Main focus of Friday, June 26, 2009

Whither Iran?

Mir-Hossein Mousavi refuses to give up. On his website the Iranian opposition leader called on Thursday for continued anti-government protests. The presence of security forces has caused the number of protestors to dwindle with every passing day. The European press asks where Iran is headed.

Die Presse - Austria

The events on the streets of Tehran point to a new revolution, writes the daily Die Presse: "What happened on the streets of Tehran bore all the hallmarks of the beginning of a revolution. After the events of the past week it has become clear that the state leadership may have won the street battle for now, but it will lose the war for the soul of Iran. Why? As a result of his miscalculations the supreme leader has fallen into discredit, the image of an Islamic republic can no longer be maintained. It's not that republics don't beat up demonstrators, but all the reactions of the Iranian government to the protest were those of a paranoid dictatorship. After 30 years of the Islamic Republic a new chapter has begun and nothing will ever be the same again." (26/06/2009)

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All available articles from » Thomas Seifert

Helsingin Sanomat - Finland

The daily Helsingin Sanomat sees the chance for peaceful change in Iran slipping away: "On the surface, the unrest which has gripped Iran over the past two weeks is on the wane. The intimidation through arrests and violence is taking its toll. Nevertheless the events leave a lasting impression on all classes of society. ... After the dramatic revolt against the election results the Iranian leadership can no longer maintain that the calls for change came from an insignificant extremist faction. If the necessary objections continue to be met with the severity of recent days yet another opportunity to introduce badly needed reforms through peaceful means will be missed. ... The Islamic Republic's complicated system allows for both the use of violent power and for settlement-seeking mediation. If brutality and lies win the upper hand Iran itself will be the biggest loser." (26/06/2009)

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More from the press review on the subject » International Relations, » Security Policy / Crises / War, » Domestic Policy, » Elections, » Iran

168 óra - Hungary

In the opinion of the left-liberal weekly 168 Óra the political system in Iran is beginning to totter: "You can't yet talk of a revolution. But a seemingly unstoppable process has begun. After 30 years of spiritual leadership the Persians 'have had enough'. The country with its 70 million inhabitants, two thirds of whom are under 30, wants change. It is weary of bans imposed by the Islamic revolution of Ayatollah [Ruhollah Musavi] Khomeini and which make their lives so joyless. The most recent presidential elections, which were obviously rigged, have shown that there are huge cracks in the dictatorship of the clergy. … The process of fermentation began inside the system. Now the indications are clearly that there will be reform." (26/06/2009)

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More from the press review on the subject » Security Policy / Crises / War, » Domestic Policy, » Iran
All available articles from » Endre Aczél

Tribune de Genève - Switzerland

Even if it may not look that way the Iranian opposition is still far from having lost the battle, the daily Tribune de Genève writes: "Not all hope of change in the land of the mullahs has evaporated. The June 12 election and the campaign that preceded it have exposed a deep crack in a political system which until then had managed thanks to never-ending compromises to show a united front. Because a large number of Iranians wanted an opening [to the West] and reform, the contradictions of this religious-political regime have now been laid bare. For the moment the hardliners appear to have won. But against the backdrop of the economic crisis and as a result of international pressure we can bet that the Ahmadinejad-Khamenei duo won't be able to hang on for long without giving in." (26/06/2009)

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More from the press review on the subject » Domestic Policy, » Elections, » Iran
All available articles from » Bernard Bridel

La Stampa - Italy

Writer Enzo Bettiza was in Iran in 1979 when the Shah was overthrown. In the liberal Italian daily La Stampa he compares events at the time with those of today: "The unforeseen, almost sudden change of regime and political climate came to a head back then in a crescendo of psychological premonition and physical violence. With their quick, repeated, irresistable rhythm the events of 1979 resemble in many ways the terror and repression which have spilled blood in Tehran for weeks. ... Back then the creator of the Shi'ite theocracy [Ruhollah Musavi] Khomeini announced to the cheering crowd: 'The law belongs to the people, and no government has the right to claim it for itself'. ... Since then 30 years have passed. The same words that stripped the secular tyranny of the Shah of its legitimacy are now being used by at least half of all Iranians against the theocratic tyranny of Khomeini's clerical heirs." (26/06/2009)

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More from the press review on the subject » Security Policy / Crises / War, » Domestic Policy, » History, » Iran
All available articles from » Enzo Bettiza

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