Ashura protests
Ashura protests | |||
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Part of national presidential election | |||
Goals | Haremism to Imam Hussein and the Ahlul-Bayt (AS) and attempts to overthrow the Islamic Republic of Iran and the removal of Mahmoud Ali Nejad from the president | ||
Methods | Protest | ||
Parties | |||
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Casualties and losses | |||
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The Ashura protests were a series of protests which occurred on 27 December 2009 in
In response to this protest,
Background
Irregularities during the
However, dissenters continued to speak out against the government, leading to further protests in December 2009. On 19 December 2009, the Grand Ayatollah
Prior to
Events
Protests
On 27 December, demonstrations in several cities continued into the holy day of
Seyed Ali Mousavi, the 35-year-old nephew of Mir-Hossein Mousavi, was among those killed in the violence.[6][9] Later, it was reported that his body had disappeared, precluding the possibility of a quick burial, while state sources indicated that an autopsy was being performed.[6] Mousavi was buried on 30 December.[10]
Similar protests took place in other Iranian cities including
State controlled media initially denied any deaths, though it was indicated on 28 December that 15 had died, including ten "well-known anti-revolutionary terrorists".[1] According to the official news agency of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Tehran's Safety Services said that "Nine residential buildings, 9 vehicles, 7 shops, 2 banks and 3 power stations were set on fire [by anti-government protesters]."[citation needed] On 30 December, counter-rallies staged and organized by the government at various cities, including Tehran, Qom, Arak, Shiraz and Isfahan called for the death of the protesters, with government workers receiving the day off work in order to attend the demonstrations.[10]
Violence
Lolagar mosque in Tehran was set into fire by the "rioters", according to the State TV of Iran leading to death of "few" people in mosque.
Vandalism was reported by the Iranian government, with Tehran's Safety Services saying that "Nine residential buildings, 9 vehicles, 7 shops, 2 banks and 3 power stations were set on fire."[citation needed]
Arrests
Among the hundreds of people arrested in the aftermath of the Ashura demonstrations area are prominent lawyers, journalists, clerics and politicians, as well as family members of prominent human rights activists and reformist politicians.[6] Some notable people arrested in the aftermath of the protests include:
- Secretary-General of the Freedom Movement of Iran.[18] Yazdi's niece Leila Tavassoli was reportedly arrested as well.[19]
- A number of top Mousavi aides, including Alireza Beheshti, the managing editor of Mousavi's official site;[20] Ghorban Behzadian-Nejad, Mousavi's campaign manager;[19] Mohammad Bagherian;[21] and Ali Forouzandeh, Mousavi's Chief of Staff. Mousavi's brother-in-law, Shahpour Kazemi, was also arrested.[22][23]
- Nobel Peace Prize laureate Noushin Ebadi, who was detained in an apparent effort to silence Ebadi who is abroad.[24] Shirin Ebadi wrote in a statement following her sister's arrest: "It is important to note that my sister is not politically active nor is she a member of any human right organization. Her only crime seems to be that she is my sister and her arrest is nothing less than a political blackmail and attempted pressure. This is another method employed by the authorities in Iran to stop my activities."[25]
- Heshmat Tabarzadi, an Iranian journalist and veteran democratic activist.[18]
- Emad Baghi, a prominent human rights activist and journalist, and head of the Society for the Defense of the Rights of the Imprisoned.[18] Baghi reportedly told his family as he was being arrested that "he would be strong in jail, and resist pressure [by hardliners]." The officer arresting him responded: "He [Baghi] will not live that long to resist."[19]
- Journalists Mashallah Shamsolvaezin,[26] Reza al-Basha,[27] Badralsadat Mofidi,[19] Mohammad Javad Saberi,[19] Nasrin Vaziri,[19] Kayvan Mehrgan,[19] Reza Tajik,[28] Mostafa Izadi, and Morteza Kazemian.
- Morteza Haji, a former government minister and a Khatami aide,[29] as well as Haji's deputy Reza Rasouli.[19] Hasan Rasool, a Khatami aide and the deputy director of the Baran Institute, was also arrested.[21][29]
- Political activists Mostafa Ezedi, Mohammad Reza Taheri, and Heshmatollah Tabari.[25]
- Mehdi Arabshahi, Secretary General of the Office for Consolidation of Unity, the most important organization for university students in Iran,[19] and Rashid Esmaili, who is a member of the central committee of the Office for Consolidation of Unity.[19]
- Zahra Bahrami, a Dutch and Iranian dual citizen, who was executed in January 2011 on drugs charges[30][31]
Analysis
According to Ibrahim Moussawi, associate professor of
Trials
Many people are set to stand trial for taking part in the protests. At least one person arrested in connection with the protest, a university lecturer
International reaction
The governments of Canada, France, Germany, the United Kingdom and the United States are among those who have condemned the violence.[6] US President Barack Obama openly criticized the Iranian government's violent crackdown on the protests in a speech and declared "The decision of Iran's leaders to govern through fear and tyranny will not continue."[6]
Venezuela condemned what it called Western governments' interference in Iran's internal affairs.[35]
Slogans
Since the protest coincided with
- "This is a month of blood. The dictator will fall"
- "Death to the dictator"[7]
- "Death to Khamenei"[9]
See also
References
- ^ a b c d e Ulrike Putz (29 December 2009). "Violence in Tehran; Iranian Demonstrators Put Regime on the Defensive". Der Spiegel. Retrieved 29 December 2009.
- ^ "Ashura 101". Frontline. PBS. Retrieved 22 September 2011.
- ^ "Ashura videos [Graphic]". Frontline. PBS. Retrieved 22 September 2011.
- ^ Karami, Arash (30 December 2014). "Iran marks anniversary of anti-Green Movement protests". Al-Monitor. Retrieved 12 January 2017.
- ^ "Opposition leaders detained in Iran". Amnesty International (19 June 2009).
- ^ a b c d e f g h "Iran opposition figures arrested after protests". BBC. 28 December 2009. Retrieved 29 December 2009.
- ^ a b c d Erdbrink, Thomas (27 December 2009). "Anti-government protests turn deadly in Tehran". The Washington Post. Retrieved 27 December 2009.
- ^ a b Kadivar, Ayatollah Mohsen (28 December 2009). "Iran Ayatollah: 'I Am Convinced that the Regime Will Collapse'". Der Spiegel – via ABC News.
- ^ a b c d Staff (28 December 2009). "On a Holy Day, Protest and Carnage in Tehran". Time. Archived from the original on 31 December 2009.
- ^ a b Dareini, Ali Akbar (30 December 2009). "Iran hardliners call for killing rivals at rallies". The Seattle Times. Associated Press. Archived from the original on 3 January 2010. Retrieved 30 December 2009.
- ^ a b c d Worth, Robert F. & Fathi, Nazila (27 December 2009). "Police Are Said to Have Killed 10 in Iran Protests". The New York Times. Retrieved 28 December 2009.
- ^ a b "Iran protesters killed, including Mousavi's nephew". BBC News. 27 December 2009. Retrieved 27 December 2009.
- ^ "Editorial: People killed in mosque fire during unrest-Iran TV". Reuters. Retrieved 12 January 2017.
- ^ Sciutto, Jim (28 December 2009). "Protester: 'Killing Muslims on Ashura Is Like Crucifying Christians on Christmas.'". ABC News. Retrieved 28 December 2009.
- ^ "Iranian official: Arrest anti-government demonstrators". CNN. 28 December 2009.
- ^ Barker, Anne (2 January 2010). "Mousavi prepared to die for his cause". ABC News. Retrieved 2 January 2010.
- ^ "Iran: Video shows gunman opening fire on demonstrators, who fight back". Los Angeles Times. 2 January 2010. Retrieved 2 January 2010.
- ^ a b c "Dissident Iran Rises". The Wall Street Journal. 30 December 2009. Retrieved 29 December 2009.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Sahimi, Muhammad (28 December 2009). "A Second Coup?". Frontline. Retrieved 30 December 2009.
- ^ Erdbrink, Thomas; Branigin, William (29 December 2009). "Iranian security forces raid opposition offices, arrest key dissidents". The Washington Post. Retrieved 30 December 2009.
- ^ a b "Iran cracks down on dissidents after deadly protests". Brisbane Times. 29 December 2009. Retrieved 30 December 2009.
- ^ Fletcher, Martin (30 December 2009). "Iranian regime rounds up relatives of opposition leaders in bid to stop protests". The Times. London. Retrieved 30 December 2009.
- ^ Daragahi, Borzou (29 December 2009). "Students, militia clash on Tehran university campus". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 30 December 2009.
- ^ "Iran detains Nobel laureate's sister". CNN. 29 December 2009. Retrieved 29 December 2009.
- ^ a b "Release Emadeddin Baghi and All Arbitrarily Arrested Iranians". Payvand Iran News. 30 December 2009. Retrieved 30 December 2009.
- Radio Free Europe. 30 December 2009. Retrieved 30 December 2009.
- ^ "Syrian reporter held in Iran to be freed by Thursday". WashingtonTV. 30 December 2009. Archived from the original on 2 January 2010. Retrieved 30 December 2009.
- ^ "Press group condemns recent arrests of journalists in Iran". WashingtonTV. 30 December 2009. Archived from the original on 2 January 2010. Retrieved 30 December 2009.
- ^ a b "Iranian dissenters reportedly arrested". CNN. 29 December 2009. Retrieved 30 December 2009.
- ^ Death sentence fears for Dutch-Iranian woman, Radio Netherlands Worldwide, 24 August 2010, retrieved 25 August 2010
- ^ Iran hangs Iranian-Dutch woman Sahra Bahrami, BBC News, 29 January 2011, retrieved 30 January 2011
- ^ ISBN 9780863568312.
- ^ "Iran: Stop the execution of Abdolreza Ghanbari". LabourStart. 2012. Archived from the original on 14 September 2012.
- ^ "Iran to try 16 people soon over December unrest-report". Reuters. Retrieved 20 July 2021.
- ^ "Venezuela blames U.S. for destabilizing Iran". Xinhua News Agency. 31 December 2009. Archived from the original on 18 January 2010. Retrieved 22 September 2011.