Wishing a Happier New Year

Another new year, stuck in loneliness. Half of the family is in Iran, the country that has now become forbidden for me. Another half in America, the country that is too far to travel to when on a time-budget. Well, who says being busy is bad? It keeps the mind off of a lot of things; off of Iran; off of loneliness; off of the fact that I did not do spring-cleaning; that I decided against having a party. Last year, I kicked myself and did all that I had to do. I even cooked my famous soup (here's a picture of what that soup is, from 4 years ago).

This year, I am not going to anything but set a table, with cookies mother brought for me from Iran last year, with a tiny plate of wheat sprouts I bought for 2 Euros; the narcissus flowers I cut from a friend's house; and a pudding called Samanu, made of germinating wheat. It is apparently imported from Iran; and is reportedly a delicious brand. But, I have always hated Samanu, so I am not going to try.

I will also wear a new piece of clothing; I have an Indian silk shawl that I bought last year and never wore. If the weather is nice, I am going to wear this magenta/ruby/black piece of art and take my camera on a stroll on Thames, wishing for a streak of sun and little rain.

My only resolutions for the new year is to be a better friend and see as many old ones and make as many new friends as I can.

Prayers are for the believers, and I am not one. I am not a particularly wishful person either. In general, my faith in order and structure is more than in entropy. Entropies can cause miraculous growth but I think the disastrous probabilities dominate. Therefore, I cannot "wish" that Iran will become a heaven of respect and humanity next year.

There is a long way to go and a lot of infrastructure to set before building a different order in Iran. The old order, until it becomes entirely dysfunctional shall go on; just as it has been going on for at least 3000 years that our history is Occident-documented.

But I do wish for more dialogue, more understanding and more foresight to develop out of the order of things.

The order of things commands that leaders in Iran take a look at what is happening in the region, all those anti-state revolutions, and will see themselves in the mirror of the dictators who are affronted by their people.

The order of things commands that all of us pause on a moment of reflection and learn lessons that nature has just recently taught: that man, even the uberJapanese one, is helpless before the nature; and that our interventions in nature should perhaps not touch the nuclear cores of the maters of which life is made.

What makes our Persian New Year, Nowrooz, sacred to me is that it begins with spring; that it is tied to nature, to the sun and to the earth, and depends on the mercy of the galactic forces that keep the earth and the sun in an order that makes our humanly being possible. May this metaphore inspire all of us to keep a balanced order of things, as our lives spin and revolve.

Happy 1390!

How is the Nukie Ahmadinejad's media covering Japan?

I have been browsing the nuclear-energy seeking media of IRI to see if/how they are covering Japan's earlthquake-Tsunami-Nuclear leak axis of catastrophy. It seems that they are fully covering the Tsunami and Earthquake news, even exaggerate the number of fatalities, but are COMPLETELY omitting any news about the nuclear leak and the likely melt-down that is unnerving the world. Ironically, the top news on many sites is that Iran is ready to export nuclear fuels!

Here's a summary:

Irna:
Has a special report, on the left side; and rounds up the Richter scale from 8.8 to "9.0"!! (such is the accuracy of all state-reported numbers in that god forsaken country) and reports 3000 are killed (the more killed the better they can downplay the significance of tens of thousands of people who have died in Iranian earth quakes in the past few years.) THERE IS NO MENTION OF THE NUCLEAR LEAK. Interestingly, the top news is that "Iran is now ready to export nuclear fuel"!!

Keyhan:
2000 killed in earthquake and tsunami, no mention of nuclear leak.

No mention of the nuclear leak in Tabnak either, although they take the chance to remind Tehran is a ticking earth quake bomb.

The most disgusting one, as expected is FalseNews:

Their headline reads: "The Japan Earthquake, in the long run, is economically advantageous"!!!!!!! And no, this is not their idea, they are citing Bloomberg whose parent Foundation would be called a zionist and imperialist organ by these hypocrites in other occasions.

ISNA (the student reporting agency) is the only one that is very timidly mentions the nuclear leak.

"آخرين اخبار از ژاپن حاكي از ميزان 10 هزار نفري آمار گمشده‌ها در مينامي‌سانريكو، افزايش ميزان تلفات تا 574 تن، انفجار در نزديكي هسته مركزي نيروگاه انرژي اتمي، برآورد آلوده‌شدگان به مواد راديواكتيوي تا 160 تن،‌ آغاز سخت عمليات نجات بدليل از بين رفتن راه‌هاي ارتباطي و سيل، و جابجايي 2.4 متري جزيره ژاپن در اثر زلزله است." [latest news indicate, up to 10 thousand are missing, death toll up to 574 and an explosion near the core of the nuclear energy plant, and an estimate of up to 160 people contaminated, difficulties of rescue operation due to road destruction ...]

The IRGC threatens another coup if the parliament election doesn't go their way.

Here it is. take my word for it, I'll translate it for you when back from business-trip.

The little kids who beat protesters.

Poor kids.

This boy is hardly 12. He is holding a baton. On the green ribbon he is wearing, a large logo or IRGC is printed or embroidered. This picture is taken by a Fars-News (i.e. Ahmadinejad mercenary) photographer.

These "poor" people, who are apparently the 'popular base of Ahmadinejad', have little ideological faith in him. But, the pimp, the whore pimp, the drug crook, the IRGC is the one who recruits and pays these kids.

In a country with insufferable unemployment rates, with epidemic addiction problem, it is easy to find recruits who are paid from the 11 billion dollars missing from the country's budget.

And yet, the journalists who are beaten out of the country, worry about the fate of these little kids, these Basijis.

Ahmadinejad is promoting "procreation"; the more poor people at the mercy of his handouts, the more robots to beat and oppress voices of reason.

I am beginning to wonder the validity of claims that liken him to Hitler. But, the saving grace of Iran, unlike Weimar Germany, is that Iranians are political-minded from the cradle, and government-cynic from grade-one in school. We shall reign them in.

When the despots' media dig their grave for them ...

At this moment, I wish to do something other than this. If you have come here, you are perhaps looking for updates about how the protests in response to the kidnapping of Mousavi and Karoubi went. You are perhaps looking over the Internet for 'exiting' images of people confronting the Basiji thugs or the riot controllers. You are perhaps hoping to hear big crowds shout "Down with Khamenei". You are perhaps holding your breath for drama to unfold, a revolution to break, so you can get glued to CNN for a few days, wear solidarity flags, circulate the images and the songs of Iranian youth demanding democracy.

But, don't hold your breath. It is not going to happen. The reason is not because the opposition is not out there. The reason is because the Iranian regime has SUCH A TIGHT control on communication, that no one dares uploading pictures via IP addresses. Those who are caught doing such acts are given death sentences with charges of corruption or espionage. Fair enough, if you ask me what is the basis of this claim I am making.

Well, the proof is in what Raja-News, the Presidential news outlet has put out today. Because these sites have become very mercurial, and remove the source reports depending on who catches their bobo, I always take a snapshot of their screen. For posterity.

Voila, here it is. I translated it below the picture.

For those of you who have the slightest of doubts about the "seriousness" and the "size" of the green movement, just ask yourselves, WHY is such a 'mighty' government so scared of a few insignificant "bacteria" (as Khamenei called us) and "Dust" (as ahmadinejad called us).

No, you won't see any pictures coming out of Iran, because this open and global-managing government is SCARED of images, is scared of journalists and independent reporters. Read the translation below to become familiar with their journalist ethics and practices. And stop being willfully ignorant, if you think every thing in Iran is hunky dory and all this is just "zionist" propaganda! For all this to be propaganda, Mousavi and Karoubi have to send out videos in their homes, surrounded with their friends and families.

In this recent blunder of the Gobbelites, Raja news is publishing "details of the communication tricks of the anti-revolutionary leaders" in order to explain "why they are put under house arrest". (Today, there were quite a few contradicting stories coming from various sources in the government, trying to deny that Mousavi and Karoubi are transfered to a military prison.)

So this is their justification: (it is SO HARD to translate this text that is written by obvious illiteracy, so if it is hard to read, blame it on the original! I have already improved it much with my translations, they should thank me!)

"The communication restriction for Mousavi and Karoubi, whose description after February 14, has changed from "heads of conspiracy" to "internal anti-revolution leaders"--due to their role in executing the American/Israeli plans[!!!!]--has been due to the depth of their anti-security communications, and for preventing the further thickening of their crime file over the past 21 months.[!!!!!, how kind of them, they are just preventing Mousavi and Karoubi from further crimes!!!]

According to RajaNews, after calling to street protest on Feb 14, Mousavi and Karoubi who had no intention but creating tension in order to simulate in Iran an uprising like in countries where people had revolted against their dictator leaders, the atmosphere has become more clear, and it has become apparent that these street postures have no relation to matters such as last year's election. Rather, America and Israel have schemed it in order to find an exit from the unprecedented threat that their allies in north Africa are facing, and break the developments by pretending that Iran's situation is similar, in order to prevent Iran from becoming a model for the outcome of popular revolutions. [I have no clue what the idiot was thinking when writing this, defies logic!]

What is interesting in the contra-security communications of Mousavi is that some of his contacts with external elements has been via video chat; and he, in order to circumvent being wiretapped, he wrote his statements on paper and held in front of the webcam. [so here, they are admitting that Mousavi was wiretapped and was spied on. Nah don't expect a Watergate in Iran!!!!]

While the demands of people are much further than restricting their communication channels, and in a rally (9 Dey) January of 2010 until now they have demanded execution of these conspiracy leaders, the media and the counterrevolutionary sources are trying to pretend that even this minor restriction, which is in fact the mercy of nezaam (regime) bestowed upon these people to prevent them from being confronted by the people [i.e. those who want to slit Karoubi's throat--see previous posts on that], and from increasing their crimes [did I thank this thoughtful, kind and gentle Nezaam before??!?!?!], is a major calamity.

In the meantime, with restriction of the communications of Mousavi and Karoubi, the external counterrevolutionaries have directly entered the field to manage the plot that from inception to date has remained without results. This proves that even before, the counterrevolutionaries have been the designers of this unrest, and people who were called the heads of conspiracy were just mercenaries of anti-revolutionary projects and Western services. [Wow, genius!]

This trend is also present in the Kalemeh web site that until now was claimed to be run by Mousavi's confidants; such that since the communications of the heads of conspiracy are limited, this site has completely turned into an anti-revolutionary medium. It is said that Hamzeh Ghalebi, who was the head of the youth wing of Mousavi's campaign, has fled to France and manages this site. [Fled? Why? scared of you goons?]

The scenario of "continued tension" in Iran, is written by American, British and Zionist agencies and Mousavi and Karoubi have been the executives of this plan [this is when I think Lacan will have a field day, psychoanalysing Ahmadinejad's self-reflexive camp]. However their negligence in feasibility assessment for executing such plan amongst the people and the elite, and under vision of the revolution leader [I thought the revolution leader was Khomeini who died, after 32 years these people are still in a state of revolution?] in the past few months, this scenario is neutralized such that the designers of this plot believe that with the polarization of people to "revolutionary" and "counterrevolutionary" [again what we warn these goons what, you are with us or against us] after Feb 14, absolute neglect of the people [of the Feb 14 event], and major collapse amongst the supporters of conspiracy [refers to Hashemi, Rowhani, Motahari and other pseudo-greens who came out and condemned Feb 14 protest, because Ahmad Khatami and others threatened and gave them less that one week to be with them or against them], even condemnation of them by people who had been silent over the past two years [i.e conservatives such as Mohsen Rezayee and Ghalibaf], they have lost important cards and the conditions for continued tension has become difficult. [!!!!]

End of report.

[No this is not an opinion piece, this is a "news" item. and since it is not expressed with neutrality that a news journalist is bound to, I have annotated it!]

Wishful Thinking

Mousavi and Karoubi are under arrent and are transfered to Heshmatiyeh prison (A prison in Shargh of Tehran, in a miltary complex tat was established during Shah, and wish is in the same "complex" as teh Revolution Court is). That's what the heavy artillery in Tehran streets meant. That's what the appearance of the minister of intelligence on TV meant. He really had no evidence against the 'crimes' of these men. They have been digging and digging to find 'dirt' on them and have not. So they abducted them. And then said: It's the orders of the supreme leader!

Last week, when the rumors of their arrest was taking a more serious tone, Ayatollah Montazeri's son wrote a public letter to Khamenei and asked him to hold a 'friendly' meeting with Mousavi, Karoubi, Khatami, and Hashemi to discuss matters in the spirit of old days when they were all colleagues. After all, these five men were the pillars on which the Islamic republic of Iran stood for over 25 years; before the virus, Ahmadinejad took over.

Also, Ali Motahari made a public suggestion that the state television should invite Mousavi and Karoubi and give them a chance to explain themselves and express their concerns to the people.

Since two days ago, more and more religious leaders have come out to condemn the house arrest of these men; and a total black out in their homes: not only the lights of their houses have been off, but also their children are in absolute dark about the fate of their parents. Ayatollahs Dastgheyb, Bayat Zanjani, and Sane'i, all "grand Ayatollahs" with their own followers have condemned the illegal detention of the these men and their spouses.

Iranians have pledged to pour out in the streets and protest the illegal and unexplained abduction of their leaders.

On the other hand, pressures on Hashemi have been increasing.

Last week his daughter came under attack by thugs who shouted at her, called her a whore, a bastard and pledged to rape her! (Yes, these are the men of the Islamic Republic we are talking about--and no, they are not the ones hired from Lebanon Hezbollah. Those just beat and take pictures. If this happens to a private citizen like me, the IRI security forces have the right to arrest the man shouting such obscenities. In fact,. they have a lot of patrols to make sure such men do not harass women. However, when this happens to teh daughter of Hashemi, the attorney general states that "persecution of the individuals needs Ms Hashemi to file an official complaint!".

Hashemi's candidacy to run for the head of The Assembly of Experts (a body that is in charge of watching over the supreme leader's "justice to rule') has also come under attack. Reportedly, 60 members of the Assembly have signed a petition for Mahdavi Kani to run for the position. Despite pressure, Hashemi has not back tracked and has maintained that it is his duty and obligation to the country and the Revolution to run and serve in the assembly.

However, poor Hashemi is getting it from both sides!

While under pressure ( I mean belligerent threats that either condemn before next week or await a similar fate) from hardliners (who had already detained Mousavi and Karoubi), Hashemi condemned the Feb 14 unrest. It was a mild condemnation but it didn't take the Greens to come out in mass and express dismay and hatred for him. Someone wrote: The extremists on both sides give Hashemi Shit while inviting him to join their camp!. However he has so far maintained his independence from both camps, a strategy, that in my opinion is right.

Already, a large number of Greens hate Hashemi; and Hashemi is well aware of that the hatred of the populist bases of Ahmadinejad is fueled by his personal wealth, and by never proven allegations of the corruption of his sons. So, if he sided with the Greens, in my view he will have damaged them more than keeping a distance with them. However, Hashemi has never back-tracked from the position he announced upon the start of the mayhem.

With that overview, what is my wishful thinking?

Well, only that they are not going to kill them or slit their throats as the thugs had promised. Ironically, the conservatives admitted that Mousavi, Karoubi and their wives (a doctor and a university professor) have been "moved to a safe house outside Tehran", implying that their staying out of prison was "unsafe" for them!!! Of course, it is not because the state is worried about these "mohareb"s (combatants against the regime) getting killed. One of their idiots in charge had admitted that they were taken in a safe house because the green movement was looking for their martyrdom to find extra excuse for rebellion!!!

Have they killed them already? Are the reports of their bloody bodies dragged into the prison and moving Karoubi in a body bag in the trunck of a car true?I hope not.

Would Khamenei meet with these men in private? Will he make deals and concessions with them? Everytime the regime takes a "carrot" posture after a sticky one, they bring up the prosecution of Ghazi Mortazavi, the corrupt judge responsible for the rapes and killings in Kahrizak. Would Khamenei STOP this madness ... will he stop this madness ... this madness ...

I guess I am thinking wishfully ...

Update: Tehran is on rooftops with Allah o Akbar; and Fars News is denying the arrests, although it was the attorney General, Mohseni Ejehi (the man who bit a journalist, Eesa Saharkhiz, in the parliament, literally with his teeth!!)

Islamic Japan or Islamic North Korea?

In a recent article, Seyed Mostafa Tajzadeh, argues that despite the election promises by the totalitarian wing of the regime, expressed by the right-winger Haddad Adel, the mismanagement of Ahmadinejad's extremist administration, corruption, meddling of the armed forces in the election and the atmosphere of detention and oppression after the election, has diminished Iran's international credibility in foreign policy and public perception. He warns that if the current pace of events continues, Iran will be increasingly approaching a North Korean model.

In the introduction of this article, Tajzadeh draws attention to a passionate letter he wrote last year, apologizing to Iranians for having been part of the power structure that had swept under the rug the dangers of extremism and intolerance lurking in layers of post revolution structures. (here's that letter in Persian and here's a synopsis in English).

That letter got him in trouble and he writes that his interrogators took the letter as a sign of mental illness of Tajzadeh and his reformist friends, advising them to seek treatment: "You and your ilk have taken the American threat all these years so serious that you need an Urologist." [!]

Tajzadeh, of course, takes pride in his party's approach to taking the American threats serious, and the initiation of the "Dialogue of civilizations" that would simultaneously promote Iran's development and keep the American threat at bay.

Instead, the Ahmadinejad's camp have on the one hand undermined the seriousness of the American threat, have undertaken adventurist approaches, have militarized every detail of the nation's affairs and thus have rendered the government inefficient, and have given priority to violation of the civil rights of the Iranians. This, for the reformists is an irresponsible act that has jeopardized the independence, integrity, national interest, national security and national growth.

Tajzadeh argues that the conservatives in Iran have proven in action that they do not consider the American government to be their enemy, rather the democracy in Iran (he will later explain the rationale behind this democracy-phobia in parallel to North Korea's). He draws attention to the failure of calculations of the conservatives: they had bet that American sanctions would not happen; they did. They had bet that the nuclear dossier would not be sent to the security council, it was. That the sanctions will not have any effect, but the lower income Iranians have been carrying the burden. Further, they (conservatives) had to bribe Turkey and Brazil with an indefensible contract to prevent the passage of the recent resolution (something that even the interrogators could not defend).

Tajzadeh then draw attention to how it is the recent violation of the human rights in Iran that is making the American threats particularly dangerous. He cites a poll by PEW, showing the 'growth' of unpopularity of Iran in public opinions (see picture below, I am not sure if this is the poll he is referring to, though); and draw attention to how General Petraeus had once told Fareed Zakaria that Ahmadinejad was the best recruiter of forces in their [neoconservative/pro-Israeli, pro-Saudi] camp. (see the video below, the phrase is at minute 6:58.)

To support his argument that Iran is turning into a North Korea, he reminds that the North Korean model is one that emphasizes absolute political independence, economic self-sufficiency and military self-reliance; a system which enforces itself by its rulers repeatedly warning of external threats, and thus tolerates the rule of only one party, as diversity will make the country vulnerable. Although the goal of 'liberating the Southern half" from American occupation is the ultimate dream, North Koreans blame their failure to match South Korea in economic growth on the conspiracy and espionage of the Imperialists, on the internal opposition to socialism and on imperialist infiltrators who want to break up the system. In North Korea, freedom does not apply to individuals, but to a country in terms of its independence and it can only be achieved under a one-party rule.

Tajzadeh notes that despite the religious slogans, the rest of the state propaganda considers nuclear technology the "only" achievement of the Islamic republic, and any criticism is responded to as an act of treason, animosity , conspiracy and Zionism! Tajzadeh reminds that North Korea has made significantly more 'advances' in the nuclear and space technology than Iran has, but it has also been proportionally more oppressive in categorizing its populate to 'friend', 'enemy' and 'infiltrator'!!!

So why am I bothering with summarizing this article?

First, because it opens a little window into what this whole brutality in Iran is really about; why the reformists and the conservatives are in this bloody dog fight. I believe this makes the outsiders better appreciate the difference between the current rulers of Iran and the previous ones who are now all in prison; or kidnapped!!!

Secondly, I think it is important to recognize that the Iranian regime is deadly serious about its paranoia about the surrounding enemies. Listening to Petraeus video makes it clear why they should worry. But it also makes you realize why many Iranians are worried that Ahmadinejad is in fact the one who is endangering Iran.

And third, keep in mind that the notion of Islamic Japan is a promise that despite all sanctions and economic stagnations make Iranians work towards becoming a developing country. In the mind of the current leaders of Iran, nuclear technology is what will keep international pressure away, give Iran bargaining power, and help it become India or China, if not Japan!

Even as we watch nervously the dangerous direction our country is heading at, we are investing, we are building, we are buying. Truth is, Iranians by and large do not respect any of their governments. The country in some ways is an anarchist state! Look at what just happened: two statesmen have gone missing, and no one bothers to do anything about it. I do have some 'optimist' suspicions and some theories about what may be happening behind the scenes; but because I have been so WRONG in everything I have hoped this regime may do resembling 'right', I keep my thoughts to myself until a clearer picture emerges.

It's amazing the tendency human has fro inventing hope.

State Terrorism

Well, Iran is a country that has a constitution; according to which: All people of Iran, whatever the ethnic group or tribe to which they belong, enjoy equal rights; color, race, language, and the like, do not bestow any privilege.[art 19]; All citizens of the country, both men and women, equally enjoy the protection of the law and enjoy all human, political, economic, social, and cultural rights, in conformity with Islamic criteria [art. 20] The dignity, life, property, rights, residence, and occupation of the individual are inviolate, except in cases sanctioned by law.[art. 22]
and most importantly:
No one may be arrested except by the order and in accordance with the procedure laid down by law. In case of arrest, charges with the reasons for accusation must, without delay, be communicated and explained to the accused in writing, and a provisional dossier must be forwarded to the competent judicial authorities within a maximum of twenty-four hours so that the preliminaries to the trial can be completed as swiftly as possible. The violation of this article will be liable to punishment in accordance with the law.

However, after almost three weeks of vandalism and goonism, the leaders of the opposition in Iran have gone missing! No more security forced patroling their neighborhood and imprisoning them at home; the glasses of Karoubi's complex broken, the daughters of Mousavi are dead worried about their missing parentS; and the sons of Karoubi are warning that should anything happen to their parentS, they will hold the state responsible. No one is accountable, no one from the government or the judiciary is speaking about what has happened to them, no charges have been laid, no endictment issued. As my friend Pedestrian puts it, they are just earased!

For years, I have argued against the charges of the IRI being a terrorist state; but if this is not state terrorism, what is?

The Bad and the Ugly

By the way, the thugs have broken into Karoubi's house, have locked him and his wife up in separate rooms, have changed the locks on their house doors; and have read a statement that they are "soldiers of Seyed Ali" (i.e. Khamenei) and that they are waiting for his signal to behead Karoubi and his wife.

"وب سایت سحام نیوز حمله کنندگان به منزل مسکونی آقای کروبی را "اوباش حکومتی" خوانده و خبر داده است که اوباش حکومتی در پایان متنی قرائت کردند که بر اساس آن، این عملیات را بخش کوچکی از حکم جهاد آقای خامنه ای اعلام کردند. در این قطعنامه با صراحت گفته شد منتظر فرمان نهایی ایشان برای بریدن سر کروبی و همسرش از سوی رهبری هستند و آویزان کردن آنها در میادین شهر هستند."

Have you seen anything uglier than this creature?

He is suggesting that the security forces should strongly stand up to "the hypocrites who are planning to assassinate innocent Iranians today"!!!!

Uhm!

So the scenario is written?

Someone is going to shoot down a few Basijis and this will give the security forces under this shit-face the justification to open fire on the rest?

Well, this scenario has been circulating around for a few days; so this is making the rumors appear a bit more real.

How can someone this UGLY and convoluted in the face be anything decent inside?!

Gotta love Karoubi's sense of humor (New Letter to the Judiciary)

Today, Feb 20, a new letter from Karoubi is published on his news site (translated below, and all exclamation marks are his.) This coincides with another effort by people to take the streets, while the officials are issuing repeated threats of blood-shed and spamming mobile phones that the protests are cancelled.

In this letter, Karoubi warns of fascism and asks the judiciary to enforce the law and keep the appearance of lawfulness by trying him in a public court.

Your honorable Ayatollah Amoly Larijani,

[short Greetings]

Unfortunately, the atrocities of previous nights, albeit with increased intensity are underway. Repeatedly, about hundred bikers and some dressed as clergy, have done all in their might to insult, harass, and disturb peace and tranquility of the neighborhood.

These individuals start their ceremony by profanities directed at the so called heads of the conspiracy (fetneh), and also at some of the ruling elite and their family member [refers to Hashemi], and end it with prayer for the long living of the supreme leader! In brief, they start with whistling and clapping and then chest beating and prayer; assuming they are serving Islam and Muslims! Interestingly, these individuals cannot wait to bring to conclusion their cultural endeavor, by breaking into the homes and murdering the inhabitants!

Head of the Judiciary,

Peace and tranquility is taken away from the neighbors and they are terribly worried and stressed. I am telling you, for the face of the government, that such behavior has surpassed Islam, Islamic republic and clergy, and I have been worried and continue to worry about this wave.

I request from you to soon and through legal channels act on the promises that The Masters [refer to the conservatives who have come out asking for Mousavi/Karoubi's persecution] have given in their speeches, and hold public trials to deliver the charges and the defense. May people learn about the truth in just and open courts.

At the end, I announce to the provocateurs of these vicious actions, that with the help of God, there is no compromise in the resolve of Mehdi Karoubi for defending the rights of the Iranian people, and I will stand by them to the last minute.

That's it. [Maybe clergy use va'l-salam to its literal meaning in Arabic, Peace; but in Iran, when we say that, it means: end of discussion; that's it; finitto ... ]

[no sign off greetings]

Mehdi Karoubi

1 Esfand 1389 [Feb 20, 2011]

Nader & Simin's Separation, winning Berlinale's Golden Bear!

Asghar Farhadi's film "The Separation of Nader and Simin" wins the top award of the International Berlin Film Festival.

Of his work, I have seen About Elly; and I found it to be great, a breath of fresh air in the Iranian Cinema genre. (see an interview with the director, in English.) His About Elly won the silver bear of Berlin festival and was the best narrative films in 2009 Tribeca.He is an up and coming director with 3 wins for The Separation of Nader and Simin in this year's Fajr film festival.

From Der Spiegel:

An Iranian film has won the top prize at the Berlin International Film Festival for the first time. The Golden Bear went to Asghar Farhadi's family drama "Nader and Simin: A Separation."

One of the notable things about the 2011 Berlin International Film Festival was that one of the jury members was not there. Iranian director Jafar Panahi, who is facing six years in prison and a 20-year ban on making films after falling foul of Iran's regime, was appointed as a member of this year's jury as a gesture of solidarity, even though he was unable to attend.

But one of his compatriots, Asghar Farhadi, was able to come to Berlin to present his film "Nader and Simin: A Separation," and he will be returning to Tehran satisfied -- his film reaped the festival's top prize, the Golden Bear, on Saturday evening.

It is the first time the Berlinale's Golden Bear has gone to an Iranian film. Farhadi's movie, a family drama about a couple on the verge of divorce, also won two Silver Bear for best actress and best actor, which went to the film's collective female and male ensembles, respectively. Farhadi, 38, also won a Silver Bear in 2009 for his drama "About Elly."

"I want to remind you of Jafar Panahi," Farhadi said during his acceptance speech. "I really think his problem will be solved, and I hope he will be the one standing here next year."

Given the focus on the plight of Iranian filmmakers at this year's Berlinale, the prize is likely to be interpreted as a political signal by the festival jury. Jury president Isabella Rossellini said the choice of Farhadi's film was "pretty unanimous."

Farhadi's film production had come to a halt, because of his vocal criticism of politics interfereing in the affairs of The House of Cinema. In fact all he had said was that he hoped the situation in the country would become such that Bahram Baizai (this too) would return, Amir Naderi would be able to make his films in Iran, the star of About Elly, Golshifteh Farahani [i just posted a song by her] would be able to return to Iran, and Jafar Panahi would be able to make films again.

However, he backtracked about the interpretation of his statements in order to get permit to continue his film.

It is in the eye of the world, that he stood by Panahi, again.

Conservative MP, Ali Motahari to Jannati: put both Greens and Ahmadinejadists on trial!

Ali Motahari is a conservative (else he would not be in the guardian-council-vetted parliament).

In response to the "death" orgy invitation extended by dinosaur Jannati, the head of the guardian council in the Friday prayer after Feb 14 protest, he has written a letter to Jannati; which is acknowledging how 'angry' people are and how they 'rightful'!! want to prosecute the leaders of the green movement, BUT this demand has to be carried out in courts of law and not on Jannati's decree. and at the end, he sticks it to the Ahmadinejead camp, [trying to catch his own fish from the murky waters? This is just to show you how COMPLEX the factions in Iran are.]

[Greetings, rather cold and not too ceremonial]

In the Friday prayer sermon in Tehran, you have expressed: "What the judiciary can do to the heads of the 'fetneh' [revolt] is to cut their communication with the public off; close the door of their homes, limit their outing, such that they cannot get messages; and their phone and internet must be disconnected and they be put under house arrest."

It appears, that the demands of the people for prosecution of the most effective cause of fetneh, is more logical and legal than your honor's demand, because all your orders are consequences of the prosecution of these individuals, and without processing their charges in a just court, issuing and executing such orders is not possible. The reason why people insist on prosecution of them is that until charges have not been proven as guilt, and a sentence is not issued, one cannot be harassed, imprisoned, and striped of citizen rights; otherwise punishing them for people is easy; and it is our Islamic progressiveness that has held people back.

Of course, justice requires that all who played a role in fetneh be tried, both those who claimed election fraud had taken place, and instead of following legal channels called to street protests, and those who fanned the flames by throwing accusations in presidential debates [i.e. Ahmadinejad] and broke the barrier of respect between the people and the nezam [regime], need to be tried simultaneously, even though their charges do not carry the same weight. [sucker!] In this way, the public's conscience will smell the scent of justice and fairness and gets calmed down and the source of fetneh dries up. If all this happened in the first days and months of fetneh the fiasco of Feb 14 (25 Bahman) that resulted from naivete and instrumentalization by Israel and America will not have occurred [!!!!].

It is not late yet. It is never late to carry justice.

Karoubi's neighbors complain to the State minister about harassment.

Persian Source:http://www.rahesabz.net/story/32859/

In the Name of God,

Dear Mr Najjar,

the honorable minister of State of the IRI,

with greetings

We inform that honorable official that in the past four days, between hours 1:00-3:00 am, approximately 100 men and women have been gathering in front of the residential complex in North-Dibaji, Azarmina district in front of Mr Karoubi's residence; and by shouting profanities and the absurdest and ugliest of slogans against Mr's Mousavi, Karoubi, Khatami and Hashemi, who have once been important figures in the state, have not only offended the respectable Muslim neighbors of the quartier, but have also disturbed the peace and safety of the neighborhood.

The residents of this neighborhood have filed a complainet with the police station #110; but the officers in this branch have told us that confronting these people is beyond their authority.

We, the residents of this neighborhood, have invested a fortune to register our children in private and sophisticated schools in order for them to be raised in the highest of ethical and educational environments. However, in the past few nights, unfortunately, our children have been exposed to the ugliest sexual profanities uttered by people who call themselves the soldiers of "valayat" [supreme leader]. In hours that we get ready to go to work, these night-watchers leave the area to rest.

Worse of all, the presence of a few women, with inappropriate presence, who act as chargers and provocateurs of the plainclothes persons in presence, has tarnished the image of the neighborhood. The passage of people, who after the end of the 'ceremonies' come to hook up with these women is an added problem.

Therefore, hereby, we insistingly demand from that honorable official to order that these illegal gatherings be confronted. If some officials believe such ceremonies are necessary [!], at least order these gatherings to be held during the day, or early in the evening; and to refrain from uttering sexual harassments, and prevent appearance of prostitutes in the residential area.

Wishing your health and success,

A few of the residents of the Azarmina in Farmaniyeh district

30 Bahman (19 feb) 1389(2011).

P.S. the regime is so frightened that they are erecting iron walls (literally) around Mousavi's house. His residence is in the neighborhood of the presidential office, a hospital and also the Soupreme Leader's house; and these news have just leaked out apparently by workers of the presidential office and the hospital that they are busy fortifying the neighborhood with actual walls. I think they fear people breaking in and trying to release them.

What kind of rallies the Iranian regime doesn't crack down?

Some fascist, who often tries to 'edify' blog posts that bring to attention the hypocritical facts of the IRI, has commented that the men and women in this 19 minutes video of Feb 14 protests in Iran are "bache-soosool", or "sissy & prissy, gigolos, spineless, spoiled ", and that the regime will never fall with such actions! [in other words, he belittled the bravery of the protesters in this video]

Well, after you watch this video, I show you some of the 'supporters of Mr Khamenei and Mr Ahmadinejad'



You judge yourself, what sissy-boy in the fascist mind means.


The woman is holding a sign: "Seyed Ali Khamenei, I have not seen a name more beautiful."

This is a "soosool" woman during the election campaign, sucking up to Ahmadinejad.

However, if a "soosool" woman is not holding Ahmadinejad's picture, she will be arrested by the ninja turtlette because of her 'hijab'.

Or even worse, get beaten like this into Islamic modesty! [this woman was beaten for resisting to the police who were trying to arrest her because of her incomplete Hijab, during one of Ahmadinejad's trademark initiatives: "tarh-e effat-e ejtema'i" (social piety!).]

But if someone wants to dress outside of Islamic Modesty code, they should hold Ahmadinejad's picture:

So to summarize;

If the 'rallying women' look like this:

or this: (wearing the Iranian-KKK uniform on which it's written: I give my life for the leader! Yah! Sure! Behind her, the cad reads: death to anti-velayate faghih)

Then they are safe and "respectable".

But, if they look like in the video I posted above,

or like this:

or this:

then they are "soo-sool"; they should be ashamed of themselves, and the heavily armed, and masked men are there to beat sense and shame to them so they would either grab a picture of the dictator, or home, so Mr Ahmadinejad and others can devour the country; before engulfing it in fire; while spitting nonesensical statistics that fools like the fascist who leaves comments here feel justified about holding a baton to their compatriots.

And with fear comes courage ...

This is the most amazing piece of video I have seen.



And I think when we are this scared; then this is the only option remaining for hope.

Quick explanations:
--firing garbage bins is to alleviate the burning due to tear gas.
--people are chanting:
we are children of war, fight we fight back.
down with dictator
their ammunition is over
...

We are Scared

The buzzword among my friends today has been "we are 'scared'! "

Mousavi and his wife have gone completely missing. Their guards are dismissed. Anyone who approaches their street is immediately surrounded by the masked-men who are residing in a van that is blocking the entrance of their home. Apparently, even the city-cleaners are from the intelligence ministry. Anyone who accesses the Pastor neighborhood is photographed and 'tagged'. Pastor is a protected zone. that is where a lot of the ruling elite of Iran live. It is not in the Trendy North; it is indeed in the heart of Tehran. It is a kind of neighborhood where there are more ominous warnings about "no photography" than there are cameras! Pastor is where Khamenei lives; where Ahmadinejad's presidential office is. Even my cool brother yelled at me once, when I took out my newly bought digital camera to snap a shot. He had been arrested there often as an art student. He could not risk a Western-dwelling sister in the hands of the huge scary men who had frightened him in the basement of some obscure building, making him promise that he will never make a mistake. (He joked about the letter he was forced to sign, and called himself a saint after having given that guarantee.)

Yes, Mousavi and his wife are missing. Their daughters are worried. They are worried about the food their parents are fed. The IRI torturers are infamous for 'drugging' their prisoners: psychoactive drugs, or blood thinners that lead to little microinfarcts, or maybe even heart attacks. It is somewhat concerning how almost every political prisoner in their jail has had a cardiovascular or psychotic attack.

Men of politics, men who have fought in wars and who have been in the trenches of the IRI battles, men who have led unions and human right groups, and women who have started the 1 million signature campaign are not, as we Persians say, willows that tremble with such winds like prison and persecution. We are all baffled why so many of them are chained to hospital beds after infarcts. Is is extreme psychological stress that is messing up their system, or is it intoxication KGB style?

Mousavi and his wife are missing, totally missing, and no one is accountable: neither the judiciary, nor the security forces, not even the intelligence ministry.

The worry over their detention or death grows, and so does the anger and passion that boils in the hearts of many a young Iranian who no longer have much to lose, who no longer have a leader to taper their anger and advise them to calm. So the critical question is:

Does the anger of these young men and women who are pushed to a corner frighten the IRI?

The answer is yes. And no.

Yesterday, Mehdi Khazali, a conservative son of a conservative cleric, wrote his observation of the savagery of the IRI thugs among the protesters and bystanders. He wrote how people chanted "down with dictator" at him (because he wears a beard); and how Basiji teenagers mistook him for one of their commanders (because of his beard) and ran to him for crack down orders. He also wrote about how people tried to help each other, how the thugs were covering their faces as if frightened by what was to befall them.

What kind of a security force covers their face? Is Iran run by the likes of KKK? The answer is yes.

But then if the anger of the Iranians frightens these masked goons, then would they back off to prevent it?

My answer is no; because they NEED radicalization to crack down harder.

In the past 24 hours, I have been hearing many a rumor about "bombings" in the Friday prayer. thank god the prayer is over without any bombing.

Yesterday, a silly boy that I know was posting messages about "courageous Kurds who have pledged to avenge the death of Jaleh Sane' and are going to bomb the Friday prayer." (You can be sure that I gave him a not so uncertain piece of my mind. The stupid kid is spreading stupid falsehoods from the comfort of his Milan home! But who was behind such rumors? Certainly, the Kurdish militants are not going to announce their battle tactics beforehand.

But today, another interesting piece started circulating the social networks. A warning! That a conspiracy was drafted in the IRGC 'think' rooms; that assassinate several 'mild' Basijis across the country, to make it look like there was an organized terrorist endeavor by the two official armed oppositions: MKO, and Komoleh. The warning, perhaps another rumor, rang of an ominous truth. This will not have been the first time the IRI would have attempted to trigger 'terrorism' in Iran.

Yesterday, they stole Sane' Jaleh's body, announced he was a Basiji martyr, showed 'proof' that he was a spy FOR the IRI, and then arrested his brother who refute the accusations, and then occupied their house in the small Kurdish city of Paveh, holding a mock funeral attended by strange men and women unknown to the locals, men and women carrying "death to Mousavi" signs!!

Today, they confirmed the death penalty of yet another Kurdish activist. I have lost count of how many Kurds they have killed in the past few months. I have asked my Kurdish friends to compile a list for me and when they do I will publish it. But kurd-killing is the cheapest scare-crow they can erect! It is easy to kill people who are charged with "armed secessionism", especially people who do not speak Persian fluently and eloquently, who are tucked away in the Western borders where most Iranians never travel partly because it is 'poor and non-touristic' and partly because it is an unsafe region; and are hardly given any chance to defend themselves.

Sadly for us, Kurds and Baluchis and Bahais were not the central point of attention of the democracy-seekers; sadly for us we neglected their case for too long; sadly for us it may be already too late. This time, just as it has happened in all fascist states, they are coming for the rest of us.

The message that warned of the IRGC conspiracy predicted another 1988-like mass murder, when many innocent kids on bogus charges of "opposition to the regime" (and thus the governance of God!) met their tragic end.

How can you call Iran anything but a fascist state when the ex-prime minister of a country just goes missing when masked people block his house WITHOUT the slightest accountability?

And, what is next?

A world-war like the one that recruited Italy? Or a civil war like the one that engulfed Spain?

I fear the civil war is what we will get. Our civil war is cheaper, considering the state of the global economy and all those other little fires that are burning in the middle east. The world cannot afford a world-war right now.

When a state employs 'civilians', who are not wearing any official badge, to use them against another set of civilians; when a state promotes and supports thugery; when a state steals bodies of oppositions and appropriates them to its own cause; when a state lies without any shame, accountability or fear of repercussion, when the parliament holds "protest' to shout DEATH (not prosecution, not trying for treason, but death, god given, mullah sanctioned DEATH) to the founders of the regime, then that is when the rules of the game have all been thrown out of the window. That is when the Gorilla has smashed the chess board. (We knew it is coming.)

These people, who have prided themselves for asymmetric war against Saddam and who trained their proxies to win wars like this against Israel, are now convinced that the rest of us are "enemies" and as such, they are determined to kill us with the same asymmetric tactics. This is why they imposture in our rallies, dress like us, wear green bracelets, and then strike out touting their guns and batons, shouting profanities, full of fear themselves but acting in scary ways to frighten us.

And the rest of us are left with the option of saving our lives, migrating if we have money or running to hiding and become accomplices; or becoming like them and fighting back asymmetrically. A lose-lose situation.

When we saw the light at the end of the tunnel, when Khatami won ~80% of the votes, and when we saw that he couldn't bring justice to the families of the victims of the chain murders despite undeniable evidence that his intelligence ministry was involved in execution of those hideous acts, we should have know that a train that was coming in our direction.

Some of us, naively thought that the 'ceremonial' position of the 'king' or 'faghih' will bring sense to this madness; that the train will stop at a station and the 'king' will get off to speak sense. But he was heading at our direction. And today, we are 'scared' because we no longer know where to run to. Those of us who are not hit by this train, will have to get on it. We are heading to concentration camps.

Today, my Bahai friend's wet eyes remind me of the day when I was 14, and some IRGC man had warned my family that if I want to go to university, I should have stopped walking with her to school. Shortly after, she, the brightest of us all, was kicked out of school. And I didn't have to suffer the shame of telling her I was afraid to walk with her.

Father, mother, we are culpable.

Karoubi demands from the IRI to prosecute him publicly

A new message from Karoubi has just been published.

In his message, he first apologizes to his neighbors for the harassment the IRI thugs have created; for having them and their families to hear profanities that are not even expected from the governmental thugs (I suspect sexual profanities and insults shouted towards him and his family members.)

Next, he addresses some of the conservatives, like Mohsen Rezayee, Mahdavi Kani (he is promised Hashemi's job), Hasan Rohani and Ghalibaf, who had been silent to date about all these events, but who joined the camp of death-seekers for Mousavi, Karoubi, Hashemi and Khatami. Karoubi states that he understands that their statements are based on pressure from above; he draws attention to similar statements made by Abtahi, one of his consultants who was arrested, tortured and forced to make a televised condemnation of Karoubi.

He states that he understand that there is a concerted effort to bring them to trial and is asking only one favor from the conservatives who have just now joined the camp of anti-Greeners:

To push the judiciary to try them in public. Just like Shah did when they prosecuted Golsorkhi, Bokharayee and Taleghani and others ...

Karoubi expresses cynicism, based on the conduct of the national broadcasters to be objective and fair, but he asks the press be allowed to witness and publish his defense, where he wishes to establish "who" exactly is attempting an over-throw of the regime.

Kidnapping the second martyr!

This one didn't have the "Basiji Looks", so they just decided to do the photographic honor while posing beneath the coffin.

How is it possible?!

Also, read this more elaborate explanation by my blog-sister.

Kidnapping the dead!

Among those, who were killed, on the day that our Supreme leader did not permit a peaceful protest in support of the Egyptians, who had just toppled their dictator amidst out leader clapping for the cause, was a theater student by the name of Sane' Jaleh; a Kurdish student of Arts.

Upon news of his death circulating, the fascist regime of Iran pulled yet another rat out of the hat: they issued a basiji (paramilitia) membership card for him; and sent out their 'infiltrators' to give the suddenly-turned-Basiji-theater-student an anti-zionistic funeral!!

Sadly for the propagandist fanatics of Ahmadinejad 'think tank'; Sane' Jaleh has a brother, Ghane' Jaleh, who had defied threats and gone public, sobbing, calling from Paveh, announcing that not only his slain brother was not a Basiji, but he was an anti-Basiji!

He is talking with a sweet Kurdish accent, he sobs, and he says they are not even giving back his body. He sobs. He says we are under pressure by the intelligence ministry. He sobs. His cousin has stolen the picture to hand over to those who made the Basiji ID card. He sobs. His brother just wanted to be an artist, like Bahman Ghobadi, to be source of pride for his people and country.

They have stolen the body.

Have coerced a picture from a family member.

Have hijacked the funeral his classmates were trying to set up.

Have beaten and arrested the Art-students of Tehran's Art University.

Yes they are ugly ...

Yes they are shameless ...

Our leader, the so-called supreme leader, depending on the dose of narcotics he suffers, calls himself God or the representative of god; and all who object his godly self-appointment are called Doshman (enemy)!

The position of this supreme leader, is called "Vali'e Faghih". Most people call him "Vali-e Vaghih".

Faghih means sage, wise, even omniscient!

Vagih mean ugly, ugly, ugly.

He is Vaghih.

Everything that has come out of Iran in the past two days is ugly! I am ashamed of my country; but I am absolutely in awe of those brave ones, who risked all, to take on the Basiji-infested streets of our major cities, to make us hear once more, that beauty doesn't die without a fight.

This is the Iranian KKK, and these are what the state has unleashed on the rest of us!

This is just out:

Accordint to Ayandeh_news, the superfascist, Shariatmadari (here's an old post of his record) is so intent on appropriating Sane'e Jaleh into his camp that he is boasting that he was his spy, and attended Ayatollah Montazeri's lectures to report back on them. He then adds: "of course we will not harm our own informants, so his assassination was pre-meditated!"

To me, this read as the regime's "reporter in cheif" says: "you don't believe he was one of us feces? Come, I have record of his stench!"

Here's the video!!! (especially for Pen Name, enjoy watching your ilk!)

Update: I just heard Ghane'e Jaleh, the man who was crying on the first video refuting the claims of his brother having been a Basiji is arrested, and is under pressure to take back his interview.

Ahmadinejad's mouthpiece, Falsenews, confirms shooting and Basiji savagery!

FarceNews confirms that gunshots have been fired, people are injured and some are in clritical condition. But they blame it on Zionists and Mujahedin (whose members they have been recently executing.) One really doubts the 'might' of this regime, how can they stand to the "wolrd Imperialism" if they are so vulnerable to Zionists and Mujahedin who are constantly testing their legitimacy?!?!?!

FalseNews also confirms that:

A crowd, albeit smaller than previous protests, has been out.

That the non-uniformed people have broken into the ranks of people and attacked them and have made them flee.

That a few people who have been protesting have been arrested by the "Alert people" (i.e Basijis).

That some Mujahedin and Monarchists have been arrested by the "Alert people" and handed over to the security forces.

And that the "Alert people" have started chanting slogans to arrest Mousavi & Karroubi!

Who needs Aljazeera when Farsenews can paint the ugly picture of what has been going on today? After reading this, I now understand why there are no pictures out. Because they are arresting everyone; and because they are beating people. But I can also say with certainty, that THERE HAS BEEN A MAJOR outpour of people to the streets and that the Basijis have been kept on their toes.

It is interesting that in none of these, there is a mention of the security forcer or the guards having taken action. the report makes it appear it was the plan-clothes and ordinary people who have been arresting and beating and scaring away! Congratulations Ahmadinejad, you have just declared the state as a fascist one!

Of course, the 'kind' and gentle leader has pardoned 661 convicts! Of course, it is unlikely that any single one of them are the journalists, lawyers, unionists, women activists, human right activists or reformist members of the previous governments. Most likely (and usually) they are petty thieves, or drug offenders, who are paid by Ahmadnejad to "re-integrate" in the society!

Oh Bravo Bravo Bravo ... Iran ...

By the way, other official news outlets are totally silent about what has happened today. But who cares, when we have False-News, that acts like a negative film. Once developed, the picture becomes crystal clear!

STOP FAILING YOUR HISTORY EXAM!!!

Yo, supreme leader ... PULL THE STRINGS OF YOUR DOGS ... you are failing yourself and us before the eyes of the world ...

beating women?

breaking into women's houses because they chant against dictatorship?

You have a guest, Abdullah Gul, the Turkish Islamist Friend! ...

HOW DO YOU THINK THE ISLAMIC WORLD CAN SUPPORT YOU/IRAN AGAINST YOUR "REAL" ENEMIES?

WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING?!

for all Persian readers ...