Shoot me in here: what happened in Tehran (17, June, 2009)

Arash Aryan writes of his own observations in Tehran on 17^th June 2009

Shoot me in here

The Iranian people are experiencing one of the widespread civil movements in modern history. Everyday, near to the end of the protests, people get informed of the next move and the next venue for gathering. According to the word of mouth which is the only means of communication available, people were supposed to gather in Haft-Tir Square and march toward Valiasr Sq. at 5 p.m. Wednesday 17^th June 2009.

My family and I started our move at three from a relative's home in the poor southern areas of Tehran. We chose the subway as the best way to join the protesters because we predicted heavy traffic in the central parts of the city. As soon as we entered the subway station, we felt a heavy and intense atmosphere. People looked puzzled and talked to each other in small groups. The violence of the previous days have made people more cautious when in small groups. Only one of us had a small green ribbon attached to her dress button. Many young people who saw the sign reacted by a making victory sign with their fingers. We entered the subway and rode toward Haft Tir Square. The population grew more and more people could be seen clad in black as a sign of mourning and carrying green badges as the sign of reformists. When we got out at Haft Tir Station, we found ourselves among the familiar crowd. Huge masses of enthusiastic people revealed their identity all at once. While onboard the train, faces were grim and we didn't know who is with us. As soon as these people got off, suddenly all unveiled their hidden masks and showed their true identity as people determined to fight for what they want. It took us about 15 minutes to come out of the subway because of the density of crowd. Outside, masses of people could be seen stretched all over the Square and into Karimkhan Street.

Part of my observations and remarks:

1-      Nearly everybody was carrying a piece of paper in hand. They included pictures of the young men and women killed during the past days of the movement. Many carried papers with sentences expressing grief or pieces of poetry showing solidarity with the dead. Pictures of some of the members of the secret police were distributed among people. These shocking pictures had identified some of the Ahmadinejad supporters and members of the Islamic Guard Corps among the militia known as "Non-uniformed" who perpetuated acts of violence and put fire on buildings and damaged public and private properties. One such instance is the picture and salary statement and the residence address of a man with a dagger in hand attacking the peaceful protesters. His salary statement identifies him as Mohammad Javad Farahbakhsh, a colonel in Islamic Revolutionary Guards and a member of Sarallah Base in Tehran. His residence address and mobile phone number were also disclosed. Another picture showed a group of 6 of the militia beating an elderly woman. This picture was very shocking to the people. Because in the Iranian culture, women and especially older women should be respected in any occasion and according to Islamic teachings which these people claim to subscribe, a man should not touch a woman or disrespect her.

2-      The protest was very peaceful. No word or utterance was heard from the people. Having learnt from previous experiences, they were told to go home before dark because at dusk, the militia come out like hyenas and commit any crime under the veil of the night. So, people scattered at the end of Keshavarz Blvd., although a large group had already marched to Enghelab Square and were in Azadi Avenue.

3-      A man wearing green and riding on wheelchair attracted much respect and support. His both legs were cut from knee and he  was riding his wheelchair with both hands up in sign of victory and with a green smile on his lips. His resoluteness and his determination inspired all around him.

4-      A young man was carrying the picture of his brother: 16-year old Meysam Ebadi who had been killed by the militia. He said that the dead body of his brother has not yet been delivered to him.

5-      A young man had attached a piece of paper on his chest which read: Shoot me in here. This sentiment of being ready to die for this cause is common to many people I have talked to these days. Those who killed our young boys and girls and our students in their bedrooms did not know what they did to the nation. Iranians have suffered a lot during the past years. To them, life has no value when your brothers and sisters are killed.  Later at night, when we wanted to go home, a lady who was riding a white sedan stopped and asked us to get in her car. On the way, she said that she was working in a research institute and that from among all people working there only two have voted for Ahmadinejad: One was the head of the security department and the other was a girl who had been employed by using connection in a high position non-relevant to her degree and who enjoyed special benefits like attending the workplace anytime she desired. She said: These people voted for Ahmadinejad because they are enjoying special privileges. Her words impressed me a lot. She was a middle-aged professional woman. She said: I am ready to die today on the hope that ten people may live a better life tomorrow. Her natural tone shocked me to my bones. I couldn't believe what I was hearing. She was not pretending. I could feel it. She said: May God give patience to those who were martyred. When a Shia muslim says "Martyr", they usually have Imam Hossein in mind who is the symbol of fighting against tyranny. If people see those killed at the hands of the Islamic Republic as martyrs, then the Islamic Republic who has always acted in the name of these Imams should reconsider its position.

6-      The IRIB (Islamic Republic Broadcasting) continued its campaign to prove that elections were fair and just and that the defeated candidates should seek legal means to deal with their objections and the supporters of reformists should isolate the small minority who come to streets and perpetrate illegal acts. The Head of Election Headquarters came on TV and repeated his lies. They are also attacking the BBC Persian and VOA Persian and are alluding fingers at foreigners and colonial powers (as usual). IRIB remarks make people very angry. Some placards which people carried were addressed to this organization. Examples included: Shame on IRIB; IRIB Reporter, if you have the slightest honor, resign and so on.

7-      Iranian national football team were playing South Korean national team in Seoul as part of the World Cup qualifying games. Some of the Iranian footballers went to the playing field with green wrist bands in support of Iranian people and played the first half with those wrist bands. In the second half, they didn't have those wrist bands. People were both very happy for the support of their national team and were also questioning the credibility of authorities who forced the national team to remove their green wrist bands in the second half of the game.

8-      Some of the more common placards included: " My green vote was not your black name!!!", " Liar, where is your 63 percent?"  "Ahmadinejad beware! We are a nation, not criminals", " We want revolutionary people, we don't want bystanders", "Where is my vote?"  "The song of those killed echoes in our souls", " Iran mourning over its heroes" " Congratulations to the Murderers", " We are outside the time, with a bitter dagger in our backs" (Poem by Ahmad Shamlu),  "Suppose you can cut, suppose you can tear, what can you do with the inevitable growing of sprouts" (poem by Shamlu), "Shame on IRIB", "Condolences to the families of martyrs on this green path", "My martyred brother, I will take your vote back, even if I do", "Viva Democracy", " Silent but fully able, come fellow-countryman, join us, stay",  "See, how loud is the shouts of our silence", " Free political prisoners",  "Where is the courage of pine? Here, the weed leads!" "Green License",  "God does not like liars" (Holy Koran),  "When suppression becomes law, disobedience is duty",  "You fool, I am not your enemy, I am your denial "(poem by Shamlu), " Stones are not hard, throw words",  "Time gives control to the ignorant, you are a man of knowledge and this is your sin" (addressing Mousavi the reformist)

My Observations: what happened in Tehran (15, June, 2009)

[I have omitted the name from the first line as I am not sure if the reporter wants his name to be known. Otherwise, the report is produced here exactly as it was sent to me via email.]

.... ....  reports his own observations on the course of events of 15th June 2009 in Tehran

I left my home in Tajrish along with my family at 3 p.m. We went down Valiast Street which is the main northern-southern avenue in Tehran and entered the Evin Exp'way which leads to Enghelab Street. We knew that people are supposed to gather in Enghelab Sq. (Revolution Sq.) at 4 and march toward Azadi Sq. (Freedom Sq.). From Gisha Bridge onwards, we saw people walking down. Cars were blowing their horns and people were showing victory sign. We went to Navvab Street and parked our car at the end of the street. Then we took a taxi to bring us back to the Enghelab Street. On our way, near Jomhouri Sq. (Republic Sq.), I saw a group of about 20 militia with long beards and batons on motorbikes. My hand was out of the car window with a little green ribbon (the sign of reformists) around my finger. One of the militia told me to throw that ribbon away. I showed him a finger. All of a sudden, about 15 people attacked me inside the car. They beat me with their batons and wanted to pull me out. My wife and my daughter who were sitting in the back seat cried and hold me tight. I also hold myself tight on the chair. They wanted to shatter the car windows. The driver went out and explained that he is a taxi and we are his passengers and he has no fault. After about 5 minutes,they left. My elbow hurts severely. Then, a young man from their group came and kissed my elbow! I told him: You know, I don't hate you. I am like you with the only difference that I know more and you are ignorant. He apologized and left.

We joined the crowd in Enghelab Street.

Read carefully:

What I saw today was the most elegant scene I had ever witnessed in my life. The huge number of people were marching hand in hand in full peace. Silence. Silence was everywhere. There was  no slogan. No violence. Hands were up in victory sign with green ribbons. People carried placards which read: Silence. Old and young, man and woman of all social groups were marching cheerfully. This was a magnificent show of solidarity. Enghelab Street which is the widest avenue in Tehran was full of people. I was told that the march has begun in Ferdowsi Sq. and the end of the march was now in Imam Hossein Sq. to the further east of Tehran while on the other end people  had already gathered in Azadi Sq. The length of this street is about 6 kilometers. The estimate is about 2 million people. On the way, we passed a police department and a militia (Baseej) base. In both places, the doors were closed and we could see fully-armed riot police and militia watching the people from behind the fences. Near Sharif University of Technology where the students had chased away Ahmadinejad a few days ago, Mirhossein Mousavi (the reformist elect president) and Karrubi (the other reformist candidate spoke to people for a few minutes which was received by cries of praise and applause. I felt proud to find myself among such a huge number of passionate people who were showing the most reasonable act of protest. Frankly, I didn't expect such a political maturity from emotional Iranians who easily get excited. My family and I had put stickers on our mouths to represent the suppression. Placards that people carried were different; from poems by the national poet Ahmad Shamlu to light-hearted slogans against Ahmadinejad. Examples include: " To slaughter us/ why did you need to invite us / to such an elegant party" (Poem by Shamlu). " Hello! Hello! 999? / Our votes were stolen" or " The Miracle of the Third Millenium: 2 x 2 = 24 millions" (alluding to the claim by Government that Ahmadinejad obtained 24 million votes) , "Where is my vote?" , " Give me back my vote" and many other.

We arrived in Azadi Square where the entire square was full of population. It is said that around 500,000 people can be accommodated in this huge square and it was full. Suddenly we saw smoke from Jenah Freeway and heard the gunshot. People were scared at first but then went forward. I just heard the gunshots but my sister who had been on the scene at that part told me later that she saw 4 militia came out from a house and shot a girl. Then they shot a young boy in his eye and the bullet came out of his ear. She said that 4 people were shot. At least one person dead has been confirmed. People arrested one of the Baseeji militia but the three others ran away when they ran out of bullet. At around 8 we went back on foot. On the way back people were still in the street and were chanting Allah Akbar (God is  Great).

I was coming home at around 2 a.m. In parkway, I saw about ten buses full of armed riot police parked on the side of the street. Then I saw scattered militia in civil clothes with clubs in hand patroling the empty streets. In Tajrish Square, I saw a very young boy (around 16) with a club who was looking at the cars to see if he can find something to attack. I don't know how and under what teachings can young boys change into militia.

I came home. Tomorrow, people will gather again in Valiasr Square for another peaceful march toward the IRIB building which controls all the media and which spreads filthy lies. The day before Yesterday, Ahmadinejad had hold his victory ceremony. Government buses had transported all his supporters from nearby cities. There was full coverage of that ceremony where fruit juice and cake was plenty. A maximum of 100,000 had gathered to hear his speech. These included all the militia and the soldiers and all supporters he could gather by the use of free TV publicity. Today, at least 2 million came only relying on word of mouth while reformists have no newspaper, no radio, no TV. All their internet sites are filtered as well as social networks such as facebook. Text messaging and mobile communication was also cut off during the demonstration. Since yesterday, the Iranian TV was announcing that there is no license for any gathering and riot police will severely punish anybody who may demonstrates. Ahmadinejad called the opposition as a bunch of insignificant dirt who try to make the taste of victory bitter to the nation. He also called the western leaders as a bunch of "filthy homosexuals". All these disgusting remarks was today answered by that largest demonstration ever. Older people compared the demonstration of today with the Ashura Demonstration of 1979 which marks the downfall of the Shah regime and even said that it outnumbered that event.

The militia burnt a house themselves to find the excuse to commit violence. People neutralized their tactic to a large degree by their solidarity, their wisdom and their denial to enage in any violent act.

I feel sad for the loss of those young girls and boys. It is said that they also killed 3 students last night in their attack at Tehran University residence halls. I heard that a number of professors of Sharif University and AmirKabir University (Tehran Polytechnic) have resigned.

Democracy is a long way ahead. I may not be alive to see that day. With eyes full of tear in these early hours of Tuesday 16th June 2009, I glorify the courage and bravery of those martyrs and I hope that their blood will make every one of us more committed to freedom, to democracy and to human rights.

Viva Freedom, Viva Democracy, Viva Iran

 

p.s.: If you find this report of any value, please share it with as many people as possible. Facebook is filtered and internet is very slow in Iran. Please somebody put this on facebook.