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| Iran | |
| Militants beat Students, violence rages through Tehran | |
| 2003-06-14 | |
| tipping point? getting really close - sounds like the mullahs are getting desperate and their thugs are outta control Dozens of militants stormed at least two university dormitories, beating up students in their beds and detaining several of them as violence aimed at silencing government critics raged through Iran's capital. Way to encourage opponents - beat the ones that aren't protesting Across the city, supporters of Iran's hard-line clergy beat pedestrians with clubs, brandished knives, fired machine guns in the air and hurled rocks at homes earlier Friday night. It was the most intense and widespread fighting in four consecutive nights of violence in Tehran. "C'mon, show your love for the mullahs" "Ow, dammit, that hurt!" "See, I knew you'd love us, or else" The attacks were aimed at intimidating young protesters who have gathered in Tehran for nightly demonstrations this week calling for an end to the country's hard-line establishment led by supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Student Mojtaba Najafi said about 200 students were sleeping in their rooms in the Hemmat dormitory of Allameh Tabatabai University, when the attacks began. He said over 50 students were injured and taken to the hospital and about two dozen had disappeared after the attack. "We were sleeping in our beds. Suddenly we heard windows being smashed," Najafi said. "It was the most brutal way of attacking a human being. They beat up the guard before entering our dormitory. They see no borders, no limits." There were also attacks at Tehran University's Chamran dormitory before dawn Saturday, other students said. In 1999, a similar attack on a dormitory led to the death of at least one student and generated the worst street battles since the 1979 Islamic Revolution. Khamenei referred to the 1999 raid this week when he warned of a major crackdown in a speech broadcast on state television and radio. Unlike previous nights, no anti-clergy demonstrations were seen before the violence erupted Friday night.
dissatisfaction with all facets of the gubbmint During a Friday prayer sermon at Tehran University, former president Hashemi Rafsanjani — a key Khamenei supporter — urged Iran's youth not to fall into what he described as a U.S. trap by denouncing the country's political leadership. "I advise the youth, especially students ... that they should be careful not to fall into trap dug out by the Americans," Rafsanjani told worshippers. Rafsanjani said it was Iran's policy to "act resolutely" to prevent demonstrations from getting out of hand but "not to be harsh on protesters." rubber truncheons, flexible sticks, and low-voltage cattle prods - see? we're not harsh.... *smack* While the recent protests seemed to be disorganized, with no clear leaders, some demonstrators vowed to keep up the pressure until next month's anniversary of the much larger and violent protests in 1999. Exiled opposition groups have been encouraging dissent in Iran through U.S.-based Persian language TV channels. U.S. pressure on Iran, which Washington accuses of hiding a nuclear weapons program and harboring terrorists, may have further emboldened those who hope to see the regime toppled. | |
| Posted by:Frank G |
| #5 I was reading somewhere a while ago that Iran has brought in foreign muscle for enforcement because of the lack of trust in the loyalty of the local law enforcement for the regime. If the current regime brutalizes the students past a certain point, it will radicalize the moderates and Just-Plain-Joes and the movement will gain momentum exponentially. The students need an incident to focus on and for everyone to identify with in order to tip the balance. "We're sick of the Mullahs" is not enough. We'll see. |
| Posted by: Alaska Paul 2003-06-14 13:11:01 |
| #4 I think we will see tipping point when the individual police and enlisted ranks in the army swing over to the moderates. Then all the mullahs will have left are their security forces |
| Posted by: Someone who did NOT vote for William Proxmire 2003-06-14 10:13:26 |
| #3 Comparatively speaking western university students have it good. Though sometimes I would like to invite those Iranian thugs to show our students how it's really done. Problem is, will these protests spill over to the general population, or remain a student phenomenon? |
| Posted by: RW 2003-06-14 09:25:58 |
| #2 I recall that Khomeini's power base was in the bazaars -- the poorer uneducated Iranians that weren't benefiting from the Shah's westernization program and were opposed to rapid cultural change. Kind of like Nixon's "silent majority." Until I see evidence that the regime has lost its influence with those folks, I am dubious as to whether the students can effect any change. |
| Posted by: 11A5S 2003-06-14 19:09:48 |
| #1 A.P., You are correct. The "Iranian militant" thugs are actually Palestinians and Syrians imported for their lack of conscience, joy in thuggery and "pure islamic faith" (i.e. mullah says "kill", thug says "How many per pile"?). |
| Posted by: Hodadenon 2003-06-14 14:46:08 |