Iran: Updates from 8 Mordad (30 July)

From Tehran Bureau correspondent Saya Ovaisy:

Eyewitness account as told to Saya Ovaisy

University student, female, 23:

I arrived at Behesht Zahra cemetery at 3:30 pm. A crowd of two or three thousand people had gathered at section 257, where the post-election martyrs are buried. Most were dressed in black and many carried flowers (but no placards) and everyone prayed Quran suras aloud in unison.

At first only ordinary police officers were stationed there; but by 4 pm the Guards poured in and began yelling to disperse the crowd. People refused to budge (and new arrivals were joining in); the baton attacks began. The crowd re-convened and began chanting: “Our Neda is not dead, it’s the government that’s died!”

We heard from others that Mousavi had indeed arrived but had been turned away by police.

Update | around 9:10 pm Tehran time

Reports coming in [from VOA] that a memorial protest was staged in the northern city of Rasht at City Park (Park-e Shahr), and attacked by forces.

A new chant being heard on the streets in Abbas Abad right now (9:10 pm): “Khamenei haya kon, velayato raha kon!” (Khamenei have some shame, let go of the leadership!”)

Vanak Square and Valiasr Square were also the sites of massive numbers of protesters.

Update | around 9 pm Tehran time

Although their effort to disperse protesters was ineffective compared to previous episodes, the Guards and Basij forces were unusually savage today — I saw many women beaten without reservation and glass shattering on cars with small children inside.

Yet people were more bold than I’d ever seen them. As I write this at 9:00 pm from a location in Abbas Abad district, the shouts of “Death to Khamenei!” and chaotic honks are drifting in loud and clear from the window. It is dark, night has fallen – and protests are still continuing strong.  Never have they lasted this late except on the first few days following the election.

It’s NUTS! I’ve never seen it like this before! It’s still going on, 9 pm now — raging! As I said, its more like a riot, totally out of control.

Earlier: This appeared to be the most successful protests since the crackdown began. It was more akin to a riot… The forces were decidedly not in control of the situation. The protests were too widespread and numerous, up and down Valiasr; and east and west, around the Mosala area entire main roads chock full — even stretching into side streets such as Yousef Abad (central
Tehran).

Guards would storm the crowd but even then the chants would continue amidst the beatings. People held their ground much more boldly than before; they would not be subdued. The guards did not remain in any one spot long, since chaotic protests swarmed in all directions. No sooner would they turn back when the crescendo of “Death to the Dictator!” would peak again and furious honking would resume and Vs would go up triumphantly.

This time, the cars were very actively involved in the protests. Honks blared incessantly in the Thursday rush hour gridlock. Drivers joined in the shouting. The traffic also helped obstruct the flow of pickups carrying Basij troops — stuck, they gazed out at the sea of cars in dismay. Some would weave in between cars and smash windshields; shattered glass lay on the asphalt at regular intervals.