Posted on 01/28/2011 8:01:10 AM PST by nuconvert
"The Islamic world is ripe with major new developments and Khomeini's Islam is the engine of these events," Iran's hard-line daily "Kayhan" wrote in a January 27 commentary devoted to the recent wave of protests in the Arab world.
The daily, which often reflects the views of the Iranian establishment -- or more specifically, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei -- added that the third millennium is witnessing "the powerful [presence] of Islam under Iran's leadership."
Iranian state media has been portraying the recent upheaval in Arab countries as a struggle against Western puppets in the region, while claiming that citizens who have taken to the streets in Tunisia, Egypt, and elsewhere are taking inspiration from Iran's Islamic Revolution.
"Kayhan" suggested that participants in Tunisia's uprising, as well in as protests in Jordan, Algeria, Yemen, and Egypt are taking inspiration from Iran's 1979 revolution, which led to the fall of the shah's U.S.-backed regime and the creation of an Islamic republic.
" 'Death to the U.S. Death to Israel. Islam is my religion. We don't want American rulers. We're not afraid of martyrdom.' Are these slogans familiar to the ears and eyes of the world? Aren't these slogans the same that Iranian people [chanted] in the run-up to the Islamic Revolution?" wrote "Kayhan."
The commentary made no mention of the calls for economic reforms and political freedom being voiced in the protests. There was also no mention of comparisons that have been made between Tunisia's uprising and the mass antigovernment demonstrations that shook the Iranian establishment in 2009.
Features How Are The Protests In Egypt, Tunisia's Jasmine Revolution Being Viewed In Iran?
Antigovernment protesters clash with riot police at the Egyptian port city of Suez on January 27. January 28, 2011 By Golnaz Esfandiari "The Islamic world is ripe with major new developments and Khomeini's Islam is the engine of these events," Iran's hard-line daily "Kayhan" wrote in a January 27 commentary devoted to the recent wave of protests in the Arab world.
The daily, which often reflects the views of the Iranian establishment -- or more specifically, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei -- added that the third millennium is witnessing "the powerful [presence] of Islam under Iran's leadership."
Iranian state media has been portraying the recent upheaval in Arab countries as a struggle against Western puppets in the region, while claiming that citizens who have taken to the streets in Tunisia, Egypt, and elsewhere are taking inspiration from Iran's Islamic Revolution.
"Kayhan" suggested that participants in Tunisia's uprising, as well in as protests in Jordan, Algeria, Yemen, and Egypt are taking inspiration from Iran's 1979 revolution, which led to the fall of the shah's U.S.-backed regime and the creation of an Islamic republic.
" 'Death to the U.S. Death to Israel. Islam is my religion. We don't want American rulers. We're not afraid of martyrdom.' Are these slogans familiar to the ears and eyes of the world? Aren't these slogans the same that Iranian people [chanted] in the run-up to the Islamic Revolution?" wrote "Kayhan."
The commentary made no mention of the calls for economic reforms and political freedom being voiced in the protests. There was also no mention of comparisons that have been made between Tunisia's uprising and the mass antigovernment demonstrations that shook the Iranian establishment in 2009.
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I worry about these protests.
In Iran, they are trying to get rid of the Islamic dictatorship and return to a secular democracy.
In Algeria, Yemen, Lebanon and Egypt, we are more likely to see the semi-secular dictatorships/parliamentary systems become hardline Islamic dictatorships. The Kingdom of Jordan would be a huge loss for everyone. They have little oil but have a good economy because they aren’t completely corrupt and barbaric (which would happen if hard-line Muslims take over.)
The Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt is very dangerous and they have tried many times since the 60s to overthrow the government.
Hezb Allah could turn Lebanon into a bloodbath. The Christians will get wiped out and Israel will have another very hostile neighbor. War would soon follow.
From what I’ve read on the Tunisia situation there’s not much to support the idea that the people want a totalitarian Islamic State like Iran.
What they want & what they end up getting, are 2 different things.
It’s very worrisome indeed.
Oh most certainly.
I’m getting kinda tired of
the US supporting,
weak,
unpopular governments.
we seem to always support losers
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