December 30, 2009, Iranian pro-government rallies

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30 December 2009 Iranian pro-government rallies
Pro-government protestors at a rally in Tehran
Date30 December 2009
LocationVarious cities in Iran
CauseIn response to anti-government protests held three days earlier[1]

On 30 December 2009, pro-government rallies, also known as the "Dey 9 epic",[2] took place in various Iranian cities, including Tehran,[3] Shiraz, Arak, Qom[4] and Isfahan.[5] The rallies were hold in response to the Ashura protests, where protesters on that day did acts including "applauding, whistling, and engaging in other cheerful displays," which was viewed as violation of a "red line" and targeting Husayn ibn Ali and Ashura commemoration itself.[1] The demonstrations and counter-demonstrations were connected to the disputed 2009 Iranian presidential election.[6][7]

Background[edit]

See also: 2009 Ashura Iran anti-government protest

In protest against the results of the 2009 Iranian presidential election, demonstrators took to the streets on 27 December 2009,[7] coinciding with Ashura, a Shia holy day. According to Ibrahim Moussawi, associate professor of Lebanese University and head of Hizbullah's media relations, the incident damaged "public relations" of the Iranian Green Movement with Iranian citizenry more than all events as the acts of the protesters on that day including "applauding, whistling, and engaging in other cheerful displays," was "widely" seen as violation of a "red line" and targeting Husayn ibn Ali and Ashura commemoration itself.[1] Lolagar mosque in Tehran was set into fire by the "rioters", according to the State TV of Iran leading to death of "few" people in mosque.[8] Various society groups including "marej-'e taqlid, the society of Iranian doctors, university student groups, the Iranian Parliament, Oil Industry Workers, the Iranian Women's Culture and Education Society, the Society of Iranian Teachers, the Iranian Professors Society, provincial governors, municipalities and bazaars" expressed their condemnation and many of them publicly asked for the "prosecution of the opposition leaders".[1]

In response to the Ashura protests, pro-government protesters hold a rally in a "show of force" three days later on 30 December (9 Dey in the Persian calendar) to condemn Green Movement protesters.[7]

Rally[edit]

A witness said, according to The New York Times, that "many demonstrators on Wednesday were taken to protest sites by dozens of buses and were given free chocolate milk, and the Associated Press said the government had given all civil servants the day off to attend the rallies".[9] Participants numbered in the tens[9] or hundreds of thousands.[6] Slogans included "O free-willed leader, we are ready, we are ready"[6] and "Death to Moussavi,"[9] Speakers included Ayatollah Ahmad Alamolhoda, and speakers called on opposition leaders to repent from their opposition to the government or be declared "enemies of God" and face the death penalty.[citation needed]

Population[edit]

Observers differed on the size or representativeness of the demonstrations. One source called the main rally in the capital "possibly the largest crowd in the streets of Tehran since Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini's funeral in 1989."[10] But this was challenged by another source which stated that satellite pictures of the demonstration showed it having "far, far fewer people there than at recent opposition rallies, which numbered in the millions," and that instead of congregating in Azadi Square in Tehran, where the regime had "traditionally organized mass rallies to intimidate the opposition and the world", the rally was held in "a much smaller square" in the middle of city.[11]

Commemoration[edit]

The pro-government protest is commemorated annually in various cities of Iran.[7][12]

See also[edit]

References and notes[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d Moussawi, Ibrahim (January 16, 2012). Shi&'ism and the Democratisation Process in Iran: With a focus on Wilayat al-Faqih. Saqi. ISBN 9780863568312. Retrieved January 23, 2017.
  2. ^ "Iran marks 2009 rallies". Tehran Times. December 31, 2016. Retrieved December 28, 2019.
  3. ^ 9 Dey, in Tehran[permanent dead link] irinn.ir Retrieved 16 November 2019
  4. ^ Diverse cities of Iran, 9th of Dey yjc.ir Retrieved 16 November 2019
  5. ^ Isfahan, 9 Dey basijnews.ir Retrieved 16 November 2019
  6. ^ a b c "Iran regime supporters swarm streets". AFP. December 30, 2009. Archived from the original on January 26, 2010.
  7. ^ a b c d Karami, Arash (December 30, 2014). "Iran marks anniversary of anti-Green Movement protests". Al-Monitor. Retrieved January 12, 2017.
  8. ^ Editorial. "People killed in mosque fire during unrest-Iran TV". Reuters UK. Retrieved January 12, 2017.
  9. ^ a b c Fathi, Nazila (December 30, 2009). "In Tehran, Thousands Rally to Back Government". The New York Times. Retrieved May 1, 2010.
  10. ^ Another Iranian Revolution? Not Likely By FLYNT LEVERETT and HILLARY MANN LEVERETT, January 5, 2010
  11. ^ The State of the Opposition is Strong, Abbas Milani, January 8, 2010
  12. ^ "Iran Commemorates 2009 Pledge of Allegiance Rally". Tasnim News Agency. Retrieved January 12, 2017.
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