On the tenth anniversary of the Iranian people’s upheaval on July 9, 1999, the streets of Tehran and other cities were once again the scenes of intense clashes between people from various social sectors and demographics on the one hand, and the Iranian regime’s suppressive forces on the other.
CNN reported that the main slogans were “Death to dictator” and “Death to Khamenei,” in reference to the mullahs’ Supreme Leader. Earlier, the regime’s forces had swarmed the streets to confront potential protests, while the regime's authorities had expressed confidence that everything is under control and nothing will happen on July 9.
But, what occurred once again illustrated that the regime has gravely miscalculated the Iranian people’s resolve to bring about change. As a matter of fact, this is the beginning of the end for the clerical regime, and Iran will never return to the past.
Reports obtained from inside Iran reveal that on July 9, the brutality and violence committed by the regime’s suppressive force was unprecedented. Still, in the face of such ferocity, the Iranian people’s resolve against bullets, tear gas, and batons was as firm as steel.
The reality is that fears have been shed and the people are now determined to refuse to recognize obstacles on their path towards obtaining freedom. They defended themselves empty handedly but were highly motivated. They helped one another when regime agents charged at them, and rushed to rescue the wounded. In one Tehran street, people helped free a young woman who had been arrested by the paramilitary Bassij agents.
July 9th produced images that depicted how unarmed people triumphed over armed-to-the-teeth Bassij and Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) agents. The regime was incapable of preventing the protests, despite putting all its forces on alert.
In circumstances where the ruling dictatorship has removed journalists from the scene and people are prevented from openly taking pictures or record videos of events on streets, the younger generation uses today’s technology such as Twitter and Facebook, and sends videos to television stations, thereby engaging foreigners in its plight and sharing images of the regime’s brutal suppression with the rest of the world.
Internet users around the world clearly sympathize and express solidarity with Iran’s courageous people after reading their messages or viewing their pictures and videos. Experts from various countries immediately expressed readiness to help Iranian internet users break through the regime’s internet filters. When the news of the sale of wiretapping technology by Nokia to Iran came out, the company was scolded by many who criticized to it for selling such equipment to dictators. There are a great number of foreigners on the web who send daily messages to the Iranian people, encouraging them to resist against the clerical regime’s onslaught.
In light of all this, it can be said with confidence that the time has come to reject the claims of those who still call for dialogue with the murderous mullahs. World public opinion opposes talks with the vicious clerics ruling Iran. The events of the past four weeks in Iran have also illustrated that the Iranian people want nothing from the Western governments except neutrality. The Iranian people and youth will settle their score with the Iranian regime on their own. They only ask that the international community adopt a neutral stance when it comes to the conflict between the criminals ruling Iran and the people of Iran.
Iranians demand comprehensive sanctions on the regime and cutting of diplomatic ties with it. They are also asking for a ban on foreign visits by the Iranian regime’s officials. These relations only benefit the Iranian regime and its most extremist factions, particularly Ali Khamenei, the regime’s Supreme Leader, and Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the mullahs’ President.
The people of Iran demand the annulment of the regime’s sham election and the holding of a free election under United Nations supervision and in the context of popular sovereignty.
In her message to the Iranian people on July 9, Mrs. Maryam Rajavi, the President-elect of the opposition National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), addressed the G8 Summit, and said, “I hope that the G8 leaders hear the cries of the Iranian nation. Tens of thousands of Iranians have poured into the streets across Iran to call for an end to negotiations and appeasement of the ruling criminals. The Iranian people view the continuation of ties with this illegitimate regime as totally unacceptable.”
This serves as a caution to Western countries, that even if they are not worried about the Iranian people, they should at least be worried about their own people and interests. How would a regime that treats its people this way, treat the people of other countries when the time comes?
Analysis – Iranian uprising: Beginning of the end (other parts)