When arriving in Tehran the days before election, I witnessed something magical on the streets of Tehran. It wasn’t the share number of green supporters or the open debates that was taking place. It was the millions of people openly sharing their hopes of change; you could feel it in the air or everywhere around you. It was like the first days of spring when flowers and greenery starts burst out.
I was in Tehran during the student protest of 1999, 18 Tir. This is something else, the green movement has a direction without boundaries or limitations.
All around main areas in Tehran I witnessed, young and old, man and women, poor and rich – chanting slogans of change with confidence in their voice that they will archive change. The spirit in the streets was festive and joyful as I had never experienced something close to this. The green wave had empowered millions of Iranians who had lost faith on real change. The people wanted change and Iran needed change!
The rape of the ballots and peoples hopes
The day of election, you could see long lines of people waiting for hours to cast their vote. Millions, who never voted in their life, were standing this historical day to cast their vote for a change of direction. Religious, traditionalists, seculars and even Iranians abroad who reject the system at whole participated in an election to raise demands of change. I was observing the election the entire day but at 11pm, 5 hours after the deadline for voting I decided that I will also cast my vote. The mosque was packed with people full with hope at this late hour, and there was no question about it that the candidates of reforms would win.
When first votes were counted and the initial results was presented, everyone went in to a state of shock. How could it be, was everything we had witnessed the days before just a dream? As the hours passed by and it reached early morning, it was clear…The peoples votes had been hijacked and the electoral system had denied the demand for change.
The next day, people where silent on the streets with as their facial expressions showed that everyone was in shock. This must be a bad dream, then the discussions in the streets took place and it turned into a voice of dismissal of the official claim of the election results. People started to come to the streets and ask each other, is this really true?
The voice of anger
Within few hours sporadic demonstrations took place and chants of cheating and vote rigging was heard. Trash cans were set on fire and the crowds started to march in the streets of northern Tehran. Some clashes took place as the riot police came to the streets, and what had earlier been a festival atmosphere turned into a show of frustration and anger. People felt violated and their dreams and hopes had been raped. Large demonstrations took place along the Vali Asr avenue, 20 km long avenue from south to north of Tehran.
The immediate response from the authorities was tear gas and beating protestors with batons. At late hours, every street and alley in Tehran was on fire and clashes took place everywhere, I mean everywhere. People would open the doors of their homes to protect fleeing protestors, as they would be chased by armed basiji militia. Barricades were created on the streets to protect the gatherings against heavily armored Hells Angels grouped police/militia on motorbikes that swings their batons on everyone in sight. At this time peaceful protests turned violent….
The protest continued the following days and reached larger scales and was told that it had spread to all the large cities in Iran. Three days later, Mir Hossein Mousavi joined the demonstrators in downtown Tehran and millions participated in a protest which is believed to be the largest public gathering in Iran’s history.
Communication such as mobiles, internet and satellite TV was cut off and foreign journalists was sent home or restricted. The authorities responded, in a brutal show of force…Shoots were heard and helicopters hovered in the sky, black smokes was visible all over the city. Tehran had turn in to a battleground between the security forces and people. What happened during these days, you have witnessed the clips and pictures of it yourselves, probably to a larger extent than I have. But what I saw on the streets, was a people who would not back down. It was clear, it is time for change everyone would state firmly….
It’s not a battle between the youth and the state; it’s a much larger cause
Today it’s a movement of Iranians against injustice and tyranny. This is a nation and people that shed blood when unjust acts were taken against them, they rose up in 1906 against an absolute monarchy and created a constitutional monarchy, they raised up against foreign exploration in 1953 and nationalized their national resources, they rose up in 1979 and overthrow a state that misrepresented them, they fought a bloody war for 8 years to protect the country against foreign invaders. This is a nation and people of honor that has boldly rose up against any odds and fought for its dignity when it comes under attack.
Do not fear a withdrawal of the green movement, they will stand firm and we will never lose hope and trust that it will be victorious. It’s a process that will take longer than weeks…
The raise up of the people are supported by powerful elements within the country, which makes this wave of popular demand of change to powerful to break with the use of brutal force.
I saw security personnel which avoided attacking people and in some cases secretly supported them, I see today an global support for what is taking place in Iran
The defiance of tyranny
The price people that are paying for this movement to continue is with their lives. As the leader of the Islamic Republic involved himself directly and has marked: “We will not bend to the will of the people”. Iranians responded with defying the will of the authorities, and will continue defying no matter what cost is. This is the nation which created the foundations of human rights 2500 years ago, this used to be an empire of tolerance who served as a role model globally. This is also the nation that throws invaders such as the Mongols, Arabs, Turks and Greeks out as soon as they wanted to rule by force. Iranians have fought and never allowed it to become a Western colony, and has fought throughout its modern history against foreign influence.
“We rather die on our feet, than live on our knees”
Iran knows how to fight tyrants and have showed over and over again that: no price is too high to pay for their freedom and independence.
People from all corners of the society are empty handed walking out in the street and protesting over the violations and injustices that have been brought upon them, they are being attacked by revolutionary guards, basij militia, riot police, intelligence officers and being gunned down on the streets. But they keep coming out in the streets!
They have not been able to come out in the numbers of millions as we witnessed the first days, but still heroic women and men are defying tyranny until their last breath. Others shout on the rooftops or balconies against dictatorship as the darkness hits the city. They all protest in different ways that they find possible, as backing down on their rights are beyond the dignity of the Iranian people.
An authoritarian regime rests its legitimacy and power on the fear it creates on challenging it – this fear is breaking and so is their power. By showing no fear to challenge it, the foundation of its power is gradually collapsing.
What will come next?
Civil disobedience actions by a large majority of the people will turn the country into stand still and make it impossible for the government to rule or govern. Strikes will take place, balloons of the color green will fill the skies to refuel the hopes of defiance, cars will block traffic, posters will be put up on the walls, and gatherings will take place. But mark my word, this is only the beginning. The break or the split between the rulers and the people have taken place and Iran will never be the same again.
Change is here, and this is the transition for change
The people’s media are showing horrific pictures and also scenes of marvel, it will have its ups and it will have its downturns. Lives of innocent beautiful women and men who are sacrificing their lives for the better future of their fellow compatriots are not lost; they will be cherished as martyrs of freedom. Each and everyone have something to lose, not just our lives but our dignity if not supporting and showing solidarity to this cause of heroes.
Nobody will give you your rights; you will have to take your rights.
Free Iran
Iran Will Rise Again
By: unknown
Iran Will Rise Again
From the hearts of those who love,
like a pure and white dove,
Iran will rise again…
Out of sealed books of the past,
like our many hopes fulfilled at last,
Iran will rise again…
For the sake of those who care,
and in honor of those who dare,
Iran will rise again…
For all the blood that has been shed, leaving
so many dead,
or every tear that has been shed,
Iran will rise again…
To break all the chains of horror,
that have eclipsed her people in terror,
Iran will rise again…
To glorify the courage of her women,
and to mourn the death of her many men,
Iran will rise again…
From the mountains of Kermanshah,
from the heart of those Shahanshah,
Iran will rise again…
Out of the streets of Tehran,
out of the forests of Gilan,
Iran will rise again…
From the barren fields of Saravan,
from the gleaming gardens of Khorasan,
Iran will rise again…
Out of the oil fields of Ahvaz,
from the ancient castles of Shiraz,
Iran will rise again…
From every corner of her land,
helped by every loyal hand,
Iran will rise again…
Despite the enmity of her friends,
and to the joy of her friends,
Iran will rise again…
So mark my words my friend,
and believe me when I say;
IRAN HAS RISED AGAIN!
