2009–2010 Iranian election protests

2009-2010 Iranian election protests
Location  Iran: Tehran, Abadan, Ahvaz, Arak, Ardabil, Bandar Abbas, Birjand, Bojnord, Borujerd, Dezful, Sari, Babol, Bandar Torkaman, Bushehr, Hamadan, Isfahan, Ilam, Karaj, Kashan, Kerman, Kermanshah, Khorramshahr, Khoy, Mashhad, Najafabad, Qazvin, Qom, Rasht, Sanandaj, Shahr Kord, Shiraz, Tabriz, Urmia, Yasuj, Yazd, Zabol Zanjan, Zahedan

By Iranian diaspora worldwide
 United States: Atlanta, Charlotte, Cincinnati, Preston, Iowa, Dallas, Denver, Houston, Indianapolis, Irvine, Kansas City, Las Cruces, Las Vegas,[1] Los Angeles, Madison, Miami, Minneapolis, New York City, Orlando, Philadelphia, Portland, San Diego, San Francisco, San Jose, Seattle, Tempe, Washington, D.C.
 Canada: Calgary, Edmonton, Halifax, Hamilton, London, Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto, Vancouver, Waterloo
 Germany: Berlin, Bochum, Cologne, Dortmund, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Hannover, Heidelberg, Münster, Stuttgart[2]
 Sweden: Stockholm, Gothenburg, Malmö, Skellefteå, Karlstad, Sundsvall,[3] Uppsala,[4] Helsingborg,[5] Umeå,[6] Jönköping,[7] Uddevalla,[8] Borås[9]
 Netherlands: The Hague, Amsterdam, Delft, Leiden, Groningen, Maastricht,
 Italy: Rome, Milan, Turin, Florence
 Switzerland: Geneva, Lausanne, Zurich, Bern
 Australia: Sydney, Melbourne, Canberra,[10] Adelaide[11]
 Spain: Barcelona, Madrid
 Ukraine: Kiev,[12] Kharkiv
 United Kingdom: London, Manchester, Sheffield, Nottingham, Bristol[13]
 France: Paris, Lyon
 Belgium: Brussels, Leuven
 New Zealand: Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch
 Malaysia: Kuala Lumpur
 Portugal: Lisbon
 Austria: Vienna, Salzburg[14]
 Romania: Bucharest[15]
 Hungary: Budapest[16]
 Czech Republic: Prague
 Japan: Tokyo, Yokohama, Osaka, Kyoto, Nagoya
 Denmark: Copenhagen, Aarhus
 Norway: Oslo, Bergen, Trondheim, Stavanger, Arendal, Kristiansand
 South Korea: Seoul, Busan, Daegu
 Russia: Moscow
 Armenia: Yerevan
 Israel: Tel Aviv
 United Arab Emirates: Dubai
 Turkey: İstanbul, Ankara[17]
 Pakistan: Islamabad,[18] Karachi, Lahore, Peshawar
 Egypt: Cairo[19]
 Kuwait: Kuwait City[20]
 Greece: Athens[21]
 Cyprus: Nicosia[22]
 Bulgaria: Sofia[23]
 Azerbaijan: Baku[24]
 Poland: Warsaw[25]
 Finland: Helsinki[26]
 Ireland: Dublin[27]
 Singapore: Singapore[28]
 India: Hyderabad[29]
 Bangladesh: Dhaka[30]
 Philippines: Manila
Date June 13, 2009 - February 11, 2010[31]
Afternoon 12 GMT (+4)
Characteristics Demonstrations, riots, civil disobedience, strike actions
Death(s) 37-73
Arrests 4,000 [32]

Protests following the 2009 Iranian presidential election against the disputed victory of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and in support of opposition candidates Mir-Hossein Mousavi and Mehdi Karroubi occurred in major cities in Iran and around the world[33] starting June 13, 2009. The protests were given several titles by their proponents including Green Revolution, Green Wave or Sea of Green, reflecting presidential candidate Mousavi's campaign color, and also Persian Awakening.[34] The creation of the Iranian Green Movement was developed during these protests. The events have also been nicknamed the "Twitter Revolution" because of the protesters' reliance on Twitter and other social-networking Internet sites to communicate with each other.[35] Islamic politician Ata'ollah Mohajerani blasted the election as "the end of the Islamic Republic".[36] In response to the protests, other groups rallied in Tehran to support Ahmadinejad.[37]

Widespread editorial analyses assert that the 2009 election marks the official end of the Islamic Republic and the beginning of the Islamic emirate or an imamate regime.[38][39] All three opposition candidates claimed that the votes were manipulated and the election was rigged, and candidates Mohsen Rezaee and Mousavi have lodged official complaints. Mousavi announced that he "won't surrender to this manipulation" before lodging an official appeal against the result to the Guardian Council on June 14.[34]

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei declared the unprecedented voter turnout and coinciding religious holidays as a "divine assessment" and urged the nation to unite, but later ostensibly ordered an investigation into the claims of voting fraud and irregularities as per the request of the Green movement leaders.[40][41][42] Mousavi is not optimistic about his appeal, saying that many of the group's members "during the election were not impartial".[43] Ahmadinejad called the election "completely free" and the outcome "a great victory" for Iran, dismissing the protests as little more than "passions after a soccer match".[44]

Police and the Basij, a paramilitary group suppressed both peaceful demonstrating and rioting using batons, pepper spray, sticks and, in some cases, firearms. The Iranian government has confirmed the deaths of 36 people during the protests,[45] while unconfirmed reports by supporters of Mousavi allege that there have been 72 deaths (twice as many) in the three months following the disputed election.[32][46] Iranian authorities have closed universities in Tehran, blocked web sites, blocked cell phone transmissions and text messaging,[47] and banned rallies.[41]

Protests erupted again in February 2011, concurrent with the Arab Spring.

Contents

Background

The election of the president of Iran in 2009 was preceded by many Iranian surveys and a survey by the US-based Terror Free Tomorrow organization.[48] The Terror Free Tomorrow opinion poll, conducted from 11 May to 20 May 2009 predicted the high participation and showed similar ratios for the candidates to the later official result, with over a quarter yet undecided.[49][50] The many Iranian surveys show a wide range of differing results. An opinion in the New York Times claims that this is due to the high fluctuation among voters during the campaign season.[51]

The election for presidency took place on 12 June 2009. Unlike the election in 2005, the 2009 election featured high participation. The results of the elections were announced only 2 hours after the end of the votes, which may seem impossible. The official results were rejected by all three opposition candidates, who claimed that the votes were manipulated and the election was rigged. The last presidential election had already been controversial, but this time it escalated. Candidates Mohsen Rezaee and Mousavi have lodged official complaints. Mousavi announced that he "won't surrender to this manipulation" before lodging an official appeal against the result to the Guardian Council on 14 June.[34]

The Supreme Leader of Iran, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, declared the unprecedented voter turnout and coinciding religious holidays as a "divine assessment", and urged the nation to unite,[40] and later ordered an investigation into the claims of vote fraud.[42] Referring to Mousavi's appeal letter about the irregularities, Khamenei said that "the Guardian Council has been emphasized to carry out investigation into this letter carefully," and probe allegations of electoral fraud.[42] Mousavi is not optimistic about his appeal, saying that many of the group's members "during the election were not impartial".[43] Ahmadinejad called the election "completely free" and the outcome "a great victory" for Iran, dismissing the protests as little more than "passions after a soccer match".[44]

According to an analysis by Professor Walter R. Mebane, Jr. from the Department of Statistics of the University of Michigan, considering data from the first stage of the 2005 presidential election produces results that "give moderately strong support for a diagnosis that the 2009 election was affected by significant fraud".[52] The UK-based think-tank Chatham House also suspected fraud in the voting process for a number of reasons:[53]

Reason Description
More than 100% In two Conservative provinces, Mazandaran and Yazd, a turnout of more than 100% was recorded.[53]
No swing At a provincial level, there is no correlation between the increased turnout, and the swing to Ahmadinejad.[53] This challenges the notion that his victory was due to the massive participation of a previously silent Conservative majority.[53]
Reformist votes In a third of all provinces, the official results would require that Ahmadinejad took not only all former conservative voters, and all former centrist voters, and all new voters, but also took up to 44% of former Reformist voters, despite a decade of conflict between these two groups.[53]
Rural votes In 2005, as in 2001 and 1997, conservative candidates, and Ahmadinejad in particular, were markedly unpopular in rural areas. The claim that this year Ahmadinejad swept the board in more rural provinces in 2009 flies in the face of these trends.[53]

In response, a report was authored by Reza Esfandiari and Yousef Bozorgmehr that concluded the Chatham House report to be flawed - their analysis suggested that the results of the election comport to a natural outcome, allowing for the possibility of some fraud at the local level.[54]

Timeline

On Saturday 13 June after election results announced that Ahmadinejad had won, supporters of Mousavi took to the streets to protest. The next day, protests grew, as did violence. On the night of 14 June the pro-Ahmadinejad Basij paramilitary group raided Tehran University, injuring many. On 15 June millions of protesters marched on Azadi street and Mousavi made his first post-election appearance.

On 16 June, protests continued, and the Guardian Council announced a partial recount would be conducted; however, the vote was not annulled. On Wednesday 17 June another large protest occurred; some members of the Iranian national football team wore green wristbands in support of Mousavi during their game against South Korea. On Thursday, 18 June more than 100,000 protesters held a candlelight vigil in Tehran following Mousavi's call for a day of mourning for those killed in protests. The Guardian Council invited the three major challengers to meet to discuss their grievances.

On Friday, 19 June Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khameini spoke during religious services, saying the election was legitimate called the large voter turnout and resulting victory (for Ahmadinejad) a "divine assessment" and protests would no longer be tolerated. However, the opposition did not accept this, and the protests occurred albeit on a smaller scale. The next day, 20 June fewer protesters took to streets. At the protests that did occur, said to number in the tens of thousands of people, much violence occurred, causing many would-be protesters to stay in their homes the next day, Sunday, 21 June. On 20 June a young Iranian woman, identified as Neda Agha-Soltan,[55] was shot by the Basij and died in front of cameras on Kargar Avenue in Tehran.[56] Highly graphic amateur videos of the killing rapidly spread virally across the internet after being posted to Facebook and YouTube.[57] On 22 June riot police broke up the main rally in Tehran with tear gas and live fire into the air.

During Friday, prayers broadcast live on television on 26 June Ayatollah Ahmad Khatami is reported to have said that "Anybody who fights against the Islamic system or the leader of Islamic society, fight him until complete destruction". and called for the execution of leading demonstrators as they are "people who wage war against God".[58]

On Monday, 29 June 2009, the Guardian Council certified the results of the controversial election.[59] This set off a wave of protests, disregarding the Iranian government's ban on street marches.[59] The Iranian intelligence chief alleged that western and "Zionist" forces were responsible for inciting the protests. Four of the nine British officials arrested on 28 June 2009 remain in custody under those charges.[59]

Late July, protest had reportedly entered a "Phase II", using tactics such as the boycott of goods advertised on state-controlled television; attempting to deny power to state-run TV evening news broadcasts by turning on all electric appliances just before the news; "blitz" street demonstrations "lasting just long enough to chant `Death to the dictator!` several times", but not long enough for security forces to arrive; identifying paramilitary Basij vigilantes linked to the crackdown and putting marks in the opposition color green, or pictures of protest victims in front of their homes; scribbled anti-regime slogans on money. The new protest is reportedly based on the idea of Mohandas Gandhi that "even the most powerful cannot rule without the cooperation of the ruled."[60]

On 5 August, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was sworn in for his second term as President of Iran in an official inauguration in Tehran. Protests were held outside the Parliament during the inauguration, with protesters chanting "death to the dictator".[61]

Major protests would continue after the inauguration as well. Among the largest were protests which were held on Iranian holidays, such as Quds Day on 18 September, 13th of Aban on 4 November and Iranian Students Day on 7 December.[62][63]

Another wave of protests occurred following these election protests across Iran in 2011.

Government reaction

Arrests

On the weekend of 13/14 June, in a series of raids across Tehran, the government arrested over 170 people, according to police officials.[64] Among them were prominent reformist politicians, including MIRO founder Behzad Nabavi, IIPF leader Mohsen Mirdamadi, and former president Mohammad Khatami's brother Mohammad-Reza Khatami, who was later released.[65][66][67] Also arrested were Mostafa Tajzadeh and Mohsen Aminzadeh, whom the IRNA said were involved in orchestrating protests on 13 June.[66] Unidentified sources said that the police stormed the headquarters of the IIPF and arrested a number of people.[40][68] Iranian journalist Mashallah Shamsolvaezin claimed that presidential candidate Mir-Hossein Mousavi was put under house arrest, although officials denied this.[69] An estimated 200 people were detained after clashes with students at the University of Tehran, although many were later released.[70]

Acting Police Chief Ahmad-Reza Radan stated via the state press service on 14 June that "in the interrogation of related rebels, we intend to find the link between the plotters and foreign media".[72] A judiciary spokesman said they had not been arrested but that they were summoned, "warned not to increase tension", and later released.[73] Intelligence minister Gholam Hossein Mohseni-Ejehei linked some arrests to terrorism supported from outside Iran, stating that "more than 20 explosive consignments were discovered".[74] Others, he said, were "counter-revolutionary groups [who had] penetrated election headquarters" of the election candidates.[74]

Relatives of several detained protesters have confirmed that the interrogation of prisoners is now being headed by Saeed Mortazavi, a figure already known for alleged involvement in brutal interrogations and torture.[75]

Mojtaba Khamenei, the second son of Ayatollah Khamenei, has emerged as one of the driving forces behind the government's crackdown, diplomats and observers said. He is reported to have a strong influence over his father and is talked about as his possible successor. Mojtaba is affiliated with current Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.[76]

On 16 June, Reuters reported that former vice-president Mohammad-Ali Abtahi and former presidential advisor Saeed Hajjarian had been arrested.[71] Human rights lawyer Abdolfattah Soltani, who had been demanding a recount of all votes, was also arrested on that Tuesday according to Shirin Ebadi, who said that security officials had posed as clients.[77] Over 100 students were arrested after security forces fired tear gas at protesters at Shiraz University on the same day.[70] Reporters Without Borders reported that 5 of 11 arrested journalists were still in detention as of 16 June, and that a further 10 journalists were unaccounted for and may have been arrested.[70]

On 17 June, former foreign minister and Secretary-General of the Freedom Movement of Iran, Ebrahim Yazdi, was arrested while undergoing tests at the Tehran hospital.[70] In Tabriz, other Freedom Movement activists and eight members of the IIPF were arrested, with reports of at least 100 civic figures' arrests.[70] The total number of arrests across Iran since the election was reported as 500.[70]

Aaron Rhodes, a spokesman for the international campaign for human rights in Iran, stated that "Iranian intelligence and security forces are using the public protests to engage in what appears to be a major purge of reform-oriented individuals whose situations in detention could be life-threatening".[70]

In Esfahan Province, prosecutor-general Mohammadreza Habibi warned that dissidents could face the death penalty under Islamic law.[78] He also accused the protesters of being a "few elements controlled by foreigners [who were] disrupting security by inciting individuals to destroy and to commit arson" and urged them to stop their "criminal activities". It was not clear if his warning applied only to Isfahan or to the country as a whole.[79]

On 20 June Committee to Protect Journalists reported that LIFE Magazine photographer Amir Sadeghi was arrested by Iranian authorities.[80] According to CPJ report, he released from Evin Prison on 28 June.[81]

On 21 June Iranian officials detained Iranian-born, Canadian citizen and Newsweek journalist Maziar Bahari.[82] He was later forced to confess in a series of trials for the detained protesters.

On 22 June The Guardian's live blog reported that at approximately 1:30 pm, General Ali Fazli, the newly appointed commander of the Revolutionary Guards in Tehran province, has been arrested for refusing to carry Khamenei's order to use force against demonstrators.[83]

On August 11, 2009, the Iranian government confirmed that 4000 were detained in the protests[84]

Militia violence

Basij members were filmed firing into crowds and breaking into houses.[85][86][87][88][89][90][91][92] A number of hospital staff protested after people have been transported to the hospitals dead or in critical condition with gunshot wounds.[93] The IRG and the Basij also attacked Universities and students' dorms at night,[94] and destroyed property.[95][96]

The Los Angeles Times reported that militiamen from the hard-line Iran-based Ansar-e Hezbollah group "warned that they would be patrolling the streets to maintain law and order".[97]

Casualties

While the incident involving Neda attracted widespread media attention, The Guardian is also maintaining a list of numerous other people who have ostensibly been either killed or arrested since the election.[98] The government has issued very little official information on who has been killed or arrested (except Neda Agha-Soltan, whose video circulated quickly on the internet). Hospitals were prohibited from registering the dead bodies or injured people, as a medical student at Rasoul-Akram hospital witnessed on the night of June 15: "Nine people died at our hospital and another 28 had gunshot wounds... [the government] removed the dead bodies on back of trucks, before we were even able to get their names or other information... No one was allowed to speak to the wounded or get any information from them."[99] Hospital staff protested due to the restrictions.[100] The government admitted to at least 27 fatalities in Tehran, while CNN and other news organizations reported 150 unconfirmed casualties from June 20 protests.[101] International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran counted 34 of them, claiming to have eyewitness reports of much higher numbers.[102] Human rights activists in Iran called for independently collecting information about the killed, injured and arrested people.[103]

Among those who are killed by the government forces, names such as Sohrab Aarabi, Naser Amirnejad,[104][105] Masoud Hashemzadeh[106] and Mohammad Kamrani[107][108][109] are confirmed. Among them, the death of Sohrab Aarabi received special news attention, after Mousavi and Karroubi visited his family.

The families of those who died were allegedly subjected to penalties and bureaucratic red tape, such as being asked to sign paperwork that they do not have complaints against the government prior to being allowed to claim bodies. When the death was due to gunshot wounds, some were reportedly asked to pay a $3,000 fee, ostensibly for the bullet used by security forces.[110] Restrictions on burial locations have also been reported,[110][111] and the Iranian government did not permit a memorial service for Neda Agha-Soltan.[111] Time magazine speculates that the Shi'ite cycle of mourning on the third (June 23), seventh (June 27) and 40th (July 30) day after a person's death may give the protests sustained momentum, similar fashion to what occurred during the 1979 Iranian Revolution.[112]

In September 2010, a Twitter user called "Sarbaz01" published on Peyke-Iran website a list of 150 people killed by the Islamic regime from June 2009 to June 2010.[113]

Torture of prisoners

Opposition leaders have claimed that the prisoners have been tortured and raped in prison.[114] Opposition leaders, and world leaders condemned the abuse. Iran's parliament speaker, Ali Larijani, however denied that prisoners were abused.[115]

Former chairman of Iranian parliament Mehdi Karroubi stated that male and female prisoners have been raped in the prison and their genitals were torn but it is not proved yet. He asked the head of the assembly to investigate the issue in a letter to the head of Assembly of Experts.[116] Iran's police chief, Gen. Ismail Ahmadi Moghaddam, acknowledged that the prisoners had been abused and raped.[117]

Additionally, several of the detained died while in prison. Authorities claimed that the deaths were caused by "pre-existing conditions", however, examinations of the bodies showed signs of torture, including broken bones, finger nails torn off, and rape.[118][119]

Iranian film maker Reza Allamehzadeh made a documentary about Azar Al-Kanan,[120] a prominent Iranian human rights activist and former political prisoner in Iran who became one of the victims of torture, sexual abuse, and finally, rape. The documentary was released after ex-chairman of Iranian parliament Mehdi Karroubi called for investigation of sexual abuse of protesters in prisons by Iranian police and the judicial system, both under the responsibility of the Supreme Leader. Karroubi's letter angered conservatives and the head of Iranian parliament Ali Larijani and senior cleric and representative of the supreme leader, Ahmad Khatami denied the reports of sexual abuse. Following the denials, on August 16, 2009, Fereshteh Ghazi, in an article in Rooz, wrote her story and described the torture and sexual violence in Iranian prison.[121]

Testimonies of victims of rapes by the Islamic regime's agents in jail can be downloaded here : http://seculardemocracyiran.blogspot.com/2010/07/many-people-were-tortured-by-regime.html

Censorship

News media

According to the Telegraph, on 14 June "Iran's regime was doing its utmost to choke off the flow of news from its capital".[122] Al Jazeera English has leveled allegations of direct media censorship by the Iranian government, stating that "some of the newspapers have been given notices to change their editorials or their main headlines".[123] The Al Arabiya's offices in Tehran were closed on 14 June for a week by Iranian authorities, who gave no explanation for the decision.[124] NBC News offices in Tehran were raided, with cameras and other equipment confiscated. Meanwhile, the director of BBC World Service accused the Iranian Government of jamming its broadcasts to the country. Peter Horrocks said audiences in Iran, the Middle East and Europe had been affected by an electronic block on satellites used to broadcast the BBC Persian Television signal to Iran, adding: "It seems to be part of a pattern of behaviour by the Iranian authorities to limit the reporting of the aftermath of the disputed election".[67][125] A BBC corporate official has referred to the network's conflict with the regime as 'electronic warfare'.[36]

On 15 June, Belgian national television reporter Jef Lambrecht from the Flemish public television broadcaster VRT and his sound technician, were arrested in Tehran. They had been doing a story on the riots, and had gotten caught in the middle of the violence. While Lambrechts had taken a punch, Vandervorst was arrested by riot police. When Lambrecht went to check where Vandervorst was being taken, he was promptly arrested as well. Both were taken to the Ministry of Information and detained in the basement. They were both released after two hours with strict instructions not to make any photos or film recordings of the protests. At the same time, two Dutch reporters from Nova were also arrested and deported.[126]

On 16 June, the Ministry of Culture issued a directive banning all foreign media from leaving their offices.[127] This directive stipulated that international news outlets could still talk about rallies in their live reports, however they were not allowed to leave their hotel rooms and offices to witness the protests. Iranian government-run television was not affected by the restrictions.[128] On 20 June, the Ministry of Culture intensified the restrictions by banning international media from reporting on the demonstrations altogether unless they received permission from Iranian authorities.[129]

On 5 August, the Association of Iranian Journalists was forcibly closed when its offices in Tehran were raided by government security forces.[130] The International Federation of Journalists released a statement criticizing the Iranian government for the forcible closure of the Association of Iranian Journalists and calling for freedom of the press.[130]

BBC correspondent John Simpson was arrested, his material confiscated, and then released.[131] Reporters from the Italian public television broadcaster RAI stated that one of its interpreters was beaten with clubs by riot police and the officers then confiscated the cameraman's tapes.[40] ABC News reporter Jim Sciutto has also had material taken. People from the German public broadcasters ZDF and ARD have been harassed as well, with men carrying batons and knives reportedly storming the ARD's Tehran office and taking the technician for further questioning (who was released the day after).

Ahmadinejad responded to civil liberties concerns by stating Iranians enjoyed "absolute freedom" of speech. "Don't worry about freedom in Iran ... Newspapers come and go and reappear. Don't worry about it."[132]

On 5 July 2009 the Sunday Times reported that the Iranian state media have been transmitting “confessions” by demonstrators against the alleged rigging of the presidential vote claiming they did so under the influence of the Voice of America, the BBC and other foreign media agencies. Their faces have been obscured in the TV broadcasts which the newspaper claims, after speaking to witnesses, is due to facial bruising resulting from torture whilst in custody including several instances of male rape.[133]

Internet censorship

On Saturday following the elections, Mir-Hossein Mousavi's supporters started DDoS attacks against president[134] Ahmadinejad's site and exchanged attack tools through sites such as Facebook and Twitter.[135] After the attacks, the government stopped internet access.[135] On 13 June as the election results were being announced, Iran shut down all Internet access for about 45 minutes, then restarted it apparently with lower bandwidth; this may have been in order to set up filters to block sites like YouTube that could be used for political purposes.[136] When thousands of opposition supporters clashed with the police on 13 June, Facebook was filtered again. Some news websites were also blocked by the Iranian authorities. Mobile phone services including text messaging also had stopped or had become very difficult to use since the day before the election.[137] Specifically, all websites affiliated with the BBC were shut off,[138] as well as those affiliated with The Guardian.[139] Iranian internet users used social media to trade lists of open web proxy servers as means to get around the restrictions, but the Iranian authorities monitoring these media gradually blocked these proxies, so that after two weeks very few proxies were still working in Iran.[139] Associated Press labeled the actions as "ominous measures apparently seeking to undercut liberal voices".[40] An anti-censorship software that was widely used and proven effective was freegate developed by Global Internet Freedom Consortium. The software was developed by oversea Chinese scientists to allow mainland Chinese users to break through the "great firewall" in China, but was found to be also very effective in Iran.

Iran was known to operate one of the world’s most sophisticated Web filtering systems, with widespread blockades on specific Web sites. During the protests, this has been intensified dramatically.[140]

Foreign involvement

In 2006, the United States congress passed the Iran Freedom and Support Act which directed $10 million towards groups opposed to the Iranian Government.

In 2007, ABC news reported that U.S. president George W. Bush had authorized a $400 million CIA covert operation to destabilize Iran.[141] George W. Bush signed a "nonlethal presidential finding" that puts into motion a CIA plan that reportedly includes a coordinated campaign of propaganda, disinformation and manipulation of Iran's currency and international financial transactions.

In 2008, journalist Seymour M. Hersh reported in The New Yorker that " Congress agreed to a request from President Bush to fund a major escalation of covert operations against Iran" and "the President sought up to four hundred million dollars, were described in a Presidential Finding signed by Bush, and are designed to destabilize the country’s religious leadership."[142]

In an article in the U.S. Foreign Policy Journal, the question of whether there was U.S. involvement in fomenting unrest during the election was: "given the record of U.S. interference in the state affairs of Iran and clear policy of regime change, it certainly seems possible, even likely, that the U.S. had a significant role to play in helping to bring about the recent turmoil in an effort to undermine the government of the Islamic Republic." The article also quoted evidence concerning interference by the U.S. based Twitter, asserting that “in terms of involving the huge Iranian diaspora and everyone else with a grudge against Ahmadinejad, it has been very successful.”[143]

On 1 June 2009, Haaretz reported that Israeli foreign ministry was organizing a public relations campaign 'to show the world that Iran is not a Western democracy'[144]. In a classified telegram titled 'Activities in the Run-up to Iran's Presidential Election' issued to Israeli diplomats abroad, it listed actions which they were supposed to do before, during, and after the election in order to 'blacken Iran's international reputation'.[145]

On 26 August 2009, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei released a statement through Iranian state television. He said that although he did not believe opposition leaders were working as agents of foreign governments, he did believe that the protests were organized and planned, possibly without the knowledge of the Iranian political opposition. He said that "This plot was defeated, since fortunately our enemies still do not understand the issue in Iran", specifically pointing to foreign involvement in the protests.[146][147]

On 16 June, Der Spiegel cited Voice of America as reporting that the Iranian government had recruited as many as 5,000 Lebanese Hezbollah fighters to clash with protesters.[148] On 19 June CNN reported that, according to media reports and online chatter, the Basij "seem to have added some Arabic-speaking members -- suspected of being [Lebanese] Hezbollah fighters."[149] In response, a spokesman for Hezbollah denied any involvement with the turmoil in Iran and stated that Hezbollah is not taking sides in what it considers to be an internal Iranian affair.[150]

On 17 June the Jerusalem Post quoted two Iranian protesters who stated that "Palestinian forces" (which the article states are members of Hamas) were working with the Basij in helping crush the protests.[151] A Jerusalem-based reporter for WorldNet Daily asked multiple Hamas officials to comment on this accusation, including spokesman Fawzi Barhoum, parliamentarian Mushir-al-Masri, and top Gaza political advisor Ahmed Yousef. All Hamas officials strongly denied any Hamas involvement in responding to the Iranian election protests and called the accusations "completely untrue", questioning why the Iranian Revolutionary Guard forces would require help from Hamas.[152]

On Muslim cable TV show Ali Mallah, Vice President of the Canadian Arab Federation (CAF) endorsed the election of President Mahmoud Ahmedinejad and stated that Western governments, “starting with the US and France” had been working to unseat Ahmedinejad, and further criticized the “dehumanizing Ahmedinejad in the ugliest terms.” Mallah stated that “They [Western media] were really preparing the stage to really distort the truth about the outcome of the result even before the election was announced and that shows their questionable interests.” Finally, Mallah accused Western internet service providers of aiding and helping the Iranian opposition, claiming that “The videos and emails coming from inside Tehran are being supported by [American] Internet Service Providers.”[153][154]

Statements by Iranian figures

Government figures

Candidates

Clerics

Exiled groups

Hunger strike

A number of Iranian intellectuals[183] organized a three day hunger strike in front of the United Nations. The invitation was signed by 42 scholars. The event was scheduled for 22–24 July 2009. Iranian journalist and writer, Akbar Ganji, spearheaded the strike to call for the release of all those who have been arrested in Iran following the protests.[184]

Among the intellectuals that signed the invitation are: Abdolkarim Soroush, Hamid Dabashi, Mohsen Makhmalbaf, Abdol Ali Bazargan and Janet Afary. Among the supporters of the initiative are Reza Baraheni and pop singers Ebrahim Hamedi, Googoosh and Shohreh Aghdashlou.[185][186][187] US citizen Noam Chomsky was present at the hunger strike.[188]

A number of Iranians organized a two day strike at Brandenburger Tor in Berlin, Germany. The event was scheduled for 24–25 July 2009. The invitation had a list of over twenty people as strikers so far and a considerable list of supporters. Among the strikers was Daryush Shokof.

The number of cities joining the Iranian global hunger strike reached over fifty with Toronto, Vancouver, Washington DC, Los Angeles, Chicago, London, as well as Italy, Australia, and Ireland. The hunger strikes are for freedom of all Iranian political prisoners and for "not" recognizing the presidential elections and its president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in 2009.

Robert Redford joined and supported the hunger strike in Washington on 20 July.[189]

International response

BBC News has described the overall reaction by the international community to the 2009 Iranian presidential election as "muted".[34] Mir-Hossein Mousavi has not asked for any kind of foreign assistance or called on other leaders to comment.[36] His spokesperson, Mohsen Makhmalbaf, has criticized U.S. President Barack Obama for maintaining that the difference between Ahmadinejad and Mousavi "may not be as great as has been advertised."[190] Makhmalbaf retorted, "Does he like it himself [when someone is] saying that there is no difference between Obama and [George W.] Bush?" He also said that other nations must "not recognize the government of Ahmadinejad as a legitimate government" and that "it's not only an internal matter- it's an international problem".[191]

However, in international popular culture, the protest has "morphed in the global consciousness, to the point that U2 and Madonna have adopted the cause of Iranian democracy," according to the New York Times[192] Protesters have gathered in cities all over the world to protest the violence and election results. One of the largest protests was organized by United For Iran and held on 25 July 2009 in over 100 cities all over the world.[193]

Although the 2009 Iranian presidential election was widely disputed, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon sent a traditional congratulatory message[194] to Ahmadinejad upon his inauguration. He kept silent over the request of Shirin Ebadi to visit[195] Iran after the crackdown on peaceful post-election protests by the Iranian police.[196] During the election protests, more than 4000 were arrested and nearly 70 were killed (with some sources, including Mohsen Kadivar, citing hundreds of killed), some while being held in prison.[197] In another incident, prominent activisit Akbar Ganji went hunger strike for three days[198] in front of the UN. The incident was followed by an official request[199] by more than 200 intellectuals, human rights activists and reformist politicians in Iran for a reaction from the UN. Ban, however, took no action to help end the violence in Iran.

About eight players in the Iran national football team playing in their World Cup qualifier wore green wristbands in support for Mousavi[36][200] for the first half of their game. During the break, they were ordered to remove them, seven of the eight complied. They were subsequently suspended.

A group of Iranian "artists and writers in exile" published an open letter in support of the protests.[201] Significant protests have been held in major cities all throughout the world. Demonstrators in Los Angeles have protested daily calling not only for election reform but complete regime change. Demonstrators have been seen holding signs stating, "No Ahmadi(nejad), no Mousavi, no Islamic Republic!," "No more Islamic Republic."

Religion

The Economist reported that supporters of Mousavi have enlisted religious symbolism on their side. This directly appeals to the notion of injustice and redemption at the heart of Shia Islam.[202]

Protesters have deliberately dressed modestly. The marches in Tehran saw women in chadors and turbaned clerics,[202] some of whom were seen thronging Mousavi's car during the June 15 rally at Revolution Square.[203] According to Anna Johnson of Associated Press, conservative women in black chadors have joined the liberal youth for the common goal of trying to get their voices heard.[204] The Time reported that some protestors believed they had a religious duty to protest.[205]

Protesters have also made use of slogans such as "Allahu Akbar" (a common Islamic Arabic saying that translates to "God is great") from the revolutionary era.[206] Protestors on Twitter have urged marchers to carry copies of the Qur'an with them, citing its verses bringing about peace.[207] When mourning the deaths of slain protestors, the marchers chanted "Peace be upon (Prophet) Mohammed and his family."[208]

A bystander, Neda Agha-Soltan, who was killed by authorities, has been mythologised by the opposition as a martyr. The status of a martyr is revered in Shia Islam. To prevent this from happening, the authorities have tried to call off funeral services for her, which according to Shia Islam, must be held on the third, seventh and 40th day after the martyr's passing. Robert Tait and Matthew Weaver of the Guardian noted that it was funeral processions on the 40th day of mourning of fallen protesters in 1979 that created momentum in toppling the shah's regime.[209] The idea of martyrdom resonates deeply amongst the Shiite Muslim population of Iran. The Shiite faith was founded on the idea of self-sacrifice in the cause of justice.[210]

Inspired art

See also

Arab Spring protests

References

  1. ^ Vegas Iranians Protest Violence In Home Country, fox5vegas.com (June 19, 2009)
  2. ^ "Streit im Iran eskaliert" (in German). stuttgarter-zeitung.de. 2009-06-20. http://www.stuttgarter-zeitung.de/stz/page/2099030_0_9223_-demonstration-auch-in-stuttgart-streit-im-iran-eskaliert.html. 
  3. ^ "En tyst minut för dödsoffren" (in Swedish). Sundsvall Tidning. 2009-06-26. http://st.nu/start/sundsvall/1.1154003-en-tyst-minut-for-dodsoffren-i-iran. 
  4. ^ "Demonstration i Uppsala" (in Swedish). Nyheterna.se. 2009-06-25. http://nyheterna.se/1.1064254. 
  5. ^ "Ny demonstration för dem i Iran" (in Swedish). hd.se. 2009-07-08. http://hd.se/helsingborg/2009/07/08/ny-demonstration-foer-demokratin-i/. 
  6. ^ "Demonstration för iransk demokrati" (in Swedish). Sveriges Radio. 2009-06-18. http://www.sr.se/VASTERBOTTEN/nyheter/artikel.asp?artikel=2914299. 
  7. ^ "Demonstranterna stödjer folket i" (in Swedish). jnytt.se. 2009-07-08. http://www.jnytt.se/nyhet/25058/demonstranterna-stodjer-folket-i-iran. 
  8. ^ "Irandemonstration i Uddevalla" (in Swedish). Sveriges Radio. 2009-06-25. http://www.sr.se/cgi-bin/vast/nyheter/artikel.asp?Artikel=2928180. 
  9. ^ "Hundratals boråsiranier i protest" (in Swedish). bt.se. 2009-06-24. http://www.bt.se/nyheter/boras/hundratals-borasiranier-i-protest-(1393697).gm. 
  10. ^ http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/1034041/Protest-outside-Iranian-embassy-in-Canberra Protests outside Iranian embassy in Canberra, sbs.com.au (July 26, 2009)
  11. ^ Iran poll prompts Adelaide protest, abc.net.au (June 18, 2009)
  12. ^ Reuters. http://www.reuters.com/news/pictures/searchpopup?picId=10524744. 
  13. ^ Iranians stage peaceful demo in Bristol, thisisbristol.co.uk (June 19, 2009)
  14. ^ "100 Teilnehmer bei Iran-Demo in Salzburg" (in German). salzburg.orf.at. 2009-07-12. http://salzburg.orf.at/stories/374442. 
  15. ^ "Bucuresti Peste 150 de cetateni iranieni au protestat fata de alegerea lui Ahmadinejad" (in Romanian). Antena3. 2009-06-19. Archived from the original on 2009-07-28. http://www.antena3.ro/stiri/romania/bucuresti-peste-150-de-cetateni-iranieni-au-protestat-fata-de-alegerea-lui-ahmadinejad_74170.html. Retrieved 2009-06-20. 
  16. ^ ""Hol van a szavazatunk?", "Ahmadinezsád nem a mi elnökünk!" - Tüntetés a Stefánián" (in Hungarian). Hírszerző. 2009-06-15. http://www.hirszerzo.hu/cikk.hol_van_a_szavazatunk_ahmadinezsad_nem_a_mi_elnokunk_-_tuntetes_a_stefanian.112137.html. 
  17. ^ Reuters. http://www.reuters.com/news/pictures/searchpopup?picId=10660546. 
  18. ^ Ali, Sajjad (2010-12-27). "Iranian protest Islamabad". Demotix.com. http://www.demotix.com/news/112734/iranian-protest-islamabad. Retrieved 2011-03-23. 
  19. ^ "Egypt takes no chances over Iran-inspired demonstration". Reuters. 2009-07-02. http://blogs.reuters.com/global/2009/07/02/egypt-takes-no-chances-over-iran-inspired-demonstration/. 
  20. ^ Iran election protesters set to defy supreme leader, Northwesternubf.org (June 20, 2009)
  21. ^ Reuters. http://www.reuters.com/news/pictures/searchpopup?picId=10609271. 
  22. ^ http://newshopper.sulekha.com/cyprus-iran-protest_photo_864368.htm A woman holds a picture showing a woman Neda Agha Soltan lying in a Tehran street moments before she died, during a demonstration outside of Iranian embassy in Nicosia, Cyprus, Tuesday, June 23, 2009, to protest against the outcome of the Presidential elections and post election violence in Iran, Reuters (June 23, 2009)
  23. ^ Protests in front of the embassy of Iran in Bulgaria, Euinside.eu (June 26, 2009)
  24. ^ http://www.rferl.org/content/article/1069233.html Azerbaijani Police Break Up Protest Against Iran, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (June 16, 2009)
  25. ^ Solidarity with Iran in Warsaw, Thenews.pl (June 22, 2009)
  26. ^ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JZzMTQClJvo June 26, 2009 campaign and demonstrations in Helsinki, Youtube (June 26, 2009)
  27. ^ Iranian Independent Workers Union message addressed to the workers of Iran, Swp.ie (June 24, 2009)
  28. ^ http://gulfnews.com/news/region/iran/iran-students-in-singapore-protest-presidential-election-1.72558 Iran students in Singapore protest presidential election, Gulfnews.com (June 19, 2009)
  29. ^ Reuters. http://www.reuters.com/news/pictures/searchpopup?picId=10504937. 
  30. ^ Human chain formed by Iranians in Dhaka and Sachetan Nagarik, Thedailystar.net (June 25, 2009)
  31. ^ Al Jazeera International Timeline: Iran after the election
  32. ^ a b (AFP) – Sep 3, 2009 (2009-09-03). "AFP: Iran opposition says 72 killed in vote protests". Google.com. http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5iaWYtGitSBRRBJkDanoZ1gwP4DBA. Retrieved 2010-09-11. 
  33. ^ "Iran election protests turn violent". CNN. 13 June 2009. http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/meast/06/13/iran.election/index.html. Retrieved 13 June 2009. 
  34. ^ a b c d e "Fars News Agency". Fars News. 22 June 2009. Archived from the original on 2009-07-28. http://english.farsnews.com. Retrieved 22 June 2009. 
  35. ^ By 4:45 a.m., Tuesday, June 16, 2009 (2009-06-16). "EDITORIAL: Iran's Twitter revolution". Washington Times. http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2009/jun/16/irans-twitter-revolution/. Retrieved 2010-09-11. 
  36. ^ a b c d
  37. ^ "Crowds join Ahmadinejad victory rally". BBC News. 14 June 2009. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/8099501.stm. Retrieved 14 June 2009. 
  38. ^ Taheri, Amir (June 30, 2009). "The fight for Iran’s future is far from over". The Times (London). http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/columnists/guest_contributors/article6605062.ece. Retrieved 7 July 2009. 
  39. ^ "Do not get people trapped in the psychological warfare of the coup engineers!". Tehran Broadcast. 2009-05-22. Archived from the original on 2009-07-28. http://tehranbroadcast.com/Do-not-get-people-trapped-in-the.html. Retrieved 2009-06-25. 
  40. ^ a b c d e f "Election Battles Turn Into Street Fights in Iran". ABC News. 13 June 2009. Archived from the original on 2009-07-28. http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory?id=7830630. Retrieved 13 June 2009. 
  41. ^ a b Anna Johnson and Brian Murphy (15 June 2009). "Iranian protester killed after opposition rally". Associated Press. http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090615/ap_on_re_mi_ea/ml_iran_election. Retrieved 18 June 2009. 
  42. ^ a b c "Iran's supreme leader orders investigation into claims of vote fraud". China View. 15 June 2009. Archived from the original on 2009-07-28. http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-06/15/content_11546228.htm. Retrieved 18 June 2009. 
  43. ^ a b c "Mousavi says not optimistic on Iran election appeal". Ynet. Archived from the original on 2009-07-28. http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3731896,00.html. Retrieved 2009-07-23. 
  44. ^ a b c "Iranian leader: Fiery clashes over election 'not important'". USA Today. 14 June 2009. http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2009-06-13-iran-vote-saturday_N.htm. Retrieved 23 June 2009. 
  45. ^ "Iran official says 36 killed in post-vote unrest". AFP. 10 September 2009. http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5j8GPoWmrf2qerPWQNHb8Z9eGjT3Q. 
  46. ^ Lake, Eli (25 June 2009). "Iran protesters alter tactics to avoid death". Washington Times. http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2009/jun/25/opposition-alters-tactics-to-avoid-protest-deaths/. 
  47. ^ Robert F. Worth and Nazila Fathi (13 June 2009). "Protests Flare in Tehran as Opposition Disputes Vote". The New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/14/world/middleeast/14iran.html. Retrieved 19 June 2009. 
  48. ^ "Terror Free Tomorrow". Archived from the original on 2009-09-07. http://www.terrorfreetomorrow.org/. Retrieved 18 June 2009. 
  49. ^ "Ahmadinejad Front Runner in Upcoming Presidential Elections; Iranians Continue to Back Compromise and Better Relations with US and West. Results of a New Nationwide Public Opinion Survey of Iran before the 12 June 2009 Presidential Elections" (PDF). Terror Free Tomorrow. http://www.terrorfreetomorrow.org/upimagestft/TFT%20Iran%20Survey%20Report%200609.pdf. Retrieved 18 June 2009. 
  50. ^ Ken Ballen and Patrick Doherty (15 June 2009). "The Iranian People Speak". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on 2009-09-07. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/06/14/AR2009061401757_pf.html. Retrieved 12 June 2009. 
  51. ^ Shane M. (18 June 2009). "A Different Iranian Revolution". The New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/19/opinion/19shane.html. Retrieved 19 June 2009. 
  52. ^ Mebane, Walter R. (18 June 2009). "Note on the presidential election in Iran, June 2009" (PDF). http://www.umich.edu/~wmebane/note18jun2009.pdf. 
  53. ^ a b c d e f Ali Ansari, Daniel Berman and Thomas Rintoul (26 June 2011). "Preliminary Analysis of the Voting Figures in Iran's 2009 Presidential Election". Chatham House and the Institute of Iranian Studies, University of St Andrews. http://www.chathamhouse.org/sites/default/files/public/Research/Middle%20East/iranelection0609.pdf. Retrieved 21 June 2009. 
  54. ^ wepapers.com
  55. ^ "Her name was Neda" (in french). egoblog.net. 21 June 2009. Archived from the original on 2009-07-28. http://egoblog.net/2009/06/21/her-name-was-neda/. Retrieved 21 June 2009. 
  56. ^ "Unidentified Woman Shot Dead in Karegar Ave - 20 June 2009" (in english). BreakForNews.com. 20 June 2009. Archived from the original on 2009-07-28. http://breakfornews.com/KarekarAveShooting090620.htm. Retrieved 20 June 2009. 
  57. ^ "Basij shots to a young woman in Tehran's Saturday 20 June protests" (in english). Youtube. 20 June 2009. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=185vPe_gROA&feature=channel_page. Retrieved 20 June 2009. 
  58. ^ Fletcher, Martin (2009-06-27). "Leading demonstrators must be executed Ayatollah Khatami demands". The Times (London). http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/middle_east/article6583797.ece. Retrieved 2009-06-27. 
  59. ^ a b c Michael Slackman (29 June 2009). "Iran Council Certifies Disputed Election Results". New York Times. 
  60. ^ Wright, Robin (2009-07-27). "Iran's Protesters: Phase 2 of Their Feisty Campaign". Time. http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1912941,00.html?xid=rss-world. 
  61. ^ "Ahmadinejad sworn in as Iran president amid crisis". Associated Press. http://www.sfexaminer.com/world/52524657.html. Retrieved 5 August 2009. 
  62. ^ Marie-Claude Decamps (2009 09 18), L’opposition iranienne réaffirme son existence lors de la journée d’Al-Qods, Lemonde.fr, http://www.lemonde.fr/asie-pacifique/article/2009/09/19/l-opposition-iranienne-reaffirme-son-existence-lors-de-la-journee-d-al-qods_1242479_3216.html 
  63. ^ Black, Ian (2009-11-04). "Iran protesters hijack 30th anniversary of US embassy seizure". London: The Guardian. http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/nov/04/iran-protests-embassy-30th-anniversary. Retrieved 4 November 2009. 
  64. ^ Masses mourn protesters in Iran, BBC News, 2009-06-15, http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/8100310.stm, retrieved 2009-06-19 
  65. ^ a b c Robert F. Worth; Nazila Fathi (14 June 2009). "Opposition Members Detained in a Tense Iran". New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/15/world/middleeast/15iran.html. Retrieved 14 June 2009. 
  66. ^ a b Asthana, Anushka; Sherman, Jill (2009-06-14), Iran reformists arrested after Tehran riots, London: Times Online, http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/middle_east/article6495691.ece, retrieved 2009-06-16 
  67. ^ a b Colin Freeman; David Blair (2009-06-14). "Defeated Iranian reformist Mir-Hossein Mousavi calls for more protest against Mahmoud Ahmadinejad". London: The Telegraph. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/iran/5533782/Defeated-Iranian-reformist-Mir-Hossein-Mousavi-calls-for-more-protest-against-Mahmoud-Ahmadinejad.html. Retrieved 2009-06-14. 
  68. ^ "Iran reformists held after street clashes". BBC News. 2009-06-14. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/8099218.stm. 
  69. ^ Mostaghim, Ramin; Daragahi, Borzou (2009-06-15), Iran tries to put a lid on election protests, Los Angeles Times, http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-iran-election15-2009jun15,3,3696525.story, retrieved 2009-06-16 
  70. ^ a b c d e f g Tait, Robert (2009-06-17), Iran elections: mass arrests and campus raids as regime hits back, London: Guardian, http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/jun/17/iran-election-protests-arrests1, retrieved 2009-06-18 
  71. ^ a b Leading Iranian reformist arrested, his office says, Reuters, 2009-06-16, http://www.reuters.com/article/latestCrisis/idUSDAH619963, retrieved 2009-06-16 
  72. ^ Bill Keller (2009-06-16), Innocent Googling? No Such Thing in Tehran, New York Times, http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/17/world/middleeast/17notebook.html, retrieved 2009-06-17 
  73. ^ "Ahmadinejad: Anyone who strikes Iran will regret it". Haaretz. 2009-06-14. http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1092669.html. Retrieved 2009-06-14. 
  74. ^ a b Government supporters rally in Iran, Al Jazeera, 2009-06-16, archived from the original on 2009-07-28, http://www.webcitation.org/5ic0FA2Dk, retrieved 2009-06-17 
  75. ^ Booth, Jenny; Hider, James (25 June 2009). "Saeed Mortazavi: butcher of the press - and torturer of Tehran?". London: The Times. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/middle_east/article6570089.ece. Retrieved 3 August 2009. 
  76. ^ Julian Borger (22 June 2009). "Mojtaba Khamenei: gatekeeper to Iran's supreme leader". London: The Guardian. http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/jun/22/mojtaba-khamenei-iran-protest. Retrieved 22 June 2009. 
  77. ^ Mark Memmott (2009-06-16), Iran's Human Rights Activists Being Arrested, Nobel Prize Winner Tells NPR, NPR, archived from the original on 2009-07-28, http://www.webcitation.org/5ic0FatsC, retrieved 2009-06-17 
  78. ^ Iran prosecutor warns of death penalty for violence, Reuters, 2009-06-18, http://www.reuters.com/article/gc08/idUSTRE55H1XM20090618, retrieved 2009-06-18 
  79. ^ "Iran prosecutor warns of death penalty for violence". Reuters. 2009-06-17. http://www.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUSTRE55G1PX20090617. Retrieved 2009-06-17. 
  80. ^ Iranian newspaper raided, employees detained Committee to Protect Journalists. Accessed 2009-07-23. Archived 2009-07-28.
  81. ^ Iran releases some journalists, vilifies foreign press Committee to Protect Journalists
  82. ^ Newsweek Reporter Detained. Newsweek. Retrieved 21 June 2009.
  83. ^ Weaver, Matthew; Nasaw, Daniel (2009-06-22). "Iran in crisis: live". The Guardian (London). http://www.guardian.co.uk/news/blog/2009/jun/22/iran-ayatollah-ali-khamenei. Retrieved 2009-06-22. 
  84. ^ "Iran admits 4,000 June detentions". BBC News. 2009-08-11. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/8195586.stm. 
  85. ^ "Tehran Police Gunshot 20 June 2009" (in Persian). Youtube. 22 July 2009. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=69_nSangE40. Retrieved 22 July 2009. 
  86. ^ "Tehran-Iran Police Gunshot 20 June 2009" (in Persian]). Youtube. 22 July 2009. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pJBd2e2SLik. Retrieved 22 July 2009. 
  87. ^ "Police shoot to people in Iran - Tehran" (in Persian]). Youtube. 22 July 2009. Archived from the original on 2009-07-28. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lj0_cC4C0i8. Retrieved 22 July 2009. 
  88. ^ "IRAN: Shooting at the crowd" (in english). Youtube. 17 June 2009. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SCku1qt_gtQ. Retrieved 17 June 2009. 
  89. ^ "Iran Police Forces Shoot Into Pro-Mousavi Crowd" (in english). Youtube. 17 June 2009. Archived from the original on 2009-07-28. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XHAo8MV8VlU. Retrieved 17 June 2009. 
  90. ^ "Iran riots latest news about Basij shooting showing dead body of young boy". YouTube. 17 June 2009. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oBab8HwACZY. Retrieved 17 June 2009. 
  91. ^ "Basij/Anti Riot Police Open Fire on Iranian Protesters". YouTube. 17 June 2009. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ygfEStDDqw. Retrieved 17 June 2009. 
  92. ^ "Basij Attacking People's Condo at Night". YouTube. 17 June 2009. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s6Cx6XvrrPc. Retrieved 17 June 2009. 
  93. ^ "16 June 2009 - Doctors and nurses are protesting in a major hospital in Tehran — Iran". YouTube. 17 June 2009. Archived from the original on 2009-07-28. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oyirzlCO-FA. Retrieved 17 June 2009. 
  94. ^ "Kooye daneshgah - کوی دانشگاه" (in Persian). YouTube. 18 June 2009. Archived from the original on 2009-07-28. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Hu84MihcOU. Retrieved 18 June 2009. 
  95. ^ "Tehran University Dorms, Ravaged by pro government armed militia. June 15th" (in Persian). Youtube. 18 June 2009. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9K4LIeSWTCI. Retrieved 18 June 2009. 
  96. ^ "حمله به كوي دانشگاه 24 خرداد 88" (in Persian). YouTube]. 18 June 2009. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9T3lGXDP4VA. Retrieved 18 June 2009. 
  97. ^ Daragahi, Borzou; Mostaghim, Ramin; Murphy, Kim (2009-06-19). "Iran protesters pour onto Ahmadinejad's home turf". Los Angeles Times. http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-iran-protests19-2009jun19,0,4249713.story. Retrieved 2009-06-20. 
  98. ^ Jeffery, Simon (2009-06-29). "Iran election: faces of the dead and detained". The Guardian (London). http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/interactive/2009/jun/29/iran-election-dead-detained. Retrieved 2009-07-05. 
  99. ^ "Story from somebody who witnessed". CNN. 2009-06-21. http://www.ireport.com/docs/DOC-277468. 
  100. ^ "Doctors and nurses are protesting in a major hospital in Tehran - Iran". Youtube. 2009-06-16. Archived from the original on 2009-07-28. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oyirzlCO-FA. Retrieved 2009-07-23. 
  101. ^ "Chaos prevails as protesters, police clash in Iranian capital". CNN. 2009-06-21. http://edition.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/meast/06/20/iran.election/index.html. 
  102. ^ "Death Toll Apparently Far Exceeds Government Claims". International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran. 2009-07-16. http://www.iranhumanrights.org/2009/07/deathtoll/. 
  103. ^ "فراخوان گردآوری آمار بازداشت‌شده‌گان و جان باخته‌گان". HRA. 2009-06-27. http://hra-iran.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1335:4564&catid=41:106&Itemid=257. 
  104. ^ Jeffery, Simon (2009-07-02). "Iran election: faces of the dead and detained". London: The Guardian. http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/interactive/2009/jun/29/iran-election-dead-detained. Retrieved 2010-04-23. 
  105. ^ International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran (2009-07-06). "Killed and Detained Since 12 June". International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran. Archived from the original on 2009-07-28. http://www.iranhumanrights.org/2009/06/list/. Retrieved 2009-07-23. 
  106. ^ New information about the death of Masoud Hashemzadeh on June 20, BBC Persian, July 21, 2009
  107. ^ "AUT news". Archived from the original on 2009-07-28. http://www.autnews.me/node/743. Retrieved 2009-07-23. 
  108. ^ "تدفین یک شهید دیگر جنبش سبز ایرانیان: شهید محمد کامرانی". Archived from the original on 2009-07-28. http://www.mowjcamp.com/article/id/924. Retrieved 2009-07-23. 
  109. ^ Mohammad Kamrani, BBC Persian, July 20, 2009
  110. ^ a b Fassihi, Farnaz (2009-06-23). "Son's Death Has Iranian Family Asking Why". The Wall Street Journal. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124571865270639351.html. 
  111. ^ a b "Death video woman 'targeted by militia'". BBC News. 2009-06-22. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/8113552.stm. 
  112. ^ Wright, Robin (June 21, 2009). "In Iran, one woman's death may have many consequences". Time. http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1906049,00.html. Retrieved June 23, 2009. 
  113. ^ "١۵٠ ایرانیانی که از خرداد ١٣۸۸ تا تیر ١٣۸۹ به دست رژیم کشته شده اند | انقلاب اسلامی در هجرت". Sarbaz01. http://www.peykeiran.com/Content.aspx?ID=21511. Retrieved 2010-09-11. 
  114. ^ "Pro-reform party blames Iran's president for abuse". http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090812/ap_on_re_mi_ea/ml_iran_23. Retrieved August 13, 2009. 
  115. ^ "Iran speaker rejects detainee rape claims". CNN. 2009-08-13. http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/meast/08/12/iran.detainees.rape/index.html?section=cnn_latest. Retrieved August 13, 2009. 
  116. ^ James Wray and Ulf Stabe. "Opposition party leader claims sexual abuse in Iranian prisons". Archived from the original on 2009-08-17. http://www.monstersandcritics.com/news/middleeast/news/article_1494473.php/Opposition-party-leader-claims-sexual-abuse-in-Iranian-prisons. Retrieved 9 August 2009. 
  117. ^ "Iran's police chief acknowledges prisoner abuse". Associated Press. http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090809/ap_on_re_mi_ea/ml_iran_election_35. Retrieved August 13, 2009. 
  118. ^ "Pro-reform party blames Iran's president for abuse". Associated Press. http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090812/ap_on_re_mi_ea/ml_iran_23. Retrieved August 13, 2009. 
  119. ^ Fletcher, Martin (2009-09-19). "Ahmadinejad's Basiji run a regime of rape, murder to suppress critics". The Australian. http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,26093533-2703,00.html. Retrieved October 4, 2009. 
  120. ^ "Azar Ale-Kanan | Iranian.com". Archived from the original on 2009-08-17. http://iranian.com/main/2009/aug/azar-ale-kanan. Retrieved 2009-08-16. 
  121. ^ "تکان دهنده تر از دروغ - roozonline.com". Archived from the original on 2009-08-22. http://www.roozonline.com/persian/news/newsitem/article////107/-1738c4bd99.html. Retrieved 2009-08-16. 
  122. ^ Blair, David (2009-06-15). "Iran struggles to censor news of protests". London: The Telegraph. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/iran/5543145/Iran-struggles-to-censor-news-of-protests.html. Retrieved 2010-04-23. 
  123. ^ "Ahmadinejad 'set for Iran victory'". Al Jazeera English. 13 June 2009. http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2009/06/2009612195749149733.html. Retrieved 13 June 2009. ""Doctor Ahmadinejad, by getting a majority of the votes, has become the definite winner of the 10th presidential election", the news agency said." 
  124. ^ DUBAI (Courtney C. Radsch) (2009-06-14). "Iran closes Al Arabiya's offices in Tehran". Al Arabiya. Archived from the original on 2009-07-28. http://www.alarabiya.net/articles/2009/06/14/75922.html. Retrieved 2009-06-14. 
  125. ^ "Stop the blocking now". BBC News. 2009-06-14. http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/theeditors/2009/06/stop_the_blocking_now.html. Retrieved 2009-06-14. 
  126. ^ "VRT-reporter opgepakt in woelig Teheran" (in Dutch). Het Nieuwsblad. 2009-06-15. Archived from the original on 2009-07-28. http://www.nieuwsblad.be/Article/Detail.aspx?ArticleID=LO2BDPIV. Retrieved 2009-07-23. 
  127. ^ Iran cancels foreign media accreditation, Reuters, 16 June 2009. Accessed 2009-07-23. Archived 2009-07-28.
  128. ^ "Iran bans international journalists from covering rallies". CNN. 2009-06-16. http://edition.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/meast/06/16/iran.journalists.banned/index.html. 
  129. ^ "Chaos prevails as protesters, police clash in Iranian capital". CNN. 2009-06-21. http://edition.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/meast/06/20/iran.election/index.html. 
  130. ^ a b "Press federation slams Iran's "campaign of intimidation"". http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20090806/wl_mideast_afp/belgiumiranmediarights_20090806164841. Retrieved 6 August 2009. 
  131. ^ "Iran election sparks clashes". BBC News. 2009-06-14. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/8098942.stm. Retrieved 2009-06-14. 
  132. ^ Ramin Mostaghim; Borzou Daragahi (14 June 2009). "Iran election anger boils; Ahmadinejad defends results". The Los Angeles Times. http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-iran-election15-2009jun15,0,1529351.story. Retrieved 14 June 2009. 
  133. ^ Lawson, Dominic (2009-07-05). "Irans British stooges are staring right at you". The Times (London). http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/columnists/dominic_lawson/article6638036.ece. Retrieved 2009-07-05. 
  134. ^ Erdbrink, Thomas (2009-06-19). "Iran Leader's Top Aide Warns U.S. on Meddling". Washington Post. Archived from the original on 2009-07-28. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/06/18/AR2009061804088.html?hpid=topnews. Retrieved 2009-07-23. 
  135. ^ a b "Iran election protesters use Twitter to recruit hackers". 2009-06-18. Archived from the original on 2009-07-28. http://www.scmagazineus.com/Iranian-election-protestors-use-Twitter-to-recruit-hackers/article/138545/. Retrieved 2009-07-23. 
  136. ^ Hiawatha Bray (19 June 2009). "Finding a way around Iranian censorship: Activists utilize Twitter, Web tricks to sidestep blocks". Boston Globe. http://www.boston.com/business/technology/articles/2009/06/19/activists_utilizing_twitter_web_proxies_to_sidestep_iranian_censorship/. Retrieved 19 June 2009. 
  137. ^ a b "Poll results prompt Iran protests". Al Jazeera English. 13 June 2009. http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2009/06/2009613172130303995.html.. Retrieved 13 June 2009. 
  138. ^ "Ahmadinejad defiant on 'free' Iran poll". BBC News. 13 June 2009. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/8099115.stm. Retrieved 13 June 2009. 
  139. ^ a b CounterPunch, 2 July 2009, Social Media and the Icons of Protest - Iran: Networked Dissent?. Accessed 2009-07-23. Archived 2009-07-28.
  140. ^ Stelter, Brian; Stone, Brad (2009-06-23). "Web Pries Lid of Iranian Censorship". The New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/23/world/middleeast/23censor.html?hp. 
  141. ^ "Bush Authorizes New Covert Action Against Iran - The Blotter". Archived from the original on 2009-09-07. http://blogs.abcnews.com/theblotter/2007/05/bush_authorizes.html. Retrieved 2009-09-01. 
  142. ^ Hersh, Seymour M. (2009-01-07). "The Bush Administration’s operations in Iran". The New Yorker. http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2008/07/07/080707fa_fact_hersh. Retrieved 2010-09-11. 
  143. ^ Foreign Policy Journal 23 June 2009
  144. ^ "Israeli diplomats told to take offensive in PR war against Iran". Haaretz. 1 June 2009. http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/news/israeli-diplomats-told-to-take-offensive-in-pr-war-against-iran-1.277025. 
  145. ^ "Israeli diplomats told to take offensive in PR war against Iran". Haaretz. 1 June 2009. http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/news/israeli-diplomats-told-to-take-offensive-in-pr-war-against-iran-1.277025. 
  146. ^ "Iranian protesters 'not agents'". BBC News. 27 August 2009. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/8223606.stm. Retrieved 30 August 2009. 
  147. ^ "Khamenei: 'No proof' of chaos plot". Al Jazeera English. 27 August 2009. Archived from the original on 2009-09-07. http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2009/08/200982784942708215.html. Retrieved 30 August 2009. 
  148. ^ SPIEGEL ONLINE, Hamburg, Germany (2009-06-16). "Aufstand in Teheran: "Betet für uns!"" (in German). Der Spiegel. Archived from the original on 2009-07-28. http://www.spiegel.de/politik/ausland/0,1518,630463-2,00.html. Retrieved 2009-06-18. 
  149. ^ "Arab neighbors watch Iran's troubles". CNN. 2009-06-19. http://edition.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/meast/06/19/iran.regional.reax/index.html. Retrieved 2009-06-22. 
  150. ^ "Hezbollah accuses West of fomenting turmoil in Iran". AFP. 2009-06-25. Archived from the original on 2009-08-11. http://www.khaleejtimes.com/DisplayArticleNew.asp?col=&section=middleeast&xfile=data/middleeast/2009/June/middleeast_June854.xml. Retrieved 2009-08-06. 
  151. ^ "Protesters tell "Post' Hamas helping Iran crush dissent". The Jerusalem Post. 2009-06-17. http://fr.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1245184851049&pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull. Retrieved 2009-06-23. 
  152. ^ "Hamas denies claims of aiding Iranian forces". WorldNetDaily. 2009-06-22. http://worldnetdaily.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=101818. 
  153. ^ An Arab Canadian’s way of celebrating Canada Day, by Tarek Fatah, Averroespress, July 1, 2009.
  154. ^ Barbara Kay, It is time for the (Anti) Canadian Arab Federation to fold its tents by Barbara Kay, National Post, July 1, 2009.
  155. ^ "Iran's supreme leader orders investigation into claims of vote fraud". Xinhua. 2009-06-15. Archived from the original on 2009-07-28. http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-06/15/content_11546228.htm. Retrieved 2009-06-20. 
  156. ^ "Iranian protester killed after opposition rally". AP. http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090615/ap_on_re_mi_ea/ml_iran_election. Retrieved 2009-06-20. 
  157. ^ "Ayatollah on 'evil' UK government". BBC News. 2009-06-19. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/8109685.stm. Retrieved 2009-06-19. 
  158. ^ "Ayatollah Protest at Iran's 'evil UK' claim". BBC News. 2009-06-19. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8109303.stm. Retrieved 2009-06-23. 
  159. ^ "UK expels two Iranian diplomats". BBC News. 2009-06-23. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8115358.stm. Retrieved 2009-06-23. 
  160. ^ "Ahmadinejad Wins Landslide". Iran Daily. 13 June 2009. http://www.iran-daily.com/1388/3423/html/. Retrieved 13 June 2009. 
  161. ^ "Govt alleges CIA behind street protests". Adnkronos International. 2009-06-24. http://www.adnkronos.com/AKI/English/Politics/?id=3.0.3462950540. Retrieved 2009-06-24. 
  162. ^ Borger, Julian (2009-06-14). "World leaders urged by Iran's opposition party to reject Ahmadinejad's alleged victory". London: The Guardian. http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/jun/14/iran-ahmadinejad-mousavi-elections-result. Retrieved 2010-04-23. 
  163. ^ "Iran opposition keeps up pressure". BBC News. 2009-06-16. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/8103577.stm. 
  164. ^ "‭‮فارسی‬ - ‮ايران‬ - ‮وزیر اطلاعات: به موسوی گفتم این مسیر به جایی نمی رسد‬". BBC. 2009-06-29. http://www.bbc.co.uk/persian/iran/2009/06/090629_ir88_after_election_eczehie_mousavi.shtml. Retrieved 2011-03-23. 
  165. ^ A report by Islamic Republic of Iran's official news agency, IRNA
  166. ^ "Former Iran president says Khamenei behind election “fraud”". 7 July 2009. Archived from the original on 2009-07-28. http://televisionwashington.com/floater_article1.aspx?lang=en&t=1&id=11922. Retrieved 2009-07-23. 
  167. ^ The Economist issue 449201
  168. ^ "Rezaei's ultimatum to Interior Ministry". Press TV. 17 June 2009. Archived from the original on 2009-07-28. http://www.presstv.ir/detail/98361.htm?sectionid=351020101. Retrieved 18 June 2009. 
  169. ^ "Rezaei's Withdraw Claims". 17 June 2009. Archived from the original on 2009-07-28. http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=98899&sectionid=351020101. Retrieved 2009-07-23. 
  170. ^ Letter from Grand Ayatollah Hossein Ali Montazeri and English translation
  171. ^ a b Ali Ansari (21 June 2009). "When the clerics act, it will be crucial". London: the Guardian. http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/jun/21/iran-protests-clerics-ayatollah-mousavi. Retrieved 21 June 2009. 
  172. ^ "Assembly of Experts expresses strong support for Leader’s guidelines". Tehran Times. 2009-06-21. Archived from the original on 2009-07-28. http://www.tehrantimes.com/index_View.asp?code=197201. Retrieved 2009-07-23. 
  173. ^ "Obama praise for Iran's Mousavi". BBC News. 2009-06-26. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/8122028.stm. 
  174. ^ SPIEGEL ONLINE, Hamburg, Germany (2009-06-29). "The Power of Iran's Iron Fist". Der Spiegel. Archived from the original on 2009-07-28. http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/0,1518,633144,00.html. Retrieved 2009-07-23. 
  175. ^ McElroy, Damien (2009-06-28). "Miliband rebukes Iran after arrest of British embassy employees". London: The Daily Telegraph. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/iran/5674439/Miliband-rebukes-Iran-after-arrest-of-British-embassy-employees.html. Retrieved 2010-04-23. 
  176. ^ Seib, Gerald F. (2009-06-30). "Change Lies in Iran's Institutions". The Wall Street Journal. Archived from the original on 2009-07-28. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124629706016868931.html. Retrieved 2009-07-23. 
  177. ^ "Iran deadlock drags on as Mousavi rejects part recount". Agence France-Presse. 2009-06-27. http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5jcfaJk8H7AcRyA7bneR71zYNaq4w. 
  178. ^ Opposition Holds Firm in Iran. Robert Dreyfuss on 07/06/2009
  179. ^ Pro-reform clerical body protests Iran elections July 5, 2009. Retrieved 10-July-2009.
  180. ^ "Shah's son sees echoes of 1979 in Iran". AFP. 2009-06-15. http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5jyLW_9FvKkYn8A9DdkQRUcF0E7sA. 
  181. ^ "Maryam Rajavi: Irreversible escalation of crisis and "political earthquake" within Iran regime |PMOI |". English.mojahedin.org. 2009-06-20. http://www.english.mojahedin.org/pagesEn/detailsNews.aspx?newsid=5122. Retrieved 2010-09-11. 
  182. ^ Dastbaz. "Microsoft Word - TPI-CC-statement-election-No5-19June09". Archived from the original on 2009-07-28. http://www.tudehpartyiran.org/TPI-CC-statement-election-No5-19June09.pdf. Retrieved 2009-07-23. 
  183. ^ "Hamid Dabashi's Official Web Site". Archived from the original on 2009-07-28. http://www.hamiddabashi.com/hunger-strike-july-2009.html. Retrieved 2009-07-23. 
  184. ^ Golnaz Esfandiari - RFE/RL. "Iranian Teen Slain In Postelection Protest Laid To Rest". Archived from the original on 2009-07-28. http://www.rferl.org/content/Iranian_Teen_Slain_In_Postelection_Protest_Laid_To_Rest/1775976.html. Retrieved 2009-07-23. 
  185. ^ "Dr. Soroush". Archived from the original on 2009-07-28. http://www.drsoroush.com/Persian/News_Archive/P-NWS-13880423-EtesabeGhaza.html. Retrieved 2009-07-23. 
  186. ^ "رادیو زمانه | گوي سياست | حقوق بشر | اعلام و دعوت به اعتصاب غذا در برابر سازمان ملل". Archived from the original on 2009-07-28. http://www.radiozamaneh.com/analysis/2009/07/post_1062.html. Retrieved 2009-07-23. 
  187. ^ "gooya news :: politics : حمایت شهره آغداشلو از اعتصاب غذای گنجی". Archived from the original on 2009-07-28. http://news.gooya.com/politics/archives/2009/07/090896.php. Retrieved 2009-07-23. 
  188. ^ Deutsche Welle. "همراهی با جنبش سبز در برابر سازمان ملل | • ایران | Deutsche Welle | 22.07.2009". Archived from the original on 2009-07-28. http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,4510587,00.html?maca=per-rss-per-all-1491-rdf. Retrieved 2009-07-23. 
  189. ^ "Robert Redford Voices Support for Iranian People | Red County". Archived from the original on 2009-08-01. http://www.redcounty.com/robert-redford-voices-support-iranian-people?taxonomy=. Retrieved 2009-07-30. 
  190. ^ "Obama troubled by Iran election but sees change". AP. 2009-06-16. http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090616/ap_on_go_pr_wh/us_us_iran. Retrieved June 19, 2009. 
  191. ^ "The FP Interview: Mohsen Makhmalbaf". Foreign Policy. Archived from the original on 2009-07-28. http://www.foreignpolicy.com/story/cms.php?story_id=5018. Retrieved June 19, 2009. 
  192. ^ Cohen, Roger (2009-08-02). "The Making of an Iran Policy". The New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/02/magazine/02Iran-t.html?_r=2&pagewanted=print. 
  193. ^ "Global protests over post-election crackdown in Iran". CNN. 2009-07-26. http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/meast/07/25/iran.world.protests/index.html#cnnSTCText. Retrieved 2009-07-25. 
  194. ^ By Reuters. "UN toasts Ahmadinejad win, as 69 said killed in Iran protests - Haaretz Daily Newspaper | Israel News". Haaretz.com. http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1106757.html. Retrieved 2010-09-11. 
  195. ^ "Nobel laureate calls on U.N. chief to visit Iran". Reuters. 2009-08-11. http://www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUSTRE57A0HY20090811. 
  196. ^ "British, French embassy workers on trial over Iran protests - CNN.com". CNN. 2009-08-09. http://edition.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/meast/08/08/iran.detainee.trials/. Retrieved 2010-04-23. 
  197. ^ "Iran admits 4,000 June detentions". BBC News. 2009-08-11. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/8195586.stm. Retrieved 2010-04-23. 
  198. ^ "Iranian activists begin three-day hunger strike at UN - WashingtonTV تلویزیون واشنگتن". Archived from the original on 2009-08-16. http://televisionwashington.com/floater_article1.aspx?lang=en&t=3&id=12379. Retrieved 2009-08-15. 
  199. ^ Ganji, Akbar (2009-08-12). "Dear Mr Ban, heed the Iranian people". The Guardian (London). http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/aug/12/iran-ban-ki-moon-protest. Retrieved 2010-04-23. 
  200. ^ "Iranian football team shows support for Mousavi with green arm bands at Seoul World Cup qualifier". The Daily Telegraph (London). 2009-06-17. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/iran/5559871/Iranian-football-team-shows-support-for-Mousavi-with-green-arm-bands-at-Seoul-World-Cup-qualifier.html. 
  201. ^ 'Iranian Artists and Writers in Exile, Iranian Artists and Writers in Exile, 16 June 2009
  202. ^ a b "Demanding to be counted". 2009-06-18. Archived from the original on 2009-07-28. http://www.economist.com/world/international/displaystory.cfm?story_id=13856232. Retrieved 2009-07-23. 
  203. ^ "Gunfire, euphoria: week that shook Iran". http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5iIZfBKxzXFlFYz1AGvhnIVr27tXwD98UIHVO1. 
  204. ^ Anna Johnson. "Families, women in chadors join Iran's opposition". http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hWoxNISdzCH6A5mt0n0coCRzxg-QD98SQ4Q03. 
  205. ^ Nahid Siamdoust (2009-06-22). "Forbidden Iran: How to Report When You're Banned". Time. http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1906069,00.html. Retrieved 2010-04-23. 
  206. ^ "Ahmadinejad's reelection". The Los Angeles Times. http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-iran-election16-2009jun16,0,2315785.story. 
  207. ^ "Drawing the line". The Economist. 2009-06-19. Archived from the original on 2009-07-28. http://www.economist.com/world/mideast-africa/displaystory.cfm?story_id=13888193. Retrieved 2009-07-23. 
  208. ^ "New Iran opposition rally in Tehran: witnesses". http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5hI-GNzpNZG_27twymYDW7cfNXXTw. 
  209. ^ Robert Tait and Matthew Weaver (2009-06-22). "How Neda Soltani became the face of Iran's struggle". The Guardian (London). http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/jun/22/neda-soltani-death-iran. Retrieved 2010-04-23. 
  210. ^ Robert Mackey (2009-06-22). "Latest Updates on Iran’s Disputed Election". New York Times. http://thelede.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/06/22/latest-updates-on-irans-disputed-election-3/?apage=5. Retrieved 2010-04-23. 
  211. ^ Ahoora Band Official Website - News
  212. ^ Hamed Nikpay's New Song for Iran
  213. ^ The Washington Post. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/06/28/AR2009062800763.html. 
  214. ^ Andy and Bon Jovi and Richie Sambora stand by me, You Tube
  215. ^ Edith Bowman: Lunch with Bono. BBC. BBC Radio 1, London, England. 2009-08-19. 35:30 minutes in. Retrieved on 2009-08-19.
  216. ^ "موج موسیقی اعتراضی به نتایج انتخابات ایران". http://www.bbc.co.uk/persian/iran/2009/07/090704_mm_music.shtml. 

Further reading

External links