Iran: opposition leader Mirhossein Mousavi 'ready to die' for the cause

Telegraph ^ | 01/01/10

[TigerLikesRooster]

Iran: opposition leader Mirhossein Mousavi 'ready to die' for the cause

Iran's opposition leader Mirhossein Mousavi said the country is in 'serious crisis' and he is 'not afraid to die' for his cause.

Published: 9:28AM GMT 01 Jan 2010

In a statement posted on his website on Friday , Mr Mousavi called for the immediate release of his supporters arrested after the disputed presidential vote in June and during protests earlier this week.

"Arresting or killing Mousavi, [and another opposition leader Mehdi] Karoubi ... will not calm the situation," he said.

"I am not afraid to die for people's demands ... Iran is in serious crisis.

"Harsh remarks ... will create internal uprising. The election law should be changed. Political prisoners should be freed."

He added: "I am not unwilling to become a martyr like those who made that sacrifice after the election for their rightful national and religious demands.

"My blood is no redder than theirs."

Anti-government protests erupted in Iran after the June 12 presidential vote, which secured Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's re-election.

The continuing protests have plunged Iran into its worst internal crisis in the Islamic Republic's 30-year history.

[Mobties]

“No bastard ever won a war by dying for his country.”

[Former Fetus]

Because political power in Iran is held by Islamic religious leaders, disaffection with the government translates into disaffection with Islam. Where the world sees thousands of angry protesters, Iranian christians see fields ripe for harvest, muslims ready to hear the truth of Jesus. So, they’ve been out in the streets, offering food and water to the protesters, and sharing the love of Christ!

[sinsofsolarempirefan]

Patton obviously underestimated the power of martyrdom to inspire others, especially in the Middle East...

[sinsofsolarempirefan]

I wouldn’t hold your breath....

[Former Fetus]

I wouldn’t hold your breath....

No, I don't hold my breath...I PRAY! While the Iranian government's anti-western stand is becoming more and more anti-christian, reports from house church leaders indicate that they are getting overwhelmed by the number of new believers who need to be discipled. Christian programs broadcast by satellites are watched at home, and christians invite friends and nieghbors to watch with them, resulting in hundreds of calls from people asking for more information about christianity. Don' hold your breath, pray for our persecuted brethren, and if you want to do more go to Voice of the Martyrs for more suggestions!

[TexasCajun]

"I'll call ya in a couple of weeks Mirhossein ! ...Hang Loose.

[wolf78]

“No bastard ever won a war by dying for his country.”

Well, he hasn't died yet, has he? First of all, Moussavi has raised the stakes this way. If they really kill him, the regime will just hasten its own fall.

You have to keep in mind that Adolfinejad and the fascists in power just lost major points: They disrespected religious holidays (usually demonstrations on religious holidays are off-hands) and declared the protesters in opposition to allah (i.e. declared themselves god, which p*ssed off many religious conservatives in Iran). This way Moussavi shows that he's a pious muslim whereas the clerics and the Adolfinejad gang are just a bunch of fascist thugs.

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks TigerLikesRooster.

[Mariner]

“No bastard ever won a war by dying for his country.”

It's not a war...yet.

When the IRCG and Iranian regulars get involved it's just "riots in the streets".

A sufficiently ruthless regime can survive and suppress that. Only when the police, military and "special forces" tire of the suppression does the war begin.