The_Android
12-14-2009, 05:06 AM
Burned photos ignite Iranian student outrage
Government accused of fabricating images to discredit opposition
TEHRAN–Hundreds of students at Tehran University renewed anti-government protests for a second week on Sunday, accusing authorities of fabricating images of demonstrators burning photos of the Islamic Republic's revered founder.
Students moved to the forefront of opposition on the streets with massive protests last week. They say authorities are using the images of burning photos as a pretext to crack down on their protests, which have helped revitalize the pro-reform movement.
State television has repeatedly shown images, ostensibly taken during student-led protests on Dec. 7, of unidentified hands burning and tearing up pictures of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini. It was a grave and illegal insult against the former leader, still widely respected in the country. The elite Revolutionary Guard, the country's most powerful military force, called for the punishment of those responsible.
Mohammad Nourizad, a filmmaker and activist, said that no matter who was behind the destruction of the photo, the offence pales in significance to the killing of protesters and the violation of people's rights. Iran's opposition says at least 72 protesters were killed in the weeks after the disputed June presidential election, while the government puts the number of dead at 30.
"When I saw how you tore up Imam (Khomeini's) road map for respecting people's rights and protecting their dignity, I had no power but to tear up his photo," Nourizad said sarcastically. He said the government was using the issue as a "childish tactic" against its opponents.
Student activists say authorities are trying to discredit them just as they begin to put up a new, powerful challenge to the regime. The opposition's mainstream leaders have struggled to dent the power of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and Iran's clerical leadership.
Students at Tehran University played a major role in street demonstrations in support of the 1979 Islamic Revolution that toppled the pro-U.S. shah of Iran and brought clerical rulers to power.
Reformists contend that Ahmadinejad was re-elected by massive vote fraud, a belief that brought hundreds of thousands of protesters into the streets at the height of post-election unrest. The protests evolved into a broader confrontation against the country's ruling theocracy, but eventually died down in the face of a harsh crackdown by security forces stifled the street demonstrations.
Former president Mohammad Khatami, a prominent opposition voice, also said students were not behind the destruction of the photos. "Do not use the Imam to justify a harsher approach against those you do not like," he was quoted as saying.
During Sunday's demonstration, students held up photos of Khomeini. One woman wrapped his picture around her head like a hat.
http://www.thestar.com/news/world/article/738338--burned-photos-ignite-iranian-student-outrage
I wouldn't be surprised if the Iranian government (again) would photoshop pictures for their propaganda...Has anyone seen the pictures? I found this picture, but I haven't seen anyone in which protesters are burning pictures of Khomeini. Iran has already arrested protesters for allegedely burning pictures of Khomeini. To me the whole thing seems like an elaborant propaganda show from the regime to crack down on any opposition.
http://www.hs.fi/kuvat/iso_webkuva/1135251462115.jpeg
If anyone has followed the situation in Iran the anti-government demonstrations have been very frequent the last weeks.
Government accused of fabricating images to discredit opposition
TEHRAN–Hundreds of students at Tehran University renewed anti-government protests for a second week on Sunday, accusing authorities of fabricating images of demonstrators burning photos of the Islamic Republic's revered founder.
Students moved to the forefront of opposition on the streets with massive protests last week. They say authorities are using the images of burning photos as a pretext to crack down on their protests, which have helped revitalize the pro-reform movement.
State television has repeatedly shown images, ostensibly taken during student-led protests on Dec. 7, of unidentified hands burning and tearing up pictures of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini. It was a grave and illegal insult against the former leader, still widely respected in the country. The elite Revolutionary Guard, the country's most powerful military force, called for the punishment of those responsible.
Mohammad Nourizad, a filmmaker and activist, said that no matter who was behind the destruction of the photo, the offence pales in significance to the killing of protesters and the violation of people's rights. Iran's opposition says at least 72 protesters were killed in the weeks after the disputed June presidential election, while the government puts the number of dead at 30.
"When I saw how you tore up Imam (Khomeini's) road map for respecting people's rights and protecting their dignity, I had no power but to tear up his photo," Nourizad said sarcastically. He said the government was using the issue as a "childish tactic" against its opponents.
Student activists say authorities are trying to discredit them just as they begin to put up a new, powerful challenge to the regime. The opposition's mainstream leaders have struggled to dent the power of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and Iran's clerical leadership.
Students at Tehran University played a major role in street demonstrations in support of the 1979 Islamic Revolution that toppled the pro-U.S. shah of Iran and brought clerical rulers to power.
Reformists contend that Ahmadinejad was re-elected by massive vote fraud, a belief that brought hundreds of thousands of protesters into the streets at the height of post-election unrest. The protests evolved into a broader confrontation against the country's ruling theocracy, but eventually died down in the face of a harsh crackdown by security forces stifled the street demonstrations.
Former president Mohammad Khatami, a prominent opposition voice, also said students were not behind the destruction of the photos. "Do not use the Imam to justify a harsher approach against those you do not like," he was quoted as saying.
During Sunday's demonstration, students held up photos of Khomeini. One woman wrapped his picture around her head like a hat.
http://www.thestar.com/news/world/article/738338--burned-photos-ignite-iranian-student-outrage
I wouldn't be surprised if the Iranian government (again) would photoshop pictures for their propaganda...Has anyone seen the pictures? I found this picture, but I haven't seen anyone in which protesters are burning pictures of Khomeini. Iran has already arrested protesters for allegedely burning pictures of Khomeini. To me the whole thing seems like an elaborant propaganda show from the regime to crack down on any opposition.
http://www.hs.fi/kuvat/iso_webkuva/1135251462115.jpeg
If anyone has followed the situation in Iran the anti-government demonstrations have been very frequent the last weeks.