Email |  Print | RSS | Comment |  

WikiLeaks

The following provides an overview of February 11/22 Bahman opposition protests and official activities in several provincial Iranian cities. Information was obtained by Baku Iran watcher via an outreach/reporting effort involving information obtained from Baku-based Iranians and multiple Iranians in each of the cities covered. The bottom line is that anti-government turnout was apparently modest in most Iranian provincial cities, with the exception of Isfahan, Shiraz, Mashad, to some extent Tabriz, and the small urban center of Shahrekord. There was considerable variation in police activities and levels of violence in the various cities tracked.

Source: WikiLeaks

Reference	Created	Classification	Origin
10BAKU108	2010-02-16 13:56	CONFIDENTIAL	Embassy Baku

 

VZCZCXRO4506
PP RUEHBC RUEHKUK RUEHTRO
DE RUEHKB #0108/01 0471356
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 161356Z FEB 10
FM AMEMBASSY BAKU
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2394
INFO RUCNIRA/IRAN COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RHMFISS/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY
RHMFISS/CDR USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE PRIORITY
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RUEKDIA/DIA WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC PRIORITY
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BAKU 000108

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/17/2020
TAGS: PGOV PHUM KISL AJ IR
SUBJECT: IRAN: OVERVIEW OF 22 BAHMAN PROTESTS OUTSIDE
TEHRAN

Classified By: Political/Economic Counselor Rob Garverick, Reasons 1.4
(b) and (d)

¶1. (C) The following provides an overview of February 11/22
Bahman opposition protests and official activities in several
provincial Iranian cities. Information was obtained by Baku
Iran watcher via an outreach/reporting effort involving
information obtained from Baku-based Iranians and multiple
Iranians in each of the cities covered. The bottom line is
that anti-government turnout was apparently modest in most
Iranian provincial cities, with the exception of Isfahan,
Shiraz, Mashad, to some extent Tabriz, and the small urban
center of Shahrekord. There was considerable variation in
police activities and levels of violence in the various
cities tracked

¶2. (C) While most provincial city protests were relatively
modest, anti-government turnout often exceeded turnout at
officially organized “pro-government” rallies. For example,
sources in the Iranian Azerbaijan city of Ardebil reported
that approximately 3,000 anti-government and “less than
1,000” pro-government marchers appeared on the streets.
While violent clashes occurred in several cities, sources
reported no confirmed deaths as of February 12.

¶3. (C) Begin city-by-city 22 Bahman demonstration overview:

¶A. Isfahan. Sources estimated protest turnout at between
15-20,000, and pro-government marchers at “less than half”
that. Clashes with Basij elements and security personnel
began at approximately 10:30 AM in Engelab Square, continuing
there and at other areas of the city until about 1730.
Numbers of protesters increased after a body of students
joined the other marchers near 33 bridge. A small group of
pro-Green marchers was reportedly attacked by a mob of Basij
while crossing Azer bridge; two protest marchers were
allegedly thrown off (condition unknown as of February 12).
Sources claimed that Isfahan police and other uniformed
security forces did not participate in direct repression of
green marchers, but also did nothing to interfere with Basij
and plain clothes security attacks.

Sources said that hundreds of protesters were arrested by
Isfahani police and other security, who received and
transported to special prison holding centers individuals
handed over to them by the Basij. Many thousands of Isfahanis
reportedly took to rooftops that night, chanting “Allah
Akbar.”

¶B. Shiraz. Shiraz sources reported that anti-government
protests began at approximately 0900. A group of protest
marchers estimated at about 20,000 and was led by Ayatollah
Dastgheib, a prominent supporter of Mir Hossein Moussavi.
The group reportedly chanted “death to dictatorship,” and
similar slogans. After about half an hour a group of
approximately 1,000 Basij positioned on streets alongside the
streets and park where the marchers were gathering began
pelting the green marchers with stones that had been brought
in by truck and dumped the previous day. Sources claimed
that police took no action against the stone-throwing Basij,
but later sought to block regrouping of the marchers through
beatings and use of tear gas. Sources claimed that several
hundred protesters were arrested, as in Isfahan.

¶C. Shahrekord. An approximately 3,000-person protest march,
including many high school students and other young people,
allegedly started in Kabir street at approximately 12 noon.
The march reached Bahunar park, where it was addressed by
reformist Majlis member Nusratullah Torabi (from Khatami’s
faction). However, Torabi had barely begun his speech before
the group was set upon by uniformed police. While a number
of demonstrators were arrested, sources reported that Torabi
himself was not arrested. (Note: the majority of Sharekord’s
population is non-Persian, including Arabs and Kurds).

¶D. Mashad. Sources in Mashad reported that establishment of
a massive, visible police presence in Mashad began three days
before 22 Bahman. On the day itself, some of these police
allegedly fired Kalashnikov rifles in the air to intimidate
marchers. A large gathering of pro-green marchers was
attacked by Basij outside Mashad Bagh. Local news sources
claimed that approximately 100 demonstrators were arrested.

¶E. Tabriz. Tabriz anti-government turnout was estimated by

BAKU 00000108 002 OF 002

sources at approximately 5,000, with only about 1500 turning
out for pro-government events, “despite free food, juice
packages, and cash packets.” Only minor clashes were
reported.

LU