Iran Protests: The People vs the Ayatollahs
The Iran protests began as statements against high prices and corruption, but quickly spiraled into Anti-Regime protests. They chanted that the clerics should be ashamed. They changed the normal “death to America” chant to tell the clerics to “let go of our country.” One woman chanted “death to Khamenei” in front of police forces and the crowd chanted with her. The government planned pro-government rallies for Saturday. Will it just make the people angrier?
Map of many of the cities and towns where protests were reported in #Iran on December 28-29 pic.twitter.com/fxhgcLcZnt
— Seth Frantzman (@sfrantzman) December 29, 2017
“We don’t want to be ruled by clerics anymore!
In Western Iran, police beat up the protesters, in other areas they were arrested. But the depth of this protest is amazing to behold. Protesters even pushed back against police in some areas when they attempted to arrest one of their own.
The State Department expressed support for the peaceful protesters, strongly condemning their arrests.
Iran, 1970s
Iran 2017
In 1979, brave Iranian women took to the streets after the Islamic revolution to protest forced hijabs. By God, they’re doing it again. #Iranprotests pic.twitter.com/j12U72qgM1
— Alan Poirier (@alan_poirier) December 30, 2017
A nation once westernized, growing, with a strong economy, was taken over by radical Islamists in 1979. Women’s rights vanished. Education went dark. The Ayatollahs became the supreme rulers and the “president” only a figurehead.
The militants began an international campaign of terror, funding extremist groups like Hezbollah across the globe. They arrested people who were simply visiting their Iranian relatives, throwing them in the darkest most brutal prisons. Their economy has been a disaster and prices are out of control…where did all those millions of dollars we gave them go? Into terror, military buildup, the IRGC…but not to the people.
And the people are fed up. Even some students at Kharazmi University of Tehran have reportedly joined the protests. In 2009, then President Obama bashed the protesters. The Trump administration supports them. Can there actually be a regime change?
Imagine a free, democratic, independent, wealthy Iran. Giving full expression to beauty of Persian culture. Tapping into brains & spirit of its remarkable people. No nukes. At peace with its neighbors. Pray for peaceful end to this brutal & corrupt regime. #IranProtests
— Mark Dubowitz (@mdubowitz) December 30, 2017
#iranprotests are very different than 1999 and 2009 protests. This is the most vehemently anti regime event I’ve ever seen. Not just about the economic situation, but a deep and desperate cry against an unjust and repressive system.
— Alireza Nader (@AlirezaNader) December 29, 2017
Law Enforcement Forces in Kermanshah, W Iran, beat up the protesters but ppl are not scared anymore! #Iranprotests pic.twitter.com/WJY4Dw9Ck1
— Potkin Azarmehr (@potkazar) December 29, 2017
One of the iconic photos of yesterday’s protest was a young woman with her compulsory hejab on a stick…
What a wondrous site. Viva the protesting people of Iran. Long Live! pic.twitter.com/146HPg4Sna— Maryam Namazie (@MaryamNamazie) December 29, 2017
An Iranian protester told me they don’t fear security forces anymore. They are unemployed and facing rising prices. The corrupt regime is making life more difficult day by day #Iranprotests
— Jiyar Gol (@jiyargol) December 29, 2017
تصاویری از تظاهرات مردم #رشت pic.twitter.com/BNeBFlYaac
— BBC Persian (@bbcpersian) December 29, 2017
People in #Iran chant at the cleric “clerics shame on you, let go of our country” #Iranprotests pic.twitter.com/5APNoWguZi
— Potkin Azarmehr (@potkazar) December 29, 2017
World must listen to Iranian voice who have risen up with chant of”We don’t want an Islamic republic”
Brave protesters in #Qom, from the heartland of the mullahs’ regime, are chanting.#IranProtests pic.twitter.com/jWUDwL0uCR— shabnam madadzadeh (@ShMadadzadeh) December 29, 2017
Woman screams ‘Death to Khamenei’ in front of the Law Enforcement Forces and crowds chant along with her #iranprotests pic.twitter.com/0TCZAtNUEL
— Potkin Azarmehr (@potkazar) December 29, 2017
Iranian protesters overwhelm and stop an officer from arresting one of their fellow protestors. #IranProtests #Iran pic.twitter.com/HmgG3b8CG5
— Armin Navabi (@ArminNavabi) December 29, 2017
Iranian police beating protesters in #Kermanshah on Friday.
The central subjects of protest are soaring prices and widespread corruption but videos widely shared on social media show chants like “death to the dictator” and “down with Rouhani.”#Iranprotests #TwitterKurds pic.twitter.com/codSmSSM3o— Ava Homa (@AvaHoma) December 29, 2017
protest chant today “people are reduced to beg while clerics live like Lords”#iranprotests pic.twitter.com/Qh80vFt0Aj
— Potkin Azarmehr (@potkazar) December 29, 2017
Featured photo via Twitter of brave woman who placed her compulsory hijab on a stick. That photo has been retweeted hundreds of times or more.
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