Anti-Government Protests Spread to 20 Cities In Iran

Day two of mass protests against the Mullahs.

How did the protests start?

The demonstrations began in the north-eastern city of Mashhad - the country's second most-populous - on Thursday.

People there took to the streets to express anger at the government over high prices, and vented their fury against President Hassan Rouhani. Fifty-two people were arrested for chanting "harsh slogans".

The protests spread to other cities in the north-east, and and some developed into broader anti-government demonstrations, calling for the release of political prisoners and an end to police beatings.

On Friday, despite warnings from authorities, the demonstrations spread further to some of the biggest cities in the country.

They represent the most serious and widespread expression of public discontent in Iran since mass protests in 2009 that followed a disputed election, correspondents say.

What are people complaining about?

What began as a protest against economic conditions and corruption has turned political.

Slogans have been chanted against not just Mr Rouhani but Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and clerical rule in general.

Demonstrators were reportedly heard yelling slogans like "The people are begging, the clerics act like God". Protests have even been held in Qom, a holy city home to powerful clerics.

There is also anger at Iran's interventions abroad. In Mashhad, some chanted "not Gaza, not Lebanon, my life for Iran", a reference to what protesters say is the administration's focus on foreign rather than domestic issues.

Via National Review, the mullahs' armed thugs may not be willing to shoot upon protesters calling for the death of the cleric tyrants:

From Glenn Reynolds, Trump has issued a declaration of support of the protesters:

Because Trump has sided with the protesters against the terrorist-hiring apocalyptic dictators, David Frum, Jen Rubin, Tom Nichols, Bill Kristol, David French, and the rest of the #MuhPrinciples gang will have to swing swiftly to urging Obama-like support of the mullahs.

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posted by Ace at 07:36 PM

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