Iranian Idol? "Not an Illusion"!

Little have I found inspiring to blog about, until providence put me in contact with Torang Abedian and reminded me of her documentary film that I never got a chance to watch: Not An Illusion.

In recent years, the Iranian Underground Music has got some overground attention, as at least four films shot in Iran have made it to the international ecran; very succesfully too:

• Tehran-Tehran (2010)--A bi-episode film, co-directed by the formidable Dariush Mehrjui and Mehdi Karampour. Karampour directed the second episode about a rock band, with two female members, whose performance permit gets stripped just before their 'big' show.
• My Tehran For Sale (2009)--the acclaimed PhD project of Granaz Mousavi, whose lead actress Marziyeh Vafamehr (portraying the "alternative" artist in the circle of underground musicians) was just arrested in Iran; allegedly for playing in this film.
• No one knows about Persian cats (2009)--The winner of the Canne's jury prize in "Special Regards" category, a docudrama about the disillusionments of the Iranian rockers, by internationally recognized director Bahman Ghobadi, who claimed to be the fiance of Roxana Saberi, and whose film's [Persian Cats] originality has been disputed by Torang Abedian (although the two films are formally and stylistically not comparable.)

and

• Not an Illusion (2009), by Torang Abedian, the only true documentary of the four and important to neo-resistance for reasons I will shortly count. (You can watch the film on the Culture Unplugged website for free.)

Not an Illusion (نه یک توهم), is the story of the director's encounter with a (then) 21 year old vocalist, Sara Naini [persian interview], a gymnastics ex-champion who is today walking with sticks--the result of surviving a life threatening spinal injury that deprived the shining star from pursuing her sportive dreams. The single child of a gymnast couple, she picked music to 'stay active'. Her voice strong and versatile (try a sample of her singing pop in English and jazz in Persian), provides vocal background to Kaveh Ramezanzadeh, the lead singer of the rock band Piccolo-- one of the few bands featuring female vocalists, that after Ahmadinejad's reign was forced to change name to an Iranian name, Kook (tune) and eventually was forced out of stage.

The film portrays, on the one hand, Sarah's determination, positive attitude, realism, love for life and all that cool strength of the character that makes 'champions'; and on the other hand, the unjust and the suffocating restraining order in which she must operate; restrictions dictated from above but enforced by the very people with whom she collaborates:

• Her voice was too strong, the sound engineers dampened it out in concerts and recordings ...
• The lead singer would be happy to cut her part out, if that would help him get his album a permit from the Islamic culture and guidance ministry ...
• Her drummer quit on her at the pivotal moment that she was given an international spotlight in Rotterdam ...

Sara runs, not only against a religious system that frowns upon music, let alone music for women (as Abedian nicely documented by interviewing a cleric), but against a masculine tyranny who owns and operates bands, concert halls, recording studios, sound engineering tables.

The only time that she could be free was when she sang at the Pakistani consulate party. (Isn't it ironic that the muslim Pakistani diplomats would hire an Iranian female singer to perform Western pop rock at their private parties, but she is banned to sing the Iranian traditional music in public--unless accompanied by 4 male and three other female vocalists?)

Even in London, she would learn that freedom was a mere illusion, for unless one is a street performer, the artistic production and distribution is a function of the market economy.

Besides the central character of the film, what distinguishes Not an Illusion, is the trajectory of the 'rise and fall' of pop-rock production in the course of 6 years, between the end of Khatami's presidency (2003) and the beginning of Ahmadinejad's second term (2009).

The 30 year old (at the time of starting the film) director, was drawn to the Iranian alternative music scene as upon return to Iran she was confronted with a new generation (e.g. Sarah's, born in the early 80s) with the 'choice' and eagerness to make and play music, in contrast to her generation (and mine) who grew up in those dark years of war and revolution, when music was totally forbidden. A music lover, the director goes to Iran to make the story of this transformation (2001-2003), but as time goes by, and the situation regresses back (with conservatives winning/stealing all political power), she finds herself increasingly incapable of continuing the project in a meaningful way (and thus returns to London). Therefore, the film chronicles, from a personal narrative, the gradual decline of the pop-rock stage in Tehran: from Sara's performance with Piccolo in Sa'd Abad palace before 2000 spectators, to her being cut out of the band and the band being prevented from playing in public all together. In the process, we also learn much about the reality of making and distributing music in Iran. For instance, we learn that the censorship office has no quarrel with love-songs; as long as they are not sexual; that there are concerts performed by women and strictly for women, so much so that all the behind-the-scene technical details are managed by female engineers; or how much it costs to rent a recording studio, and how more profitable it is to build and rent studios than to make and sell music, and a lot more information like that. (The director has spoken in detail about her impressions and research about the alternative music scene in Iran in a couple of interviews in English and in Persian (here, and here).

Overall, Not an Illusion does not belong to the Iranian cinema's 'victim-genre'. Every single musician has dreams, has hurdles to overcome, and has a realistic approach to his or her career. The pragmatism of the individuals who appear before the camera is refreshing. Unlike the dramatic Tehran-Tehran or No One Knows about Persian Cats (both ending in death of a protagonist), this documentary doesn't end on a desperate tune. The Iranian musicians pledge that they will keep playing: the restrictions may slow them down, but cannot turn back the clock, and will not prevent them from creativity. Yes, Iran has got idols too, and that is not an illusion.

This I find offensive, viscerally!

That after filling an appointment form (e.g. MD Anderson) you read:

"Medical and financial eligibility need to be established prior to confirming an appointment."

The US embassy in Turkey (take 2)

The American Golden Gate doesn't open to Iranians unless in Ankara, or Abu Dhabi.

I wrote about my share of Turkish grief last time

that I got my parent's green card affairs sorted.

Here's a new and even more distressing account:

We need to obtain emergency visas for family members who are in Iran. We need all of us together, united, pulled in one pool of faith and energy, to unwrap the whirlwather that is dragging our loved one to the under.

The US Department of State has provisions for family emergencies; they honor such requests and at least on the front page of their web site, have procedure to expedite such visa applications. However, the story in Turkey is different!

We have been on the phone, fax, fed-ex with the US embassy in Ankara contacting the "Emergency application" line. We are repeatedly told, not only by the embassy, but also by the congress representative who looks into such constituent affairs, that we should just make an appointment and then call them back with our appointment date, so they can expedite the application! (My siblings have money, plenty of it, and ties in Iran, plenty of them, and a genuine lack of interest to uproot themselves from Iran, to guarantee they won't become 'illegal immigrants', burdening the American system. Therefore, it is no skin off of anyone's back to support their visit to the US).

To make an appointment, Iranian applicants have "only" between 8:30-9:00 AM Ankara time (Local east coast 1:00-1:30 AM), on the first Monday of a month. It took over 20 minutes to make an appointment for a family of four. In the meanwhile, and after the first call, the line was not available for another appointment. The line became available only after 9:00 AM, but the operator adamantly refused to make another appointment despite our "emergency pleas".

We called the Emergency line again; and they insisted that we COULD make appointments between 8:30-16:00. However, the appointment line was refusing to, denying such possibility, and refusing to let us speak to a supervisor. After a few calling back and forth between the two units of the same embassy; we were told that we should fax our request.

However, the fax numbers did not receive anything through.

This experience has made me wonder about the kind of reputation representatives such as these Turkish staff beget America.

We are residing in one of the most conservative ridings of the USA, however we have seen nothing but compassion, care and cooperation from the local population and their representatives (R). Also, the department of State has provisions for cases like ours; so at the policy level, the US government is sympathetic and humanitarian too.

So why is it that an Iranian cannot benefit from what the US government has provisioned to help people in need? Why is the bottleneck in Turkey? Why is it that we are advised "get an American staff of the embassy on the line", but we are stuck behind the Turkish operator who contradicts their policies and offer no sympathy or accountability?

This has made me wonder HOW MUCH should Americans trust the "local" people representing their policies and their values? Isn't this perhaps why things in Afghanistan and Iraq have gone awry? Fundamentally, is it possible for people growing in oppressed cultures to exercise democracy and respect when it is imported to them in an American bureaucratic box?

Why go as far as Turkish staff of the American embassy in Ankara when we can talks about the RUDE and disrespectful treatment our families receive in the Canadian and European consulates in Iran when interacting with the IRANIAN staff of these consulates. It's as if once in the "power" house, all the inferiority complexes turn into tyranny, and everyone else becomes a suspect unworthy of human dignity. If they wish to travel to the "cradles of civilization", they must be beaten to humiliation.

Desperate, we have resorted to famous Iranians with a foot at the door of the US State department. None have been able to do anything about Turkey expediting appointment. But in these interactions I have made another interesting observation:

The Washington crocodiles who shed tears of liberation for the oppressed people of Iran have been far less sympathetic (and perhaps even scorning) to our plea for help. Next to their apathy, the NIAC (which is often chastised by the first group) has shone a touching ray of attention.

I must add, American friends who hear about this are absolutely outraged and some of them have even called Turkey! No avail yet.

I'm in America

We are hit by crisis again, a medical one, a deadly one. The Bin Laden of all diseases has aimed at the core of our family. The ugly spider has grabbed my little sister's lung; and we are geared for the battle of our life, like legendary amazons.

We are fighting the battle in America; in one of the top cancer treatment centers of the country (and perhaps the world.) When it comes to medicine, somehow I trust Americans the most. Somehow, I trust the simplicity of their "good guy versus bad guy" dichotomy the most; and their "we can do it" attitude.

I am in America, where strangers are not shy to hug me when they find me crying in a private corner; where the senator is prompt to guide us how to use his leverage to obtain visiting visas for the rest of our family who are still in the axis of evil; where the highwayphobic neurosurgeon professor does the unusual adventure of driving to the other neck of the woods to bring food, supplies, laughter and encouragement; where hope is researched and invented ...

These days, I drive the vast suburbs of the South, fashion-free in shorts and tops, and contemplate moving closer to my family, abandoning my old European home, abandoning urban landscapes to which I am existentially dependent, abandoning the social systems that would perhaps not have allowed the kind of preferential treatments we can seek in America. I fear I will go crazy; but family comes first; and at this moment I would do anything for my little sister's comfort, survival and well-being.

These days, I spend hours and hours examining and re-examining the meaning of life. Many of my convictions are thrown out of the door: my platonic naturalism and my pharmacynicism, first and foremost. In fact, for the first time, I am grateful for the kind of education I have received, and it gives me purpose in working. And I no longer believe in things like "I would never pay taxes to war nations."

Do Not Rejoice in Violence; you mirrors of Bin Laden!

Now pictures of Bin Laden, dead and alive are the front pages of social and press media! Bravo, Obama, you got Osama! This is good for your plunging ratings; and truly we do not want Donald Tramp run the show; you are still the eye candy and the gospel to the ear!

However, the "standard" speech you gave, out of the "God Bless America" handbook, failed to impress me. You talked about killing a man who had committed acts of crime against innocent men and women. Well, Frankly, so have you! The Wikileaks videos of your soldiers shooting at the van of reporters and innocent civilians haunts us for ever; the killings and mutilations in Afghanistan do too; let's not count the good-will god-willing American collateral crimes. You were fighting for your ideology, which is "democracy" and Bin Laden for his, which is "theocracy". In action, you both have killed innocent civilians, you both have violated the sovereignty of another nation to carry out your god-willing acts of violence.

What troubles me in the kill and capture of Bin Laden is that it followed from an act of terrorism: blowing off a mansion (then termed complex) in the heart of Pakistan! Haalelluja! And now parading his dead face on the media, and exchanging champagne and congratulations?! Someone, explain to me, how is this act different from when a couple of Palestinian kids celebrated the collapse of the twin towers?

And does Al Quaeda stop being a fanatic jihadist organization because Bin Laden is dead? Say, did America stop being a war-mongering nation, did they stop "accidentally" killing innocent people in Afghanistan and Libya just because Bushcorp was replaced with Obamacrats?

But what is worse is that America broke its tradition by engaging in assassination; which according to President Ford's Executive Order 11905 (later 12333), bans any employee of the United States Government to engage in, or conspire to engage in, political assassination. So what is next? American commandos going around killing people who threaten their interest and the interest of their allies? Is America jumping on the terror band wagon?

I loath EVERY act of celebration; every act of revenge. I loath JUSTICE that is brought in the form of "shooting the criminal in the head, because he resisted arrest"; and the phony stories don't stop there: the helicopter that had technical problems and was destroyed? the body buried in the sea to prevent a shrine?

In all this, despite all my anti-religious beliefs and sentiments, the only entity that I am going to respect is the vatican, that announced Christians do not rejoice in the killing of anyone!

Postscript: a commentator has criticized my usage of term "theocracy". While I agree that the primary cause of Bin Laden's followers is not restoring "god", but destroying the "infidel"; and while I agree that theological formation of the Al Quaeda is non-existent, it is undeniable that Jihadists kill and get killed in the name of god; it is god who commands their 'resistance' against the unholy invaders of their holy lands. To "wipe the world from evil" is a cause shared by them and by Americans; and they mutually consider each other evil.

Perhaps I should transcribe some of Mr Obama's address from Bin Laden's ghost, had he killed, say, Dick Cheney, in an "operation", to make my argumentation less passionate and more evenhanded. (only italic words replace Obama's words)

THE OSAMA: In The Name of God. Tonight, I can report to the fanatic muslims and to the Afghanis, Libyians, Iraqis, Sudanese, Serbs that Al Quaeda has conducted an operation that killed Dick Cheney, the leader Halliburton, and a terrorist who's responsible for the murder of thousands of innocent men, women, and children.

[...]

We were united in our faith to protect our holy lands and to bring those who committed these vicious attacks to hell. We quickly learned that the invasion of Iraq were pushed by dick Cheney and Rumsfeld -- an organizations, which had openly declared war on Islam and was committed to killing innocents in our country and around the globe to access our wealth and oil. And so we went to war against America to protect our citizens, our religion, and our culture.

Over the last 10 years, thanks to the tireless and heroic work of our Jihadists and our counterintelligence professionals, we've made great strides in that effort. We've disrupted military attacks and strengthened our homeland defense. In Afghanistan, we killed the NATO forces, which had given Karzai and his corrupt lords safe haven and support. And around the globe, we worked with our friends and allah to capture or kill scores of infidels, including several who were a part of the middle-east colonization plot.

Yet the infidel avoided defeat and spread across the Afghan border into Pakistan. Meanwhile, al Qaeda continued to operate from along that border and operate through its affiliates across the world.

And so shortly after moving to Pakistan Bunker, I directed AlAbuAlKabu, the Imam of the alittelaat, to make the killing or capture of Cheney the top priority of our war against infidels, even as we continued our broader efforts to disrupt, dismantle, and defeat their countries.

Then, after years of painstaking work by our martyrs, I was briefed on a possible lead to Cheney. It was far from certain, and it took many months to run this thread to ground. I met repeatedly with my brothers as we developed more information about the possibility that we had located cheney hiding within a compound deep inside of Washington. And finally, last week, I determined that we had enough intelligence to take action, and authorized an operation to get Cheney and bring him to justice.

Today, at my direction, the al Quaeda fighters launched a targeted operation against that compound in Abbytabby, Washington. A small team of Saudis carried out the operation with extraordinary courage and capability. No arabs were harmed. They took care to avoid civilian casualties. After a firefight, they killed Cheney and took custody of his body.

For over two decades, Cheney has been Halliburton's leader and symbol, and has continued to plot attacks against our country and our friends and allies. The death of Cheney marks the most significant achievement to date in our Ommat's effort to defeat Infidels.

Yet his death does not mark the end of our Jihad. There's no doubt that America will continue to pursue attacks against us. We must –- and we will -- remain vigilant at home and abroad.

As we do, we must also reaffirm that Al Quaeda is not –- and never will be -– at war with Christians. I've made clear, just as Al Zawahiri did shortly after 9/11, that our war is not against civilization. Cheney was not a Civilized leader; he was a mass murderer of Muslims. Indeed, America has slaughtered scores of Muslims in many countries, including our own. So his demise should be welcomed by all who believe in peace and human dignity.

Over the years, I've repeatedly made clear that we would take action within Washington if we knew where Cheney was. That is what we've done. But it's important to note that our counterterintelligence cooperation with Pakistan helped lead us to Cheney and the compound where he was hiding. Indeed, Cheney had declared war against Pakistan as well, and ordered attacks against the Pakistani people.

Tonight, I called President Zardari, and my brothers have also spoken with their Pakistani counterparts. They agree that this is a good and historic day for both of our nations. And going forward, it is essential that Pakistan continue to join us in the fight against America and its affiliates.

The Arab people did not choose this fight. It came to our shores, and started with the senseless slaughter of our citizens. After nearly 10 years of Jihad, struggle, and sacrifice, we know well the costs of war. These efforts weigh on me every time I, as Commander-in-Chief, have to pay every family that has lost a martyr, or look into the eyes of a Mujahed who's been gravely wounded.

So Al Quaeda understand the costs of war. Yet as a movement, we will never tolerate our security being threatened, nor stand idly by when our people have been killed. We will be relentless in defense of our citizens and our lands and religion. We will be true to the values of Allah. And on nights like this one, we can say to those families who have lost loved ones: Justice has been done.

Tonight, we give thanks to the countless Jihadists who've worked tirelessly to achieve this outcome. The Arab people do not see their work, nor know their names. But tonight, they feel the satisfaction of their work and the result of their pursuit of justice.

We give thanks for the men who carried out this operation, for they exemplify the faith and unparalleled courage of those who serve allah. And they are part of a generation that has borne the heaviest share of the burden since that September day.

Finally, let me say to the families who lost loved ones in Baghdad that we have never forgotten your loss, nor wavered in our commitment to see that we do whatever it takes to prevent another attack on our sands.

And tonight, let us think back to the sense of faith that prevailed on 9/11. I know that it has, at times, frayed. Yet today's achievement is a testament to the greatness of our religion and the determination of the Islamist people.

The cause of securing our holy lands is not complete. But tonight, we are once again reminded that Allah can do whatever we set our mind to. That is the story of our history, whether it's the pursuit of prosperity for our people's faith, or the struggle for equality for all muslims; our commitment to stand up for our values abroad, and our sacrifices to make the world a Islamic place.

Let us remember that we can do these things not just because of wealth or fanaticism, but because of who we are: one Ommah, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

Thank you. May God bless you. And may God bless the Muslims.

Roger Waters, The Wall and Iran

I saw The Wall a few weeks ago; I shall see it again in a couple of weeks. On the cutting edge of audio-visual technology, Roger Waters was unrelentingly political, globally so. The second picture of his opening, Neda Agha Soltan, the woman whose death-on-screen shocked even the most ardent of so-called lefty pro-Ahmadinejadists that used to be the friends of this blog (until they turned their back on us, fooled by Ahmadinejadist's propaganda.) In this interview, he talks about what he knows of Iran, for instance Bahman Ghobadi, the exiled filmmaker whose films, without pointing any political finger, make us be more humane. Fair and square, he doesn't hold his criticism of Israel's theocracy and United States' Guantanamo shame. Like superman, he wants to be a global hero.

I enjoyed the show, and enjoyed all he said in this interview.

The interview was conducted with BBC Persian (in NYC); the opening statements (in persian) are only a few seconds.

continued:

For all writers of my country, who have died for our future.

تو بالای کوهی
از آن عرش سنگین
صدایم کن آوای آزاد
(صدای مرا قرنها دره ها در ربودند و من از سکوت سخن شرم دارم)
...
تو نزدیک هوری
از آن نور زرین مرا آفتابی کن ای خفته بیدار
مرا دیر بازیست
در چادر شب
به دوری ز خورشید محکوم کردند
بدون ستاره
پر از خواب خرگوش
...
تو بر بال ابری
از آن اوج آبی مرا قطره ای بخش
که خود را بشویم
و گلبرگهای من از تب نمیرند
...

Pained by the unjust fate of Siamak Pourzand ...

Checking in!

Haven't got anything to say. My country is not very interesting these days. And I have more important things to do; that will bring me international fame and fortune without any relevance to Iran. To be honest, I have stopped even following the Iranian news, but if you want a synopsis:

It's a HILARiOUS macabre! I'm not gonna bother with why the child-birthing organs of our supreme leader are the hottest topic of debate, after an important cleric exposed them anecdotally in a DUMB attempt to sanctify Khamenei. Read and search them elsewhere, with keywords like "ya Ali" probably.

But I am planning to take photography more seriously, for as long as the Iranian-affairs remain uninteresting. Pity I can't go to Iran to take pictures of the flora, fauna, farmers, factories, funs, funerals and fanatics!

Oh, speaking of photography ... did you know Kaveh Golestan?

Click hear to learn more.

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.