Iranian Protests [Update]: Massacres in Tehran - Allah Akbar

Originally Posted by Shin

They had all the European ambassadors in yesterday accusing them of the same thing. At least it looks like Obama isn't looking to invade just yet. Despite Mousavi being seen as a reformist, there's not a huge amount of differences between the two of the candidates policy-wise and almost none in terms of foreign policy so human rights issues aside, there's not really anything to be gained by America getting involved, other than providing a polarising force for the whole of Iran to rally against. If you sent a few tanks rolling over the border from Iraq I imagine the two factions would reconcile their differences really quickly.

If it's true that one of the demands of the protesters is to make Ayatollah Montazeri temporary supreme leader, then the rift is deeper than you might think. It did kind of get lost in the TL;DR of the past few pages, but:

Quote:

Who is Grand Ayatollah Montazeri?

Ayatollah Montazeri is a pro-Democracy, pro-Human Rights Ayatollah who was at one point on the short list of possible successors of Khomeini, but became marginalized as he adopted what was seen as a too pro-Western, pro-Democracy stance.

Since the beginning of the Revolution, he has been one of the fiercest critics of the Regime, and one of the biggest proponents of women and civil rights for ALL Iranians, including much-maligned minorities like the Baha'is. In fact he goes further than the protections afforded to them under Sharia.

He is also a big critic of Ahmadinejad and has been seen for years as the best hope for Iran if he ever was to come to power, something that was unthinkable a mere week ago.

He has also come out with a statement saying that policemen who beat on protesters and follow orders will not be forgiven under Islam, and that even if the government cuts the lines of communication with the outside world, that it was too late and the truth was getting out

Of course it's hard to say whether this demand, if real, is coming from the students and universities, or if it's a widely carried ideal.

Jam it back in, in the dark.