Iran Reform Leader's Wife Beaten at Rally

(CBS/AP)  As hundreds of thousands of government supporters massed in Tehran to mark the 31st anniversary of the revolution that created the Islamic republic, gangs of hard-liners attacked senior opposition figures as they tried to attend the rallies - including the wife of the head of the reform movement.

Plainclothes Basiji militiamen beat 65-year-old Zahra Rahnavard with clubs on her head and back until her supporters formed a human ring around her and whisked her away, according to the Web site of her husband, Mir Hossein Mousavi.

The assault on Mousavi's wife took place in the square, and government supporters also blocked Mousavi himself from joining the protests, his Web site said.

The opposition claims that Ahmadinejad's victory in the June 12 election was fraudulent and that the true winner was pro-reform leader Mir Hossein Mousavi. Hundreds of thousands marched in the streets against the government in the weeks after the vote, prompting a massive wave of arrests.

[george1671]

Grow up little kiddies,how would you like if your mommie and dadie were bribed by the evil neighbour next door to beat the crap out of you,because he does not like little boys and girls?
Who is funding the uprising,have U doltz forgotten Bush allocated $350 million to these groups to rise up againist the government.
CBS needs a rude awakening in reporting fair balance issues. Like-Army thugs dressed in civilian clothes busting heads. How does CBS know this?
CBS time to clean up your act. At least there is some senseable comments.I'm afraid CBS has not cleaned up it's zionist pro act. Stiff brooming is required at CBS to stop inciting hatred. how would Americans feel if }srael ddictates all foriegn policies and controls our elections? Now compare that to USa medling in Iran and worse CBS :^/

[Jermain3]

A forth of Iran's population is member of the Basij, so this strange reference "Plainclothes Basiji militiamen" in this article makes little sense. Its like the US national guard, but this Iran's national guard is the largest on earth (see wikipedia).

As for this women being beaten up, that is sad. But why on earth would she come to such a huge pro-government gathering.

[91786]

So John Edwards was there?

[jj4444]

did we forget town hall meetings,where politician and citizens,were getting their butt kicked.so, since is happening in iran,is different.oh i see,how it works with news media here in us.

[curiously1]

That's what thugs do; they beat the defenseless !

[akinos2009]

What kind of a man would send his wife out into a ring of conflict knowing knowing she would be in a trouble zone. Meanwhile where ever he is he is out of harms way. She should stay home baking cookies and pie's
in preparation of the kids coming over on their day off. Maybe he wants to create another flaming headline for the Western Press. Just like this week up in the Ukraine, the new style of American involvement in other peoples elections is to have the looser protest violently backed by street demonstrations and support of millions in US $$$s. Leaving no stone or dollar unturned in an effort to destabilize.

[smoknmirrors]

You managed to blame everyone for everything except the bat wielding Basiji militiamen. I take that back. You did not blame the bats. Probably a Mousavi Slugger. Anniversary Edition. How do they play baseball in a country where they cut off your hands for stealing, and, while "pitchers" may exist, "catchers" don't.

[akinos2009]

What kind of a man would send his wife out into a ring of conflict knowing knowing she would be in a trouble zone. Meanwhile where ever he is he is out of harms way. She should stay home baking cookies and pie's
in preparation of the kids coming over on their day off. Maybe he wants to create another flaming headline for the Western Press. Just like this week up in the Ukraine, the new style of American involvement in other peoples elections is to have the looser protest violently backed by street demonstrations and support of millions in US $$$s. Leaving no stone or dollar unturned in an effort to destabilize.

[ToolMangler1]

You are a Jerk, Just in case you never saw one before just look in the mirror. He and She may have been walking together until the Basiji seperated them by force. What kind of man would make the comments you did without reasoning this out first...

[wfw3536]

Where is the outrage from our administration on how the people of Iran are being treated or does Obama still think these criminals that run Iran are worth all the respect he has shown this government. Maybe instead of sending them letters/etc he should stand up for these good people in Iran.It is about time this administration wakes up and sees the people who run Iran as the criminals they really are.

[U_S_Drug_Addict]

we got involved years ago and set up a stooge, this was what their revolution was all about.

[recon28romeo5]

Was it Clinton, Obama, Biden, or a drug addict who first tagged the Shah a "stooge", I can't recall . . .

[cinoti]

This is not about a religion, it is about "hateful, despotic"
human beings that use religion as a cover to do what ever they
want! Religion is not concerned with the "rights of individual"
When it becomes a governing model, as in Iran, it is over ripe
for abuse! There are lots a lots of very bright Islamic people
in the world aware of these abuses! Why don't more speak out?
As the "founders of the United States" noted hundreds of years
ago. Government and religion must be separate!

[tmittelstaed]

They have. The bright Islamic people have for the last 30 years repeatedly expressed support for the various peace accords, roadmaps, and such that have been negotiated for Israel and the Palestinians to resolve their differences and live together, because the Palestinian problem has been the key to peace in the region.

Unfortunately, neither the Israelis nor the Palestinians really want a solution to the problem, they both want to just keep killing each other.

[info-hunter]

Intimidation at it's best. This message was sent to Mousavi as well as all of the defiant citizens that voted with the hopes of change. This highlights the reason and need of seperation of church and state. It is never good to have religous fanatics of any sect in charge or be ready to have mass supression of the so called unholey nonbelievers. Religous politics and rule are often served up at the end of a club like the middle ages and the inquisitions and as a nonbeliever you are not worthy of breathing the same air or enjoy the same rights as the true believers. Never ask for something when you are not reasonably sure of results or outcome.