The opposition rally in Tehran yesterday on Quds day is a hopeful sign that the Iranian regime’s hard-line anti-Israel and anti-Semitic rhetoric-Ahmadinejad called the Holocaust a ‘lie’ in his remarks-is increasingly ineffective. The New York Times report, which was filed from Beirut and so probably reliant on opposition sources and websites, states that opposition supporters chanted “No to Gaza and Lebanon, I will give my life for Iran” and responded to the official shouts of “death to Israel” with “death to Russia” (Moscow was quick to accept the legitimacy of Ahmadienjad’s re-election).
Admittedly, the opposition supporters were outnumbered by regime loyalists. But given that the Revolutionary Guard had said that all protesters would be treated as Israeli spies it is encouraging, and humbling, that so many people were prepared to turn out yesterday and confront the government.
Update: I’m writing this from New Mexico so by yesterday I mean Friday.