The Green Revolution?

Is this the beginning of a revolution in Iran? Time will only tell.

In 2003, the former Soviet satellite state Georgia, experienced The Rose Revolution (Linky), in which Mikheil Saakashvili led a non-violent revolt against the President of Georgia who he claimed had been elected fraudulently.

The Orange Revolution (Linky) took place in 2004 in Ukraine, when claims of massive election fraud resulted in another occurance of non-violent protesting forced a second run-off vote, in which Viktor Yushchenko won (even after an assasination attempt where he had been poisoned with dioxin) thus completing another non-violent revolution.

Lebanon experienced a similar, revolution back in 2005, which resulted in the total withdraw of Syrian troops which had occupied Lebanon since 1976 and the disbanding of the Pro-Syrian Government. This was coined The Cedar Revolution. (Linky) This occurred after the assasination of former Prime Minister Rafki Hariri in which the Syrian government was heavily suspected in playing a role in, if not committing the crime outright.

Iran is in a state of heavy unrest due to the most recent election results, in which the opposition party has claimed was rigged in favor of current President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Unfortunately, Iran is not ruled exclusively by the President. Complete power rests with the Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei and the Council of Guardians.

In the case of the other 3 revolutions, the people were revolting against psuedo secular governments, which, were in fact totalitarian governments.

In Iran's case, the revolt includes religion, and the fanaticism of the hard-liners has erupted into violence, and will most likely result in more violence.

 

However, the ruling leadership has conceded to a limited recount of the vote. A first step in the right direction.

One other telling aspect of this possible "revolution" in Iran, is the role of women in it. In a traditional Muslim country, in which women are usually treated as 2nd class citizens, the women of the Iran seem to be at the forefront of the unrest. Is this the beginning of a transformation? Again, time will only tell.

 

Update:

A 7 point Manifesto has been circulating on the streets of Tehran and throughout the country.  It states:

1. Stripping Ayatollah Khamenei of his supreme leadership position because of his unfairness. Fairness is a requirement of a supreme leader.

2. Stripping Ahmadinejad of the presidency, due to his unlawful act of maintaining the position illegally.

3. Transferring temporary supreme leadership position to Ayatollah Hussein-Ali Montazery until the formation of a committee to reevaluate and adjust Iran’s constitution.

4. Recognizing Mir Hossein Mousavi as the rightfully elected president of the people.

5. Formation of a new government by President Mousavi and preparation for the implementation of new constitutional amendments.

6. Unconditional release of all political prisoners regardless of ideology or party platform.

7. Dissolution of all organizations — both secret and public — designed for the oppression of the Iranian people, such as the Gasht Ershad (Iranian morality police).

Things are getting more and more interesting every hour it seems.