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Democracy News
Iranian ‘Day of Rage’ Met By Widespread Ongoing Government Crackdown
March 11, 2011
By: Randi Zung | Printer Friendly
On February 14, the New York Times reported that protesters took to the streets of Tehran and other cities for Iran’s ‘Day of Rage’ protest despite government warnings. Protesters that did not heed the government’s warning clashed with Iranian security forces and were beaten with batons, subjected to tear gas, and wounded by bullets. Dozens of protesters were detained during the unrest. In an effort to suppress protester activities, the Iranian government shut off cellular telephone service around main squares, set up roadblocks, and choked internet speeds. Despite the Iranian government’s attempt to stop the demonstrations, it was reported that approximately 20,000 to 30,000 protesters took to the streets to demonstrate against the country’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and the Iranian government. As supreme leader, Khamenei has the power to appoint members of the country’s military, civil government, and judiciary. Inspired by similar uprisings around the region, the ‘Day of Rage’ protest is Iran’s first mass gathering since a December 2009 anti-government uprising that resulted in eight fatalities.
BBC News reported that at least 50 members of Iranian parliament called for the execution of opposition leaders Mir Hossein Mousavi and Mehdi Karroubi for helping organize the Iranian ‘Day of Rage.’ In a statement, the pro-government lawmakers said that the opposition leaders were “corrupts on earth and should be tried.” The charge of “corrupt on earth” has been frequently used in cases against political dissidents. Individuals found guilty of the “corrupt on earth” charge face the death penalty. Mousavi and Karroubi, who both disputed the re-election of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in June 2009, were placed under house arrest prior to the protest.
Explaining the decision to hold the protest, the New York Times additionally reported that Karroubi stated the ‘Day of Rage’ was organized to demonstrate the hypocrisy of the Iranian government. In previous weeks, the Iranian government publicly applauded the efforts of protesters in other Arab countries around the region, despite having a long history of using repressive tactics against its own people. Last week, Hossein Hamadani, a top commander of the Revolutionary Guards, stated that anti-government protesters were “nothing but corpses.”
According to Iranian-state run media, Voice of America reported that so far two people had died as a result of the clashes between protesters and security forces, and over 150 opposition supporters have been arrested.
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty reported that in an interview with United Stated-funded television network Alhurra, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton stated that the US “[supports] the universal human rights of the Iranian people.” Clinton additionally stated, “I find it very ironic that Iran is trying to give lessons in democracy to anybody.” In response to Clinton’s remarks, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast stated, “We think that the shared desire of all the nations in the region is for the oppressive countries not to meddle.”
In response to the opposition rallies, the Iranian government called on government loyalists to take to the streets of Tehran in counter-protest. On February 17, Voice of America reported that in a statement, Iran's Islamic Propagation Coordination Council urged loyalists to show anger towards those guilty of “crimes of sedition.” Iranian chief prosecutor Gholam Hossein Mohseni Ejei later expressed support for the Council’s statement.
The Washington Post reported that thousands of Iranian security forces clashed with tens of thousands of anti-government demonstrators for a second time on February 20, resulting in at least two more protester deaths. Although the Iranian state media reported that the streets were calm, witnesses stated that the city’s main streets were “very crowded” with both protesters and government security forces. Opposition leaders originally predicted that the rally would be the largest gathering of anti-government supporters since the demonstrations began over a week ago, however it is believed that attendance slightly dwindled after the Iranian government announced it was prepared to use deadly force against any and all protesters.
The Iranian government has since accused the US of being responsible for organizing the opposition-led demonstrations.
On February 23, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton announced sanctions against two top Iranian officials for their continued involvement in human rights abuses involving peaceful protesters. The two Iranian officials were identified by Voice of America as Tehran prosecutor-general Abbas Jafari Dolatabadi and Mohamed Reza Naqdi, a commander of the Basij militia forces of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards Corps. As the country’s chief prosecutor, Dolatabadi brought charges – including the death penalty – against many opposition protesters that were detained in during the December 2009 uprising. Naqdi is attributed with ordering the use of violent and deadly force against peaceful protesters during multiple demonstrations, including the ‘Day of Rage.’ According to the sanctions, the two Iranians are now barred from traveling to the US and it is now illegal for US citizens to have financial dealings with either of the men. Additionally, Dolatabadi and Naqdi have had all of their US-based assets frozen.
Commenting on the ongoing crackdowns, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty reported that the US government said that the Iranian government was orchestrating an “organized intimidation campaign.” In addition to arbitrary arrests of opposition members, the US government also accused the Iranian government of jamming telecommunications systems in the country.
On March 2, Iran’s opposition announced that more than 200 anti-government protesters were arrested while trying to protest in Tehran. BBC News reported that the latest rally was to protest the continued detentions of opposition leaders Mousavi and Karroubi. The two men have been under house arrest since mid-February 2011, and were detained just days prior to the country’s planned “Day of Rage.” Security forces were reported to have been aided by plain clothes police forces.
For previous news on Iran, please see:
Iran Works To Silence Reform Voices
Sources:
New York Times - Iran Uses Force Against Protests as Region Erupts
Washington Post - Security forces quell opposition protests in Tehran
US Department of State - Deteriorating Human Rights Situation in Iran
Voice of America - US Sanctions Iranian Officials for Crushing Probe
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