40th of Neda Agha Soltan

TEHRAN- JULY 30, 2009 -- On the 40th day marking the murder of Neda Agha Soltan and other slain, tens of thousands came out to mourn and to protest in a bold and creative display of peoples’ power. In scorching 100F heat, the ban on public gatherings and road closures set up by the police leading to Beheshteh Zahra mega cemetery, people were determined to get there. They came early, by metro, taxi on foot and even on wheelchair for a 4PM event. Many were turned away. The security forces too were present in full gear and ready to battle, prompting the gathering crowd to chant “We are children of war, fight and we’ll fight back.” While Neda’s mother was barred from attending, the mother of another slain youth had this to say: “Our children died in the name of freedom. Those who killed them were cowards.” They were chanting: “Neda is not dead, government is dead,” or “Referendum, Referendum, this is our demand.” Then they started chanting against the ‘supreme leader’ and his overthrow. Basiji forces using tear gas, batons and even live ammunition, attacked the demonstrators, wounding and arresting many. All this captured on video. You can see them on: (http://www.youtube.com/user/onlymehdi#play/uploads/70/Spft7nJhT94)

This event was to be followed by a 6PM rally at Tehran’s Grand Mosalla Center. Government denied permit for it but people came regardless. The area resembled an occupied military zone. Streets were closed, helicopters overhead, and tear gas in the air. And yet this turned out to be the most successful display of public opposition lasting late into the night, and even then, only moved to the roof tops. As one eyewitness report says: “I saw a look in many people’s faces that I had not seen since the week after the election; a look that said ‘we can win this’.” Amidst the beatings, people were holding their ground and chanting “Down with this hypocritical government” or “the government of the coup, resign, resign.”

The movement is constantly evolving, and adapting to both find an open venue to protest and to thwart the security apparatus. Thus instead of a single location, demonstrations were wide spread throughout the city. They had stretched the security forces thin from the cemetery, an hour’s drive south to the center of the city. In a slogan, reminiscent of 79 Revolution, but adapted for today, they were calling for “Independence, Freedom, Iranian Republic.” Moreover, protests are nationwide and held simultaneously in Shiraz, Esphahan, Mashad, Rasht, Ahwaz, Arak and others. As the LA Times Borzou Dargahi reported, among the demonstrators, the spirit seems to be rising. He quotes a young participant as saying: “We cannot foresee any reconciliation between the two camps. So, we go for the collapse of the entire system in the long run.”