World Threats

Today, the Iranians are celebrating the anniversery of the civil unrest that forced the Shah to re-appoint Mossadegh as Prime Minister and give into his demands after he resigned on July 16, 1952. This is an emotional day for Iranians as it was a memorable success of “people power” and the Iranians have come to equate that civil unrest with today’s.

• At Evin Prison, over 100 people with family members held there are waiting outside to try to lobby for their release. They have even paid the money demanded by the regime and are simply told to go to the Revolutionary Court, who tells them to come to Evin Prison, who says they need to speak to the judge, and he isn’t making appointments.
• Clashes have been reported at College Intersection in Tehran. Demonstrations are also reported at Sa’di Cinema and Chameran Blvd in Shiraz, where cell phones are being taken away from people seen using them.
• Security forces are stopping buses bringing people to graveyards where those killed in the 1952 uprising were buried.
• Around Hafte-Tir Square, even those stopping to get taxis or are shopping are reporting being attacked. In various spots of Tehran, plainclothes agents are attacking people who gather in groups. There appears to be strict orders to not allow any type of group to gather for any reason.
• There are also light demonstrations in Kermanshah and Isfahan. The overwhelming security presence is prevented them from expanding. There’s many other places where demonstrations were planned but I’m only going to focus on the ones that I receive specific reports on.
• The NCRI has put together a team of lawyers to try to convince the International Criminal Court to charge Iranian leaders with crimes against humanity.
• Iranian state-owned TV said on July 19  that the PMOI/MEK tried to assassinate Karoubi and Mousavi in Iran. This may be preparing the way for them to be killed, which the regime will blame on MEK. It’s also an attempt to foment divisions among Iran’s various opposition forces.