Posted on 03/16/2005 12:51:08 PM PST by DoctorZIn
Top News Story
Traditional "Pagan" Celebration Turns Into Street Fights Against Regime Forces
SMCCDI (Information Service)
Mar 15, 2005
Violent clashes rocked, this evening, main Iranian cities as brutal militiamen attacked Iranians who transformed the already hardly tolerated celebration of the traditional "Tchahr Shanbe Souri" (Fire Fiest) into protest action and show of "un-Islamic" joy. Most areas of the Capital and cities, such as, Esfahan, Mahabad, Shiraz, Rasht, Kermanshah, Babol, Sannandaj, Mashad, Khoram-Abad, Zabol, Tabriz, Hamedan and Oroomiah (former Rezai-e) were scenes of sometimes unprecedented street fights between the regime forces and groups of Iranians.
Armed clashes have been reported from several cities and especially from Tehran, as small groups of armed and determined masked individuals were seen rushing to the rescue of some of those arrested by the official forces. Powerful home made incendiary devices and fire crackers also responded to the Islamic regime's militiamen and plainclothes agents' use of brutality against celebrators and women who were not observing the mandatory veil.
Cocktail Molotov and pieces of bricks and stones were thrown from roofs at many occasion by inflicting severe damages and injuries to some of the regime's men and patrol cars. Several public buildings, materials and banks have been also heavily damaged during the popular retaliations.
Many celebrators were seen shouting slogans against the regime and its leaders, such as, "Marg bar Jomhoori e Eslami" (Down with Islamic Republic), "Marg bar Taleban e Iran" (Down with Taleban), "Toop, Tank, Feshfeshe, Bassiji bayad Koshte She" (Gun, Tank, Fire Cracker, Militia must be killed).
Pictures of regime's leaders and Islamist books, even at some occasion, copies of the Koran have been thrown into fire by some protesters.
Overwhelmed official forces had to pull back at several occasions while some streets' initiative felt into residents hands. The regime forces were deployed massively around strategic buildings and facilities, such as, the Governmental TV, Radio, Parliament and even the Mehrabad Airport by fear of a popular take over. At many occasion, members of the regular Law Enforcement Forces (LEF) were seen fraternizing with the celebrators/Demonstrators and even showing them the "V" sign.
In the Greater Tehran alone, neighborhoods, such as, Shahrak Gharb, Madar Square, Haft-Hose, Rey, Gohardasht, Tajrish and Pasdaran were transformed into scenes of apocalypse and giving prelude to what can happen the last night of the rule of Islamic regime during a general uprising.
Esfahan, Sannandaj, Mashad, Shiraz, and Mahabad were also scenes of late night street fights were use of lethal force by the regime's men has been reported.
A heavy number of injured has been reported from most cities.
It's to note that the religiously banned celebration in which millions of Iranians are participating, each year, has been considered as "Paganistic" by the dogmatic clerics. It became this evening, once again as not only another act of joy and renewing with the Persian Cultural Heritage, but also as an act of political civil disobedience, and a show of attachment to Iranians' national values.
The Movement's Coordinator and speakers of various opposition groups had reiterated the importance of the continuation of such action in various interviews made with most Persian satellite TV and radio networks broadcasting to Iran. Aryo B. Pirouznia of SMCCDI had stated, again and during the W-End, that the persistence of Iranians to show their attachment to their cultural heritage that contradicts Shia principles and show their deep rejection of the main basis of the Islamic regime. "Tchahar Shanbe Souri is not only a Persian cultural event but also an evident and noticeable show of opposition opportunity".
The Islamist clerics have always tried, especially since taking power in 1979, to ban such tradition that date before the Arab/Islamic invasion of Iran which lead to the forced conversion of Iranians to Islam. The clerics see it, the fire fest, as a threat to their spiritual and political existence.
In Year 2000, the number of bushes set on fire were to the point that a landing Air France plane tried to change its trajectory as the pilot thought a revolution was taking place in Iran. At least 6 celebrators were killed and hundreds of others beaten and arrested by the regime forces. The Capital Law Enforcement Forces declared that the deaths were due to the explosion of fire crackers at their homes but a month later and in an unprecedented manner, the head of the regime's Medical Legalist, confessed that no deaths due to explosion were brought to his services and on that night most deaths were caused by heads of victims smashed with heavy objects.
The Islamic regime forces made, on that night, a wide spread use of heavy clubs and chains in order to attack the demonstrators.
Update: Several celebrators killed and hundreds injured or arrested in Iran
SMCCDI (Information Service)
Mar 16, 2005
Several protesters/celebrators have been killed and hundreds have been injured or arrested following the violent clashes that rocked most Iranian cities, yesterday night, at the occasion of popular riots during the "Pagan" Tchahar-Shanbe Souri (Fire Fiest). These clashes happened as brutal militiamen attacked Iranians who transformed the already hardly tolerated celebration into protest action and show of "un-Islamic" joy. Most areas of the Capital and cities, such as, Esfahan, Mahabad, Shiraz, Rasht, Kermanshah, Babol, Sannandaj, Dezful, Mashad, Ahwaz, Marivan, Khoram-Abad, Zabol, Baneh, Tabriz, Hamedan and Oroomiah (former Rezai-e) were scenes of sometimes unprecedented street fights between the regime forces and groups of Iranians.
In Tehran alone official sources are stating about two deaths in what has been qualified as "incident during non professional work on incendiary devices" "inside a abandoned home in east of the Capital".
More concordant reports are stating about an astonishing use of force in the Capital's areas of Rey, Guisha, Narmak and Reja-i Shahr leading to many injured, arrested and few believed deaths. Other neighborhoods, such as, Shahrak Gharb, Madar Square, Haft-Hose, Gohardasht, Tajrish and Pasdaran were also transformed into unprecedented scenes of apocalypse and giving prelude to what can happen the last night of the rule of Islamic regime during a general uprising.
In Esfahan, Tabriz, Shiraz several demonstrators were seen with broken heads laying in their blood following the brutal assaults of the regime's forces in Tchahar Bagh, Ab-Ressani, Sajad and Azadi (Freedom) avenue.
Hundreds have been reported as admitted to hospitals due to wounds inflicted by heavy objects (clubs or chains) and even plastic bullets. Hundreds more are missing following the massive wave of arrests after the regime forces charges on Iranians. Reports from their quick transfers by full buses with military escort are coming from several cities.
Several regime vehicles, such as, anti-riot trucks, patrol cars and even firefighter trucks with water cannon have been destroyed in Esfhan, Mahabad and southern part of the Capital. Tens of militiamen have been also injured, some seriously, by armed masked individuals or groups of young using pieces of stones and incendiary devices, such as, Molotov Cocktails or hand made grenades.
Many celebrators were seen shouting slogans against the regime and its leaders, such as, "Marg bar Jomhoori e Eslami" (Down with Islamic Republic), "Marg bar Taleban e Iran" (Down with Taleban), "Toop, Tank, Feshfeshe, Bassiji bayad Koshte She" (Gun, Tank, Fire Cracker, Militia must be killed) and "Referendum, Referendum, in ast Shoar e Mardom" (Referendum, Referendum, this is the people's slogan) by making reference to a genuine election, expressed so many time since three years ago, and after the total fall of the Islamic regime and without giving any chance to some so-called redempted 'former' factions of the regime to surf again over the popular aspiration.
Other slogans stating about a dangerous level of the popular exasperation, such as, "Bush, Bush, kush? Kush?" (Bush, Bush, Were's He? Were's He?) were also shouted along with some unprecedented public attacks against EU members, such as, France and Germany. More Here.
Here is a collection of additional reports:
Initial report, Iran Press Service, SMCCDI, The Corner, Iran Focus, an Iranian blogger, Blog Iran, and Iran Press News.
- Reporters without Borders appeals to the UN Human Rights Commission to sanction Iran.
- Art Moore of WND examines evidence that supporters of the Iranian regime support Hillary.
- An Iranian spokesman offered a strange deal, US/Iran split the profits on Iran's nuclear program.
- Marze Por Gohar Party, an Iranian opposition group published the following report on the conference on mobilization for regime change.
- Youssef M. Ibrahim says Democratic thoughts run through the Arab land.
- A Tehran University professor has accused the clerics of creating a schism between religion and the people.
- Reuel Marc Gerecht says "Don't Fear the Shiites."
- Gallup looks at public opinion on military action towards US threats.
- The US catches China sending WMD technology to Iran.
- Howard Dean calls Iran the most dangerous place on earth.
- India pushes ahead with Iran/India pipeline against US objections.
- King Abullah II of Jordan said Iran was under pressure until Europe came to the rescue.
- And finally, Iran va Jahan asks "Whose side is Iran on?"
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Musta heard Bush's press conference today
Interesting information. I'm especially peaked by the Iran regime supporting Hillary and the US catching China sending WMD to Iran. Put a comment on the last report that I would love to have a way to shoot these articles to other people on my email list.
Outstanding post!
Waddayah bet this *won't* be the lead on CNN or CBS tonight?
Catchy.
Quick prayer out for the ones who will bleed for freedom. (Now I gotta go clean my toops...)
Interesting that this was reported by all the Satellite TV stations and several Iranians newspapers, but none of the MSM.
See no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil.....
unless of course you do.
No newspapers are getting in or out of Syria, the media is controlled very tight, and the Syrian scene witnessed a dramatic, security deterioration the last 24 hours.
Precise Intelligence reports coming from Syria indicated massive army troops deployment around the capital Damascus. Most of the military Barracks of the Syrian Army around Damascus gave allegiance to the dissidents: Syrian Interior Minister Ghazi Kanaan and General Ali Safi. These people in the Syrian Army were against the withdrawal from Lebanon.
It is known that President Bashar Assad is in the city of Alleppo, assessing the internal situation within Syria and trying to organize a "forced" return to Damascus.
I know that the rebellious forces aren't pro-democracy, yet I think it is interesting. It appears the me that as of right now, the Syria-Iran axis is making Lebanon the red line. That they won't give up the country. Or they are trying to see if the US is bluffing.
Bush could put Assad out of power by the weekend if he gave the order this evening. Assad may be betting that Bush will be hesitant to use force.
Was encouraged to see the President say that once Iran rejects the incentives, it goes to the UN. Not that I have any faith in the UN, but it *may* suggest that the timeline may be Iran's refusal to comply with an incentive package. Iran has already emphatically declined the incentives. In my mind, the discussion is over. Although I will admit my personality isn't necessarily compatible with diplomats. If I want something, I do what's necessary to accomplish goal. The new Iran policy orientation seems to be a bit of an indirect method.
As I see it, the sooner Iran gets to the UN Security Council, the sooner we have regime change. Again, not that the UN itself has any relevance in this matter.
US catching China sending WMD to Iran
Do you have a link? I missed this.
See DoctorZin's daily briefing up top. It's titled:
The US catches China sending WMD technology to Iran.
Thank you.
armed? Isn't this a new development from a year ago? How are they getting supplied?
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