The Latest from Iran (1 May): May Day and Mayday

2030 GMT: In the Dark. Shaky journalism from The New York Times: Nazila Fathi, who is usually quite good, relies on unnamed "analysts" rather than a close look at events to make the sweeping claim:

A planned demonstration in which Iranian teachers and workers were to join reformists in an antigovernment protest failed to materialize on Saturday, apparently the result of intimidation and a large police presence.

Two Iranian opposition leaders, Mir Hussein Moussavi and Mehdi Karroubi, had called Thursday for workers and teachers to join the reformists in a broad-based coalition.

The call went unheeded on Saturday, analysts said, largely because of government intimidation.

The article is inaccurate on a number of key points.

1. There was no call for teachers and workers to join reformists on the streets today; instead there were a series of statements calling for solidarity with the demands of those teachers and workers, highlighting Government repression and Iran's poor economic situation.

2. Mousavi and Karroubi, in particular, did not call for a demonstration today. They are looking towards 12 June, the anniversary of the election, for a public show of dissent.

3. Fathi is quite right about the show of force by the Government to deter protests, but she seems unaware of the incident at Tehran University, with students demonstrating against the visit of President Ahmadinejad, and about the series of smaller, dispersed displays of discontent in Tehran and other cities.

UPDATED Iran Video and Translation: The Mousavi Statement for May Day/Teachers Day (29 April)
NEW Latest Iran Video: Deterring Protests, “Greeting” Ahmadinejad (1 May)
NEW Iran: US Filmmakers Demand “Free Jafar Panahi”
NEW Iran Document: Mehdi Karroubi “The Green Movement is Growing in Society”
UPDATED Iran: Tehran, Defender of Rights (Don’t Mention Boobquake), Joins UN Commission on Status of Women
Latest Iran Video: Shirin Ebadi on the Human Rights Situation (23 April)
The Latest from Iran (30 April): The Heaviness of the Atmosphere

1945 GMT: May Day Updates. We've fixed the coding of today's videos (with the transfer to Disqus comments, our YouTube plug-in is temporarily disabled), and we've posted an updated version of Mir Hossein Mousavi's message, now with English subtitles.


1900 GMT: Your May Day Irony. The top news on Fars News' website for much of the afternoon? May Day protests...in Europe, with "hundreds of thousands of workers" protesting economic conditions.

The story was so important to Fars that it must have diverted staff from its domestic bureau to European coverage, for curiously, there is no mention of any May Day demonstration in Iran.

1620 GMT: The scale of the regime crackdown on dissent has been evident in the limited footage coming out of Iran today. What has gotten out has been shaky film shot at odd angles to avoid detection by the authorities.

We've posted severa clips of the security presence and of students allegedly chanting defiantly as President Ahmadinejad came to Tehran University.

1400 GMT: Clashes? Reza Sayah again quotes a Tehran witness, "Security forces clashed with about 200 protesters chanting 'Death to the Dictator' at the Ministry of Labor." An Iranian activist is also reporting this news.

1330 GMT: May Day. CNN's Reza Sayah quotes Tehran witnesses, "Thousands of security personnel from Revolution [Enghelab] Square to Ministry of Labor. No sign of protests."

1310 GMT: Quote of the Day. "For a Government so sure that Green Movement is over and done with, they have a lot of security out on the streets."

A shaky, secretly-shot video offers apparent confirmation.

1300 GMT: Containing Rights. Human rights activist Hassan Assadi Zeidabadi has been banned from leaving Iran.

1230 GMT: Confirmation? Rah-e-Sabz is reporting that "thousands" of workers protested in Qazvin, 100 miles northwest of Tehran. Another story asserts that "hundreds" have demonstrated in Tabriz against unemployment and poverty.

The website also claims that Tehran University students protested when Mahmoud Ahmadinejad arrived unexpectedly on the campus.

1130 GMT: May Day. We are following the stream of stories of protests in Tehran and in other Iranian cities such as Shiraz and Qazvin. At this point, we are treating the reports as unconfirmed.

0945 GMT: May Day. The first claimed picture of a protest comes from Shiraz.

0930 GMT: Rights and Wrongs. We've posted a separate entry on the petitions by US filmmakers, including Stephen Spielberg, Robert Redford, and Martin Scorsese, calling for the released of their detained Iranian colleague Jafar Panahi.

We have an update on Tehran and the UN Commission on the Status of Women, featuring two of the many statements condemning the vote for Iran's membership.

And we note an open letter from 20 journalists and bloggers in Evin Prison, complaining that their conditions worsen day by day.

0810 GMT: May Day Build-Up. Ahead of possible demonstrations this afternoon, Kalemeh is reporting a growing security presence in Tehran, especially at Enghelab and Azadi Squares. Forces are also guarding the Ministry of Labour on Azadi Street and the Ministry of Interior at Fatemi Square.

Kalemeh also reports that many employers have threatened to fire workers who protest.

0735 GMT: May Day Statements. The reformist Islamic Iran Participation Front Participation has issued its statement proclaiming that the workers' and Green movements will open the way to a better future.

An analysis in Rah-e-Sabz connects the seeking of justice with the seeking of freedom through the demands of labour. It does so in part to deny that the Green Movement is based solely on the "middle class" and, in fact, is built on links with workers.

0730 GMT: Economy Watch. Minister of Economy Mehdi Ghazanfari has said that stocks of cooking fat, rice, and meat will be built up to prepare for the implementation of subsidy cuts.

That sounds like sensible preparation, but building up stocks means less goods available for týsale, which in turn means higher prices.

0725 GMT: Rumour of Day. Aftab News --- which is not a reformist outlet --- claims that future elections will be manipulated to exclude Ahmadinejad's "conservative" rivals: Speaker of Parliament Ali Larijani, Secretary of the Expediency Council (and 2009 Presidential candidate) Mohsen Rezaei, and Tehran Mayor Mohammad-Baqer Qalibaf.

0715 GMT: Mahmoud and Cyrus. President Ahmadinejad's tactics on the eve of May Day? In a speech on Kish Island, he invoked Cyrus, the famous Persian ruler, and said that Iran is waging a fight over "ethics and humanity".

Ahmadinejad added, ethically and humanely, "Today Iran is the world's most powerful nation. We like all nations and are glad to see their prosperity. However, we have a powerful fist that will knock the teeth out of anyone."

0705 GMT: A Deal on Uranium? Reuters dares to go public with the story we've been following for weeks: "Turkey and Brazil are trying to revive a stalled atomic fuel deal with Iran in an attempt to help the Islamic Republic avoid new U.N. sanctions over its nuclear program, Western diplomats said on Friday."

With Turkey Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu and Brazilian officials both paying visits to Tehran recently, that's not exactly a shocker. The mystery is whether the US Government supports the initiative.

Reuters gives the impression that Washington is opposed, but I'm not so sure. Their big quote is "Nobody's going to stand in the way of serious negotiations. But is Iran serious about this offer? Or is it another attempt to stall for time and avoid sanctions, as has been the case before?" That comes from a "Western diplomat", however, not necessarily an American one and not necessarily one who is close to the discussions.

We'll watch closely and will have an analysis if there are further developments.

0645 GMT: We'll keep eyes open today for rallies and protests on the international day for workers. Indications up to May Day are that, with the tight grip the regime is trying to maintain, demonstrations will be small and diverse, rather than a concentrated gathering.

In recent days, new charges have been brought against Mansour Osanloo, the detained leader of the Tehran and Municipality Vahed Bus Workers Syndicate. Jafar Azim Zadeh, the head of the Free Assembly of Iranian Workers, has been summoned to appear in court, and other activists have been sentenced. Five members of the Iranian Free Workers Association have been summoned to the Intelligence Office in Sanandaj in Iranian Kurdistan. And, on the eve of National Teachers Day, leaders and members including Alireza Hashemi, Ali Akbar Baghani,and Mohammad Beheshti Langarudi, and Tofigh Mortezapour have been detained.

That does not mean, of course, that anger, frustration, and demands have abated. Let the day unfurl.

Comments

[Catherine]

RE 07.15 GMT " .. However, we have a powerful fist that will knock the teeth out of anyone.”

Looks like they're aiming at all the extremities first, before going for the jugular :-)

Iran will "cut off Israel's feet" if the Jewish state attacks Damascus, Iranian Vice President Mohammad Rida Rahimi vowed on Friday at the end of a two-day visit to key regional ally Syria.

"We will stand alongside Syria against any (Israeli) threat," Rahimi said at a news conference with Syrian Prime Minister Mohammad Naji Otri.

"If those who have violated Palestinian land want to try anything we will cut off their feet," he said in reference to the Jewish state.

[Bill]

“ethics and humanity” Yeah right!!! Might want to talk to the thousands imprisoned and the over 100 dead what they think about his ethics and humanity.

Delusional comment of the decade"

"Today Iran is the world’s most powerful nation. We like all nations and are glad to see their prosperity. However, we have a powerful fist that will knock the teeth out of anyone.” This guy just out does himself time after time.

On nuclear negotiations with Brazil and Turkey: It's a given the regime will milk this for all their worth in order to delay sanctions. This has been going on for years. It is time to hit them with crippling sanctions and with glee watch the people of Iran reclaim their nation from oppression!

[M.Ali]

Scott, this is what I mean from the other thread. "Kalemeh also reports that many employers have threatened to fire workers who protest."

Which "many employers"? Does Kalemah name any Employers? But just based on this alone, "many employers", your readers and Kalemah's readers already have an excuse if no one turns out.

[Scott Lucas]

M. Ali,

Notice the "Kalemeh reports". That doesn't mean that we say the story is true (and note that we often identify Kalemeh's association with Mir Hossein Mousavi). In the same way, when we says "Fars reports" or "Press TV", we are only passing on the assertion, not holding it up as verified.

S.

[M.Ali]

Dear Scott, would you at least concede that you give more space to such comments than pro-IRA stories? Even when you do say "Fars reports" or "Press TV" reports, it is either to sarcastically make fun of them (which you don't do with Rahe Sabz, e.g.) or find 1 story out of 10 that somehow meets your aims (for example, a news article that mentions something negative about the economy).

Do you not think this shapes the readers perspective? Take your blog, multiply it about hundred and thousands of other similiar angles, and you have a fervant group that thinks in a certain way.

[Josh Shahryar]

M. Ali,

Have you been following the news from Iran in the past year or so? Have you noticed that almost nothing - and I mean nothing - about the Green Movement except for propaganda and "connections with foreign powers" is published on either 'news' site? This would indicate that these two news sites are deeply - and I mean deeply - biased in favor of the Iranian government. Giving their statements about anything that is going on inside Iran in regards to the Green Movement is fair consideration - in other words not making fun of them - would be counter to journalistic ethics.

[M.Ali]

Of course, Iranian official media is biased, I've never argued otherwise, my argument is western media, including blogs such as this, are as biased and with a with a combined audience that far exceeds Iran's media, its more dangerous than PressTV.

[Catherine]

Hi Ali,
You know, re your post 5, I've often thought to myself what a better place the US and every part of the world affected by US policies would be if only the majority of Americans watched Aljazeera English instead of Fox news. You definitely have a point ;-).

[Observer]

M. Ali, do you think that reports of Ahmadinejad's threats against the world (i.e. "We will cut off the enemies' hands" or echoes from his henchmen: "We will cut off the enemies' feet") advance Iran's standing in the world?

Do you think that Iran's participation in the UN women's council will improve the lives of women worldwide?

Do you think that Iran government reports of economic statistics are accurate?

Do you think at all? :)

[Catherine]

RE filtering and blog bias:

'Don't Filter Hard-Line Blogs!'
Filtered again.
The hard-line, pro-Ahmadinejad "Rajanews" website has protested against the filtering of hard-line blogs (http://www.rajanews.com/detail.asp?id=49072).

Iran filters thousands of blogs that are deemed immoral. Blogs by intellectuals, journalists, women's rights defenders, opposition activists, and other critics are also filtered.

Rajanews, however, is only critical of the blocking of hard-line bloggers. The website seems to suggest that the filtering of other blogs is the fault of their writers, whom the website accuses of insulting sanctities.
More: http://www.rferl.org/content/Dont_Filter_HardLine_Blogs/2029523.html

[M.Ali]

"M. Ali, do you think that reports of Ahmadinejad’s threats against the world (i.e. “We will cut off the enemies’ hands” or echoes from his henchmen: “We will cut off the enemies’ feet”) advance Iran’s standing in the world?"

While I don't think its unfair for people to only focus on Ahmadi's comments when they generally ignore other countries' thread ("all options are on the table" is a bigger, more realistic threat"), I do wish he wouldn't make it, because we have to admit that we are a military weaker country than USA. Iran is not very good at PR

"Do you think that Iran’s participation in the UN women’s council will improve the lives of women worldwide? "

You are concerned about Iran's participation among other countries such as LIbya, Zimbabwe, Estonia, and Congo? Iran is leagues ahead compared to a lot of other countries, when it comes to lives of women. Their participation in work & education is not something to be ignored.

"Do you think that Iran government reports of economic statistics are accurate?"

I don't think they are accurate, but I'm not in a position to make an accurate call on this, because I've never actually fully studied this aspect.

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[M.Ali]

http://edition.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/europe/05/01/may.day.roundup/" rel="nofollow">http://edition.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/europe/05/01/...

[DR_iran]

This is silence before the storm! The dam is about too break, everyday we get closer to the great downfall of Khomeini's fascist system.

Down with the Islamist Rapist Republic (IRI) and its supporters

[Megan]

I love seeing supporters of Islamo Fasicst regime in Iran acting dumb and deaf. I love seeing Fascist lovers like M. Ali (who kisses Khamenei and Ahmadi’s A* 100 times a day so he can eat three times a day) making preposterous claim that 85% of Iranians support IR and everthing is fine there. I love that because that only proves they have pea size brains. They have no clue what is about to hit them.

[DR_iran]

Right on Megan!
The IR mozdoors are fighting their last (cyber) battles.

Death to Khamenei chants in the streets of Tehran:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z4SJe3wt9nM&feature=player_embedded" rel="nofollow">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z4SJe3wt9nM&feat...

[Iskandar]

Nazila is a superb journalist, I think her editors deserve the blame on this one.

[Megan]

Thanks for the video. I had not seen it before. Do you know which event; is it from 22 Bahman by any chance?

I'd like to hear death to Khomeini as well. They day we hear the chant of death to Khomeini is the day that tells us, for sure, Iranians are breaking loose from captivity and are ready to embrace freedom.

[Scott Lucas]

Iskandar,

Given the misleading headline on top of the article, I agree --- I have the highest respect for Fathi.

S.

[DR_iran]

I'm not sure Megan, it might be from the Ashura event.

Yes indeed. And it's when the true Iranian Sun and Lion flag is waving from all buildings in Iran that I will know for sure we are free at last...