The Latest from Iran (7 December): The Marches of 16 Azar

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"

Latest Iran Video: The Marches of 16 Azar (7 December)

With the amount of footage that has come out of Iran, despite restrictions, also see our second set of videos from today.

Amir Kabir University, Tehran, "The Roar of Victory"

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-IZ872BX1Ro[/youtube]

Latest Iran Video: The Marches of 16 Azar – 2nd Set (7 December)
The Latest from Iran (7 December): The Marches of 16 Azar

Tehran University "Death to Dictator"

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-bXtFgvBJnk[/youtube]

Tehran University

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BmrR_s1rZKQ[/youtube]

Sharif University "Students May Die But They Never Give Up"

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aELHSHwYGA4[/youtube]

Anti-Riot Forces on the Move

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JJfcuFlH7yk[/youtube]
Tehran University

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=opf2T2JHS4c[/youtube]

Amir Kabir University (shaky quality)


Original Video- More videos at TinyPic

Mashhad University

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gUWC-6Ades4[/youtube]

Students Gathering at Sharif University

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OTrVyjjpi24&feature=channel[/youtube]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EBqKTBc_A_8[/youtube]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IxNaDZ84X1c&feature=channel[/youtube]

Latest Iran Video: The Marches of 16 Azar - 2nd Set (7 December)

Faezeh Hashemi, daughter of Hashemi Rafsanjani, at Tehran Rally?

UPDATE: A source confirms that this is Faezeh Hashemi, and that the crowd around her are shouting slogans in her favour.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N0YzIgZurWo[/youtube]

Latest Iran Video: The Marches of 16 Azar – 1st Set (7 December) The Latest from Iran (7 December): The Marches of 16 Azar

Protest tonight at Mashhad University

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zM_FlLjXkgg[/youtube]
ILAM University : "Students will rather die than accept oppression"

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZlZsGIEUC4U[/youtube]

Inside Isfahan High school. Girls chanting "Teachers Teachers we need your support"..."Down with deceitful Government"

[videofile]http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000104346482&ref=ts#/video/video.php?v=1187897341892&ref=mf[/videofile]

Karaj protestors

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ck1XJsVoxj0[/youtube] Inside Sharif University : "Death over dictator - either its a king or its a supreme leader"

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-v-M3OFoScE[/youtube]

Karaj University (Suburbs of Tehran)

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jeWl_MaQyTk[/youtube]

Sharif University "This government is fascist...It needs to be stopped somewhere"
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MS8cVCYcp6I&feature=player_embedded[/youtube]

Tabriz University students marching and chanting "Yahre Danestaneih Man" (roughly translated as "read our anthem sweethearts!")

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ij0uIov5ibc[/youtube]

Protestors at Najaf Abad University today.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Kr1BPVWlnI[/youtube] Claimed from Today "Escape from Security Forces" [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=osT-O3kGP8w[/youtube]

Elm-o-Sanat University [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pejnXCwP63A[/youtube] Khaje Nasir University "The Iran Flag Without the Islamic Coat of Arms"

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X5wD_T-aOuU&feature=player_embedded[/youtube]

Amir Kabir University "Showing Money to the Basiji"

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vTvJO5YOU5k&feature=player_embedded[/youtube]

Tehran University "Breaking Through"

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jQIVP2uBaVE[/youtube] Azad University, Mashhad [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TukaGw16zzg[/youtube]

Azad University, North Tehran

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZdIVmrKEZGI&feature=player_embedded[/youtube]

Kerman University

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oXzxGri9W_E[/youtube]

Elm-o-Sanat University

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=azA4ghjfEBw&feature=sub[/youtube]

Isfahan University
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9rhng1HB5j8&feature=sub[/youtube]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XxLAPnQZPqg&feature=player_embedded[/youtube]

Iran's 16 Azar Protests: An Interim Analysis and Questions for the Green Movement

From Enduring America's Mr Smith:

The demonstrations have gone on as planned today in Tehran. The threats to bring the Internet to a grinding halt in Tehran have been fruitless, as usual the Internet got the videos and evidence out.

Couple of points for discussion and analysis:

1) Is this only a Student Demonstration? The reports and news out so far from Tehran and other cities indicates protests, chants, and opposition activity almost entirely within university campuses. There appears to be little follow-up in the streets or little participation by ordinary people. We need more facts and evidence to prove this, but it appears as though 16 Azar did not turn into yet another day of widespread popular defiance of the regime, as seen during 13 Aban [4 November] or Quds Day [18 September].

The Latest from Iran (7 December): The Marches of 16 Azar
Latest Iran Video: The Marches of 16 Azar (7 December)
16 Azar Opinion: “Iran’s Voice Will Be Heard”
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”

2) Is Mir Hossein Mousavi still considered to be the Leader of the Green Wave?

Another point to notice is the radicalisation of chants. The chant considering Mousavi the figurehead of a much vaster struggle against the entire regime and the burning of posters of Imam Khomeini and Ayatollah Khamenei are telling signs of impatience within the student movement and willingness to go beyond Mousavi's stale and unattractive gradualism and his refusal to take on the pillars of the regime --- Khamenei especially --- in a frank and direct way.

This doesn't bode well for the reformists, as they could have to contend with a widening gap between themselves and rank-and-file greens in the months to come. Additionally, it could also lead to repression against Mousavi and Mehdi Karroubi and other leaders, as they could be accused of leading a "counter-revolutionary" movement which aims to overthrow the sacred Islamic Republic, should the footage of Khamenei and Khomeini being burnt be paraded on national television.

Iran: Full English Text of Mousavi Statement on 16 Azar and the Student Movement (6 December)

Adapted from the Facebook site supporting Mir Hossein Mousavi.

In the name of God, the compassionate and the merciful

I congratulate the coming anniversary of Qadir Eid to the Muslim nation of Iran. I pray the great God to get our nation and all the Muslims around the world closer to the ideals of the person [Imam Ali] who the Qadir occasion belongs to. In this time of celebration, the Shiite wishes wellbeing and prosperity for one another and ask each other for gifts that would help them accomplish such wishes. They wish for a fine destiny for our nation and country especially in these crisis stricken times. It is expected from us to commit to the same action. It was still our duty to fulfill the wish [of putting our nation onto a path to a find destiny] even if this expectation did not exist. What we can do in this regards is to maintain loyalty in looking for the good [of our nation even when it is not accepted as is] and persistence in thinking for the future [of our nation even when it is not called as such.] Dangers ahead are too serious to let us or others think of our own interests, and the realities we face are too severe to disappear through ignorance. With the help of the atmosphere of elegance that the eid has provided in addition to the anniversary of 16th of Azar (December 7) as the day of University Students, no topic would be better to talk about other than a solution to our current crisis; a pill that is not necessarily bitter to swallow if we put away our prejudgments.



University Student day is ahead of us. In our modern history student movement has always been the flag-bearers and has acted as the reason and purpose for people’s movement. During the bitter days following the coup, and in some of the darkest times in the history of our nation when all hope seemed to be lost, what happened in the 16th of Azar of 1332 (December 7 of 1953) was a clear sign that the spirit of people and their historical demands are still alive. Those ‘three drops of blood’ and ‘three godly Azar’ (pun: Azar is the name of the month in the Iranian calendar, but also means flares of fire) that created a basis for the University student day are after half a century later still a vivid and enlightening reminder in the memory of people because they signified the existence of greater reality in the lives of people. In the years and generations that followed these signs were maintained through the student movements and still does. For countless reasons, the society does not reveal its inclinations to those who only see the appearance. Great transformations are often accused to happen suddenly such that they refuse the political players the opportunity to adjust. Of course, basically no transformation has been realized suddenly, it is only their manifestation and rise that takes a sudden form. In such conditions, signs that tell of the unknown abyss of society are truly invaluable.

The student movement in our modern history has always contained reports of formation of deep political and social currents in our society. If the officials have had reacted to this role [of university students] tactfully in the past and now, we would have had a smooth path toward development and advancement. Instead, they violently break these invaluable artifacts. They rather pacify themselves that silencing a couple of loud and young individuals would solve the problem as if removing the question would remove the problem from its origins. This is story that we have heard over and over. It is the same story of ignorance towards realities, and interpretation of news from social conditions to the taste of a group in power. No era of power has ever ended without at least a few signs of such stories. [Quoting Quran:] “They said that these are an insignificant group”, as these days they (referring to Ahmadinejad directly) say they are but a dust. “And they enrage us.” “And we are all at the state of readiness [to fight them.]” “So God threw them away from the gardens where springs originated.” “and from their treasures, and desired positions.”

It is very sad and bitter to see the same mistakes repeated despite all the similar lessons in the recent past in and even further: those who insist on saying that people are calm again and it’s only the university students now; and that among the universities, it is only those universities in Tehran that are not calm, and among those there even fewer universities server as leaders. They think that in these leader universities there are couple of organizing centers run by several young members and that if they were to be expelled from the campus, or threatened to deny continuing their education, even they would quite down and that would be the end of story. Ok! But these students were threatened, and they were expelled, why is the story still dragging on? It is because the student movement is a proof of realities greater than itself. Alas, I wish they would appreciate this. I wish they would learn from the insight such a movement is providing to the transformations in the distant and far future so that they would adjust accordingly, especially in times like this when university students are not a minority group but constitute one of the most expansive and active social layers in our society. Right now, there is one university student out of every 20 Iranians. If those responsible in power had paid attention to the university students’ role as a proof and sign to our future, today we would not be in such a critical condition.

Of course, this story has two sides to it. University movements are only as strong and as rooted as the relation of their message to real inclinations within the society because the power of social movements [or the student movement for that matter] is tied to the necessities which create and sustain them. When our generation was participating in the student movement, it clearly saw how effective is its connections to the society essential to sustain its strength. During that time there were many inclinations among the students. If the student Islamic committees were the strongest it was because they were representing a greater number of social realties.

Many of the activist students of today will be the leaders of tomorrow. This is an additional reason why they should not stop serving as the symbol of our social realities. Their vitality and strength depends on this. The secret to the success of politicians is the same thing. They will be able to server their country or at least remain powerful only until they are willing to understand the needs and inclinations of their society, and even become the symbol and proof of such needs and inclinations. This thought that someone can rule over people despite their inclinations is nothing but an illusion. Even when a government manages to survive by relying on repressive forces it is in fact only relying on society’s inclinations to remain indifferent towards oppression, although such an indifference will never last forever.

Our society is experiencing the greatest transformations these days. Who is to deny this truth after the incidents seen during the recent months? What is the exact nature of such a transformation? This is the greatest question to us and our opponents. If they know what great and prosper phenomenon is heading our way, they too will put away their helmets and batons and start seeking for means to look after this delicate plant that has just risen out of our land.

Among many beauties of the days before election, the most beautiful phenomenon was the gathering of people with different tastes .to become successful about that they did not put aside their differences and diversities, but recognized them. No one found it necessary to lose their identity in order to contribute in this integration and become a different person. There was a joy in that integrating which was accepted by our nature. The green human chain that surrounded our cities was not an untruth show. We were not supposed to ignore each other's fate after passing that bridge and our spirits didn't want to scatter after experiencing that integration. Undoubtedly such a thing is a sign of rising growth and dignity in the life of a nation.

The dignity of a nation is not based on being rich or powerful, they are only small parts of its effects. The dignity of a nation is based on the greatness of its spirit. Dignity is when we can have apparently incompatible affairs together. A small house is a place only for "me", but in a big house there is also space for others. An employer which has small spirit thinks he can not exceed property but by assaulting labor's rights, while a great employer knows that benefiting others, is the only way of gaining benefit. The difference of small employee and a great employee is also the same. Based on thousands of reasons, the only way of benefiting is to benefit others, but those who are small do not have enough capacity to infix others on them. It is also the difference of a religious which is big and a religious that is small. A great religious is Imam Sadeq (6th Imam of Shiite) who sat in the house of god and had conversation with an atheist. The truth of the house of god is his heart that has capacity for everyone, and respects everybody's right, the right of living, right of hearing, right of choosing, and the right to make mistakes, the right to be great. Yes, being great, otherwise, what a great person has to do with a small person? They see an irreligious in a place where can face the beauties of religion. if could not find a truth, do not ignore the possibility of understanding it by others., or they can be small and ignore whatever they have not heard before, whatever they can not understand, and without sitting and listening to understand it recognize other ideas baseless.

Our nation is now showing the signs of its greatness; this is that wonderful change which our nation was in search of experiencing it. Of course what is important is that this greatness and not its signs. I repeat its signs to believe that it comes like spring and changes our lives, to believe in its consecration and do not scare of changes it will bring. This is that growth that our revolution was founded based on. Some times passed, and we neglected it, but our god did not neglect. He developed the seed which was planted 30 years ago by many hopes, until now when its sprouts are ahead of us.

The greatness symbols of a nation are qualities that are expected from a brave human being. A man who has no ideal is a man worth nothing. However, who can be an idealist while not losing the touch of reality? A brave human being and a great nation.

If people are still demanding the full execution of the Constitution as their main slogan despite of all those bitter scenes they have seen in the last months, is not because their other demands can not be met. It was only and only the realistic sense of people and their wisdom that did not allow a volatile and radical reaction to the horrendous behavior of the rulers.

In another example, imagine the quality of bravery. The courage that a brave person (like a father who is defending his young daughter) shows is not with an uproar. It is not without a foresight and it is not necessitated with accepting an unreasonable price. However, [this courage] is more fearsome and more effective than the strength of others. Haven’t you seen this level of courage in the brevity that people demonstrated?

In another instance, adaptability of a brave person is not translated into giving in. It only means that (s)he has many problem solving options. In the last six months any window [of opportunity] that people opened was closed. However, they have created new solutions without leaning towards confrontations and without compromising on their ideals.

As another example, look at the patience and firmness in the movement of people.
They live their demands in such patience that it looks like they have lived them for a hundred years; A patience that exhausted their opponents; a patience that resembles growth.

As another example, a brave human being is some one who has self-confidence i.e. he is aware of the values that exist within him. We have not been like this for a long time. We had to keep our heads down. The self-confidence of our nation was taken away in two centuries of subordination, until the Revolution repaired this fallen barricade. However, did we reach this goal immediately and cleared the historical damages from our souls?

So why were we surprised when our artists were praised throughout the world?
As if we did not even suspect ingenious form an Iranian. Or as if we were so pessimistic, that if we had the slightest praiseworthy feature in ourselves we were looking through the conspiracy theories. Does a brave human being react like this if he is praised? Or is he aware of his qualities such that neither applauds make him overwhelmed with joy nor deviate him from his path. In the last few months the nation of Iran was praised tremendously. Now compare our people’s reaction to these applauds to their previous reactions so that you believe the essence of our society is experiencing their symbols of greatness.

It is mentioned in our 20-year Perspective Document that Iran must be the most powerful country of the region in the year 1404 [2025 in Georgian Calendar]. Are we supposed to tell the truth about our greatness to the world and the region or are we supposed to lie in that year? Are we just supposed to wear the big clothes to look great while we have not grown and prospered? Are we just supposed to inaugurate uncompleted civil projects in the level of the countries in the region? Are we supposed to consider our lost cause [diplomatic] travels as victories with the help of the media? Are we expected to put ourselves in the middle of continued controversies and contempt others so that we can claim greatness? Or are we supposed to be really powerful?I ask this question because I believe that a country is only great when it has a great nation.

Our wish came true and our great nation matured to a well deserved degree, only by relying on itself. However, the problem is that this great nation will not keep quiet if its votes are taken away. A great nation does not tolerate degraded elections with fixed results. When a nation becomes great, its [public] servants can no longer tell the people what to eat, where to go, who to elect, and whom or what to trust. This great nation expects the guardian council to convince them of the legitimacy of the elections. They don’t accept from the council to claim only one thing [that everything is ok] and to annul all the observations and documented facts.

They ask us to forget about the election results as if the problem is only the elections. How are we supposed to explain that it is not so? The problem of our people is not who the head of the government is or who is not. The problem is that this some are blustering their ego to the face pride of great nation. What makes people angry is that their greatness is denied explicitly.

Don’t you want to be the government and for us not to? The way is to pay attention to the reality: people have no fraternity agreement with anybody. They choose the one who has more respect for their greatness. Paying attention to this fact will solve the election problem too, but if neglected be aware that the problem is not going to be limited to just the election results.

[Dear] brothers of ours! If you are not getting anywhere with your enormous efforts cumbersome costs, perhaps you have mistaken the battlefield. You fight people on the streets, but you are constantly losing your dignity in people’s minds. So you won’t tolerate the celebration of Azar 16th in the universities, what you are going to do with Azar 17th, and Azar 18th? How do you capture the minds of those who saw with their eyes your useless battles in the universities and your fear? Even if you silenced all the students, what are you going to do with the reality of the society?

These are the words we say with good intentions, but they don’t listen. If they listened, we would have been very close to victory. The victory I speak of is not that of any specific party; it’s the expanding of the nation’s maturity; the victory that makes the people, individually and in groups, greater, to the point that even the warder will be ashamed.

Recently I heard that Basij in one of the universities has given the opportunity of speaking up to the opposition. That’s a good start. I also heard that they gave each other green scarves as gifts for Qadir eid. From our point of view this is the greatest gift. It wasn’t us who chose green. It was green that chose us. Is it possible for green to choose our brothers too? We think it’s possible, because the good-hearted is one who doesn’t look at the deceiver’s deception and the way to becoming green is not closed to any one.