Iran Protests Turn Violent on Day of Religious Observance

Iran, protest, ayatollah, ahmadinejad, ashura

Reports say that four have died from gunshot wounds in the recent protests in Tehran for religious observance of Ashura on Sunday. However, some estimates say that there have been as many as nine people killed. 300 people were arrested. CNN says:

During Sunday’s protests, some demonstrators compared Khamenei to Yazid, the caliph who killed Hussein.Religious mourning during Ashura is characterized by people chanting, beating their breasts in penance, cutting themselves with daggers or swords and whipping themselves in synchronized moves.

In tandem to the protests, the National Iranian Armed Resistance Forces declared their existence in Iran, says their press release on FTO’s blog:

Now, after 6 months of crisis, oppression, crimes, repeated violent transgressions of our nation’s rights, as well as the trampling of Constitutional & moral laws, the Leader and other main agents of the Government have stripped themselves of their qualification and legitimacy by committing these acts or failing to carry out their legal & moral duties and therefore are considered an occupying and forced regime.

In accordance with the regulations of the Army of the Islamic Republic of Iran, we are commissioned to protect the lives, properties and honor of our nation, and defend our sacred soil, as well as combat all occupying forces within the borders of the land.

Any failure in carrying out this duty is considered a betrayal of nation and oath. According to the constitution, the defense of the rights of the nation of Iran, and avoidance of the collapse of the country takes precedence over protection of the ruling regime. Such (defensive) action is “promotion of the good & rejection of wrong” which one is of the two main principles of our constitution, the other being democracy.

Time Magazine says:

At one of the many Ashura refreshments stalls placed incongruously in the heart of the battle, one man described a clash he had just witnessed. 

He said the crowd had had taken down one policeman and lifted his helmet in the air like a trophy. 

Others at the refreshment stall listened as they ate lentil soup and drank tea with dates. 

No more than 100 yards away police clashed once again with protesters, while the black-shirted, chador-wearing Shiite faithful gathered around the stall cried, “death to the dictator!”