Iran opposition asks to commemorate unrest victims
Washington Post/Reuters
26-Jul-2009 (one comment)

TEHRAN (Reuters) - Opposition leaders in Iran want to organize a ceremony to commemorate pro-reformers killed since the disputed presidential election, a news agency reported on Sunday.Moderate defeated candidates Mirhossein Mousavi and Mehdi Karoubi said no speech would be given during the gathering, the semi-official ILNA news agency reported."We want a permit to be issued for the memorial ceremony to commemorate the 40th day passing of our beloved ones," they said in a letter addressed to the Interior Ministry, which is in charge of issuing permits for gatherings.Shi'ite Muslims commemorate the death of loved ones on three different occasions, including the 40th day since their death.No date was mentioned in the letter. The opposition leaders want to hold the ceremony at Tehran's "Grand Mosala," a prayer location where tens of thousands can gather, the letter said."There will be no speeches during the ceremony and we will ask mourners to pay their respects in silence," it said.The June 12 presidential vote has plunged Iran into its biggest internal crisis since the 1979 Islamic revolution and has exposed deepening divisions in its ruling elite.Leading moderates say the election was rigged in favor of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. They have called for immediate release of post-election detainees. The authorities say most of those held have been freed.

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Majid Zahrai

They won't get it

by Majid Zahrai on

A pro green movement event will be denied because all public memorial ceremonies for the victims have been prohibited,  for the fear of a large angry crowd showing up to the mosques.  Also, Mosalla is Khamenei's turf, where he is hardly able to fill it during Eid Fetr prayers.  How will it look if Mosalla is filled with green ribbons opposing Khamenei? He would never allow it.


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