Government Supporters in Gates, People in Streets

The celebrations to mark the thirty-first anniversary of the Islamic Revolution took place under a heavy security atmosphere and ended in violence in various areas.  Despite heavy security presence, green movement supporters held protests in cities across Iran, chanting “death to dictator” and calling for “referendum, referendum.”  

According to the Rooz reporter in Tehran, the 22 Bahman anniversary was celebrated in Tehran and other cities yesterday while government forces prevented the former prime minister, president and Majlis speaker as well as revolutionary founder ayatollah Khomeini’s grandson from attending the rally and beat them.  

The Azadi square in Tehran, which has hosted the annual anniversary celebration in prior years, was confined in gates this year.  The square was filled from one hour before the event by people brought to the area on government buses.  According to a video clip posted on youtube, many buses were parked in chains near the square after having transported the government supporters to the area.  

The Fars news agency, affiliated with the security-military apparatus, announced one hour before the event that the square has been filled with people.  Similarly, the government used all its force to block roads leading to the square in a bid to prevent protesters from reaching the square and areas covered by foreign journalists.  The green people of Iran, however, continued to use 22 Bahman as they have used other rallies and demonstrations to voice their protest and remind the government that they do not recognize the coup administration.  

People came out to the streets yesterday while the government had attempted to prevent them from coming out by arresting massive numbers of political activists and journalists in recent days as well as constantly threatening people from outlets.  On the eve of 22 Bahman, security agents forced political activists, students, civil society activists and journalists behind bars to contact their family members and ask them not to participate in the protests.  On that same night threatening text messages were sent from the intelligence ministry to the public forbidding them from participating in protests.  

As such, according to the Rooz reporters, Tehran spent its most heavily securitized atmosphere in recent months, with the presence of police, special guars, Basij and plain-clothed forces more visible than ever before, especially in the capital’s central streets.

Mahdi Karoubi, who had announced two days earlier that he will join the protests at the Sadeghiyeh square, was warmly greeted by people who had gathered in the area from ours before, but was attacked by plain-clothed and special guards.  His youngest son, Ali Karoubi, was also arrested by security officers and released late last night.