Speaking after Iran’s top legislative body upheld the election victory of incumbent Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, sources in Iran told this reporter in a telephone interview that the hangings took place in the holy city of Mashhad on Monday. There was no independent confirmation of the report.
Not surprisingly, the violent crackdown has dampened spirits:
On Monday, witnesses said thousands of policemen and Basij militiamen carrying batons were deployed in Teheran’s main squares to prevent any recurrence of the opposition protests. Drivers who so much as shouted “Allahu Akbar” or beeped their horns had their windows smashed by the Basiji and riot police.
Women police, better known as the Sisters of Zeynab, are also now out in force, the witnesses said.
“Some people are still going out into the streets, but there is despair and sadness,” said one source. “Now we are told that [pro-Mousavi] green bands are illegal, which is ironic because it symbolizes the color of Islam.”
On Monday, the daughter of former president Hashemi Rafsanjani, spoke a gathering of opposition protesters in Teheran’s Enqelab Square, sources said. “Mrs. Faezeh Hashemi arrived and tried to give the people some words of encouragement,” said one, “but the police broke up the rally within minutes.”
He added, “My nephew saw one of these Sisters of Zeynab beat down an elderly woman with no mercy. When he tried to intervene, saying to her, ‘Miss, she is like your grandmother,’ the woman turned around to get a Basiji to deal with him.”
It was only after widespread criticism from the American public, scolding speeches from members of the House and Senate, and the pleading of Sec of State Hillary Clinton, that Obama finally agreed to toughen his stance on the violent crackdown in Iran. The words he used in his June 23rd news conference, “appalled and outraged”, and “strongly condemned” were sent to the State Dept for approval a day before, but Obama apparently didn’t make the final decision to use them until shortly before the news conference.
It will probably take another round of vocal criticism to get him to condemn the latest round of (content warning): atrocities in Iran, and he will most likely agonize over that decision, too, because it’s the right one.
Hat tip: Sparky
Here, you can add your name to an online petition to the Prosecutors of the International Court of Justice requesting investigation into the crimes committed by Ali Khamenei.
WELCOME Ace of Spades readers. Would it kill you to comment?
Previous Iranian uprising Posts:
July, 1, 2009 at 12:48 pm
[...] it was only after widespread criticism from the American public, public scoldings from the floor of the House and Senate by our lawmakers, [...]
July, 1, 2009 at 3:26 pm
As long as obama and his ilk are in control of our government, we can expect attacks on our friends and support of our enemies, both foreign and domestic on both accounts.
I can’t believe we’ve arrived at this point as a nation, but here we are, and I fear it’s all downhill from here.
July, 1, 2009 at 3:31 pm
Came over from Ace of Spades. Why would this suprise anyone? Iran stones women, throws homosexuals off cliffs, and shoots students in the streets.
July, 1, 2009 at 3:50 pm
Would it kill you to comment?
I suppose it might if I were in Iran.
July, 1, 2009 at 4:15 pm
Only if DHS does not declare me a terrorist for commenting…
July, 1, 2009 at 4:37 pm
Nice blog.
July, 1, 2009 at 4:39 pm
Lemme see.. Nope! I’m not dead. Thank goodness we live in the land of the free! ..Wait.
July, 1, 2009 at 4:49 pm
I think they meant “beaten”, not “bitten”.
God help them (and us) all.
July, 1, 2009 at 5:00 pm
I see the mullahs have taken the momentum in the “debate.”
MULLAHS: We will crush this insignificant rebellion.
MODERATOR: Protestor, rebuttal?
PROTESTOR: ***continues swinging from lamppost, faint gurgling sound comes from throat***
MODERATOR: And I award the point to the democratically elected government of Iran.
July, 1, 2009 at 5:19 pm
Great writeup – It’s nice to see that you have some Iranians checking your site out (cool flag counter side bar).
P.S. Can we call the Mullah’s c*ckholsters up in here?
July, 1, 2009 at 6:18 pm
Mmmmmm….probably not.
July, 1, 2009 at 6:45 pm
Darn.
July, 1, 2009 at 7:09 pm
But thanks for the compliments.
July, 1, 2009 at 7:45 pm
Nice blog!
Tried to sign the petitions but just got a “site not found message.”
July, 1, 2009 at 8:56 pm
Dang! Will fix.
July, 1, 2009 at 10:46 pm
What do you expect? Reagan? Please… This loser of a president we have now is even worse than I thought – actually that’s not true – he’s just as bad as I had thought he would be, but I didn’t expect an “election” in Iran, or a dictator taking over Honduras. But, if I had imagined those two things, Obami’s reaction is exactly what I would expect of him. He will threaten violence to Honduras next.
July, 2, 2009 at 4:54 am
It is disgusting to know what is happening in Iran… they are also humans as we are. How can they say that the election results are correct when more then half the country is protesting against the election results.
July, 2, 2009 at 6:11 pm
You won’t hear much from Obama. It’s much easier to go after Honduras. They are small and rather defenseless but even they won’t give in to him. As Rodney Dangerfield Obama said, “I can’t get no respect”. Obama and his paramour Hugo will come up with something absurd I’m sure. Viva Honduras – Bravo Iranian street fighters. Obama go away!
July, 2, 2009 at 7:19 pm
[...] Iran Hanging Mousavi Supporters, Now? The Jerusalem Post reports: Speaking after Iran’s top legislative body upheld the election victory of incumbent [...] [...]
July, 18, 2009 at 11:49 pm
[...] couldn’t give the protesters even a tiny bit of encouragement, beyond condemning (under duress) the horrific brutality of the Basiji, after watching it go on for two weeks? He didn’t want [...]