| Submit your comments on this article |
| Axis of Evil |
| Thousands of Iranians Rally Against Bush |
| 2002-07-19 |
| Tens of thousands of Iranians chanting "Death to America, death to George Bush" took to the streets on Friday in an official demonstration of defiance against what they view as U.S. interference in Iran's affairs. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei called the rally to show popular opposition to President Bush's statement last week voicing support for reform in Iran. "Excellency, the spontaneous demonstrations are under way, as Your Holiness ordered..." Crowds around Tehran University -- the main venue for Friday prayers in the Iranian capital -- burned an effigy of Bush with a sign around its neck saying: "I made a mistake." "Aredeshir, call down to the factory and order up some more Bush effigies. We're starting to run low." "Yes, Excellency..." "From the start, we said we want America to change its arrogant behavior against Iran and accept that Iran is a free, Muslim, independent country," influential former President Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani told worshipers who lined the streets around the university campus. "We tell the Americans to put aside their arrogant behavior, then this nation could start dialogue with you and talk to you." "But don't expect us to be civil. We don't have to be civil because we're Muslims and you're not..." Soldiers, civil servants and hordes of women in black chadors joined the demonstration, but there were also a number of pro-reform students present. "We don't want the United States' support, we want reforms," said student Ahmad Ali Aminiha. "Don't support us too openly, or these orifices will hang us all!" |
| Posted by:Fred Pruitt |
| #1 Only tens of thousands? For an Iranian "spontaneous" demonstration, that's pathetic. |
| Posted by: Lauren Coats 2002-07-19 09:46:18 |