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IRAN: Flag stirs debate at U.S. protests against Iran election results

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The appearance of the pre-Islamic Revolution Iranian flag at U.S. rallies is stirring tension between Iranian expatriates who come out to express solidarity with protests at home against the re-election of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

When supporters of Iran’s deposed shah bring out the flag at demonstrations in the Los Angeles area, younger protesters wearing green T-shirts and arm bands in support of presidential challenger Mir-Hossein Mousavi often move across the street.

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Like the country’s current flag, the former one contains horizontal bands of green, white and red. But the emblem in the middle contains a lion, sun and sword, rather than the four crescents and sword introduced by the Islamic regime in 1980.

Invitations to a candlelight vigil today in Los Angeles, which were posted on Facebook and other sites, contained the following warning: ‘no flags allowed -- if anyone brings any flag they will be asked to leave.’

‘This flag doesn’t mean monarchy,’ protested Parvaneh Jinchi, who attended a Tuesday demonstration outside the Federal Building in Westwood. ‘It is our (national) flag.’

Although Jinchi said she would be happy to see a constitutional monarchy restored in Iran, other demonstrators carrying the flag said they would prefer a secular democracy with no royal figurehead.

Younger protesters, however, said they did not want to give Iran’s rulers any excuse to accuse Mousavi of links to a movement that seeks to overthrow the current regime.

Organizers of a demonstration near a popular shopping mall in Irvine pleaded with protesters Wednesday to put the flags away.

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‘We are here to support the people who are fighting for their freedom in Iran,’ said Sara, a UCI student, ‘not to support any regime.’

-- Alexandra Zavis and Paloma Esquivel in Los Angeles

More on Iran’s presidential election and its aftermath.

Photo: Protesters wave the pre-Islamic Revolution Iranian flag at a demonstration in Irvine against the re-election of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Credit: Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times

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