Iran and Bahrain join anti-regime fervor sparked by Egypt revolution
Islamist regime has reportedly embarked on mass arrests of its opponents and ordered that two leaders of the opposition; Bahrain offers incentives to families to stop opposition.
By Avi Issacharoff Tags: Israel news Egypt protestsAs the popular uprising in Egypt draws to a successful conclusion, several other Arab and Muslim nations appear poised to become the next hotbeds of anti-regime demonstrations in the region.
Demonstrations are scheduled to take place on Monday against the regimes in Bahrain and Iran.
Calls made by the Iranian opposition over the Internet urging supporters to take to the streets in support of the Egyptian revolution, have garnered thousands of responses from supporters.
In a statement published on Kaleme.com on Sunday, the opposition renewed its supporters to rally on Monday in central Tehran and accused the government of hypocrisy by voicing support for the Egyptian and Tunisian uprisings while refusing to allow Iranian political activists to stage a peaceful demonstration.
Several human rights groups in Iran have reported that the Islamist regime there has embarked on mass arrests of its opponents and ordered that two leaders of the opposition, Mehdi Karrubi and Mir Hossein Mousavi, remain under house arrest.
Karrubi's family has reported that Iranian security forces are preventing even them from visiting him in his home.
The regime has already said it will not permit demonstrations by the opposition, even though President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said Friday that the revolutions in Tunisia and Egypt were motivated by the Iranian Revolution which took place 32 years ago.
Meanwhile, the Bahraini ruler announced Saturday a special payment of $2,650 to each Bahraini family, a measure designed to counter opposition demands.
Thousands took to the street in Algiers, the capital of Algeria, on Saturday to protest the regime of President Abdelaziz Bouteflika, clashing with local security forces who tried to disperse them.
The protest in Algeria appeared to have lost some of its steam in recent days, but following the resignation of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak on Friday, demonstrators gathered once again in the streets, demanding economic measures to combat high levels of unemployment, poverty and poor housing. In response, the regime in Algeria has restricted civil liberties and the country is being run like a dictatorship.
Like the demonstrations in Cairo, those in Algiers are being organized through the Internet and social networking sites like Twitter and Facebook.
Demonstrators in Algiers gathered Saturday at the May 1 Square and called for the ousting of Bouteflika, who has been in power since 1999.
Their request to hold a procession in the city was denied by authorities. A statement by the Algerian Interior Ministry said that only 250 protestors took part in the demonstration and that 40 had been arrested. But participants and their organizers insisted that thousands had participated and at least 70 had been arrested.
Riots also broke out in Yemen on Saturday, with members of the opposition demanding the ousting of President Ali Abdullah Saleh, who has held power for 32 years. The demonstrations were initially meant to be a show of solidarity with the revolution in Egypt but gradually evolved into a local protest.
The demonstrations in Yemen are being led by the Islamist-leaning opposition, which has been bringing demonstrators out every Thursday as part of its struggle against the regime. The demonstration Saturday was relatively modest.
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An anti-government protester chanting slogans during a demonstration in Algiers yesterday. |
| Photo by: Reuters |
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is the only legal and democratically elected palestinian government, but because of their anti-zionism and western doublestandards they are deemed "not democratic enough" and the west rather supports the dictators of PA and their umbrella of incompetent corrupt scoundrels.
Egyptians are now looking at themselves. Jordanians are now looking at themselves. When they are done looking at themselves they will look at Israel. What will the find? Injustice towards their Arab brothers and sisters. They will demand changes. Israels problem, as was Egypt's and Tunisia's............"Digital Revolutions" It will spread throughout the WORLD. The WORLD will see and learn what Israel is doing to the Palestinians. Comparisons will be made to Apartheid South Africa. Israel, enjoy it fow now. A Digital Revolution is about to blow up in you face within the next year. The US has veto power in the UN. The US doesn't have veto power over Digital Revolutions.
To paraphrase your musings, the Arabs will once more blame their misery on someone else.
I remember seeing hearings on Cspan where passionate Iranian opposition spokespeople pleaded for financial help in setting up jam proof social networks in Iran They spoke of Haystack programs and satellite communication. I think the US and Iran had a deal to "live and let live" and the US would not jeopardize the safe withdrawal of troops from Iraq in 2009. A clue to this fear is the strange request of the US peace process team, as revealed in the Palestine Papers, that Abbas produce a Palestinian businessman to front an opposition broadcasting station into Iran. Abbas did it. Lots of disgrace and cowardice, lying and gutless doubletalk in the lack of support to the freedom desiring people of Iran.
Don't forget to mention that fact when you complain about Iran. When you complain about the Muslim Brotherhood don't forget to complain about Ultra Orthodox Jews.
When did Ultra Orthodox Jews attack people with machine guns? Why do you compare them to Muslim Brotherhood? Me thinks you're a bit biased. Me thinks your name is not really Harold.
Only warmongers antisemites to wishes something different.
Arabs and Muslims are waking up. They all need to be free. And sorry Israelis, but that includes Palestinians
Those of them living in Israel are arleady free, with full rights. Those of them in the West Bank and Gaza can get a decent living if they try to build a life for themselves rather than destroy Israelis'
But I wish the Iranians could come up with someone more inspiring than Mehdi Karrubi and Mir Hossein Mousavi. Someone from outside the establishment.
Obama and his cronies came out fast and hard for the changes in Tunisia and Egypt - since bith were already instituting reforms. Yet Iran has already proclaimed that any demonstrations will be met with lethal force as were the 2009 democracy demonstrations and as in 2009 Obama is characteristically silent. Why is that? Maybe the Obama emmisary to the Mexican drug cartels Natallie Durson can fill us in
look who is financing the opposition in Iran, look up who GOT SANCTIONED for the demonstraions. you must be blind!
The sanctions were not due to the democracy seekers..it was due to the nuke plants. The opposition is more likely to be financed by Bharain, which is being threatened in the same manner as Kuwait was with Iranian ayatollahs claiming it is a "province" of Iran. Nut it's ok Jan, your village is seeking you out - hate to have the village idiot go homeless
Now is the time to speak focefully against Iran with the same voice as you used to throw Mubarak under the bus. Actually, I'm wrong, the time was when the masses protested in Tehran two years ago. Interestingly, we heard total weakness, hardly a whimper. Obama's in way over his head. We are counting down the months for the US regime change. The US needs much more than a guy with a nice smile. The US needs the next Ronald Reagan.
hypocrite.
If you really believe in the big Israeli conspiracy that controls everything and everybody, then be very very careful! They may be on to you!!!!
European left wing want states that are belligerent towards American and Israel. Don't expect a 200-man BBC team in Tehran like there was in Egypt.
If the Iranian people were allowed to vote on issues regarding their real freedom and democracy, it would automatically remove all of the power given to Islamic run governments who bully their people into submission instead of promoting life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. The younger Muslims are realizing that what they've grown up under is a false pretense of the same old class over class tribal rulerships that only repress their own people while, the 'leaders' manage to get very rich, at their 'brothers' expense, no more, the unquenchable desire for peace and all the liberties they see others like American's and Israeli's take for granted each day has become a universal movement for what we enjoy and take for granted- freedom, liberty, opportunity, education, jobs, and most of all, peace, blessed peace.
Thousands took to the street in Algiers, the capital of Algeria, on Saturday to protest the regime of President Abdelaziz Bouteflika, clashing with local security forces who tried to disperse them. All a lie, not out against our President, dear, but for a change of government no more. were not there altercations with the police
The Egpytian people deserve freedom because Mubarak was an ally of Israel The Iranians do not deserve freedom becuase their leaders are enemies of Israel
Silly comment. Iranians like many populations in the middle east are deprived of human rights and democracy , will eventually revolt too.Iranians are smarter than their leadership and deserve better. Come to Tel Aviv have a drink by the beach, it's gorgeous.
All people deserve freedom and justice and this cannot be found in a 7th century book. The main reason why the Egyptian protests were peaceful is the relationship that the country has with the United States. President Obama was not going to allow violence against protestors. Iran has no problems murdering their own people and the opposition will be violently attacked.
It would be nice to have some objective values, wouldn't it?
according to your comment, Israel also does not deserve freedom because its leaders are enemies of Iran.
Little miss mooshnoonie, eygpt will be like iran, have you ever heard of political vaccum?
Natallie, Please explain your logic - it is hardfo rme to see what has connection has with freedom being a friend or foe of Israel. Should the Egyptians be freed so not to be anymore friends? LIkewise - should the Iranians be kept under thir dictatorship so to stay foes? What prompts this brilliant logic?
Maybe you can give ahmadi and khamenei refuge. They are coming down baby. Get used to it.
Just shows how low the habarists have sunk
wat?! Was that supposed to make sense bc i didnt get it what does israel have to do with anything
Why because she's talking rubbish? If that's the case you should inform Natalie that she's not who she thinks she is and that the real Natalie Durson was an extra in Gone with the Wind, as Rett Butler's stand in.
Take some pride in yourself as a human being and wish that freedom for the poor, captive Iranian citizens suffering under their Regime now too!
If this was not the real Natalie Durson because he/she is talking rubbish then I submit that Natalie Durson has never existed.
Besides, Israel is probably not even in the Top 10 list of things that Egyptians and Iranians worry about.
Given her years of consummating life under the influence of the Hezbollah funded crack pipes delivered by her allies in the Mexican drug cartels, does even Natallie know who she really is?
You live in LA so there's no excuse for you not going out and mingling with the tens of thousands of Iranian expatriates living well there and sharing your spiteful comments about Israel with them in relation to the freedoms their own Iranian families seek back home. I can hear their comments to you already, "Zachree mahr!", Khejalet beKesh!", "Deevaneh!", and worse.
Like his name--his intellect is well --short.
Good to see that at last you can spell the word. "Intellect".
Good to see that at last you can spell the word. "Intellect".
You understand--geting a backward thinker to think backwords is darn difficult.