UPDATE ON IRAN - Dec. 15, 2010

The Beginning of the End of the Clerical Rule in Iran

No. 743

Ashura in Iran

Activists call on anti-regime demonstrations on Ashura
Dec.13, 2010
Following the successful anti-regime demonstration on Students Day a group of activists call for demonstration on Ashura; the call says in part: “On this Ashura we will take into streets ... for better life, freedom and welfare. It is about just vs. unjust. It is about truth vs. lie. It is about the rule of people vs. rule of a regime who claims it gets its legitimacy from God! ...A freedom loving nation is going to gain its goals.
Tehran, 12 noon: from Imam Hussein Sq. to Enghlab Sq.”.

We fight back Khamenei the oppressor of our time on Ashura
Dec.13, 2010
Bus drivers in Bandar Abbas (south of Iran) called on uprising on Ashura. In their statement they called on all drivers, laborers, fishermen and other sectors of the society in Bandar Abbas to vastly be present during Tasua and Ashura demonstrations to fight the tyrant and the oppressor ruling Iran. They wrote: “...Our nation is in a condition in which it needs to follow Imam Hussein's path because of the oppression and despotism imposed on all people especially workers, drivers, nurses and fishermen. The victory is God’s and the victory is ours. Death to this deceptive government.'

On Ashura we will all rise
Dec.14, 2010 
A group of laborers of Khozestan Pipe-making factories, Rajaee Dock of Bandar Abbas, Alborz Chinaware factory of Qazvin, Iran Radiator Factory, Sarcam Filter Production Factory in Tehran and the Activists of Guilds for Justice have issued statements calling on Iranians to participate in Ashura’s protest demonstrations. In these statements it’s written:
On Ashura we will all rise and cry loud as ‘the victory is God’s and the victory is close; death to this deceptive government’, ‘death to dictator’ and ‘we will never surrender to oppression’.

Commemorating martyrs of 2009 Ashura in Behesht-e-Zahra Cemetery
Dec.13, 2010
The Society for Defending Families of Martyrs and Detained issued a statement calling for the commemoration gathering of 2009 Ashura in Behesht-e-Zahra. The statement reads in part: “People took into the streets last year on Ashura to protest vastly against the social and political conditions and against the Ahmadinejad’s government.
The government suppressed them full force with its SSF, Bassij and Intelligence Ministry...They shot at people and killed and injured tens of them even drove with their cars over people and killed them like Shahram Farjzadeh...
During last year they put sever pressure on the families of these victims and threatened them not to hold any ceremony in their commemoration...
This society is calling on all compatriots to participate in the ceremony for commemoration of these martyrs to soothe their families and not to let their voice of seeking justice to be hushed.
Date of gathering: Thursday Dec.16 at 3 pm in Behesht-e-Zahra Cemetery.
Lets raise our voices once more; viva freedom, viva freedom”.
In the statement the name of some of those fallen for freedom during last Ashura Uprising is mentioned as:
1- Jahanbakhs Pazooki
2- Shahram Farajzadeh
3- Mehrdad Karimpoor
4- Shabnam Sohrabi (fe)
5- Amir Arshad Tajmir
6- Mehdi Farhadi
7- Mohmmad Ali Rasekhnia, father of two
8- Mostafa Baik Iraqi
9- Seyyed Ali Mosavi Habibi, father of two

Note: A link of film regarding these nine martyrs fallen for freedom on Ashura 2009 is  as following:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DR3K0e5IA-g


Slongans challenging the clerical regime during Ashura
Dec.14, 2010 - Tehran
As Ashura comes, written slogans throughout Tehran call for another uprising. These slogans reading: we will come on Ashura/ Ashura another epoch...are seen in regions such as Aryashahr (Sadeghieh) metro station and Navab.

Distribution of leaflets and readiness of Tehran’s youths for Ashura protests
Dec.13, 2010 - Tehran
Coming closer to the time of Ashura, readiness of youths for protest acts against the regime have increased. For this occasion, youths in Tehranpars and Behjatabad in Tehran, have distributed thousands of small leaflets on streets and avenues in this zone from top of the tall buildings. Signature of these leaflets is “Tehran’s Youths”. What is written on them is that: in the memory of last year’s Ashura / down with principle of supreme leader / our promise in the main ways  of Tehran youths uprise.
According to news by the witnesses on 11th of December, hundreds of leaflets about youths protest have been distributed in the street of Satarkhan and many have been left on the street and pavement. An hour after this event a group of intelligence agents and a mayor car tried to collect the leaflets from allover.
On one of these leaflets, was written, "We call on all people of Iran to take part in Ashura."
This leaflet was written by students' supporters of Ashraf (place located in Iraq which is the place of all members of PMOI). In these days there has been an increase of conflicts among the youths and police forces which the reason is fear of regime from youths gatherings, and it is like that they have become suspicious to all the people and they become aggressive to people.

Regime’s fear of protests during Tasua and Ashura
Dec.13, 2010 - Tehran
The suppressive agents of SSF are stationed in Tehranpars’ First and Second Circle and at the beginning of Damavand Street while fully equipped. They try to provoke an atmosphere of horror amongst people by searching the cars passing by in fear of the protests during Ashura.
The organs that traditionally hold the ceremonies of that day are informed that each group holding the ceremony must be controlled by at least 10 to 12 SSF agents and plainclothes.

Situating repressive forces in Tehran’s streets
Dec. 13, 2010
According to receiving reports, repressive police forces with all kinds of equipment are situated widespread in different region of Tehren, such as, Tehranpars and Damavand streets and by investigating and searching all cars intend to create a fearful atmosphere among the people. These repressive acts are in fear of anti-governmental protests in days of Tasoua and Ashura.


Downfall

Motaki ousted; another sign of clerical regime’s downfall
Dec.13, 2010 - Tehran
Regime’s foreign minister being hurriedly ousted by Ahmadinejad while he was visiting African countries is the result of the breakage of Khamenei’s hegemony and talisman. It shows the deepening of schism within the regime and is a sign that regime’s era is over.
International sanctions, atomic crisis, economic crisis, unemployment, poverty and thousand other crises within Iran’s society are all bringing this regime under tremendous pressure dragging it even closer to its end.
We will witness crisis-stricken clerical regime receiving other blows in near future for sure.


Suppression

Call on 25 students of Khajehnasir university in Tehran
Dec. 13, 2010
The suppressive forces of the KhajehNasir University, called on 25 students on Saturday 11th of December, and threatened them. This calls followed by students protest on student day.

Political prisoner threatened by prison judicial official
Dec. 13, 2010
Ali Mohammadi, the Judicial Assistant of the Rajayi Shahr (Gohardasht) Prison in Karaj who has a long history in abusing and harassing political prisoners, summoned political prisoner Saleh Kohandel to his office this morning and insulted and threatened him.
According to reports, Ali Mohammadi demanded that he deny his membership in a political organization and not to leak news from inside prison to the outside.
Ali Mohammadi has harassed and abused many political prisoners in recent years. He was a member of the Revolutionary Guards Forces in the 80’s but after participating in the suppression of political prisoners he was appointed as the Judicial Assistant and assistant head of prison.
Notably, another political prisoner, Farzad Madadzadeh was transferred to cellblock 8 in this prison and was beaten.

Political prisoner goes on hunger strike after being tortured for writing Student Day statement from prison
Dec. 13, 2010
Arash Sadeqi went on a hunger strike in protest to being beaten after being subjected to pressure by interrogators for writing a letter in prison which was published (in the media).
According to his family, after his statement for Student Day was published, he was severely beaten by interrogators in cellblock 209 in Evin Prison and suffered a serious fracture in this ribcage. Interrogators refused to take him to the infirmary.
Therefore Arash Sadeqi went on a hunger strike on December 10. Notably, this prisoner had also suffered a broken shoulder in his past detentions.

Iran chops off hand of two men in Shiraz
Dec. 13, 2010
The amputation sentence for two men was carried out in the Central Shiraz Prison. This sentence was upheld by judicial institutions and the hand of these robbers was amputated according to religious law. (Kayhan state-run daily) 

15 percent of workers in Neishabour have not received wages for last 4 months
Dec. 13, 2010
The Executive Secretary of the Labor House in the town of Neishabour said that 15 percent of workers in this town have not received their wages for about 4 months.
“About 15 percent of laborers in the town of Neishabour have not received their wages for 4 months and despite constant inquiries by the Labor Home, the relevant institutions have not answered in this regard”, Mohammad Omarlou said. (ILNA state-run News Agency) 


Students Committee in Iran (Supporters of PMOI)