Iran: The Crackdown Continues & Rifts Deepen; a Young Woman, Shot Through the Heart, Becomes a Martyr (with Disturbing Video Footage)

by Damozel | The New Yoirk Times reports on "the bitter rift" between Iran's clerics over this disputed election.  And the government has now arrested the daughter of former Iranian president Ali Akbar Hashemi Rahfsanjani.  (NYT)   Faezah Hashemi Rahfsanjani,the daughter, spoke at a pro-Mousavi rally.  (Juan Cole)  Four other members of the family were arrested as well.   Juan Cole says, "It is widely suspected that Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, a multi-billionaire who is well connected politically, is funding and aiding the reform movement's protests."   A Newsweek reporter, Maziar Bahari, has been arrested as well and his laptop and other files seized. (Newsweek)  Meanwhile, Mousavi is hanging tough, even as the government "lays the groundwork" for his arrest:

IRNA, the official news agency, quoted Alireza Zahedi, a member of the Basij militia, as saying Mr. Moussavi had provoked the violence, sought help from outside the country to do so and should be put on trial. The Fars news agency quoted a Tehran University law professor as saying that Mr. Moussavi had acted against “the security of the nation.” State television suggested that at least some of the unrest was instigated by an outlawed terrorist group, the Mujahedeen Khalq, which does not have a strong following in Iran.

Mr. Moussavi was not seen in public on Sunday but showed no sign of yielding. In his Web posting, he urged followers to “avoid violence in your protest and behave as though you are the parents that have to tolerate your children’s misbehavior at the security forces.”

He also warned the government to “avoid mass arrests, which will only create distance between society and the security forces.” (New York Times)

The name of the young woman -- Neda -- who was shot in the chest by a member of the Basiji militia while she was watching the demonstration has become a rallying cry for protesters. (CNN)  La Figa sets out this eyewitness account of her death:

A young woman who was standing aside with her father watching the protests was shot by a basij member hiding on the rooftop of a civilian house. He had clear shot at the girl and could not miss her. However, he aimed straight her heart. I am a doctor, so I rushed to try to save her. But the impact of the gunshot was so fierce that the bullet had blasted inside the victim's chest, and she died in less than 2 minutes.

The protests were going on about 1 kilometers away in the main street and some of the protesting crowd were running from tear gass used among them, towards Salehi St.
The film is shot by my friend who was standing beside me.

Please let the world know.  (La Figa)

One blogger posted:

"The final moments of her tender young life leaked into the pavement of Karegeh Street today, captured by cell phone cameras," the unnamed blogger posted on Newsvine.com. "And not long after, took on new life, flickering across computer screens around the world on YouTube, and even CNN."  (CNN)

Graphic footage of her death has been shown on YouTube, though as Lisa Derrick reports, it keeps getting pulled.  As the content has been flagged, you will need to sign in to view the video.

At Time, Robin Wright predicts that the death of Neda may have "many consequences."

[H]er death may have changed everything. For the cycles of mourning in Shiite Islam actually provide a schedule for political combat — a way to generate or revive momentum. Shiite Muslims mourn their dead on the third, seventh and 40th days after a death, and these commemorations are a pivotal part of Iran's rich history. During the revolution, the pattern of confrontations between the shah's security forces and the revolutionaries often played out in 40-day cycles....

Shiite mourning is not simply a time to react with sadness. Particularly in times of conflict, it is also an opportunity for renewal. The commemorations for "Neda" and the others killed this weekend are still to come. And the 40th day events are usually the largest and most important.

"Neda" is already being hailed as a martyr, a second important concept in Shiism. With the reported deaths of 19 people Saturday, martyrdom also provides a potent force that could further deepen public anger at Iran's regime. ...

The belief in martyrdom is central to modern politics as well as Shiite tradition dating back centuries in Iran. It too helped propel the 1979 revolution. It sustained Iran during the eight-year war with Iraq, when over 120,000 Iranians died in the bloodiest modern Middle East conflict. Most major Iranian cities have a Martyrs' Museum or a Martyrs' cemetery.

Meanwhile, the Iranian Guardian Council concedes that there were more votes cast than citizens to cast them in 50 cities.  This, they say, is a "normal phenomenon," due to the fact that travelers can cast votes in other cities.  (PressTV)  Because of the number of cities affected, they could re-count the ballots at the request of the candidates.  (PressTV).  Mir-Hossein Mousavi and Mehdi Karroubi, of course, want a new election.  (More at PressTV)

 

More commentary at Memeorandum

Comments

[Reaganite Republican]

Obviously -although it’s the last thing Team Obama wants to hear- Ronald Reagan’s support of Poland’s Solidarity in the dark days of the Soviet-ordered crackdown is the model here- not the preposterous straw-man argument of “what are you going to do, invade?” disingenuously presented by the do-nothing, Obamapologist left.

And isn’t this what George W Bush told you was going to happen in the Middle East in the wake of Iraq’s liberation?
Maybe that’s why Barack Obama has so little apparent interest in finishing the job in Iran… no matter how much it benefits the US and free world.

That, and the fact that he’s already piled all his chips on legitimizing this vile regime- and a democratic revolution at this point would be downright embarrassing for him.

http://reaganiterepublicanresistance.blogspot.com/