Protests in Iran Continue Despite Government Crackdown
On Ashura, one of the most sacred religious holidays in Iran, hundreds of thousands of people took to the streets to protest the Iranian regime. Even with the risk of death, torture, rape, and beatings, people poured into the streets to protest the Iranian government.
In yet another wave of violent suppression from the government, at least 4 people have been killed so far, including the nephew of opposition presidential candidate Mir Hussein Moussavi. The people fought back and defended themselves against the police, clashing at some points and capturing cars which they set on fire.
On Saturday, while former President Khatemi was giving a speech in support of the opposition, Basiji stormed the hall.
Even though foreign reporters have been denied access to Iran, in an effort by the Iranian regime to keep the news of the protests to a minimum, Al Jazeera has reported on the protest with their own inside sources.
The White House thus far has kept relatively mum on the protests in Iran. Some advisors maintain that keeping a distance from the human rights abuses in Iran is prudent in order to further negotiate, futilely, on the nuclear issue. The unrelenting opposition of the Iranian people to their government and desire for freedom and democracy has sent a clear message in Iran and abroad that these protests and sustained opposition were not an anomaly of this summer and will continue no matter what the costs until real change happens. The prudent, wise, and measures approach by the United States would be to support the people of Iran rather than continue to legitimize and support the Iranian regime by continuing to negotiate with them.
One Comment
Trackbacks/Pingbacks
- Iran: What is to come… - National Security Law Brief - [...] pushed by certain Washington advisers have done nothing but waste time and de facto help Iranian regime brutalize its own people ...
President Obama, the time has come for you and your adminstration to be true to the promises of your Noble Peace prize speech. By employing your engagment policy with the Iranian Government, you are allowing these human rights abuses to take place. At a time when having allies in the middle east is critical, the Iranian people are fighting for freedom, democracy, and looking to the United States for support. It is essential that the U.S.A be on the right side of history and support the Iranian people. At stake here are not just moral imperitives, there are severe economic, political, terrorism (support for Hezbollah and Hammas), energy (i.e. oil), and military (nuclear weapons) consequences as well. It is essential to have an ally we can trust rather then a regime in power we can not.