The Middle-East reporter I respect most, Michael Totten, has claimed that the Iranian revolt against theocratic rule has just passed a point of no return.
The shooting of unarmed protesters during the holiday of Ashura is a blow that is unacceptable to conservative Shia. Ashura marks the sacred date in 680 when the caliph Yazid killed the grandson of Mohammad in the Battle of Karbala that forever separated the Shia from the Sunni.
To quote a protester: “killing Muslims on Ashura is like crucifying Christians on Christmas.” Or maybe like Arabs starting a war on the holiest of holy days, Yom Kippur.