Italy- 1 May 2011 Iran's demonstrations started on 14th of February and continued on a daily basis until April 18th. (as of April 27th) The demands are to oust President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, against violations of human rights, and against the alleged electoral fraud during the 2009 elections.
The protesters used demonstrations, strikes, online activism, civil disobedience and civil resistance.
The government used plain-clothed militia, live ammunition, tear gas, beatings, arrests, media and internet censorship.
So far there have been 18 deaths, 91 injuries and 1,534 protesters arrested.
The demonstrations started to spread throughout the Arab world after the success of the Tunisian successful revolution that ousted President Zine El Abjdine Ben Ali on 14th of January 2011. Thereafter Egypt started their revolution with success by removing the Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak on the 11th of February 2011.
Iran was the next country to organize a revolution. On the 9th of February different opposition groups requested permission to protest and the request was refused. This was followed by crackdowns against the opposition activists and members of the parties.
The leaders set a date for 14 February, but the day before, two opposition leaders Mousavi and Karroubi were placed under house arrest and denied access to telephones and the internet. In spite of their arrest, the demonstration moved forward in Tehran's Azadi Square, the reported numbers of people vary from thousands and up.
Reports of tens of thousands throughout Iran and Tehran gathered to be heard. While the protests were taking place the local news channels were reporting that everything was quiet and peaceful. The foreign media office was sent a letter in Tehran warning that the bureaus would be shut down and their reporters deported if they wrote negative articles surrounding the protests.
The opposition parties decided to make every Tuesday demonstration day until their demands were met, which were followed by sit-ins, strikes, and boycotts.
On 11th of March, 11 foreign correspondents were deported from the country.
Capitalism and Revolution in Iran (Middle East series)
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