The massive security clampdown is reminiscent of the backlash that
crushed a wave of protests after the disputed re-election of Iranian
President
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in June 2009. But opposition supporters
revived a tactic from the unrest, shouting "Allahu Akbar," or God is
Great, from rooftops and balconies into the early hours Monday in a sign
of defiance toward Iran's leadership.
The renewed protests coincided with plans for demonstrations across the
Gulf in tiny Bahrain, which has cultural and religious ties to Iran
because of its majority Shi'ite Muslim population.
Kaleme.com, an Iranian reformist website, said police stationed several
cars in front of the home of
Mir Hossein Mousavi ahead of the
demonstration called for later Monday in central Tehran. Mousavi and
fellow opposition leader Mahdi Karroubi have been under house arrest
since last week.
Witnesses said riot police, many on motorbikes, also fanned out across
central Tehran to prevent any demonstration. The witnesses spoke on
condition of anonymity because of fears of reprisals from authorities.
The uprising in Egypt opened a rare chance for the political gambit by Iran's opposition.
Ahmadinejad claimed the Egyptians who toppled president Hosni Mubarak
took inspiration from Iran's 1979 Islamic Revolution, which brought down
a Western-backed monarchy. Iran's opposition movement used the comments
to push the government into a corner and request permission to march in
support of Egypt's protesters.
Iranian officials quickly backpedaled and said no pro-Egypt rallies were
allowed — bringing sharp criticism from the White House and others.
On Sunday, the
US State Department sent Twitter messages in
Farsi in the
hopes of reaching social media users in Iran. The first message told
Iranians: "We want to join in your conversation."
The following posts noted the inconsistencies of Iran's government
supporting Egypt's popular uprising but stifling opposition at home.
The US called on Iran "to allow people to enjoy same universal rights to peacefully assemble, demonstrate as in Cairo."
Last week, the State Department launched an Arabic Twitter feed in an effort to communicate with the Egyptian protesters.
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