Middle East Focus: High Noon in Tehran: Tense Iranian Friday Expected ………..

Arabia Deserta

High Noon in Tehran: Tense Iranian Friday Expected ………..

There is speculation that this Friday may witness clashes between the Iranian regime and its ‘reformist’ opponents. Tomorrow is slated to be al-Quds (Jerusalem) Day, when public sermons, prayers, and speeches are encouraged. It is essentially an annual pro-Palestinian anti-Israeli event . As well as a huge public demonstration; and this last one is the key.
Arab media report that the opposition expects violence from the Basij, and that the Revolutionary Guard have issued warnings, which is true. However, some Saudi media (Alarabiya) report that opposition figures have asked Iraq’s Ali al-Sistani and Arab leaders like Syria’s Assad and Libya’s Qaddafi to intervene and prevent what they call a “holocaust”; which I think is probably a bit of wishful thinking.

Iran’s official Alalam, however, has called for the ‘wide participation’ in the events tomorrow. Reuters and Iranian sites indicate that opposition leaders will attend the events. But there is always the chance of protests resuming……
I doubt that there will be widespread violence, but many people are still angry about the June elections and the violent reaction of the armed security forces. Stay tuned….
Cheers
mhg
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