Burning Khomeini in Iran

More reports and videos of dramatic anti-regime protests throughout Iran on the annual anti-Israel Quds Day this past weekend illustrate the growing strength of anti-Ahmadinejad sentiment across Persia. Israel National News spoke with two Iranian pro-democracy activists for analysis.

As reported by Israel National News last week, protesters in Tehran, Isfahan, Shiraz and elsewhere flipped the Iranian Quds Day on its head on Friday, chanting slogans like, "Not Gaza, not Lebanon, I will die for Iran!" and "Death to Russia" instead of the traditional "Death to Israel" and "Death to America". Among Iran's pro-democracy movement, the "holiday" has been renamed "Iran Day". Many more dissident protests were captured on cellphone cameras and uploaded to Youtube and other social media websites over the weekend.

On Friday, protesters pulled down a banner celebrating Hizbullah to cheers of "Allahu Akbar" and calls of "Burn it! Burn it!"

Even banners bearing the images of the Islamic Revolution leader Ayatollah Khomeini and his current successor Khamenei were torn down, stomped on, and set on fire to calls of "Death to the dictator!".

One pro-democracy activist told Israel National News, "Israel is not the enemy and the real enemy is Hamas, Hizbullah and Russia. Well, here it is, directly coming out of Iran, listen to what they are chanting!"

A crowd in Tehran on Quds Day shouted: "Putin, Chavez, Nasrallah - the enemies of the people of Iran!"

"Overthrowing this regime is the only way to bring stability to the region," the activist said.

'There is no Going Back'

In an interview with Israel National News, pro-democracy activist and expatriate Iranian Amil Imani analyzed what the Quds Day protests mean for the continuing struggle for a free Iran.

"We must tell the world that the Iranians are not fundamentalists, fanatics or terrorists," Imani said. "Iranian people must become masters of their own destiny. We ask all free people to support the aspirations of the Iranian people for a self-rule and their expectations for an era of peace."

IsraelNN: Has the dissident movement been reinvigorated by weekend events?

"Absolutely! Based upon the general reaction among Iranian opposition groups, it is clear that the time has come to form a new brand of political opposition; a united force whose sole propose will be a regime change in Iran and the establishment of the rule of law. I have never seen a more united opposition that today."

IsraelNN: Analysts are saying unless the army turns on the regime, the revolution will be defeated. Is there a chance the soldiers will take sides?

"My sources in Iran are telling me that even among the Revolutionary Guards there have been signs of defection. We must realize that there is no going back to June 12, 2009. Regime change is inevitable. The world must decide which side they like to be on: a short term gain with the terrorists; or a long term mutual respect, friendship and peace with the Iranian people."

The London-based Arabic newspaper Asharq Al-Awsat reported this week that Iranian dissidents "have launched the boycott of goods imported by the Revolutionary Guards, such as rice, cigarettes, and other goods. This means that the Revolutionary Guards, who are able to seriously benefit from external sources, are now beginning to suffer from the internal conflict in Iran."

Tariq Alhomayed, Editor-in-Chief of Asharq Al-Awsat, wrote in a September 20 editorial that the events in Iran have sparked a shift among Iran's terrorist proxies, as well. "Only a few days ago a high-ranking member of Hamas was present in Saudi Arabia, and he informed an Arab figure that he is more eager towards Saudi Arabia and Egypt than any other country, and that he is ready to reconcile with Mahmoud Abbas," Alhomayed wrote.