Observations on the course of events of 15th June 2009 in Tehran

Today [June 15] at 4:01am

xxxxx reports his own observations on the course of events of 15th June

2009 in Tehran

I left my home in Tajrish along with my family at 3 p.m. We went down Valiast

Street which is the main northern-southern avenue in Tehran and entered the Evin

Exp'way which leads to Enghelab Street. We knew that people are supposed to

gather in Enghelab Sq. (Revolution Sq.) at 4 and march toward Azadi Sq. (Freedom

Sq.). From Gisha Bridge onwards, we saw people walking down. Cars were blowing

their horns and people were showing victory sign. We went to Navvab Street and

parked our car at the end of the street. Then we took a taxi to bring us back to the

Enghelab Street. On our way, near Jomhouri Sq. (Republic Sq.), I saw a group of

about 20 militia with long beards and batons on motorbikes. My hand was out of

the car window with a little green ribbon (the sign of reformists) around my finger.

One of the militia told me to throw that ribbon away. I showed him a finger. All of a

sudden, about 15 people attacked me inside the car. They beat me with their

batons and wanted to pull me out. My wife and my daughter who were sitting in the

back seat cried and hold me tight. I also hold myself tight on the chair. They

wanted to shatter the car windows. The driver went out and explained that he is a

taxi and we are his passengers and he has no fault. After about 5 minutes,they left.

My elbow hurts severely. Then, a young man from their group came and kissed my

elbow! I told him: You know, I don't hate you. I am like you with the only difference

that I know more and you are ignorant. He apologized and left.

We joined the crowd in Enghelab Street.

Read carefully:

What I saw today was the most elegant scene I had ever witnessed in my life. The

huge number of people were marching hand in hand in full peace. Silence. Silence

was everywhere. There was no slogan. No violence. Hands were up in victory sign

with green ribbons. People carried placards which read: Silence. Old and young,

man and woman of all social groups were marching cheerfully. This was a

magnificent show of solidarity. Enghelab Street which is the widest avenue in

Tehran was full of people. I was told that the march has begun in Ferdowsi Sq. and

the end of the march was now in Imam Hossein Sq. to the further east of Tehran

while on the other end people had already gathered in Azadi Sq. The length of this

street is about 6 kilometers. The estimate is about 2 million people. On the way, we

passed a police department and a militia (Baseej) base. In both places, the doors

were closed and we could see fully-armed riot police and militia watching the

people from behind the fences. Near Sharif University of Technology where the

students had chased away Ahmadinejad a few days ago, Mirhossein Mousavi (the

reformist elect president) and Karrubi (the other reformist candidate spoke to

people for a few minutes which was received by cries of praise and applause. I felt

proud to find myself among such a huge number of passionate people who were

showing the most reasonable act of protest. Frankly, I didn't expect such a political

maturity from emotional Iranians who easily get excited. My family and I had put

stickers on our mouths to represent the suppression. Placards that people carried

were different; from poems by the national poet Ahmad Shamlu to light-hearted

slogans against Ahmadinejad. Examples include: " To slaughter us/ why did you

need to invite us / to such an elegant party" (Poem by Shamlu). " Hello! Hello! 999?

/ Our votes were stolen" or " The Miracle of the Third Millenium: 2 x 2 = 24

millions" (alluding to the claim by Government that Ahmadinejad obtained 24

million votes) , "Where is my vote?" , " Give me back my vote" and many other.

We arrived in Azadi Square where the entire square was full of population. It is said

that around 500,000 people can be accommodated in this huge square and it was

full. Suddenly we saw smoke from Jenah Freeway and heard the gunshot. People

were scared at first but then went forward. I just heard the gunshots but my sister

who had been on the scene at that part told me later that she saw 4 militia came

out from a house and shot a girl. Then they shot a young boy in his eye and the

bullet came out of his ear. She said that 4 people were shot. At least one person

dead has been confirmed. People arrested one of the Baseeji militia but the three

others ran away when they ran out of bullet. At around 8 we went back on foot. On

the way back people were still in the street and were chanting Allah Akbar (God is

Great).

I was coming home at around 2 a.m. In parkway, I saw about ten buses full of

armed riot police parked on the side of the street. Then I saw scattered militia in

civil clothes with clubs in hand patroling the empty streets. In Tajrish Square, I saw

a very young boy (around 16) with a club who was looking at the cars to see if he

can find something to attack. I don't know how and under what teachings can

young boys change into militia.

I came home. Tomorrow, people will gather again in Valiasr Square for another

peaceful march toward the IRIB building which controls all the media and which

spreads filthy lies. The day before Yesterday, Ahmadinejad had hold his victory

ceremony. Government buses had transported all his supporters from nearby cities.

There was full coverage of that ceremony where fruit juice and cake was plenty. A

maximum of 100,000 had gathered to hear his speech. These included all the

militia and the soldiers and all supporters he could gather by the use of free TV

publicity. Today, at least 2 million came only relying on word of mouth while

reformists have no newspaper, no radio, no TV. All their internet sites are filtered

as well as social networks such as facebook. Text messaging and mobile

communication was also cut off during the demonstration. Since yesterday, the

Iranian TV was announcing that there is no license for any gathering and riot police

will severely punish anybody who may demonstrates. Ahmadinejad called the

opposition as a bunch of insignificant dirt who try to make the taste of victory bitter

to the nation. He also called the western leaders as a bunch of "filthy homosexuals".

All these disgusting remarks was today answered by that largest demonstration

ever. Older people compared the demonstration of today with the Ashura

Demonstration of 1979 which marks the downfall of the Shah regime and even said

that it outnumbered that event.

The militia burnt a house themselves to find the excuse to commit violence. People

neutralized their tactic to a large degree by their solidarity, their wisdom and their

denial to enage in any violent act.

I feel sad for the loss of those young girls and boys. It is said that they also killed 3

students last night in their attack at Tehran University residence halls. I heard that a

number of professors of Sharif University and AmirKabir University (Tehran

Polytechnic) have resigned.

Democracy is a long way ahead. I may not be alive to see that day. With eyes full of

tear in these early hours of Tuesday 16th June 2009, I glorify the courage and

bravery of those martyrs and I hope that their blood will make every one of us more

committed to freedom, to democracy and to human rights.

Viva Freedom, Viva Democracy, Viva Iran

p.s.: If you find this report of any value, please share it with as many people as

possible. Facebook is filtered and internet is very slow in Iran. Please somebody put

this on facebook.