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[rooster59]

Street protests hit Tehran, two demonstrators reported killed in western Iran

 

People protest in Tehran, Iran December 30, 2017 in in this picture obtained from social media. REUTERS.

 

DUBAI (Reuters) - Street protests hit Iran for a third day running on Saturday, spreading to the capital Tehran with crowds confronting police and attacking some state buildings, and a social media report said two demonstrators had been shot dead in a provincial town.

 

The wave of anti-government demonstrations, prompted in part by discontent over economic hardship and alleged corruption, are the most serious since months of unrest in 2009 that followed the disputed re-election of then-President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

 

Saturday's protests, in fact, coincided with state-sponsored rallies staged across the Islamic Republic to mark the final suppression of the 2009 unrest by security forces, with mass pro-government events in Tehran and Mashhad, Iran's second city.

 

Pro-government rallies were held in some 1,200 cities and towns in all, state television reported.

 

At the same time, anti-government demonstrations broke out anew in a string of cities and in Tehran for the first time where protesters confronted and stoned riot police around the main university, with pro-government crowds nearby.

 

Videos posted on social media from the western town of Dorud showed two young men lying motionless on the ground, covered with blood, and a voiceover said they had been shot dead by riot police firing on protesters.

 

Other protesters in the video chanted, "I will kill whoever killed my brother!" The video, like others posted during the current protest wave, could not be immediately authenticated.

 

In earlier footage, marchers in Dorud shouted, "Death to the dictator," referring to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

 

Social media video from Mashhad showed protesters overturning a riot police car and police motorcycles set ablaze.

 

In Tehran, the semi-official news agency Fars said up to 70 students gathered in front of its main university and hurled rocks at police, also chanting, "Death to the dictator."

 

Social media footage showed riot police using clubs to disperse more protesters marching in nearby streets, and arresting some of them. The student news agency ISNA said police shut two metro stations to prevent more protesters arriving.

 

In Tehran and Karaj west of the capital, protesters smashed windows on state buildings and set fires in the streets.

 

Images carried by the semi-official news agency Tasnim showed burning garbage bins and smashed-up bus shelters in the street lining the university after the protests subsided.

 

Brigadier-General Esmail Kowsari, the Revolutionary Guards' deputy security chief in Tehran, said the situation in the capital was under control and warned protesters would face "the nation's iron fist" if unrest persisted.

 

"If people came into the streets over high prices, they should not have chanted those (anti-government) slogans and burned public property and cars," Kowsari told ISNA.

 

The United States condemned the scores of arrests of protesters reported by Iranian media since Thursday.

 

President Donald Trump tweeted, "The entire world understands that the good people of Iran want change, and, other than the vast military power of the United States, that Iran's people are what their leaders fear the most."

 

State media quoted Foreign Ministry spokesman Bahram Qassemi as saying in response to an earlier Trump tweet criticising the arrests: "The Iranian people see no value in the opportunistic claims by American officials and Mr. Trump."

 

Iranian media also reported street protests in the cities of Kashan, Arak, Ahvaz, Zanjan, Bandar Abbas and Kerman.

 

The elite Revolutionary Guards and its Basij militia, which spearheaded the security crackdown that crushed the protests of 2009, said in a statement carried by state media: "The Iranian nation ... will not allow the country to be hurt."

 

DISCONTENT

 

Openly political protests are rare in the Islamic Republic, where security services are omnipresent.

 

But there is considerable discontent over high unemployment, inflation and alleged graft. Some of the new protests have turned political over issues including Iran's costly involvement in regional conflicts such as those in Syria and Iraq.

 

Joblessness has risen and annual inflation is running at about 8 percent, with shortages of some foods contributing to higher prices and hardship for many families.

 

Interior Minister Abdolreza Rahmani-Fazli warned against attempts to promote protests via social media.

 

"We ask people not to take part in unlawful gatherings. If they plan a gathering they should apply (for a permit," he told the Young Journalists Club news website.

 

On Thursday, hundreds of people took to the streets in Mashhad, one of the holiest places in Shi'ite Islam, to protest against high prices, shouting anti-government slogans. Police arrested 52 people, according to a judicial official.

 

An unnamed official quoted by state broadcaster IRIB's website said on Friday IRIB had not covered the protests so far "after being asked by relevant bodies that the issue should not be reflected on state radio and television".

 

MOST DETAINEES FREED

 

Most of those arrested in the last two days had been released, state television said, without giving details.

 

"Enemy websites and foreign media continue to try to exploit economic hardships and the legitimate demands of the people in this respect to launch illegal gatherings and possible unrest," it said.

 

Though purely political protests are seldom seen in Iran, demonstrations are often held by workers over lay-offs or non-payment of salaries and by people who hold deposits in non-regulated, bankrupt financial institutions.

 

President Hassan Rouhani’s leading achievement, a 2015 deal with world powers that curbed Iran’s nuclear program in return for a lifting of most international sanctions, has yet to bring the broad economic benefits the government says are coming.

 

Unemployment has risen to 12.4 percent this fiscal year, according to the Statistical Centre of Iran, up 1.4 percentage points and leaving about 3.2 million Iranians jobless.

 

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2017-12-31

 

[klauskunkel]

5 hours ago, rooster59 said:

President Donald Trump tweeted, "The entire world understands that the good people of Iran want change, and, other than the vast military power of the United States, that Iran's people are what their leaders fear the most."

what is feared is the vast military power of the U.S. wielded by an immature and irresponsible bully

[BuaBS]

I'm sure no outside power has a hand in this .

[simple1]

7 hours ago, rooster59 said:

President Donald Trump tweeted, "The entire world understands that the good people of Iran want change, and, other than the vast military power of the United States, that Iran's people are what their leaders fear the most."

So Mr President, what are you up to, a threat or in reality a meaningless statement?

[jayboy]

4 hours ago, klauskunkel said:

what is feared is the vast military power of the U.S. wielded by an immature and irresponsible bully

 

And so it begins.The gormless (as in this case), the ignorant and the myopic Left will do everything in their power to divert attention to Amerika and Trump from the courageous people of Iran fighting a brutal theocracy.

 

And for all dictatorships there will be a sense of fear as they see a people rise up.

 

But I fear the outcome will be tragic.

Edited December 31, 2017 by jayboy

[i claudius]

Many years ago under the Shah of Iran it was a westernised country where the people lived happily then the Religous police took over and it became a sh - t hole that reverted to the middle ages

Sent from my [device_name] using http://Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app

[Trouble]

Most Persians I have met here in the USA and who fled after the fall of the Shah seemed happy with things in Iran but fled after the religious fanatics took over and set about remaking society. 

 

Why criticize Trumps tweet when he's not too far off from the truth with that one?  

[simple1]

11 hours ago, i claudius said:

Many years ago under the Shah of Iran it was a westernised country where the people lived happily<snip>

Sent from my [device_name] using http://Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app
 

Nothing like rewriting history. The Shah's dictatorship led to his own overthrow due to massive self aggrandisement,  brutality and endemic corruption. However, we all know the oppressed became the oppressor.

 

With the current demonstrations just maybe could lead to some positive changes. The President has commented citizens have a right to demonstrate. Let's hope the Ayatollahs do not authorise systematic violence and killings of demonstrators. 

[JemJem]

My guess (not my wish) is that the Iranian security forces will most probably brutally suppress these protests very soon (unless the protests suddenly gain momentum and hundreds of thousands of people go out to the streets, which I doubt).

 

Iranian security forces seem to be fully behind the regime and are nothing like their Egyptian counterparts (many of whom were hesitant to defend Mobarek), I think.

 

Well, I am no expert in Iranian affairs, but anyway, these are my thoughts. Anyway, let's wait and see.

Edited December 31, 2017 by JemJem

[i claudius]

Nothing like rewriting history. The Shah's dictatorship led to his own overthrow due to massive self aggrandisement,  brutality and endemic corruption. However, we all know the oppressed became the oppressor.
 
With the current demonstrations just maybe could lead to some positive changes. The President has commented citizens have a right to demonstrate. Let's hope the Ayatollahs do not authorise systematic violence and killings of demonstrators. 

Yes and the left are so good at rewriting it .ok the Shah was not perfect and he was on the side of America. He was hard but so were many rulers in these countrys they have to be .but he modernized the land .gave women the vote .the left hate that fact . And compared the those in power today who want to keep the people living in the middle ages he was far far better. Must try harder next time

Sent from my [device_name] using http://Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app

[simple1]

1 hour ago, i claudius said:

Yes and the left are so good at rewriting it .ok the Shah was not perfect and he was on the side of America. He was hard but so were many rulers in these countrys they have to be .but he modernized the land .gave women the vote .the left hate that fact . And compared the those in power today who want to keep the people living in the middle ages he was far far better. Must try harder next time

Sent from my [device_name] using http://Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app
 

No idea why you're rabbiting on about the 'left' hating land reform and women's vote. Bottom line the Shah was an extremely cruel dictator. Who knows, if the Shah had taken a different path, Iran today might be a much better place. One thing for damn sure there would a great many more Iranians alive today if the US had not supported Iraq during it's unprovoked war with Iran - not surprising the Ayatollah's can keep alive the 'Death to America' rhetoric.

[ilostmypassword]

Considering how Trump is regarded in Iran, the best thing he could have done for the anti-government demonstrators would have been to condemn them.

[boomerangutang]

over 12% unemployment, ....and that's just gov't stats.  The real stats could be considerably higher.  

 

Too many people + too few resources = major problems.

 

Iran, like most countries ww, should figure out how to keep population numbers from growing too fast.  I have some practical suggestions, but they don't want to hear them.

[metisdead]

A post containing a derogatory slang comment toward the US has been removed. 

[ilostmypassword]

2 hours ago, boomerangutang said:

over 12% unemployment, ....and that's just gov't stats.  The real stats could be considerably higher.  

 

Too many people + too few resources = major problems.

 

Iran, like most countries ww, should figure out how to keep population numbers from growing too fast.  I have some practical suggestions, but they don't want to hear them.

Actually, Iran did have a very successful family planning program for about 20 years. Then it was judged to be too successful by the mullahs and they are now attempting to reverse it. I think their prospects of success are dubious. At least not until Iran's economy gets back on track.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Family_planning_in_Iran

[mazdak]

12% unemployment?!

 

you know what is the definition of employed people in Iran? anybody who works for 2 hours a week is considered to be employed person.

 

unemployment rate is much more higher actually

[thaibeachlovers]

19 hours ago, i claudius said:

Many years ago under the Shah of Iran it was a westernised country where the people lived happily then the Religous police took over and it became a sh - t hole that reverted to the middle ages

Sent from my [device_name] using http://Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app
 

Hmmmm. They didn't live happily under the Shah's secret police, and , far as I know, the CIA destroyed the government they were happy with before the Shah was imposed on Iran by the US.

Which is not to say I supported the theocracy that wanted to keep Iranians backward and ignorant. At least the Shah was trying to drag the country into the 20th century. Unfortunately he went too fast and the reactionaries were able to manipulate the populace to oppose him.

It wasn't just the religious that took over, as it was a nationwide movement to bring back the ayatollah, but they were betrayed by the religious once the Shah was gone.

 

Whatever, I bet the embassy staff that were terrorised by the Iranians are  now.

[thaibeachlovers]

54 minutes ago, ilostmypassword said:

Actually, Iran did have a very successful family planning program for about 20 years. Then it was judged to be too successful by the mullahs and they are now attempting to reverse it. I think their prospects of success are dubious. At least not until Iran's economy gets back on track.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Family_planning_in_Iran

Hmmmm. You think it would be too hard for the mullahs to ban contraception? I can't see the men giving up sex.

[geriatrickid]

Perhaps if Iran had invested the billions of Euro/$$ in the country instead of funding terrorism around the world, things would be different. Iranians are right to ask why Hizbollah and Hamas receive large amounts of funding  for military weapons when Iranian children go without food. 

[ilostmypassword]

7 hours ago, thaibeachlovers said:

Hmmmm. You think it would be too hard for the mullahs to ban contraception? I can't see the men giving up sex.

Except that they haven't banned contraception. They've just stopped state subsidies for family planning, Let's stick to reality and leave the "what ifs" alone.

[ilostmypassword]

4 hours ago, geriatrickid said:

Perhaps if Iran had invested the billions of Euro/$$ in the country instead of funding terrorism around the world, things would be different. Iranians are right to ask why Hizbollah and Hamas receive large amounts of funding  for military weapons when Iranian children go without food. 

"Funding terrorism around the world" Really? If you look at terrorist incidents around the world you'll find that virtually all of them are done by Sunni terrorists. Insofar as Iran supports Hamas, I suppose you could ascribe some of those incidents to Iran.  But "around the world." Really?

[ilostmypassword]

On 12/31/2017 at 12:13 PM, BuaBS said:

I'm sure no outside power has a hand in this .

Just another version of looking for reds under the bed. You honestly believe that the Iranian people have no grounds for anger with their government? There is massive corruption with militant allies of the mullahs being given control over large sectors of the economy. You think that women don't have reason to be angry at the government given that their status actually got worse after the Shah was deposed? 

I guess yours is the kind of conclusion that gets drawn when one's think is ruled by this precept: The enemy of my enemy is my friend.

Edited January 1, 2018 by ilostmypassword

[Morch]

17 hours ago, JemJem said:

My guess (not my wish) is that the Iranian security forces will most probably brutally suppress these protests very soon (unless the protests suddenly gain momentum and hundreds of thousands of people go out to the streets, which I doubt).

 

Iranian security forces seem to be fully behind the regime and are nothing like their Egyptian counterparts (many of whom were hesitant to defend Mobarek), I think.

 

Well, I am no expert in Iranian affairs, but anyway, these are my thoughts. Anyway, let's wait and see.

 

Would depend which part of the regime is referred to. Like most places, domestic politics in Iran are rather more complex than headlines allow for. In the same way, the protests themselves seem to revolve around several issues - which are related to different ruling elements and different stances/policies.

 

Generally speaking, Iranian security forces are more identified with ruling elements referred to as conservative, hard core, fundamentalist or hawkish. These would (again, generally speaking) be more associated with the IRGC (aka the Revolutionary Guard), Iran's Supreme Leader (Khamenei) and other religious leaders. The President (Rouhani) is usually considered to represent a relatively more liberal and pragmatic approach. The comparison to Egypt does not exactly apply in this regard.

 

With reports of over 10 demonstrators killed, and hundreds arrested, yeah...doesn't seem like they go for the soft approach so far. Whether or not this will quell the protests remains to be seen.

[Morch]

1 hour ago, ilostmypassword said:

"Funding terrorism around the world" Really? If you look at terrorist incidents around the world you'll find that virtually all of them are done by Sunni terrorists. Insofar as Iran supports Hamas, I suppose you could ascribe some of those incidents to Iran.  But "around the world." Really?

 

Call it what you will. I don't think the Iranians demonstrators are much interested in your usual argumentative nitpicking. With regard to the comment made above (and as the OP mentions), the issue is more with Iran's regional investment in regional conflicts and regional proxy players (be it Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Yemen or the Gaza Strip).

[ilostmypassword]

14 minutes ago, Morch said:

 

Call it what you will. I don't think the Iranians demonstrators are much interested in your usual argumentative nitpicking. With regard to the comment made above (and as the OP mentions), the issue is more with Iran's regional investment in regional conflicts and regional proxy players (be it Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Yemen or the Gaza Strip).

No, nor do I think that they don't have a case against the government with regards to it's bellicose foreign policy and adventurism. But things should be called by their proper name especially when a smear word like "terrorism" is misapplied. So no it's not nitpicking any more than objecting when conservatives are called "fascists" or liberals are called "marxists." 

And exactly where did I criticize the Iranian demonstrators? And can you find me a citation where Iranian demonstrators are criticizing the governemt on the grounds that it is supporting terrorism?

Your reflexive hostility to the Iranian government is showing.

[Gene1960]

"Funding terrorism around the world" Really? If you look at terrorist incidents around the world you'll find that virtually all of them are done by Sunni terrorists. Insofar as Iran supports Hamas, I suppose you could ascribe some of those incidents to Iran.  But "around the world." Really?

Not “around the world “, just around Israel.

[Stargeezr]

The corrupt rulers should all be hanged, but that is just my opinion.

Geezer

[BuaBS]

3 hours ago, Stargrazer9889 said:

The corrupt rulers should all be hanged, but that is just my opinion.

Geezer

Every country has corrupt rulers . Some are more covert about it.

[Stargeezr]

I thought the Iran supreme religious leader may have been less corrupt, but alas I am soo wrong.

Geezer

[Morch]

11 hours ago, ilostmypassword said:

No, nor do I think that they don't have a case against the government with regards to it's bellicose foreign policy and adventurism. But things should be called by their proper name especially when a smear word like "terrorism" is misapplied. So no it's not nitpicking any more than objecting when conservatives are called "fascists" or liberals are called "marxists." 

And exactly where did I criticize the Iranian demonstrators? And can you find me a citation where Iranian demonstrators are criticizing the governemt on the grounds that it is supporting terrorism?

Your reflexive hostility to the Iranian government is showing.

 

More of the usual argumentative nonsense out of you, unsurprising. Whether you like to accept it or not, and whether you apply whatever contrived standards defining terrorism, Iran is involved in such actions internationally (and yes, whether you like to acknowledge it or not, involvement in such on a regional level does apply). It has nothing to do with your deflections about conservatives, liberals, fascists and Marxists.

 

As for your usual dishonest word twisting games - there was no claim that you "criticized the Iranian demonstrators", and there was also no claim made that the Iranian demonstrators were on about the regime "supporting terrorism". Just a couple of lamely deployed straw-men. 

 

My "hostility", if that's what it is, got more to do with the nonsense some posters spew on a regular basis.