Iran: Entire regime is the target

international | rights, freedoms and repression | other press Wednesday December 16, 2009 17:55 by Makhno

Yassamine Mather and Chris Srafford write on the developing unrest in Iran. They say its no longer just a matter of the leadership: the future of the Islamic Republic of Iran is in question. Full text at link.

The 56th anniversary of the murder of three students by the shah's security forces during vice president Richard Nixon?s visit to Tehran in 1953 may prove to be the last Students Day commemorated under the heel of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Hundreds of thousands of students, youth and workers took to the streets in protest against the regime and the barbaric repression meted out since the June elections.People taking part in the various actions carried Iranian flags, but without the Islamic Republic's sign of Allah, showing that the movement is moving beyond the slogans of the "reformists".

At Hamedan University, where there were heavy clashes between students and security forces, two students were thrown from the second floor by the Bassij - reports indicate that both sustained severe injuries. At Tehran Polytechnic University students broke down gates that the Bassij had locked. Students clashed with the police and managed to repel them for a considerable time. They were shouting, "Marg Bar Khamenei" (Down with Khamenei!), as the focus of popular anger shifts from Ahmadinejad onto the supreme leader and the entire Islamic Republic.

At hospitals police with dogs prevented the injured from entering, arresting and beating those who looked like protestors. In Amir-Kabir University students were also savagely beaten by security forces. At the Medical College in Tehran, Bassij thugs attempted to break up a demonstration and assaulted several students. At Razi University in Kermanshah militia and police failed to stop the student demonstration. At Sanati University in Isfahan student protests were attacked by security forces. Professors at Beheshti University joined with the 2,000-strong protest, to scenes of massive cheering and chants of "Death to the dictator".

In Kurdistan students burned images of Ali Khamenei and Ruhollah Khomeini. The protests were particularly focused on the murder of socialist fighter Ehsan Fattahian, who was executed on November 11.

There was heavy fighting across Tehran, with students at times getting the better of the security forces and militia. At Khaje-Nasir University Bassij carrying Hezbollah flags were attacked and thrown out by brave students. Outside Tehran University, in the streets approaching Enghelab Square and Valiasr Street security forces opened fire, some reports claim that students were shot. Around Enghelab Square the Bassij abandoned their positions and vehicles, which were swiftly used to form burning barricades by the youth.

There were also reports of security forces refusing to attack demonstrators and at times accepting drinking water from students who called on them to join the protests. In another significant development, riot police actually turned against the Bassij who were attacking demonstrators. If this wavering from security forces and the stories of soldiers demonstrations are confirmed, then this will certainly undermine the regime's confidence in its ability to suppress protests and may possibly signal an acceleration of its collapse.