Iran Document: Karroubi on the Siege of His Home and of the Iranian People (8 September)

From the Facebook page supporting Mir Hossein Mousavi:

In the name of Almighty God,

The noble and free nation of Iran

You were witness and present that over the past days and especially during the blessed nights of Qadr [last week], some thugs headed and organized by an ungodly and doomed group, with warm and cold weapons, shamelessly attacked the home and residence of this minor servant of yours and did to us and our patient neighbours what words are not capable of describing.

Truly these few have put mindless Sha’ban and the former government thugs to shame (“brainless Sha’ban” was an infamous thug who was hired by the government in the time of the last Shah to create chaos and attack people and activists similar but less brutally and aggressively than the plain clothes militias now) and have put a golden page in their otherwise shameful records (they were at least better than the current government’s thugs). In the nights of Ramadan, they stepped on religious virtues in the name of Supreme Leader and broke their fast with slurs. They didn’t stop at throwing stones and opened fire. It seemed that climbing up doors and windows could not reveal their character so they beat the innocent and responsible guards and some of the friends and family, and they disturbed peace of the neighbours. The meaningless slogans and shameful screams were apparently not enough so the swearing of the thugs was added. Gulping people’s votes and opening fire on those who question and imprisoning the critics and sewing the mouth of the press were not enough, so they disrespected Ramadan and the Ghadr nights in the Islamic Republic 30 years after the revolution for the sake of firming up their power.

The patient nation of Iran

It seems that the ungodly newcomers have attacked a criticszing citizen but who can deny that their savage and pitiful behaviour is aimed at humanity, freedom, and the essence of Islam and the Islamic Revolution, as well as the dignity of Iran and Iranians? Indeed they are not after Mehdi Karroubi but rather they are at odds with the ideal of theRrevolution which is the ideal of the noble and knowledgeable people, the ideal of the intellectuals and free thinkers of this land, the ideal of the students and academia, the ideal of the youths tired of all these deceits, deceptions, and lies, and the ideal of this land's martyrs. Today everybody is aware that these demons are trying to turn the home of nightingales into their nest of grimy crows and choughs and establish a graveyard’s silence over the Islamic Iran.

They have tied the hands of our revolutionary and devoted people in any way possible. Those hands that they could not tie they send behind the bars of the prisons bars. In contrast, they opened the hands of this ungodly group in such a way that they can show whatever savagery and brutality that they can.

I ask myself what has happened to this Revolution that today the security and police forces and the judiciary and management of this country of 70 million people is weak and pathetic and in control of a few goons, letting the world and global community criticise our civilized people? Of course the answer is clear. He who is cut off from the people has no option other than to trust in a few mugger goons, and this is the fate of those who replace democracy with tyranny and consider people’s freedom as waste paper. Truly this is a God-sent torment that has dishonoured them and has revealed their true selves for the people and has thrown their tub of scandals from the roof (has shown their scandals to the world). It is funny that this small group, with such pitiful actions, foolishly thinks that they can disappoint Mehdi Karroubi in defending people and the ideals of the Revolution with their disgraces and childish nuisances and harassments.

The honourable nation of Iran

From a young age with the confidence and faith in the Almighty God and by following late Imam Khomeini's teachings, I have stood against the rule of dictatorship despite all the hardships and sufferings; and I thank and praise God that I have had this blessing to honor my promise and pledge until now. The imprisonments and tortures during the time of the tyrant Shah did not make me give in, and unlike some, power and high posts did not blind my eyes. Now the oppression and tyranny by those disgraced me will not make me give in and silent.

Whoever makes a pledge to defend the freedom of humanity will never be afraid to sacrifices his/her life and leaves this material prison to God's kingdom in heaven happily and cheerfully. Look at those who think that, by these vulgar shows and childish intimidations, they can force Karroubi out of the scene and shiver from the fear of dying, while he had learned patience and resistance from the great Khomeini, had spent his youth beside him and with his values and was Khomeini's leader of pilgrimage to Mecca and had been his representative to protect and take care of the children of the martyrs of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

A group of ungodly assume that Mehdi Karroubi can see the deviation from the Islamic Republic's path and will say nothing and that he sees Islam disgraced and hides in a corner from fear and seeks refuge. How shortsighted of them to have such a wrong assumption. They think by attacking the mosque and residence of senior figures, imprisoning Khomeini's allies, putting authors, journalists, human rights activists and devoted intellectuals in chains, and creating fear and terror in prisons and society, they can make obstacles and blockages against the spring breeze and blossoming of Iran's social prosperity. Of course they are scared that they could not stop the breeze of awareness and freedom of the people and this is why they have chose the path of terror, because whoever is scared, scares.

The freedom-seeking people of Iran

We very well are aware that, in the camp of the totalitarian dictator, such despair and hopelessness, division and doubt, confusion and lack of planning exist that they lead to foolish behaviour. We are aware that the authorities don't have control over their restless minds and spirits and are unable to have a plan for governing the country, even at the most fundamental levels, and the most obvious example of that are the irresponsible attacks and imprisonments of the intellectuals and elites of this nation.

In the case of the attacks of Qadr nights, we saw that initially they recognized the attackers as committed, faithful and loyal to the Supreme Leader. With the presence of the commanders of the police and security forces in the scene they confirmed this claim. But when they saw that their plans were ruined, that they gained nothing, and that they faced the hatred and exclusion by the people of Iran and the people of world, they called these elements rogue, impudent and reckless.

A group of rogue elements? Iran's vast intelligence, security, judiciary, and military forces, who claim to have control over the world, claim tob e incapable of identifying and punishing them! They are trying to cover a lie with another lie so clumsily that they cannot hide their deception behind their phony swears, and of course it is the fate of the deceptive that God will return their deception to them.

The noble people of Iran

At the end it is my duty to thank all the dear ones who from all over Iran and the world with their phone calls, visits, and follow-ups were concerned about my health and the well-being of my family and also to apologize to my kind neighbors who patiently heard and endured the yelling of a bunch of thugs. Also I should thank my protection team for their competence, particularly the head of my security team, Colonel Yari, who has been brutally beaten and currently is under full control and is banned from visitations, from talking to others, and even from going to the clinic in order to get documents for medical leave. I pray to God for wisdom and tact for those who ordered these attacks and for knowledge and insight for those who executed them.

We will be taking the Green path of hope for freedom, joyfully and hopeful of Almighty's mercy and with firm steps. Hand in hand, we will move forward and will be cautiously vigilant so that these profane ones could not turn our peaceful and humane protest violent and bloody. Suchchildish shows not only will not block our path, but to the contrary, they will make our belief stronger in the path that we are taking, the path of fighting with lies, cruelty and bullying.

"There is none worthy of worship except you, O' God! You are free of all shortcomings. Surely I am among those who committed cruelties."

Mehdi Karroubi
September 8, 2010

Iran Overview: "A Small Rally to Make More Enemies" (Shahryar)

Josh Shahryar considers the significance of the Qods Day events yesterday:

Iran managed to hold its annual anti-Israel Quds Day rallies this year in relative peace, as the opposition stayed away from the streets. Thousands of hard-line supporters of the Iranian government flocked to the streets of the capital Tehran and elsewhere in the country to denounce Israel, and to demand that Jews leave the Middle East. The numbers were a far cry from the rallies in past years that attracted millions, a good indicator of the government’s waning popularity.

Even though opposition activists had quietly indicated that they would hold rallies against the government, no one showed up after the government filled the streets with thousands of security forces. Their decision to not show up was also affected by the government’s brazen attacks on the house of opposition leader Mehdi Karroubi for the past two days.

The main government rallies in Tehran were marked by supporters marching through the streets in different parts of the city, carrying anti-Israel and pro-Palestinian placards and chanting anti-Israel slogans. By far the largest crowd gathered in Tehran University, which was under tight security, where President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad gave another of his anti-Israel speeches. This time, he managed both to denounce Israel and to call the current round of peace talks between the Israelis and Palestinians in Washington “a failure from the start”. He also accused the West of blatant pro-Zionist policies.

Quds Day is held on the last Friday of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan in Iran. Initiated by Iran’s revolutionary leader Imam Khomeini, the protest was meant to show solidarity with Palestinians. It has now largely turned into a platform for Iran’s regime to promote its own version of anti-Semitism, anti-Americanism, and anti-everything the mullahs in power seek to denounce — including their domestic opposition.

The opposition spent the day tending to the attack on their leader, and according to some activists, enjoyed the degree to which the government has become frightened of their activities. One activist opined:

The government had to put thousands of security forces on Tehran’s streets under scorching heat for most of the day. Logistically speaking, this is a great blow, since not only did they spend a lot of money to contain a ghost, but also fatigued their thugs.

Another lamented that if the government hadn’t put too many security forces on the ground, they might have held a rally.

What the day proved, however, was that the government is indeed troubled by the opposition, and is ready to go to any lengths to control their activities. This is a hard blow to a regime that has recently boasted that it has crushed the opposition, and that the Green Movement — a coalition of anti-government opposition groups — is not a threat. The streets of Tehran today were a witness to how much of a threat they expected.

Two of the city’s main squares, Enghelab and Hafte Tir, were covered by security forces. Roads leading to many other squares were also completely sealed by baton-wielding Basijis — a militant organization under the direct control of the supreme leader, Ali Khamenei. Basijis also patrolled the metro stations in the city and routinely questioned people there. Elsewhere, security forces set up checkpoints and searched ordinary Tehranis. Eyewitnesses have so far confirmed the arrests of at least a dozen people — indicating the real number to be much higher.

The situation in Tehran was much better compared to Shiraz, however.

Clashes broke out in this southern city when security forces attacked Ghoba Mosque, the main seat of Ayatollah Dastegheyb, a respected cleric and supporter of the opposition movement. Hundreds of Basijis entered the mosque and beat up the cleric’s students who’d gathered there. Mosque officials were told not to hold any gatherings, and the establishment was already surrounded by security forces before the attack.

Back in the capital, Basijis continued their attacks on Mehdi Karroubi’s house for the fifth day. They shot paintball guns, threw rocks, and shot at the house. They also beat up several people outside the house who were either passing by or attempting to enter the house. Opposition leader Mir Hossein Mousavi called Karroubi to express his support, as did Grand Ayatollah Bayat Zanjani, another renegade cleric who supports the opposition. Sayed Yasser Khomeini — the grandson of the leader of Iran’s revolution, Imam Khomeini — visited Karroubi and decried the government’s actions.

Later in the day, videos from inside of Karroubi’s house were released, showing broken windows and bullet holes in walls.

As the day ended, most opposition supporters may have been disheartened, but one dissident summed up the situation with these words:

They held a small rally to make more enemies. We didn’t show up, but we’re making more friends every day.