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September 29, 2004

Unrest in Iran?

Don't get too hopeful. I remember linking to similar stories when I started this blog, and the "unrest" and "fighting" just turned out to be fireworks set off during some sort of Zoroastrian fire-festival.

But Ogre Gunner tips me to this unconfirmed report, probably by student activists who have a vested interest in inspiring unrest (not that that's a bad thing), saying that fighting is breaking out in Iran.

I don't believe it myself, and I won't until less-interested parties post similar reports.

But the guy who sent this to me is named is Ogre Gunner, and when Ogre Gunner sends you a tip, you link it. That's my rule, and it's kept me out of trouble so far.

Update: JohnD. points to this VOA article indicating that there is in fact some protesting in Iran right now.

But it's not violent unrest:

According to press reports, about two thousand people milled around streets in downtown Tehran, many of them driving cars up and down major avenues, honking their horns and flashing victory signs. Hundreds of volunteer militiamen arrived on the scene, but there were no violent clashes.

And remember that last time it was all soem Zoroasterian fire-festival? Well, there seems to be a Zoroasterian connection again:

The demonstration on Sunday appears to have been catalyzed by the statements of a Zoroastrian mystic, Ahura Pirouz Khalegi Yazdi. Dr. Ahura, as he's known, has been appearing regularly for the last three months on a Los Angeles-based Iranian expatriate TV channel, saying he has the spiritual power to heal Iran's problems. He promised to return to Iran on October 1, along with thousands of other expatriates, if Iranians in the country showed their support for him.

I don't know much about Zoroasterism, except what I've picked up from an album I own, with lyrics and music by the Zoroasterian Farouk Pluto Bulsara.

posted by Ace at 06:21 PM

Comments

Credit Rockingham over at Free republic for this:

"There is another, less breathless and more credible report of demonstrations in Iran available through the VOA.

http://www.voanews.com/article.cfm?objectid=87732099-EDA2-4B53-A1E327B946F601B0&title=Analysts%3A%20Rare%20Demonstration%20in%20Iran%20Hints%20at%20Momentum%20for%20Change&db=current

Posted by: johnd01 on September 29, 2004 07:00 PM

hehe Ogre Gunner

Posted by: Digger on September 29, 2004 07:47 PM

All I know about Zoroastrianism is that Mazda is one of their gods.

Which is kinda cool, actually, as it means I drive a god-car.

Of course, it makes me wonder if there's a car being sold in Iran under the name Christ Corvette.

At least it answers the question, What Would Jesus Drive?

Cheers,
Dave

Posted by: Dave at Garfield Ridge on September 29, 2004 08:45 PM

Freddie Mercury was a Zoroastrian too. Not that there's anything wrong with that....

By the way, I have a new site up Ace. its www.senatorpundit.com. All the beels and whistles arent working (like my links) but stop by some time and let me know what you think of the new layout.

Posted by: senator philabuster on September 29, 2004 08:51 PM

Farouk Bulsara=Freddie Mercury

Posted by: zetetic on September 29, 2004 09:40 PM

Zetetic,

Phew! I'm glad someone out there knows Queen.

Senator,

I'll check it out.

Posted by: ace on September 29, 2004 09:44 PM

This says it was a run on a bank and someone got killed.
http://www.iranvajahan.net/cgi-bin/news.pl?l=en&y=2004&m=09&d=29&a=1

The mullahs are pretty good at supressing riots. Oddly enough they like to use foreign fighters too.

Posted by: Iblis on September 29, 2004 11:08 PM

A few mobs of rioting college students should not cause us to think things are falling apart there. A few mobs of rioting progressives here doesn't mean we're falling apart, now does it?

Posted by: The Sanity Inspector on September 29, 2004 11:09 PM

Yeah, except 30 years ago there a mob of rioting college students created the Theocracy we love and enjoy so much now.
You know if there was so much unrest, you'd figure an opportunistic foreign power might try to, I don't know, stir-the-pot a bit?

Posted by: Iblis on September 29, 2004 11:21 PM

Check it out at NRO today from Mchael Ledeen

IRAN [Michael Ledeen]
I just got a long fax, in Farsi, from friends following the events in Iran. The bottom line is that, once again, the extreme instability of the country has been demonstrated. It seems that more than two thousand people have been arrested. Several members of the Revolutionary Guards have been killed. Depending on your point of view the catalyst for these clashes was either appeals from outside Iran, or the continued collapse of the mullahs (banks closed, salaries unpaid, teachers locked out of schools, etc.) or the incredible tempo of executions, notably of young people, on charges that seem preposterous. It is clear that opponents of the regime are increasingly armed, there are gunfights in the streets of several cities, and the clashes are going on all over the country. It is not just Tehran, or Tehran and Isfahan.

I'm leaving soon for a college weekend with #2 son, and probably won't get the full translation until we return on Sunday. By then there may be more, and I'll get back on it, natch.

Posted by: Nomorelies on September 29, 2004 11:33 PM

Well, _that_ would be an October Surprise to remember.

Posted by: Al on September 30, 2004 12:56 AM