Rallies in Iran - a short overview (english version)

in #politics7 years ago (edited)

Hello Steemians ! I guess everyone of you heard about the ongoing protests in Iran. At this point of it is too early to analyse large-scalely, but I can give you an first, approximate overview.

The protests started last week and spreaded in the course of the weekend around the whole country, until they reached the capital Tehran. It didn't take place spontaneously, since months there are small and local rallies across the country, most of them due to economical issues. Hardly progresses in the aid for the earthquake victims of the last month, unpaid wages and lost savings because of several bankrupcies.
The specific trigger of the new demonstrations was the increasing price level. Meanwhile the protest changed to general rally against the regime and it's foreign policy. "Neither Gaza, nor Syria, nor Lebanon, we only sacrifice for Iran" is one of the chanted slogans.

iran-proteste3-302x190.jpg

It is interesting that, in contrast to 2009, the protests broke out at the countryside and not directly in Tehran. The people entered the streets of Isfahan, Rasht, Ahwaz, Mashhad and even in the city of Ghom, one of the most important theological centres of Shia Islam.
In 2009, the protest was sparked and led mostly by students and members of the middle class, but this seems to change now. Even the apparatus of the state, (unwanted) points out that there is a more heterogenous protest now as nine years before. Authorities stated, that "counter-revolutionaries" are behind it, while the administration of president Rouhani declared that conservative opponents are responsible.
Be curious about the development in the next weeks.

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Very nice! Good point that the protests started outside of Tehran, that would indicate a genuine uprising versus a CIA attempted overthrow. Hoping the best for the people of Iran.