These are startling moments in recent Iranian history. Breathtaking is the word that comes to mind with every new image out of Iran’s protests. A new tale of Zahhak and Kaveh. “It is as if someone had opened a door and an entire country had spilled out.”
The difference between Mousavi and Ahmadinejad is one of degree and not of kind but it’s obvious that the islamic republic has been constrained to deny its own convictions—if Rafsanjani is not the regime’s legitimate overlord, who is? Mousavi seems to be running along after the crowd, not leading it…
The crackdown on the protesters has been way harsher in cities like Isfahan (above) where there are less foreign journalists to report it.
I would love to believe that Iranians are showing the same spirit of resistance they’ve had towards the invaders throughout their long history against the Arabs, the Mongols and Turks.
The Islamic Republic has believed its own myth of invincibility and now its legitimate children are fighting each other in front of the whole world. If they had simply arranged for Ahmadinejad to win by an at least believable slim margin! What we are witnessing is the clash of the Titans in a perfect storm.
If the Bazaar turns against Ahmadinejad, it would be the end of him. It is a matter of time before the regime rolls in the tanks. I highly recommend Muhammad Sahimi’s great article on the power struggle in Iran. It is a must read for anyone interested in understanding Iran’s recent history, and how it has led us to the present situation.
Abbas Milani discusses Khamenei’s amazing miscalculation in this article.
“Count our votes: the modesty of this demand is particularly moving, set against the majesty of the demonstrations.”
It’s hard to make any deeply intelligent prediction about Iran’s political future right now but I would like to hope that better days will come—though not yet…
Je pense que les iraniens veulent allez plus loin.
C’est sûr pour chaque mouvement il faut un leader, donc ils n’ont pas le choix c’est : Moussavi (c’est loin d’être un homme intègre)
Mais ils ne vont pas s’arrêter à cela, ils vont revendiquer beaucoup de choses à l’avenir (les choses tout à fait légitimes bien entendu).
Peut import le candidat élu ou choisi (les deux sont des marionnettes), le système est dans une impasse.
Il y a un rapport de force à l’intérieur du régime (les Turbans et les Milices) —–> une sort de Phagocytose
Le régime a instrumentalisé les gens pendants des ans. Je pense que c’est maintement le peuple qui doit faire l’invers.
Il doit utiliser Moussavi pour arriver à ces fins.
J’ai confiance à l’intelligence et le courage de ce peuple, après tout se sont les Perses qui ont inventé le jeu d’Echec (dit Shatrange ),
A suivre……………..
I have always been fascinated with the history and geography of the vast Eurasian continent. Humans have been living, fighting, loving all across it for millenia. To survive in such conditions, any civilization has to have deep and strong roots. In the middle of this continent and possessing valuable resources, Iran has been especially exposed to attempts at domination by outside powers. I hope the current events and the strength of the Iranian people will allow them to change and improve their country.
If they had simply arranged for Ahmadinejad to win by an at least believable slim margin! What we are witnessing is the clash of the Titans—a perfect storm…
I think it can be said that the reason these protests are so well organized, disciplined, with creative slogans, and somewhat reminscient of 1979 is BECAUSE many of the same people who organized the protests in 79 are organizing them in 2009 (Rafsanjani, Mousavi, etc.).
That being said, I also do not think these protests or rallies would be taking place right now if this deep fissure did not exist and take place within the establishment itself. It is this fissure that has also enabled those attending the rallies to gain the courage they have, because despit what is said, they do have somehwat cover and immunity since they are being supported by many powerful elements in the establishment. This is the irony of everything we are seeing.
To adress your comment above, the elections are procedurally ARRANGED, not substantively arranged. That is why Ramin Jahanbegloo jokingly calls Iranian elections the most undemocratic democratic elections, because after the vetting process, it’s as democratic as can be according to him. It just doesnt make logical sense to go through all this hardship to “rig” it, when they could have simply prevented Mousavi from running. Also, I’d argue was the margin closer, then 100% Mousavi camp would be even more skeptical. Either way I think those who voted for Mousavi had such deep hate for Ahmadinejad, that it doesn’t even matter what the results were. This is why Dabashi in his recent piece says: “That the elections might or might not have been rigged is now a completely moot and irrelevant question.”
J’ai vu à la télévision un reportage assez bref sur la communauté iranienne de Los Angeles. J’ai appris que le maire de Beverly Hills était originaire d’Iran.
Moussavi vs Nejad : il s’agit pour moi d’une lutte de clans. Moussavi est sans doute moins populiste que Nejad mais il n’en est pas moins partisan d’une république islamique au sein de laquelle les libertés individuelles pèsent peu. Il me semble que Moussavi a réussi à se faire suivre par des jeunes gens qui espèrent un régime libéral assez éloigné des préoccupations de celui-ci. On peut aussi juger du désespoir de la jeunesse iranienne au fait qu’elle en est réduite à suivre Moussavi pour vivre dans un régime moins carcéral.
سکوت گناه است .
خواستم سکوت کنم سخنی نگویم نشد ، دیدم که در این زمانه سکوت گناه است ، گناه هم انجام ندادن کار نیک است آری سکوت گناه است ! در زمانی که دختران و زنان ما بجای نوازش و محبت ، باتوم و خشونت نصبشان می شود ، زمانی که انسان ها به جرم گفتن حقایق در زندان ها هستند ، زمانی که خون هم میهنان خاک میهن را سرخ می کند ، مانی که دروغ ریا با ظلم خود را به مردم تحمیل می کند سکوت جایز نیست ، سکوت گناه است .
گیرم در باورتان به خاک نشستم
وساقه های جوانم از ضربه های تبرهاتان
God bless Iran, the land of lions!
زخم دار است
باریشه چه می کنید
گیرم بر سر این بام بنشسته در کمین پرنده ای
پرواز را علامت ممنوع میزنید
با جوجه های نشسته در آشیانه چه می کنید
گیرم که میزنید
گیرم که می کشید
گیرم که می برید
با رویش ناگزیر جوانه چه می کنید
ای
009/05/20
وطن
هزار بار که مي گم ديگه برات نخونم
تو که فقط يه خاکي يه زمين روح بي آدم وطن
شکسته هاي غمگين عروسک هاي مغمون يه مشت مومن هرزه
تو گويي واسه مردم وطن
وطن يعني حس گريه آور
چش هاي خيس و اشک آلود مادر
وطن يعني حضور سرد شلاغ
جنازه هاي آويزون بر دار
وطن يعني يه روياي غم انگيز
شعار نسل کوچ و چنگ چنگيز
وطن يعني خيانت هاي پنهون
وطن يعني هزار بندو زندون
وطن يه خواب راحت توي رويا
وطن قصه پر معني فردا
وطن کلام آخر
مثل خون برادر
وطن دست هاي لرزون چشاي خيس مادر
وطن يه مرد سرکش برسردار
وطن مدفن مليون ها سپردار
وطن يه مرد سرکش برسردار
وطن مدفن مليون ها سپردار
اگه مرگ بزار تا منم برات بميرم
ميون جون فداها من از همه کمترينم
وطن کلام آخر مثل خون برادر
وطن دست هاي لرزون چشاي خيس مادر
وطن يه مرد سرکش برسردار
وطن مدفن مليون ها سپردار
وطن يه مرد سرکش برسردار
وطن مدفن مليون ها سپردار
اگه مرگ بزار تا منم برات بميرم
ميون جون فداها من از همه کمترينم
وطن کلام آخر مثل خون برادر
وطن دست هاي لرزون چش هاي خيس مادر
وطن کلام آخر مثل خون برادر
وطن دست هاي لرزون چش هاي خيس مادر
قطعه ی (وطن) از آلبوم دراکولا، ساخته ی شاهین نجفی