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Ayatollah Condemns Video But Iranian Protests Stay Calm

Compared to many elsewhere in the Middle East, Iranian demonstrations against the infamous anti-Islam video were as small and peaceful as the government's reaction was harsh. Seyed Hossein Mousavian writes that Washington should prioritize its image in the Islamic world and prohibit the defamation of religious beliefs.
Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei speaks during the 16th summit of the Non-Aligned Movement in Tehran, August 30, 2012. REUTERS/Hamid Forootan/ISNA (IRAN - Tags: POLITICS) FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY. NOT FOR SALE FOR MARKETING OR ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS. THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY. IT IS DISTRIBUTED, EXACTLY AS RECEIVED BY REUTERS, AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS

Compared to Libya, Tunisia, Egypt, Yemen and Pakistan, demonstrations in Iran in the wake of dissemination of an offensive video about the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) were relatively small affairs.

The Iranian government organized some of the demonstrations, such as the one outside the Swiss embassy in Tehran (Switzerland represents the US in Iran). The protest recalled similar events outside the Danish embassy in 2005 after the publication of offensive cartoons in a Danish newspaper.

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