The Whisper Uprising

Nasser Karimi and William J. Kole write:

Amnesty International cautioned that it was "perilously hard" to verify the casualty tolls.

"The climate of fear has cast a shadow over the whole situation," Amnesty's chief Iran researcher, Drewery Dyke, told The Associated Press. "In the 10 years I've been following this country, I've never felt more at sea than I do now. It's just cut off."

On Sunday, the streets of Tehran were eerily quiet.

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The government has blocked Web sites such as BBC Farsi, Facebook, Twitter and several pro-Mousavi sites used by Iranians to tell the world about protests and violence. Text messaging has not been working in Iran since last week, and cell phone service in Tehran is frequently down.

But that won't stifle the opposition networks, said Sami Al Faraj, president of the Kuwait Center for Strategic Studies.

"They can resort to whispering ... they can do it the old-fashioned way," he said.

link: The Associated Press: Iran raises death toll in clashes to at least 19

Global Solidarity

In his strongest response to Iran's post-election unrest, Mr. Obama said the Iranian government must understand that the world is watching. He called on Iran to "govern through consent, not coercion."

Mr. Obama made his comments Saturday, following reports of violent clashes between Iranian authorities and demonstrators in Tehran.

And, in Jerusalem Sunday, Israeli President Shimon Peres praised Iran's pro-reform demonstrators, saying he hopes for an end to Iran's current government.

Hundreds of demonstrators gathered in the U.S. cities of New York, Washington and Los Angeles Saturday to show support for Iran's opposition groups.

In Germany Saturday, more than a thousand people marched in the streets of Hamburg, and some carried signs reading, "Where is my vote?"

Organizers of a demonstration outside Paris, France, said at least 80,000 gathered for that rally Saturday.

link: VOA News - Obama: Iran Must Stop 'Violent and Unjust Actions'

"In Islam it is Permissible to Lie in a State of War"

Huffington Post writes:

Another shift in state TV: calling protesters terrorists. From a great contact in Iran:

State TV just claimed 10 dead 100 injured. They also called the people in the streets terrorists and repeatedly show a mosque that was set on fire...we're watching it now my cousin says that they turn all the word's of obama around and lie about everything to which my grandfather replies in that in Islam it is permissible to lie in a state of war. They are now show footage of the riots and people that are saying rioters destroyed their livings...I want to reiterate that for 3 or 4 hours I walked through street fighting, I didn't see one broken store window or one car damaged. However I have a feeling the followers of Ahmadinejad will believe the lies said by Seda va Sima. I don't know what to think anymore and I wish I had never watched the video of Neda.

link: Iran Updates (VIDEO): Live-Blogging The Uprising

General Strike?

Mousavi - We are (Independently) working on a general Strike Plan. Please help us with your ideas if you have expertise #Iranelection RT RT about 3 hours ago from web

Faeze Hashemi Rafsanjani and family members being held prisoner in military compound - #Iranelection - about 3 hours ago from web

MOUSAVI - We need advice and help to organize a National Strike Plan - if u can help post on his facebook - #Iranelection RT RT RT

link: persiankiwi (persiankiwi) on Twitter

Rafsanjani's Daughter Arrested

TEHRAN: The daughter of Iran's former president Akbar Hashemi-Rafsanjani and four relatives were arrested over their involvement in protests against alleged election fraud in Iran, the Fars news agency reported on Sunday.

Faezeh Hashemi, a renowned women's rights activist, former parliament deputy and head of women sports in Iran, has in the recent years emerged, like her father, as one of the main opponents of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

Ahmadinejad had before the June 12 election accused Rafsanjani and his children of corruption. Fars said that Faezeh, her daughter and three other relatives were arrested during Saturday's demonstrations for 'agitating' the protestors.

link: Rafsanjani's daughter arrested in Iran - Middle East - World - The Times of India

"We are scared of the Basijis too"

The New York Times reports:

Iran’s divisions played out on the streets. Regular security forces stood back and urged protesters to go home to avoid bloodshed, while the feared pro-government militia, the Basij, beat protesters with clubs and, witnesses said, electric prods.

In some places, the protesters pushed back, rushing the militia in teams of hundreds: At least three Basijis were pitched from their motorcycles, which were then set on fire.

The protesters included many women, some of whom berated as “cowards” men who fled the Basijis. There appeared to be tens of thousands of protesters in Tehran, far fewer than the mass demonstrations early last week, most likely because of intimidation.

The street violence appeared to grow more intense as night fell, and there were unconfirmed reports of multiple deaths. A BBC journalist at Enghelab (Revolution) Square reported seeing one person shot by the security forces.

“If they open fire on people and if there is bloodshed, people will get angrier,” said a protester, Ali, 40. “They are out of their minds if they think with bloodshed they can crush the movement. . . ."

The Basij militia completely blocked off Enghelab Square, one major gathering ground for the protesters. They are less accountable than regular security forces and, many witnesses said, were far more violent on Saturday.

“Please go home,” one regular officer told protesters. “We are scared of the Basijis, too.”

One woman who lives off Vali Asr Square, near where the protests took place, said Basijis beat and kicked anyone outside, shouting at them to return to their houses.

“The streets near our house were full of Basijis wearing helmets and holding batons,” she said.

link: Iran Tense After Day of Violent Clashes - NYTimes.com

"The Opinion of This Majority Should Be Respected"

11:49 PM ET -- Parliament Speaker: Majority of Iranians think election was fraudulent. And printed in state-run media no less!

Iran's Parliament (Majlis) Speaker Ali Larijani suggests that some of the members in the Guardian Council have sided with a certain candidate in the June 12 presidential election.

Speaking live on the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) Channel 2 on Saturday, the speaker said that "a majority of people are of the opinion that the actual election results are different than what was officially announced."

"The opinion of this majority should be respected and a line should be drawn between them and rioters and miscreants," he was quoted as saying by Khabaronline -- a website affiliated with him.

link: Iran Updates (VIDEO): Live-Blogging The Uprising

"Iran is full of rumors"

Mousavi - I call for free elections overseen by a fair national council - not one which has an agenda of its own - #Iranelection RT 7 minutes ago from web

we do not make violence against anyone - all rumors of violence by Sea of Green is false - #Iranelection 35 minutes ago from web

Iran is full of rumors - but the army is NOT on the streets - not against the people - no tanks yet - #Iranelection 39 minutes ago from web

link: persiankiwi (persiankiwi) on Twitter