News Archive

by JARAS:

Mohammad Khatami’s car was attacked by a group of Basij members today when Khatami tried to join the protesters. He has not been injured.

by JARAS:

Dr. Zahra Rahnavard, the wife of Mirhossein Mousavi was beaten up and badly injured by a group of Basiji members and other armed forces today when she tried to join the protesters. Reports say that she was taken to safty by the public  after she was attacked.

The student organization, Advar-e Tahkim-e Vahdat issued a statement inviting people of diverse opinions to join the February 11 march and called on the government to fulfill its duty of providing security for all participants.

The statement emphasizes that the people intend to express their view of the Islamic Republic in the most peaceful manner and invites those who are responsible for the deviation of the Revolution and Islamic Republic to stop “all cruelty and injustice that the people have been subjected to.”

In line with the demands of all opposition leaders and reformist groups, Advar-e Tahkim also maintains that “freedom of all political prisoners, omission of all obstacles restricting the activities of political groups and compensation for all those who have suffered injuries through violations of human rights and the constitution as well as an end to the crackdown on protesters” are prerequisites to find a way out of the “current political crisis.”

The student group also writes: “How can we say the Revolution was victorious when the youth who are the result of the years following the uprising are now losing their lives on the streets charged with demanding their rights and freedom?”

Opposition leaders MirHosein Mousavi, Mehdi Karroubi and Mohammad Khatami as well as various reformist groups such as Islamic Iran Participation Front, Mojahedin of Islamic Revolution and Coordination Council of the Reformist Front have also called on people to join the February 11 march to reaffirm their protest to the alleged fraud in Iran’s June presidential election and the following crackdown on protesters.

Hossein Karroubi, son of opposition leader Mehdi Karroubi, told Radio Zamaneh that “despite the heavy and unprecedented presence of security, special and plain clothes forces all across Tehran, the presence of Green Movement supporters is widespread and telling of people’s courage.” He added that in view of all the recent executions and widespread arrests, protester turnout is remarkable.

Mehdi Karroubi’s eldest son described the attack on his father saying: “Mr. Karroubi arrived at Ashrafi Avenue by car at 10 a.m. as previously announced and got off to walk toward Sadeghieh. A large crowd of emotional supporters joined him. However, a crowd made up of security, Basij and forces in plain clothes violently swarmed Mr. Karroubi and the people.”

He added that “the attacking forces threw a large amount of tear gas and some sprayed Mr. Karroubi’s face with individual tear gas sprays in such a way that even now after many hours his face and chest are still burning.”

Hossein Karroubi continued saying: “Forces in plain clothes were beating people with cables, batons and machetes. They had all drawn their machetes to scare people off. However, people continued their march with courage. At this point, they arrested my brother, Ali Karroubi which they had apparently marked earlier.”

The opposition leader’s son went on to say that “we succeeded in bringing my father back in the car of a passer-by. However, the attackers later attacked Mehdi Karroubi’s personal car and broke its windows.”

Despite recent announcements by Iranian authorities that the events marking the anniversary of the 1979 Revolution would be held without any “special security measure,” so far today’s events have unfolded with serious clashes between government forces and protesters of the June presidential elections who claim Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was fraudulently re-elected.

Iranian authorities clashed with opposition supporters Thursday as huge crowds rallied in Tehran to mark the 31st anniversary of the founding of the Islamic Republic. Iranian opposition Web sites say security forces fired tear gas to disperse opposition supporters gathering in central Tehran.

There are reports that leading reformist politicians Mehdi Karroubi and former President Mohammad Khatami were attacked when they attended the rally.

The opposition also says authorities briefly detained Mr. Khatami’s sister-in-law, Zahra Eshraghi, and her husband Mohammad Reza Khatami.  The reason was not reported. Eshraghi is the grand-daughter of the leader of the Islamic Revolution, the late Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini.  

At Tehran’s Azadi (Freedom) Square President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad addressed hundreds of thousands of people amassed to celebrate the national holiday.

In his address, Mr. Ahmadinejad praised the achievements of the Iranian people, railed against the West, and announced that Iranian scientists had produced the first batch of higher-grade nuclear fuel.

Opposition leaders Mir Hossein Mousavi and Mehdi Karroubi had urged their supporters to turn out on the streets for a peaceful demonstration.

The anniversary Thursday marks the 1979 ouster of Iran’s monarchist government.  Every year, hundreds of thousands of Iranians take part in rallies to celebrate the anniversary.

Mass anti-government protests broke out after Iran’s disputed presidential election in June.  Opposition leaders have accused President Ahmadinejad of stealing the vote.

The Middle East director at U.S.-based Human Rights Watch, Joe Stork, says the Iranian government is trying to use anniversary celebration to “deflect attention” from its human rights violations.