Ashura protests

Ashura protests
Part of 2009 Iranian presidential election protests
Ashura protest in Keshavarz Boulevard, Tehran.
Date	27 December 2009 (Day of Ashura)
Location	Various cities in Iran
Caused by	Protesting the results of the national presidential election
Goals	attempts to overthrow the Islamic Republic of Iran and the removal of Mahmoud Ali Nejad from the president
Methods	Protest
Parties
Supporters of the Iranian Green Movement Iranian government
Casualties and losses
37 civilians + Seyed Ali Mousavi

The Ashura protests occurred on 27 December 2009 in Iran against the outcome of the June 2009 presidential election, which demonstrators claim was illegitimate due to electoral fraud. The demonstrations were part of the 2009 Iranian election protests and were the largest since June. In December 2009, the protests saw an escalation in violence. ^{[1] [2] [3]}

In response to this protest, pro-government protesters held a rally three days later on 30 December (9 Dey) to condemn Green Movement protesters. ^[4]

Background

Irregularities during the 2009 Iranian presidential election caused resentment among many Iranians. While post-election protests were mostly peaceful, some violence erupted, leading to clashes between security forces and protesters, while some outspoken political dissenters were detained. ^[5]

Dissenters continued to speak out against the government, leading to further protests in December 2009. On 19 December 2009, the Grand Ayatollah Hossein Ali Montazeri, who had become a spiritual leader of the opposition, died. Montazeri's funeral, held on 21 December in Qom was attended by a large gathering of people ^[1] and clashes ensued between security forces and mourners, ^[6] leading on to further demonstrations in Qom and Isfahan. ^[6] On 26 December, a paramilitary Basij force subordinate to the Iranian Revolutionary Guard stormed a mosque in Tehran where scholar and former President Mohammad Khatami was speaking. ^{[1] [7]} This was followed by continued clashes in Tehran in which Jaras, a news media of the critics, estimated eight to ten people had died. ^[1]

Events

Protests

See also: December 30, 2009 Iranian pro-government rallies

On 27 December, demonstrations in several cities continued into the holy day of Ashura, the climax of Muharram. Protesters in Tehran gathered in various locations such as Imam Hussain Square and Azadi Square. Protesters travelled from the two sites along Revolution Street. ^[8]

Seyed Ali Mousavi, the nephew of Mir-Hossein Mousavi, was among those killed in the violence. ^{[6] [8]} Later, it was reported that his body had disappeared, precluding the possibility of a quick burial, while state sources indicated that an autopsy was being performed. ^[6] Mousavi was buried on 30 December. ^[9]

Similar protests took place in other Iranian cities including Isfahan, Najafabad, Shiraz, Mashhad, Arak, Tabriz, Babol, Ardabil and Orumieh. ^{[7] [10]} Four people were reportedly killed in Tabriz, in north western Iran on 27 December, and one in Shiraz in the south of Iran. ^{[11] [10]} Access for international news media was restricted by the Iranian government. ^[6]

State controlled media initially denied any deaths, though it was indicated on 28 December that 15 had died. ^[1] On 30 December, counter-rallies organized by the government at various cities, including Tehran, Qom, Arak, Shiraz and Isfahan, called for the death of the protesters, with government workers receiving the day off work to attend the demonstrations. ^[9]

The incident caused more damage to the public's perception of the Green Movement with the Iranian citizenry than other actions from the protesters. ^[12]

Violence

Lolagar mosque in Tehran was set into fire by the protesters, according to the State TV of Iran, leading to the death of some people in the mosque. ^[13] Security forces allegedly opened fire on the day of Ashura. ^{[14] [15]} Security forces initially denied reports of deaths and the police chief, Azizollah Rajabzadeh, stated that the police had not been armed; state television later acknowledged fatalities. ^{[11] [16]} Amateur video was produced which showed a security truck deliberately running over protesters. ^[17] Security forces were armed with guns and shot at protesters. ^[18]

Arrests

Among the hundreds of people arrested in the aftermath of the Ashura demonstrations area were prominent lawyers, journalists, clerics and politicians, family members of prominent human rights activists and reformist politicians. ^[6] These include:

• Ebrahim Yazdi, the Secretary-General of the Freedom Movement of Iran. ^[19] Yazdi's niece Leila Tavassoli was reportedly arrested as well. ^[20]
• Nobel Peace Prize laureate Shirin Ebadi's sister Noushin Ebadi, who was detained in an apparent effort to silence Ebadi who is abroad. ^[21] Shirin Ebadi wrote in a statement following her sister's arrest: "It is important to note that my sister is not politically active nor is she a member of any human right organization. Her only crime seems to be that she is my sister and her arrest is nothing less than a political blackmail and attempted pressure. This is another method employed by the authorities in Iran to stop my activities." ^[22]
• Heshmat Tabarzadi, an Iranian journalist and veteran democratic activist. ^[19]
• Emad Baghi, a prominent human rights activist and journalist, and head of the Society for the Defense of the Rights of the Imprisoned. ^[19] Baghi reportedly told his family as he was being arrested that "he would be strong in jail, and resist pressure [by hardliners]." The officer arresting him responded: "He [Baghi] will not live that long to resist." ^[20]
• Journalists Mashallah Shamsolvaezin, ^[23] Reza al-Basha, ^[24] Badralsadat Mofidi, ^[20] Mohammad Javad Saberi, ^[20] Nasrin Vaziri, ^[20] Kayvan Mehrgan, ^[20] Reza Tajik, ^[25] Mostafa Izadi, and Morteza Kazemian.
• Morteza Haji, a former government minister and a Khatami aide, ^[26] as well as Haji's deputy Reza Rasouli. ^[20] Hasan Rasool, a Khatami aide and the deputy director of the Baran Institute, was also arrested. ^{[27] [26]}
• Zahra Bahrami, a Dutch and Iranian dual citizen, who was executed in January 2011 on drugs charges ^{[28] [29]}

Trials

Many people are set to stand trial for taking part in the protests.^{[ needs update ]} At least one person arrested in connection with the protest, a university lecturer Abdolreza Ghanbari living in Pakdasht, was accused of "moharebeh," (an Islamic term meaning "warring against God") and sentenced to death. ^{[30] [31]}

International reaction

The governments of Canada, France, Germany, the United Kingdom and the United States condemned the violence. US President Barack Obama criticized the Iranian government's actions at the protests. ^[6] Venezuela condemned Western governments' interference in Iran's internal affairs. ^[32]

See also

• Timeline of the 2009 Iranian election protests
• Politics and Government of Iran

References

1. Ulrike Putz (29 December 2009). "Violence in Tehran; Iranian Demonstrators Put Regime on the Defensive". Der Spiegel . Retrieved 29 December 2009.
2. "Ashura 101". Frontline . PBS . Retrieved 22 September 2011.
3. "Ashura videos [Graphic]". Frontline. PBS. Retrieved 22 September 2011.
4. Karami, Arash (30 December 2014). "Iran marks anniversary of anti-Green Movement protests". Al-Monitor . Retrieved 12 January 2017.
5. "Opposition leaders detained in Iran". Amnesty International (19 June 2009).
6. "Iran opposition figures arrested after protests". BBC. 28 December 2009. Retrieved 29 December 2009.
7. Erdbrink, Thomas (27 December 2009). "Anti-government protests turn deadly in Tehran". The Washington Post . Retrieved 27 December 2009.^{[ dead link ]}
8. Staff (28 December 2009). "On a Holy Day, Protest and Carnage in Tehran". Time . Archived from the original on 31 December 2009.
9. Dareini, Ali Akbar (30 December 2009). "Iran hardliners call for killing rivals at rallies". The Seattle Times . Associated Press. Archived from the original on 3 January 2010. Retrieved 30 December 2009.
10. Worth, Robert F. & Fathi, Nazila (27 December 2009). "Police Are Said to Have Killed 10 in Iran Protests". The New York Times . Retrieved 28 December 2009.
11. "Iran protesters killed, including Mousavi's nephew". BBC News. 27 December 2009. Retrieved 27 December 2009.
12. Moussawi, Ibrahim (2012). Shi'ism and the Democratisation Process in Iran: With a Focus on Wilayat al-Faqih. Saqi. p. 157. ISBN   9780863568312.
13. "Editorial: People killed in mosque fire during unrest-Iran TV". Reuters . Archived from the original on 13 January 2017. Retrieved 12 January 2017.
14. Sciutto, Jim (28 December 2009). "Protester: 'Killing Muslims on Ashura Is Like Crucifying Christians on Christmas.'". ABC News . Retrieved 28 December 2009.
15. Kadivar, Ayatollah Mohsen (28 December 2009). "Iran Ayatollah: 'I Am Convinced that the Regime Will Collapse'". Der Spiegel– via ABC News.
16. "Iranian official: Arrest anti-government demonstrators". CNN. 28 December 2009.
17. Barker, Anne (2 January 2010). "Mousavi prepared to die for his cause". ABC News. Retrieved 2 January 2010.
18. "Iran: Video shows gunman opening fire on demonstrators, who fight back". Los Angeles Times . 2 January 2010. Retrieved 2 January 2010.
19. "Dissident Iran Rises". The Wall Street Journal . 30 December 2009. Retrieved 29 December 2009.
20. Sahimi, Muhammad (28 December 2009). "A Second Coup?". Frontline. Retrieved 30 December 2009.
21. "Iran detains Nobel laureate's sister". CNN. 29 December 2009. Retrieved 29 December 2009.
22. "Release Emadeddin Baghi and All Arbitrarily Arrested Iranians". Payvand Iran News. 30 December 2009. Retrieved 30 December 2009.
23. "Sister of Iran's Nobel Laureate Shirin Ebadi Arrested". Radio Free Europe. 30 December 2009. Retrieved 30 December 2009.
24. "Syrian reporter held in Iran to be freed by Thursday". WashingtonTV. 30 December 2009. Archived from the original on 2 January 2010. Retrieved 30 December 2009.
25. "Press group condemns recent arrests of journalists in Iran". WashingtonTV. 30 December 2009. Archived from the original on 2 January 2010. Retrieved 30 December 2009.
26. "Iranian dissenters reportedly arrested". CNN. 29 December 2009. Retrieved 30 December 2009.
27. "Iran cracks down on dissidents after deadly protests". Brisbane Times . 29 December 2009. Archived from the original on 5 November 2013. Retrieved 30 December 2009.
28. Death sentence fears for Dutch-Iranian woman, Radio Netherlands Worldwide, 24 August 2010, retrieved 25 August 2010
29. Iran hangs Iranian-Dutch woman Sahra Bahrami, BBC News, 29 January 2011, retrieved 30 January 2011
30. "Iran: Stop the execution of Abdolreza Ghanbari". LabourStart. 2012. Archived from the original on 14 September 2012.
31. "Iran to try 16 people soon over December unrest-report". Reuters. Retrieved 20 July 2021.
32. "Venezuela blames U.S. for destabilizing Iran". Xinhua News Agency. 31 December 2009. Archived from the original on 18 January 2010. Retrieved 22 September 2011.

External links

• Five pictures of demonstrations from Spiegel.de – Descriptions are in German
• Street fighting pictures by Fox News – Attention: The pictures are very disturbing!
• Videos on BBC