I am anonymous - because that's safer for me.Today is Sunday, 20 December. 87 year-old Grand Ayatollah Hossein Ali Montazeri died early this morning, at home, in the holy city of Qom, Iran. According to his grandson, Nasser Montazeri, he died in his sleep. This news has huge implications for Iran and the people's fight for freedom and democracy.
BackgroundGrand Ayatollah Montazeri had been very vocal in his condemnation of the Regime's appalling human rights abuses - particularly since the sham election of June 2009. One of his speeches in 1997 - broadcast again only last October -
denounced Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, saying he was not worthy to be a majra (a senior cleric worthy of emulation). This declaration resulted in his house arrest. He has soundly condemned the Regime for its actions since the June 2009 election and, since doing this, has received nothing but disrespect - and virtual house-arrest - over the past few months.
Today, the Regime has reacted predictably to the news of his death. Although thousands of people were on the streets, outside his home in Qom, and in Tehran and other cities, immediately the news broke, Iranian State TV waited for hours before making a formal announcement - even dropping his title of Grand Ayatollah!! Criticism of the cleric soon followed - somewhat predictably - but nothing the Regime can say or do can stop the people from gathering to pay their respects to this man, one of the founders of the Islamic Republic back in 1979.
By nightfall on Sunday evening - in Qom, Tehran and other cities in Iran, the Regime's forces were working hard to stop mourners gathering to mourn for Grand Ayatollah Montazeri and also protest at the injustices of the Coup d'etat Government! There were reports of arrests and worse. Riot police - basijis and plain-clothed police - were reportedly stopping buses travelling to the city of Qom, using tear gas to disperse crowds in Tehran, Qom and other cities.
Grand Ayatollah Montazeri's funeral is scheduled to take place in Qom at 9am local time on Monday 21 December.
This post will deal with what I am seeing and hearing today and over the coming days.
All times given will be GMT. Iran times are +3.5 hours.
******************************Sunday 20 December 1900All email services are blocked!
20:06 - There had been group mourning for Moharam in the mosque near where I live in Tehran. People had been gathering there to mourn each night since the beginning of Moharam. But no-one was there in the tent and the mosque for the past three days! They had all gone to the streets - to the the places where protests and demonstrations were taking place. This was also happening at three other mourning groups closeby to where I live.
- We are on standby tonight. Mobiles are blocked and are not working.
- Email services are blocked and the blockages are like I experienced on 16 Azar 16 and 13 Aban!
- All this is for the the death of Ayatollah Montazeri! I can hear roof chanting in some areas of Tehran, and have heard reports about a gathering in Mirdamad Blvd.
- I can’t personally confirm this. I was there at Mirdamad Blvd 4 hours ago. Where I was there was no gathering at that time but, by now, a protest may well be happening.
20:30Basijis and plain clothed security forces are on stand-by for tomorrow.
20:40Video of Mirdamad Boulevard, Tehran, overnight 20/21 December 2009 :
Monday 21 December 20091200The funeral took place at approximately 0900 local time in Qom
1238- Reports say hundreds of thousands of people gathered to mourn for Ayatollah Montazeri but this has turned into a demonstration against the regime.
- Basijis and police forces attacked the people many times, and fired tear gas.
- Local Qom police protected peaceful demonstrators from basiji and security forces who attacked them, destroying banners carrying Ayatollah Montazeri's image.
1348- Protests have been taking place throughout Iran all day today.
- An announcement has just been made that people will gather in Tehran tonight, between 8 and 10 pm local time to protest - Vanak Sq, Vali Asr, 7 Tir, Mohseni, Azadi, Enghelab.
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