Protesters Plan Further Demos, Defy Ayatollah
Political mood in Iran suggests that opposition looks ready to defy the clear warning from Islamic regime’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei to end protest and is planning further protest against the “stolen” presidential vote.
The Iran’s Ministry of Interior, reiterating the message from Khamenei, said that the reformist presidential challenger Mir Hossein Mousavi would “be held responsible for the consequences of any illegal gatherings”.
Besides, the ministry also accused Mousavi of backing protests that “have lead to the disruption of security and public order” in a statement posted on its website.
Though Mousavi is said to have no plans for unauthorized rallies in the wake of the ayatollah’s warning, but supporters vowed to continue protesting. Zahra Rahnavard, Mousavi’s wife, who has become an unlikely figurehead for the opposition movement, is reported to have said the rally would go ahead.
However, fears of an intensifying crackdown on media and opposition activists still prevail and many people are bothered that the Saturday’s protest could result in further bloodbath.
Mousavi, whose “green” movement scared the regime with the support it was attracting, ignored a call to attend the prayer meeting and now faces a dilemma over his next step. Ignoring Khamenei’s message involves risk of bloodshed on a far larger scale, bigger than the eight people killed last week. while, accepting it means surrender to the regime.
Yesterday, Khamenei turned down opposition’s charge of presidential vote being rigged, confirmed Ahmadinejad as the winner, and gave no ground to the millions of Iranians demanding their votes back.
His closely watched speech at the university’s Friday prayers could hardly have been tougher. It had been hoped he might adopt a more conciliatory tone that would help defuse the gathering crisis, the worst in Iran’s 30-year post-revolutionary history. But he warned: “If there is any bloodshed, the leaders of the protests will be held directly responsible. The result of the election comes from the ballot box, not from the street. Today the Iranian nation needs calm.”
Tens of thousands of worshippers cheered as he told them: “It is your victory. They cannot manipulate it.”
Mousavi, whose “green” movement scared the regime with the support it was attracting, ignored a call to attend the prayer meeting and now faces a dilemma over his next step. Ignoring Khamenei’s message involves risk of bloodshed on a far larger scale, bigger than the eight people killed last week. while, accepting it means surrender to the regime.
The reformist cleric Mehdi Karroubi, another candidate for the presidency, added to the pressure last night by calling for the election to be annulled. “Accept the Iranian nation’s will by cancelling the vote and guarantee the establishment’s survival,” he urged.
