Exclusive eyewitness report from Iran: “Protesters are terrified”

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Iranian public television claims that 12 protesters have been killed since the beginning of the post-electoral crisis. This number is impossible to verify independently because foreign journalists are barred from covering anti-government demonstrations (read the Reporters without Borders report here). Defying censorship, one of our Observers in Teheran managed to send us an exclusive video testimony on the effects of police repression on the opposition movement.

Contributors

"We’ve been terrified since the police began opening fire on protesters"

"Nazli", 25, is a student in Teheran. She has been participating in protests since the beginning of the crisis, 13 days ago.

A protester gets shot on Saturday

This video was published on the site ghthirdeye. We were not able to fully verify its content. FRANCE 24 contacted one of the people responsible for the site, "Mohammad". He claims to be in Teheran and form part of a small group of "friends" who publish videos of the protests on their blog. Often, they publish videos taken from Youtube, but Mohammad says that they shot this video themselves at a protest. He added that he has the technical capacity to send his video files at a high enough speed on servers based outside the country, despite the Internet slowdown imposed by Iranian authorities. We showed this video to several of our Observers in Iran, who confirm it may have been filmed Saturday in Teheran - the scene matches the small, dispersed type of protest that took place in the city that day. If you have any additional information on this video, please contact our team by adding a comment or signing up as an Observer.

Comments

"Unaware people deserve

"Unaware people deserve nothing more than being toy of some Capitalist."..

America is the CORE of capitalism,when you ask for Americas help you ask for CAPITALISM to help you,Ironic that the world curses capitalism and the only thing that can save them is the CORE of capitalism lol

Unregistered user

Unaware people will get their Freedom...

And the person who shot this young man in the head is very aware that he is nothing but a little toy for the SupremeLeader and his murdering goons?

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"when you ask for Americas

"when you ask for Americas help you ask for CAPITALISM to help you"

Oh...yeeeesss....we are in such great shape ourselves right now!!! Actually Iranians asked the "International Community" for help ( and not us alone).. It seems to me the call for help came into play when the tyrant regime started its act of Genocide after the elections, so the Iranians called out for help in the name of Humanity they didn't ask for us to run in there with guns and solve all their problems....but you sure don't sound like you understand what the word "humanity "means. Help yourself, get an education! Oh! quick English grammar lesson: It's not "Americas help" it's America's help- the 's should be possessive not plural. And this is no typo!! lol

Unregistered user

"Oh...yeeeesss....we are in

"Oh...yeeeesss....we are in such great shape ourselves right now!!! "

because of Marxist policies from a lying Osama Hussein

"Actually Iranians asked the "International Community" for help"

yeah cause the "international community" has been so effective in the past lol

"It seems to me the call for help came into play when the tyrant regime started its act of Genocide after the elections"

then by your own admission they were complacent before so screw em,let them sleep in the bed they made for themselves

"so the Iranians called out for help in the name of Humanity"

that same {humanity} tey use when they burn other countries flags and shout things like "DEATH TO AMERICA"..YOU MEAN that HUMANITY?

"but you sure don't sound like you understand what the word "humanity "

SEE ABOVE

Unregistered user

No you read into things. I

No you read into things. I am not getting the same thing from the person you replied to and I have to agree with them because your statements are unfounded.

1. This is where I am convinced that you are not well read or knowledgeable on this topic but you seem to thin k you are. However, that’s ok; you have a chance to learn the truth, now you can take it or leave it. If you don’t want to help that is one thing, but to which the worst on others that is another thing, this isn’t what America is about.

"that same {humanity} tey use when they burn other countries flags and shout things like "DEATH TO AMERICA"..YOU MEAN that HUMANITY?"

A) You don’t seem to realize PEOPLE under oppressive regimes don't get to speak out; as you can see when they do they are hushed by torture, and death!

B) Oppressive regimes control the media and images that are relayed to the outside world, they only show (through censorship) the image they want to portray (such as the images you described). Those are the images that you were fed by the Regime in control of Iran, because the regime wants you to think the people hate you so you would react apathetically ( as you are ) And you bought them…see how much of a victim you really are.

“let them sleep in the bed they made for themselves"

C) They didn’t make “their own beds” as you stated, they were born into it! The people protesting are not the same generation as the ones that you saw in staged flag burnings or whatever has gotten stuck in your head; you're blaming them for something someone else did (only a portion of the generation before them were in those images you are so attached to.

Oh by the way this is not the first against the regime in Iran, there have been several with the same brutality as a consequence. Except this time through technology we have witnessed it!

Seems like the Regime in Iran has succeeded in fooling and brainwashing you too...

Unregistered user

The "reformists" dont want

The "reformists" dont want to stop heavy water reactor development,they want to continue the development of nuclear missle tech

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Obama to fund anti-govt. elements in Iran

US President Barack Obama is re-branding a Bush-era plan to fund anti-government Iran-based elements through domestic and foreign entities.

The US Agency for International Development (USAID), which promotes the country's foreign policy, has filed an application for a 20-million-dollar grant earmarked for the groups which back opponents of the Iranian government.

Citing 'security concerns', the State Department and the foreign policy agent declined to name the recipients of the funds.

further reading: http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2009-06-25-iran-money_N.htm?csp=...

Unregistered user

Unaware people deserve

Unaware people deserve nothing more than being toy of some Capitalist.
That is as simple as cause and effect role.
It's need a profound view to see tha flow of money and power all round the world which endanger our freedom and humanity.

Unregistered user

This is why the U.S should

This is why the U.S should not interfere "

First of all, visiting Iraq once does not necessarily mean you have become an expert in Iraq. I'm Iraqi I was born and raised there and went through three successive wars and 12 years of sanctions. You do not know my country better than I do. This kind of comments and judgment is what led my country to collapse. It's because of people like who think like Bush and Cheney with unbelievable shallow arrogance the war is still going on in Iraq.

The US military could have been the best friend of the Iraqi people had they not abused the prisoners, raped teenage girls and shot innocent people like in Haditha, Mahmoudiya and Abu Ghraib.

You worked with Iraqis? Did those Iraqis tell you how scared they were when your country's warplanes were bombarding their cities, towns and villages? Did they tell you how terrified their kids were every time a bomb fall from the sky? Did they tell you how disgusted they were when they saw what happened in Abu Ghraib? C'Mon Now! If Iraqis had ties with the "terrorists" you have ties with the devil himself.

You don't know what it means to have your country destroyed before your eyes by foreign troops and terrorists who did not even exist. Have you forgotten that those terrorists came to Iraq when you invaded and occupied it?

Now why don't YOU STFU???!

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No the U.S should let the

No the U.S should let the ppl of the world solve their own problems from now on,youve cursed us long enough,the world hates America until it needs America.besides the "reformists" dont want to stop heavy water reactor development anyway.Why should America help those who burn our flag and chant "death to amelica !!" ?We fought for our freedome{and everyone elses}.Now its your turn

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I hope the following posting

I hope the following posting I found on the Atlantic will bring clarity and peace to here who are basing their comments on emotions purely driven from untrue stereotypes rather than facts. If you don't want to believe it then don't. No one has to prove anything to you. But I'm still viling to help you outand bring to you more truthful facts, rather than controlled "brain washing" media news to which you are accustomed !(Media is not god- it's only a small handed- down version of the truth)...just like when you see a film , things are edited to suit!!

Here's the article I found in the Atlantic from the Daily Dash posted on : 29 Jun 2009 09:17 pm

"Shattering the Stereotype"
A new dispatch up at Tehran Bureau:

"I remember September 11, 2001. I remember watching TV all day worried and sad. I remember holding candlelight vigils with my friends for the victims. Then George W. Bush went on to declare us as one of the “Axis of Evil.” I remember asking myself, “Why?” Not a single one of the terrorists was Iranian, and I wondered why he didn’t bother to make a distinction between the government and the people. In fact, in all of the Middle East I don’t think there is a more pro-American nation than Iran, but no one made such a distinction. Consequently, the Iranian people were viewed with an aura of suspicion in every airport and embassy around the world for the rest of the Bush administration.

But all of that unfounded negative stereotyping came to an end when, in the aftermath of the elections, the nation stood up to the manipulative authorities and separated its account from that of the government. We shattered the stereotype with the amateur photos and videos taken with our own mobile phones. We captured the true picture of the Iranian nation and relayed it to the world, a picture of a young and highly educated nation yearning to be free."

--PA
You can see this article on this sight.
http://andrewsullivan.theatlantic.com/the_daily_dish/2009/06/shattering-...

And these are my comments in reply to certain opionions expressed on this page....
It's easy to make judgments based on partial media driven knowledge. It's easy to make surface accusations; some say it's the lazy way so you wouldn't have to think. Try thinking deeper; searching further, it might make you happier as an individual. We need to get out of our prescription drug/alcohol stupor and put our energy in things that will bring about positive changes not only to our own country (USA) but to the world. Majority of Iranians clearly want to distant themselves from the government that has for 30 years oppressed, tortured, and killed them. You criticize others for hateful acts they haven’t committed (their government and their few followers have), but you are so hateful yourself!!People in glass houses don't throw stones!
I found this statement on the Daily Dish, it is as truthful as it gets and reflects many voices in Iran. Whoever wrote this didn't have to, but still cared enough to do so. Know when people are reaching out in peace.

Unregistered user

The only way to defeat IRI rejime: not buying oil from them

One of my friend that was in my age (16) is shot dead by a sharp shooter of Mullas' Basijies . We were playing Battlefield2 & other video games with Europian friends,like all other boys in our age just days ago. I cry a lot for his unjust death ,and you know what? The Khamenei fuc...g rejime ,obligated his parents to pay(=8000$s) to give their son's body for barial.Why? for destroying public properties,you know we didn't ,the Basijies destroy public properties to gain excuse for crackdown.The strangest lie they say is: we didn't kill them ,they killed our Basijies! You know where are the injured protestors? In public graves after being shot in the head. What do you think this rejime is ? A democratic kind of government? No way ! You can't imagine what is in their horrible minds & relegious books. They will kill all 7 milion Iran's population if they have to,to make Imam's Atomic bombs,for more killings.And if you continue not bothering your asses to take a strong action! you will do what we are now ,but maybe too late. No doubt about it.The only way to defeat them : All states in the world(even traters like Russia&China) bann buying Iran's oil for some time .go buy it from S.Arabia for some time, God damn it !
Aria-16-Tehran( possibly dead by now)

Unregistered user

"I hope some higher

"I hope some higher authority like the UN, US or a groups of nations can pressure a regime change."...

No the U.S should let the ppl of the world solve their own problems from now on,youve cursed us long enough,the world hates America until it needs America.besides the "reformists" dont want to stop heavy water reactor development anyway.Why should America help those who burn our flag and chant "death to amelica !!" ?We fought for our freedome{and everyone elses}.Now its your turn

Unregistered user

I have 2 nephews active duty

I have 2 nephews active duty in the middle east and I agree with this,because its true

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WE support our soldiers. I

WE support our soldiers. I also have family and friends abroad. Did you know that but Iraq didn't asked us to go, they didn't ask for help( I'm 99 % sure). And in the end there were no nuclear...anythings!!!And apparently as our own media announced our certain men in our military were raping and killing innocent civilians. Which was quite alet down,our troops represent this nation, adn their actions, even coming from a few , tarnished our reputation. So we're not all angels, saving the world either ...you know...even if many of us are.Thusif we are to help we should help, but definitely not force our way as it seems we did in Iraq.

Here as far as Iran we are dealing with a different country- you have to make that distiction. The people want to get rid of the same regime that has called for our demise, the Iranian youth are 2/3 of the population and are willing to die for this freedom, they can use a little help; they will be our biggest allies in a part of the world where we have very few allies. The regime in Iran is as much of a threat to us as it is to the people of the country itself. Look into this a bit more. We do not need to go there and take over. We can give them a head start. We'll eventually have to do something and not only it'll end up costing us more , it'll probably have casulties of war...that is once they kill all Iranian students and women and whoever else is standing up to them, so we won't have their support anymore. Just some soup for thought. Here's a letter from one of our soldiers to the Iranian ppl..if you're interested...
http://www.irannewsnow.com/2009/06/you-will-prevail/

Unregistered user

this is different animal we're fighting with!

Hi , 1st of all , even America didn't gain freedom & independence by his own people only ,French helped them fight for independent. 2nd most people in Iran like me never burn anybody's flag even Israel and never chanted : death to America . I swear most people in Iran adore West specially USA .Believe me we never beg for help but I want you to know this Mullas' rejime is totally different from Taliban , Hitler ,Saddam ,... this is something several times nastier & more dishonest ,more brutal ,etc. If west didn't help us fight with this rejime ,they easily will kill all of us & nobody will even know ,I myself witnessed such a terible events that nobody would believe. The Mullas' Basijis believe whoever said something against Khamenei , is against Imam .Imams , Muhammad, Allah ! & must imedeitly be executed .Anybody does that goes straight to heaven ! Please know that they are doing this to build Islamic Atomic Bomb & they will use it 1st on Israel then west .Someday you'll regret not helping poor Persian people.we don't want IRI .don't believe propaganda.All dictators can find enough crowd to perform those anti-west protests.
Aria(16 years old ,fighting for freedom,may be killed by the time you read this! )p.s: we love westerners.

Unregistered user

I am with you in spirit

You are a child but very mature and brave. You remind me of me when I was your age. I am doing everything I know how to do get support for The Iranians. I believe the supreme leader is a demon and needs to be removed one way or the other. Killing your own people in the name of religion is not the Spirit of The Almighty god but the spirit of Satan. I am trying to keep up and watch everything that is going on in Iran and so is the world. This will not die so don't give up hope. This regime is evil and must fall by the will of God. Evil is Live spelled backwards so LIVE Aria. All my love and stregth go up in my prayers for you. Margie

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Iran

I agree with you totally and we must intervene. The Basiji's are DEMONS and need to be removed because without them the supreme backwards leader will have no power. Can't you catch them one by one and take their weapons and use them on them? I am a peacefull person but watching this slaughter by so called Allah worsipers makes me sick. I am praying for you.

Unregistered user

"1st of all , even America

"1st of all , even America didn't gain freedom & independence by his own people only ,French helped them fight for independent."

America has repaid the debt,twice over.

"2nd most people in Iran like me never burn anybody's flag even Israel and never chanted : death to America . I swear most people in Iran adore West specially USA ."

This contradicts reality in the media for atleast the last 35 to 40 years,but if Im wrong-prove it.

Unregistered user

People who state their

People who state their opinions so "deeply" (you...lol) should do the following first:
1. Learn to read and comprehend what you read
2. Read all sides, views, perceptions from countries involved
3. Be open to listen to all opinions (inside and outside) and not judge until you have enough of fundamental understanding of situations and know some history
4. Have sympathy not apathy!
5. MOST importantly learn to think for yourself, use the knowledge you gain from the above steps and reflect on it, then come up with a non biased opinion based on your own acknowledgements!

Here is "proof"- (warning tunnel vision will obstruct your reading skills and comprehension abilities..lol)

Proof is in the continuing Iranian voters' and the freedom fighters peaceful protest ( which were/are responded to with savage crackdowns). They are risking their lives to be heard "by the world", and being butchered presently with all of us watching, and some of like you only watching and hearing what suits you...Right this minute and for the last 2 weeks Iranians have given you plenty of proof! Are their Voices not being heard! Don't the images speak a 1000 words!!

You know nothing can be proven to people like you who spat idiocies & only repeat what's fed to them. Take the cork out, uncover your eyes and comprehend what you see ( as someone mentioned earlier in a reply)!

Frankly you, yourself sound like you have the same mentality as Ahmadinejad.Don't you care about the US and your fellow Americans? I do and I don't want to be anything like you and your likes; so speak for yourself and don't include the rest of us good and intelligent Americans in your ignorance !

Unity is being human, unity will bring about peace,but not for one but for all!

Unregistered user

If you like them so much,go

If you like them so much,go live with them

Unregistered user

"America has repaid the

"America has repaid the debt,twice over."
So you do acknowledge the French help.

"This contradicts reality in the media for atleast..."
Easy find any non-iranian who has traveled to iran and ask them.
Please be mindful of media limits and biases. Media cannot possibly report on a SILENT majority. Your reasoning defies logic: it is real if and only if it is reported!!

Unregistered user

"Easy find any non-iranian

"Easy find any non-iranian "...thats easy theyre all over youtube chanting DEATH TO AMERICA ! and burning the flag.lol

Unregistered user

same reply to you as the 2

same reply to you as the 2 people above you!

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1st of all....

This ignorance kills me. Here is someone who is telling you that not all people in her country hate the west/ USA...and you give her crap for it? Why can't you hear this PERSON? Where there is one there are many who share her feelings. Not to say that there are not those who dislike us and who burn our flag, but here is someone who says that it's not the majority. As you can see from the happenings and the banning of free communication, the fact that you believe all media today is sad. It's sad that I have to say that it's sad to believe the media. The media can be good and it can be hurtful. It's so hard to get the truth to people. SHould it not be about truth? Human kind is suffering today...for Americans like myself, we understand this and all we want is to help the people who are suffering and being treated unjustly. How do we help the people who are on the side of freedom, who want peace? This is what we should be trying to figure out...not arguing with those who are obviously in dire need of our help and on our side and the side of freedom for that matter. Now the question is how to help, after Iraq...we do not want to be seen as terrorists ourselves to the people of Iran and to the rest of the world. How do we help so that the PEOPLE of Iran know that we mean well? We all want to LIVE. No one wants to live in fear. There are MANY Americans who wish for PEACE.

Unregistered user

When I saw all the videos of

When I saw all the videos of all the middle east throwing parties right after the attacks of 9/11 they got my NO vote.they have worked long and hard to make sure we know they call us "The great satan"let THEM fight for THEM,our troops have no business being in Iran unless they threaten us.

Unregistered user

Get your facts straight

Get your facts straight first! Your opinion is biased and based on hate, therefore it doesn't count!

You need to separate the people of Iran to what the government of Iran represents, I get this why don't you. How do you like it when we americans are blamed for everything our government does!

Fact:
1.Tehran held the largest candle vigil in the middle east for NY -9/11. Estimated 30, 000 people.

2.Which Middle East country held spontaneous candlelight vigils for victims of
the World Trade Center Attack on 9/11?

* Kuwait - No.
* Saudi Arabia - No.
* Israel - No.
* Iran - Yes.

3.The victims of these terrorist attacks were citizens of many countries. Iranian and Iranian Americans were among the victims and survivors.

Unregistered user

what do the French have to

what do the French have to do with sending U.S troops into Iran?

Unregistered user

I have 3 things to say to

I have 3 things to say to you:

1.An individual has not started living until he can rise above the narrow confines of his individualistic concerns to the broader concerns of all humanity.
Martin Luther King, Jr.

2.He who passively accepts evil is as much involved in it as he who helps to perpetrate it. He who accepts evil without protesting against it is really cooperating with it.
Martin Luther King, Jr.

3.
It’s because of ignorance of people like you that Americans are hated not because of the good acts that majority of American people do. Open your heat and give into what you know as a human being is correct, use your brain, that’s why god gave us a BRAIN and a HEART! Or do you need someone to tell you how to use that too!

By the way we chose to meddle and we weren't asked to meddle in some of our meddling. Now for a change we can HELP people that have already taken the first step and the largest step, even as far as giving their young lives, and have reached out to the International Community( not just US).. And these are not the people who burned our flags and wished Death upon us, the "regime" that is butchering them are those people who hate us. So the people dying want peace, they want to join the rest of the world and be a part of it. So stop being lazy and repeating whatever is fed to you without knowing both sides of the coin. Basically you make such GRAND statements based on purely fueled emotions, that's just blowing hot air! We have the opportunity and the youth and future of Iran’s support to help overthrow a threatening regime (they are also a MAJOR concern to us not just to the Iranian people) .

Unregistered user

3 things to say...

Thank God! Thank you for your un-narrow minded statement. I hope the Iranian people can see your post and understand that we do care.

Unregistered user