December 30, 2009 Rallies in Tehran
With its demonstration on the Day of Ashoura on December 27, 2009, the Green Movement shot itself in the foot –fatally. A sacrosanct day for the Shi'a, Ashoura was assumed to be off-limits, not to be confused with politics. One of the most violent clashes between the protestors and the security forces occurred on this day, resulting in at least eight casualties. Accused with violating the sanctity of Ashoura, the Greens had to witness massive demonstrations held across the country three days later -on 9th of Dey 1388 (December 30, 2009) a blow powerful enough to silent the protestors for one year. The demonstrators called for the trials of Mir-Hossein Mousavi and Karroubi and did not spare the chance to chant against Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, the strongman believed to be the mastermind behind the 8-months demonstrations calling for ouster of Ahmadinejad.
Source: Fars News
Enqelab-e Eslami (The Islamic Revolution) Square; the main venue of the rally.
Demonstrators dressed in shroud-shaped robes, symbolizing their enthusiasm to become martyrs for the cause of the Islamic Revolution.
Placard reading "Death to Dictator"; depicting Mir-Hossein Mousavi as a US agent.
Visual call for imprisoning Mousavi and Karroubi.
Teenager holding a placard reading: "Mousavi is a murderer, his trial is a must."
Ayatollah Alamolhoda, Friday Prayers' leader of Mashad and the keynote speaker of Tehran's rally.
Mousavi, Karroubi, Gholam-Hossein Karbaschi (former Tehran Mayor and Karroubi's candidate for the Vice Presidency), Khatami, teaming with son of the last Shah of Iran, Reza Pahlavi (sitting, far right), Western leaders and King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia
Official figures estimated the crowed to have exceeded four million in Tehran.