U.S. Iranian: "Genie Has Been Let Out of the Bottle"
"Babak" recounts horrific violence during protests
By DEREK HIGHSMITH
Updated 6:55 AM PST, Tue, Jun 30, 2009
An Iranian living in the U.S. found himself in harm's way during protests after Iran's presidential election June 12. "Babak" told NBC Bay Area about his two-week trip, asking to not be identified for fear of retaliation from the Iranian government.
It all started when Babak, like many other Iranians, hit the streets in response to the election. He and his mother found themselves being chased by police on motor bikes with pellet guns. That's when they sought refuge in an apartment building with nearly 50 others. The scene nearby was recorded and posted on YouTube.
"The last person to enter the apartment building forgot to close the door." Babak recalls.
Anti-riot police entered and shot at Babak, his mother and the others. "They hit a number of people and it wasn't a lethal round but it was very very painful and people started dropping to the ground screaming."
Babak hit the ground while trying to flee the gunfire. "I fell and about six people fell on top of me and I really hurt my knees and I couldn't walk for quite a while."
Sparse details have emerged from the country, even while a communication blackout has been imposed by the Iranian government. Cell phone service was shut down for periods after the election and text messaging has been shut off ever since. Satellite communications including television have also been blocked out almost entirely.
Babak says that times are changing in Iran, but the U.S. needs to assist with closing the communication gap. He says he is asking U.S. Senators Diane Feinstein (D-California) and John McCain (R-Arizona) to help with communication infrastructure in the country where very few have Internet access. "I'm quite convinced and I'm confident that things are irreversible ... that some kind of genie has been let out of the bottle."
First Published: Jun 29, 2009 11:46 PM PST
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