Thousands of students demonstrated in Iran’s capital Tehran for the fourth straight day Tuesday, protesting last week’s death sentence against a dissident professor and demanding freedom of speech and political reform.
The students have been showing support for academic Hashem Aghajari, who was sentenced last week to die for questioning clerical rule in the Islamic Republic.
Reuters news agency reports the momentum of the protests appears to be growing, with bigger crowds in Tehran each day and demonstrations spreading to the provincial cities of Tabriz, Isfahan, Urumiyeh and Hamedan.
The developments come one week after parliament approved two draft bills that would increase the powers of reformist President Mohammad Khatami, who has indicated he may resign if conservatives overturn the legislation.
President Khatami, who was elected in 1997 and re-elected in 2001 with landslide wins, has found his efforts to promote democracy blocked by conservatives who control the judiciary, armed forces and broadcast media.
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran’s most powerful figure and commander of the armed forces, issued an indirect warning late Monday to parliament, the government and judiciary to settle their differences.
Iranian students clash with hardliners
Thousands of Iranian students demanding political reform have clashed with hardline militia groups in the capital, Tehran.
Witnesses said about 5,000 students gathered at the Sharif Technical University campus to protest against the death sentence passed down to pro-reform academic Hashem Aghajari earlier this month.
Fighting between the two sides is said to have broken out towards the end of a speech by a student, when several hundred hardline militants entered a hall in the university where the students were and began punching and kicking them.
The group later dispersed, but some of the students were reported to have sustained light injuries.
We are hopeully witnessing the beginning of the end of the Revolution. Good for the reformers, good for the people of Iran, good for democracy, good for all of us in the world who think government by religous fundalmentalists is cruel and out-dated.
Now wait a minute. According to Bush and your govt, the people these students support are terrorists and part of an axis of evil. Ironic isnt it? The sole democracy in the arab world that is more liberal than saudi, more developed than egypt and practices true islamic values, is a terrorist nation. Yet now you praise these actions, while a year ago, Bush said Iran was not worth it at all, and destoryed 4 years of work that Khatami had done to bridge ties with the EU. All washed way and strengthened the hold of the conservatives even more, since bush opened his mouth. Tsk...tsk...such hypocrasy should not be displayed for all to see.
Your logic (or attempt at it) is puzzling. Just because a personal viewpoint by an American poster here on gupshup does not exactly mimic what Bush has to say - does not indicate hypocrisy. Unlike Iran (which practices true islamic values), here in the US we do not get killed for voicing our opinions.
Unlike in Iran people arent racially profiled, and they dont allow racist organizations to roam free and spread their vile hatred. Ok Sem prove me wrong. Are you saying that Bush was wrong to call Iran a nation of the axis of evil? And that his statements rather strengthened the hands of the conservatives and destoryed all the work Khatami and the EU had done to turn Iran around? Yes and No please.
The Glorious Revolution has encouraged the discrimination against persons belonging to religious and ethnic minorities, in particular the unabated pattern of persecution against the Baha'is, including the continuing detention and the sentencing to death of some of them.
In Iran there is also discrimination in law and in practice against women, who still lack full and equal enjoyment of their human rights.
[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by Seminole: *
The Glorious Revolution has encouraged the discrimination against persons belonging to religious and ethnic minorities, in particular the unabated pattern of persecution against the Baha'is, including the continuing detention and the sentencing to death of some of them.
In Iran there is also discrimination in law and in practice against women, who still lack full and equal enjoyment of their human rights.
[/QUOTE]
Prove it please. Iran has better human rights records and woman rights records than Saudi and Kuwait - both which are us allies. And sem answer my questions please.
This is not about womens rights vis-a-vis Saudi or Kuwait but human rights in general. More than half of the population of Iran is under 30. They have little or no memory of the Islamic revolution. In the age of mass communications and globalization, they want the same chance as the rest of the free world has in making their own way. It is more about freedom of speech, choice in governance, secular principals and economic liberalization than just women behind the veil.
And you two are seriously telling me that Rafanjani and Khatami werent doing this? Heck the rightist conservative Economist praised Khatatmi for his attempts to liberalize and modernize the country. It is a shame to see psuedo-analysts who dont know all the facts or any of them.
CM: THe kids protesting are not protesting against Khatami, who is a moderate. They are protesting the Ayatollah. The issue with Khatami is that although he is a reformist, he is too meek to stand up for what he believes in. Sooner or later, the voices of moderation and liberalization will overcome the conservative islamic forces. That day could not be sooner.
Typical. What has Khatami been doing that these protestors are not? That is my point. He is doing it politically and behind the scenes. The EU was helping him alot giving him aid financially and politically to strengthen himself againt the conservatives. As soon as Bush came in, that all went to hell. His axis of evil speech pulled the rug out from Khatami's feet. I do hope Rafsanjani is voted in again. Now back to the issue. These protestors are doing what Khatami has bee doing for 2 terms now. Yet he gets no support. Shame.
The anti-America train in Iran is starting to derail. At one time the Iranian government could whip up support by throwing America bashing "parties". The people have grown tired of such song and dances and realize that the "Great Satan" isn't to blame for all of their ills. Sure they still burn American flags and denounce America but this is now more for show, the passion isn't there anymore. If any part of Iran belongs in an "axis of evil" it's the hardliners and increasingly the common man in Iran is seemly agreeing with such an assessment.
Iran claims to have a democracy. Albeit with religious clergy ruling at the top, much like Vatican. Nevertheless, it still claims it is a viable democracy.
Protests by masses is part of a democracy. People should be allowed to express their viewpoint. Maybe if enough people support these protestors, there may be changes there.
Its all good.
I have shia friends in Pakistan who tour Iran on regular basis for "ziyaaraat", and they tell me, people in Iran have more self-expression and democratic voice then almost all countries in the middle-east. Admittedly, the religious clergy still retains the top decision-making, but to have more people expressing their voices in decision-making will move the government towards more democratic norms.