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IRAN: Iranian students openly defy rule of the mullahs
The Independent (UK) ^ | 14 June 2003 | Justin Huggler

Posted on 06/14/2003 12:40:34 AM PDT by Ernest_at_the_Beach

Iranian students openly defy rule of the mullahs

By Justin Huggler

14 June 2003

Thousands of Iranian students took to the streets of Tehran yesterday in the biggest protests against the mullahs' rule since the huge demonstrations four years ago. Students fought in the streets with hardline vigilantes on motorbikes who were armed with chains, clubs and cattle prods.

It was the third successive night ot protests. The students rounded on Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, chanting: "Death to Khamenei" and "Khamenei, the traitor, must be hanged." In a society where criticising the Supreme Leader is punishable by jail, this was open defiance of the mullahs who have ruled Iran since the 1979 revolution.

The students also chanted against the reformist President, Mohammad Khatami. Many young Iranians have become disillusioned by the President's failure to achieve change in Iran and accuse him of being too meek.

Hours before yesterday's protests, Ayatollah Khamenei accused the United States of trying to stir up dissent in Iran. In recent weeks, the Bush administration has been calling for a change of government, as well as accusing Iran of having a secret nuclear weapons programme. The US has denied it has any plans for military action against Tehran.

The student protests have been fuelled by Persian-language satellite television stations run by exiled Iranian opposition groups in the US, which many in Iran watch illegally. The stations have called on Iranians to take to the streets, and their reports of the first two nights of protests exaggerated the number of demonstrators to encourage others.

The US government has been making contacts with some exiles, notably Reza Pahlavi, the son of the Shah of Iran, who was overthrown in the 1979 revolution. He is a regular guest on the Persian-language satellite television stations.

But the potential explosiveness of the situation was clear yesterday. Ayatollah Khamenei made a thinly veiled threat to unleash the thugs of the Ansar-e Hizbollah militia against the students, just as the regime did when it was threatened by protests in 1999.

Yesterday some black-clad "vigilantes" turned up, but the students fought back. The police role was unclear. Some police held the pro-regime rioters back, while others charged the students.


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; Front Page News; News/Current Events; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: iran; iranreform; southasia; southasialist; studentprotests; warlist

1 posted on 06/14/2003 12:40:34 AM PDT by Ernest_at_the_Beach
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To: *war_list; W.O.T.; 11th_VA; Libertarianize the GOP; Free the USA; knak; sakka; lainde; MadIvan; ...
OFFICIAL BUMP(TOPIC)LIST
2 posted on 06/14/2003 12:41:18 AM PDT by Ernest_at_the_Beach (Iran Mullahs will feel the heat from our Iraq victory!)
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To: Ernest_at_the_Beach
Thousands of Iranian students took to the streets of Tehran yesterday...

I have a question. Why is it always 'students?' who do stuff like this?

3 posted on 06/14/2003 12:41:55 AM PDT by HitmanLV (Who is number 6? You are number 1.)
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To: HitmanNY
It all started with 'students' in '79, and it'll all end with 'students' in '03. I guess older folks don't have the time - most have jobs - or the energy for revolution.
4 posted on 06/14/2003 12:45:03 AM PDT by Mr. Mojo
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To: HitmanNY
I don't have an answer, though in Poland it was union workers wasn't it?

Shipyard workers I think!
5 posted on 06/14/2003 12:45:12 AM PDT by Ernest_at_the_Beach (Iran Mullahs will feel the heat from our Iraq victory!)
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To: dixiechick2000
ping!
6 posted on 06/14/2003 12:45:37 AM PDT by Ernest_at_the_Beach (Iran Mullahs will feel the heat from our Iraq victory!)
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To: Mr. Mojo
They're old enough to know how to go about doing these kinds of things, but still young enough to think they're immortal.

Same reason most soldiers are in that age group. As an old Drill Sergeant once observed, after age 25 you can turn a man into a soldier, but you can't turn him into a GOOD soldier (clearly an exaggeration, but there's also clearly an element of truth to it).
7 posted on 06/14/2003 12:48:48 AM PDT by kms61
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To: HitmanNY
I have a question. Why is it always 'students?' who do stuff like this?

Obviously they were all wearing caps-n-gowns. Silly!

8 posted on 06/14/2003 3:19:37 AM PDT by The Duke
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To: HitmanNY
I have a question. Why is it always 'students?' who do stuff like this?

No fear of death for the most part. When I was young I thought I was invincible. And high testosterone levels. In other words they have allot more energy then us old folks. At least us over 40.

9 posted on 06/14/2003 3:27:15 AM PDT by Terp (Retired US Navy now living in Philippines were the Moutains meet the Sea in the Land of Smiles)
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To: HitmanNY
It also just occurred to me, that the young are the ones with an undefined future for which to fight. The older citizens are likely to be satisfied or resigned to their fate and don't feel the risk of losing a family or job or comfort(whatever that is) is worth the reward.

The youth have a future, the old do not.
10 posted on 06/14/2003 3:50:51 AM PDT by Skywalk
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To: Ernest_at_the_Beach
"Yesterday some black-clad "vigilantes" turned up..."

These folks sound like the Saddam Fedayeen.

Thank you for the ping!

"Ayatollah Khamenei made a thinly veiled threat to unleash the thugs of the Ansar-e Hizbollah militia against the students..."

Unfortunately, it may come to this. The mullahs won't go down without a fight.

11 posted on 06/14/2003 7:03:03 AM PDT by dixiechick2000 (Giving money and power to government is like giving whiskey and car keys to teenage boys. -- P.J.)
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To: Ernest_at_the_Beach
I sincerely hope that if Iran goes Tiannamen Square on these freedom fighters, we don't suck up to them like we did the Chinese.

These young kids hunger for the freedom we all take for granted here. Keep them in your prayers.

12 posted on 06/14/2003 7:11:49 AM PDT by dogbyte12
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To: *southasia_list
http://www.freerepublic.com/perl/bump-list
13 posted on 06/14/2003 10:15:33 AM PDT by Libertarianize the GOP (Ideas have consequences)
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