Monday
Dec072009
The Latest from Iran (7 December): The Marches of 16 Azar
Monday, December 7, 2009 at 14:35 
2150 GMT: To end the day, we've posted a review by Josh Shahryar of the day's events.2100 GMT: The Assault on Zahra Rahnavard. More on the alleged attack on Mir Hossein Mousavi's wife this afternoon at Tehran University: Persian2English has an English summary.
NEW Iran’s 16 Azar: A Review of the Day’s Events Throughout the Country
NEW Latest Iran Video: The Marches of 16 Azar – 2nd Set (7 December)
NEW Iran’s 16 Azar Protests: An Interim Analysis & Questions for the Green Movement
NEW Latest Iran Video: The Marches of 16 Azar (7 December)
NEW 16 Azar Opinion: “Iran’s Voice Will Be Heard”
NEW 16 Azar Special: A Letter from Inside Iran
Latest Iran Videos: The Eve of 16 Azar “Allahu Akhbar” and “Death to Dictator” Chants (6 December)
Iran Opinion: “Why The Green Movement Will Prevail”
Latest Iran Videos: The Eve of 16 Azar “Allahu Akhbar” Chants (6 December)
Iran Document: Mousavi Statement on 16 Azar and the Student Movement (6 December)
Iran Document: The Rafsanjani Speech to Students (6 December)
Iran: Routes and Information for 16 Azar (7 December)
Iran’s Critical Moment: 24 Hours to Go
2055 GMT: Britain Leads, Will US Follow? British Foreign Minister David Miliband has taken notice of today's events in a statement:
I share the concern of many people about the use of force to stifle demonstrations on Students' Day. This follows the large scale abuses of human rights that have taken place since the presidential elections on 12 June.
Freedom of speech and freedom of political expression are fundamental values which all governments should respect. We look to the Iranian authorities to up-hold the freedoms of their own citizens, not stifle them.
Will Britain's allies in Washington also issue a declaration of concern over "human rights"?
1935 GMT: Mediawatch. Hat-tip to The New York Times, with reporters Nazila Fathi (from Toronto) and Robert Worth (from Beirut) providing a good overview of the events today.
And a thumbs-down to The Daily Telegraph for unnecessarily provocative "news". Even if the claim that police fired "warning shots" is true, the headline, "Iranian police shoot at unarmed protesters during Tehran demonstrations", is a distortion beyond accuracy and common sense.
1925 GMT: Kalemeh, the website associated with Mir Hossein Mousavi, is reporting that Mousavi's wife Zahra Rahnavard, a faculty member at Tehran University, was physically attacked by a group of unknown women on the campus.
1910 GMT: Press TV Politics. Looks like those at the state outlet who are not so anti-opposition have tinkered with the coverage of today's events. The opening paragraph of the story that we reported earlier (1730 GMT) emphasized that the National Student Day had been "hijacked" by "anti-government demonstrations...foiled thanks to the presence of anti-riot forces".
This is the less provocative update: "Authorities on Monday arrested a number of people who damaged public property as opposition protesters and students staged rallies on Student Day in Iran, reports say."
1900 GMT: Back from an academic break. Thanks to TN McLaughlin for keeping an eye on developments. Just catching up with latest news.
1730 GMT: We've just posted the latest videos from Tabriz and and Najaf Abad universities at our latest video page.
1700 GMT: Scott Lucas "has left the building" for a couple of hours and the site is being watched over by EA's new team member, TN McLaughlin.
1633 GMT: Urgent --- Tavakoli Detention. An EA contact confirms the arrest today of Majid Tavakoli, a leader of the Amir Kabir University student movement. Tavakoli was also arrested and injured in detention in 2007.
1623 GMT: More from an EA source inside Iran:
I'm gonna check the streets, Haft-e Tir, and Ferdowsi before going home!
Right now I am getting this news from the students at the University of Tehran. People are pouring into the streets gradually as they are leaving their work, and more protesters are going to Enghelab Sq. Students leaving the university and ordinary people ARE joining them!
1615 GMT: Must-See Story of Day. It comes from none other than Iranian state media Press TV, who have summarised the significance of 16 Azar:
Students in Iran gathered to commemorate the national Student Day as reports suggest a number of anti-government protesters have attempted to hijack the occasion....
The occasion...provided opposition protesters with an opportunity to stage anti-government demonstrations. However, their efforts were foiled thanks to the presence of anti-riot forces in several parts of the capital....
The Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) reported that police arrested a number of the rioters who set on fire trash bins. The news agency added that a group of rioters wearing green clothes destroyed the Amir Kabir University's entrance gate on Vali Asr street and attacked the students inside the campus. The rioters, IRNA said, also tore down the security station inside the university. They also threw rocks at a bank on campus. The report added that students in return chanted slogans, calling the rioters "traitors."
We have written Press TV to confirm who and where were the students who protested for the Government today, rather than "hijacking" the occasion. So far, no reply.
1555 GMT: Was Rafsanjani's Daughter at Rally Today? Chatter has persisted throughout the day that Faezeh Hashemi, daughter of former President Hashemi Rafsanjani and a prominent activist, was at a university rally in Tehran. We've posted video which claims to be of Hashemi today.
1545 GMT: Curious. One of the most active sites in the post-election discussion, Revolutionary Road, has disappeared.
1510 GMT: Leaders Who Have Spoken (Kind Of): The one prominent Green Movement figure who is in the media today is Mehdi Karroubi, but it is in an interview with the French newspaper Le Monde, carried out before 16 Azar. The soundbites, as put out by Agence France Presse, are pretty bland and point towards the theme of "unity":
The solution to arrive at reconciliation is tolerance and acceptance of criticism. We need to work to restore the trust between the authorities and the people. Repression is not at all the solution, neither today nor tomorrow.
Mir Hossein Mousavi's intervention is with an Iranian website, his own Kalemeh, condemning the authorities:
You fight people on the streets, but you are constantly losing your dignity in people’s minds. Even if you silence all the universities, what are you going to do with the society?
1500 GMT: Observations That Make You Go Hmmm.... "No major reformist leader was present during the protests."
1410 GMT: Add Khaje Nasir and possibly Hamedan Universities to the list of locations of protests. Hamedan has been largely free of protests up to now.
One interesting notes: demonstrators in clips in our videos have been waving Iranian flags stripped of the Islamic "coat of arms" in the centre.
1330 GMT: We've just posted a second set of videos of demonstrations from across Iran. Meanwhile, there is confirmation of protests at Azad University in Tehran and Azad University in Arak City.
1250 GMT: Protests in Isfahan confirmed.
1245 GMT: First pictures of large gatherings outside the Universities:
1220 GMT: Protest at Kermanshah University is now confirmed. Heavy clashes near Tehran University, with reports of beatings.
1210 GMT: We've posted an interim analysis from our Mr Smith, asking a couple of important questions about today's protests.
1205 GMT: More from our inside source in Tehran (see 1145 GMT):
All Radios are blocked, and there is no internet connection around University of Tehran.
At the beginning of the Taleghani St. there were - and still are - at least 10 totally BLACK buses and vans, and some vehicles that carried the guard-rails in order to block the streets, but the Buses are not EMPTY! They are full of riot forces! And there is a special van right in front of the eastern gate of the uni full of women commandos to catch the women [protesters.
1200 GMT: A picture has been posted of the demonstration at the Iran University of Science and Technology.
1145 GMT: This in from a source inside Iran:
I've been at University of Tehran since 8:00 this morning and so far there were
only a handful of clashes between the students and security forces.
University of Tehran, UNDER HEAVY CONTROL: The plain cloths forces are in the university and are controlling all gates of the University. The Uni of THR is surrounded by the security forces. They are at all the streets close to the Uni of THR, Enghelab Sq., Qods St., Vesal and Taleghani St.
There are a bunch of at least 50 security forces at every corner of all junctions close to Uni. The Valiasr-Taleghani, Vesal-Taleghani, Enghelab Valiasr Junctions. The Traffic Police doesn’t allow any car to stop even for a second in Valiasr and Taleghani St.
Student of the Uni of THR gathered in front of the Western Gate of the Uni and were chanting "Death to Khameneie and Death to Dictator", where security police attacked them and spread them soon. Uni of THR is under HEAVY control and the Plain Cloths forces with their radios are controlling every gate of the Uni.
1120 GMT: First picture of protest at Elm-o-Sanat University.
1105 GMT: Take That! Al Jazeera English, which has been struggling to report from Iran, just led with video of the Tehran University demonstration and the voiceover, "The Pictures the Government Didn't Want You to See".
1100 GMT: Confirmed. Tear gas used in at least two locations in Tehran.
And pictures are up indicating the size of the gathering at Sharif University.
1055 GMT: Catching Up with Protests. After posting a series of videos, here is our view: Protests in Tehran at Tehran Uni, Amir Kabir University, Sharif University, with clashes at Vali-e Asr. Protests outside Tehran at Mashhad University and Shiraz University, although the latter appears to be relatively small (100s rather than 1000s) at this point.
1015 GMT: This in from an EA correspondent with excellent links inside Iran:
"The number of students is increasing by the minute. There are a great number of plainclothes officers present at this rally. Through raising their hands and giving the victory sign, and by presenting the symbols of the green movement, the students are circulating in and around the university.
The chants are 'Down with the Demagogues', 'Mahmoud the traitor, You have destroyed us and the soil of this country, You have killed the country's youth, God is Great, God is Great…'
There are clashes between students and guards standing outside of the university at Vali-Asr. Some photographers and cameraman are taking pictures and filming in order to identify the students. According to the news, there are buses parked at the Somaie Park Street to transfer the arrested students.
There is an organized group of Basijis moving towards the Vali-asr gate. This group includes plain-clothes officers and a small number of university Basij and has clashed with green students."
1005 GMT: Claimed picture of gathering at Amir Kabir University
0949 GMT: First article from a major US newspaper (as opposed to wire service report) --- Borzou Daragahi in the Los Angeles Times, "Students, security forces face off in Tehran".
0945 GMT: We are treating this report, from Josh Shahryar, as confirmed. Two women have been arrested near Tehran University, while 30 buses have brought security forces to the area.
0940 GMT: Unconfirmed but Important? We are being flooded with reports, from good sources, which we are trying to verify. Here goes:
Students gathering in large numbers at Amir Kabir University in Tehran, possibly clashing with security forces, and at Tehran University. 1000 students at Shiraz University.
Clashes at Enghelab Square near Tehran University. Chants of "Mousavi is an excuse, the entire regime is the target".
0935 GMT: We've posted the first videos of the day, the gathering of students at Sharif University in Tehran.
0855 GMT: The First Reliable Snapshot? Rah-e-Sabz, the reformist website, reports that all quiet so far in Tehran with no violence. Cellphones have been cut off.
0845 GMT: Reza Sayah of CNN, from a source: "Pockets of crowds chanting 'God is Great' along Revolution [Enghelab] Ave near Tehran University".
0825 GMT: Reports are coming in of clashes and "beatings" by security forces, both via Twitter and ePersian Radio.
In other post-June marches, there has been a pattern where these reports emerge early in the day. On occasions, they have proven to be true; on others (such as the gathering in front of the Iranian Parliament in June), they have been exaggerated.
So, for now, we are treating all of these as unconfirmed and will not post until we have reliable source for confirmation.
0815 GMT: Report - "School of Veterinary Studies on Gharib Street, Tehran also surrounded and occupied by police"
0755 GMT: Report - sounds of protest being heard from inside Sharif University in Tehran.
0735 GMT: Report that Tabriz University surrounded by security.
0730 GMT: More photos appear to verify the security presence around Tehran University.
0725 GMT: Going to Be a Long Day. With the security clampdown around Tehran University, protest routes have been revised. The first "official" marches will begin about 3 p.m. local time (1130 GMT).
0715 GMT: First photo from today in Tehran, if authentic, verifies the security presence around Tehran University (see 0600 GMT). There are forces on motorcyles and a white screen to prevent people from outside seeing into the University.
0700 GMT: "Modarres Highway and the Abbas Abad and North Mofatteh intersections have been quiet. Motorcyclists and plain-clothes officers can be seen in the surrounding streets."
0635 GMT: Reuters is the first "Western" media outlet to pick up on today's events: "Iranian police surround university to prevent protest".
Reports that G-mail, Ultrasurf, and Freegate are NOT working inside Iran.
0630 GMT: "The situation around Karim Khan Bridge is normal, and no one has so far witnessed the security forces and the anti-riot police in large numbers. However, the presence of plain-clothes officers has been quite noticeable."
0615 GMT: Mediawatch. CNN International TV has run a 60-second overview "Dissent in Iran", with the country "bracing for more student protests" and a Government crack-down. Don't expect much soon from the station, however, as it is struggling for information and sources; its Twitter feed declares, "Monitoring all information from Iran today on possble protests but being very careful as there"s confusion about."
The BBC has issued an open call for information from anyone inside Iran.
Andrew Sullivan, who provided excellent live-blog coverage early in the crisis, has promised to return today, but as he is writing from the US, his "Daily Dish" will swing into action around 1200 GMT.
0600 GMT: We're preparing for the day. A full English translation of Mir Hossein Mousavi's statement on 16 Azar and the student movement will soon be posted, there is video of last night's rooftop "Allahu Akhbar" protests, and we have published a letter from an Iranian who recently returned to the country. We also have an analysis of the significance of today's event and an opinion from Iran News Now, "Why the Green Movement Will Prevail".
First reports indicate "all sidewalks around Tehran University occupied by security forces and main gates covered by scaffold"; Sharif University also said to be surrounded by security. There is a report of "Basij militia and plain-clothes officers concentrated around the following streets: Fatemi, Karagar, and Enghelab". Internet traiffic is very slow"
tagged 16 Azar, Al Jazeera English, Amir Kabir University, Andrew Sullivan, Azad University Arak, Azad University Tehran, Borzou Daragahi, Britain, David Miliband, Elm-o-Sanat University, Hamedan University, Iran, Iran Elections 2009, Iran University of Science and Technology, Islamic Republic News Agency, Josh Shahryar, Kalameh, Kermanshah University, Khaje Nasir University, Le Monde, Los Angeles Times, Majid Tavakoli, Mehdi Karroubi, Mir Hossein Mousavi, Nazila Fathi, New York Times, Press TV, Rah-e-Sabz, Reuters, Revolutionary Road, Reza Sayah, Robert Worth, Sharif University, Shiraz University, Tabriz University, Tehran University, ePersian Radio in Middle East & Iran
16 Azar, Al Jazeera English, Amir Kabir University, Andrew Sullivan, Azad University Arak, Azad University Tehran, Borzou Daragahi, Britain, David Miliband, Elm-o-Sanat University, Hamedan University, Iran, Iran Elections 2009, Iran University of Science and Technology, Islamic Republic News Agency, Josh Shahryar, Kalameh, Kermanshah University, Khaje Nasir University, Le Monde, Los Angeles Times, Majid Tavakoli, Mehdi Karroubi, Mir Hossein Mousavi, Nazila Fathi, New York Times, Press TV, Rah-e-Sabz, Reuters, Revolutionary Road, Reza Sayah, Robert Worth, Sharif University, Shiraz University, Tabriz University, Tehran University, ePersian Radio in Middle East & Iran
Reader Comments (44)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DiQJUeXbUxs" rel="nofollow">Video of Faezeh Hashemi today.
Both Tehran Bureau and Verbrugge say she was arrested.
http://www.iranhumanrights.org/2009/12/campus-protests/" rel="nofollow">THIS might be why Mousavi and Karroubi are no-shows.
Scott,
Good job on the day. You've been right on top of it.
e.
So who is the new team member of TN McLaughlin ? a name maybe ?
What interest does an American website/person have to make a website about Iran and try to be competative too to draw a good picture of the today's event ?
Does Mr Scott Lucas not have to work anywhere ? is this his job ? so how does he support himself and his family ? Is he Iranian ? or is he a very very sweet person who just devotes himself to the human rights around the world ? who are you ? what gives you the right to do this ? why do you do it ? are you supported from the $70m that the US allocates to anti Iran propaganda ? The only true chance that we ever had for democracy and the rule of law in Iran since the 1906 constitutional revolution was taken away by YOUR CIA's Kermit Roozvelt and MI6's Shapour Reporter when they toppled the popular government of Dr Mosadegh in favor of their own pupit, the shah, in 1953 ,, now you are claiming that you are doing something for the welfare of the Iranians ?? Tell me one solid example of US help for the Iranian nation in the past 100 years ? why are you doing this sir ? stir up waters to catch fish ?
That's a really funny post :))) It's even funnier, because the only "fish" that are swimming from Iran, today, are government fish, what with the internet shut down.
Edward (and all on EA),
Much appreciated --- and thanks to EA colleagues for hard work on the day,
S.
Kayvon,
Thank you for your e-mail.
My biography is under the "About" section of the website, including my interest in and work on US foreign policy and US-Iranian relations. And, in that academic work, I've been critical of the CIA's role in the overthrow of the Mossadegh Government as well as the US Government's more recent interventions and efforts at regime change.
As for fishing, I'm terrible at it, despite my grandfather's best efforts in a boat most Saturdays in central Alabama.
S.
IRE,
Thank you. I hadn't realised that A Street Journalist (which I haven't had chance to read yet) is new incarnation of Revolutionary Road group.
S.
I dunno, I'm thinking Kayvon might be a spoof. A really good spoof, but a spoof nonetheless. If not, welcome to the "Velvet Revolution," Lucas! HAHAHAHAHA..., ahem.
You didn't read that.
Anyhow, to serious business. Can someone translate http://www.kaleme.org/1388/09/16/klm-5034" rel="nofollow">THIS Kaleme piece?
A twitter report claims it says Zahra Rahnavard was out w/ protesters, attacked, and hurt badly.
http://info.francetelevisions.fr/
In France, main TV news (I saw Fr2), at peak time - 7 pm GMT, covered this yesterday, and today.
Yesterday they showed a journalist's interview with a student who had been arrested previously and a basij who said that they were all 'very nice'.
Tonight, they said that their journalists were banned and showed citizen's video of protests.
In Hamadan a student ( a girl ) was thrown, from the second floor, out of the building by the plain-clothes according to" greenrevolutiongroup " facebook
News from a demonstration in Frankfurt: Many protesters shot and wounded today, unconfirmed casualties. A friend, who just returned from Tehran, confirmed the news of the earlier mentioned visitor that Moussavi and Karroubi are only an excuse for the real target to bring down this regime. Within four months prices for daily goods have augmented between 20 to 80 percent.
Parastou Forouhar, who was in Tehran to commemorate the eleventh anniversary of the murder of her parents, was denied her passport at the airport. A new hostage to the regime.
Since Eid-e Ghorban (festival of sacrifice) the IRI has got a new flag, just watch it here: http://tinyurl.com/ydlvmuc
No Kevina ,, I am not a spoof ,, In fact I have been a journalist in Iran for over 25 years and I am presently the correspondent of one of the most reputable international newspapers in Iran ,, what I said is true ,, why do you find it hard to believe ,, what makes you think that I am wrong ? I am an Iranian and what is said is what had happened here in 1953 and still ,, Regarding Lucas, he did mention his intentions for setting up this site and I do believe him ,, he may not know it himself but I have worked with him before ,, but this does not mean that such propagandas originating from US does not exist ,, if you think not, then you are very wrong and you dont know the structure of US foreign policy ,,
For your information, I am not a Pro-Ahmadinejad at all and I have in fact directly criticised him several times to his face ,, Once a Pro journalist said to him "Sir if you permit us, we will go straight from here to the den of the old wolf ( British Embassy ) and give them what we gave the Americans, what they deserve" AN replied : although our friend is some how full of feelings but let them hear this, this is the voice of our people, this is what they want" ,,, this was during a press conference,, so when the live cameras switched off, I went to him and said " Sir, with a few thousand years of civilization, and a big snob and with such a large and costly ministry of foreign affairs, can we not do anything else but to go up people's walls ? it is certainly not what I say sir and I am sure there are many like me too ,, so he just looked at me and said "have you found me again ? "
Kayvon,
Thank you for this e-mail. Speaking personally, my objective has been to create and write for a site which could present news and opinion and encourage discussion. Part of that motive is because, having worked as an academic on Governments and propaganda and on the structures of US and British foreign policy, I wanted to get behind the headlines --- which Governments and agencies try to influence --- to put out stories and analysis that I think matter.
For many reasons, I think that Iran 2009 is one of the stories that matters a great deal, in its significance for people around the world and of course in its significance for Iranians. It is in that spirit that I prefer engagement --- not President Obama's engagement but my own vision of it --- to intervention. In that spirit, it is a pleasure to exchange ideas with you.
S.
Scott ,,
I must say that I do appreciate the time and efforts that you are investing in this ,,
I also think that you have reached your objective according to your own description of it, since many of the issues indicated on your site was not and will not be mentioned by any of the news agencies ,,
Iran 2009 is very important, I surely agree ,, but so is the United States 2009 very important since it can and will influence the whole world ,,
But do you think that people like me and you can make a difference ?? would we ever be in a position to make decisions that could be beneficiary to the whole world ?
Law 45 says "Preach the need for change, but never reform too much at once" ,,
16 Azar is over successfully, now only 9 days left to Moharam!!
I would like to discuss the lessons of our fights in order to fully prepare ourselves for the coming major days of Moharam (25-26 December).
1- Yesterday we managed to spread the demonstrations to all major cities in Iran.
2- For the first time ever, many universities got seriously involved in demonstrations. I personally would never imagine such strong engagement of students in Azad University in Poonank. They blocked the main roads, in order to be able to shout their slogans. The islamic centre at the uni tried to film and spy on students, but their camera was taken and broken.
3- The magnificent tactics of spreading out, avoiding violence, worked very well.
4- I personally heard basijis who was telling his friend that he was tired of all these and did not have the nerves to continue the fight. This is a symbolic sign of the fact, that basij and other military groups, are gradually losing their interests. They have realized that we are not talking about a temporary outbreak of anger, but we are actually facing a REVOLUTION! A rope-a-dope tactic is working.
5- Dismissal of 8000 members of SAVAJA (intelligent service of Iran), re-organization of it, and recruiting new members who are more "trustworthy!" is a serious sign of crack within the regime. They are afraid of the leftovers of reformist since Khatami’s era. But the regime does not realize how small they are becoming by implementing the infiltration policy.
6- Totalitarian regimes are much more fragile towards cracks. They can fall and break into pieces by itself, without any serious push from outside. We are lucky that we are experiencing this in Iran now. We can clearly see the evidence of antagonistic viewpoints and interests within the regime.
The latest activities from various groups within the government for unification of groups is a sign, indicating that the regime is seriously concerned about the widening cracks.
7- We need to form a Committee of leadership outside Iran. Iranian people no longer trust any solo leadership, neither any political organization. Some reputable writers, directors, politicians and university lecturers are the best candidate for this kind of committee. This committee should reflect the widest and most common needs of all groups in the society, uniting the whole country for justice and democracy.
8- We have learned that our Green Revolution does not follow classical explanations of revolutions. This case is a unique case, which needs to be studied thoroughly.
I appreciate your inputs on these issues.
Alborz
The crack within the regime is becoming wider. Larijani is leaning towards Rafs. And Rafsanjani`s daughter participating in the protest is significant. Rafs probably predicts the end is near, wants to establish legitmacy when this government is overthrown. That`s probably why the gave the speech at Mashahd uni and that`s probably why his daughter participated, so when the regime is gone, he can say"I sided with you". I think the last straw will be when IRGC commanders start jumping ships. A few more big protests like 16 azar and I think it will be the end.
Shangool
As much as I love to agree with you that the regime will fall with a few more protests, but I cannot convince myself.
I guess we need to prepare ourselves for a lengthy battle. We should not under-estimate these bastards.
Also there is no sign of support of outside world yet. We do not even have a proper Radio station, as the internet is too fragile.
Kayvon,
I do think we (and others) can make a difference. I think that cases throughout the world show that the old frameworks of politics --- leaders at the top with gatekeepers of "traditional" media and the economic structures interacting with them --- are not necessarily immutable or immovable. It is a long process, to be sure, but even this effort through this website has been rewarding for me.
To be blunt and risking the sentimental, it has restored my hope.
S.