Operation blackout with the help of hair straighteners

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So brutal was the post-election crackdown that anti-Ahmadinejad protesters no longer dare to organise outdoor demonstrations. They have not given up the fight, however. One of our Observers in the country, Sara, took part in "operation blackout" on Tuesday. Armed with an iron and hair strengtheners, she tried, along with many others, to cut the president's televised speech with an electricity blackout.

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“Please plug in your electrical appliances as soon as Ahmadinejad appears on TV”

Sara is a student in Tehran.

At exactly the same time we all plugged in our most electricity guzzling household appliances: hair strengtheners, irons, hair dryers etc. By doing this we were aiming to overload Tehran's surrounding power stations one by one.  

We've already tried several times. On Tuesday [7 July] it was just before Ahmadinejad's speech on TV that the messages appeared on Twitter, Facebook and Balatarin [Iranian news sharing site]: ‘Please plug in your electrical appliances as soon as Ahmadinejad appears on TV'. It doesn't seem to have worked in the city centre but I was told that the towns of Ahvaz, Ispahan, Racht, Sari and some districts of Karaj were plunged into darkness. At the same time, people ran out onto the rooftops and shouted ‘death to the dictator!' Even television programming was interrupted because the IRIB [Iranian state TV] had to transfer to an emergency generator [not verified].

Rather than taking to the streets in protest, now we're organising things like operation blackout - we cause traffic jams as an excuse to honk our horns, graffiti the walls etc. We are however doing a demonstration in front of Tehran University today. It's the anniversary of the 1999 student revolt. We might well start demonstrating again."

Sara.M's picture

Sara.M

  • Iran
  • Student

Comments

Congratulations - we support

Congratulations - we support you! This is civil disobedience at its most creative.

Unregistered user

Please plug in your electrical appliances

Hello "unregistered user" My bet is that you most likely work for the present Iranian Government in the field of trying to stop, or suppress, internet protest.

I use my name, not try to hide behind the term "Unregistered user" Admittedly it is only my first name, but it is my name.

Have a nice day Basjii. And any one from Iran will know why I just called you that, you murdering thugs and bullies.

Fred1944

Unregistered user

What a funny idea of wasting

What a funny idea of wasting precious resources of the country. I not sure why see only destructive ideas coming out of anti-ahmedinejads camp or this is a just anti Iranian plot hatched by medias like France24.

Unregistered user

people who thinks like you

people who thinks like you do made it easy for Islamis unrepublic to rule over the Iranian for 30 years since all you think about is somehow west and its media is behind everything - its ok to be stupid and brain washed like you are but it is not ok to take everything from people who wants to show their frustraition and leave them with not many options to expess it.

Unregistered user

you must be an idiot. what

you must be an idiot. what part of "protest" you don't understand.

Unregistered user

Not Funny!

Go to heel, you dont know nothing about Iran, this is a way to widen protest as you may see how people came to steet at 9th July again, keep your notes for yorself!

Unregistered user

Rock On!!!!

Rock On!!!!

Unregistered user

The only thing I see here,

The only thing I see here, You are going into labor. Seriously, YOU ARE GOING INTO LABOR to exaggerate everything and eliminate the peace but you won't succeed with this childish and foolish tricks.
The outcome of the election, whatever it was, was choosen by Iranians.
you guys really make me laugh! It was very funny,very funny.

Unregistered user

Dear Unregistered user!, As

Dear Unregistered user!,

As an Iranian, May I suggest you to read a little more about history of liberal and democratic movements in Iran during past 50 years or even 100 years?
By doing a little bit research you will find that the so claimed elected which is indeed selected not elected president, is not the will of our people.
The outcome of the election, what it is now, I can assure is not what we've chosen and we want.
I'd really appreciate it if you could use your common sense.
If it was what Iranians had been chosen, why there is so much violence from government to suppress the peaceful demonstrations?
Why doesn’t the government even bother to hear what other candidates are complaining about?
Why there is unrest after this rigged election? Why my compatriots not only in Iran but also all around the world are so upset and angry about the election results?
Why the government has evacuated the country form international reporters? Why for two weeks the mobile network was down every day after 4pm and also now and then?
Why our SMS system has stopped working for almost a month now?
Why almost all of well-known Iranian journalists, I mean Journalist not opposition leaders, have been imprisoned during nights without even a warrant and have been taken to unknown places?
Why the Basij militia has shot innocent un-armed people from rooftops?
Do you need me to go on, or is it enough?
Haven't you learned anything about history of 20th century in your school?
I bet if you do a little bit of research about other dictator governments in 20th century like Greece, Spain, Chile, etc you'll find this scenario too familiar.

Unregistered user

we don't need Talebanis' Islam in Iran

We shouldn't close our eyes to reality.Ahmadinejad is going to establish Talebani Islam in Iran and not only people but God damns him.Iran's ruling vampire regime is misled by the Devil and is going the wrong way leading to HELL.God has damned those who kill a muslim having done no crime.Emam Ali never killed the people of Kufe town so that he could govern.This regime is going the way which Moavie went.

Unregistered user