5.  Iran Reins in Ramadan Events

The Islamic Republic is taking steps to curb Islamic celebrations in Iran, because leaders fear that massive celebrations of the holy month of Ramdan could turn into massive anti-government protests. One traditional celebration has been cancelled, another has been moved to a smaller venue, and others have had opposition-friendly clerics stricken from the list of participants. Tehran appears to be nervous about continued calls for protests from defeated presidential candidates Mir Hussein Mousavi and Mehdi Karoubi. Many backers of the regime are calling for the arrest of the pair, along with former president Mohammad Khatami, but so far the regime seems content to just arrest the opposition's student supporters and keep a lid on any gatherings—even religious ones—that smack of protest.

Read original story in The Washington Post | Monday, Sept. 7, 2009