“From Reform to Revolution”

Issue #4 of “Khiaban” arrived yesterday.  Click here to download the full issue. (PDF) If you are just arriving here, please check our original post for more information on Khiaban, which is an underground newspaper circulating among protesters in Iran.
The following is a rough translation/excerpts from “Khiyaban”, #4 p 1: “From Reform to Revolution”

“In Mousavi’s manifesto #5, he asked the people to protest…but in this manifesto he implicitly states that… he is not able to be fully with the people in their revolutionary stance, for he is also of the same regime, and in the same manifesto he counted the Basij as brothers and the Sepah guardians of the revolution and of Islam.  People with their own eyes saw armed and club-wielding motorcycle-riding Basiji kill and oppress the people… The truth is these rabid regime dogs were made for internal warfare. The words of Khamanei made the people determined to fight the coup d’etat. The great protests of people in Azadi square Saturday and Meidan Vali Asr on Sunday showed the world that the smell of revolution is coming from Iran..”

“The slogan “Death to the dictator” showed that this was not just an opposition to the election fraud, but effective opposition to the fascist regime called the Islamic republic…also that participation in the elections also was in opposition to the totality of the regime…”

“The most important means the reformists had to change the regime and correct its behavior was to overturn it using elections. …slogan “death to the dictator” doesn’t mean anything but this, as witness to the killing and beating and insulting of friends, colleagues and fellow citizens and also countrymen…and  Khamenei and the regime of the Islamic republic are directly responsible for this crime. …”

“The means the regime used to combat the revolution are no different than those used by other dictators 1.) Creating chaos is the tactic of a de facto military government 2.) Fabricating terror and bombings to justify oppressing those who oppose you (the explosion in Khomeini’s tomb, and the unclaimed bombing at a metro stop, e.g.) 3.) Claiming the revolution is a plot hatched by external enemies 3.) and finally 4.) slandering and scorning the opposition as mere rioters…”

“ In addition to the words of the “big president” Khamenei, the actions of the “small president” Ahmedinejad to solidify the state coup d’etat are telling: …Ahmedinejad immediately went to Russia to …garner support for his presidency …Ahmedinejad’s actions are the real essence behind the freedom-fighters’ slogans…”

“Saturday and sunday were an important turning point for the history of Iran…from then on, everyone knew that the hope of change and reform of the regime is not the reformist wing, and that there is only one price for bread and freedom:  Revolution.”

-EDC