Is this the beginning of the end for the Islamic Republic? Maybe, but if so, there is a long way to go. This was a pro-Mousavi demonstration, and as Kenneth Timmerman points out here (thanks to Pamela), Mousavi was a founder of Hizballah and participated in the creation of Iran’s intelligence service. A demonstration on his behalf may thus represent dissatisfaction with the heavy-handedness of the mullahs, but not necessarily a genuine move away from the basic premises of the Islamic Republic. That is not to say, however, that the Islamic Republic is wildly popular among Iranians, or that there isn’t real support for a return to a more Western-oriented government and society. Obama should today be appealing to those who hold such views — which doesn’t include Mousavi — and pledging his support to them.
“Shots fired at huge Iran protest,” from the BBC, June 15 (thanks to all who sent this in):
Shots have been fired at a rally in Iran where hundreds of thousands of people were demonstrating against last week’s presidential election results.
One protester was killed and several more were hurt when security forces opened fire.
The crowd had been addressed by Mir Hossein Mousavi, who believes the vote was fixed in favour of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
Mr Ahmadinejad has dismissed the claims and says the vote was fair.
A photographer at the scene told news agencies that security forces had killed one protester and seriously wounded several others. A man is said to have been arrested over the shooting.
He said the shooting began when the crowd attacked a compound used by a religious militia linked to the country’s powerful Revolutionary Guard.
The AFP news agency reported that police fired tear gas and groups of protesters set motorbikes alight.
Ayatollah’s intervention
Earlier, the demonstrators had gathered in Tehran’s Revolution Square, chanting pro-Mousavi slogans, before marching to Azadi Square.
“Mousavi we support you. We will die, but retrieve our votes,” they shouted, many wearing the green of Mousavi’s election campaign.
And Mr Mousavi eventually appeared, addressing the crowd from the roof of his car.
“The vote of the people is more important than Mousavi or any other person,” he told his supporters.
His wife, Zahra Rahnavard, a high-profile supporter of her husband’s campaign, later said they would keep up their protests. “We will stand until the end,” she told the AFP….
State television reported that Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who has upheld the election result, urged the Guardian Council to “precisely consider” the complaints.
The 12-member council is due to meet Mr Mousavi and Mr Rezai on Tuesday.
Its head said the decision would be taken soon.
“I hope it will not take long that the noble people will see that the question has been examined in the best way and we will give the result to the people,” Ayatollah Ahmad Jannati told state television on Monday.
But the Iranian leadership has put itself in an impossible position, our Tehran correspondent says.
He says that Ayatollah Khamenei has given his complete endorsement to the election result and to President Ahmadinejad, and by doing so he has put at risk the very foundations of the Islamic republic….
Maybe. We shall see.