by tehranbureau

Plainclothes raid Imam Khomeini’s Hosseiniyeh in Jamaran

Parleman | Salaam | Rahe Sabz | Tabnak | Dec. 26, 2009

More than 50 plainclothes agents attacked mourners at the Imam Khomeini Hosseiniyeh in Jamaran with pepper spray, batons and metal chains.

The group attacked the Jamaran Hosseiniyeh as former Iranian president Seyyed Mohammad Khatami was delivering a speech to a large crown on the occasion of Ashura.

According to one report, a dispute between plainclothes agents and Khatami created tension in the ceremony. People formed a human chain around Khatami to prevent what Tabnak termed as “the others” from reaching Khatami.

The altercation prompted police to step in to disperse the crowd.

The assailants shouted “Heydar, Heydar,” (the nickname of the first Shia Imam Ali) and “Abu Fazel, the carrier of the flag bearer, protect Khamenei from harm” (Abu Fazel is Imam Hussein’s younger brother who was killed one day before Ashura on Tasua day), apparently associating themselves with Iran’s Leader Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei.

The assailants broke the windows of the Jamaran Hosseiniyeh.

According to Salaam News, even though all streets leading to Jamaran were under strict police control, plainclothes managed to reach the Hosseiniyeh.

In the streets leading to the Jamaran Hosseiniyeh, bikers reportedly attacked people with stones.

Yasser Khomeini along with Fatemeh and Faezeh Hashemi were among the well known figures present at the ceremony.

A Jaras reporter said that after Khatami’s interrupted speech, people gathered outside the Jamaran Hosseiniyeh and headed toward Qods Square chanting “Death to the dictator.”

Security and civil forces attacked protestors with tear gas and batons in an attempt to disperse them. There were other reports of shots being fired into the air.

Tabnak cited an IRNA report claiming that the large crowd of mourners present in Jamaran had led a minor altercation between civil forces and mourners leading to the cancellation of Khatami’s speech.

Riot police cracks down on Isfahan protestors; Ayatollah Taheri under siege

Gooya | Dec. 26, 2009

Protests have been reported in Isfahan, where people were chanting slogans in support of the Green Movement and the Late Ayatollah Hossein Ali Montazeri.

Riot police and plainclothes agents attacked protestors with tear gas and batons. Hakim Nezami, Artesh, Hossein Abad, and Daneshgah streets were the scene of clashes.

It was also reported that the residence of Ayatollah Seyyed Jalololdin Taheri was under siege by security forces.

Tweets from a reliable source in Tehran:

# In Jamaran [northern Tehran] the police are warning people over the loudspeaker, “if you do not disperse, we have orders to shoot.”
# نیروی انتظامی از طریق بلندگو مردم حاضر در خیابان جمران رو تهدید کرده که اگر متفرق نشید دستور شلیک داریم / منبع خودم در جماران

# After firing in the air and throwing tear gas, police told protesters in Jamaran over loudspeakers: “if you do not disperse, we have orders to shoot.”
پس از تیراندازیهای هوایی و گاز اشک آور از طریق بلندگو مردم حاضر در جماران رو تهدید می‌کنند که دستور تیر مستقیم دارند

# Basijis have attacked people gathered in front of a mosque [hosseiniyeh] in Jamaran [north Tehran] بسیجیها از داخل حسینیه به بیرون، از خیابان جماران و از خیابان یاسر به مردم جمع شده در بیرون حسینیه حمله کردند

# Before Khatami’s speech at the mosque [hosseiniyeh] at Jamaran, Basijis filled the inside of the mosque.
# داخل حسینیه جماران قبل از سخنرانی خاتمی توسط بسیجیها پر شده (مثل مجلس ختم منتظری) و مردم در حال پایین آمدن از نیاوران هستند

# A large crowd has been reported in Jamaran. Plainclothes forces are present but no clashes have been reported yet.
جمعیت در جماران بسیار گزارش شده، بی‌لباسها! حضور دارند ولی هنوز درگیری مشاهده نشده / به نقل از کسی در ۵۰۰ متری حسینیه جماران

# Protesters in Jamaran are chanting “Khamenei is a killer/ his rule is null and void”
مردم در جماران شعار «قاتله باطله» می‌دن و: این لشگر حسینه، یاور میر حسینه / منبع خودم در جماران

# Mohammad Khatami was due to give a speech at 6 pm at Jamaran mosque. The area is seeing large crowds.
به نقل از منبع خودم در ۵۰۰ متری حسینیه جماران که قرار بود ساعت ۶ سخنرانی خاتمی باشه: نیاوران رو با ماشین نمیشه رفت بالاتر به خاطر جمعیت

Tehran clashes reported in Enghelab, Haft-e Tir squares

Rahe Sabz | Dec. 26, 2009

Clashes between mourners, police and plainclothes agents in Enghelab, Ferdowsi, Imam Hossein and Haft-e Tir squares in Tehran have been reported by correspondents from the reformist Jaras website.

As the report was being filed, riot police in full gear were headed toward Vali Asr and Enghelab squares from Ferdowsi suggesting a possible escalation in clashes in Enghelab, the site reported.

Police inspections under way at central Metro stations

Rahe Sabz | Dec. 26, 2009

Security officials tried to stem the gathering of protesters on Tasua (the day before Ashura) by monitoring the entrance and exits of all metro stations in central Tehran.

Metro stations at Enghelab, Ferdowsi, Darvazeh Dolat and Imam Hossein were under heavy police surveillance and in some cases officers inspected the personal belongings of some passengers.

According to a Jaras reporter, police officers were mainly targeting passengers carrying green symbols or are wearing green items of clothing.

Any passenger objection to police inspections of their possessions was not being tolerated, according to the website. Officers were reportedly inspecting and confiscating passenger cell phones.

Riot police raid ISNA building

Rahe Sabz | Dec. 26, 2009

Riot police officers reportedly clashing with protesters in Tehran since the early hours of the morning raided the offices of the Islamic Student News Agency, according to a reformist website.

As protesters fled officers and sought refuge in homes and offices located around Enghelab Square, riot police raided the ISNA building and assaulted protesters hiding in the news agency’s courtyard with batons and metal chains.

ISNA says ‘a group’ chased by riot police

Tabnak | Dec. 26, 2009

ISNA released a statement in response to a report carried by various websites about a police assault on a number of protesters hiding in the news agency’s courtyard.

“Around noon and following certain activities on the street and on Enqelab Square and after a number of slogan-chanting [protesters] were chased by riot police, some of them charged toward the main entrance of ISNA, one which is used by personnel. Despite repeated warnings by security, they entered the courtyard, which led to those who were pursuing them to enter the premises too,” the statement said.

“Unfortunately, these events, which only last a few minutes, led to the injury of one ISNA reporter who was trying to guide all of the individuals [referred to] above off the news agency compound [premises].”

Police crack down on protesting drivers between Imam Hussein, Azadi

Rahe Sabz | Dec. 26, 2009

Police continued to crack down on drivers who honk their horn to protest the heavy, stagnant traffic between Azadi and Imam Hossein squares.

According to a Jaras reporter, police officers were seen striking the sides of cars with their batons, ripping off license plates and in some instances dragging drivers out of cars and brutally assaulting them.

According to eyewitnesses, in other instances plainclothes officers approached cars and ripped off the plates before drivers could stop them.

Report: Riot police fires tear gas in Imam Hossein square

Rahe Sabz | Dec. 26, 2009

Police clashed with mourners in Tehran’s Imam Hossein Square on Tasua, the day before Ashura.

Aside from attacking mourners with batons, riot police began firing tear gas at the crowd to disperse protesters, according to the reformist website.

Riot police clash with mourners in Pole Choubi

Rahe Sabz | Dec. 26, 2009

Reports suggest that there have been ongoing clashes between Imam Hossein mourners [protestors] and riot police in Tehran’s Pol-e Choubi district.

Heavy police presence in central Tehran

Rahe Sabz | Dec. 26, 2009

Hundreds of riot police officers have been stationed in streets across central Tehran from the early hours of the morning.

According to a Jaras reporter, riot police and officers from the Jami 129 and Enqelab 148 precincts were stationed along Azadi Street from the corner of Navab Safavi and Enqelab Square since 9 a.m. today.

Ashura on Sunday has been designated for Heyats (organized groups of Imam Hussein mourners) to chant anti-government slogans.

Clashes erupt in Tehran

France 24 | Dec. 26, 2009

A reformist website said Iranian riot police fired tear gas to disperse opposition supporters in Tehran who used a religious commemoration on Saturday to try to revive anti-government protests in the Islamic Republic.

“Well-equipped security forces are clashing violently with backers of the opposition in many parts of downtown Tehran,” the opposition Jaras website said.

The report could not be independently confirmed, as foreign media have been banned from covering protests.

If confirmed, the outbreak of clashes between security forces and the opposition during a two-day major Shi’ite ritual would underline escalating tension in Iran, six months after a disputed election plunged the major oil producer into turmoil.

Iranian police have warned the pro-reform opposition against staging any new demonstrations during Tasoua and Ashura on Dec 26-27, when Shi’ite Muslims mark the 7th century martyrdom of a grandson of the Prophet Mohammad.

“Police are firing tear gas to disperse a huge crowd in Imam Hossein square … but people are resisting and chanting slogans against the government,” Jaras said.

It earlier said security forces “fiercely” confronted opposition backers in different parts of the capital.

A witness said opposition supporters had gathered in groups along a several kilometres long stretch of a main downtown street. “Police aren’t letting them join each other,” she said.

Police arrest 10 in Tasoua protests

HRA | Dec. 26, 2009

In the crackdown on Imam Hossein mourners, at least 10 people were arrested by riot police in Tehran.

Police assaulted those who were trying to make their way to Enqelab Square. Even cars driving on the street were damaged by police officers.

Police fired tear gas at protesters attempting to disperse mourners who were moving in groups of 500 and 1,000, arresting 10 people in the process.

Plainclothes officers wearing black were spotted around Tehran University but they were not participating in the attacks.

Reports suggested that protests were in full swing in Imam Hossein Square, Pole Choubi, Ferdowsi Sqaure, Hafiz Bridge, Navab Junction, Felestine Junction, Vali Asr Square, Enqelab Square, Kargar Street, Keshavarz Boulevard, and Taleqani Street.

Mourning protesters chant slogans such as “O Hossein Mir-Hossein,” “Khamenei turned into Yazid, Yazid was forgiven his sins,” “This isthe month of Blood, Seyyed Ali was deposed,” “death to the dictator,” and ” O hojjat bin al Hassan (Mahdi) root out oppression.”

Imam Mausoleum not to host Ashura ceremonies

Rahe Sabz | Dec. 26, 2009

While it is customary for the Imam Khomeini mausoleum to host Imam Hossein mourners on Ashura and Tasua (the day before Ashura) every year no public announcement has been made about such ceremonies this year.

The Mausoleum caretakers issued a small bulletin saying that due to the lack of space they would only be hosting a few Heyats (organized groups of mourners) this year and only if arrangements had been made beforehand.

According to Asriran, the ad which was publish in Keyhan did not announce the holding of any official speeches or ceremonies and only stated that any Heyat that wishes to come to the mausoleum should contact the phone number on the ad to coordinate.

The ad states the limitation is caused by the renovation of the interior of the mausoleum.

Last year, Ashura ceremonies were held over six nights with Mehdi Karroubi, Alavi, Mohammad-Hassan Abutorabi, Hassan Rouhani, Mirbaqeri and Seyyed Ahamd Hashemi as guest speakers.

It should be noted that this Ramadan was the first time since the passing of Ayatollah Khomeini that his mausoleum did not host Ashura ceremonies.

Police ordered to use minimal violence against protestors

Press TV | Dec. 26, 2009

Iran’s police chief said “using the least violence” was a central plank of their policy in dealing with protestors.

Speaking to reporters on Friday, Esmail Ahmadi-Moqaddam said Iranian police officers had received orders to use minimum violence in dealing with protestors.

“However, when damage is caused and riots are sparked as a result of such protests [the police] will take serious measures,” he said.

Ayatollah Taheri rejects issuing statement

Tabnak | Dec. 26, 2009

Ayatollah Seyyed Jalaleldin Taheri’s office rejected calling for a seventh-day memorial ceremony for Ayatollah Hossein-Ali Montazeri in Isfahan.

According to the statement carried by ILNA, Ayatollah Taheri’s office rejected calling for a ceremony in the city of Isfahan and said, “the only ceremony this office has announced is the small one that will be held in the grand Mosque of Hossein Abad township of Isfahan Province from 3pm to 5pm on Ashura. ”

“The four ceremonies announced for Tasoua and Ashuhra in Isfahan are in no way related to Ayatollah Taheri.”

Earlier a number of websites had published a statement in the name of Ayatollah Taheri calling people to four ceremonies organized by the senior cleric in Isfahan on Tasoua and Ashura.

Khomeini’s grandson sits alongside Supreme Leader, Hardliners

Ayandeh | Dec. 25, 2009

Ayandeh, a news site affiliated with the Tehran mayor, reported that Seyyed Hassan Khomeini attended a mourning ceremony for the Shia holiday of Tasua Friday night at the Beyt Rahbari, the seat of the Supreme Leader.

The grandson of Ayatollah Khomeini, founder of Iran’s revolution, was seated beside Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Ayatollah Jannati, and Hojatoleslam Nateq Nouri.

Larijani’s forgiveness may secure Nourizad release

Rahe Sabz | Dec. 26, 2009

Mohammad Nourizad who was arrested for insulting Ayatollah Sadegh Larijani may be released after the Judiciary Chief said he would not file a complaint.

A source close to the Judiciary told Ayandeh news that while insulting the head of any of the three branches of the government (Judiciary, legislative, executive) was a punishable offense, it was up to the [targeted] individual to file suit against the offender or forgive him.

Therefore there is a possibility that Ayatollah Larijani may forgive Nourizad and he may be released within the next three days.

It should be noted that a few weeks ago a number of websites including Ayandeh were prosecuted by the Tehran prosecutor for insulting Iranian authorities.

British newspaper names Iranian protester ‘person of the year’

VOA | Dec. 26, 2009

The British newspaper the Times has named an Iranian woman who was killed during Iran’s post-election unrest its “person of the year.”

The Times said Saturday Neda Agha-Soltan has became the global symbol of the Islamic “regime’s brutality, and of the remarkable courage of Iran’s opposition in a region where other populations are all too easily suppressed by despotic governments.”

Billboard: We await Moharam, when it will be a time for trial, it will be our blades and your throats if even one hair on Ali’s (Khamenei) head is lost.