Iran protests: Violence on third day of demonstrations

[Babak]

Some anti-establishment protests happening in Iranian cities have turned violent, video footage shows.

They began three days ago - initially in protest at falling living standards - and are the biggest show of dissent since huge pro-reform rallies in 2009.

Demonstrators have ignored a warning by Iran's interior minister to avoid "illegal gatherings".

Two demonstrators are reported dead in Dorud after sustaining gunshot wounds in a video posted on social media.

Videos filmed elsewhere in the country show protesters setting fire to a police vehicles and there are reports of attacks on government buildings.

What started the protests?
The current protests began in Mashhad on Thursday over living standards and rising food prices, and by Friday had spread to several major cities.

The Iranian authorities are blaming anti-revolutionaries and agents of foreign powers for the outbreak.

Overall, the numbers said to be taking part in demonstrations range from hundreds in some places to thousands in others - but demonstrations do not appear to be taking place on a massive scale.

Slogans have been chanted against both Mr Rouhani and Mr Khamenei, and clerical rule in general.

Demonstrators were reportedly heard on Friday yelling slogans like "The people are begging, the clerics act like God".

There is also anger at Iran's interventions abroad. In Mashhad, some chanted "not Gaza, not Lebanon, my life for Iran", a reference to what protesters say is the administration's focus on foreign rather than domestic issues.

What's happening now?
Much of the information about what is occurring is emerging on social media, making it difficult to confirm anything.

In the town of Abhar in northern Iran, demonstrators have set fire to large banners bearing the picture of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Meanwhile in Arak in central Iran, protesters have reportedly set fire to the local headquarters of the pro-government Basij militia.

US warns Iran: The world is watching
Iranians protest against high prices
Who are the Basij militia?
In the capital Tehran, large numbers of protesters gathered at Azadi square, BBC Persian reports. A senior Revolutionary Guards' figure in Tehran said the situation in the city was under control.

Demonstrators would be met with "the nation's iron fist" if they continued, Brigadier-General Esmail Kowsari told student news agency ISNA.

In Mashhad, in the north-east, protesters burned police motorcycles in a confrontation caught on video.

There are also numerous reports of people losing internet access on their mobile phones.

In Kermanshah, western Iran, a demonstrator called Makan told BBC Persian that protesters were beaten up "but we couldn't tell if it was the police or the Basij militia".

"I'm not protesting against President Rouhani - and yes he needs to improve the economy - but it's the system that is rotten," he said. "It's the Islamic Republic and its institutions that need reform."


http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-42524610

[Babak]

[Pahli]

The government's days are numbered, finally

[adsız]

What is the ethnic structure of those cities demonstrations take place in?

[Babak]

The government's days are numbered, finally

This is bad and good at the same time. Israel and the U.S are jizzing their pants bro lol

[Gold-Shekel]

Why is it News when it is in an enemy country but not when it happens here? I mean last year in France there were some actual actions happening for quite a long time yet you couldn't hear shit on the news.

This is a case of Western medias taking something and blowing it out of proportion.

[Babak]

Why is it News when it is in an enemy country but not when it happens here? I mean last year in France there were some actual actions happening for quite a long time yet you couldn't hear shit on the news.

This is a case of Western medias taking something and blowing it out of proportion.

If the Western Media shows Iranian un-satisfaction with the regime, it will be hard to demonize them in order to legitimize an attack on Iran.

[Gold-Shekel]

If the Western Media shows Iranian un-satisfaction with the regime, it will be hard to demonize them in order to legitimize an attack on Iran.

No, quite the contrary. Westerners do not realize that wars are against people and not systems. They think if a system is bad, you have a green light to bomb the country and destroy civilian infrastructure.

[RN97]

If the Western Media shows Iranian un-satisfaction with the regime, it will be hard to demonize them in order to legitimize an attack on Iran.

It's the opposite. They show dissatisfaction among Iranians with the guvernement= We must bring these people FREEEDHUM AND DHUMOCRACEH!!!
They're trying to demonize the government, not the actual Iranians.

[Dick]

We must bring these people FREEEDHUM AND DHUMOCRACEH!!!
.

Exactly. It's going to be another Iraq/Afghanistan/Libya/Egypt/Syria etc. The powers that be should just leave these people alone but unfortunately they have an agenda to fulfill.