Live Blog: Iran – 22 Bahman (February 11, 2010)

LIVE BLOGGING PROTESTS IN IRAN
For a Great overview of the current situation in Iran, read TheNewestDeal.
ALSO FOLLOW: Josh Shahryar (the Daily Nite Owl), Enduring America, IranNewsNow, and homylafayette.

Click here for my liveblog of the 31st Anniversary of  the Islamic Republic of Iran


23 Bahman

The live-blog is closed. I will be adding some video, and giving you my overview for the day in several hours. Generally speaking, there is great debate as to which side won. Many protesters showed today, but their crowds were largely “handled” by the well-placed security forces in Tehran. Away from the public eye, the movement was more successful, but many are criticizing (or at least rethinking) the strategy to co-opt holidays and national events as it is clear Ahmadinejad is getting MUCH better at planning for such opposition.

17:24 Tehran time
There are multiple reports of clashes at Azadi Sq at 4:15pm, as well as in Enghelab (not confirmed), but both reports speak of “shred guns,” or pellet guns, and serious injuries. Regardless, there is PLENTY of dramatic video showing tear gas being used against protesters.

Opposition websites are reporting that 100 have been arrested in Mashhad, and protests have also spread to Shiraz.

17:13 Tehran time
News out of Iran has slowed to a trickle. Many protesters may be en route to Evin prison, but this isn’t confirmed yet.

There are confirmed reports (and videos) of helicopters flying over Tehran. While some have said that the helicopters have been flying since 4 AM, reports have increased. These can be used to track the movement of the crowds. Also, police have been firing paint bullets into the crowd to mark protesters in order to find them later.

Below is a video of a poster of the Supreme Leader being torn. This is a serious crime in Iran.

15:16 Tehran time
Though unconfirmed, there are many reports of heavy activity in the north and west of Tehran (Tajrish and Sadeghie). This makes sense, as it is consistent with earlier reports of foot-traffic flow.

In about 2 hours (5 PM Tehran time) protesters are expected to descend upon Evin prison, where many Green Activists have been kept since the flawed June election.

The protests have spread far beyond Tehran. At the very least, Isfahan, Mashad and Ahvaz have reported activity. Just like Ashura, this shows that the politically active region is spreading.

In this video you can see rocks being thrown, chanting of “Death of Dictator,” and a popping sound that appears to be teargas canisters (watch for the smoke on the right).

15:01 Tehran time
Video shows protesters moving down Azadi St shouting, “the blood in our vains is a gift to our nation,” inferring that if the president were to spill it, he would be making martyrs of the marchers. Note: “our nation” is often chanted “our leader.”

14:55 Tehran time

In a video uploaded just a few minutes ago, the camera man is accosted by someone, and runs away. He can be heard yelling “Mag Bar Khamenei,” Death of Khamenei (the Supreme Leader of Iran). An expert I spoke to says that this appears to look like Azadi St, near where Ahmadinejad gave his speech this morning.

Additionally, in this video it appears that police and plain-clothes Basiji are walking in a line down Azadi St from the square, perhaps clearing the street after the speech. The camera is sideways because the person who took the video is obviously trying to hide it from the pro-government forces.

14:33 Tehran time
According to EA:

1005 GMT: North Tehran is the scene of “sporadic and at times heavy” clashes, especially at Vanak Square. That is notable, since Vanak had been relatively free of clashes in demonstrations in November and December, including Ashura.

There are also clashes at Amir Abad, near student dorms in Tehran University, as well as other parts of Tehran, especially in the north.

Earlier, Ayatollah Rafsanjani participated in the marches.

Some of the latest videos have been posted by Iran News Now.

1:13 Tehran time
Videos are now coming in at a greater pace from Iran. Here, you can see protesters chanting as they enter a metro.

Here, you can clearly see the busses that took many pro-government demonstrators to Ahmadinejad’s speech from other areas of Iran.

12:34 Tehran time
In what might be the first legitimate video of today’s protests in Iran, people can be heard chanting “referendum, referendum, this is people’s chant/slogan.” This was posted by a trusted source inside Iran. The video appears to have either been filmed in Kordestan, Jalal, or Sadeghie. According to experts on Iran, this is a critique of the government itself, not just the president.

Also, in another video from Sadeghie, people can clearly be heard chanting “ya hossein, mir hossein,” a chant familiar to the Green Movement.

In a video taken on the Metro in Tehran, people can be heard chanting “death to the dictator (marg bar besdeh doh).”

12:24 Tehran time – Movement of Protest Routes:

12:12 Tehran time
Jaras is reporting that shots being fired into the crowd at Azadi Square, in Aryashahr, according to Jaras. There are other reports of shots fired in Isfahan, though these remain unconfirmed.

Also, Ahmadinejad announced during his speech that Iran has already enriched uranium past 20%, more than would be needed for most non-weaponized usages. Oddly, Iran State TV cut out the speech as it was nearing the end.

11:33 Tehran time
Mehdi Saharkhizi (@onlymehdi) is reporting that the Green Movement website, Jaras, has confirmed that former president Khatami’s brother, Reza Khatami,  and his wife, the granddaughter of Imam Khomeini, Zahra Ishraghi, have been arrested..

11:24 Tehran time
Hossein Karroubi has confirmed that his father, Mehdi Karroubi, the former presidential candidate, was injured in an attack on his vehicle. Also, Ali Karroubi, the other brother, was arrested and taken away in handcuffs.

We are also ready to confirm that there are clashes in Enghelab Square.

11:17 Tehran time
Two sources, including Parlemaan news, have confirmed that former President Khatami’s vehicle was attacked on his way to the protests.

Ahmadinejad is currently speaking in Azadi Square.

Radio Free Farda (RFE/RL) allegedly has a report from Mehdi Karroubi son that his car was attacked, windows broken, and his head was injured. However, another reliable source inside the country is saying this is not true. Enduring America and DailyNiteOwl are running with the story. Stay tuned.

Also, we have confirmed that crowds at Imam Hossein Square are chanting “Death to the Dictator.” This is significant becuase it is an act of treason.
10:55 Tehran time
It is now confirmed that Karroubi has been attacked and injured. Apparently, he suffered injuries to the head and has been seen bleeding.

10:52 Tehran time
Multiple sources have reported that Basij militia members attacked former Presidential candidate Karroubi’s car in Falakeh Sadeghieh.

Also, there are reports of large groups of people moving from Ferdos Blvd and Sattari street to Ariashahr square, where there are unconfirmed reports of a Basij bus on fire.

10:23 Tehran time
According to Austin Heap, founder of the Haystack Project, an organization dedicated to supplying uncensored internet access to the people of Iran, one of the primary weapons in accessing proxy servers in Iran is no longer working. Heap has speculated that the government may have beaten many of the technologies that protesters have used to get around government eyes, and this is one more sign that amateur programmers can no longer outhack the government in Iran.

There are many reports coming in of violence and tear gas in Sadeghieh Square, where Karroubi, a major reform leader, was expected to speak.

Also, there is an unconfirmed report that a statue in Ferdowsi Square has been covered in green cloth by protesters.

10:02 Tehran
Unconfirmed reports of violence in Aryashahr, and there are conflicting reports of violence in Sadeghie, though Mehdi Saharkhiz has said that nothing is on fire there as earlier sources had reported.

9:57 Tehran
The Iranian government has deployed loud speakers to overpower the protesters along the parade routes. Some in Iran are reporting that the speakers are deafening. Also, there are reports of pick-up trucks packed with speakers driving around and blaring pro-government propoganda.

9:40 Tehran
Large crowds have gathered and are chanting in Azadi Sq. Iran’s government run TV station is broadcasting, and are reportedly defended by Chinese made anti-riot vehicles.

There are unconfirmed reports that loudspeakers placed on the protest routes have been disabled by dissidents.

So far there are no confirmed reports of violence.


9:14 Tehran
Reports are coming in of large crowds gathering in Tabriz, where they are chanting “Today is day of blood; Yazid will have to go.” There is a report that Chinese anti-riot infantry fighting vehicles have entered the State Television compound in Tehran and Jaam-e-Jam street.

There are unconfirmed reports, via EPersianRadio, that a bus full of Basiji was set on fire, but that remains suspect.

07:56 Tehran 11:26 PM EST (04:26 GMT)

There are reports that people are already making their way to Azadi Square. Also, some of the protesters are reported to be carrying whistles. News out of Iran is scarce so far, but is likely to increase as protesters get in place. Simply using a cell phone can be seen as a red flag for Iranian security forces.

07:37 Tehran time

According to this Youtube Video, there is a giant fence around Azadi Square in Tehran, which have been installed to limit access to the square. However, it may pose a a serious safety threat. It will also be interesting to see if protesters attempt to blend in before they reach the festivities so as to pass through security.

WEDNESDAY 11:58 AM EST (16:58 GMT) 20:28 Tehran
The Treasury Department of the United States announced this morning that they are imposing new sanctions against the Revolutionary Guard, freezing “the assets in U.S. jurisdictions of Revolutionary Guard Gen. Rostam Qasemi and four subsidiaries of a construction firm that he commands and was hit with U.S. sanctions in 2007.” These sanctions will attempt to squeeze the Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) from importing or exporting weapons technology.

This announcement comes at a time when Russia has also signaled willingness to discuss sanctions, meaning that the probability of an international effort against Iran is greatly increased.

Also, Iranian Intelligence Minister Hojjatoleslam Heidar Moslehi announced today that it has arrested 8 individuals associated with Radio Farda – Radio Free Europe’s Persian station that is financed by the United States.


WEDNESDAY 9:55 AM EST (14:55 GMT) 18:25 Tehran

Ra-hesabz, a reliable news source from within Iran, is reporting that the Basij, a government-paid plain-clothes paramilitary fource in Iran, will likely be in position in Azadi Square tonight, long before the plan festivities and protests of tomorrow. On Ashura, police had already surrounded the entrances to several major universities before dawn, not allowing protesters to spill into the streets. We are likely to see similar actions tonight and tomorrow as well.

A reliable source on the ground in Iran has reported that a group of 19 “Mourning Mothers” were arrested at midnight on Monday. Their names can be found here.

WEDNESDAY 8:36 AM EST (01:36 GMT) 17:06 Tehran
Several people have been arrested today in the lead up to tomorrows expected protests during the celebration of Revolution Day (22 Bahman) in Iran.

Also, Enduring America has reported that, “the Green website Rah-e-Sabz that former President Hashemi Rafsanjani had asked the Supreme Leader to arrange for the release from prison of Alireza Beheshti, Mir Hossein Mousavi’s advisor and the son of the late ‘martyr’ Ayatollah Beheshti.” EA is also running with an unconfirmed report that Rafsanjani has given the Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Khamenei, an “ultimatum” against a violent crackdown on the protesters that are expected to show at tomorrow’s celebrations.

TUESDAY 9:50 PM EST (2:50 GMT) 18:20 Tehran
There are reports that reporters trying to cover Revolution Day activities in Iran will only be allowed to do so from Azadi Square between 9am and 12 pm.

Also, Nasser Karimi is reporting that at least 10 people are facing execution for their role in the post-election protests, and another 1000 have been detained for political resistance. While 5 political prisoners were released today, former industry minister Behzad Nabavi was given a five-year sentence after his sentence was upheld by the appeals court.


TUESDAY 7:07 PM EST (00:07 GMT) 3:37 AM Tehran -

AND SO IT BEGINS! Today, pro-government plain-clothed crowds threw stones at several European embassies in Tehran. Also, massive waves of arrests, an Internet slowdown, and the positioning of pro-government forces inside Tehran have all been attempted to disrupt Thursday’s protests before they even begin.

President Obama announced today that sanctions are quickly being worked on by the United States and the UN in order to keep Iran’s nuclear program in check. He has pointed to mixed messages by Ahmadinejad, and the launching of a nuclear-capable rocket this week, as reasons for the world to intervene. Even Russia seems to have become more amenable to sanctions, increasing the likelihood that Iran could face a new wave of international pressure very soon. Obama and European leaders are still considering their options in Iran, but it is unclear exactly how hard or how fast the world will respond to this weeks news in Iran.

Posted in Foreign Policy, Iran, Iran Videos, Live Blogs, Live Blogs: Iran, Media