Keep Your Eye on Iran Tomorrow

Keep your eye on Iran this Thursday. Tomorrow, February 11th, marks the thirty first anniversary of the fall of the Shah in 1979, paving the way for the establishment of the Islamic Republic. It is also the day when Iran's Green protesters have called for tens of thousands to turn out in the streets all over the country to protest the current government and call for its overthrow. Sympathy protests are planned in cities around the world, organizers keeping in touch via cell phone and twitter. It is going to be a big deal.

Thursday in Iran will be bloody, no question about it. The Islamic Republic will come down hard once again on dissent. The protesters simply do not have the critical mass to unseat an entrenched, repressive theocracy, unless the military and paramilitary join them, which is not likely.

The Government, fighting for it's life, controls the army and the instruments of power and is not about to give up. After eight months, it looks like things are at a stalemate. But you never can tell.

The Iranian government continues to wave it's nuclear sabre at the rest of the world, unsettling the neighbors and angering the West. Its bellicose posturing is on the increase. Economic sanctions are almost inevitable. The Iranian people are not happy and they keep protesting. In spite of arrests, torture, assassination, beatings, and harassment, martyrs to the Green Revolution keep being made which fuels more protests and more martyrs. Momentum is surely building.

Keep your eye on Iran tomorrow and say a prayer for the protesters. It takes time and sacrifice, but in the end light will always triumph over darkness.

New Martyrs for Iran

It isn't over in Iran.  In fact it may just be beginning. The creation of martyrs always galvanizes any movement, social, religious, or political, but what is happening in Iran is a perfect storm of martyrdom.

For starters, tens of thousands of protestors have chosen Ashura,  one of Shia Islam's holiest festivals to mount massive demonstrations all over the country.  Ashura is particularly important for Shia muslims because it marks the moment of their split from the Sunni majority and commemorates the martyrdom of Hussein, son of Imam 'Ali and grandson of the Prophet, on the 10th of Muharram, AH 61 (October 10, 680), in Karbala, Iraq. Ashura in Iran is all about martyrdom.

Even as an American of Christian background, with virtually no exposure to either Islam or Iran, I can see that this confluence of protest and martyrdom is proving very very powerful. Since the disputed election last summer, the movement has been growing. Iranians who at first just wanted their votes counted now want regeme change. They march in the streets. They risk severe reprisals incuding torture, jail, even death. I am profoundly moved by the tweets, videos, and blogposts coming out of Iran to chronicle this event.  This is more than a protest and it goes far beyond pollitics.,  This is a real revoloution and a genuine expression of  faith. The harder the regeme cracks down on the protesters, the more martyrs are created and the more powerful the dissent movement becomes.  The regeme has a tiger by the tail.  Can't say that I am sorry.

There are no impartial foreign journalists  recording events in Iran-- just thousands of citizens flooding the internet with videos, blogposts, text messages and tweets. They bear witness to what is happening. The protests are growing. The list of martyrs is growing. The nephew of opposition leader, Mir Hussain Mousavi, is the latest addition according to reports.

The world is watching and holding its breath.  History is being made in Iran by Iranians, but the outcome will affect us all.  I am particularly talking to you, my fellow Americans.  Check out  CNN on TV or online. They are doing a good job of covering the action and checking facts in a traditional journalistic way. Follow #Ashura #iranprotest and #iranelection  hashtags on Twitter. Set up a google alert for Iran protest.  You will be amazed.

Web Sources for Good Iran Info in English

homylafayette Iran News in English-- excellent ongoing up to the minute news, photos and videos plus knowledgable personal commentary in English.

Anonymous Iran   a wonderful forum with lots of excellent information and commentary about Iran and the protests from all over the world

Enduring America  -- an American intellectual blog doing a good job of analysis of the situation

The Huffington Post  -- not only articles, but also great recent photos and a live twitter feed for #iranprotest

Tehran Bureau -- absolutely the best single source of thoughtful articles, up to date information, photos and videos.  An American based website run by Iranians with sources on the ground in Iran.

Keep your eye on this situation, say a prayer,  and may God help the good people of Iran.

Nightly Protest From the Rooftops of Iran

Listen to the sounds of protest from the rooftops of Iran.... the voice of a child in the darkness crying out " God is Great"

These voices in the night have more power than nuclear weapons. Watch the video below and add your prayers to the chorus. In the end, whatever our religion,we are all children of the same God. In the end a mushroom cloud will kill us all.

May God bless the brave Iranians whose voices are heard every night on the rooftops of Iran.

Today In Iran They Remembered Neda

Today in Iran they remembered Neda, the young woman whose shooting by a rooftop sniper made her a symbol of the opposition to Iran's ruling theocracy, and a martyr to the cause.

Today, July 30th, it is 40 days, since she was gunned down in the streets of Tehran during post election demonstrations-- an important interval in terms of Iranian mourning customs. Family, friends, and reformers asked for governmental permission to mourn at the graveside. It was denied.Word went out, by word of mouth and on the internet, that mourners were to gather at Beheshteh Zahra cemetery in Tehran with Neda's family at the grave today. Thousands did just that in a breathtaking show of solidarity . In spite of attempts to stifle communication with the outside world, the internet is full of words and images from Iran today, and of demonstrations in the name of Neda

You can read the excellent, English language reports from people on the scene at the Tehran Bureau website. There is a good slide show of today's events posted online by an Iranian blogger. One of my favorite American political bloggers has done an excellent post which gives the blow by blow of today's action. Another good source of information is the New York Times blog The Lede, which has been filing reports from Iran all day long. Videos are being uploaded to YouTube by the minute it seems, The one below was filed today. Have a look. Neda may be gone, but she is far from forgotten.





photo source:http://twitpic.com/c5ai9

Stand With Iran Today for Freedom

Today, July 25th, is a day of global solidarity for the people of Iran. You can stand with Iran today at events in more than 110 cities across the globe.

Even if you can't attend an event, you can let the people of Iran know that you salute their bravery and are with them in their struggle. There is plenty you can do. Go to the website that is coordinating all of today's events, United4Iran.org and check out all the ways you can show your support, by donating, or by blogging the struggle, following on Twitter and retweeting Iran tweets, becoming a Facebook Fan or just by spreading the word among your friends and family.

Let us not forget the people of Iran who are struggling to make their voices heard



Iran Solidarity Update

Have a look at some of the videos posted today on YouTube from events and marches all over the world. People across the globe stand in solidarity with the people of Iran.

London outside the Iranian Embassy

Hamburg Iran Election Demonstration

Chicago Rally

Brisbane, Australia

Amsterdam

Heidelberg, Germany

Stockholm, Sweden

Paris, France

Tehran


More than 2000 people watched a live stream of a green scroll being unfurled at the Tour Eiffel in Paris. You can see it too here For more information check the United4Iran website I have also become an avid reader of an excellent website, Tehran Bureau. I recommend it highly. Do check it out and follow on Twitter for up to the minute, cutting edge reports.

Today, July 25,2009 is only the beginning of the story, I am certain.