The Day Ahmadinejad Was Grilled
Today, Ahmadinejad was treated awfully in an Iranian university famous for being politically hyperactive. Here, I tried to mention the important events. Unfortunately, all links are to Persian sources. As of what I think about this, I admire all the students who grilled him. I think this is democracy and I know that all those brave students have taken the risk of being prosecuted and brutally treated. Still, I am not sure why Ahmadinejad did this and whether he did not anticipate what happened. At the back of mind, I am thinking, he did have a good reason for showing up there. To know what that reason was, we should wait.
It all started yesterday, when around a thousand students in Amir Kabir University (AKU) gathered to oppose Ahmadinejad’s decision to visit their university. The visit held the fancy title “friendly encounter”. Above other reasons, students were against his visit because of the Ministry of Higher Education’s new secret policy to reject students with activism background from attending M.Sc. programs. The students held many banners, including the one shown here. It reads “Mr Ahmadinejad, according to your strong [sarcastic] reputation, you are not allowed to enter AKU” [not exact translation]. More pictures of the yesterday gathering are here. Also, see this for the story.
Students chanting against Ahmadinejad.
Today, Ahmadinejad visited AKU. This blogger says that supporters were bussed from military-controlled universities, Imam Hossein and Imam Hasan, (see). These supporters not only chanted supportive slogans, whenever necessary, but also they used physical means to stop opposing students (see).
The fist is one of the unique symbols of the IR supporters.
Students chanted “The reason for any problem, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad”. When students chanted “Death to the Dictator”, Ahmadinejad tried to change the subject by saying “we do not let anyone to become a dictator in the name of freedom” (see). Sarmaii has more.
Ahmadinejad’s pictures were burnt and held downward.
Ahmadinejad was greeted by a hand made audio grenade (video), courtesy of imee79. This blogger says the audio bomb was used by Ahmadinejad’s guards to threaten the crowd (see).
Many students cover their faces to scape identification.
The national television’s camera was broken in the scene (see). A reformist newspaper says the cameraman was taking closeup pictures and the students were afraid of being identified (see).
When the students shouted “Ahmadinejad get out of the university”, chief Basij commander in the AKU replied “you are the ones who should get lost from the country, because we are the ones who build it” (see).
Students also chanted “justice and freedom are our definite rights”, mocking Ahmadinejad’s favourite slogan “nuclear energy is our definite right” (see). More chants: “I will kill whom killed my brother”, “forget America, solve our problems”, and “answer our questions” (see).
Unshaved beard is another symbol of the IR supporters, who won’t hesitate to use physical force, if necessary.
Some students were holding the pictures of one of the students who has been under arrest for a long time, for political opposition, shouting “imprisoned students must be released” (see).
When Ahmadinejad was leaving the saloon, he was hooted by the students standing outside (see).
Afterwards, Ahmadinejad mentioned “the university must be a friendly place and I will not avenge those who insulted me” (see). Many parties, including the reformists’, condemned “insulting the President” (see).
Presidential guards did not allow students to bring cameras to the saloon (see).
His speech is mentioned here (see). Find more news (see see see see see) and more pictures here (see) also here and in the links listed in the page (see).
Time will tell if this was really a big disappointment for Ahmadinejad.
p.s. Mani cites English sources.
Join the Conversation
Very informative! Keep up the news postings from Iran.
On a side note, I was hoping someone who is well versed in Iranian politics and current affairs to provide this blog a summary of what is happening, ie. the state of politics in Iran today. I am somewhat familiar of the revolution as a whole, but not of present politics. Sort of like a FAQ on Iran, the who is who, parties, regions, politics, issues, etc. A fact sheet, if you like. That would be great!
Very interesting, thanks Arash! The title of this entry had me laughing out loud.
Jonny,
I know, the Iranian political atmosphere is really bizarre and crowded with important figures who are unknown to the world and seasonal players whom everyone knows. I will try to clear up things through more posts.
Esra’a
You are welcome.
Good job! Funny how we never see this sort of thing in the MSM.
Thank you, it is always quite reassuring seeing something like this. All I need now is a picture of Ahmadinejad crying because the big bad university students were mean to him
. Keep the news from Iran coming.
The last picture makes me happy. I can stare at it for hours and still manage to laugh.
A lot of it looks like a rock concert to me. All they need is a crowd surfer and they’re done.
Esra’a
I can’t help thinking about those students. They will have very bad days ahead of them.
Oh I’m sure. It was a very brave thing to do though and I’m glad they did it.
Esra’a
I am very glad, too. Their action might be used for other reasons, but I admire the fact they spoke out.
well, in the familiar confines of their own university and friends around them they probably disregarded reason and courtesy, a natural reaction. I am sure that lost in the crowd there were those with more mature heads on their shoulders (there always is
my computer changed to kanji.
(there always is) the problem is who do we usually listen to? The guys standing quietly or the loudmouth up front?
Thank you for your blogs. I’m really so impressed by how courageous so many of the bloggers on this site are. It’s a really great resource. Question: Does the government allow these sort of protests to happen to make it look like there’s some form of democracy and free speech in Iran, and then just work quietly to arrest everyone who may be identified? Forgive me if this is a “duh” question, but I’m really not that familiar with the current Iranian political climate. Are people allowed to boo officials without punishment? Those pictures are just stunning. To see the individual faces of the students and then to imagine what may happen to them is frightening.