Mick Hartley

The website of the Student Movement Coordination Committee for Democracy in Iran report on the riots which followed the Iranian victory over Japan in the World Cup qualifiers (via Dhimmi Watch):

At least six demonstrators were killed in the Greater Tehran and several other in some of the riots which rocked cities, such as, Khoram-Abad, Esfahan, Shiraz, Kermanshah, Sari, Ardabil, Babol, Rasht, Mashad, Hamedan, Mahabad and Oroomiah (former Rezai-e) due to popular demonstrations which happened following Iran’s win over Japan in the frame of the qualification games for the 2006 Soccer World cup. Tens of other have been severely injured and some are in critical conditions.

Brutal militiamen were seen using clubs, chains and knives against demonstrators with the firm intention to kill anyone standing against the regime. Several female protesters were seen beaten to death in Guisha and Fatemi as they took off their veils.

Islamic regime’s propaganda tools, such as, the official so-called “Iran Students News Agency” (ISNA) have qualified some of these deaths as due to “having been trampled under the spectators’ feet” or “Dying of heart attack due to excitement”. Foreign news agencies, such as, Reuters, AP, Xinhua or AFP have ignored the existence of street riots while echoeing the official version due most likely of fear of seeing their correspondents expelled or due to their financement by major lobby groups interested in continuing business with the Islamic republic.

The Islamic regime’s mouthpieces are omitting, of course, to mention why there were sudden un-controlled rushes to the stadium’s exit doors when Iran’s team came out victorious of the game; Nor they do mention why in case of such big victory, tens of buses, patrol cars and public materials were damaged or destroyed from the parking of “Azadi (Freedom’) Stadium” to the center, southern, northern, western and eastern of the Capital which are located as over 40 KM from the game. In Khoram-Abad alone, some of the deaths have been attributed to traffic accidents by avoiding to mention the brutal repression and chase and runs which took place in this rebellious city. Total silence is kept about the two bodies sent to Esfahan’s coronary administration following brutal clashes in Darvaze Shiraz.

Arrested female demonstrators are to be lashed for their “un-Islamic behavior” before getting released. Such decision has been announced to some of the families who have searched for their missing members arrested following yesterday’s Soccer riots.