Fresh Protests

Protests occurred outside a mosque where Mousavi, Khatami, Karroubi, and the families of political prisoners were going to break the daily fast for Ramadan. As a result of pressure, they were not able to go to the Mosque, but protests occured.

Tehran Prosecutor Sacked

The hardliner Prosecutor General for Tehran, Saeed Mortazavi, has been dismissed from his position by the new new judiciary chief, Sadegh Larijani. Mortazavi was a staunch hardliner who is close to Ahmadinejad and who helped to orchastrate the show trials that are currently going on. His removal along with his relacement being relatively moderate could be a sign that Larijani is trying to clean up the image of the Justice system.

Mortazavi's removal seems to be part of a strategy in which Khamenei and his allies (such as Larijani) are trying to reconcile with the opposition and soften the image of the regime. Although these hardliners might have been in on and approved the crimes that have already taken place, they still want to present the image that they are trying to make things better.

The problem appears to be that Ahmadinejad has the opposite strategy of trying to crush the opposition at all costs regardless of negative image of the regime that follows. Thus we see a struggle for the positions within the government that Khamenei and Ahmadinejad want to control with both trying to appoint loyalists to key positions.

More Cabinet Problems

A top conservative member of Parliament Ahmad Tavakkoli predicted that up to a third of Ahmadinejad's proposed ministers might be rejected. A conflict is brewing between parliament and Ahmadinejad and we must see who has more support to get the upper hand:

Ahmad Tavakkoli told ILNA on Saturday that in his eyes certain nominees from political, social, cultural and economic sectors will be turned down by Parliament (Majlis).

He cited 'lack of experience' as one of the reasons behind the possible rejection, while maintaining that certain nominees were likely to fail to win Parliament's approval since their executive experiences did not fit in with the proposed posts.

The senior parliamentarian added that the women nominees had a slim chance of winning the vote of confidence due to their lack of experience.

Education Minister Fakes Credentials

Reports are coming in that Ahmadinejad's nominee for higher education Kamran Daneshjoo has faked his own education credentials. We will see what affect this will have on his possible approval from parliament:

According to his official biography, he holds a doctoral degree in aerospace engineering from a "College of London."

The problem is, no such college exists.

Hardliners Want to Block Female Nominees

Ahmadinejad's three nominees for cabinet are facing a difficult confirmation process after the hardliner bloc in parliament has decided to oppose their nomination:

However, in an internal meeting, the Principlist Islamic Revolution block decided earlier in the week to reject the three females, reported the Iranian Labor News Agency (ILNA) on Friday.

A block member, who did not want to be named, explained the reasoning for their decision, saying that each candidate was rejected for a different reason.

With regards to proposed health minister Vahid-Dastjerdi, he said that "certain reports about her business activities had reached the block which altered the opinion of the members about her."

The Principlist Majlis deputy, who sits on another block as well, said about Keshavarz, who has been offered the education portfolio: "We have heard that she was active in the campaign headquarters of (defeated presidential candidate) Mir-Hossein Mousavi."

Keshavarz had reportedly told deputies that Ahmadinejad had tapped her with knowledge of this fact.

The third candidate, Ajorloo, who was picked for the welfare post, was rejected because she 'is too good.'

"It would be a shame if she becomes welfare minister," said the unnamed source, presumably because the ministry is due to be disbanded in the coming months.

Khatami Speaks Out

In perhaps his strongest words against the regime since the crisis started, Khatami speaks out boldly against those in power:

''The sacred Friday prayer podium has been given to those who ... call for the punishment of prominent figures ... while they are accused in the eyes of the public for committing treason themselves"

Ahmadinejad: Arrest Opposition Leaders

In a speech before Friday Prayers, Ahmadinejad called for the arrest of opposition leaders for the first time:

“Serious confrontation has to be against the leaders and key elements, against those who organized and provoked (the riots) and carried out the enemy’s plan. They have to be dealt with seriously,” Ahmadinejad told a crowd of thousands in the capital Tehran before Friday prayers.

Montazeri: Government Neither Islamic Nor Republic

Grand Ayatollah Montazeri has put out a strong statement against the current regime and arguing that human rights is an important part of Islam:

"With greetings and blessings; In response to the letter of 88/6/1 and with gratitude and appreciation for the heroism and resilience of the dear people of Iran , I say that I have proposed ways of easing the crisis. It appears, however, that their Excellencies have isolated themselves and shut their eyes and ears for their own worldly aims. But while resistance still lives in the hearts of many and some still endure torture and prison, I am not hopeless. I still hope that more than this faction of the system that has languished and endured will survive and that before it is too late, the Islamic Republic can be salvaged.

Islam is the pure religion of the divine and according to it, freedom of thought and speech are undeniable. Of the nature of acceptance of religion, the Koran states: religion is not accepted through force. Religion must be accepted through logic and reason. According to the tradition of the Prophet of Islam and his progeny (his infallible successors) that with full freedom and the absence of any fear, the people must have the right to criticize and protest. The greatest injustice to Islam is the oppression of the people under the banner of an Islamic government.

I hope that the leaders who have strayed from the right path return and that they return the people’s stolen rights. I hope that they compensate the damages, that they free the innocent, and that they not embarrass the Islamic court any more with this propaganda trial. Or at least, I hope they have the bravery to announce that this government is not a Republic and is not Islamic and that no one has the right to protest or criticize."

Rafsanjani vs. Ahmadinjead vs. Khamenei?

Enduring America tries to make sense of a very complicated situation in Iran with Rafsanjani, Ahmadinejad, and Khamenei.

Basically Ahmadinejad wants to implicate Rafsanjani in corruption and overthrowing the system to set the stage to arrest him and all other opposition figures. Rafsanjani wants to accuse Ahmadinejad of corruption to counter charges that he is corrupt. Finally Khamenei wants to act as a sort of referee by stating the opposition was not organized by foreign powers and wanting everyone to cool out. It is clear that Ahmadinejad is turning into a mad man the other hardliners are trying to control since he apparently wants to arrest and execute 75% of the country.

Here is the analysis:

By the afternoon, Rafsanjani’s office was being less subtle. Mehdi Hashemi continued to declare his innocence and then turned “corruption” against Ahmadinejad, declaring that the President, as Mayor of Tehran, had “lost” millions of dollars. More importantly, I suspect, the Rafsanjani camp took the fight to Ahmadinejad’s ally and Chief of Staff, Esfandiar Rahim-Mashai, attacking his “hallucinations” and calling on both Rahim-Mashai and Ahmadinejad to back up their criticisms of Rafsanjani in court.

And then last night came the dramatic challenge to the President, from a most unexpected challenger. We had wondered on Tuesday whether the Supreme Leader was behind the fourth trial, especially given the attacks on Rafsanjani. In a speech to student leaders, he gave the answer: the opposition had not been engaged in a foreign-directed “velvet revolution” against Iran. For anyone thinking of more arrests, including leaders like Mousavi and Karroubi (and, less likely but still possible, for those throwing around spurious indictments in trials), “We should not proceed in dealing with those behind the protests based on rumours and guesswork. The judiciary should only give rulings based on solid evidence, not on circumstantial evidence.”

A three-word summary. Back. Off. Mahmoud.

Parliament and Prisoner Abuse

Scary reports are coming out that hardline members of parliament were actually part of prisoner abuse that took place.

The reformist publication mowjcamp reports that three ultra-hardline members of Parliament may have been involved in the prisoner abuse in Kahrizak prison. Mowjcamp says one MP told them that Hossein Fadaei, a representative from Tehran, was directly involved in interrogations in Kahrizak. Mowj camp also cites several members in the Parliament that there are widespread whispers in the Majlis that MP’s Parwiz Sorouri and Alireza Zakani were also aware of the widespread abuses in Kahrizak.

The three MP’s served with in the Basij or IRGC before becoming Parliament members.

All this while a member of the committee in parliament reviewing accusations of prisoner abuse admits that rape took place:

One of the members of the Special Committee on Reviewing the Conditions of Post-Election Prisoners has admitted that, “Sexual molestation using batons and glass bottles against some of the post-election prisoners has become widespread.”

“Unfortunately, some of the post-election prisoners have suffered by the usage of glass bottles and batons and these incidents have become common for the Special Committee.”

“Though we do not have reliable information or documentation from the agents of this molestation, it does not really make difference at the heart of the matter.”

Khamenei Admits No Foreign Link to Protests

Khamenei has come and said that the protests were not organized by foreign powers. Yet he still seems to argue the protests were pre-planned and that the reformists are trying to undermine the Islamic Republic. Yet if no foreign powers were involved, don't people have the right to protest according to the Iranian Constitution? He is what Khamenei said,

"I do not accuse the leaders of the recent incidents to be subordinate to the foreigners, like the United States and Britain, since this issue has not been proven for me," said Ayatollah Khamenei, in a statement read out on Iranian television.

But he said there was "no doubt" the mass demonstrations, in which at least 30 people died, had been planned in advance, "whether its leaders know or not".

"This plot was defeated, since fortunately our enemies still do not understand the issue in Iran," he said.

"Our enemies were given a slap in the face by the Iranian nation, but they are still hopeful and they are pursuing the issue."

Rafsanjani vs. Ahmadinejad

So after allegations of corruption against Rafsanjani and his family, Rafsanjani's son has struck back with accusations of corruption against Ahmadinejad:

"I, Mr. Mehdi Hashemi, never believed I took even a bit of money from the budget for the costs of electoral advertisements, and the [charges raised in court yesterday] are pure lies.

All of the costs of advertisement in the budget of the Energy Optimization Agency [which Rafsanjani managed] in 2005 are completely clear. […]

And now that the issue of the election of 2005 is open, for the good of public awareness, I am calling for the final review, in one place, of the 340 million tomans that went missing from the Tehran governor’s office in 2005, which people had asked many times of the governor [Ahmadinejad], the Tehran governing council, and the national council of reviewing. (We should keep investigating until the person responsible collapses)

The point worth noting here is that these “admissions” have occurred directly after the Ayatollah Hashemi Rafsanjani’s family sent a letter bringing complains against Mr. Ahmadinejad to the Judiciary.”

Does Regime Want to Go After Rafsanjani

So it is clear that the regime wants to crush the green movement by these show trials, but it seems that they are now going after Rafsanjani and his family:

Before today, I had said that this trial would be an important signal: if the regime (read Ahmadinejad and Revolutionary Guard — the Supreme Leader’s position in all this is uncertain) had wanted compromise, then this would be a relatively low-profile occasion, having been delayed from last week; if it wanted confrontation, then it would put leading reformists like Saeed Hajjarian in the dock.

So when the regime played its first card today, prosecuting not only Hajjarian but all the leading reformist politicians and associates of former President Khatami, it threw down the challenge: We’re Going to Break You.

Then, however, the Ahmadinejad wing of the Government had a surprise. It is now declaring that it is time for Hashemi Rafsanjani to go into his box and, more than a month after the dramatic Friday prayers that challenged the President, be quiet. Frankly, the allegations against Rafsanjani family members were so stunning that I did not trust my translation. But there is no mistake: as one of my EA colleagues predicted in late July, the regime would get at the former President by attacking his family.

Rafsanjani, it appears, wanted to use Ramadan to get some space for his manoeuvres, delaying the Assembly of Experts meeting and making his carefully-worded statement at the Expediency Council on Saturday. That space is now gone: he will have to react to today’s events. As will, for that matter, the leaders of the Green movement: for all of Mehdi Karroubi’s work in elevating the abuse of detainees issue and Mir Hosssein Mousavi’s stumbling but still-present efforts for a Green Path of Hope, they now have to face a regime which wants to stop them through the punishment of the high-profile defendants who were in court today.

Torture and Prisoner Abuse

These are images former Vice President Abtahi on the top and Ramezanzadeh a senior member of Iran's top reformist party on the bottom. You can clearly see that the before and after pictures show prisoner abuse and torture.

Unnamed Graves

These are from outside Tehran and very well could be the graves of the recent martyrs of freedom:

A Song for the Martyrs

Another Show Trial Begins

The fourth different show trial began with 20 more innocent people going on trial for false crimes that they did not commit. There were more forced confessions that were no doubt obtained by torture.

Those on trial include prominent former members of the government who loyally served the Islamic Republic. These men include former Deputy Interior Minister Mostafa Tajzadeh, former Deputy Foreign Minister Mohsen Aminzadeh, former government spokesman Abdollah Ramezanzadeh, and former Deputy Intelligence Minister Saeed Hajjarian.

Mr. Hajjarian imprisonment is especially troubling because he is disabled due to an assassination attempt by Basiji extermists. He was forced to give a confession and his detainment is even more cruel given his frail physical condition.

Mousavi Meets with Family of Mohsen Mirdamadi

Mousavi and his wife met with the family of Mohsen Mirdamadi who has been arrested and put on a show trial. Mirdamadi took part in the Islamic Revolution of 1979 and is falsely accused of working against the Islamic Republic.

Zeidabadi's Sad Story

Here is another account of prisoner abuse this time of Ahmad Zeidabadi a journalist and a spokesperson for one of Iran's largest student organizations. According to this interview with his wife, Zeidabadi's treatment is driving him towards insanity. Such actions show that this regime is in fact against Islam and not repersenting the ideals of the Islamic Republic:

"Ms Zeidabadi quoted her husband and said, 'Right from the beginning of his arrest, Mr. Zeidabadi protested his unlawful arrest and the abusive behavior, thus starting a hunger strike. At the time, he was kept in a solitary cell. He was in complete isolation there, without any sound or light. Until his condition deteriorated to the point that after 17 days prison guards and agents brought in a physician. The doctor told him that many had been released from prison and that nobody outside knew that he had started a hunger strike and that by continuing his strike, he would end up dead. Anyway, the doctor convinced him to stop his hunger strike.'

As described by his wife, Zeidabadi had been kept in the solitary cell for 35 days, starting from the day of his arrest. The only person he saw during this period was the doctor who visited him and convinced him to break his hunger strike, believing that everybody had in fact been released from prison. She said that her husband told her that he had been kept in a box-type of container about 1.5 meters (4.5 feet) long.

After the 35 days, Zeidabadi exhibits the characteristics of insanity and turns to suicide. But he does not find anything to kill himself with and thus starts to scream, which is when others noticed that he was going insane. He was then transferred to another solitary cell."

More Crimes of the Regime

The reports of the crimes of this regime keeping coming with the brutal treatment of Reza Anbouh. He was shot in the head point blank range by a bb gun that was supposed to be used at a distance of 50 meters. He has lost most of his sight and has to be fed by a tube. Karroubi visited him and his family and said,

“I visited a family of Sadats [decedents of the prophet of Islam]. Their son is in sickbed. They have made a hole in his stomach and feed him through a tube, one of his eyes has been removed and his other eye is losing its sight. This young man has a skull full of round metal balls [the ones used in BB guns], has undergone surgery several times and still needs further surgery. When this family was recounting its sufferings, I felt ashamed that these incidents have happened under the banner of the Islamic Republic.”

Ramadan Protest for Political Prisoners

Ramadan has started and the opposition in Iran wants to use the occasion to demonstrate against the regime while celebrating the holy month. Families of political prisoners gathered outside of Evin prison and shouted God is Great. We will see how effectively Ramadan can used to organize protests:

Rafsanjani Pulls a Rafsanjani

After appearing to call for greater support of Khamenei at a meeting of the Expediency Council, Rafsanjani now makes it clear that he supports Karroubi for speaking out on prison rape.

His political party put out a statement in which they praise Karroubi in the face of hardliner threats of arrest. Basically Rafsanjani is trying to play both sides and appear to have one foot somewhat in each camp. After his statement in support Khamenei, Rafsanjani got much critcism from the reformists and so this statement in support of Karroubi maybe a way of showing the reformists he is still with them. Here is what Rafsanjani's political party said,

"Karroubi’s bravery, courage, and his compassionate approach in rooting out the current corruption in the country’s security and judicial apparatuses, is not only worthy of attention and congratulations, but has brought about an invasion of repeated attacks by various people and groups in the name of ‘defending the system.’ These behaviors serve as evidence of the ridiculousness of trying to combat reality.”

Ahmadinejad Aide Says Prison Weight Loss Is a Good Thing

An aide to Ahmadinejad made some horrible comments in which he said it was a good thing prisoners were losing weight:

Ali-Akbar Javanfekr, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's adviser for press affairs, addressed concerns over health conditions of jailed Reformist figure Mohammed-Ali Abtahi.

Former Vice President Mohammad Ali Abtahi, a Reformist cleric, appeared in one of Iran's mass post-election trials saying that the three opposition leaders - Mir-Hossein Mousavi, Mehdi Karroubi and Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani formed an alliance in which they "promised to always back each other up" in their efforts to rob the presidency from its 'legitimate winner.'

Following the televised trial, photos of Abtahi circulated the media with human rights activists and opposition figures questioning the credibility of the confessions made by Abtahi who had lost visible weight.

In an interview on Saturday, President Ahmadinejad's advisor explained why the Reformist figure looked so frail during his appearance at court in Tehran.

"It is only natural for a person who has gained an excessive amount of weight to come to his senses in prison that being overweight is not good for your mental of physical health," Javanfekr reasoned.

"Maybe Mr. Abtahi has seized this opportunity and made an effort to lose weight," he was quoted as saying by Tabnak.

Political Clergy vs. Religious Clergy

NIAC makes the distinction of the Friday Sermon of the political clergy in Tehran and the actual religious clergy in Qom.

In Tehran, Ayatollah Jannati called for the arrest of opposition leaders for being against Islam. In Qom, Ayatollah Amini called for an end of the use of violence by the government and asked for reconciliation.

As NIAC puts it, "The striking differences between the sermons in Iran’s political capital (Tehran) and its religious capital (Qom) provide further evidence of a deep rift between religious and political sectors in Iran that has developed since the June 12 election."

Who is Mousavi?

A nice clip in Farsi by the man himself:

Expediency Council Meets

During a meeting of the Expediency Council, a couple of interesting things occurred with Rafsanjani who heads the council.

For the first time, Rafsanjani expressed some support for Khamenei perhaps realizing that he does not have the votes in the Assembly of Experts to remove him, "the current situation needs everyone to observe the leader's decrees and advice." Yet he also called on all sides to compromise and come together to resolve the crisis. This is basically the political approach that Rafsanjani takes in which he never comes down too hard in one camp or another.

However Mousavi's Facebook Page is reporting that it is significant that Ahmadinejad would not sit next to Rafsanjani as is customery for such a ceremony. Clearly the political divisions in Iran are alive and well no matter what Rafsanjani does to try to calm things down.

Horribe Story of Prison Rape

This is truly a horrible account of what this regime does:

The 15-year-old boy sits weeping in a safehouse in central Iran, broken in body and spirit. Reza will not go outside — he is terrified of being left alone. He says he wants to end his life and it is not hard to understand why: for daring to wear the green wristband of Iran’s opposition he was locked up for 20 days, beaten, raped repeatedly and subjected to the Abu Ghraib-style sexual humiliations and abuse for which the Iranian regime denounced the United States.

“My life is over. I don’t think I can ever recover,” he said, as he recounted his experiences to The Times — on condition that his identity not be revealed. A doctor who is treating him, at great risk to herself, confirmed that he is suicidal, and bears the appalling injuries consistent with his story. The family is desperate, and is exploring ways of fleeing Iran.

Reza is living proof of the charges levelled by Mehdi Karoubi, one of the opposition’s leaders, that prison officials are systematically raping both male and female detainees to break their wills. The regime has accused Mr Karoubi of helping Iran’s enemies by spreading lies and has threatened to arrest him.

Ahmadinejad's Woman Picks

Here is some more information about the 3 women that Ahmadinejad picked for his cabinet:

Fatemeh Ajorlou is nominated by Ahmadinejad as the new Minister of Welfare and Social Security. She is Karaj’s representative in Parliment who is actually one of the main accused in Abbas Palizdar’s case. Abbas Palizar (Ajorlou’s cousin) reveled evidence of corruption in the Judicial system of Iran in the Universities of Shiraz and Hamedan in 2008. Palizdar, a former member of the Parliment’s Investigation Committee, explained how senior ayatollahs and their families, as well as high-ranking civilians and officers of the Revolutionary Guards have profited from their influence and positions to obtain from governments highly profitable mines, factories, import licences for sugar and cigarettes etc. He was arrested shortly after blowing the whistle on this corruption. Ajorlou has been Ahmadinejad’s ultra-conservative supporter in Parliment during the past two sessions. She was an IRGC nurse during the Iran-Iraq war, an honored member of the IRGC, and member of Research and Education Committee in Parliament.

Dr. Marzieh Vahid Dastjerdi served two terms as Tehran’s representative in Parliment. She has held various positions in medical fields, and is currently the consultant of the President of the Tehran University of Medical Science. Also, she is the director of the international relations office of as well as the President of the Kish branch of the Tehran University of Medical Science. Dastjerdi is Hossein Shariatmadari’s wife, who is editor-in-chief of hardliner newspaper Kayhan. Dastjerdi is nominated by Ahmadinejad to serve as the Minister of Health and Medical Education.

Susan Keshavarz is Ahmadinejad’s candidate for the Ministry of Education who currently serves as deputy of Special Education in this Ministry. Keshavarz has a PhD in Education and Philosophy. She has not had any specific background in teaching or the field of educational administration other than her current position.

Ahmadinejad's Cabinet Problem

Iranian media is reporting that there is early talk that several members of Ahmadinejad's cabinet may not get approval by parliament:

Before the release of the proposed cabinet list by president Ahmadinejad, some Iranian lawmakers criticized him for refusing to consult with them over the line-up.

In a warning to the president, Parliament Vice-Speaker Mohammad-Reza Bahonar said on Thursday that some of the proposed ministers might fail to win the vote of confidence from Parliament.

"Some of my colleagues and I believe that about five of the ministers proposed by President Ahmadinejad will not win the vote of confidence from the Parliament."

Larijani: Hardliners Split

NIAC says that the obvious split within the hardliners has been acknowledged by Ali Larijani:

“These differences are related to “differences of opinion” he said. “I confirm that there are differences among Principlists which are mostly differences of opinion,” the Majlis speaker said in a meeting arranged by the Islamic Society of Engineers in Tehran. Larijani added efforts are underway to resolve the split between conservatives.

The speaker also mentioned the Majlis is ready to study any evidence about sexual harassment of some detainees arrested in the post-election unrest. In a letter addressed to Larijani on Wednesday, Karroubi announced he is ready to present his documents about a sexual harassment of some detainees. “I announced that (Karroubi) present if there is any documents or evidences about this issue,” Larijani said in an answer to a question about Karroubi’s letter. He added, “We never want to hide anything from people. If Karroubi is willing we will listen to his words and even investigate the issue if he gives the address or telephone number of these persons.”

Grand Ayatollah Bayat-Zanjani Backs Karroubi

Grand Ayatollah Bayat-Zanjani is the latest high ranking figure to back Karroubi's accusations of rape in the face of increasing pressure for Karroubi's arrest by hardliners. According to Mousavi's Facebook,

Grand Ayatollah Bayat-Zanjani released a statement praising and expressing his appreciation for Karroubi’s bravery and courage (in writing the letter that revealed the allegations of rape in prisons), and warned authorities to understand the mea ning of the Prophet Mohammad’s teaching that says “A realm will survive without believing in God, but will not survive with oppression.”

40 Days After the Martyrdom of Sohrab

The Marty Sohrab has a ceremony in his honor:

Ahmadinejad's Cabinet Takes Shape

Iranian News is reporting this list of Ahmadinejad's cabinet selection with the exception of ministers of justice, defense, and commerce:

1. Kamran Daneshju – (Ministry of Science, Research and Technology)

2. Mostafa Mohammad Najjar (Ministry of Interior)

3. Manouchehr Mottaki (Ministry of Foreign Affairs)

4. Seyyed Mohammad Hosseini (Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance)

5. Mohammad Soleymani or Reza Taghipoor (Ministry of Information and Communication Technology)

6. Abdolreza Sheykholeslami (Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs)

7. Susan Keshavarz (Ministry of Education)

8. Seyyed Masoud Mir Kazemi (Ministry of Petroleum)

9. Mohammad Aliabadi (Ministry of Energy)

10. Sadegh Khalilian (Ministry of Commerce)

11. Ali Nikzad (Ministry of Housing and Urban Development)

12. Hamid Behbahani (Ministry of Transportation)

13. Montazeri (Ministry of Justice) (not the Grand Ayatollah)

14. Habibollah Boorboor (Ministry of Agricultural Jahad)

15. Ahmad Hamidi (Ministry of Defense)

Ahmadinejad previously revealed the name of six candidates:

16. Marzieh Vahid Dastjerdi (Ministry of Health)

17. Fatemeh Ajorlou (Ministry of Welfare and Social Security)

18. Heydar Moslehi (Ministry of Intelligence and Security)

19. Ali Akbar Mehrabian (Ministry of Industries and Mines)

20. Seyyed Shamseddin Hosseini (Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs)

21. Mohammad Abbasi (Ministry of Cooperative)

Horrible Account of Prison Rape

Very sad video:

Clerical Pressure on Khamenei Grows

A group of clerics visited Khamenei a few days before Ahmadinejad's inauguration and criticized his recent actions. This might be an indication that Khamenei's clerical support is shrinking even more:

A group of high ranking clerics from Qom which met with the Supreme Leader confidentially, have criticized the role of Mojtaba Khamenei in recent events. Although Ayatollah Khamenei rejects the possibility of Mojtaba’s involvement in recent events, he has reacted strongly to these critical clerics.

According to Green Freedom Wave’s reporting (Mowj Camp), based on a news piece that has been published in some news bulletins, a group of high-ranking clerics met with Khamenei a few days prior to Ahmadinejad’s Inauguration ceremony and raised severe criticisms about the state of the country with Khamenei.

Based on this bulletin, the core of this group consisted of Ayatollah Ebrahim Amini, Friday prayer leader of Qom who has a history with the Theological Seminary of Qom, and Hojjat-ol-Eslam Javadi Amali, son of Ayatollah Javadi Amali.

Green Freedom Wave’s reporting indicates that this group of clerics focused their criticism on Mojtaba Khamenei and held him responsibile for many of the recent events.

Although according to the aforementioned bulletin, “It is said that Ayatollah Khamenei reacted very strongly to these criticisms and denied any involvement whatsoever of Mojtaba Khamenei in recent events. It appears that this important meeting ended without any conclusive result.”

The Green Freedom Wave had reported on this meeting one month ago and also referenced Ayatollah Kharrazi’s severe criticisms of the Leader, based on his belief that Khamenei was responsible for all the bloodshed in recent events.

It is important to remember that many of the clerics of Qom such as Javadi-Amali and Amini, two of the main Friday prayer leaders of Qom, did not attend Ahmadinejad’s Inauguration ceremony.

Mousavi Joins Karroubi's Boat

After Karroubi has come under intense pressure for bringing the regime's rape to the limelight, Mousavi joins and backs up Karroubi's accusations.

This shows that Mousavi is not scared of the hardline threats in the regime and he has a unified front with Karroubi.

The Green Path of Hope

Mousavi's Facebook has an announcement of what his new organization is going to look like:

Mousavi said: “What conceptualized the protesting movement of the people and its expanding aspects is ignoring the law, dignity and the natural rights of citizens and unlawful behaviors."

He, who was talking to the members of the Islamic Association of The Medical Society of Iran, added: “If they had taken a fair position instead of calling the people dust and dirt [a Farsi saying reflecting insignificance and negligibility, used by Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in a victory speech a few days after the election to refer to the protesters and those who objected the results of the election], humiliating them and making propaganda on the state television and if before people poured into the streets they had treated them within the framework of law and had respected their rights, today we wouldn’t have faced many of these crises. “

He also emphasized: “There is no regime like the Islamic Republic in the world and therefore protecting it is a difficult task.”

He added: “Our slogans during the election were chosen to fit the framework of the constitution and the principles that people believe in. Today, we are still committed to the same slogans and we are certain that if they had treated people’s demand with justice and if the propaganda agencies had tried to convince the public opinion with fair criticism and truthfulness instead of linking the spontaneous movements of people to the foreigners and showing the truth upside-down, it would have been to the benefit of the regime and the spirit of pessimism and mistrust would not have penetrated the society.”

Next Few Days

I am going to be doing some traveling and moving in during the next few days so I probably will be updating less frequently, but I will back to normal in a little bit.

Ali and Sadeq

Following up my post about the brothers Larijani, here is Speaker of the Parliament Ali Larijani on the left telling his brother the new Chief of the Judiciary Sadeq Larijani, "brother, who cares about the independence of the branches of government? This government is family-run."

Key Players So Far

Here is a recap of the Key Players I have highlighted so far. I think I got the main ones down for now although there are still many more important people in the mix in Iran. I will continue to update this, but on a less frequent basis.

I have also indicated each Key Player's political loyalty based on my analysis of the four groups vying for power in Iran right now: Reformists, Pragmatic Conservatives, Hardliners, and Ahmadinejad Loyalists. The reformists and pragmatic conservatives roughly make up the opposition while the hardliners and Ahmadinejad loyalists make up the regime. Obviously there is much tension within the opposition and regime camps based the different groups that have alligned with each other:

- Mir Hussein Mousavi (Reformist)

- Mahmoud Ahmadinejad (Ahmadinejad Loyalist)

- Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani (Pragmatic Conservative)

- Ali Khamenei (Hardliner)

- Mehdi Karroubi (Reformist)

- Mohammad Khatami (Reformist)

- Mohsen Rezaei (Pragmatic Conservative)

- Ali Larijani (Hardliner)

- Zahra Rahnavard (Reformist)

- Hossein-Ali Montazeri (Reformist)

- Mohammad Taghi Mesbah Yazdi (Ahmadinejad Loyalist)

Sanei's Speech Against Regime

For those of you who speak Farsi, here is an important speech by Ayatollah Yossuf Sanei in which he criticizes the regime including forced confessions and the regime's media. Sanei is one of the highest religious figures in the country and a strong supporter of the reform movement:



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Update, best translation is just snippets, but here are my favorites:

"They say, why have you broken our unity? Why have you created conflict? Well, the oppressed and the oppressors always have conflicts."

"I must tell you that in this system, Mir Hossein Mousavi is either unparalleled or almost unparalleled in terms of his dedication to religion and his country. I didn’t want to say this, but because I am very emotional, I must. Mir Hossein Mousavi, when he was in involved in high politics, and later when he wasn’t, would always make sure to send his religious donations [khoms and zakat, by religious law, every Muslim is responsible for giving a certain fraction of their income to charity through the grand ayatollah they follow.] And this was not about tricking people, or deceit. And anyways, he can’t trick me. I come from a long lineage of akhunds [mullahs- it is famous that you can never trick a cleric.] He would always come and give me the amount, and then leave in his Peykan [Iranian made Hillman Hunter] and each time he wold come, he would give me a lesson in politics.:"

"I told one of the officials who came to see me, who was there on behalf of a very high official, I told him: annul the election result. Hold a new election. The sky isn’t going to fall. This is a knot that is easily undone. A knot that can be undone with the hands, we don’t undo with our teeth. He said no, there’s been no fraud. I told him, there’s been no fraud, o.k. This sounds like the story of the man who told another man, I’ll give you 70 reasons why there’s no water in the pool. The other said, I’ll give you only one reason that there is, and he picked up the first man and threw him in the pool. They’ve acted so horrifically that now, even an election annulment will not do them any good."

Protest Outside Karroubi's Newspaper

Protests are being reported against the closure of Karroubi's newspaper:

Are the Larijani's the Kennedy's of Iran?

Time has come out with a new article in which they argue that the Larijani brothers can be compared to the Kennedy's in America in terms of the power they have. Given the recent appointment of Sadeq Larijani as head of the judiciary and Ali Larijani being Speaker of Parliament, it is hard to deny the amount of power they have in Iran.

Yet I would like to point out one key different, the Larijani's have alligned themselves with an unpopular Khamenei and they have thus become very unpopular in Iran. They have the potential to become a great political family Iran with great power and great public support like the Kennedy's, but they must first stand up to this regime. Anyways the article also raises the point of the Larijani's challenging Ahmadinejad:

The ill will between the Larijanis and Ahmadinejad is also rooted in a social class divide, according to Sadjadpour. The Larijani brothers are the progeny of the late Grand Ayatullah Mirza Hashem Amoli, a marja whose interpretations of Islam are considered binding by a following of devout Shi'ite Muslims. Some of his sons have also married into prominent clerical families, giving them status beyond politics. Ali Larijani represents Qum, the center of Islamic scholarship in Iran, in parliament. Ahmadinejad, by contrast, is the son of a blacksmith.

Over the years, the Larijani brothers have expressed realist positions on Iran's relations with the U.S. Mohammad Javad Larijani, who did doctoral work in mathematics at the University of California, has often urged an end to tensions. "Our country's relations with America are important in terms of our national interests," he said in a public debate a decade ago. "We should regard our relations with America realistically and without extremism, and weigh them with the criteria of our national interests."

But critics also charge that the Larijani brothers have risen so far as much from opportunism as political savvy. Many analysts believe Ali Larijani may be positioning himself to run for the presidency again after Ahmadinejad's term ends in 2013. "They are nakedly ambitious. Their overarching principle seems to be to position themselves wherever power lies," said Sadjadpour. "If the Shah were still in power, they'd be coveting him. And if Iran evolves into a democracy, they'll try and reinvent themselves as progressive democrats."

Karroubi Newspaper Shut Down

After critical comments of the regime and bringing attention to rape that had taken place in jail, the newspaper of Karroubi the Etemad-e Melli daily has been shut down by the regime.

The regime gives no indication if this is a permanent shut down or just a temporary thing, but the pressure is stepping up on Karroubi is disavow his rape charges.

Rafsanjani Attends Sadeq Larijani Inaguration

After skipping the inauguration of Ahamdinejad, Rafsanjai shows up for the new head of the judiciary Sadeq Larijani's ceremony. In an interesting photo, Ahmadinejad is on the right and he waves to Rafsanjani seated to the left. Sadeq Larijani is caught in the middle (it many ways that is the position he finds himself now anyways).

Clerics Supposedly Blast Khamenei

A group of anonymous clerics have issued a letter in which they blast Khamenei and call for his removal. Although no one signs the letter, two Iran experts say that it probably did come from clerics. Yet even the idea of questioning the Supreme Leader and calling for his removal in the letter is a strong challenge to Khamenei. We will see if the momentum can grow to possibly remove him from power.

Abtahi Family Pressured to Stay Silent

The family of jailed cleric Seyyed Mohammad Ali Abtahi is feeling pressure to remain silent about his show trial and the crimes that are being committed against him. His wife and daughter have bravely spoken out against the inhuman conditions in which he is currently facing and the regime does not like it. Hopefully they will not be the next target of the regime.

Ahmadinejad Names 6 Prospective Ministers

Here are six ministers that Ahmadinejad has nominated so far, but remember they must face the possible difficult challenge of being approved by parliament. He has said he will appoint 3 women and has named two so far. This is an attempt to placate the women of Iran, but obviously won't work:

1. Hojjatoleslam Heydar Moslehi, Ministry of Intelligence

He is a member of the Revolutionary Guard and the director of the State Endowment and Charity Affairs Organization

2. Marzieh Vahid-Dastjerdi, Ministry of Health

She is an associate professor at the University of Tehran and a member of the Morals in Medical Research Committee

3. Fatemeh Ajorlou, Ministry of Social Welfare

She is a conservative Member of Parliament

4. Mohammad Abbasi, Ministry of Cooperatives

He served in this same post during Ahmadinejad's first term

5. Ali-Akbar Mehrabian, Ministry of Industry

He was the previous Ministry of Industry and a loyalist to Ahmadinejad. It is interesting to point out that he was recently convicted of fraud and this could complicate his approval by Parliament

6. Shamseddin Hosseini, Ministry of Economy and Finance

He is a professor of economics

Esha Momeni Returns to the US

Esha Momeni is an Iranian-American grad student who went to Iran a year ago to do research. She was arrested and put in jail with no real charges. She was then placed on house arrest and not allowed to leave the country. She was only now allowed to come back to the US and she has given this interview:



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Web Warriors

Nice piece about the people who are supporting free speech in Iran through the internet:

Mousavi Forms New Movement

Mousavi has formed a new grassroots movement to continue the opposition in Iran. Since he will not be given a permit to form a political party, the new movement is “grass-roots and social network”. It is called the Green Wave of Hope and it is dedicated to democracy and enforcing the rule of law. Hopefully it will bring about great changes to Iran.

More Show Trials Begin

25 more people have been put on trial bringing the total number up to 135. Sadly the show trials will continue and the people of Iran will have to suffer watching their justice system turn into even more of a sham.

Mehdi Saharkhiz Confesses for his Father Isa Saharkhiz

Isa Saharkhiz is a prominent reformist journalist who is currently being held in jail by the regime. Reports indicate that he has been tortured and that his rib has been broken. His son has bravely put out a confession on his behalf:

Sistani Breaks His Silence

Grand Ayatollah Sistani is generally thought to be rather apolitical and also actually lives in Iraq. Yet he is the highest religious authority in Shii Islam and has many followers in Iran.

He has broken his silence on the recent unrest and answered some questions posed to him by one of his followers:

1) What is your eminence’s opinion about [Iran's] religious supreme leadership (velayat-e-faqih)?

“Leadership in what Islamic jurists call “everyday affairs” exists for any qualified expert in Islamic jurisprudence. However [leadership] in public affairs that play a crucial role in the order of the Islamic society, depends both upon personal qualifications of the expert and also upon other issues including the fact that the expert must be acceptable for the public.”

2) If a pronouncement of another Marjaa [senior clerical leader] opposes that of a Supreme Leader what must be done?

“In general the pronouncement of a person that has religious supreme leadership in public and society affairs etc. supersedes all (including other Marjaa) unless the pronouncements are proven to be wrong or the pronouncements are proven to be against what is in the Koran or in Religious Tradition.”

In other words, Sistani is being Sistani and trying to be as apolitical as possible. He is basically saying that he supports the overall system in Iran, but also says that there are ways in which the system can be illegitimate. Perhaps most important he implies that Khamenei is not infallible and there are instances in which his rule can be questioned.

He also argues that the Supreme Leader needs high personal qualifications and public support. Arguments can be made that Khamenei lacks both the necessary religious credentials and large support among the people. Thus reformists might see this as a back handed swipe at Khamenei.

In reality, Sistani is being vague on purpose and does not seem to want to come down in support of one side or the other. That is generally what can be expected of Sistani and that is probably what he will continue to do.

Professor Crocodile Is Back Again

Following up on my earlier post on Mesbah Yazdi, here is the newest piece that brings out his cartoon character Professor Crocodile. In reference to his comment that obeying Ahmadinejad is like obeying God, the cartoon reads "Obedience to Mahmoud, is obedience to God! Kneel…"

Oops

According to this regime, members of the opposite sex who are not married or related cannot touch each other. I guess Ahmadinejad has some explaining to do.

Key Player: Mohammad Taghi Mesbah Yazdi

Mohammad Taghi Mesbah Yazdi (usually simple referred to as Mesbah Yazdi) is a hardline Ayatollah and perhaps the most radical of the high clergy in Iran. He has been described as the spiritual adviser to Ahmadinejad and is one of the main proponent of extreme hardline thought in Iran. He is interesting to follow because he gives you a sense for the theological underpinning to Ahmadinejad. It is also important to note that he is a good example of the split between the Ahmadinejad camp and the more mainstream hardliners like Khamenei. His views are the most extreme so much so that he often frightens other hardliners.

Mesbah Yazdi trained to become a cleric in Qom were he studied under Khomeini and other prominent clerics. After the 1979 Revolution, Mesbah Yazdi was deemed to be too extreme by Khomeini and fell out of favor with the regime. He is even rumored to be part of a secret Shii organization called the Hojjatieh that Khomenei banned in 1983. The group emphasizes the importance of the return of the hidden Imam and holds radical views.

Mesbah Yazdi was one of the fieriest critics on the reformists when they came to power in 1997 and encouraged the brutal crackdown on the student protests in 1999. He is extremely popular among the extremists in the Basiji and the rest of the Revolutionary Guard.

He came to prominence with the election of Ahmadinejad in 2005 giving him access to the upper levels of power. He was also elected to the Assembly of Experts and has deep influence among the most radical of the hardliners. He presents a vision of Islam that makes disobedience to the Supreme Leader unacceptable and does not accept the right of the people to rule themselves. Many have called him an Iranian version of the Taliban for his extreme and fundamentalist views Islam.

Mesbah Yazdi fully supported Ahmadinejad after the rigged presidential election and blasted the protests that took place. Since the Supreme Leader said Ahmadinejad is President, then Khamenei's decision cannot be questioned by the people. Anyone who does question the Supreme Leader is questioning God himself and is a heretic. Even though this radical view supports the regime, it also presents a radical picture of those in power. The more sensible wing of the hardliners wants to distance itself from Mesbah Yazdi and his more radical ideas. He is squarely in the Ahmadinejad camp and it will be interesting to see how he will react as the gap between the more mainstream hardliners and Ahmadinejad widens.

p.s. He is often referred to as Professor Mesbah by his followers. A popular cartoon diction refers to him as Professor Temsah (the Iranian word for crocodile). Mesbah and Temsah rhyme in Farsi so he is Professor Crocodile. The caption is an actual quote from Mesbah Yazdi, "Isn't any one to free me from this bribed reformist."

Human Rights Watch Criticizes Regime and Asks for Investigation

Human Rights Watch is an independent organization that has no agenda other than supporting human rights around the world. It has put out a report that is scathing towards the regimes human rights violations and asks for an investigation of what took place after the election:

"The Iranian government should investigate the nation's top security officials to determine whether attacks on demonstrators and detainees following the disputed June 12, 2009 election were ordered and coordinated at the highest levels, Human Rights Watch said today.

Human Rights Watch said that its research indicates a pattern and degree of coordination in the repeated serious abuses against largely peaceful protesters and detainees that suggests that the abuse was ordered at top levels. Those investigated should include Esameel Ahmadi Moghaddam, chief of Iran's national police, and Hossein Taeb, leader of the Basiji paramilitary, both hierarchical organizations that operate from the top down."

Khamenei not as Crazy as Ahmadinejad

Following up on this report that Ahmadinejad wanted to arrest Mousavi and other top reformers, reports are coming in that Khamenei would not allow it. The newspaper Nowruz run by the top reformist party in Iran, the Islamic Iran Participation Front, reports that Khamenei thought that arresting Mosuavi would have destroyed the Islamic Republic.

Ahmadinejad on the other hand was all for the plan and wanted to round up many of the top tier reformists. Apparently Khatami was the only one who had too much national and international recognition not to arrest. Other people slated to be arrested: Mehdi Karroubi, Ayatollah Mousavi-Khoiniha, Ali Akbar Mohtashamipour, Morteza Alviri, Mohammad Reza Khatami, and and one of Rafsanjani’s children.

Obviously Khamenei does not like these people, but he is smart enough to know that arresting Mousavi and the others would have a lot of bad consequences. Ahmadinejad on the other had is clearly driven by an ideology that believes anyone who stands in his way should be eliminated.

Another thing this episode shows is that at least for the very important desicions, Khamenei is stil the one calling the shots and not Ahmadinejad.

A Protest the Regime Probably Will Allow

Mousavi's Facebook is reporting that Basij might protest outside of Karroubi's newspaper:

"Following the slogans chanted by Basij in today’s Friday Prayer and the announcements made by them saying that they have planned to gather in front of the Etemad Melli newspaper (owned by Karoubi) in protest to the letter released by Karoubi revealing the allegations of rape in prisons, chief editor of the newspaper in a letter to Tehran’s Prosecutor General asked him to provide safety and security for their office."

The regime will probably not try to stop this protest and let's pray it won't turn violent.

Schools Out Forever?

The regime is considering canceling the fall semester for colleges around the country especially at the University of Tehran. Apparently they are worried that students are going to protest and organize at college campuses.

Yet this begs the question if they do cancel classes for fall, what is there long term strategy and will they have to cancel classes forever?

Who Is Sadeq Larijani?

Following up on my anaylsis of the replacement of Ayatollah Shahroudi by Sadeq Larijani, Mehdi Khalaji has a wonderful piece on the same topic:

"Born in 1960 in Najaf, Iraq, Sadeq Larijani is the son of Grand Ayatollah Hashem Amoli and the son-in-law of Grand Ayatollah Hossein Vahid Khorasani, currently one of the most widely followed marjas, "sources of emulation" whose rulings are regarded as binding by devout Shiite believers. Larijani's two older and well-known brothers -- Ali Larijani, speaker of the Majlis (Iranian parliament) and former nuclear negotiator, and Mohammad Javad Larijani, the deputy head of the judiciary, former deputy foreign affairs minister, and mathematics graduate from the University of California, Berkeley -- are also married into respected clerical families: Ali is the son-in-law of the late Morteza Motahhari, an ideologue of the Islamic government, and Mohammad Javad is the son-in-law of Hassan Hassanzadeh, an ayatollah in Qom. Khamenei, at one point the supervisor of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), became intimate with the Larijani family during Ali's several-year post as deputy commander of the IRGC. "



"In his twenty years in office, particularly in recent years, Khamenei has replaced military, political, economic, cultural, and clerical officials with a new generation of politicians and clerics who owe their political or religious credentials to him. The IRGC and intelligence apparatuses became the main avenues through which young ambitious men loyal to Khamenei could enter the political scene.

Although most of these new politicians and clerics are close to Khamenei, they are not traditional clerics with independent political and religious credentials, such as those who participated in the 1979 Revolution. Instead, most of the new generation began their careers in the military, the IRGC, and the intelligence services. Notable examples include Ahmad Khatami (no relation to former president Muhammad Khatami), an influential intelligence agent who is now a member of the Assembly of Experts and the Friday prayer Imam of Tehran; Ahmad Salek, Khamenei's representative in both the Qods Force and IRGC intelligence and a member of the Militant Clerics Society of Tehran; Hossein Taeb, the commander of Basij militia and former head of IRGC intelligence; and Sadeq Larijani."

"Although the Iranian constitution mandates that the judiciary supervise all juridical and legal processes, some bodies, such as the Special Court of Clerics, work under Khamenei's direct supervision outside the judiciary's framework. Moreover, even though the IRGC, Basij, police, Intelligence Ministry, and Special Court of Clerics run many of Iran's detention centers, the judiciary has no jurisdiction over any of them. Further complicating matters, Khamenei is constitutionally the final arbiter in any dispute between government officials, with the right to overrule Islamic law when necessary to safeguard the interests of the regime. As such, the judiciary uses Islamic law as the basis for its decisions only when Khamenei sees such use as not in conflict with the regime's interests -- as he defines it.

Not only is the judiciary empowered to ignore Islamic law, it also bypasses the country's criminal law, particularly in politically related cases. This has led to harsh criticism by secular lawyers as well as clerics in the last two decades. In an open letter to Hashemi Shahroudi, for instance, published in Ettelaat newspaper on August 2, Ayatollah Mustafa Mohaqeq Damad, a prominent scholar of Islamic law, criticized the concept of the "interests of the regime," complaining, "The bitter taste of what happened in the judiciary under you, especially in recent days, would not be forgettable for Iranian people ... Under you, the judiciary, which is the pivot of society's security, is not only shaken but destroyed."


"Iran's judiciary -- under the watchful eye of Iran's top leader -- has a great deal of power to shape the country's legal system and environment. Sadeq Larijani's ties to the IRGC and intelligence agencies provide ample reason to believe that he will use his new powers to crack down even further on human rights and civil liberties than did his predecessors. Moreover, Larijani's appointment signals that the judiciary, the IRGC, and the intelligence agencies will be more closely aligned then ever. Presumably, this state of affairs indicates that traditional ayatollahs deeply trained in Islamic law -- but who are not members of the intelligence-military-political circles -- will have a lesser role in government in years to come. Given the unstable situation in postelection Iran, such a scenario could be a recipe for continued and ongoing chaos."

Building a Case Against Top Reformers

Reports are coming out that seem to sugget that the Regime is trying to build cases against top reformists figures to arrest them and put them of trial.

Today in many Friday Prayer sermons around the country, hardline clerics denounced Karroui for libel in suggesting that raped had occured to prisoners. These clerics are demanding that he be punished and perhaps building a case for his trial:

In the Friday prayers, Ayatollah Ahmad Khatami said, “The Judiciary has clearly announced that the sexual harassment that [Karroubi] claims has occurred is a lie, the Special Committee of the Majles also says it is a lie, everyone has said this sexual harassment is a lie.”

Mohammad Saeed, Friday prayer leader of Qom, said that the publisher of the claims of sexual abuse of the prisoners must face judgment and receive “maximum punishment.” “Unfortunately, these claims have created improper consequences and implications for the Islamic Republic.”

Ahmad Elmolhadi, Friday prayer leader of Mashhad, called Karroubi “A follower of the enemy’s system and an agent of Arrogance [the United States],” who “wants to bring shame upon the Islamic system at the national and international levels.” Therefore, Karroubi “should not be free inside this country, but he should be under legal persecution and face judgment.”

He said Mr. Karroubi must prove his claims and writings, otherwise, “We must confront him as if he were a terrorist.”

Also Mousavi's Facebook is reporting of a reported plot to arrest Mousavi which never happened because it would cause too much chaos within the country:

“A plan to arrest Mousavi and ten other senior reformist figures was discussed in a meeting of the National Security Council, with Ahmadinejad in attendance. Ahmadinejad insisted that as long as Mousavi and these ten others are not arrested, the unrest will continue.”

Howerver the plan was rejected because it would cause even more unrest among the people of Iran. It is clear that regime wants to deal with the reform movement and the people of Iran by crushing the opposition instead of hearing their grievances.

Former Lawmakers Appeal to Assembly of Experts

A group of former reformer members of parliament is asking the Assembly of Experts to look into the current political situation. In a letter addressed to Rafsanjani, the group goes so far as to ask for an inquiry as to the ability of Khamenei to rule as Supreme Leader:

"The former lawmakers 'demand a legal probe on the basis of Article 111 of the Constitution, which is a responsibility of the Experts Assembly," the letter said. Article 11 says that if the supreme leader "becomes incapable of fulfilling his constitutional duties,' he will be dismissed."

Wife of Journalist Prisoner Maziar Bahari Speaks Out

Maziar Bahari is journalist in Iran for Newsweek and he is also a Canadian citizen. He was approved to cover the elections by the Iranian government. Unfortunately he was arrested by the regime and put on a show trial along with many other prominent Iranians. He was accussed of workering with foreigners, but the only evidence is a forced confession. Here is an interview with his wife:

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Mousavi: Regime Really Serving Interest of the West

Today hardline cleric Ahmad Khatami gave the Friday Sermon in which he used the standard line that the protesters were being led by the West. Sadly the regime would not let Rafsanjani give a sermon in which he would have not doubt criticized what is going on.

Well Mousavi has stated that the actions of the regime actually serve the interest of foreigners. By losing the trust of the people, this government has undermined its own ability to govern affectively:

“None of the people devoted to the Revolution wanted the recent events to happen, and worse to see it justified by lies upon lies, and the biggest lie of all is to see the people’s innate desire for reform attributed to foreigners.

Are the people’s protests which are within the framework of the constitution and based on the slogans chanted during the Islamic Revolution in line with the interests of foreign powers or holding trials in which the figures and children of the Revolution are seated next to seditionists [MKO]? Which one serves the interests of the UK and US?

Does the US prefer to see Seda o Sima [state television] be impartial and trustworthy or lose the trust of the people by repeatedly airing lies? Are those who have forced the people to turn to foreign media outlets for information serving the interests of foreigners or those who demand the state broadcaster to be impartial and transparent in reporting?

Is disrespecting Mr. [Mehdi] Karroubi, who is one of the most devoted individuals to the Islamic establishment and the country, not serving foreign interests?"

Mashaei Criticizes "The Man"

After a flurry of protest from the hardliner establishment, Esfandiar Rahim Mashaei did not become Ahmadinejad's first VP. Instead he became Chief of Staff to the irritation of many in the regime who do not like him.

The whole Mashaei incident showed a huge split between the hardliners in the regime and those loyalists to Ahmadinejad who have a different agenda. Well Mashaei is opening old wounds with his latest comments:

"Of the 24 million Ahmadinejad voters, 20 million are critical of the system. These 20 million people are even more critical of the system than the 13 million Mousavi voters, since those 13 million only question the Ahmadinejad administration, whereas these 20 million are saying No to all the past years before Ahmadinejad."

Mashaei is not saying that Ahmadinejad only really got 4 million votes and the other 20 million are fraudulent or anything like that. What he is saying is that 20 million of the votes Ahmadinejad got were out of frustration with the regime. In other words Ahmadinejad is an agent of change within the regime that is trying to fight the corrupt establishment. It harkens back to Ahmadinejad's original populist rhetoric of taking on the system on behalf of the people.

Mashaei is arguing that leading reformists such as Mousavi and Karroubi are the old school members of the regime which the public does not like. However this category also includes Khamenei and the clerics around him who have been around for 30 years. Ahmadinejad is the new kid on the block who is really trying to shake things up. According to Mashaei, Mousavi voters don't like Ahmadinejad, but Ahmadinejad voters don't like the whole history of the regime before Ahmadinejad including the years with Mousavi.

The interesting point is that Mashaei is openly stating what many hardliners fear: Ahmadinejad is trying to spread his power within the regime and cultivate his cult own personality. Ahmadinejad and the old school hardliners seem close, but deep down they have major disagreements. Ahmadinejad might temporarily align himself with the other hardliners to fight off the reformists, but deep down Ahmadinejad wants to fundamentally change the regime in a new direction.

It also seems that Mashaei is bitter over the treatment he got at the hands of hardliners in the regime. He wants to argue that the "mandate endorsement" Ahmadinejad supposedly got from the people does not mean the people also support the other hardliners. In this way, he is striking back at the hardliner establishment and warning them that Ahmadinejad will not be their puppet. It is hard to tell if Ahmadinejad feels the same way as Mashaei, but the two are fairly close. One thing is for certain, it seems the split between the Ahmadinejad camp and the other hardliners is widening.

p.s. Mashaei is Ahmadinejad's Biden

Even though Mashaei was stopped from becoming Ahmadinejad's VP and is only his chief of staff, he is remarkably similar to the American VP in one respect. Mashaei seems to be a gaffe machine saying things the President does not want him to. Take this video in which he says the following:

"The age of Islamism is over. It's not that Islamism doesn't exist or isn't growing. Islam exists but its time is up. The age of horseback riding is over now, though horses exist, and so do riders. . . . Of course, it isn't completely finished, but it's getting there."

The Other Form of Shii Islam

Mesbah Yazdi and Ahmadinejad embracing

I have been trying to point out the reformist version of Shii Islam that believes in freedom and democracy. I believe this is the Islam the vast majority of Iranians believe in and want to see govern Iranian society.

Unfortunately, most of those in power today in Iran subscribe to a less popular and radical form of hardline Shii Islam. The most radical of these believers is Ayatollah Mesbah Yazdi who I will discuss in greater detail in another post along with the whole foundation of hardline Shii thought. For now it is important to note about a statement he put out saying that subservience to Ahmadinejad shows faith in God:

"The instigators of these events, whomever they were, intended to eliminate the rule of the just jurisprudent.

The enemy wanted to eliminate or weaken this fundamental pillar. In this course, certain parties knowingly and others unknowingly went along with the current.

The rule of the just jurisprudent is one of the main pillars of [Iran's] Islamic establishment which no other Islamic state or nation possesses.

The just jurisprudent is the representative of the hidden Imam [Mahdi] but the president is chosen by the people… when the President is endorsed by the Leadership he becomes the Leader’s agent.

When the president receives the Leader’s approval, subservience to him become subservience to God."

Karroubi Says Prisoners Tourtured to Death

In addition to bringing up rape of prisoners, Karroubi is charging that the regime would torture prisoners to death.

Several prisoners have been killed in prison and public outrage has grown loud. Even hardliners are calling for investigations and those who did these crimes to bring to justice. While those who actually killed the prisoners should be tried, there are also those who ordered this type of treatment to take place. Those are the true criminals who are now in power and who should be in prison.

Key Player: Hossein-Ali Montazeri

Hossein-Ali Montazeri is the highest ranked religious figure in Iran and the second highest ranking Ayatollah in all of Shii Islam behind Ayatollah Sistani of Iraq. Despite such prominence and religious standing, he has been pushed aside by the regime and forced into near house arrest. He has been one of the fieriest critics of the regime and has deeply criticized what has happened since the election. He is a hero to the reformist movement and leads the religious opposition to the regime.

Montazeri studied to become a cleric in the Iranian holy cities of Mashad and Qom. While in Qom, he became a follower and assistant of Ayatollah Khomeini. When Khomeini went into exile in 1963, Montazeri was one of the main organizers of the religious opposition to the Shah. This would eventually lead to the 1979 Islamic Revolution and the overthrow of the Shah of Iran.

Montazeri was a close associate of Khomeini after the revolution and played a key role in forming the new Islamic Republic. He became the prayer leader for Tehran which means he would conduct the Friday Prayers every week. He also played a key role in drafting the Iranian constitution and was a supporter of an Islamic democracy. In fact many of the democratic and liberal portions of the constitution were put in by Montazeri.

At a time when no one questioned the violations of human rights by Khomenei, Montazeri bravely spoke out in 1989 against the executions of political prisoners. He argued that human rights should be respected and Iran's militant foreign policy should end. Montazeri was supposed to be Khomeini's successor as Supreme Leader, but his belief in human rights cost him this position. Instead a relatively low ranking cleric Khamenei became Supreme Leader and Montazeri was removed from the government.

Montazeri continued to speak out against the violations of the regime and was one of the leading proponents of the so called reform movement in Iran. He presented another picture of Shii Islam for the people and began to gain a large following. He was especially popular among many of the leaders of the current opposition movement and served as a sort of religious mentor.

Montazeri immediately condemned the rigged presidential election and called for a respect of the will of the people. In fact, he went so far as to issue a fatwa saying that the government of Ahmadinejad was illegitimate. According to his student Mohsen Kadivar, this had only happened during the Constitutional Revolution of 1906 and the Islamic Revolution of 1979. Montazeri has continued to put out statements against the regime and is the harshest critic of those in power among the Ayatollahs.

Despite his high age, he is 87, Montazeri continues to remain active and serves as the grandfather of the opposition movement. He is admired by all in the reformist camp and continues to put out statements in support of freedom and democracy. Montazeri will be important going forward to see if he can rally religious support to overthrow the current regime.

UN Secretary General Technically Did Not Congragulate Ahmadinejad

UN General Secretary Ban Ki-moon has sent a letter to Ahmadinejad, but has not congragulated him on winning the election. The letter hopes that Iran and the UN can continue to work togheter. This is diffirent from previous reports that suggested that Ban congragulated Ahmadinejad. Either way, the UN should be putting pressure on the regime and criticizing its abuse of human rights.

UN Warns of Prisoner Abuse in Iran

The United Nations High Comissionaer for Human Rights has released a statement stating that prisoners in Iran face the threat of toruture and ill-treatment:

"GENEVA - Three independent United Nations experts expressed their serious concern over reports of detainees being subjected to torture and harsh interrogations to obtain confessions which are being used in the recently started trials at the Revolutionary Court.

Malick El Hadji Sow, Vice-Chairperson of the Working Group on arbitrary detention; Manfred Nowak, Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, and Margaret Sekaggya, Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders said that the accused include lawyers, journalists and other human rights defenders, as well as members of the opposition, who have gone to the streets in protest of the presidential elections held on 12 June.

"No judicial system can consider as valid a confession obtained as a result of harsh interrogations or under torture," expressed the Special Rapporteur on Torture, Manfred Nowak, stressing the alarm raised by the three human rights experts over consistent allegations of severe practices of torture to obtain confessions.

"These confessions for alleged crimes such as threats against national security and treason must not, under any circumstances, be admitted as evidence by the Revolutionary Court," added El Hadji Malick Sow, the Vice-Chairperson of the Working Group on arbitrary detention.

No foreign media have been allowed to cover the trials and it is unclear whether the defendants have adequate legal counsel. In addition, many detainees remain in incommunicado detention, without any charges and denied family visits, legal assistance or medical treatment.

Reports of people who have died in custody continue to be received, and their families are given false or contradictory information regarding the cause of their deaths.

This statement follows those issued on 19 June and 7 July, where independent UN experts voiced their grave concern about the use of excessive police force, arbitrary arrests and killings in Iran and called upon the Government to uphold its international human rights obligations."