it--http://one-hoopy-frood.livejournal.com/, a bit down the page titled "Why you should care." I hate to trust single people but there's not much else available at this time...)


And this one really hit me... it's from a medical student currently in Iran, blogging what's going on (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/06/1 ... 15189.html). I haven't been to this site before--does anyone know how reliable this is?

Hello,

It's painful to watch what's happening.

I don't want anything to do with what has been said this far, as I neither have the strength nor the resilience to face all these unfathomable events.

I only want to speak about what I have witnessed. I am a medical student. There was chaos last night at the trauma section in one of our main hospitals. Although by decree, all riot-related injuries were supposed to be sent to military hospitals, all other hospitals were filled to the rim. Last night, nine people died at our hospital and another 28 had gunshot wounds. All hospital employees were crying till dawn. They (government) removed the dead bodies on back of trucks, before we were even able to get their names or other information. What can you even say to the people who don't even respect the dead. No one was allowed to speak to the wounded or get any information from them. This morning the faculty and the students protested by gathering at the lobby of the hospital where they were confronted by plain cloths anti-riot militia, who in turn closed off the hospital and imprisoned the staff. The extent of injuries are so grave, that despite being one of the most staffed emergency rooms, they've asked everyone to stay and help--I'm sure it will even be worst tonight.

What can anyone say in face of all these atrocities? What can you say to the family of the 13 year old boy who died from gunshots and whose dead body then disappeared?

This issue is not about cheating(election) anymore. This is not about stealing votes anymore. The issue is about a vast injustice inflected on the people. They've put a baton in the hand of every 13-14 year old to smash the faces of "the bunches who are less than dirt" (government is calling the people who are uprising dried-up torn and weeds) .

This is what sickens me from dealing with these issues. And from those who shut their eyes and close their ears and claim the riots are in opposition of the government and presidency!! No! The people's complaint is against the egregious injustices committed against the people.

On the front page of the website, http://www.huffingtonpost.com, there's a slideshow of pictures but I can't really tell if it's just violence form being in the riot with so many people or actual police brutality. A part of me hopes it's more exaggerated than it really is, but it's still sickinging, just the basic denial of rights and freedom the protests stem from. I hate trusting twitter and Facebook and other sites I usually tend to think of as unreliable, but with the government blocking as much media as it can I don't know where else anyone can really look. The news on television (the parts of it I've seen at least) seem not able to say much on it for this reason, although they're beginning to a bit more.

Thoughts? Reactions? Anyone have other information?

[Kristie]

I heard a brief thing on the radio about how they won't let reporters cover the riots anymore. It's crazy.

[Chinaski]

Fucking Iranians.

[Hermit]

While Mousavi's policies look more enlightened than Mahmoud ( I'm a dinner jacket) Ahmadinejad's, I would not have gotten too excited, had he won the election, because nobody can stand as a candidate for the presidency unless they receive permission by the Guardian Council, and the Guardian Council is basically a tool of the Ayatollahs. While this is the case, nobody with a policy platform of ending theocratic rule in Iran will ever be allowed to stand.

[Animavore]

Viva la revolution.

Unveil Women in Iran! It is high time to throw the veils out!
by Azar Majedi
Women!

Women’s liberation movement in Iran has earned the respect and admiration of all. It has not let the Islamic regime to rest for even one second. Any progression of this movement is tantamount to a huge set back of this misogynous regime. There has been 30 years of constant conflict and battle between women’s liberation movement and the Islamic regime. By imposing the Islamic veil and gender apartheid, the Islamic regime has kept the society in captivity.

Today, the mass protest movement has resolutely come forth. Society is in an upheaval. The balance of forces has turned towards people and liberation from tyranny. It is exactly in such situation that the brave and freedom loving women in Iran should conquer yet another milestone in their struggle against the Islamic regime, against slavery and misogyny in defence of people, freedom and equality. It is high time to throw the veils out and put an end to gender apartheid. It is high time to unveil, this symbol of women’s slavery and subservience.

Brave and libertarian women!

Let us make history in the name of liberation. Let us mark the name of women’s liberation movement in Iran in the history of women’s liberation against Islamic misogyny. Unveiling, during these historic days will take us forward and send shivers down regime’s spine.

Long Live Women’s Liberation

No to Women’s suppression!

No to Women’s Oppression!
Azar Majedi

http://richarddawkins.net/article,3955, ... zar-Majedi

[eXcommunicate]

A rooftop poem, the calm before the storm, posted yesterday after the Ayatollah promised death to anyone protesting Saturday.




Whether the election was rigged or not is a moot point once this starts happening:

(WARNING: GRAPHIC)

[Chinaski]

Jesus that guy's anguish is chilling.

[al-rawandi]

A rooftop poem, the calm before the storm, posted yesterday after the Ayatollah promised death to anyone protesting Saturday.




Whether the election was rigged or not is a moot point once this starts happening:

(WARNING: GRAPHIC)

The Basij are nothing more than a gang of religious thugs, employed to defend the "revolution" from democracy. Hopefully the government will teeter and fall, but that seems very unlikely.

[Transgirlofnofaith]

The Basij are nothing more than a gang of religious thugs, employed to defend the "revolution" from democracy. Hopefully the government will teeter and fall, but that seems very unlikely.

It still doesn't seem all that clear what's going to happen. As it is, the protests have gotten a life of their own, as the protesters balked at the head fanatic's ultimatum and said "fuck that". But they don't seem to be at the point where they can overturn the police or military, and it doesn't seem like those organizations are switching sides. So it looks like it might continue for a few weeks of civil(odd adjective to use to describe a theocracy) disobedience, with stronger demonstrations of dissent and a refusal to follow the fanatic's rules from now on. Has anyone seen an analysis on any news services that speculates as to the eventual outcome of this would be? Could you post links if you have seen that?

[eXcommunicate]

I have read that Iranian mourning for the dead goes in phases, like 7, 10 and 40 day cycles and the 40th day is supposed to be the most important of the mourning days. That's how the regime of the Shah was toppled in 1979. After each successive wave of public mourning (street demonstrations) for the dead there were more victims, causing stronger and stronger and bigger demonstrations that would occur at 40-day intervals. Eventually the whole country was out demonstrating and rioting, which toppled the government.

[Gawdzilla Sama]

I watched the overthrow of the Shah. The capture of our Embassy. A decade or so later I watched the Tianamen Square events. I hope this turns out better for the people of Iran.

[JOZeldenrust]

I have read that Iranian mourning for the dead goes in phases, like 7, 10 and 40 day cycles and the 40th day is supposed to be the most important of the mourning days. That's how the regime of the Shah was toppled in 1979. After each successive wave of public mourning (street demonstrations) for the dead there were more victims, causing stronger and stronger and bigger demonstrations that would occur at 40-day intervals. Eventually the whole country was out demonstrating and rioting, which toppled the government.

But back then there was a strong movement of progressive (mostly communist, but this was 1979, communism wasn't yet the monolithic evil it would become) students, and a bunch of influential shi'ite clergy in exile. Right now foreign Iranians are mostly scholars (mostly political moderates, at least by our standards), or Reza Pahlavi and his sycophants (who have lost all credibility with the Iranian people, and for good reason), and activist students aren't nearly as numerous as they were say ten years ago as the regime has been actively barring politically active leftwing youths from Teheran University.

Oh and to clear up an apparent misunderstanding; the Basij aren't religious nuts (at least not exclusively), they're young thugs thoroughly enjoying the feeling of beating up people without any risk of punishment. They're more akin to the SA, or even child soldiers, then to religious warriors like crusaders or hte inquisition.

[al-rawandi]

I have read that Iranian mourning for the dead goes in phases, like 7, 10 and 40 day cycles and the 40th day is supposed to be the most important of the mourning days. That's how the regime of the Shah was toppled in 1979. After each successive wave of public mourning (street demonstrations) for the dead there were more victims, causing stronger and stronger and bigger demonstrations that would occur at 40-day intervals. Eventually the whole country was out demonstrating and rioting, which toppled the government.

But back then there was a strong movement of progressive (mostly communist, but this was 1979, communism wasn't yet the monolithic evil it would become) students, and a bunch of influential shi'ite clergy in exile. Right now foreign Iranians are mostly scholars (mostly political moderates, at least by our standards), or Reza Pahlavi and his sycophants (who have lost all credibility with the Iranian people, and for good reason), and activist students aren't nearly as numerous as they were say ten years ago as the regime has been actively barring politically active leftwing youths from Teheran University.

Oh and to clear up an apparent misunderstanding; the Basij aren't religious nuts (at least not exclusively), they're young thugs thoroughly enjoying the feeling of beating up people without any risk of punishment. They're more akin to the SA, or even child soldiers, then to religious warriors like crusaders or hte inquisition.

The Basij is made up of people who are just finished with their military service and older folks who like to play soldier. They are carrying out the orders of a theocratic state.... gleefully, should I assume their are athiests? This is also the unit that carried out human wave suicide attacks in the Iran-Iraq War. Again, the mark of fanaticism.

[RPizzle]

I was watching the news the other day, which was about the woman who was shot. It seems her entire family just up and disappeared. Somehow, I doubt they will be 'found'.

Also, the latest information that I've read says that the high clerics are calling for executions. Killing all the leaders is believed to be fairly likely with the way their legal system is wired against 'enemies of God'. I feel this is going to end up a damned Greek tragedy.

[Transgirlofnofaith]

I was watching the news the other day, which was about the woman who was shot. It seems her entire family just up and disappeared. Somehow, I doubt they will be 'found'.

Also, the latest information that I've read says that the high clerics are calling for executions. Killing all the leaders is believed to be fairly likely with the way their legal system is wired against 'enemies of God'. I feel this is going to end up a damned Greek tragedy.

Considering the ancient Greeks fought a war against a much larger persia and won, I think that's historically insultive to the Greeks to use that term. [pedantry mode off]

As it is, the police and military haven't turned, so it look like this is winding down. But the well has been poisoned(hopefully it's the one with that stupid accident-prone 12th imam), and the repercussions from this will carry on in Iranian society for years to come.