Iran: The Green Movement - Softcover

Bakhtavar, Slater

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0578033259 ISBN 13: 9780578033259

Publisher: Parsa Enterprises, LLC., 2009

Synopsis

"This was by far the largest street protest and demonstration in the history of Iran since the 1979 Iranian Revolution. The hundreds of thousands of upset supporters of the defeated reform candidate Mir Hussein Mousavi marched the streets of Tehran and other cities, defying the official protest ban. Mousavi appeared for the first time in public at a rally staged by his supporters in Tehran after the landslide election win of Ahmadinejad, in the hope of calming the now-growing demonstrations. What some hoped to be a calm protest turned out to be a riotous one as the protesters vented out their frustration and dismay about their candidate's loss in the June 12th election. In order to quell the protests, the Iranian security forces and the uncompromising militia continued to act with force and arrest the protesters, causing them to revolt further. The revolution only led to the supporters' incurring of injuries from the beatings of the government's militia. Brothers' blood was shed on the streets of Tehran as the rioters fought back and the militia fired guns from rooftops.


Iran's supreme leader and most powerful figure, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, drew a hard line that posed as a ploy for Iran's opposition protesters to either halt any further protests over the June 12th disputed election or risk a violent crackdown. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei issued this warning during his stern sermon in Tehran. He warned the protesters and opposition leaders that they would be held personally responsible if the street protests did not end. 


Uncompromisingly, Khamenei told the protesters to drop their demands for a new election and insisted that last week's presidential votes had been transparent. He said that the Islamic Republic does not alter vote counts as the system does not allow cheating. At the end of the sermon, Khamenei added that if the protesters will not obey and still pursue protesting, he will unleash the military force. Khamenei's warning seemed to not have any effect because shortly after dusk, cries of "Death to the dictator" were shouted from the rooftops as the protesters began their first sign of resistance."

About this title

From the Back Cover:

One of the more surprising demographic facts about Iran is the fact that 70% of the population is under 30 years of age. This simple statistic has molded Iran into an increasingly more modern society with a thriving and unpredictable "student population." This population, who is often referred to as "Iranian youth", has been strongly linked to the generation of reformist ideas surfacing in Iran.

At 7:30 a.m. in Tehran the coercion of the "security forces" against the opposition had already escalated a point that was considered to be the most aggressive since the Presidential election. The Iranian civilians woke up to scenes in the street only fit for a movie. A city bus had been set on fire in the night and the smoldering wreckage only further illustrated the devastation that this country was experiencing. What seemed to be chaos at this point was only a small glimpse of the near future of the Iranian people. The citizens of Iran should brace themselves for the likelihood of more bloody altercations between the security forces and protesters on the streets of Tehran.

By 10:25 a.m., the Iranian state television reported that 10 people were killed as the police and protesters clashed in the streets of Tehran in lieu of the protester's defiance to Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Reports said there were at least another 100 protesters severely injured during the clashing.

More demonstrators took to the streets of Tehran during the afternoon. Women, youth, students and members of the moderate clerical establishment took to the streets in the thousands chanting and wearing the bright green campaign colors of Moussavi and showing support for the "Green Movement".

About the Author:

Slater Bakhtavar, an Iran Native, is a published journalist, policy analyst, and practicing attorney.  His interest in politics has enabled him to contribute his knowledge to several journals, magazines, and nationally syndicated talk shows.  Additionally, Slater is actively involved in analyzing foreign policy for various organizations.

Slater has earned a bachelor's degree in political science from Kennesaw State University, a Juris Doctorate from South Texas College of Law, and a LL.M in International Law from Loyola Law School.  In addition, Slater Bakhtavar received a certified in alternative dispute resolution from the University of Georgia Law Center and is currently pursuing his master of business administration.

Currently, Slater resides in Dallas, Texas, where he is engaged in the practice of law at his own law office.  Outside of his law practice, he can be found devoting his time to The Republican Youth of America organization, where he sits as the founding president.

About this edition

• Publisher: Parsa Enterprises, LLC.
• Publication date: 2009
• ISBN 10: 0578033259
• ISBN 13: 9780578033259
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 256