Today is the Anniversary of the 1999 Iran Protest

Ten years ago today, tens of thousands of students took to the streets of Iran in a rush of latent anger and deep disappointment. July 9, 1999 marked the beginning of the biggest ever anti-establishment protest in the history of the Islamic Republic of Iran up till that date.

Each year since, the government has been weary of this day. Even today, the Iranian government has taken steps to prevent people from organizing in the streets.

In fact, this year in particular, the significance of the 1999 protest is paramount.

At the time, it was 20 years in the making and it was heralded by the same furious strength that conjured the recent post-election protests. Just 2 years after an undisputed landslide ushered the former Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance -- Ayatollah Mohammad Khatami -- into the Presidency, the deception of the reform movement had reached its peak.

Added to the general public's existing dissatisfaction of a life riddled with state control, and a government that was increasingly veering from the ideals for which a revolution was fought, were the infamous dissident chain murders, the closure of quasi-independent newspapers and finally the Elected One's open dismissal of his core constituents on July 9th.

The day before, the Salam (Hello) daily newspaper became the latest in a spate of pro-reformist newspapers to be shutdown by Iran's Press Court. Salam was run by a political group called the Association of Combatant Clerics -- a group which Khatami was a part of. In response to Salam's closure, and feeling buoyed by the fact that Salam was a paper close to the President's own heart, students organized a peaceful demonstration in Tehran on July 8, 1999, to denounce the newspaper closure and general atmosphere of curtailed expression.

That night, President Khatami betrayed his supporters.

After hordes of paramilitaries stormed onto Tehran University grounds in the early hours of July 9, 1999 and violently attacked students in their dormitories, Khatami not only failed to unequivocally condemn the midnight raid on peaceful students, he admonished the students for taking to the streets and "disturbing the order," calling those who fought back against the violence "deviant." He did not immediately condemn the brutality of the paramilitary attack which left some students dead, and later only commented that the paramilitary instigators should be lawfully prosecuted for what they had done in response to the "ugly acts" of the student protests.

It was a much-needed slap in the face to all Iranians that no one in the government was on their side. Students took the streets on July 9th and for 5 days the demonstrations spread from Tehran to cities all over Iran: the Salam protest was overshadowed by a bigger movement against a government that wantonly attacked sleeping students in their dormitories in just another example of its apparent disregard for the rights of its citizens.

But the Khatami betrayal was also the desperately needed prelude to the now certain path toward real change in Iran: a path that Iranians realized in 1999 must be supported from within the disgruntled, dismayed and disenfranchised elements of the tightly controlled system itself. The 1999 movement and its aftermath have increasingly given credence and strength to establishment figures who have long realized the problems of the current system but have not been brave enough, bitter enough, or indeed cohesive enough to admit it.

The 1999 protests lasted only 6 days, but they left their mark on the movement for improving Iran. Hundreds of student leaders were arrested and imprisoned -- but each of their stories and their voices remain on record as brave acts which brought the nation one step closer to change.

Without July 1999, there could never have been June 2009. What the students courageously started then, has led to a massive and pervasive movement that encompasses all Iranians. The students are no longer alone in their struggle for change. And this time, the establishment figures have consolidated their grievances into an unmistakable division between those who wish never to change with the times, and those who do.

Today, as the stagnant and fundamentalist elements of the establishment carry on their annual ritual of trying to prevent the anniversary protests, they must surely know that this time things are different.

Comments

[sammnz]

A quick and somewhat relevant quiz:

1-Who can tell us who currently guards the "Peacock Throne" [Takhte-Tavoos] ?
2-How old is the Peacock Throne on Tir-13 (6/9/2009)?

[Lahori]

What are we really talking about here
Supportors of one leader (Mousavi) protesting against the winning of incumbent (AhmadiNajad)
so what is the big deal. Let me burst your bubble Nothing is going to happen.

Tweeting does not and will not bring any change if any....

What media is trying to tell us that Iranians found out a way to achieve revolution, i.e., tweeting

In america, only Shaq tweets and nobody else......

It is Iran internal matter and we should stay away from it......

[sammnz]

Iran is indeed a cross roads of contrasts. Being perhaps the oldest multicultural civilization that still exists today as one nation, the people of this land remain on the most geocentrically sensitive and politically explosive location on the face of this planet.

A place like Iran, with all its mystical appeal and its immense wealth of natural energy (Gas and Oil) is also a breeding ground for the rule of tyranny.

The Islamic thugs who currently sit at the throne in Iran, are unlikely to vacate their power base easily, and as a result of a few mass demos in Iran. This is also an unfortunate face of this society.

The people of Iran have however, clearly demonstrated their distaste and to a large extent, their hatred for their regime, since the events of 6/12/9. But this alone will not be sufficient to shake the pillars of Iran's powerful elite of the Ayatollah establishment..

The regime of Iran, unless internationally pressured through isolation, will not go anywhere any time soon.

Existing UN sanctions against Iran must be tightened and elevated through ratification of Bill HR-2194 before the congress (Iran's refined petroleum sanctions act), and it must be done soon, before the regime has a chance at regrouping, or Obama having a chance at shaking A'nejad's hand, like he did with Chavez, earlier this year.

Good luck to all good people of Iran, and a happy 13 Tir

[Catalin]

Steve Levine, who covers foreign affairs for BusinessWeek, has an interesting suggestion. He writes that Western societies can help: donate Internet access to the Iranians by buying it from the Google-backed satellite company: http://oilandglory.com/2009/07/iran-politics-and-stirring-up-internet.html

[Derek Flood - Huffpost Blogger]

Thank you for reminding readers about the 18th of Tir uprising Shirin. You are right that this summer's uprising would not be where it is without the sacrifices made by those ten years ago. I was just updating my blog about it. A major difference from then to now is the information technology available in Iran today. I was in Iran as few weeks after the 1999 protests and do not recall seeing a single cell phone nor did I have access to the internet that summer. The 18th of Tir was a major event that many Americans may never recall in that ancient proto-internet era known as the late 1990's. My mother remembered me sending her an email from Ankara saying "this will be my last email for a while, I will not have internet access while I'm inside Iran." When I arrived in Tehran at the end of July, people were carrying on as if the uprising I had read about in the Turkish newspapers was a figment of my imagination. Strange days they were.

[BizSamurai]

Well written. Thanks.

[fishX2]

Thanks for a clear reading of the significance of the student protests. We must not forget those who came before us and the part they play in the change we seek now.

[Khirad]

I always enjoy your writing, Shirin. Thanks, you cleared up a few things about 18 Tir 1378 for me - and while I'd though I understood how this was important to the context of recent events, you really got to the heart of the matter when you pointed out that they learned (or it was painfully and nakedly reinforced for them) those ten years ago that no one really was on their side. I always enjoy your writing.

[Cliffyworld]

Obama needs to strongly condemn Iranian government and demonstrate to the Iranian citizens that the U.S. supports them in their battle for democracy. For more topic related discussion please read the article titled "Obama Manifesto" posted at http://www.cliffyworld.com

[Khirad]

Yeah, I'm sure he's ready to take advice from you, whom have his best interests at heart.

http://www.payvand.com/news/09/jul/1062.html