Amid heightened political tension between moderates and conservatives, Iran's hardline Basij militia geared up Thursday for a major show of strength and pro-reform students announced plans for more protests. Ahead of Friday's scheduled nationwide demonstration against the the Israeli "occupation" of Jerusalem, 70,000 Basijis were called out on to the streets to give out "moral advice". "Today (Thursday) we are going to stage a 70,000-strong exercise in 150 cities across the country from 2:00 pm until Iftar (the breaking of the daily Ramadan fast) to give oral advice to the people in order to sanitise society," a top Basij official told state radio.That means instilling proper National Socialist virtues. The "oral advice" is sometimes accompanied by a kick in the head.
The main student group, the Office to Consolidate Unity (OCU), said it was planning to stage a "symbolic referendum" -- apparently on Iran's political stand-off -- and has demanded permission to hold massive rallies on December 7, which is national students day. "Given the situation, the only solution seems to be the organisation of a referendum to know the legitimacy of everybody," the OCU said in a statement, adding the group would hold its referendum in the coming days.
It looks like we're taking another step toward the blow-off on Iran — whenever it may come. Divine right theocrats don't need no steenkin' referendum, 'cuz they get their legitimacy from God. Just ask them.