Main Post: Here — Earlier Archives: Here

7/20/2009 — 9:25AM — Commentary: Middle East is changed forever

A very interesting article. Read the rest here: CNN

(CNN) — Whatever the end result of the current electoral crisis in Iran, the dramatic rise of national politics has already cast a long and enduring shadow over the geopolitics of the region. No country can go back to business as usual. The climate has changed — for good.

Before the June 2009 presidential election, the realpolitik of the region had placed Iran, Syria, the Palestinian Hamas, the Lebanese Hezbollah and the Iraqi Mahdi Army on one side of the geopolitical divide, and U.S. and its regional allies on another. With an extended foot in Venezuela, Iran had even a claim on the backyard of the United States.

In this precarious condition, the Islamic Republic emerged, not out of its own capacities, but by virtue of serious follies that President George W. Bush had committed in its neighborhood as a regional “superpower.” The presidential election of June 2009 suddenly has made that geopolitics something of an archeological relic.

With the commencement of the civil rights movement in Iran in June 2009, the moral map of the Middle East is being changed right in front of our eyes, with the democratic will of one nation having thrown a monkey wrench into the geopolitics of the region. The moving pictures of Iranians flooding colorfully into the streets have forever altered the visual vocabulary of the global perception of “the Middle East.”

Tehran, I believe, is ground zero of a civil rights movement that will leave no Muslim or Arab country, or even Israel, untouched.

7/20/2009 — 5:47AM – Thirty-six army officers arrested in Iran over protest plan

The Iranian army has arrested 36 officers who planned to attend last week’s Friday prayer sermon by former president Hashemi Rafsanjani in their military uniforms as an act of political defiance, according to Farsi-language websites.The officers intended the gesture to show solidarity with the demonstrations against last month’s presidential election result, which was won by Mahmoud Ahmadinejad but which has been clouded by allegations of mass fraud.

Source – Guardian – Listen to the Audio

7/20/2009 -Robert Redford speaks out.

Robert Redford

“Political events in Iran over the past month have been dramatic.  Many
have been killed and hundreds of innocent people have been imprisoned.
I strongly defend the human rights of the people of Iran. A hunger
strike in front of the United Nations is one way of drawing world
attention to the plight of political prisoners in  Iran. I support this
effort and my daughter, Amy Redford, will be there as an expression of
solidarity with the Iranian people, and in the hope of achieving the
humanitarian goal of freeing political prisoners in Iran.”

Robert Redford

7/19/2009 — JULY 25th – GLOBAL Day of Action

(July 8, 2009) Press Release Human rights activists are organizing a coordinated Global Day of Action on July 25, 2009 to demand respect for the human rights of the Iranian people and to demonstrate worldwide solidarity with the civil rights movement in Iran. Major human rights organizations have sponsored the event.

Around the world, people will gather in solidarity with the Iranian people following over a month of intensified state repression against citizens peacefully demonstrating for their rights.  Many have been killed in the streets, many hundreds have been beaten and injured, and at least 2,000 are thought to have been detained.

The Global Day of Action is a not affiliated with any partisan political agenda, and is aimed at securing the internationally recognized rights of the Iranian people.

The organizers believe that while political questions facing Iran can only be resolved by the Iranian people themselves, the violent repression of their internationally guaranteed human rights are of concern to people all around the world.

The global day of action is organized around the following core demands:

1. That member states and civil society organizations of the international community give sustained attention to the Iranian people’s human rights as a matter of international concern, and that the UN should immediately initiate an investigation into grave and systematic human rights violations in Iran, including the fate of prisoners and disappeared persons, unlawful killings, and torture and other ill-treatment;
2. An end to state-sponsored violence, accountability for crimes committed and no recourse to the death penalty;
3. The immediate and unconditional release of all prisoners of conscience, including politicians, journalists, students, and civil society activists; and
4. Freedom of assembly, freedom of association, and freedom of expression (including freedom of the press) as guaranteed by the Iranian constitution and Iran’s obligations under international covenants that it has signed.

Initial sponsors of the Global Day of Action include: Shirin Ebadi, 2003 Nobel Peace Laureate; Iranian League for Defense of Human Rights (LDDHI); International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran; Human Rights Watch, Reporters without Borders;

For more information:
Contact Hadi Ghaemi; phone  +1 917 669 5996 , email: united4iran@gmail.com
Visit www.united4iran.org for the latest information and list of participating cities.

7/18/2009 – Interesting BBC coverage of Fridays prayers

7/17/2009 8:43Pm — Defending Karroubi

Speakers announce Rafsanjani is going to speak, to which people respond: “Hashemi, if you remain silent you are a traitor!” Then at 0:40 — Karroubi amongst people who greet him: “dorud bar Karroubi” (Hello) then praise him “Karroubi bagheyrat, beres be dade mellat” (Honorable/Brave Karroubi, come to the help of the people!”

The forces attack, people shout “don’t shoot.” Then they tell Karroubi who is in the front line: “Karroubi remain behind us!” Then they yell “death to the dictator!”

7/17/2009 — Great Picture

7/17/2009 11:53 AM — Cleric Says ‘Crisis’ Has Caused Loss of Public Trust

BEIRUT, Lebanon — As thousands of opposition protesters chanted in the streets of Tehran, the former Iranian president Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani on Friday assailed the government’s handling of the post-election unrest, saying it had lost the trust of many Iranians and calling for the release of hundreds of protesters and democracy advocates arrested in recent weeks.

Source: NY Times

7/17/2009 11:20  Patience with Iran

One thing is certain: Iran’s leaders have had their confidence badly shaken. They are no longer feared as the Shiite cowboys riding a wave of Shiite radicalism into the Middle East and the Arab world. Instead, the tide has turned. The wave is against them, and it’s bright green. Time is no longer on the side of the mullahs.

Read the full article here: Yahoo

7/17/2009 11:00am – Karroubi attacked at the Friday prayer

“When my father was moving towards Tehran University, many people were behind him and were asking him to defend their rights by chanting slogans but suddenly the anti-riot police in front of him shot bullets in the air so Mr. Karroubi asked the people not go any farther…At this point they (riot police) put my father in a car to take him to the University but when he was getting out of the car, a group of plainclothes attacked and insulted him in such a way that his turban fell off.  They started cursing and using very foul language.”

Source: NIAC

7/17/2009 10:11am – More footage from today. Date unconf

7/17/2009 10:00 am – From Huffington post

Rafsanjani’s most important line? Via email, Portland State University professor R. Kevin Hill writes:

There was subtext and not-so-sub-subtext in several of Rafsanjani’s remarks, based on the transcript of a live-blogger (caveats about accuracy, accuracy of translation, etc.) excerpt of which follows. If this is accurate, and I’m reading the oblique sermon style correctly, he’s articulating a principle of popular sovereignty and calling on the government to resign. I’ve highlighted the crucial remark:

“The Imam [Khomeini] would always quote the Prophet [Muhammad] who would say to Ali [Muhammad's successor]: leave the people if they do not want you.

7/17/2009 09:44 – jimsciuttoABC

jimsciuttoABC: One eyewitness estimates crowd more than a million, filling sts from Tehran U to Vali Asr #iranelection #iran

7/17/2009 09:37AM – Something profound has changed in Iran

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/something-profound-has-changed-iranians-are-losing-their-fear-and-mock-the-official-line-1750114.html

7/17/2009 9:20AM – Out front of the interior ministry

7/17/2009 9:01 AM ET — Demonstrators reportedly swarming state media HQ. from Huffington Post

Iranians calling into EPersianRadio.com say that large crowds have gathered outside the headquarters of the state media outlet IRIB. One caller said the building was surrounded by thousands of people, and that demonstrators were trying to break in.

7/17/2009 09:00am  – Mousavi at fridays prayers

http://onlymehdi.tumblr.com/post/143459420

7/17/2009 –

A caller to EPersianRadio.com says he is a former Revolutionary Guard member. Via a reader, “He said that mentally it’s so hard, that the basiji forces may not be able to hold up. He said he served 10 years ago and he knows what goes in their mind and how much effect it has on them. Otherwise, why are they asking for volunteers now? He said when they were on alert he couldn’t get any sleep and he knows how scared the forces are themselves.”

7/17/2009 — More footage

7/17/2009 — 08:14am – Reports of violence. An account relayed from an Iranian:

“Plastic bullets being used. Getting lots of reports of people hurt. He says every minute its getting bigger and bigger. He says its the biggest protest in weeks. People are starting to come from all the streets, lots of tear gas. He says batons and tear gas, yet lots of people. Fatami seems to be the big street that is happening. He says 1 hour ago, people were headed towards the state-run tv station, but he doesn’t know what happened.”

Here’s a new Reuters report:

Iranian police detained at least 15 people and used tear gas and batons to disperse supporters of opposition leader Mirhossein Mousavi outside Tehran University on Friday, a witness said.

The incident took place as former President Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani led Friday prayers inside the university grounds.

Mousavi supporters outside chanted slogans calling for the release of people detained since last month’s disputed presidential election and for the resignation of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad when police moved to disperse them, the witness said.

7/17/2009 — 07:48 – Mousavi did attend the prayers,

His first official public appearance since the vote, Reuters reports.

7/17/2009 – Video of the streets of Tehran

7/17/2009 — Friday Sermon

NiteOwl translating from phone on IRC

(Prayers for Muslims)
Before I give out the Khotba (speech of Friday), I must say that the people who have gathered in Tehran University and in streets,
They should know that Friday prayers should not be tainted with slogans and chants that do not belong here.
This is a sacred and an Islamic act.
(More jargon)
The enemies of Islam want to question the legitimacy and effectiveness of our regime.
(Still jargon going on)
The second part of my speech is about the revolution for which people did Jihad.
I want to explain to the younger generation where we started and where we are going with the revolution
The third part of my speech will be about the current situation of Iran.
This will be my personal view,
We are with you in your happiness and your grief.
(bad connection)

Nothing really important going on at this point.
He’s just speaking about the early days of the revolution.
He’s talking about how they opened up a school in Qom.
He’s basically just talking about the early revolution, Qom and such.
he’s just talking about the early history of Islam.
Nothing really about the current situation. That is going to come at the end.
He’s only speaking about the early history of Islam. Completely irrelevant stuff.
He’s talking about how Mohammed built the first mosque in Madina.
Now he’s talking about he bought land in Medina to build the second Islamic mosque.
(sounds like he’s trying to go for the emotional appeal)
Talking about Medina and the early days of Islam

What we learn from government from Islam is this: Follow god and then there’s the people.
The Koran has Allah mentioned 3,000 times.
And the word for people has been used 4 to 5 hundred times.
What Mohammed did mostly was he created love and unity between the people.
The first thing Mohammed did was he united all the tribes in Medina.
Then he went to the people of other religions.
When Jews, Christians and people of other religion came to Medina,
He talked to all of them, and he created a unity within the city.
He created a brotherhood between everyone inside the city.
Between Muslims and non-Muslims.
This was a pact between brothers, between different religions.
This created eternal peace inside a small city.
This small city was able to use this peace and topple gigantic empires.
The government that Mohammed brought was unprecedented.
There were governments, but they were autocracies and they acted against the people.
Mohammed brought a government that was for the people, based on god’s law.

When Gabriel came to Mohammed and gave him the first words of the Koran,
(Now reciting those first verses)
This was when the future of Mohammed was cleared for him.
(Explaining the verses)
God created man and gave him understanding and the power to write.
The power that gave us this ability,
He tells us that we have him as the judge.
And when we die, he will remember everything that we have done.
Thus, we shouldn’t be arrogant, we should consider god’s creatures weak.
Because He is the judge.
(more religious jargon, talking about angels)

Let us ask what sort of society the prophet wanted.
Mohammed wanted all humans to have all the rights,
He didn’t want anyone’s rights to be infringed upon.
One of the last things he said before he died,
He said, Oh people, I came to say Good Bye to you.
If I have said something to you and I have not done it, please let me know.
If I have taken something from you, then tell me so I could give it back.
I don’t want anything to be left for the afterlife.
This is the kind of leader we have.
He paved the way for Islamic unity.
(recites a verse from the Koran)
(Verse talks about unity of Muslims)
God has put love between humans.
It was god who created love between Muslims.

That’s how Mohammed created a society that was united as one.
But when he was dying, he realized that this might come to an end.
And that people might break apart and might create enemies with one another.
(explains a couple of incidents that created rifts between earlier Muslims)
Do know that Mohammed is the ideal for everyone,
For all Muslims, for all humans.
His life in Medina is the best example for how a government should operate.
He fought along side his friends and his loved ones at times when he was being attacked from all sides.
Then a day came when his friends captured the Empires of the Sassanids.
But at the end of his life, he realized that there might be rifts between Muslims,
And their unity might be in danger.
In his ten years of prophecy, he created a system upon which we have based our own revolution.
(phone cut off for a little)
(Recites a verse) (reciting more verses)
(Praying for the martyred members of Mohammed’s family)

This week, Imam Jafar Sadigh’s martyrdom’s celebration will be held.
He spent his entire life either in prison or being censored.
(Talking about Imam Jafar Sadigh’s life and how pious a man he was)

I want to talk about the death of the Chinese citizens recently,
(People are chanting Azadi .. Azadi .. )
People, I have asked you all to not chant slogans
I am asking you as your Imam at this prayer,
The government of China has quelled the protests.
We would like to give them a brotherly advice,
There are more than a billion Muslims in the world,
China should pay attention to its relations between itself.
Such cruelty could destroy those relations.
There are fighting in Palestine and Pakistan and other places,
Hopefully they will stop.

The elections that took place,
The preparations were good.
We liked what went before the election,
The four candidates,
They talked in an open environment,
People became hopeful about the elections,
We should have been proud of this election,
Because people went to vote, in large numbers,
We should thank them for voting.
For taking part in the election is such huge numbers,
Alas, if only that environment continued to this day.
What happened after the election was not what we expected it to be.
Let us ask ourselves what we want,
What does the revolution want?

You are listening to someone who has been with the revolution every minute of the revolution
We know what Imam Khomeini wanted,
What his ideas were,
Imam Khomeini always said that you should always listen to the people,
See what the people want,
If the people are with us, then we have everything.
The Islamic Revolution was the way of Mohammed.
People should be brought into the system first,
This is why Imam Khomeini was successful.

It took years of hardship for us to get to where we are.
We remember when people filled the streets,
When they took to protesting with the Imam Khomeini,
Against a government that was getting help from the East and the West,
But people stood firm.
And they succeeded.
After the success of the revolution,
We were with Imam Khomeini,
He always said that without the participation of the people the Islamic government would never be successful.
The role that Imam gave the people was very high.
(Story about Mohammed’s late life about how important people are)
(More religious jargon)

When we were writing the new constitution,
We asked the Imam for advice,
He put a lot of emphasis on the role of the people.
He also knew that people’s vote was the most important thing inside our country.
Everything depended upon the people’s vote.
People should directly elect the president, the parliament, the local council.
It was all about the vote of the people.
This is a theocracy,
A theocratic republic.
(People chanting)
Be patient, be calm.
If the government is not Islamic, then we are heading no where.
If it is not a republic, then it doesn’t amount to anything.

The elections that took place,
We have taken a step.
What I think is the solution to what is going on is that, at the end of the process,
There were people who created false propaganda,
(People chanting REALLY loudly)
A large number of people became suspicious,
We need to clear their suspicions.

Today, we need unity more than ever.
Our country needs to be united against this danger.
My brothers,
My sisters,
My view is this,
We should all think together
So our country could remain united,
Against this danger that is facing us.
Our enemies are trying to destroy our unity,

I have several proposals for this,
I have talked to my friends about this.
I’m going to express them to you as well.

The most important thing that has happened is that the trust that brought the people to vote in such large number is not there anymore.
We need to return this trust.
We all need to follow the law. And I’m talking about the government, the parliament, the Islamic Courts and the security forces.
We need to follow the laws.
All problems can be solved if we only follow the framework of the laws.
We need to create an environment where all sides could come together and discuss their issues.
We need to be able to sit down like brothers and sisters and talk about our differences.
Unfortunately,
The chance that was given to the Guardian Council of five days to get people together and regain their trust was not used.
That is not there anymore.
But we still have time to unite.

We shouldn’t imprison our own people,
We should let these people return to their homes,
We shouldn’t let our enemies laugh at us because we’ve imprisoned our own people.
We should sit together with mourners,
And we should console them,
And bring them back closer to the system.
We should not be impatient now.

Please do not censor media outlets that have legally obtained permits.
Let them do what they want to do legally.
Allow a peaceful and friendly environment to prosper.
We are all together in the Islamic Revolution,
We’ve all spent years in suffering,
We’ve all given martyrs for the cause of the revolution,
This unity needs to fostered.

I’m hopeful that we will be able to achieve this unity in the future,
And I’m hopeful we will get out of this situation,
Based on the wishes of the people,
And consensus among the leaders.

May God Bless You All.
May God Bless You All.
May God keep you all safe,
Keep you with this spirit, around.

(End of speech.)

Source: Why We Protest

7/17/2009 — Fridays prayers updates via Twitter and Huffington Post

05:41 NiteOwl We need to create an environment where all sides could come together and discuss their issues.
05:42 NiteOwl We need to be able to sit down like brothers and sisters and talk about our differences.
05:42 NiteOwl Unfortunately,
05:42 NiteOwl The chance that was given to the Guardian Council of five
05:43 NiteOwl That is not there anymore.
05:43 NiteOwl But we still have time to unite.
05:44 NiteOwl We shouldn’t imprison our own people,
05:44 NiteOwl We should let these people return to their homes,
05:44 NiteOwl We shouldn’t let our enemies laugh at us because we’ve imprisoned our own people.
05:44 NiteOwl We should sit together with mourners,
05:44 NiteOwl And we should console them,
05:44 NiteOwl And bring them back closer to the system.
05:45 NiteOwl We should not be impatient now.
05:45 NiteOwl Please do not censor media outlets that have legally obtained permits.
05:45 NiteOwl Let them do what they want to do legally.
05:45 NiteOwl Allow a peaceful and friendly environment to prosper.
05:46 NiteOwl We are all together in the Islamic Revolution,
05:46 NiteOwl We’ve all spent years in suffering,
05:46 NiteOwl We’ve all given martyrs for the cause of the revolution,
05:46 NiteOwl This unity needs to fostered,
05:46 NiteOwl I’m hopeful that we will be able to achieve this unity in the future,
05:47 NiteOwl And I’m hopeful we will get out of this situation,
05:47 NiteOwl Based on the wishes of the people,
05:47 NiteOwl And consensus among the leaders.
05:47 NiteOwl May God Bless You All.
05:47 NiteOwl May God Bless You All.

NiteOwl When we were writing the new constitution,
05:34 NiteOwl We asked the Imam for advice,
05:34 NiteOwl He put a lot of emphasis on the role of the people.
05:35 NiteOwl He also knew that people’s vote was the most important thing inside our country.
05:35 NiteOwl Everything depended upon the people’s vote.
05:35 NiteOwl People should directly elect the president, the parliament, the local council.
05:35 NiteOwl It was all about the vote of the people.
05:35 NiteOwl This is a theocracy,
05:35 NiteOwl A theocratic republic.
05:35 NiteOwl (People chanting)
05:36 NiteOwl Be patient, be calm.
05:36 NiteOwl If the government is not islamic, then we are heading no where.
05:36 NiteOwl If it is not a republic, then it doesn’t amount to anything.
05:37 NiteOwl The elections that took place,
05:37 NiteOwl We have taken a step.
05:37 NiteOwl What I think is the solution to what is going on is that, at the end of the process,
05:37 NiteOwl There were people who created false propaganda,
05:37 NiteOwl (People chanting REALLY loudly)
05:38 NiteOwl A large number of people became suspicious,
05:38 NiteOwl We need to clear their suspicions.
05:38 NiteOwl Today, we need unity more than ever.
05:38 NiteOwl Our country needs to be united against this danger.
05:39 NiteOwl My brothers,
05:39 NiteOwl My sisters,
05:39 NiteOwl My view is this,
05:39 NiteOwl We should all think together
05:39 NiteOwl So our country could remain united,
5:39 NiteOwl Against this danger that is facing us.
05:39 NiteOwl Our enemies are trying to destroy our unity,
05:40 NiteOwl I have several proposals for this,
05:40 NiteOwl I’m gonna express them to you as well.
05:40 NiteOwl The most important thing that has happened is that the trust that brought the people to vote in such large number is not there anymore.
05:40 NiteOwl We need to return this trust.
he law. And I’m talking about the government, the parliament, the Islamic Courts and the security forces.
05:41 NiteOwl We need to follow the laws.
05:41 NiteOwl All problems can be solved if we only follow the framework of the laws.

NiteOwlWhat happened after the election was not what we expected it to be.
05:27 NiteOwl LEt’s ask ourselves what we want,
05:27 NiteOwl What does the revolution want?
05:27 NiteOwl You are listening to someone who has been with the revolution every minute of the revolution
05:27 NiteOwl We know what Imam Khomeini wanted,
05:28 NiteOwl What his ideas were,
NiteOwl LEt’s ask ourselves what we want,
05:27 NiteOwl What does the revolution want?
05:27 NiteOwl You are listening to someone who has been with the revolution every minute of the revolution
05:27 NiteOwl We know what Imam Khomeini wanted,
05:28 NiteOwl What his ideas were,
05:28 NiteOwl Imam Khomeini always said that you should always listen to the people,
05:28 NiteOwl See what the people want,
05:28 NiteOwl If the people are with us, then we have everything.
05:28 NiteOwl The Islamic Revolution was the way of Mohammed.
05:28 NiteOwl People should be brought into the system first,
05:29 NiteOwl This is why Imam Khomeini was successful.
05:29 NiteOwl It took years of hardship for us to get to where we are.
NiteOwl We remember when people filled the streets,
5:29 NiteOwl When they took to protesting with the Imam Khomeini,
05:29 NiteOwl Against a government that was getting help from the East and the West,
05:30 NiteOwl But people stood firm.
05:30 NiteOwl And they succeeded.
05:30 NiteOwl After the success of the revolution,
05:30 NiteOwl We were with Imam Khomeini,
05:30 NiteOwl He always said that without the participation of the people the Islamic government would never be successful.
NiteOwl The role that Imam gave the people was very high.

– We liked what went before the election, lThe four candidates, wlWe should have been proud of this election, wlWe should have been proud of this election, We should thank them for voting.

– (People are chanting Azadi .. Azadi .. )

– CNN’s Reza Sayah says some demonstrators were chanting this morning, “Hashemi (Rafsanjani), if you stay silent, you have committed a crime.”

– The Prophet was so concerned about harming anyone that he asked for forgiveness before death, if he has in anyone caused harm to his people.

– First shot at Khamenei? Rafsanjani says, the Prophet was always careful not to violate any person’s right.

- Do know that Mohammed is the ideal for everyone,

- Rafsanjani: This is a holy place, lets not let things get out of control. (2 loud basijis in hall)

- Rafsanjani discussing the origins of Islamic rule and how it turned Medina in Saudi Arabia into a major influential story. “I guess his point is Mohammad didn’t use force,” one reader says.

Tehran University

– A reader in contact with Iranians says the speech is not being aired on Iranian TV. CNN is not airing the speech either, despite claiming it would.

– I have three items to discuss. Number one, explaining the fundamentals of Islam and the Islamic Republic. Number two, goals of the revolution. I want to clarify the goals of the revolution to the youth, so they understand where we have come from and where we are going. He says he will express his personal views and hopes that people in charge will listen. The third part will be about current day events and the conditions we are in. I will try to draw out solutions the way I see them. Of course, these will be my personal opinion.

– This is a holy place, let us not allow events to get out of control…

– Basij chanting: the blood in our veins is a gift to our leader (threatening Rafsanjani) & Raf says tnk u! let me start!…

7/16/2009 — Hardliners organizing to disrupt Rafsanjani’s sermon. From NIAC:

Mowj Camp, a pro-Mousavi website created recently, has reported that the hardliners “are extensively preparing to prevent the presence of [Mousavi supporters]” at the Friday prayer.
“After hearing about the decision of Mousavi supporters to attend and the possibility of a green movement to form at the Friday prayers, supporters of [Ahmadinejad] have become extremely worried and are trying to weaken the presence of the greens and overshadow them.”

7/16/2009 – 5:19PM Joe Klein on Friday

There’s lots of speculation about what Rafsanjani might say. One Iranian friend said, “It’s the speech of his life, a chance to redeem his career. He must call for the rejection of the election results.” Unfortunately, that’s never been Rafsanjani’s style and is an unlikely alternative now. But he and his family are also too closely identified with the protest movement for him to just acquiese and kowtow to the Revolutionary Guard Corps-dominated government. Another Iranian friend predicts, “He’ll announce the formation of a political front that will work within the system but oppose the Ahmadinejad government.” That seems more plausible.

Source

7/16/2009 — 5:19PM – A New rooftop Poem

7/16/2009 -5:29AM – Laura Secor: Behind Iran’s Silence

A very interesting read here

7/16/2009 – 2:28AM - Death Toll Apparently Far Exceeds Government Claims

Family members reportedly saw “hundreds” of corpses in makeshift morgue

Three hospitals recorded 34 deaths in a single day alone, compared to government claim of 20 deaths during the past month

The Campaign has ascertained that on 20 June, when the government reported that 11 protesters had been killed, three Tehran hospitals placed a total of 34 corpses of demonstrators in their morgues: Imam Khomeini Hospital had 19 bodies; Rasool Akram Hospital, 8 bodies; and Loghman Hospital, 7 bodies. The information was collected by medical staff with access to the morgue records of these hospitals.

Read the full article here

7/15/2009 – 9:19PM – Mousavi confirms his attendance at Friday Prayers

In a statement Mousavi has confirmed his attendance at fridays prayers. – Source

Google Translation:

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Related posts:

1. Iran: An Electoral Crisis! #iranelection – ARCHIVE 2
2. Iran: An Electoral Crisis! #iranelection – ARCHIVE 3
3. Iran: An Electoral Crisis! #iranelection – ARCHIVE

Main Post: Here Earlier posts Archive #1 and Archive#2, Archive #3, Archive 4, Archive 5

7/15/2009 – 8:54PM – Clinton to Iran – Time is running out

Hillary Clinton will give what one administration official familiar with the U.S. Secretary of State’s preparations described as a “muscular” foreign-policy address this afternoon before the Council on Foreign Relations in Washington, D.C. As The Cable reported last week, Clinton appears to be using the occasion to raise her profile amid Washington chatter that she has not yet seemed to fully dominate her turf as the nation’s top diplomat. It’s a perception Clinton seems set to challenge. [...] [A] key theme of Clinton’s speech appears to be defending the administration’s pursuit of negotiations with Iran over its nuclear program, despite widespread international outrage over the Iranian regime’s violent crackdown on demonstrators protesting against alleged vote-rigging in the June 14 presidential election. Conservatives in particular have said that Obama was slow to condemn the Iranian government’s conduct, a charge the White House and its defenders deny. Source: Here

7/15/2009 – 2:14AM – Supreme leader Khamenei diminished in Iranians’ eyes

For two decades he was considered to be above the petty political squabbles, a cautious elder contemplating questions of faith and Islam while guiding his nation into the future. But Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, whose title of supreme leader makes him Iran’s ultimate authority, has gotten his hands dirty. His decision in recent weeks to so stridently support the nation’s controversial president after a disputed election has dramatically changed his image among his people, setting in motion an unpredictable series of events that could fundamentally change the Islamic Republic.

Read the full Article: Here

7/14/2009 – Tehran morgues holding hundreds of bodies.

The on-line Farsi-language newspaper, Nooroz, reports that hundreds of unidentified dead bodies are being held in Tehran’s morgues. According to Nooroz, the government has provided little information on the fates and locations of those individuals detained during the recent unrest in Iran. One of the few official organs providing information on the detainees is the office of unidentified dead persons, which has summoned some families to various morgues around the city to determine whether their loved ones are among the dead. Nooroz newspaper reports that those families, who find their sons or daughters among the countless corpses, are threatened and pressured into signing statements attesting that their family members died in car crashes or as a result of other ordinary, run of the mill accidents. Unless the families sign these statements, the cherished bodies of their loved ones are withheld from them.

Source

7/14/2009 – Activists turn the water red in Mahabad.

Activists turn the water red

Source: Here

7/13/2009 – 11:46PM Rafsanjani confirms on his website he will be leading Friday Prayers

خبر فوری /نماز جمعه این هفته تهران به امامت “ایت الله هاشمی ر فسنجانی”اقامه می شود

دانشگاه تهران 26تیرماه میزبان رئیس مجمع تشخیص مصلحت نظام و رئیس مجلس خبرگان رهبری است و نماز جمعه این هفته تهران به امامت “ایت الله هاشمی رفسنجانی” اقامه خواهد شد

Rough Google Translation:

Imamat “Ayatollah Hashemi Fsnjany ر” Performing is

Tehran University on July 26, host President and head of the Expediency Council and Assembly of Experts in Tehran Friday Prayers this week Imamat “Ayatollah Hashemi Rafsanjani,” Performing will be

7/13/2009 11:34PM – Some Updates on Friday from Enduring America

UPDATE 13 July, 0845 GMT: How serious could this challenge be?Rumours are being spread, possibly by pro-Ahmadinejad sources, that this Friday’s prayers will be Rafsanjani’s last. Rafsanjani’s son has denied this, and Ali Asghari, the repesentative of the Expediency Council in Parliament, has reaffirmed that Rafsanjani remains a prayer leader in Tehran. UPDATE: A reader offers the following clarification and comment, “On the Mousavi Facebook it says, “Until now there is no confirmed report of the presence of Mousavi, Khatami and [Presidential candidate Mehdi] Karroubi in the prayers”. I also wished that you had given more credit to Karroubi in your analysis. I think that Karroubi was very active and organized in supporting the protesters, organizing ways for families of the protesters to get in touch with the arrested and taking personally taking on the regime regarding the state of the arrested people.” We began today’s updates by noting, “For the second day in a row, there were no significant open demonstrations, and statements were limited,” and wondering when the opposition would make its next big move. It’s come. Four hours ago, on his Facebook page, Mir Hossein Mousavi declared, part in English, part in Farsi: “ANOTHER BIG EVENT IS GOING TO COME…. “Venue on 26th Tir (July 17th)” “Rafsanjani to address the people for Friday’s prayers at Tehran University” “Arise, Green Wave!” “The day we were awaiting is finally going to come” “With the presence of Seyyed Mohammad Khatami and Mir Hossein Mousavi” So the perfect storm of the opposition from “without”, the public challenge symbolised by the leadership of the Presidential candidate Mousavi, and the opposition from “within”, the private manoeuvring of former President Rafsanjani, may be imminent. Rafsanjani, having refused to lead prayers in recent weeks and limited his pulbic appearances, re-emerges dramatically on Friday, and a vast crowd of demonstrators marches to the University of Tehran to welcome and applaud him. It turns the regime’s public displays — an ayatollah, even the Supreme Leader, setting out the appropriate line to the acclaim of followers — against it. This plan also has the clever beauty of complicating the regime’s response. Does it dare tell Rafsanjani that he cannot speak on Friday? Do security forces dare block marchers who, after all, are only trying to worship as “good” Muslims? This, in short, could be the largest mass gathering since 15 June, complete with the presence of Rafsanjani, Mousavi, and Khatami. Start counting dowy the days…. (hat tip to readers who made this analysis possible)

7/13/2009 7:30PM – Iranian Facebook Police

And you thought your boss was bad with Facebook.

[...]On passing through the immigration control at the airport in Tehran, she was asked by the officers if she has a Facebook account. When she said “no”, the officers pulled up a laptop and searched for her name on Facebook. They found her account and noted down the names of her Facebook friends.[...]

Read the full report from NPR

7/13/9 12:41 – Qom leadership to move to Najaf if Ahmadinijad is sworn in

There are repots that the Qom Leadership will relocate to Najaf if Ahmadinijad is sworn in. In related news, Rafsanjani has recently traveled to Najaf to confer with Sistani.

Sources Green Brief.

This comes at a time when a large number of Iranian clerics in Qom have reportedly threatened to leave Iran for Najaf, Iraq (Najaf is the holiest site in Shi’ism and Qom is a center of Shi’ite learning). They demanded the government to cease with their relentless pressure to side with them.

7/13/9 12:01AM — Friday prayer – Rafsanjani & Mousavi

Just announced on his Facebook Page both will be there this friday. Mousavi called for massive demonstration.

The poster on his page says: “The day has come, Green wave is on the move” After a long absence, pro-Mousavi cleric Rafsanjani to lead prayers

7/12/9 11:40PM Grand Ayatollah Montazeri’s Fatwa: an Unfair Supreme Leader is Illegitimate

[TEHRAN BUREAU] In a very important development, Grand Ayatollah Hossein Ali Montazeri, the most senior cleric living in Iran, and one of the top two* marja’ taghlid(source of emulation) in Shiite Islam, issued a series of Fatwas, calling the Supreme Leader illegitimate and saying that he was working with the government against religion. Montazeri has called on people to take action against this injustice, even if they have to pay a heavy price for it.

Source: Tehran Bureau

7/12/9 9:00PM State-Run TV Takes a Hit

[TEHRAN BUREAU] Iranian news outlets noandish.com and tabnak.com report that Iranian state television has been hurt by falling advertising revenue. Several companies have reportedly either canceled or not renewed their contracts to broadcast their commercials through the IRIB, or the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting. Some analysts quickly concluded that boycotting products advertised on IRIB’s TV channels, a tactic suggested after the election by Mir Hossein Mousavi’s supporters, is working. Others see it differently.

Source: Tehran Bureau

7/12/9 12:21PM – Iranian-Americans rally at White House

WASHINGTON – Hundreds of protesters, many of them Iranian-Americans, marched from Capitol Hill to the White House on Saturday, most holding Iranian flags and chanting demands for the U.S. to take more action after Iran’s disputed election.

After marching through several blocks of downtown Washington, more than 200 people rallied in front of the White House. They shouted demands for President Barack Obama and leaders of other countries to “reject the sham elections, impose complete sanctions.”

They also shouted “death to Ahmadinejad,” referring to the Iranian president whose disputed June 12 re-election prompted days of street protests in Iran. Some carried pictures of Neda Agha Soltan, a young woman who bled to death in a Tehran street. She became a symbol of the postelection protest movement after videos of her death by gunfire were posted online.

Source: MSNBC

7/11/9 1:07AM — Madonna on Iran Election and other world dictators

7/10/9 11:52PM — Inside the protests – Documentary look at the protests

Very interesting documentary look at inside the protests.

7/10/9 11:43PM –Inside the Iranian Crackdown — When the Unrest Flared, the Ayatollah’s Enforcers Took to the Streets of Tehran With Batons and Zeal

Interesting article from the WSJ.

On the first day of the unrest, the 24-year-old volunteer member of Iran’s paramilitary Basij force mounted his motorcycle and chased reformist protesters through the streets, shouting out the names of Shiite saints as he revved his engine.

[...]

“It wasn’t about elections anymore,” says Mr. Moradani, a short, skinny man with pitch-black hair and a beard. “I was defending my country and our revolution and Islam. Everything was at risk.”

[...]

At the height of the street battles, in Sadaat Abad, a middle-class neighborhood in east Tehran, young men and women organized themselves into an unofficial militia to fight the Basij, with a “commander” taking responsibility for each street. Every afternoon, they would meet to prepare for the evening’s expected battle, according to a 25-year-old student who was involved with the group. They collected rocks, tiles and bricks from construction sites and spilled oil on the roads, an attempt to sideline the Basij’s motorcycles. When a Basij rider would go down, the young men would beat him, according to the student. Women stood back, screaming “Death to the Dictator” and stoking bonfires in the street. Older supporters remained indoors, throwing ashtrays, vases and other household items from their balconies and windows onto the Basij motorcycle riders below. [...] For Mr. Moradani, the biggest shock during the election turmoil came in his personal life. He had recently gotten engaged to a young woman from a devout, conservative family. A week into the protests, he says, his fiancée called him with an ultimatum. If he didn’t leave the Basij and stop supporting Mr. Ahmadinejad, he recalls her saying, she wouldn’t marry him. He told her that was impossible. “I suffered a real emotional blow,” he says. “She said to me, ‘Go beat other people’s children then,’ and ‘I don’t want to have anything to do with you,’ and hung up on me.” She returned the ring he gave her, and hasn’t returned his phone calls. “The opposition has even fooled my fiancée,” he says. 7/10/9 9:13PM — Camera Man gets attacked 7/10/9 9:12PM — The Rooftop Project One of the most compelling elements of the continued uprising in Iran has been when each night under the cover of darkness Iranians chant themselves hoarse from the rooftops, balconies, and windows of their homes. This is done to express resolve, hope, frustration, but probably more than anything else – to provide a way for people to be together, in spirit and in their cause. As long as their voices echo through each night, Iran is not yet free. It is the soundtrack of a revolution. This is meant to be the most complete possible collection of recordings of nighttime protest in Iran since the beginning of the uprising. Its goal is to locate and profile at least one video for each night primarily focusing on the nightly chanting of Allah-o-Akbar from the rooftops whenever that footage is available. Some of these videos have not been widely seen until now. I will continue to update this post with new videos as they become available, please encourage people in Iran to try to record these evening chants of Allah-o-Akbar so that the world can continue to see and hear them every day. There are several days for which I was unable to find a video – please help me find them! – you can email me at itsmightier@gmail.com – I can post the videos anonymously under my YouTube account if needed. The permalink for this post will be http://mightierthan.com/rooftop 7/10/9 5:22AM — Iran Azad Underground Newspaper (In Farsi) 7/9/9 11:49PM — The dangers of citizen journalism 7/9/9 9:12 PM – Journalist explains time in Iranian prison. From Al Jazeera:

At least 35 Iranian journalists have been arrested since protests against the result of recent elections began.

Some foreign journalists were also detained. Iason Athanasiadis, a Greek-British reporter, was held for three weeks in Tehran’s Evin prison. He’s now back home in Athens, where Al Jazeera’s Barnaby Phillips asked him to describe what happened after his arrest. 7/9/9 9:10 PM – U2 Do it again! 7/9/9 9:10 PM — Move videos Here 7/9/9 9:09 PM — Some updates from Nico over at Huffington Post “It was nothing less than war. Please pray for us.” ABC’s Lara Setrakian posts a dispatch she received from Tehran. Professor estimates 25,000 demonstrated in Tehran. Prof. Scott Lucas, who’s been blogging Iran here, is interviewed by Fintan Dunne. 7/9/9 5:18PM – REALLY LARGE crowds – Iran: July 9 2009 – 1388 18 تیر – Intersection of Vali Asr and Talaghani This video shows the time when protesters arrived at the intersection of Taleghani and Valiasr ave, heading toward Valiasr Square. The duration of this rally was about 25 minutes and before arriving at Taleghani intersection, riot forces were not interfering but closed behind the crowd to block the accumulation of people. After arriving at the intersection of Taleghani and Valiasr ave, people continued toward Valiasr Square, as shown in this video. At this time, the anti riot forces shot teargas and followed people on motorcycles forcing the crowd to Taleghani ave. I continued toward Chahar-rah Valiasr where people were blocked from going to Enghelab Square. The revolutionary guards on motorbikes hit pedestrians with batons. On my way to the subway station I saw a lot of military cars full of anti riot guard heading west, apparently to help their forces stationed at Enghelab square. Source: Huffington Post 7/9/9 4:16 PM — From the Tehran Times — In complete denial and delusion, Ahmadinijad says his administraiton will undergo major changes. He does however still insist that this was the “freest” election in history of the world. 7/9/9 4:12 PM From Al Jahzera a 30 Minute Program called People and Power. 7/9/9 2:45 PM — Watching Contessa Brewer on MSNBC and still no mention of the protests in Iran. Wonder if Rachel will cover it tonight, otherwise Im convinced MSNBC believes the citizens are not interested. However, if one more MJ video is shown, Im going to lose my lunch. 7/9/9 2:44 PM Guardian article on the anniversary of the Tehran University protests of 1999 continued uprising in Iran. 7/9/9 1:35 PM – Latest video from Iran. From reliable twitter source. 7/9/9 1:21 PM — Here are several pictures that have gone through the course of #IranElection 7/9/9 11:33 AM Video from #iranelection supposedly from today posted on Youtube. 7/9/9 10:53 AM — I just have to giggle when I see Nico Pitney post stuff on Huffington Post. Here is his latest: 10:47 AM ET — MSNBC fail. As far as I can tell, there has been zero mention of the events in Iran thus far on MSNBC. CNN has been doing updates roughly every 30 minutes. Besides Rachel Maddow nobody on MSNBC covers Iran! Maybe we should start a clock to see how long it will be until they start to cover it. So far Zip on Dyligans show. 7/9/9 10:45 AM – The Sydney Morning Herald is reporting this morning that Mojtaba Khamenei, the son of the Supreme Leader has taken control over the Basiji forces in Iran. We reported this yesterday on DYV, but what is revealed in this article is that Khamenei’s son is the “commander” of the coup. It appears that Iran is developing a guised hereditary monarchy. Further, the Herald reveals why the governing bodies are doing little to overturn this election. But they are reluctant to challenge the Khameneis openly out of fear that any conflict would destabilise the Islamic Republic and weaken Iran in the region. Instead they will use their positions within the state to make it hard for the supreme leader and the President, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, to govern. “This game has not finished. The game has only just started,” the source said, on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of his position in Iran. 7/9/9 9:28AM — Militia dispersing protesters in Iran TEHRAN, Iran (CNN) — Iranian pro-government Basij militia members are dispersing crowds in Tehran who are protesting on Thursday, the 10th anniversary of a 1999 student uprising that, at the time, posed the biggest threat to the Islamic regime since its inception in 1979. Source: CNN 7/9/9 01:25AM — I Am Neda 7/8/9 11:05PM — Bearing Witness In Iran Weighs Heavily On Cohen

Roger Cohen, columnist for The New York Times, says he left a chunk of himself back in Tehran. He covered the Iranian presidential election for the paper, and wrote op-eds about the country before he left, from Tehran andafter his return to the U.S.

Cohen talks about how the protests and crackdown he witnessed in Iran changed his opinion about whether or not the U.S. should still reach out to Iran.

Listen to the Full account here

7/8/9 3:35 — ABC News is reporting that the G8 Summit will not call for new sanctions on Iran. 7/8/9 3:27 PM — The Guardian is reporting that The Supreme Leaders son is taking over the Basij. Could we see the beginning of a harder lined totalitarian regime emerging out of the clouds of IranElection? The son of Iran‘s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has taken control of the militia being used to crush the protest movement, according to a senior Iranian source. The source, a politician with strong connections to the security apparatus, said that the leading role being played by Mojtaba Khamenei had dismayed many of the country’s senior clerics, conservative politicians and Revolutionary Guard generals. 7/8//9 12:59 PM — Is Ahmadinijad related to Bagdad Bob? Enquiring minds want to know. — From Associated Press

TEHRAN, Iran – Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad sought yesterday to put the turmoil over the disputed presidential elections behind him and declared on national television that the contests were clean, fair and marked the start of a new era.His speech came as the country’s top three reformist leaders sought to rekindle their opposition movement, demanding that ruling clerics end the heavy “security atmosphere” imposed after the elections and free those detained in the unrest, according to an opposition Web site.It was Ahmadinejad’s first national speech since the leader declared the election results valid despite outcry from the other candidates and weeks of street protests claiming that the results were fraudulent. “This is a new beginning for Iran . . . we have entered a new era,” the president said, explaining that the 85 percent turnout and overwhelming win had given his government a new legitimacy.

“It was the most clean and free election in the world,” he said, adding that during the re-count “no fault was discovered. The whole nation understood this.” *

7/8/9 12:56 PM EDT: Letter to Sent to Nico Pitney at the Huffington Post. Kudos to all the work Nico has done on #Iranelection. It is from Patrick Disney at National Iranian American Council I wanted to give you and your team a heads-up that we’re hearing from a lot of sources that Thursday will likely see a lot of unrest and potential violence in Iran. It marks the 10th anniversary of the “18th of Tir”, which is a monumental day in Iran. On that day in 1999, students protesting the closing of the reformist newspaper “Salaam” were attacked in their dormitories in Tehran and Tabriz. Six days of protests ensued, which began with several hundred students and blossomed into thousands of people from all walks of life supporting the demonstrations. They were the biggest display of [protest] sentiment in the regime’s then twenty-year history, and they were put down by the regime with a mandate by the threatened leadership to stop the unrest at any cost. 7/8/9 12:50 PM – From Reuters CARACAS (Reuters) – U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said that Washington would call for more sanctions against Iran if the White House policy of engagement with Tehran failed. Clinton said U.S. outreach to Iran may not work given the country’s recent repression of protests after a disputed election. “It may not be possible, in which case we would ask the world to join us in imposing even stricter sanctions on Iran to try to change the behavior of the regime,” Clinton said in an interview with Venezuelan television station Globovision, broadcast late on Tuesday.

9:35 AM EST – The competing poles of Iran’s system have produced a fight-to-the-death ethos.

The streets of Iran have been largely silenced, but a power struggle grinds on behind the scenes, this time over the very nature of the state itself. It is a battle that transcends the immediate conflict over the presidential election, one that began 30 years ago as the Islamic Revolution established a new form of government that sought to blend theocracy and a measure of democracy. From the beginning, both have vied for an upper hand, and today both are tarnished. In postelection Iran, there is growing unease among many of the nation’s political and clerical elite that the very system of governance they rely on for power and privilege has been stripped of its religious and electoral legitimacy, creating a virtual dictatorship enforced by an emboldened security apparatus, analysts said. Source: NY Times

The Rebellion Network

Broadcast: 07/07/2009 – Source Reporter: Eric Campbell Very interesting piece by the ABC in Australia – Watch the video Online In 2009, post-election Iran has seen the unveiling of a bold and angry, highly mobile rebellion that’s challenging Iran’s old guard with new-media – filming protests and government aggression with mobile phones, uploading the sometimes bloody and confronting images to global net transmitters like YouTube, messaging instant observations to Twitter and keeping a concerned outside world up to the minute on the state of a secretive nation. Reporter Eric Campbell examines how this remarkable resistance evolved and what this explosive instalment might mean for Iran, the Islamic world and the West.

7/7/9 11:02 PM EDT HAYSTACK Project – Austin Heap needs YOU

In the past four weeks (three of which I took off of work) a lot has happened. First a tiny proxy list on Twitter, then a more organized effort called Proxyheap, and now Haystack, a completely custom protocol for beating the Iran governments filters. Visit Austins blog to see how you can HELP

7/7/9 11:02 PM EDT Freedom vs. the Firewall The Senate can help fend off authoritarian censorship.

Before the Senate Appropriations Committee is a bill that could provide access to 100 million distinct users every day. Dedicating $50 million in the State and Foreign Operations Appropriations Bill to Internet freedom could allow millions who live in autocratic societies access to the Internet. Internet freedom has long been a stated congressional priority — the 2008 appropriations bill included a commitment to provide “anti-censorship tools and services for the advancement of information freedom in closed societies.” Now is the time for Congress to put its money behind its words. For every dollar the United States spends to guarantee access, oppressive regimes must spend thousands to put up walls and barriers. Once enough there are enough holes in a firewall, it crumbles. The technology for this exists. What is needed is more capacity. Source: Washington Post 7/6/9 6:45 PM EDT Iranian Dissenters Embark on Campaign of Covert Civil Disobedience — London Times Online Using Money to Fight the Regime. We should start that here in the US. Forced to stop demonstrating by police brutality, a Tehran nurse called Mojgan has found a new way of expressing her hatred of a regime which, she believes, stole the election from Mir Hossein Mousavi then ruthlessly stifled dissent. In the privacy of her home she takes all the banknotes from her purse and, with the help of her two children, writes on them “Mousavi” or “Death to the Dictator”. Then she goes out and spends them, using the legal currency of the Islamic Republic to undermine a rotten state. 7/6/9 5:27 PM VPOTUS Joe Biden on Iran — This man seriously needs to be toned down. WASHINGTON – Vice President Joe Biden signaled that the Obama administration would not stand in the way if Israel chose to attackIran‘s nuclear facilities, even as the top U.S. military officer said any attack on Iran would be destabilizing. Biden’s remarks suggested a tougher U.S. stance against Iran’s nuclear ambitions. Nonetheless, administration officials insisted his televised remarks Sunday reflected the U.S. view that Israel has a right to defend itself and make its own decisions on national security. 7/6/9 5:21 PM Great New Article from Reza Aslan (hope he is on Maddow tonight — also hope that Rachel is back) on the Daily Beast. He reports that opposition leaders are planning a three day strike corresponding with the Islamic Holiday of Itikaf. It will be interesting to see if this can get Michael Jackson off the headlines. )It is really frightening when you are glad to see Sarah Palin on the news!) 7/6/9 4:56 PM From The MERMI Blog –

Kayhan: Mousavi, Khatami Must Be Put on Trial

In two editorials, the Iranian daily Kayhan termed Mousavi, Khatami and their followers a dangerous opposition, and called to put them on trial for treason, cooperation with foreign elements, and responsibility for the death of civilians during the recent protests.

Source: Kayhan, Iran, July 4-5, 2009

7/6/9 4:22 PM Iran Revolutionary Guard Takes Bigger Role In National Security — LA TIMES

Reporting from Beirut — The top leaders of Iran’s elite Revolutionary Guard publicly acknowledged they had taken over the nation’s security during the post-election unrest and warned late Sunday, in a threat against a reformist wave led by Mir-Hossein Mousavi, that there was no middle ground in the ongoing dispute over the reelection of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Maj. Gen. Mohammad Ali Jafari, commander of the elite military branch, said the guard’s takeover of the nation’s security had led to “a revival of the revolution.”

7/6/9 11:20 AM Mousavi planning new Iranian Party from CNN

(CNN) — Iranian opposition leader Mir Hossein Moussavi plans to form a new political party aimed at reining in the power of the Islamic Republic’s leadership, a leading reformist newspaper reported Sunday. Moussavi told supporters the party will be focused on upholding “the remaining principles of the constitution,” according to Etemad-e Melli, a newspaper aligned with fellow opposition candidate Mehdi Karrubi. He is expected to file papers with Iran’s Interior Ministry to establish the party before hard-line incumbent Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is sworn in for a new term, the newspaper reported. The announcement comes after weeks of protests over Iran’s disputed presidential election and an attempted clampdown by Iran’s clerical leadership. The parallels to today’s events are uncanny, and while the date has been marked with numerous protests since 1999, this anniversary takes on a special significance. We know that authorities are already trying to lock the cities down ahead of time. Demonstrations are planned all over the U.S. in solidarity with the protesters letting them know the world is watching what the regime is doing.

He’s now back home in Athens, where Al Jazeera’s Barnaby Phillips asked him to describe what happened after his arrest.

Some foreign journalists were also detained. Iason Athanasiadis, a Greek-British reporter, was held for three weeks in Tehran’s Evin prison.

At July 9 demonstrations, protesters mocked the ayatollah’s son, Mojtaba, who many believe hopes to succeed his father.

“Public respect for him has been significantly damaged,” said one analyst, speaking on condition of anonymity. “Opposing him is no longer the same as opposing God.” The venerated Khamenei has even become the target of public jokes and criticism. President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad “commits crimes, and the leader supports him,” was a popular slogan during the riots of June 20, the day after Khamenei delivered a blistering Friday sermon in which he said that the election a week earlier had been won by Ahmadinejad.

[A] key theme of Clinton’s speech appears to be defending the administration’s pursuit of negotiations with Iran over its nuclear program, despite widespread international outrage over the Iranian regime’s violent crackdown on demonstrators protesting against alleged vote-rigging in the June 14 presidential election. Conservatives in particular have said that Obama was slow to condemn the Iranian government’s conduct, a charge the White House and its defenders deny.

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Related posts:

1. Iran: An Electoral Crisis! #iranelection – ARCHIVE
2. Iran: An Electoral Crisis! #iranelection – ARCHIVE 3
3. Iran: An Electoral Crisis! #iranelection – ARCHIVE 2

Main Post: Here Earlier posts Archive #1 and Archive#2, Archive #3, Archive 4, Archive 5

Interesting events unfolding – Follow here

Rafsanjani doubts Iranians ‘satisfied’ with election aftermath

TEHRAN, Iran (CNN) — A former Iranian president who backed the top opposition leader in last month’s disputed elections has delivered strong and carefully worded support of the grass-roots protest movement, saying he doubts “any wakened consciousness would be satisfied with the resulting situation.”

Source: CNN

Riot Police destroying private property in alleys

Leading Clerics Defy Ayatollah on Disputed Iran Election

CAIRO — The most important group of religious leaders in Iran called the disputed presidential election and the new government illegitimate on Saturday, an act of defiance against the country’s supreme leader and the most public sign of a major split in the country’s clerical establishment.

A statement by the group, the Association of Researchers and Teachers of Qum, represents a significant, if so far symbolic, setback for the government and especially the authority of the supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, whose word is supposed to be final.

Source: New York Times

Grand Ayatollah Saanei releases another statement supporting demonstrators.

HIS EXCELLENCY GRAND AYATOLLAH SAANEI’S SYMPATHY WITH THE FAMILIES OF THE VICTIMS OF THE RECENT DISASTERS
While extending my sincere condolences to the families of the victims of the recent tragedies, and wishing a speedy recovery for the injured, particularly for our precious and devoted student body in Esfahan, Shiraz, Tehran, and other cities, who have stood up for their rights and have of late protested against the ambiguities surrounding the election results, seeking clarification which is indeed their right, I hereby express my grave sorrow and grief at the detestable incidents as have taken place and also express my aversion to those who had a hand in those disasters and tragedies. I hope that the wishes of the people will be fulfilled and their demands will be met by those responsible in the system, whose foremost duty should be the protection of people’s life and property.

Source: His Website

Ex-Iranian president seeks to free detainees

Former reformist President Mohammad Khatami met with families of some of the people detained and said that if the courts uphold the civil rights of the detainees, the court would order them freed, reported presidential candidate Mehdi Karrubi’s party newspaper.

Spouses of detainees told Khatami they wanted their spouses released and that they worried about their physical and mental health, the paper reported.

Source: CNN

“My fellow schoolmate.” – From Huffington Post

The Revolutionary Road blog has posted a really wonderful video of a student demonstration that reportedly took place in the last few days at Kashan University. The students “form chains and sing ‘Yare dabestani’ — ‘My Fellow Schoolmate’ — a classic revolutionary song that every Iranian around knows by heart.”

Watch it all (and read the song lyrics) here.

Tehran Night Chants

BONO and U2 Join the Green Movement

Its always good seeing famous people using their positions for more then just selling records/movies.

British Embassy Staff to Stand Trial

In London, the Foreign Office said it was urgently checking reports that the Iranian authorities planned to put two of its local employees on trial. Nine staff members wereseized after the unrest sparked by Iran’s disputed presidential elections on June 12, and as many as eight of them were subsequently reported to have been released. But the precise number still detained was not clear.

Source: New York Times

Jordan shuts down PRESSTV

“According to BBC Persian, Al-Alam has written to the network news offices in Amman ordering the state offices of the English-language Iranian television network of Press TV to be shut down.”

Source: Here

Opposition movement in Iran not over, experts say

“This movement isn’t going away anytime soon, but it may not manifest itself as we’ve seen as of late,” said Trita Parsi, president of the Washington-based National Iranian American Council.

But how it will play out is up for debate, with some experts recalling the Islamic revolution that overtook Iran 30 years ago, while others liken the opposition players to the civil rights champions who rocked the United States.

“This is a movement that has swept across all dividing lines in Iranian society — both rich and poor, the merchants and the intellectuals, the young and old,” said Reza Aslan, author of the book “No God But God,” an analysis of Islam in politics and culture.

Source: CNN

More on the SMS Service in Iran

The conservative Hamshahri newspaper recently supported the cutting off of SMS across Iran, saying the measure had created tranquility.

However, parliamentary deputy Mostafa Kavakabian told the Farda News website that the blocking of SMS services had caused great damage to Iran’s economy. He asked the Iranian parliament to investigate.

On Wednesday, Mr Mousavi published a statement on the internet in which he demanded an end to what he called the government’s illegal interference in phone and SMS networks and the world wide web.

Source: BBC

Newsweek Reporter being held

Iran police fabricated Interpol probe into Neda’s death

The International Police force, or Interpol, has denied a claim by Iran’s police chief that it is seeking a doctor who witnessed the shooting death of 26-year-old “Neda.”
Head of police Brig. Gen. Esmail Ahmadi-Moqaddam said, “Arash Hejazi is wanted by Interpol and Iran’s Intelligence Ministry” in the murder of Neda, who’s shooting fueled what were daily opposition rallies in the capital city of Tehran, according to a Wednesday report by Iran’s Press TV, a state-run, English language network.

Speaking by phone to CBSNews.com Thursday morning from her office in Lyon, France, a spokesperson for Interpol flatly denied any involvement whatsoever in an investigation into Sultan’s death.

Merkel likens Iran to repressive East Germany.

“German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Thursday likened events in Iran to the oppression at the hands of the Stasi secret police in communist East Germany, where she grew up. ‘I know from the time of the GDR (East Germany) how important it was that people around the world made sure that the people stuck in (Stasi prisons) Bautzen and Hohenschoenhausen … were not forgotten,’ Merkel told parliament. ‘Iran must know, particularly in the age of modern communications, that we will do everything in our power to ensure that these people (arrested in Iran during the recent turmoil) are not forgotten about,’ she said.”

Source: Huffington Post

State TV: Mousavi to disclose tell-all documents

Mousavi, who has rejected the result of Iran’s presidential election as fraudulent, said on Wednesday that a number of Iranian scholars are set to form a committee to preserve the vote of the people.

The committee aims to “make public documents proving fraud and irregularities in the election,” Mousavi said in his latest statement issued on Wednesday.

Source: PressTV

EU considers withdrawing envoys from Tehran.

The official, Maj. Gen. Hassan Firouzabadi, the armed forces chief of staff, was quoted by the semiofficial Fars news agency as saying that because of the European Union’s “interference” in the postelection unrest, the bloc had “totally lost the competence and qualifications needed for holding any kind of talks with Iran.”

He added, “We believe that they don’t have the right to speak of negotiations before apologizing for their obvious mistakes and showing their regret in practice,” Fars said.

Source: New York Times

Khatami calls election outcome a “coup” against democracy.

Former Iranian president and leading reformist Mohammad Khatami says the outcome of Iran’s disputed presidential election is a “coup” against democracy.

Khatami also accused Iran’s government of suppressing the rights of people to protest the election results…

…Defeated presidential candidates Mir Hossein Mousavi and Mehdi Karroubi also criticized the election outcome Wednesday, calling the government led by Mr. Ahmadinejad “illegitimate.”

Source: VOA

Revolutionary Guard commander attacked by public in Karaj

NCRI – A Revolutionary Guard commander who had played an active role in killing people and arresting protesters in recent days in Karaj, west of Tehran, was attacked and beaten by local people on Tuesday.

Mahmoud Dadgou who also heads Karaj City Council was directly involved in the suppression of the popular uprising in Karaj. According to reports from Karaj, he is in critical condition.

Source: Here

Report: Iran’s Ahmadinejad cancels Libya visit

Iran’s Fars news agency says that President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad will not attend the African Union summit in Libya as was expected.

In a brief statement, the semiofficial news agency reported that the president’s visit to Libya — which was supposed to start Wednesday — has been canceled. No reason was given.

Source: Boston.com

Mousavi Calls for General Strike

Mir Hossein Mousavi میر حسین موسوی Islamic Strike, help to spread the Voice out to fight the Bullets.اعتکاف سراسری، در این فضای آلوده

رسانه شمائید .. ایمیل و موبایل و مموری کارد و کپی و هر کمک دیگری هم حق شماست

From Facebook

U.S. Imposes new Sanctions on North Korea and Iran.

The United States announced a flurry of new sanctions Tuesday on North Korean and Iranian entities said to be aiding Pyongyang’s nuclear and missile programs.

“We have, I think, been fairly explicit with the North Koreans about what — the responsibilities that they entered into that we expect them to live up to. And I think today’s action demonstrates the seriousness of what we intend to do to address it,” White House spokesman Robert Gibbs told reporters.

“They’ve stated a lot of bellicose things. They’ve threatened to do certain things. A lot of times what they’ve threatened to do they follow up on doing. But this administration, whether it is, through sanctions and our monitoring of North Korea … cutting off any potentially harmful financing,” Gibbs added.

Source: ABC

Senior cleric releases statement defending Mousavi.

Sara at the ‘Where Is My Vote?’ blog reports:

Tehran Iranian Labor News Agency in Persian on June 30, 2009 carried a report quoting a statement issued the same day by Esfahan’s former Friday prayer leader, Ayatollah Seyyed Jalaleddin Taheri-Esfahani, in support of the defeated presidential candidate, Mirhoseyn Mousavi.
The agency said the senior cleric had condemned “making instrumental use” of the Islamic founder’s remarks. In his statement, he asks: “Is it a case of justice to see that an honorable and modest Seyyed [one who is a descendant of the household of the prophet, Muhammad] who until the last moments of Khomeini’s life, had been a dear and close companion of that grand leader, is now considered to be a rioter and an agent of arrogance who must be punished?”

Found on Huffington Post

Faces of the Dead and Detained – Your help Needed

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/interactive/2009/jun/29/iran-election-dead-detained

Military officials push Khatami to intervene.

From Nico over at Huffinton Post

An interesting report in state media, sent by a reader, about how the government is trying to get reformist former president Khatami to help alleviate tensions.

Alaeddin Boroujerdi, Head of Iran’s Majlis National Security and Foreign Policy Commission told ISNA that the committee’s governing board held a meeting with former president Mohammad Khatami on Sunday and discussed the latest situation in the country.

According to Boroujerdi, officials attending the meeting expressed grave concern about the political damages brought about on a domestic and international scale in the course of recent protests in Iran.

“The lawmakers asked Mr. Khatami to help resolve the current issues and he vowed support,” the Majlis official said.

More about the Republican Guard

From Huffington Post:

8:39 AM ET — More focus on the Revolutionary Guard. We noted some analysis yesterday pointing to the key role of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard in the post-election unrest. Crooks & Liars has video of Fareed Zakaria speaking on the topic (posted below). And Bloomberg News looks at the Guard’s consolidation of power under Ahmadinejad:

Eight of the 21 posts in the president’s cabinet are held by former members, according to Ali Alfoneh, an analyst at Washington’s American Enterprise Institute. Among them are Interior Minister Sadeq Mahsouli, whose agency ran the election, and Defense Minister Mostafa Mohammad-Najjar.

Another five places are occupied by past Basij commanders. The state broadcasting arm is headed by Ezzatollah Zarghami, a former guard. At least one-third of Iran’s parliament members are former guards, according to Nader.

Under Ahmadinejad’s predecessor, Mohammad Khatami, 65, only three ministers had belonged to the guards or Basij.

A smart Iranian expat I speak to repeatedly presses the important role that the Guard now plays in the economy, a point that Bloomberg’s piece makes as well: “Under Ahmadinejad, the government has favored the guards by offering its companies no-bid contracts, especially in oil and natural-gas extraction, pipeline construction and large-scale infrastructure development.”

Iran vows ‘crushing’ response to US critiques

President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad vowed yesterday to make the United States regret its criticism of Iran’s postelection crackdown and said the “mask has been removed’’ from the Obama administration’s efforts to improve relations.

Ahmadinejad all but dared Obama to keep calling for an end to repression of demonstrators who claim the hard-line leader stole reelection through massive fraud.

“You should know that if you continue the response of the Iranian nation will be strong,’’ Ahmadinejad said in a speech to members of Iran’s judiciary, which is directly controlled by the ruling clerics. “The response of the Iranian nation will be crushing. The response will cause remorse.’’Source: Here

More chants from the rooftops – Taken Saturday apparently

No matter how many times I hear this, its something amazingly inspiring. Its the unhindered voice of the people.

Crimes against humanity charges being sought against Iran

Dr Payam Akhavan’s Statement

6/28/9 8:33 PM Iran arrrests 2000 in violent crackdown on dissent — Times Online

6/28/9 8:31 PM Ahmadinijad’s Role Downplayed — The Straights Times

Ariel View of Tehran Chaos – June 20 2009

Basij Shooting down from rooftops

Senior cleric calls for separation of powers.

Ayatollah Javadi Amoli is calling for separation of powers in Iran.

“When one person alone enacts, executes and judges the law, there will be problems.” … Amoli, who led the Friday prayers sermon in Qom, believes that the best way to resolve the current situation is a separation between the executive branch, the judicial branch and the Islamic jurist. Amoli said separation of powers is not a recent phenomenon and it existed before Islam. “Separation of powers does not belong to a particular century. Islamic and non-Islamic governments have it now, too,” he said.

Source: NIAC

Is the Revolutionary Guard really in control?

Found this very intersting artice over at Huffington Post

Two U.S. analysts — former National Security Council staffer Gary Sick and former CIA operative Robert Baer — argued today that the events in Iran over the last two weeks amount to a military coup by the Revolutionary Guard. Here’s Sick writing for the Daily Beast:

Over the 20 years that Ayatollah Khamenei has been the rahbar, or leader, he has allied himself ever more closely with the Revolutionary Guards–to such an extent that it is no longer apparent to me who is leading and who is following. The Revolutionary Guards have been granted extraordinary influence over all functions of the Islamic republic–military, political, economic, and even Islamic. Technically, they take their orders from the leader, but has he ever dared to contradict them? On the contrary, he seems always to court them by granting them ever-greater influence and responsibilities. [...]
Unlike the professional military, which had always abjured a political role in Iran, the Revolutionary Guards were recognized from the start as the protectors of the Islamic republic. They have gone on to acquire an active and pervasive presence at all levels of the political structure, particularly under President Ahmadinejad, who has appointed his fellow guardsmen to positions throughout the bureaucracy.

And here’s Baer on CNN’s “GPS with Fareed Zakaria”: “Fareed, I’m quite sure there’s been a military coup d’etat by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps in Tehran. They’ve taken over. And the fact that the Basij came out so quickly, they could have only done that on orders from the IRGC. The fact that Ahmadinejad is a former IRGC officer, he has the backing of senior officers, I think what we’ve seen is a military coup against the old clerical establishment. What do you do about a military takeover in a country like Iran? You just simply wait it out.” A transcript of the full discussion is here.

Rafsanjani: Iran election fallout ‘a tangled mess’

TEHRAN, Iran (CNN) — After more than two weeks of silence amid Iran’s violent election fallout, former President Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani — a key Iranian cleric — emerged Sunday to call out “suspicious sources” who are creating a rift between the public and the Islamic government.

He called the aftermath of the June 12 presidential election “a tangled mess, perpetrated by suspicious sources whose objectives are to create differences and separations between the people and the system and eroding the trust of the people in the Islamic system,” the Iranian Labor News Agency reported Sunday.

Source: CNN

Are Senior Clerics As Divided As Iran?

June 28, 2009 · Qom is Iran’s holiest city and a central point of the electoral crisis in the country. Islamic scholar Reza Aslan, author of How To Win A Cosmic War, discusses what’s happening in Qom and with the Ayatollahs, and how the country might move forward.

Listen to th Full Interview: NPR

Iranian Standoff with the West Worsens: AP I dont know about the rest of you, but I am starting to feel like we are watching V:  The Real Life Version.  Remember that movie from the 80′s with all those lizards running around arresting scientists (in this case journalists), and “converting” anyone that stood against the regime of Aliens?   Things to ponder, might have to bust out my DVD.  BTW, V:  The 2nd Generation is currently out and for sale by Kenneth Johnson.

Latest Video From Iran:

8:14 PM Little US Intelligence on Iran — NPR

8:10 PM EDT — Mousavi Rejects Partial Iranian Recount — Reuters

TEHRAN (Reuters) – Defeated Iranian presidential candidate Mirhossein Mousavi on Saturday rejected authorities’ proposals for a partial recount of votes from this month’s election and repeated his demand the entire ballot be annulled.

EDITORS’ NOTE: Reuters and other foreign media are subject to Iranian restrictions on their ability to report, film or take pictures in Tehran.

Latest From Nico @ Huffington Post:

7:37 PM ET — “PersianKiwi” reportedly arrested. An Iranian reporter tweeted these two messages in the past hour regarding “PersianKiwi,” one of the most reliable and prolific Iranians on Twitter: “persiankiwi is arrested. … I’m so sorry. I recive [sic] the persiankiwi arrest news from a honest source but I hope it’s been incorrect.”

Nothing has been verified yet, I’ll update as soon as I learn more.

Grand Ayatollah Sayyed Abdolkarim Mousavi Ardebili Condemns Violence

Member of Iran’s Guardian Council had a meeting with senior theologist Ayatollah Mousavi Ardebili. The meeting focused on control of the Guardian Council over presidential elections in Iran that took place on June 12, candidates’ protests against election results and latest developments, ILNA reported.
“Those responsible for organizing the elections have obligations to the people. Unfortunately, events that taken place after the election has caused turmoil in the Islamic Republic. We do not have to pacify the protest by force. The issue must be solved in a different way,” Ardebili said.

He said the demonstrators must be entitled to speak before trying to pacify them. “We need to give protesters the right to speak on television. Answers of the opposite side should also be communicated to people through television. Let the people decide who is right and who is not. The people will not accept the senseless talk,” Ardebili said.

CNN: Inside the Revolutionary Guard

Excelent Compilation of Pictures: Iran Protest Pictures

Some Pictures:

Alikhani’s Speech in Majlis in Support of Mousavi (English Subs)

Former Revolutionary Guard Member: ‘Military Coup’ Underway In Iran

Right after the election, 11 o’clock at night, was a military coup because they went to (presidential candidate Mir Hossein) Mousavi’s headquarters — five persons from the Revolutionary Guard — and told him that, ‘Yes, the leader says that this is true, you have won the election, you are the elected president, but you can’t be the president. (Mahmoud) Ahmadinejad should remain in the position.’

“And then they started to invent those fake numbers in Ministry of Interior. And right after that they started to arrest the people, to disconnect the country, to dismiss the reporters, and that is the reason that we call it a military coup.”

Source and interview: NPR

Some video’s from the Presidential address

Former UK Ambassador to Iran Richard Dalton

Former UK Ambassador to Iran Richard Dalton… is speaking for an hour today at the New America Foundation beginning at 12:30 PM ET. You can watch streaming video live at Steve Clemons’ blog, The Washington Note.

Green Balloons released in protest

Iranian Embassy Attacked just outside of Stockholm

STOCKHOLM — Swedish broadcaster SVT says the Iranian Embassy outside Stockholm is being attacked by demonstrators.

The report says about 150 people are trying to storm the embassy building. It was not immediately clear if anyone was hurt.

Source: Boston Herald

A Twitter Timeline

“iran govt slaughters its own”

Found this interesting post from an anonymous source cannot verify it at all but thought it worth posting here. Warning is pretty disturbing and graphic.

I only want to speak about what I have witnessed. I am a medical student. There was chaos at the trauma section in one of our main
hospitals. Although by decree, all riot-related injuries were supposed to be sent to military hospitals, all other hospitals were filled to the rim. Last night, nine people died at our hospital and another 28 had gunshot wounds. All hospital employees were crying till dawn. They (government) removed the dead bodies on back of trucks, before we were even able to get their names or other information. What can you even say to the people who don’t even respect the dead. No one was allowed to speak to the wounded or get any information from them. This morning the faculty and the students protested by gathering at the lobby of the hospital where they were confronted by plain cloths anti-riot militia, who in turn closed off the hospital and imprisoned the staff.

The extent of injuries are so grave, that despite being one of the most staffed emergency rooms, they’ve asked everyone to stay and help–I’m sure it will even be worst tonight. What can anyone say in face of all these atrocities? What can you say to the family of the 13 year-old boy who died from gunshots and whose dead body then disappeared?

This issue is not about cheating (election) anymore. This is not about stealing votes anymore. The issue is about a vast injustice inflected on the people. They’ve put a baton in the hand of every 13-14 year old to smash the faces of “the bunches who are less than dirt” (government is calling the people who are uprising dried-up torn and weeds). This is what sickens me from dealing with these issues. And from those who shut their eyes and close their ears and claim the riots are in opposition of the government and presidency!! No! The people’s complaint is against the egregious injustices committed against the people.

Source: Why we Protest

BEAT IT YOU FANATICS!!! GET OUT OF MY LAND!

From an Iranian Twitterer

In mourning those killed, thousands gathered Zahra cemetery garden

From the gist of the google translator it appears that thousands of people have gathered at the Zahra cemetery to mourn the death of the people killed over the last few weeks. If anyone can translate better please contat me.

Translated Source

Original Source

G8 to Iran: end violence, reflect will of people

TRIESTE, Italy (AP) — Foreign ministers from Group of Eight countries on Friday said they deplored postelection violence in Iran and urged Tehran authorities to ensure that the outcome of Iran’s disputed election reflects the will of the Iranian people.

A statement by the ministers meeting in the northeastern Italian city of Trieste said the door must remain open to dialogue on Iran’s nuclear program but expressed “deep concern” over the proliferation risk.

The statement was the result of negotiations between countries such as Italy and France that wanted to send a tough message to Iran to halt the crackdown and demand a recount, and Russia, which has said it backs the results that returned President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to power.

The statement, issued on the second day of the three-day meeting, said G-8 ministers deplored the postelection violence.

“We express our solidarity with those who have suffered repression while peacefully demonstrating and urge Iran to respect human rights, including freedom of expression,” it said.

It called on Iran “to guarantee that the will of the Iranian people is reflected in the electoral process.”

“We are deeply saddened by the loss of human lives,” Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini said at a news conference, other G-8 officials by his side. “We have stressed the need that violence cease immediately.”

Italy originally invited Iran to attend the three-day gathering as a special guest, arguing that it could play an important role in talks on Afghan stabilization. But Rome retracted the invitation after Iran failed to respond, and amid concerns over the violence in the streets of Tehran.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Moscow wanted to express its “most serious concern” over the use of force by Iran and the death of peaceful protesters.

“At the same time, we will not interfere in Iran’s internal affairs. Our position is that all issues that have emerged in the context of the elections will be sorted out in line with democratic procedures,” he said.

British Foreign Secretary David Miliband, whose government expelled two Iranian diplomats earlier this week after Iran did the same to two British envoys, said that the violence was “deplorable” and that Iran’s accusations that the protests were mobilized by Western powers were “without foundation.”

“We deplore violence but we remain committed to engagement as a means to an end,” said Miliband.

Source: Associated Press

Friday Prayers: Iranian cleric says “rioters” should be executed

TEHRAN (Reuters) – A hardline Iranian cleric on Friday called for the execution of “rioters” in the latest sign of the authorities’ determination to stamp out opposition to the June 12 presidential election.

Source: Reuters

US Senators Push Bill to Help Iranians Avoid Government Online

Is it just me or should McCain and Liieberman but out and leave this to the President and his team? History has shown how interfearing like this can cause more harm then good.

U.S. lawmakers say they plan legislation that would fund efforts to help Iranians receive and send information despite government restrictions.

Independent Senator Joe Lieberman said Thursday that the bill intends to help the Iranian people stay “one step ahead of the Iranian regime.”

Lieberman introduced the bill with Republican Senators John McCain and Lindsey Graham.

McCain said the proposed legislation would authorize funds to ensure Iranians have the software and other tools to evade government censorship and surveillance online.

The legislation would also authorize VOA’s Persian service to make permanent an additional hour of programming that was added to cover the post-election violence.

More funding would also be provided to the U.S. government-sponsored Radio Farda to boost the broadcaster’s short-wave radio and satellite capacity.

Source: VOA

Follow the Money

An interesting look at the money trail leading out of Iran.

Many tranches (portions, amounts) of 10 Million USD$ are being sent out of Iran to locations [in Europe].  These funds are coming out of Islamic Leaders [PERSONAL ACCOUNTS] and not from accounts controlled by the official Government of Iran.

Read the full article here by Ariel Silverstone

WARNING GRAPHIC VIDEO – Iranian being shot by government forces

What seems to be the first video actually depicting an Iranian being shot on camera by government officials has hit the internet. The shooting occurs while the person filming is quite far away, but the video then shows closer images of his body. The video is dated June 20. One can only imagine what an accurate count of the injured and dead demonstrators would look like at this point.

Source: Huffington Post

10 Minute footage from the events of the 24th – Caution may be distressing

Source: Huffington Post

Fractures in the Revolutionary Guard “Remember me,” he pleaded. “Remember that I helped the BBC.”

He’s done some pretty dreadful things in his life, from attacking women in the streets for not wearing the full Islamic gear to fighting alongside Islamic revolutionaries in countries abroad.

And yet now, in the tumult that has gripped Iran since its elections last week, he’s had a change of heart.

He’s become a backer of Mir Hossein Mousavi, the reformist candidate who alleges fraud in the elections. He’s saved up the money to send his son to a private school abroad, and he loathes President Ahmadinejad.

He’s not the only one.

Source: BBC

Top dissident cleric warns Iran over crackdown

TEHRAN (AFP) — Top Iranian dissident cleric Grand Ayatollah Hossein Ali Montazeri warned on Thursday that continued suppression of opposition protests could threaten the very basis of the Islamic republic.

“If Iranians cannot talk about their legitimate rights at peaceful gatherings and are instead suppressed, frustrations will build up which could possibly uproot the foundations of the government, no matter how powerful,” the cleric said in a statement faxed to AFP.

Source: Here

Rafsanjani Has Votes To Remove Khamenei?

According to unconfirmed reports Rafsanjani is currently lobbying and meeting with members of the Assembly of Experts to gain support for the removal of Khamenei and for replacing the position of Supreme Leader with a form of collective leadership. According to Al-Arabiya, high-up sources say that Rafsanjani has already gained enough support within the Assembly for the removal of Khamenei, but has found less of a positive response to the proposal to replace the position of Supreme Leader altogether.

Source: Here

Ahmadinejad gets stood up

More than 180 Iranian MPs appear to have snubbed an invitation to celebrate President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s election win, local press reports say.

All 290 MPs were invited to the victory party on Wednesday night, but only 105 turned up, the reports say.

Source: BBC

Videos of Massacre at Baharestan Square (Warning: Graphic) – Source

People must know about the monsters that are leading Iran. They are arresting people they don’t kill or beat. they must be stopped. Please pass this website onto others. You may also read my story on the massacre at http://trending.zachshouse.org/?p=236

“You should know that if you continue the response of the Iranian nation will be strong,’’ Ahmadinejad said in a speech to members of Iran’s judiciary, which is directly controlled by the ruling clerics. “The response of the Iranian nation will be crushing. The response will cause remorse.’’

Dear friends and colleagues.  I greet you with a heart full of sorrow and rage at the horrors unfolding in the streets of Tehran and other cities in Iran.  Yesterday I saw on YouTube the shocking image of the young woman by the name of Neda who was shot by a Basij sniper in front of her father.  I will never forget the anguish and desperation of the father’s voice as he watched his daughter bleed to death before his eyes.  This is just one snapshot of the savagery that has been unleashed against the millions that have peacefully protested for their democratic rights.  Thousands more have been beaten, stabbed, murdered, tortured, imprisoned, or simply disappeared from the streets, homes, and hospitals.

We can never forget this injustice.  We can never forgive those that treat our brothers and sisters as animals in a slaughter house.  Those who commit these acts are not political leaders.  They are criminals.  They are murderers and torturers.  They have committed crimes both against the Iranian people and against humanity.

In international law, large-scale and systematic murder, torture, imprisonment, disappearances, persecution on political and religious grounds, all the policies being pursued by some of the Iranian leaders today, qualify as crimes against humanity.  Those in the leadership that order or tolerate these acts bear individual criminal responsibility.

I spent ten years of my life prosecuting war criminals for the United Nations, from the former Yugoslavia to Rwanda.  And now I have this message for those leaders that are spilling the blood of our compatriots on our sacred soil: WE KNOW WHO YOU ARE!  YOU WILL NOT BE IN POWER FOREVER.  AND WHEN THE DAY COMES, WE WILL BRING YOU TO JUSTICE!  WE WILL PUT YOU TO SHAME BEFORE THE WHOLE WORLD FOR WHAT YOU HAVE DONE!  YOU WILL HAVE NOWHERE TO HIDE!  WHETHER YOU REMAIN IN IRAN OR ESCAPE TO ANOTHER COUNTRY, WE WILL FIND YOU AND PROSECUTE YOU UNDER INTERNATIONAL LAW!

To all of you assembled in cities across Canada and elsewhere in the world, I would like to make the following proposal to seek justice for our brothers and sisters that have been killed and tortured: WE MUST DEMAND THAT THE UNITED NATIONS SECURITY COUNCIL REFER THE SITUATION OF IRAN TO THE INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT AT THE HAGUE.  We must sign petitions, write our friends and colleagues, our Government and members of Parliament, in Canada and other countries, and demand that this be done.  We must send the message to Iran’s leadership that these crimes will not go unpunished.

I bow in humility to those that have sacrificed their lives for the future of the Iranian people and hope that we in the diaspora will make every effort to ensure that their killers are brought to justice.

Payam Akhavan

Bookmark It

Related posts:

1. Iran: An Electoral Crisis! #iranelection – ARCHIVE
2. Iran: An Electoral Crisis! #iranelection – ARCHIVE 3
3. Iran: An Electoral Crisis! #iranelection – ARCHIVE 6

Main Post: Here Earlier posts Archive #1 and Archive#2, Archive #3, Archive 4, Archive 5

Green Brief # 8 is out  here

Bazaaris in Tabriz join the people and go on strike – Unconfirmed

Source: Here

Rough Google Translation:

This was Aztbryzmkhabrh Khbrbsyarmhm minutes ago

Announcements Bsyarmhm Bazaar of Tabriz

Anallh Vanaalyh Rajvn

Sharif nation Vtarykh maker Azerbaijan “Ghyvrstarkhan children” street Vmjthdshhyd Grand Ayatollah Shariatmadari Now that John Vmal Vnamvs Lebanese Muslims trample boots Vflstyn been set Vznan Vkvdkan of legitimate Drmqabl Batvmha Vmslslhay a Jew born Nzhadqtl mass are called Ahmadi fatwa today with Grand Ayatollah Montazeri .. Hojjatollah Brmrdm Azerbaijan Vbrasas Check the materials to rise Mlyh Vshryh fans Mypyvndym Vbnabr norm right Tonight صنوف Azerbaijan atmosphere redolent with God Akbrshbanh Vrvz Thursday Chhartyrmah Drzay the national strike Vbstn market “Black Flags Hosseini Brdr shops to Vyzym / Nsrmn Allah Gharib Vfth / Marketers Tabriz /.

Mousavi and Rafsanjani met senior parliamentarians on Wednesday

Is this the a further step in winning support to divide and remove the current government?

Mousavi and Rafsanjani met senior parliamentarians on Wednesday. The semi-official Fars news agency said only that the “election and latest developments” were discussed and it was not clear whether the pair were trying to make peace with the hardline-dominated parliament or trying to win support.

Source: Reuters

Ominous Message from PersianKiwi

they catch ppl with mobile – so many killed today – so many injured – Allah Akbar – they take one of usthey pull away the dead into trucks – like factory – no human can do this – we beg Allah for save us -

Everybody is under arrest & cant move – Mousavi – Karroubi even rumour Khatami is in house guardwe must go – dont know when we can get internet – they take 1 of us, they will torture and get names – now we must move fast -

thank you ppls 4 supporting Sea of Green – pls remember always our martyrs – Allah Akbar – Allah Akbar – Allah Akbar

Allah – you are the creator of all and all must return to you – Allah Akbar -

PersianKiwi in Trouble

“We are at a critical point” Request from Iranians outside of Iran

e are at a critical point. In my opinion the content of this letter is very crucial and urgent. Please make sure you read it.

First, I apologize for the tone of my words. I write this letter in Tehran, in poor physical conditions and morale, on behalf of the Iranian people to Iranians outside Iran. I believe this matter is very important for the fate of Iran. As Napoleon said, only one step separates victory and defeat. We are exactly at that crucial step now.

Tonight, I was alone on the roof. It was just me and a young girl, a few houses away, who was shouting Allah-o-Akbar (God is great) with all her power. Her voice had something of Neda’s in it, so with all my remaining energy I shouted, screamed, “Don’t be afraid, Don’t be afraid, We are all together!”. But even I got tired after half an hour later, came down to my room, a little scared, a little frustrated. But I could still hear the girl shouting “Iranians with dignity, Support Support!”

Source: Here

The “Butcher of the press” to oversee prosecutions

I think this speaks for iteself…

The Iranian regime has appointed one of its most feared prosecutors to interrogate reformists arrested during demonstrations, prompting fears of a brutal crackdown against dissent.

Relatives of several detained protesters have confirmed that the interrogation of prisoners is now being headed by Saaed Mortazavi, a figure known in Iran as “the butcher of the press”. He gained notoriety for his role in the death of a Canadian-Iranian photographer who was tortured, beaten and raped during her detention in 2003.

Source: TimesOnline

Images from the last few days - Baharestan SQ & other parts of Tehran

Source: Revolutionary Road

First Hand Account Of Violence In Iran: Very Disturbing!

Latest From BBC:

Neda’s Family Forced Out of Home

The Iranian authorities have ordered the family of Neda Agha Soltan out of their Tehran home after shocking images of her death were circulated around the world.

Neighbours said that her family no longer lives in the four-floor apartment building on Meshkini Street, in eastern Tehran, having been forced to move since she was killed. The police did not hand the body back to her family, her funeral was cancelled, she was buried without letting her family know and the government banned mourning ceremonies at mosques, the neighbours said.

“We just know that they [the family] were forced to leave their flat,” a neighbour said. The Guardian was unable to contact the family directly to confirm if they had been forced to leave.

Iranian Government using detainees as Propaganda

Unconfirmed – A girl shot in Baharestan Sq

Reports are coming in over twitter of a girl being shot in Baharestan Square. The reports indicate that the security forces prevented anyone from helping her. These reports are unconfirmed as yet, more information as they come in.

Protesters Plan New Rallies

This was posted here

An interesting comment at the bottom indicates that protests are moving from the Universities to town squares.

Nazenin Ansari, the diplomatic editor of the Kahylan newspaper, told Al Jazeera that the fall in numbers gathering to protest was understandable given the “degree of repression on the streets”.

“Without a doubt, although there are not millions gathering on the streets because of the indiscrimante fire and repression, this is going to transform,” she said.

“In provinces, where people were before gathering in universities, in recent days were are seeing people gathering in main squares.”

Iran Arrests foreign Nationals in relation to protests.

Whats with the current dispute with Britain?

TEHRAN, Iran (CNN) — Iranian authorities said Wednesday they have arrested several foreign nationals, some with British passports, in connection with the country’s post-election unrest.

Intelligence Minister Gholamhossein Mohseni-Ezhei told reporters that some with links to the West and Israel had planned a series of bombings in Iran ahead of the June 12 presidential elections, the government-funded Press TV reported Wednesday.

“England is among the countries that fan the flames with their heavy propaganda, which is against all diplomatic norms,” Ezhei was quoted in the semi-official Fars news agency. “And the BBC Farsi has also played a major role. Also, a number of people carrying British passports have played a role in the recent disturbances.”

Earlier Wednesday, Press TV said that police had raided a building in central Tehran that was being used as a “headquarters” to foment post-election unrest.

The television station, citing unnamed sources, said the building was used by campaign staffers of opposition leader Mir Hossein Moussavi. And evidence indicated that “foreign elements” were behind the planning, Press TV said.

The Iranian government has long blamed foreign countries, especially Britain, for “meddling” in its affairs but have not offered up proof.

On Tuesday, Britain expelled two Iranian diplomats — a tit-for-tat gesture after Iran asked two British diplomats to leave a day earlier.

Source: CNN

Regime Tortures a 17yo Boy – Source: Salon.com

He is just a 17-year-old boy who was supposed to take the university entrance exam within a month before his fingers were broken and the finger webs were cut with a blade. He was arrested violently in the parking lot of a living complex without even taking part in any of the recent activities, and after more than 24 hours he returned home while his face was fully covered with blood and one could only see his eyes.

Protesters Setup Barricades against Basij

Larijani pressing for Mousavi to be given airtime on IRIB to discuss elections

Ali Larijani, President of the Parliamentary gradual determine when in the presence of Mir-Hossein Mousavi IRIB and expression to his protests, the election result is. One committee member representatives of gradual events after the election Ryastjmhvry Takydkrd: IRIB unilateral operation, the status quo to provoke popular protests and has contributed to this situation and criticized by some authorities, including the President and the Assembly.He emphasized: Larijani believes that censorship and treated unilateral IRIB, to solve problems and does not help restore trust, but must also protesting voice is heard. He was reminded: In this context, the Speaker is trying to Mir Hossein Mousavi protests a television program to discuss the elections and against one individual or the election authorities to doubt Ahmadinejad to answer.

From Google Translation

Source: Here

Mousavi Calls for new gathering – Wednesday

Mousavi on his twitter page has called for new demonstrations. His Twitter page is quoted as saying:

Please come to Baharestan Sq. in Tehran tomorrow at 4pm #IranElection

This draws in parallels from earlier reports that we had been seeing from sources within Iran for a new “Sea of Green” march. The call for a new march will aid to reinforce the opposition to the current establishment. Lara Setrakian from ABC News is also reporting this call for peaceful protest and what may include a speech on her Twitter page.

Latest From a Source In Iran:

1. all foreign embassys surrounded by militia to stop ppl going in – #Iranelection
2. The parks in north of city are closed at night and militia attacking any ppl in park or walking in streets – #Iranelection
3. we have report of large street battles in east & west of Tehran now – #Iranelection a controlling movement from downtown to north of Tehran to stop ppl joining Sea of Green – #Iranelection
4. tomorrow Mousavi annouce start of a new type of protests – peaceful and silent – soon there will be strikes #Iranelection from web
5. the only question now is how will the end happen – peacefully or with civil war – #Iranelection
6. the ppl have lost all faith in this Gov – Iran can never be same as b4 again – #Iranelection
7. all normal life in Iran has stopped – now everybody only talk about Sea of Green and rumours of how Khamenei will go – #Iranelection

6/23 Nico Pitney (Huffington Post) Questions Barack Obama on what conditions Obama would accept the election on Akhmadinijad.

6/23 DYV 1st Youtube Video US President Barack Obama on Iran

Intersting Tweet I found – Those arrested will be forced to confess in front of the cameras?

Name Witheld:

گفته می شودتاج‌زاده، عبدالله رمضان‌زاده، محسن امین‌زاده وابطحی به شرط اعتراف به کودتای مخملی و مدیریت آشوبها در مقابل دوربین آزاد خواهند شد

Google Translation:

According to Shvdtajzadh Abdullah Rmzanzadh, Mohsen Amynzadh Vabthy condition velvet coup to confess in front of the camera and Management Chaos will be released

This from another source:

political prisoners being tortured to deny support for Sea of Green – #Iranelection – prison source

How the militia treat the people of Iran

Big update from a source “In Iran” regarding political moves in the back – Interesting read

At Friday prayers last wk Khamenei named Rafsanjani – it is very unusual to name anyone at Friday prayers – #Iranelection cont… (1)

Rafsanjani is head of Guardians who appointed Khamenei – He has power to remove him too – #Iranelection cont…(2)

During elections ANejad attak reputation of Rafsanjani on behalf of Khamenei – #Iranelection cont…(3)

Rafsanjani is possibly most powerful man in Iran – he has support of army and many of Revolutionary Guard – #Iranelection cont…(4)

Ppl of Iran know that Rafsanjani opposes Khamenei and ANejad – #Iranelection cont…(5) – there is big division btween them for past 10yrs

Until today Rafsanjani has remained silent about elections fraud in Iran – #Iranelection cont…(6) – this silence is v/important

Rafsanjani is waiting 4 Gov to show world extent of their suppression of ppls – #Iranelection cont…(7)

Rafsanjani is also waiting for wave of support to grow both in & out of country – #Iranelection cont….(8)

Rafsanjani is slowly eroding support for Khamenei from behind scene – #Iranelection cont….(9)

Rafsanjani is standing back to see who is who – who support who – to see who is trusted – #Iranelection cont….(10)

Rafsanjani is allowing Revolutionary Guard commanders to choose their side – with ppl or against – #Iranelection cont…(11) trusted or not

When all positions clear – Rafsanjani has the military, financial & clerical power to mobilise – #Iranelection cont…(12)

The process is slow – but certain – when Rafsanjani speaks – he will be heard – #Iranelection end

Another night of chanting: From Irans Green Revolution

Green Brief #6 is out – Here

Footage from Babel – Monday

IRAN: RAFSANJANI POISED TO OUTFLANK SUPREME LEADER KHAMENEI

From all accounts there is about to be a massive powerplay in the upper echelons of Iranian power.

A source familiar with the thinking of decision-makers in state agencies that have strong ties to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said there is a sense among hardliners that a shoe is about to drop. Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani — Iran’s savviest political operator and an arch-enemy of Ayatollah Khamenei’s — has kept out of the public spotlight since the rigged June 12 presidential election triggered the political crisis. The widespread belief is that Rafsanjani has been in the holy city of Qom, working to assemble a religious and political coalition to topple the supreme leader and President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

“There is great apprehension among people in the supreme leader’s [camp] about what Rafsanjani may pull,” said a source in Tehran who is familiar with hardliner thinking. “They [the supreme leader and his supporters] are much more concerned about Rafsanjani than the mass movement on the streets.”

Source: Eurasia.org

World Unites for Democracy in Iran – Pass it on to any contacts you have for support.

Revolutionary Guards commander defies Khamenei’s orders to use force on protestors

Source: IB Times

6/22:  9:46 AM

From UPI News

Sweden, June 22 (UPI) — A European Union-wide proposal to coordinate aid for wounded Iranian demonstrators was expected to be discussed Wednesday in Stockholm, ministers said.

Ministers of Italy, France and Finland called for a common EU response for people seeking assistance in the violent aftermath of Iran’s June 12 election in which hardline President Mahmoud Ahmadinejadwas declared the landslide winner over his nearest rival, moderate Mir Hossein Mousavi.

In demonstrations in Tehran Saturday, official Iranian media outlets reported at least 13 people died and more than 400 were wounded.

6/22 9:28 AM Latest From Chuck Todd at MSNBC: *** Ramping Up The Rhetoric: As the violence and protests escalated in Iran on Saturday, President Obama stepped up his criticism about what’s happening there. “The Iranian government must understand that the world is watching,” he said in a statement. “We mourn each and every innocent life that is lost. We call on the Iranian government to stop all violent and unjust actions against its own people. The universal rights to assembly and free speech must be respected, and the United States stands with all who seek to exercise those rights.” But the toughest domestic political rhetoric on Iran is coming from Republicans. This is one of those cases where Democrats and the White House are wondering what the reaction would be if the roles were reversed — i.e., Democrats criticizing a GOP administration’s response on foreign policy. Indeed, Republicans regularly beat up Democrats for supposedly politicizing international issues (do remember that the establishment Democratic Party didn’t start truly criticizing the situation in Iraq until two-plus years after the war began). But who’s politicizing now? Also, it’s worth noting that the criticism from Republicans is NOT universal. In fact, the GOP establishment on this issue is more divided than the coverage is suggesting.

6/22 8:55 AM Latest From CNN:

Iranian Forces Ready To Clear Country of ‘Hooligan’

TEHRAN, Iran (CNN) – Iranian protesters who “disturb the peace and stand up to security forces” will be considered a threat to the regime and will be met with a strong response, the country’s Revolutionary Guard warned Monday.

“The guardians of the Islamic revolution and the courageous Basiji together with the security forces following the orders of the supreme leader and following him unquestioningly, are determined to act strongly to return peace and tranquility to society … and to clean the country of these plotters and hooligans,” the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said in a statement, according to Iran’s state-run news agency, IRNA.

Iran’s Revolutionary Guard is directly under the control of supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and enforces the government’s Islamic codes and morality. It was initially created to protect the leaders of the revolution, but over the years, it has broadened its scope. With more than 200,000 members, it is tasked with overseeing the country’s crucial interests, including guarding its oil fields and missile arsenals.

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Related posts:

1. Iran: An Electoral Crisis! #iranelection – ARCHIVE
2. Iran: An Electoral Crisis! #iranelection – ARCHIVE 2
3. Iran: An Electoral Crisis! #iranelection – ARCHIVE 5

Main Post: Here Earlier posts Archive #1 and Archive#2, Archive #3, Archive 4, Archive 5

Revolutionary Guard Threaten Crackdown

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards have threatened to crack down on any new street protests against the results of the country’s presidential election.

In a statement, the guards vowed to react in a “revolutionary” way to suppress unauthorised demonstrations.

Source: BBC

Protest Footage 21st June

Mehdi Karroubi calls public mourning of Neda.

Mehdi Karroubi امروز ساعت 16 در ميدان هفت تير به سوگ ندا می نشينيم.

2 hours ago · Comment · Like

Google Tranlation:

Mehdi Karroubi Today Tir Square in 16 hours to call the bereavement Nshynym.

40 senior clerics want election results annulled.

Nico Pitney at the Huffington Post (Great job guys btw) is tonight reporting that 40 senior clerics want the election results annuled.

The intense infighting among Iran’s clerical establishment appeared to play out in new dramatic fashion on Monday. Via reader Art, the news site Peiknet reported that Ayatollah Rafsanjani has a letter signed by 40 members of the powerful 86-member Assembly of Experts calling for the annulment of the recent presidential election results.

Moreover, the letter (the authenticity of which has, again, not been verified) charges that the arrest of Rafsanjani’s daughter Faezeh on Sunday was a way to exert pressure on him, and that she was followed and identified by the intelligence services during the rally.

More translation via a reader:

It says Khamenai has long had cancer and wanted to have his son as Supreme Leader (the position that Rafsanjani wants), and that the attempt to alter the election results was done in an attempt by Khamenei to eventually allow his son Mojtaba to replace him. It says that at the core the argument is not just about Mousavi but the overall system of government, as it’s becoming a like Monarchy rather than a republic. So far, it says, most of the clerics have not accepted Ahmadinejad presidency, and quotes Ayatollah Javadi Amoly saying of the attack on Tehran University students, ‘no Muslim will destroy another’s property, they must be foreigners.’

Calm Over Nite State Media Reports

The Huffington Post Reporting: Source

Calm overnight, state media reports. “Iranian state radio said on Monday thatno unrest broke out in Tehran overnight and the capital had been calm for the first time since a disputed June 12 presidential election. ‘Tehran last night witnessed the first night of calm and peace since the election,’ state radio said.”

The New York Times reports, “There were reports of scattered confrontations but no confirmation of any new injuries by evening. But as they had on previous nights, many residents of Tehran clambered to their rooftops and could be heard shouting ‘Death to the dictator!’ and ‘God is great,’ their rallying cries since the crisis began.”

State Radio Reports 457 Arrested Saturday

The AFP is reporting that Iranian State Radio said Monday that 457 people had been arrested in clashes on saturday.  The radio is reporting that the arrests were made around the capitols Azadi Square.

Police said 40 officers were wounded and 34 Government buildings have been damaged.

Source: Yahoo

12:14 Nokia & Siemens Aid Iran – Iran’s Web Spying Aided By Western Technology

The Iranian regime has developed, with the assistance of European telecommunications companies, one of the world’s most sophisticated mechanisms for controlling and censoring the Internet, allowing it to examine the content of individual online communications on a massive scale.

Interviews with technology experts in Iran and outside the country say Iranian efforts at monitoring Internet information go well beyond blocking access to Web sites or severing Internet connections.

The level of technology and method of deployment are well and truely advanced in the fields. The report says that the US has the same technology and the way Iran is using it out does the Great Firewall of China

The monitoring capability was provided, at least in part, by a joint venture of Siemens AG, the German conglomerate, and Nokia Corp., the Finnish cellphone company, in the second half of 2008, Ben Roome, a spokesman for the joint venture, confirmed.

The article goes on to say:

“We didn’t know they could do this much,” said a network engineer in Tehran. “Now we know they have powerful things that allow them to do very complex tracking on the network.”

Deep packet inspection involves inserting equipment into a flow of online data, from emails and Internet phone calls to images and messages on social-networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter. Every digitized packet of online data is deconstructed, examined for keywords and reconstructed within milliseconds. In Iran’s case, this is done for the entire country at a single choke point, according to networking engineers familiar with the country’s system.

Read the full article here: Source

12:06 AM EDT From LA TIMES

At least 24 journalists have been arrested in Iran since the start of protests last week against disputed election results, according to news organizations and a media watchdog.

The Paris-based Reporters Without Borders today released the names of 23 arrested journalists and bloggers, including the head of the Assn. of Iranian Journalists, Ali Mazroui.

Newsweek magazine later posted a statement saying that its correspondent, Maziar Bahari, a Canadian, was detained without charge this morning and has not been heard from since. Newsweek defended his coverage of Iran as “fair and nuanced” and called for his release.

BBC says its correspondent, Jon Leyne, has been ordered to leave within 24 hours. But the British broadcaster says its Tehran bureau will remain open.

Iran’s leadership has repeatedly accused Western journalists and their governments of fomenting the unrest over the reelection of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in a vote marred by allegations of fraud.

Since the June 12 poll, authorities have revoked the credentials of foreign journalists and barred reporters from the streets. Many websites have also been blocked.

Much of the news now coming out of Iran is being relayed by so-called citizen journalists who post pictures and videos on Internet sites such as Twitter, Facebook and YouTube.

NEWSWEEK Reporter Arrested

From VOA News:

International criticism of Iran’s handling of a disputed presidential vote and subsequent protests is mounting, after Iranian media reported the arrest of former President Hashemi Rafsanjani’s eldest daughter.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel added her voice to a growing chorus of Western leaders demanding respect for civil liberties in Iran.

“Human rights and citizens’ rights are inseparable, and that is why Germany stands behind the people, and peaceful demonstrations in Iran, who want to make use of their freedom of speech and who want to gather peacefully. I, therefore, demand that Iran’s leaders allow peaceful demonstrations, allow free reporting of events, stop the use of violence against demonstrators and free imprisoned people.”

— Read More

Her Name was Neda -

Picked this up from the Huffington Post – Great work to Nico Pitney and the crew at Huffington.

Video of Saturdays Mousavi Speech

To the Fallen – Pt3 – A bit more on Neda – Source: Huffington Post

6:55 PM ET A bit more on Neda. A blogger apparently in touch with Neda’s family members offers some new details (translated by reader Nima): she was born in 1982, apparently her full name was Neda Agha-Soltan, and she was at the protest with one her professors and several other students. She was, they said, shot by a basiji riding by on a motorcycle. Also, she was apparently buried today at a large cemetery in the south of Tehran. ABC News’ Lara Setrakianwrites, “Hearing reports Neda was buried in Behesht Zahra cemetery earlier today, memorial service cancelled on orders from authorities.”

Latest From TehranBureau Information Regarding The Ayatolah’s 3 days of mourning Newsweek Journalist Arrested Yahoo News! From Bloomberg:

June 21 (Bloomberg) At least 10 protesters were killed in Iran and, in a sign of widening divisions within the regime, state media reported that security forces detained five members of former President Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani’s family. Rafsanjani, one of the most influential politicians in Iran, is a behind-the-scenes supporter of opposition leader Mir Hossein Mousavi, who says that June 12 elections were rigged in favor of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. That puts him in conflict with Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei who has approved of the electoral win.

2:57 PM EDT Great Video From BBC: http://www.bbc.co.uk/persian/iran/2009/06/090621_ag_street_clashes.shtml

Video from Al-Jazeera

More protests and death tolls reported

From Huffington Post

8:50 AM ET More protests today CNN is showing new video from today of what looks to be a very large protest, with the crowd chanting and marching through the streets. June 21, 8:40 AM ET More deaths The AP reports on more deaths and the arrests of Rafsanjani’s daughter: State media reported Sunday at least 10 more deaths in post-election unrest and said authorities have arrested the daughter and four other relatives of former President Hashemi Rafsanjani, one of Iran’s most powerful men. The reports brought the official death toll for a week of unrest to at least 19. State television inside Iran said 10 were killed and 100 injured in clashes Saturday between demonstrators contesting the result of the June 12 election and black-clad police wielding truncheons, tear gas and water cannons. However English-language Press TV, which is broadcast only outside the country, put the toll at 13 and labeled those who died “terrorists.” There was no immediate explanation for the discrepancy. Amnesty International cautioned that it was “perilously hard” to verify the casualty tolls. “The climate of fear has cast a shadow over the whole situation,” Amnesty’s chief Iran researcher, Drewery Dyke, told The Associated Press. “In the 10 years I’ve been following this country, I’ve never felt more at sea than I do now. It’s just cut off.” On Sunday, the streets of Tehran were eerily quiet.

Updated Facebook Post – Mousavi

Mir Hossein Mousavi میر حسین موسوی

هشدار احمدي مقدم به موسوي

در نامه فرمانده نيروي انتظامي درباره ادامه تجمعات خياباني مطرح شد هشدار احمدي مقدم به موسوي سردار اسماعيل احمديمقدم فرمانده كل نيروي انتظامي ايران در نامهاي كه…

10 minutes ago · Comment · LikeUnlike · Show Feedback (90)Hide Feedback (90) · Share

Google Translation:

Mir Hossein Mousavi Mir-Hossein Mousavi Ahmadi Moghaddam warning to Mosavi Letter to police chief continue gathering street warning was raised to Mosavi Sardar Ismail Ahmadi Moghaddam Ahmdymqdm total force commander of forces in the names of …

Source: Facebook

A call for strike assistance – Mousavi

More protest video from the 20th

Rift grows among Iranian leaders

TEHRAN, Iran (CNN) The public rift among Iranian leaders widened Sunday when the country’s foreign minister disputed allegations of ballot irregularities even as the parliamentary speaker implied that the election authority had sided with one candidate.

Source: CNN

We are no more afraid of bullet, tank and Basidji.

Stunning professional wireservice images from Iran: http://www.daylife.com/search/photos/1/grid?q=iran Ahmadinejad thanks Leader for support

Iranian President-elect Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has thanked the Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei for his comments at Tehran’s Friday prayers. “I sincerely extend my gratitude to the Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei over his historic and epoch-making presence as well as helpful remarks at Tehran’s Friday prayers,” the letter read. Source: Presstv.ir

Reuters: Iran police chief warns Mousavi over unrest: media

TEHRAN (Reuters) – Iran’s police chief has warned opposition leader Mirhossein Mousavi that officers will “decisively confront” any further unrest over a disputed presidential vote, Iranian newspapers reported on Sunday. Source: Reuters

CNN Story about Neda http://edition.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/meast/06/21/iran.woman.twitter/index.html Updated video: Basij HQ Blown up

Natural gas lines of Basij Head quarter was set on fire after Basijie’s locked themselves inside . at 0:05 you can see the whole building exploded at least 5 from Basijies were killed you can see fire in different parts of city location : Eastern Tehran

To the fallen PT2 – Update on Neda

Terrorfying home invasion video – From Huffington Post

Terrifying home invasion video. CNN just aired this amateur video of a basiji raid tonight on what looks to be an apartment complex. Just listen to the audio pure terror. A reader helps transcribe: “‘They are vandalizing all the cars,’ the voice says, with all the car alarms going off. I think the banging sound is from the baton on the windshield and on banging the cars. The last loud female shriek is, ‘Go GET LOST!’”

The Green Brief Part 4 is up http://iran.whyweprotest.net/news-current-events/1438-green-brief-4-niteowl.html Powerful images of yesterdays events http://www.flickr.com/photos/fhashemi/sets/72157619758530748/show/ http://www.demotix.com/news/saturday-riots-following-iranian-election-results-tehran http://www.demotix.com/iranelection Google updating Satelite imagery for Tehran http://google-latlong.blogspot.com/2009/06/imagery-update-for-tehran.html Reports of Embassies Accepting Injured http://mashable.com/2009/06/20/google-maps-iran/ 8:29PM EDT – To the fallen I just watched a disturbing video of a young woman who’s name is believed to be Neda. As i write this tears roll down my face. She was one of the many victims of today’s violence. These people gave the ultimate sacrifice for a cause they believed in and to make their country a better place for future generations. She was apparently shot through the heart by a sniper while watching the protests. Remember these people, remember what they stood for, what they came to achieve.  Men and women standing together to voice a cause they believe in. They are the ultimate martyrs, young innocent victims of a dictator, dying for a cause greater then us all.

“Her name was ندا (#Neda), which means voice or call in Farsi. She is the voice of the people, a call to freedom “

http://ow.ly/fh4v 8:28PM EDT – Some images From this excellent website: Here 6:50PM EDT — Latest Video 6:40 PM EDT – Chaos continues to erupt in Iran, as protestors continue to question the legitimacy of an election that resulted in Akhkmadinijad being relected by a landslide.   Security forces in Iran fought against the protestors using baton charges, tear gas, and water cannons.  The Local run media is reporting that a suicide bombing occured at the shrine of the late Ayatollah Khomenei where two people were killed and eight wounded.   Meanwhile, many fans of twitter and @persiankiwi, are concerned because he has not tweeted in over 6 hours as the latest reports are of the “security forces” camping outside foreign embassies whom are assisted the wounded.

First Aid For Chemical Burns: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/first-aid-chemical-burns/fa00024#iranelection

6:32 PM EDT — This video has been posted on facebook by one of the people giving information to those outside Iran — it is an image of his sister being murdered. http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=1188119140308&ref=nf

From Iran:  Hospital close to the scene in Tehran: 30-40 dead so far at 11pm and 200 injured.

– Tehran Time 9:16 Tehran Time: More video 9:06 Tehran Time: More video 8:51 Tehran Time: More video – Date Unconfirmed 8:20 Tehran Time: Reports from “In IRAN” Unconfirmed – The Army will not follow orders to kill the people – #Iranelection People of Iran – be ready to take people from the streets tonight and give protection – #Iranelection Tehran is burning with the blood of our Martyrs – The streets are full of dead – #Iranelection Tehran is burning with the blood of our Martyrs – The streets are full of dea – #Iranelection Mousavi speaking to supporters in the street NOW – #Iranelection Mousavi – declares results of 10th Presidential Election null and void – #Iranelection RT RT RT Today is the day of rekoning – the day of GHIAMAAT – Allah Akbar – #Iranelection Helicopters pouring acid on people from the sky – #Iranelection 8:12 Pm Tehran Time: More Mousavi reporting. From Huffington Post @LilyMazahery: “Mousavi is at head of Jayhoon ave. giving a speech.” Reliable Iranian on Twitter: “mousavi among people: I am ready for death” Another: “Mousavi – Confirmed – I have prepared for martyrdom” 7:48 – More pictures from Tehran Source: Here 7:30 -Gunshots heard Gunshots continuously heard from Ghasr-ol-dasht street Source: Tehran Bureau 7:22 Tehran Time:  Mousavi supporters set light to Tehran building Source: Reuters

TEHRAN (Reuters) – Supporters of Iran’s defeated presidential candidate Mirhossein Mousavi on Saturday set on fire a building in southern Tehran used by backers of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, a witness said. The witness also said police shot into the air to disperse rival supporters in Tehran’s south Karegar street.

More footage from Tehran:

More footage from the streets of Tehran: WARNING GRAPHIC – DISTURBING AND DISTRESSING IMAGES – Unconfirmed for today

“Impossible” to get through police. A BBC correspondent:

I’m in the centre of Tehran close to Enghelab Square where the demonstration was supposed to have been held. But there’s a huge security presence here, thousands of men from every possible service: police, revolutionary guard, military police, the riot police in full riot gear, and the much-feared Basij – religious paramilitaries who see themselves as the shock troops of the Islamic revolution. It’s impossible for any groups of people to get through these to Enghelab Square and hold their demonstration.

6:26 Tehran Time: Possible Video uploaded from Tehran Video from last night: basiji attack peoples homes 6:05pm Tehran Time: Explosion @ shrine Reports suggesting that the government blew up the shrine to discredit protestors. – Unconfirmed 6:04pm Tehran Time: Teargas used – reports

Reuters: “Iranian riot police used tear gas on Saturday to disperse demonstrators protesting in Tehran against a disputed presidential election, a witness said. Smoke was rising over Enghelab (Revolution) Square, where supporters of defeated candidate Mirhossein Mousavi had gathered in defiance of a ban on protests, the witness added.”

5:46pm Tehran Time: Reports of 2 blasts in Tehran Iranian state TV is reporting 2 blasts in the city of Tehran Updated: Two people hurt in blast at mausoleum of Imam Khomeini in southern Tehran, Iran’s state-run Press TV reports. – CNN 5:29 Tehran Time: Reports of police switching sides, reports of violence – Unconfirmed From a reliable Iranian on Twitter: “special guards confronted with people, attacked them with batton dispersed them into small ally ways” A trusted Iranian reporter writes, “The rally of Silente continues today in Iran. Some witnesses are reporting gunshot in Azadi St.” Unconfirmed:

RT UNCONFIRMED reports mentioning basiji and police members are joining the green revolution #iranelections #gr88 #Tehran #IranElection

5:11 Tehran Time: CNN Breaking News TWEET.

cnnbrk

Thousands of people attempting to enter Tehran protest site have been blocked by heavily armed police, eyewitness says.

Police Clash with Protesters 5:03 local time: ABC’s Jim Sciutto: “Tweets from inside Iran say rally is on and police clashing with protesters.” Pictures from inside Iran: Source Huffington Post 4:55 Tehran Time: Protersters appeal to police Reports are coming in unconfirmed that protesters are appealing to the police and security forces to join with them. BREAKING: PROTESTS ON According to Mousavi’s Facebook page the protests are still on. Source: Facebook

Mir Hossein Mousavi میر حسین موسوی  خبر ها و گزارشها حاکی از آمدن سیل عظیم جمعیت از شهرستانهای اطراف به سمت تهران می باشد . دوستان همه دارند به سمت تهران می آیند . شنبه 30 خرداد ساعت 4 میدان انقلاب تهران The CRUCIAL Demonstration on Saturday 16:00 in Tehran and all around the world, please spread this message around 16 minutes ago · Comment · Like

Unconfirmed reports on Twitter that thousands of people are taking to the streets. Also unconfirmed reports of Gov forces carrying guns not battons, also unconfirmed reports of beatings in azadi square but some are saying this is propoganda. – Reports that mobile phones NOT working http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_B0j9uYfZDuk/SjzM1rl5YrI/AAAAAAAAADc/Fz-rq37qRlY/s1600/5153_101309286546507_100000023082480_35164_2282201_n%2B(1).jpg Possible images from the rally: http://tazahorate-ma.blogspot.com/2009/06/teheran-6202009.html More as we get information and sources.

Britain summons Iran’s diplomat over Khamenei’s comments

LONDON, England (CNN) — Britain’s Foreign Office summoned a senior Iranian diplomat over comments made Friday by Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, a Foreign Office spokesman said. Charge d’Affaires Safar Ali Eslamian Koupei was told by a senior official that “Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Khamenei’s comments about Britain were unacceptable and not based on fact,” the spokesman said. The Foreign Office had originally summoned the Iranian Ambassador to Britain, Rasoul Movahedian, but he was not in the UK.

Source: CNN

Poem for the Rooftops of Iran – June 19th, 2009

Subtitled version of “INJA KOJAST INJA IRAN AST SARZAMINE MANO TO” (link below) – a woman speaking about the state of her country while filming the rooftop shouting of “Allah-o Akbar” in Iran on Friday June 19th Iran, the whole world is watching. original link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2oM6l9PO6Yo

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2. Iran: An Electoral Crisis! #iranelection – ARCHIVE 3
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Main Post: Here Earlier posts Archive #1 and Archive#2, Archive #3, Archive 4, Archive 5

Time for a change – by Iranian-American hip-hop artist WeaponXEmcee

“My message to my Iranian people in the struggle. You are not alone. www.myspace.com/wxmc   “

List of Worldwide rallies, protests, demonstrations, and vigils in support of Iran http://docs.google.com/View?id=dgdt5wfz_3kgdw9gfc Christiane Amanpour analyzes speech Iran’s supreme leader rejects vote fraud claims CNN: Iran’s supreme leader rejects vote fraud claims, describing President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s election win as “definitive.”

TEHRAN, Iran (CNN) — Iran’s supreme leader on Friday rejected opposition claims that last week’s presidential elections were rigged, describing President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s win as “definitive” and calling for calm after days of protest.

Source:  CNN

10pm EDT: IRANs Supreme Leader to Speak at the Site of Crackdown

This will be interesting to see what he says and what issues he address. We will be keeping an eye out and looking to analysis of his words to see if the gives some indication of what direction this crisis may take.

TEHRAN, Iran (CNN) — Iran’s supreme leader will deliver a sermon Friday at Tehran University, just days after a bloody crackdown at the school, according to a statement from the pro-government Basij militia.

Source: CNN

12:23 pm EDT:

Nico at Huffington Post has updated many new pictures on the front page of the post.  You can take a gander of them by cruising on over.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com

12:21 pm EDT:

From CNN:

TEHRAN, Iran (CNN) — Iran’s supreme leader will deliver a sermon Friday at Tehran University, just days after a bloody crackdown at the school, according to a statement from the pro-government Basij militia.

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei will give his sermon during Friday prayers. It will be closely watched for a sign of how the government plans to resolve the stalemate over the country’s recent presidential elections.

Crowds of demonstrators have been protesting in the streets of Tehran, demanding that officials throw out election results that showed hardline incumbent President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad defeated opposition leader Mir Hossein Moussavi.

http://cnn.site.printthis.clickability.com/pt/cpt?action=cpt&title=Iran’s+supreme+leader+to+speak+at+site+of+crackdown+-+CNN.com&expire=-1&urlID=405150937&fb=Y&url=http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/meast/06/18/iran.university/&partnerID=211911

Updated: Iran ‘investigating 646 poll protests’

Iran’s top legislative body says it is investigating 646 complaints from the three defeated presidential candidates over last week’s election.

The powerful Guardian Council said it had invited Mir Hossein Mousavi, Mehdi Karroubi and Mohsen Rezai to a meeting on Saturday to discuss the complaints.

Source: BBC

Breaking: Defeated candidates invited to meeting to discuss concerns.

BBC just stated on air, that the defeated candidates have been invited to a meeting on Saturday by Irans top legislative body to discuss their grievances. More info as they come. Trying to locate sources online now

.

Many hundreds arrested and missing in Iran.

Is the regime trying to silence the protests by detaining leaders and organisers? What is quite disturbing is the number of reports of people going missing and being detained. If you have any information on the people missing please contact us and we will keep your details anonymouse.  We want to help get yours and their stories out.

For more information please refer to this excellent website: Source

Hillary Clinton in visual support for Iran protests?

Iranian Activist Pulled from Hospital Bed and Arrested.

(CNN) — A former Iranian deputy prime minister who headed a group supporting increased freedom and democracy was pulled from his hospital bed and arrested Wednesday in Tehran, his granddaughter told CNN.

Ibrahim Yazdi, who is about 76 years old, is secretary-general of the Freedom Movement of Iran, said Atefeh Yazdi of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. He has suffered from prostate cancer, and his condition must be closely monitored, she said.

Source: CNN

Inside Iran:  The Election Fallout:

As the post-election crisis in Iran continues, authorities have barred all journalists working for foreign media from reporting on activities in the streets. And foreign reporters who went to Iran to cover last week’s elections are beginning to leave, as officials say their visas will not be extended.

Ali Arouzi, an NBC News Producer based in Tehran, discusses how difficult it is to report the story in the middle of a media blackout.

http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2009/06/17/1968447.aspx

Wednesday Begins 5th Day of Civil Unrest!

Iran was braced for a fifth day of unrest today as the government intensified its crackdown on opposition figures with the arrest of dozens of leading critics and issued a further warning against reporting of the protest movement.

Saeed Laylaz, a leading journalist and a critic of government policy often quoted by foreign media, was among the latest to be detained, as protesters prepared for more demonstrations in Tehran.

“Iranian intelligence and security forces are using the public protests to engage in what appears to be a major purge of reform-oriented individuals whose situations in detention could be life-threatening,” said Aaron Rhodes, a spokesman for the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/jun/17/fresh-iran-protests-planned1

Iran military targets Web

TEHRAN, Iran (CNN) — As protesters planned to demonstrate for a fifth day against last week’s disputed presidential election, Iran’s Revolutionary Guard corps said Wednesday it will pursue legal action against Web sites that it said were inciting people to riot.

“We will very soon inform the public the details of these destructive Internet networks and we warn the people who want to use cyberspace to incite riot, threaten people and create rumors that legal action will be taken against them and the penalty they will pay is very heavy,” the Guard said in a statement carried by the official Islamic Republic News Agency.

Source: CNN

Journalist defies the crackdown on foreign media.

British reporter Robert Fisk witnesses a stunning scene in which Iranian soldiers keep a group of plainclothes paramilitaries away from Mousavi supporters.

From Huffington Post: Source

In fact at one point, Mousavi’s supporters were shouting ‘thank you, thank you’ to the soldiers.
One woman went up to the special forces men, who normally are very brutal with Mr Mousavi’s supporters, and said ‘can you protect us from the Basij?’ He said ‘with God’s help’.

It was quite extraordinary because it looked as if the military authorities in Tehran have either taken a decision not to go on supporting the very brutal militia – which is always associated with the presidency here – or individual soldiers have made up their own mind that they’re tired of being associated with the kind of brutality that left seven dead yesterday – buried, by the way secretly by the police – and indeed the seven or eight students who were killed on the university campus 24 hours earlier.

Quite a lot of policeman are beginning to smile towards the demonstrators of Mr Mousavi, who are insisting there must be a new election because Mr Ahmadinejad wasn’t really elected. Quite an extraordinary scene.

Aslan: Rafsanjani calls “emergency” meeting of Assembly of Experts.

Appearing on CNN last night, Iran expert Reza Aslan reported this:

There are very interesting things that are taking place right now. Some of my sources in Iran have told me that Ayatollah Rafsanjani, who is the head of the Assembly of Experts — the eighty-six member clerical body that decides who will be the next Supreme Leader, and is, by the way, the only group that is empowered to remove the Supreme Leader from power — that they have issued an emergency meeting in Qom.
Now, Anderson, I have to tell you, there’s only one reason for the Assembly of Experts to meet at this point, and that is to actually talk about what to do about Khamenei. So, this is what I’m saying, is that we’re talking about the very legitimacy, the very foundation of the Islamic Republic is up in the air right now. It’s hard to say what this is going to go.

McClatchy:  Iran Top Cleric:  RIGGED

TEHRAN, Iran — Supporters of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and his main rival in the disputed presidential election, Mir Hossein Mousavi, massed in competing rallies Tuesday as the country’s most senior Islamic cleric threw his weight behind opposition charges that Ahmadinejad’s re-election was rigged.

“No one in their right mind can believe” the official results from Friday’s contest, Grand Ayatollah Hossein Ali Montazeri said of the landslide victory claimed by Ahmadinejad. Montazeri accused the regime of handling Mousavi’s charges of fraud and the massive protests of his backers “in the worst way possible.”
http://www.mcclatchydc.com/iran/story/70155.html

The Guardian:

Iran‘s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, tonight dismissed post-election protests as the work of “tension seekers” and called for calm on national television.

As thousands of rival demonstrators filed through the streets of Tehran, promising further violence in days of unrest that have already killed seven people, the ayatollah called for “tolerance”, adding: “Everybody should be patient.

“The threshold of patience should be very high,” he told a room filled with supporters of all four candidates in Friday’s disputed election. “Tolerance is very difficult, whether for he who has won or the one who is defeated. Increase the capacity for defeat in yourself.”

He blamed Iran’s worst protests since the 1979 Islamic revolution on people seeking to “create destruction”.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/jun/16/iran-elections-rally-tehran

3:12 PM:

(CNN) — Iranian presidential challenger Mir Hossein Moussavi’s hometown of Tabriz is Exhibit A for his supporters as they argue that last week’s election was rigged.

Official results from Friday’s polls show that the city and its surrounding province, dominated by ethnic Azeris like Moussavi, voted to re-elect hard-line incumbent President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. It’s a result many observers of Iranian politics find incongruous but just one of the things that have raised eyebrows among Western analysts.

There were no exit polls conducted in Friday’s balloting and little polling before the election. Nate Silver, who runs the U.S. election Web site fivethirtyeight.com, said the official results were “ambiguous.”

“The fact that you had some areas where conservatives got only 20 percent of the vote in 2005 and got 70 percent of the vote this time — things like that have people who already had doubts about those numbers scratching their heads,” Silver said.

http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/meast/06/16/iran.election.questions/

3:07 PM EDT:

New York Times:
TEHRAN — Tens of thousands of Iranians gathered in the streets here on Tuesday for a second day of mass demonstrations protesting the official results of Friday’s presidential election, unsatisfied by a top government panel’s agreement to conduct a partial recount.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/17/world/middleeast/17iran.html?_r=1&hp

3:04 PM EDT:

Open Letter To the World From Iran!

2:58 PM EDT:

Ann Curry has reposted her article on Iran from Twitter.

We’re in Iran, and as we make our way, we’re expecting what most Americans probably would expect.   A place of rage—-especially toward the West, which is increasingly concerned about Iran’s nuclear ambitions; where freedom of expression is non-existent. But we soon discover there is another side to this Islamic Republic beyond those chants of death to America. There is an Iran unknown to most Americans. Young people singing for joy at a rally for a presidential candidate.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/31156949/ns/dateline_nbc-international/

2:43 PM EDT:

From Reuters:

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton Role in Twitter:

The U.S. State Department contacted the social networking service Twitter over the weekend to urge it to delay a planned upgrade that could have cut daytime service to Iranians, a U.S. official said on Tuesday.

“We highlighted to them that this was an important form of communication,” said the official of the conversation the department had with Twitter at the time of the disputed Iranian election. He declined further details.

1:20 pm EDT:

From the BBC:

Supporters of Iran’s defeated presidential candidate Mir Hossein Mousavi have again staged a mass rally in Tehran, witnesses told the BBC.

It comes despite Mr Mousavi’s urging his backers not to march, in case they risked clashing with supporters of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

Mr Ahmadinejad’s supporters earlier held a rally in central Tehran.

Tough new restrictions on the foreign media mean the BBC is unable to confirm the scale of either rally.

The new restrictions have been imposed amid apparent surprise and concern among the authorities at the scale of popular defiance over Friday’s official election results, correspondents say.

1:11 pm EDT It appears that journalists are now getting into trouble with their tweets.  This appeared on twitter just moments ago.

RT “A request from media and journalists: please do not include our usernames in your items. It can be a trouble later. #IranElection

– AC

TEHRAN (Reuters) - Iran‘s top legislative body on Tuesday ruled out annulling a disputed presidential poll that has prompted the biggest street protests since the 1979 Islamic revolution, but said it was prepared for a partial recount.

(Editors’ note: Reuters coverage is now subject to an Iranian ban on foreign media leaving the office to report, film or take pictures in Tehran.)

In what appeared to be a first concession by authorities to the protest movement, the 12-man Guardian Council said it was ready to re-tally votes in the poll, in which hardline President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was declared the runaway winner.

But the powerful Council rejected reformist calls to annul Friday’s election, which set off swift-moving political turmoil, riveting attention on the world’s fifth-biggest oil exporter.

http://www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUSEVA14340720090616

Great Link To Use For Twitter:

http://www.boingboing.net/2009/06/16/cyberwar-guide-for-i.html

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Latest From Iran: (Feel Free To Post Any Updates You May Have) – Refresh for live updates as they happen – Live Blogging Archive

Follow us on Twitter - Time Line of the Iran Election Protests

20/08/2009 — Green Brief #59

Protests / Unrest

1. On Thursday, Ahmadinejad is scheduled to give a speech that is being broadcasted live on IRIB. Protesters have decided to chant on rooftops throughout the speech showing their discontent. The speech was scheduled for today, but was postponed, due to wide-spread reports that people would try to cause a black out by over using electricity. The speech is to be aired at 9 PM Tehran Time.

2. A general strike was observed in Sanandaj City, Kordestan province. Shops were closed in most parts of the city in remembrance of an attack on Kordestan province 30 years ago. Basijis and police had earlier threatened city merchants not to take part in the strike. Reports indicated that police and Basij also clashed with some merchants who were refusing to open their shops and many merchants were injured – this could not be confirmed right away.

3. Kamil prayers will be held on Thursday, in Tehran’s Dar-u-zahra Cultural Center, for the release of detainees and the mourning of protesters who have been killed so far. The prayers are held weekly on Thursdays.

Opposition

4. Karroubi has announced he is ready to present evidence of the rape of detainees by prison guards. He sent a letter today to Ali Larijani, to set up a meeting between him and various heads of government institutions. According to Karroubi, the meeting will explain whether he is wrong or Friday prayer Imams, who have lambasted him for raising his voice. He has asked these people to be present during the meeting for him to present the evidence:

– President Ahmadinejad

– Judiciary Chief Sadegh Larijani

– Ali Larijani, the head of the Parliament

– The head of the Expediency Council,

– The head of the Assembly of Experts and of the Expediency Council Hashemi Rafsanjani

– Attorney General Ghorbanali Dorri-Najafabadi

– Members of the parliamentary committee set up to assess the condition of detainees

5. Karroubi also alleged that Hossein Ta’eb – the head of the Basij – was one of the main perpetrators of the phony TV interview, with the family of a woman who claimed to be the real Taraneh Mousavi. In response to his statement, Hojatoleslam Seyed Hossein Shahmoradi – who happens to be the brother of the claimant’s wife – released a statement criticizing Karroubi for divulging the information. According to Shahmoradi, he had told Karroubi about the incident and the fakeness of the claimant in confidentiality.

6. Reports from Qom indicate that Grand Ayatollah Seyed Mousa Shabiri Zanjani – a cleric who has been a teacher of Khamenei and his sons – held a meeting with Grand Ayatollah Lutfullah Safi Golpaygani and has shown great concern over the killing of protesters. According to reports, he got so upset during the meeting that he began to cry.

Shabiri Zanjani has also met with Grand Ayatollah Montazeri in his summer residence in Khaveh, near Qom. He is a key cleric who has been instrumental in freeing Montazeri from house arrest.

7. The Defense of Human Rights Society – an Iranian human rights organization – has asked the government to immediately release its members who have been detained in the post-election violence. The Society released a statement saying that their only job was to defend human rights and that they did not engage in political activities. Members of the organization, Mohammad Ali Dadkha, Abdol Fatah Soltani and a few others are still in detention. Three that were detained have now been released.

Government / International

8. Ahmadinejad unveiled his 21-member cabinet on Wednesday. MPs will start examining the nominees for different ministries in four days and will hold a vote for each member on the 30th of the month. PressTV reported Vice Parliament Speaker Mohammad-Reza Bahonar saying on Thursday, that it was likely that several of the ministers would be rejected by the assembly. Bahonar indicated that up to five nominees would possibly be rejected.

Here is a list of the names and posts of cabinet members (as well as some notes about them below):

Agriculture: Sadeq Khalilian

Commerce: Mehdi Ghazanfari

Communications and IT: Reza Taqipour

Cooperatives: Mohammad Abbasi (Retains his post)

Culture and Islamic Guidance: Seyyed Mohammad Hosseini

Defense: Brigadier Ahmad Vahidi

Economy and Financial Affairs: Seyyed Shamseddin Hosseini

Education: Sousan Keshavarz (Female)

Energy: Mohammad Aliabadi

Foreign Affairs: Manouchehr Mottaki (Retains his post)

Health: Marzieh Vahid Dastjerdi (Female)

Housing and Urban Development: Abdolreza Sheikholeslami

Industries and Mines: Ali Akbar Mehrabian (*See note (a) below)

Intelligence: Heyder Moslehi

Interior: Mostafa Mohammad Najjar

Justice: Morteza Bakhtiari

Labor and Social Affairs: Ali Nikzad

Oil: Masoud Mir Kazemi

Road and Transportation: Hamid Behbahani (Retains his post)

Science, Research and Technology: Kamran Daneshjoo

Welfare and Social Security: Fatemeh Ajorlou (Female) (*See note (b) below)

(a) It is worth noting that Ali Akbar Mehrabian, the cabinet member for Industries and Mines, retains his post although he was convicted in court, a few weeks ago, for the stealing of another inventor’s invention.

(b) There may also be a problem for the Minister of Welfare Fatemeh Ajorlou who is also facing legal trouble.

9. Several conservative MPs have criticized Ahmadinejad’s choice of ministers. Many have shown discontent over his choice of three women for ministries. One MP from Oromieh said that it is possible, that these women would face difficulties in the next cabinet [because of their gender].

10. Asgar Aowladi, today denied that a meeting was held between him, Rafsanjani, Haddad Adel and others. This news was widely reported in some government-owned websites yesterday. (Read full report in Brief #58)

11. Former Minister of Intelligence Mohseni Ejaie – who has been widely accused of being one of the main forces behind the brutal suppression of peaceful protesters – is expected to be nominated as the next Attorney General by Sadegh Larejani. Ejaie was sacked by Ahmadinejad days before his inauguration.

12. The leadership council of the Assembly of Experts held a meeting today, postponing the meeting of the Assembly till after Ramadan – which is in a week. Other details were not disclosed.

13. The governor of Tehran province, Moteza Tamaddon criticized Karroubi today, stating that if he cannot prove his allegations, then legal steps should be taken against him. He added that during his and other MPs’ visit to Evin on Tuesday, detainees rejected that they had been raped.

14. Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki said that Iran, would continue a new course in its foreign policy and that Europeans states should “adapt to new realities”.

15. Syrian President Bashar Al-Asad is in Tehran on a two-day trip, holding meetings with various Iranian officials.

16. Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez Frias will be visiting Iran in September.

Arrested / Released / Killed / Torture

17. Partially confirmed reports have emerged of a released detainee, who had been drugged and raped. According to reports, the detainee had been given heavy doses of rohypnol – a sedative, anticonvulsant, anxiolytic, amnestic, hypnotic and skeletal muscle relaxant – and then brutally raped. According to a doctor, who helped with the case while the victim was in hospital, the victim had contracted Chlamydia infection – a common sexually transmitted disease because of the abuse.

18. Partially confirmed reports have emerged that the parliament, may have received a confidential letter from Karroubi 20 days before his public letter to Rafsanjani. According to Iqbal Mohammadi – an MP from Marivan – Karroubi only sent the letter to Rafsanjani after he had not received a reply from the parliament.

19. A un-named MP has told opposition websites, that the news of the parliamentary committee’s ‘fact-finding’ mission to Evin were lying about their meeting with Mostafa Tajzadeh. According to the MP, what the committee members quoted as Tajzadeh’s words, were pre-written and given to them by Saeed Jalili – the Secretary General of the National Security Council.

Reports indicate that Tajzadeh is held outside Evin, while committee members told the press that they met Tajzadeh at Evin.

20. Mehdieh Mohammadi, the wife of political commentator and reporter Ahmad Zeidabadi, said that her husband has been kept in extreme conditions in prison. According to Mohammadi, Zeidabadi had been kept in an unlit 1×1.5 meter room for the first 17 days of his arrest, where he went on a hunger strike. During this period, no sounds reached the room and no one came to talk to him. He described the cell to his wife as a ‘grave’.

After 17 days, his health deteriorated and he was found unconscious in his cell. He was taken to a doctor who told him to eat. He was then taken back to the same cell where started showing signs of dementia, he told his wife, in a meeting 52 days after his arrest, that he wanted to kill himself but couldn’t find anything to do the job with. He spent a further two weeks in this cell. After repeated cries, he was taken to a different cell. He told his wife, during the meeting, that he has been forced to tell the court, in the next trial, that he would never take part in anything related to politics.

21. Isa Saharkhiz – a reporter – is under severe psychological pressure and claims that he will sue the government once freed. His ribs were broken after being beaten by security forces and he has yet to receive proper medical care for his injuries. He has told his interrogators that he would not talk without his lawyer and the parliamentary committee for assessing the condition of detainees present.

22. Kevan Samimi has also been put in solitary confinement and has been repeatedly beaten by prison guards. Samimi is a journalist and a political activist fighting for political prisoners’ rights.

23. Azad University student Hesamat Salamat, has been released after a month and a half in prison. Also released were Journalist Zhila Bani-Yaghoub and Sadegh Nowroozi, a member of reformist party Mojahedin of the Islamic Revolution Organization. Reports suggest that Mehsa Amrabadi and Somayeh Towhidlo would be released soon as well.

24. Mohammad Reza Jalayeepour was supposed to be released today, but he was not. It was expected that he would be released on August 20.

25. Photographer Stayar Emami, of Jam e Jam newspaper, was reportedly released on Sunday after a month in detention. After the current releases, the number of journalists in prison stands at 35.

26. Seven executions have been put on hold by the new Judiciary Chief after taking office. These include one young person who is now a 21 year old who was accused of murder at the age of 16.

27. No news has emerged since the disappearance Sohrab Leqaie, a Baha’i from Ghayem Shahr. He was arrested a month ago by agents of the Intelligence Ministry.

Media

28. Hossein Entezami – the representative of editor-in-chiefs in the Committee to Oversee the Media – has also criticized the ban on Etemaade Melli. He added that the country was not in need of such actions.

29. Reports have emerged that Karroubi has threatened, that unless Etemaade Melli’s ban was not lifted, he would revive his project of running a TV channel. He was forced to shelve plans four years ago for Channel “Saba” a satellite channel, after direct intervention by Ali Larijani, then chair of the National Security Council, who deemed the plan “an act against national security”. Karroubi then founded the Etemade Melli newspaper to reach the masses.

30. Keyhan Daily – the mouthpiece of Khamenei – threatened all reformist parties not to support Karroubi. It also criticized the meetings of reformists with Montazeri and other clerics in Qom.

Miscellaneous

31. Swissinfo reports:

“Islamic scholar Tariq Ramadan has been fired from his position at a Netherlands university over connections to an Iranian-funded television channel. In a statement, the municipality of Rotterdam and the Erasmus University of Rotterdam said that the Swiss-born theologian’s hosting of a program on Iran’s Press TV was “irreconcilable” with his position as a guest professor.”

Scholar fired over ties to Press TV http://bit.ly/TXh7O

International Protests

32. On Thursday, August 20, at 4:30 pm American student activists will gather outside the Nokia Store at 5 East 57th Street in Manhattan to protest Nokia’s complicity in the crackdown against Iranian protesters. Link for more info: http://tinyurl.com/nmkj8n

Source: Why We Protest

11/08/2009 — Iranian speaker calls for detainee rape probe

TEHRAN, Iran (CNN) — Iran’s influential parliament speaker has called for an investigation into allegations that post-election detainees were raped while in custody, state-run media said.

Ali Larijani said that a special parliamentary panel “had carried out investigations into the situation in [Iranian] jails and the treatment of detainees and it should also look into whether jail rape allegations are true or false,” Press TV reported, citing Tabnak, a Web site associated with opposition politician Mohsen Rezaie.

Source: CNN

10/8/2009 — Report: Iranian prison chief dismissed, arrested

TEHRAN, Iran (CNN) — Authorities have fired and arrested the chief of an Iranian jail that was closed amid allegations of mistreatment of detainees held for protesting June’s disputed election, Iranian media reported Sunday.

Source: CNN

10/8/2009 — Top Iranian general: Let’s prosecute opposition leaders

TEHRAN, Iran (CNN) — A senior official with Iran’s powerful Revolutionary Guard is calling for the prosecution of two key opposition leaders and a former president, accusing them of fanning the protests that have gripped the nation since its disputed presidential election two months ago

Source: CNN

5/8/2009 — Ahmadinejad sworn in as riot police quell protest

Reporting from Beirut — Iran’s president began a contentious second term today, vowing to strive for “national greatness” as police firing tear gas and swinging truncheons quelled a demonstration outside the parliament where he was sworn in.

Battered by a weeks-long protest movement alleging fraud in his reelection, and weakened by challenges from within his own conservative camp, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said he would dedicate himself to serving the Iranian people and to taking bold steps on the world stage.

“It is not important who voted for whom. What we need is national greatness,” he said in a speech broadcast live on television after he was sworn in by the judiciary chief, Ayatollah Mahmoud Hashemi Shahroudi. “We are representing a great nation. It needs great decisions and great deeds. We need to take great steps.”

As he spoke, hundreds and possibly thousands of demonstrators tried to push their way into the surrounding Tehran’s Baharestan Square, with thousands of security forces and plainclothes Basiji militiamen on motorcycles chasing and arresting them, according to witnesses and accounts in the reformist online media.

Security forces dispersed the crowd before a larger rally could gather.

Source: LA Times

3/8/2009 — Swiss push for meeting with U.S. hikers detained in Iran

(CNN) — Swiss diplomats are trying to meet with three American hikers being held in Iran, the Swiss Embassy in Tehran said Monday.

The embassy would not say whether Iranian authorities had responded to their request or if diplomats had met the Americans.

Four American friends — seasoned travelers — were hiking through Iraq’s Kurdistan region last week before three of them crossed the unmarked border with Iran, where Iranian authorities detained them.

Kurdish officials identified the hikers as Shane Bauer, Sarah Shourd and Joshua Fattal, CNN confirmed Sunday. The fourth hiker, Shon Meckfessel, stayed behind in Iraq.

“My husband and I are eager for the best welfare and conditions for our son, Josh, and for the other two companions he’s with,” Laura Fattal of Elkins Park, Pennsylvania, told CNN Radio. “And that is our only concern, his welfare and the best conditions for him.”

Meckfessel, a graduate student at the University of Washington, was identified by his grandmother, who told CNN that he stayed behind because he felt sick. Meckfessel met with a consular official at the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad, the embassy said.

“My grandson has asked me not to talk to the media,” said Irene Meckfessel of Carmichael, California, before hanging up Saturday.

Don’t Miss

• Three U.S. hikers detained by Iran named
• Iranians held by U.S. in Iraq return home

Iran’s state-run media reported that Iranian security forces arrested the three Americans on Friday on charges of illegally entering the country from Iraq’s Kurdistan region and that the matter is under investigation.

The United States and Iran do not have diplomatic relations, and Switzerland represents U.S. diplomatic interests in Iran, which is why the Swiss are trying to meet the detainees. Watch as concern grows the situation could escalate into an international incident »

Friends of the travelers said that the trio have spent time or have lived in Western Europe and the Middle East.

Sandy Close, executive director of the nonprofit Pacific News Service, described Bauer, a photographer whose material occasionally has been posted on her Web site, as a “gifted linguist and photographer with wanderlust for travel and a student of Arab cultures. He’s a remarkably talented guy.”

On a profile on a travel Web site, Shourd describes herself as a “teacher-activist-writer from California currently based in the Middle East.”

Fattal shared his friends’ love of travel and learning, and was described as “fiercely intellectual” by his friend, Chris Foraker, who spoke to CNN affiliate KVAL-TV in Eugene, Oregon.

Foraker said he met Fattal during a study abroad program in 2003, and the two worked together at the Aprovecho sustainable living research center in Cottage Grove, Oregon.

The four travelers spent Thursday night at the Miwan Hotel in Sulaimaniya, Iraq, said hotel owner Mudhafer Mohammed.

Bauer, Shourd and Fattal left early Friday in a taxi for Ahmed Awa, a touristic town near Iraq’s border with Iran, planning to hike in the mountains there, according to Peshrow Ahmed, spokesman for the security manager of Sulaimaniya.

Ahmed Awa police spotted the hikers at one point Friday, Ahmed said, and warned them that they were near the Iranian border — which is not m

arked — and that they should be careful.

The group was in contact with Meckfessel in Sulaimaniya until about 1:30 p.m. Friday,

when they reported they were “surrounded by Iranian soldiers,” Ahmed said. No further communication was received.

Mohammed said the hikers said they had come to the area because they heard it was safe, saying they were considering a trip to Ahmed Awa. But he said he advised them against it.

“I warned them m

an

y times,” Mohammed said.

“When they told me that they are planning to go to Ahmed Awa, I told them, ‘Don’t go there because it is unsafe for you because you’re American and Ahmed Awa is very close to the Iranian border,’ ” he said.

Meckfessel left the hotel about 4:30 p.m. Friday, Mohammed said, asking him to take care of their luggage and saying he would not return. Later, he said, Sulaimaniya security forces took the luggage from the hotel.

Source: CNN

3/8/2009 — 85yo Woman wants her vote back

3/8/2009 — Iran leader approves Ahmadinejad presidency

TEHRAN (Reuters) – Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei formally endorsed the second term presidency of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Monday after a disputed election that plunged Iran into its worst crisis since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

Source: Reuters

3/08/2009 — Ex-military chief questions Iran trial motives

One day after Iran opened a mass trial of more than 100 opposition figures, defeated presidential candidate Mohsen Rezaei questions the fairness of the move, calling for a trial of the security forces who broke the law.

The first court session for opposition activists and protesters convened in Tehran on Saturday only days before President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is scheduled to be sworn in for a second term.

The Saturday court charged several politicians, including former vice president Mohammad-Ali Abtahi, of planning the post-election riots ahead of the vote and sparking unrest through “allegations of vote fraud.”

In reaction to the trial, Secretary of the Expediency Council Rezaei adopted a critical stance over the handling of the cases of the post-vote detainees and questioned the true motive behind the timing of the court session.

“Recent events which brought severe damage upon the nation and the Islamic Republic were caused by two groups; one group were rioters and the second group comprised of self-driven individuals and security forces who violated the law,” Rezaei said in a letter to Iran’s Judiciary Chief, Ayatollah Seyyed Mahmoud Hashemi-Shahroudi, on Sunday.

Rezaei, who challenged Ahmadinejad in the June 12 election, argued that with two types of defendants, the authorities should move to hold two types of court proceedings.

“Otherwise justice and fairness will not be administered and it is even possible that insecurity does not come to an end and calm is not restored to the society,” Rezaei warned.

He said while Saturday’s trial only dealt with the first group of the accused, the question remains as to when the second trial is set to begin and why it was not held at the same time with the first court session.

Rezaei called on the country’s judiciary chief to put to trial “the security forces who attacked Tehran University’s dormitory and classes in Isfahan University”, “those responsible for battering the prisoners including Mohsen Ruholamini”, and “those responsible for assaulting peaceful protestors in the street”.

Rezaei, who was the chief commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps for sixteen years, called for the second trial as police chief Ismail Ahmadi-Moqaddam acknowledged in July that some law enforcement officers went to “extremes” during the post-election protests.

“Some of our officers went to extremes during these events and caused damage while pursuing protestors,” Brig. Gen. Ahmadi-Moqaddam conceded, vowing to ‘deal firmly’ with the officers who had broken the rules.

Reformists were quick to condemn the trial as a sham staged by supporters of the incumbent president.

After the disputed vote in June, Iran witnessed widespread protests as supporters of defeated presidential candidates Mir-Hossein Mousavi and Mehdi Karroubi took to the streets to protest Ahmadinejad’s re-election as president with a massive margin.

At least 30 people were killed and hundreds of others injured in the course of the protests staged by supporters of the opposition who dismiss the official election results as “fraudulent” and call for its annulment.

Iranian authorities argue that foreign agents fueled the post-vote violence, causing the deaths.

Source: PressTV

3/8/2009 — Conservative calls on Iran to hold second trial

TEHRAN, IRAN (AP) — A conservative who ran in Iran’s disputed presidential election has criticized the government for not putting people on trial who attacked opposition protesters and tortured detainees.

Mohsen Rezaei sent a letter to Iran’s judiciary chief saying the post-election unrest would likely continue if those who harmed opposition supporters were not brought to justice.

Sunday’s report on Rezaei’s Web site comes a day after Iran began its first trial against protesters and activists following the June 12 vote.

The opposition claims President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad stole the election through fraud.

Iran’s parliament says at least 30 people have been killed in post-election unrest. The son of one of Rezaei’s top aides died while in detention.

Source

3/08/2009 — Slow Updates

Away with work again so internet access is sporadic.

Check out Revolutionary Road for some great updates.

31/07/2009 — Lots of videos collected from various sources

30/07/2009 — More updates from today’s mourning

30/07/2009 –Security forces, protesters face off in Iran

TEHRAN, Iran (CNN) — Security forces in Iran on Thursday confronted thousands of protesting Iranians across the city, first at a cemetery and later at a prayer venue and near a government building, witnesses and news reports said.

Clashes erupted at the cemetery as two of Iran’s main opposition leaders tried to join the several thousand people at a memorial for the slain woman who became the symbol of Iran’s post-election violence, witnesses said. The gathering was banned, but the participants ignored the government strictures.

However, security forces barred opposition leaders Mir Hossein Moussavi and Mehdi Karrubi from the gravesite of Neda Agha-Soltan, the 26-year-old woman shot in election protests on June 20, witnesses and news reports said. More than 3,000 people were gathered at Agha-Soltan’s grave, a witness said.

Mourners arrived on the religiously significant 40th day after the fatal shooting in Tehran. For Iranians, a predominantly Shiite Muslim population, the 40th day after a death marks the last official day of mourning.

At the cemetery, security forces used tear gas to clear the area of demonstrators and mourners. A witness said riot police and Basij militia were at the scene, but the confrontations with people in the crowd involved the militia.

Source: CNN

29/07/2009 –More than “Velvet Revolution”: The Battle Within Iran’s Intelligence Ministry

Interesting read and a good source of information

In a week filled with confusions, intrigues, and confrontations within the Ahmadinejad Government, this may be the most extraordinary story of all.

On Monday afternoon, the pro-Green Movement website Mowj-e-Sabz announced, “Coup in the Ministry of Intelligence”. While public attention was focused on the President’s firing of his Minister of Intelligence, Gholam-Hossein Mohseni-Ejeie, there was much more happening below the headlines. Two Deputy Ministers and a number of experts — Mowj-e-Sabz claimed more than 20 — had been “forced into retirement”.

The cause? Ministry officials had been told to compile a report, based on files and interviews of detainees, on whether the quest for a “velvet revolution” by outsiders was responsible for post-election conflict. Their investigations produced the answer: No. There was no proof that “foreign” elements had instigated the protests as part of a plan for regime change.

It was an answer that did not satisfy President Ahmadinejad. He dismissed the Vice Ministers of Intelligence and of Counter-Intelligence. According to Mowj-e-Sabz and other press reports, established a parallel service, “Tehran Intelligence”, led by Hojatoleslam Ahmad Salek and Hojatoleslam Hossein Ta’eb, both of whom are affiliated to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

Was this dispute over the “velvet revolution”, rather than the Cabinet argument over the First Vice President, the real reason for Minister of Intelligence Ejeie’s dismissal? Does the replacement of Ministry officials by activists close to the Revolutionary Guard, combined by Ahmadinejad’s assertion that the Ministry reports to him rather than the Supreme Leader, constitute a “coup” by the President and the IRGC against their own Government?

I’m not sure I would go so far as to answer “Yes”. But I do think that the irony is that any notion of an outside “velvet revolution” has been overtaken by an inside bureaucratic war. How far this war spreads could define the next phase of the post-election challenge to the Iranian system.

29/07/2009 — Some updates from United4Iran

Some late updates as i’ve been away with work.
More U2 Awesomeness

Press coverage so far: Al Jazeera, CNN, BBC Persia, New York Times, USA Today, Huffington Post, Ms., and many more

29/07/2009 — Hearts & Minds — A Letter From Fayah

Nothing  I can say can say it better then the original…

Through all of this work with Iranian protesters, I have come into contact and become friends with three people there.

For their safety, I can’t give you any details of who they are, but I’ll give you their names, since they’re very common there.

Rashid.

Fayah.

Ali.

Two of them have become very influential on a grass roots level, partially because they are in contact with so many people internationally, and have access to better information than most.

Through many, many email conversations, I have grown to love and admire and deeply respect these people, these friends.

Two of them are planning to deliberately seek martyrdom on Thursday. Here’s what Fayah wrote to me:

“I love life. I love to laugh and be with my friends. There are so many books I want to read, movies I want to see, people I want to meet. I want to marry, to be a good wife and mother. I want to grow old with the people I love, to feel the sun on my face, to see the ocean, to travel.

My country is in a terrible state. People have no jobs. There is no money. People have no freedom. Women must hide themselves from the world, and we have no choices.

Our people–we are not terrorists. We hate terrorists. And that is what our government has become. They kill our people for no reason. They torture us in their prisons because we want freedom. They make our country look evil, they make our religion look evil.

We are fighting for our freedom, for our religion, for our country. If we do nothing while injustice abounds, we become unjust. We turn into the ones we hate.

I have to fight. I have to go back on the streets. I will make them kill me. I will join Neda, with my friends, and then maybe the world will hear us.

I never thought I would become a martyr, but it is needed. The more of us they kill, the smaller they become, the more strength the people will have. Maybe my death will mean nothing, but maybe it will buy my country freedom.

I am very sad that I will never be a mother, that I will never do the things I love, but I would rather die than do nothing and know that I am to blame for the tortures, the murder, the hatred.

Please tell the world how much we love life. That we are not terrorists. We just want to be free.”

[Note: I have corrected spelling, removed identifying details, and cleaned up the word order a bit...English is her fourth language.]

Please, my friends, remember these names:

Rashid

Fayah

Ali

Please keep them in your thoughts and your prayers.

Gods bless the people of Iran.

If any of you want to reprint Fayah’s letter, or disseminate it in any way, please do so. We are her voice, and it needs to be heard.

28/07/2009 — Iran’s Protesters: Phase 2 of Their Feisty Campaign

Phase 2 has begun. Six weeks after millions took to the streets to protest Iran’s presidential election, their uprising has morphed into a feistier, more imaginative and potentially enduring campaign.

The second phase plays out in a boycott of goods advertised on state-controlled television. Just try buying a certain brand of dairy product, an Iranian human-rights activist told me, and the person behind you in line is likely to whisper, “Don’t buy that. It’s from an advertiser.” It includes calls to switch on every electric appliance in the house just before the evening TV news to trip up Tehran’s grid. It features quickie “blitz” street demonstrations, lasting just long enough to chant “Death to the dictator!” several times but short enough to evade security forces. It involves identifying paramilitary Basij vigilantes linked to the crackdown and putting marks in green — the opposition color — or pictures of protest victims in front of their homes. It is scribbled antiregime slogans on money. And it is defiant drivers honking horns, flashing headlights and waving V signs at security forces.

Source: Time

28/07/2009 — In Iran, Leader orders closure of post-vote prison

Amid reports of the mistreatment of detainees who protested against the result of the presidential vote, the Leader of the Islamic Revolution orders officials to shut down a “non-standard” prison.

The head of Iran’s National Security Council said Monday that Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei had demanded that the prison which did not measure up to the required standards to be shut down.

“In the course of recent events, the Leader has ordered officials (to take measures), so that no one, God forbid, suffers injustice,” Saeed Jalili said in a statement.

The presidential election in June, which lead to the re-election of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad as president, was followed by massive protests by supporters of the defeated candidates.

Thousands were detained in the aftermath of the vote, many of whom have since been released. According to Judiciary spokesman Ali-Reza Jamshidi, at least 300 people remain behind bars.

Jalili, who is also the representative of the Leader in the powerful council, added that Ayatollah Khamenei had insisted that officials were obliged to “precisely” probe into incidents in which wrongdoings may have been committed against detainees.

The Leader has repeatedly advised officials to abide by the law and personally follows up on the fate of detainees, Jalili added.

Source: Press TV

26/07/2009 – GreenBrief #39

Source: Iran: Why We Protest

26/07/2009 — Solidarity for Iran during GreenDay Concert

Source

25/07/2009 — United4Iran’s Photostream

25/07/2009 — Protesters chase off PressTV Camera Man in London

25/07/2009 — BBC’s images from around the world

25/07/2009 — Protests in Melbourne – More Here

25/07/2009 — Unveiling of the Green Scroll

25/07/2009 — CNN Coverage of world wide protests

Images of the protests in Stockholm Sweden – Here

24/07/2009 — Senate passes Iran VOICE Act.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Senate voted unanimously last night to adopt bipartisan legislation that will help strengthen the ability of the Iranian people get access to news and information and overcome the electronic censorship and monitoring efforts of the Iranian regime. The Victims of Iranian Censorship (VOICE) Act was introduced by Senators John McCain (R-AZ), Joseph Lieberman (ID-CT), Ted Kaufman (D-DE), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), and Robert Casey (D-PA) as an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act. Among the key features of the VOICE Act: * Authorizes $30 million to the Broadcasting Board of Governors to expand Farsi language broadcasting into Iran by Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty’s Radio Farda and the Voice of America’s Persian News Network. The funds may be used to develop additional transmission capability to counter Iranian government efforts to jam radio, satellite, and Internet-based transmissions; establish additional proxy server capability and anti-censorship software to counter efforts to block access to websites in Iran; develop technologies to counter efforts to block SMS text message exchange over cellular phone networks; and hire, on a permanent or short-term basis, additional staff for Radio Farda and the Persian News Network. * Authorizes $20 million for a new “Iranian Electronic Education, Exchange, and Media Fund,” which will support the development of technologies, including websites, that will aid the ability of the Iranian people to gain access to and share information; counter efforts to block, censor, or monitor the Internet in Iran; and engage in Internet-based education programs and other exchanges with Americans online. * Requires a report by the President on non-Iranian companies, including corporations with U.S. subsidiaries, that have aided the Iranian government’s Internet censorship efforts, including by providing deep packet inspection technology. * Authorizes $5 million for the Secretary of State to document, collect, and dissemination information about human rights in Iran, including abuses of human rights that have taken place since the June 12 Iranian election.

24/07/2009 — WORLD WIDE DEMONSTRATIONS – Global Day of Action

Human rights groups and Iran activists are organizing a massive “Global Day of Action” on Saturday, hoping to rally people in more than 60 cities in support of Iran’s democracy movement. The rallies are to take place from Kabul to Kansas City, from Tokyo to San Francisco and include a march in Washington, from the local office of the United Nations to the national Mall, said Hadi Ghaemi, spokesman for the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran. Mr. Ghaemi said the demonstrations will be live-streamed to Iranians on YouTube and other Internet sites in hopes of encouraging them to persist in their rejection of disputed results in Iran’s June 12 presidential elections. The Iranian government says the landslide victor was incumbent President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. However, hundreds of thousands of Iranians have turned out in the streets – risking arrest and even death at the hands of security forces – to decry the results as fraudulent and demand a new vote. Source: Washington Times

24/07/2009 — A day With basidj members In Tehran 24/07/2009 –Haystack Update from Huffington Post

I’ve spent some time here discussing Haystack, a brand new tool developed by tech guru Austin Heap and his team to help Iranians break through their country’s Internet firewall. Haystack has a brand new website — you can check it out here. This afternoon, Austin Heap and his team will be here in Washington DC, explaining Haystack and demonstrating the technology. (If you’re in the area and would like to attend, email me at the address above. Space is extremely limited but I’ll try my best.) But more importantly, I wanted to let you know that Austin has just posted an important request for donations of USB thumb drives.

Story continues below

If you’ve got some mini USB drives hanging around, going unused, or if you’d like to buy a few at your local electronics store and send them Austin’s way, click here for instructions.

24/07/2009 — Clinton: Iran unable to respond to overtures.

The United States is still willing to ‘reach out’ to Iran but political turmoil there means Tehran is not now in a position to respond, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton told the BBC on Thursday.
President Barack Obama made diplomatic overtures to Iran before its June 12 election, but Clinton told the BBC: “We haven’t had any response.”

She added: “We’ve certainly reached out and made it clear that’s what we’d be willing to do, even now, despite our absolute condemnation of what they’ve done in the election and since, but I don’t think they have any capacity to make that kind of decision right now.”

7/22/2009 — 7:47 — Grandson of Ayatollah Khomeini ‘leaves Iran to avoid presidential inauguration’

The grandson of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, father of Iran‘s Islamic revolution, is reported to have left the country to avoid attending Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s presidential inauguration.

Hassan Khomeini, a supporter of the defeated reformist candidate, Mir Hossein Mousavi, has travelled to an unnamed “neighbouring country” to escape official pressure to be present at next month’s swearing-in ceremony, according to the pro-reformist news website, Salaamnews.

His absence would be a blow to the authorities’ hopes of using the hallowed Khomeini family name to confer legitimacy on the event in the face of allegations that Ahmadinejad owes his re-election to fraud.

Source: Guardian

7/22/2009 — 5:19pm — CNN’s coverage of the hunger strike

7/22/2009 — 10:00am — MPs told over 300 people have been killed in Iran riots

More than 300 people have died in the Iranian riots which have swept the country since June, MPs were told yesterday.

A report said thousands more had been injured and 10,000 arrested.

Labour peer Lord Corbett said: “If we allow these people to die without being noticed we will lose a huge opportunity for change.”

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The riots followed claims last month’s Iranian elections were rigged.

Protests are continuing in Tehran against President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and the government.

Source: Mirror

7/22/2009 — 08:36 –Ayatollah Watch

A good source for keeping up with where all the Ayatollah’s stand on the events within Iran.

From the Excellent people at Tehran Bureau

7/22/2009 – CNN Coverage of latest protests

7/21/2009 — Phone Call from Iran

I found this on Why We Protest – Iran and its very much worth the read and to listen to the emotion in the audio, even if you do not understand Farsi – Here

Here’s the translation:
Phone call from Iran!!

I have translated this phone call, so people of the rest of the world has a better wiew on the peoples condition in Iran!!
It may have lots of english error, due to my lack of english knowledge!! I am sorry for that!!

But the most important messege this phone call from a 66 years old lady is giving, is that people WILL NOT GIVE UP!! UNTIL THE THEIR GET THEIR JUSTICE!! UNTILL THE ENTIRE REGIME HAS CHANGED!!

Translation:
My name is Maral, I am talking from Tehran, I have reached ur phone with a lots of difficulty!
I am 66 years old lady, we are group of 3, that have contact with each other and going out for protest togheter, and we are our own leader! I am the youngest one in this group,the next two are 70 and 73 years old! We are fighting side by side with our young once!
You dont know whats going on here, you only see it on Moives that some one got killed… and when the casting of the movie is finish, he rise up and laughing, for the mistake he may have done in that scene!
But this time, when someone got shooted at, he dont rise up anymore, for he know that its not a movie anymore! But his soul is smiling!
Its like war-movie, but the real war is for soul and body, for freedom, its war for escaping from the big prison, named Iran!! People whant either to die or live normal!! Now the fear is gone, no one is afraid for anything anymore!! Poeple are in the street for gaining a nomarl Life, for to breath normal, and ecaping from this Big prison!
They stole peoples mony to spend it on terror, to support Hamas, Hizbollah and etc.. they have taked away peoples Pride, Dignity,Soul,Mind,Faith,Trust,Belive!! They have stolen so much that people are full of Anger now, they are not afraid anymore, For they have nothing to lose anymore!!
I my own God I belive, I have seen so much thing that I am so sure that people will not give up untill they have get what is belonging to them!!Untill that day that people have opend the door of this Big Prison! Justice has to be taken, you can not give it!! Where are those parent that sacrifyed everything they had to a group of savage!!Its time to rise up now,their time is here, rise up because of ur children, We have to take back our Justice! Dignity has to come back to Iran!! You dont know what they do to people here!You are watching a Movie, its
like a tragic-movie, a movie of Horror, a movie that all its actress has been training in 30 years, and recived a Phd degree for that!! And playing this reality movie now, and publishing their own historys!!! This is a movie of Justice, and the seeking for Justice!!
After all I have said now, let me also say the positive thing from this last days…
You dont know that before this uprising people was so full of anger, hate and furustration!
Every one lived with the illusion that they lived in a tiredless life! But the journey is over now, and everbody want to travell back to their home now!!For this “hotel” is smelling very bad now.. the mission is over now, they are paying back for the hotel now! They are not afraid to pay anymore! they just want to pay the price to get back to their home!! They will return and strat from ground zero!! You dont know hwo much people in the streets, in mals, etc have changed .. has been so gentle now..everybody is happy and smiling now! The furustration is gone now! with two finger they show each other the Victory sign! Car which are passing each other, do that while they are showing eachother Victory sign!! and get respond from other cars!! There is no more fighting among the people anymore like before!
Everyone who has been beaten up and fallen, just rise up and countiue their Own way for freedom! I AM ONE OF THEM MY SELF!! I the age of 66 I was beaten up, and falled to the ground!!! My knee is still wounded!!BUT I AM HAPPY..
Everyone is polite and respectfull now! The cars show respect to people which are crosing the road!! When I complained before, they told me that I live in a dream land!! But now people apologize and showing respect to eachother!!
Is that something that traitor wanted!!( reffering to khamenei) They dont let people have a free mind!!everone respect eachother!!
I dont know if this regime are from another Planet??
Everything has changed! even the owner in Buttics has not so many costumer anymore, they are still happy!!
Everybody is in Alarm mode, a War mode, for closing their shops…
You dont know about the nights in our streets!! everynight at 22.00 when people are chanting “God Is Great”!! And Tehran is shaking!! Its like a wave of Muic and Melody!!People get such a relaxing felling to listen to that!! I know about the entire city!! Niyavaran, Mahomide, Shahrake-gharb,eslam-shahr, afsariye… I have friends in all this places, and we have contact with eachother, for cheking where the sounds are coming from!!People are chanting “God is Great” ” Death of Dictator”
Once I was vittnes my self, when people was chanting from their windows, 5 Basiji members come and 20 on motor-bike, arrived our street!! the fired in the air, and at the same time, they arrested several people in our street!! But people still continued to chant against them!! when people arrest some of them, they become quaite and are so afraid for the people!! Their power is only in they weapons!! as long as they have it in their hand!!But their are nothing!!
I know that WE WILL WIN!! For Justice belong to us!!
Some day before the election, was a holiday, and I was invited to a place, and I wsa getting a Taxi to go there! Outside a mousqe was a ghatering of 20 supporter of this regime for this holiday!! I say with my own evey, that people didnt care about them! girls was walking with red head-scarf and boys was vering red T-shirts beside them!!
But since it was the election time, the regime didnt stopp anyone for the way they was dressed up, you could even go naken, they still would not care!!
But even we in a war now, but people mode is good, the faith is good, the Hope is back!no one is afraid anymore!!
About our Neda they told us that it was the foreginers, but from what this regime did during the last revolution they know exactly what to do!! They know who to make the Lie!! because they did it them self!! They have training in that! They say that foreginers killed Neda, but no one belives them!!
If they tell people that its day now, people will say that its night!!

Before the election in the street was many young people that was giving flyers for different candidates!! one day I was taking a Taxi, some young boys and girls come to give me flyers, I didnt want to take that, But the driver take one of the flyers! and when the taxi driver turned the flyer, on its back it was written: DONT VOTE!!!
And I was regretting for not taking one, for having a evidence!!

There is so much conflict among them self, that at the end, they have to eat up them self!!

Source: Here

7/21/2009 – Khamenei overrules Ahmadinejad, fires his deputy

Fractures within the fractures?

The Supreme Leader has ordered Ahmadinejad’s first deputy to resign from Ahmadinejad’s cabinet just days after his appointment, according to the Deputy Speaker of the Parliament. Deputy Speaker Aboutorabi said, “eliminating Mashaei from key positions and the first deputy position is a strategic decision by the regime. The Supreme Leader’s opinion about the removal of the Mr. Rahim Mashaei from the position of president’s first deputy has been submitted to the President in writing.”

Source: Niac

7/21/2009 — Reuters: Demonstarations in Tehran

Reuters is reporting new demonstrations in Iran.

Iranian riot police detained dozens of pro-reform protesters in central Tehran on Tuesday, a witness said.The witness said the protesters were chanting slogans against President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and the government, including: “Ahmadinejad — resign, resign” and “Death to the dictator.”

The witness added: “Riot police are taking dozens of protesters into their cars and they are taking them away.”

7/21/2009 — 8:58pm – Blackout Planned

It looks like the opposition is planning a blackout tonight at 9pm Iran time. This tactic has been denounced by the government, and should be interesting to see if it has an impact on the powergrind. I know here in Australia when everyone turns their AirCon on during summer we have rolling blackouts.

More Info

7/20/2009 — 8:58PM – Haute Couture goes Green

Green has never looked so good. Italian designer Guillermo Mariotto wore a Neda Alive shirt to honor Neda, who was killed during the Iranian election aftermath. Mariotto’s attention to detail is quite admirable as every model on the catwalk wore a green ribbon on their wrist.

Source: NIAC

7/20/2009 — 7:38PM – Al Jazeera: Iran’s power struggle

7/20/2009 — 7:30om — Iran and the West – A BBC 3 part Documentary

Bookmark It

Related posts:

1. Iran: An Electoral Crisis! #iranelection – ARCHIVE
2. Iran: An Electoral Crisis! #iranelection – ARCHIVE 3
3. Iran: An Electoral Crisis! #iranelection – ARCHIVE 6