Iran Feature: The Week in Civil Society --- From Repression 1999 to Repression 2012 (Arseh Sevom)

The 18 Tir Protests, 199918 Tir Anniversary

Sunday was the anniversary of the 1999 crackdown on demonstrations of Iranian students, described on page 10 of our report "Attack on Civil Society".

Many consider the 1999 demonstrations as a turning point that paved the way for later developments within non-violent movements in Iran. The events of that time also led directly to the strategies used to control later protests:

A strengthened and more professional Basij militia, under the control of the IRGC and acting on their behalf, answered the rise of the student movement with a renewed mission to protect the nation against the perceived domestic threat posed by liberalizing influences.

The opposition site Kalemeh offers an illustrated review of “18 Tir” events.

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Iran Triangle: Regime Loves Occupy Wall Street...But Occupy Wall Street Supports Political Prisoners

A demonstrator talks about prominent reformist Mostafa Tajzadeh, held since soon after the 2009 elections and sentenced to six years

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We have been reporting for weeks on the Iranian regime's support of Occupy Wall Street as the "American Awakening" --- following Tehran's "Islamic Awakening" --- to change the US system. There have been regime-backed demonstrations, a glossy website "Wall Street Fall", and a declaration that 250,000 Basij militia will mobilise for the movement.

But the regime's love might be unrequited --- it appears that the US protesters only have eyes for those who have been detained in their pursuit of rights and justice. Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty reports:

An Iranian activist and a student of anthropology at Yale University has launched Campaign99 to generate international solidarity with political prisoners in Iran.

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The Latest from Iran (13 February): Waiting for Tomorrow

"I'm Going with Mom & Dad. Join Us"2210 GMT: Isolating Mousavi and Karroubi. Ardeshir Amir-Arjomand, a senior advisor to Mir Hossein Mousavi, has said that the phone lines of Mousavi and Mehdi Karroubi have been cut.

The cutting of Karroubi's communications had been related, along with his effective house arrest, at the end of last night, but this is the first report of an attempt to cut off Mousavi.

2040 GMT: 25 Bahman. The Mothers of Mourning, known for their weekly gatherings in Laleh Park in Tehran to remember the dead and detained of the post-election conflict, have issued a statement of support for Monday's rally.

Journalist Isa Saharkhiz, detained since July 2009, has also congratulated those challening Iranian dictators.

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