Posted on 03/15/2005 5:33:54 PM PST by freedom44
Tehran, Mar. 15 Tehran was left in a standstill this evening as the population poured into the streets to mark the national 'fire' festival of Chahar-shanbeh Souri despite intense pressures by the Iranian regime to prevent a possible uprising.
Eye-witnesses reported that full-size puppets of high-ranking officials, such as the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and the regime's president Mohammad Khatami, were set on fire by youths at numerous locations throughout the Iranian capital. Trucks belonging to Iran's security forces were also set ablaze.
"Guns, tanks, the Bassij (Para-military security forces) no longer have an affect", large crowds shouted in central Tehran, as they took part in the traditional celebrations where Iranians jump over fires ablaze on the streets.
Despite a general ban on the festival by the regime and repeated demands by the Iranian authorities that people avoid leaving their houses on the day, the main Iranian opposition group, the People's Mojahedin Organisation of Iran (PMOI) issued a call for the nation to take part in the event and call for the overthrow of the clerical regime.
The authorities brought in State Security Forces to create an atmosphere of fear, causing tensions to spark, leading to riots and clashes in several districts throughout Tehran.
"Khamenei resign! Get off your thrown", youths shouted, as the government unleashed its Revolutionary Guards to crack down on the demonstrators.
Residents reported that pictures of Maryam Rajavi and Massoud Rajavi, leaders of the Iranian opposition, were being distributed throughout Tehran and other major cities, including Mashad, Tabriz, Isfahan, Rasht, Lahijan, Hamedan, Arak, Sanandaj, Babol, Boukan, Saqqez, Mahabad, and Baneh, as SSF agents attempted to contain the demonstrators.
Anti-government protestors defied the government ban also chanted slogans in support of the National Liberation Army of Iran (NLA), according to local Tehran residents.
In Isfahan, youths clashed with SSF and Bassij agents, as authorities tried to prevent protesters from lighting up bonfires. Hit-and-run clashes continued until midnight, eye-witnesses reported.
Thousands of people gathered in Vali-Asr Square in the city of Tabriz to celebrate the fire festival. Young people set off smoke bombs and sonic booms. Clashes were reported at Abressan Junction, where a huge crowd assembled.
A number of districts of the city of Karaj were turned into hubs of anti-government protests by young people, who set fire to several patrol cars of security forces. In some districts, young people chanted down with the dictator and down with Khamenei".
Among the displays in the capital, residents reportedly placed miniature banners on dogs in the streets of Tehran, mocking Iran's lame-duck president, reading, "Khatami, we love you! Iranian Dogs Association".
The Bush Effect. Pretty soon they'll be carrying posters of GWB, much like the Poles had them of RWR.
THIS IS WONDERFUL!!!! A REVOLUTION HAS STARTED!!!!
GODBLESS THE PEOPLE OF IRAN!!!
It's Bush's fault
"full-size puppets of high-ranking officials, such as the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and the regime's president Mohammad Khatami, were set on fire by youths at numerous locations throughout the Iranian capital. Trucks belonging to Iran's security forces were also set ablaze."
WoW. That's gutsy
"Residents reported that pictures of Maryam Rajavi and Massoud Rajavi, leaders of the Iranian opposition, were being distributed throughout Tehran and other major cities, including Mashad, Tabriz, Isfahan, Rasht, Lahijan, Hamedan, Arak, Sanandaj, Babol, Boukan, Saqqez, Mahabad, and Baneh, as SSF agents attempted to contain the demonstrators."
I don't like that
Iran ping...my prayers are with those who stood up to tyranny today!
is this for real or ar we seeing what some Anti Government Iranians wish ere the case. If real that's a hopeful sign. Given the miserable performance of our Media in reporting these things I half expect to wake up one day to find the Iranian Regime overthrown without so much as a whisper in the US Media about the events leading up to it.
ping
Soon, the only people NOT free will be the world's liberals - captive to their own minature minds.
Not good at all, that type of action will bringout the Bassiji in those cities, too
Cute. Freeper? :)
Ummmm....I'd be a little cautious about this. The news report may have come from the Mujaheddin Kalq organization itself. The Kalq are a socialist group that Saddam sheltered. True, they're opposed to the mullahs, but they definitely are not pro-American. Besides, this sounds like a standard national holiday (probably secular and "Persian", which is why the regime is against it) that the Kalq is trying to take credit for.
Or maybe I'm just being cynical?
I suppose this fire celebration is something leftover from Iran's Zoroastrian days. That's good to see. Are there any pictures available for us to measure the size of the crowd? Close ups don't mean very much. Panoramic ones would be nice.
This may help explain one of the many reasons the Administration is dragging its feet on Iran's nukes.
If the Mullahs are deposed and the government restructured, it will be a whole new ballgame.
I expect them to be done when I get back!
All I can say is:
BULLY!
Yep, keep the vise grips on the Mullahs' Neuticles
Iranians starting to make more noise for freedom. Just a tad.
Pictures of Maryam Rajavi have been showing up too often for my liking, lately.
More likely the mullah effect. The Iranian people would be getting tired of them no matter who was president. Whatever Bush effect there is would evaporate the minute we attack them. The Iranian people strongly support their country getting nuclear weapons, so watch out what you wish for when you ask for democracy.
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