Rebellion brews in Iran

TEHRAN, Iran – Iran’s opposition on Sunday renewed its call for a rally in support of protesters in Tunisia and Egypt despite a government warning of repercussions if demonstrations take place, a reformist website reported.

In a statement on Kaleme.com, the opposition urged supporters to rally today in central Tehran and accused the government of hypocrisy by voicing support for the Egyptian and Tunisian uprisings while refusing to allow Iranian activists to stage a peaceful demonstration.

Wary of a reinvigorated opposition at home, Iranian authorities have detained several activists and journalists in recent weeks and put opposition leader Mahdi Karroubi under house arrest.

Kaleme also said many university students as well as a reformist cleric group have promised to attend the rally. But it was not clear whether the rally would actually take place. Many calls for demonstrations in the past have gone unheeded.

Still, the opposition’s persistence has placed the government in a bind. Iran’s hard-line rulers – who have also tried to capitalize on the uprising against their regional rivals in Egypt’s U.S.-allied regime – are seeking to deprive their own opponents at home of any chance to reinvigorate a movement swept from the streets in a heavy military crackdown.