(Wall Street Journal) Amir Taheri - The official calendar of the Islamic Republic of Iran includes 22 days during which the regime organizes massive public demonstrations to flex its muscles. Since the presidential election last June, the pro-democracy movement has used the official days to undermine the regime. On Jerusalem Day, Sept. 18, officially intended to express anti-Semitism, the opposition showed that Iranians have no hostility toward Jews or Israel. One popular slogan was "Forget about Palestine! Think about our Iran!" Most significantly, the slogans of the protestors are no longer about election fraud. Today they include "Iranian Republic, Not Islamic Republic!" In short, the protestors no longer regard the present regime as the legitimate government of the country. The democracy movement is in no mood for deals with "Supreme Guide" Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Demonstrators burn his effigies, tear up posters showing his image, and chant "Khamenei is a murderer!"
2009-12-10 07:42:50Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive