Wednesday, April 18, 2012
People Have to Beg Ahmadinejad for Food
On a recent rip to Hormozgan Province in the South of Iran, Ahmadinejad was surronded by people begging for food and telling him of their many economic problems. Of course, Ahmadinejad does not care, but this is what he has reduced the country to.
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
President Obama's Nowruz Message
Thank you President Obama for continuing to stand up to the regime while respecting the people of Iran. The President's Nowruz message is substantive and draws attention to the electronic current the regime is putting up around Iran in a desperate attempt to cling to power.
Hopefully this new year will bring democratic change for the people of Iran and all people around the world you yearn for freedom.
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Friday, February 10, 2012
Mousavi and Karroubi's Childern Call for Their Releae
In a letter, the children of Mir Hosseing Mousavi and Mehdi Karroubi call for the release of their fathers as well as their mothers who are under illegal house arrest.
Here is the letter:
To our oppressed and suffering compatriots who have sacrificed so much and all those who seek liberty and justice across the globe,
We are approaching the one year anniversary of the illegal house arrest of our loved ones; an illegal house arrest that violated all international conventions and domestic laws; an illegal house arrest that took place as a result of the demand by our loved ones that the ruling government issue a permit for rallies in support of the anti-authoritarian movements taking place the region at the time; an illegal house arrest that rendered our loved ones as nameless prisoners without any legal rights. Their request for a permit was an act that neither you nor your companions would ever regard as a crime, for to the contrary, it demonstrated their high level of social consciousness and their ability to accept responsibility.
Both Mousavi and Karroubi have held high level positions within the government and served their country for many years. Their service to the country includes 8 years as head of Parliament [Karroubi] and 8 years as Prime Minister under extremely difficult conditions of war and economic sanctions [Mousavi]. Throughout these years, they have both remained compassionate and loyal companions to their compatriots.
During the 2009 presidential elections, these two honorable men even passed the Guardian Council's strict vetting process, including overcoming Approbative Supervision [Tanslator's Note:an interpretation of Iran's Constitution that allows institutions like the Guardians Council to veto laws that have popular support and to disqualify candidates running for public office]. Despite the fact that this law is contrary to the slogans and ideals of the founder of the Islamic Revolution that all individuals have the freedom to participate in the selection process for the nomination of presidential candidates, these two honorable men passed the vetting process and began their respective electoral campaigns in accordance to the existing laws. Although they witness many violations of the law at the hands of a rival candidate; a candidate with an upper hand as a result of his extensive political support and unlimited access to national resources, they nevertheless engaged in healthy and fair competition during their respective electoral campaigns. Furthermore, both candidates went out of their way to remain civil and respectful during the presidential debates, voicing criticism of the country's conditions taking into consideration our national interests; criticism that is now apparent to all and continues to be voiced by many.
After the unexpected results of the presidential elections that were contrary to all evidence and documentation at hand, and following the street protests by millions of Iranian citizens in accordance to the laws stipulated under Iran's Constitution, Mousavi and Karroubi also voiced their criticism of the election results, standing firm with the protesting citizens of Iran. They too were beaten during the protest and one of their family members was even martyred. Furthermore, they faced a grand conspiracy, extreme defamation and suppression and their homes were brutally attacked and defaced by an army of thugs.
The last inhumane and illegal act imposed upon our loved ones was this so called house arrest. It has been one year since this inhumane act took place. During this time the authorities and entities associated with the ruling government, who have to date ignored the rule of law, have continued to lie and insist that it is our loved ones who have requested that the government protect them and they [the government] are only protecting their lives. They have nothing to say, no rationale to present to the citizens of Iran and the world at large for the acts they have committed. Are the blatant lies that are at times divulged by certain authorities both inside Iran and abroad not inconsistent with the truth?
We the families of the aforementioned loved ones clearly and unequivocally state that they have been detained against their will and in violation of the law for the past year. Furthermore, during this past year, with the exception of a hand full of phone calls and restricted, short, controlled visitations they have been deprived of all communication with the outside world and deprived of their legal rights. To date not a signal authority of the ruling government, has accepted responsibility for this illegal act. Their food, health and medication is also controlled rather than being provided by an independent and impartial party. There is also much uncertainty regarding their security and the location of their detention. It goes without saying that the concerns regarding their well being are greatly increasing with the passing of each day.
In addition, we the family of Mir Hossein Mousavi, Mehdi Karroubi and Zahra Rahnavard, declare on their behalf that we protest this form of incarceration, be it house arrest or other and demand an end to this illegal and inhumane act. Those who commit such acts are fully aware that they behavior will not affect on the will of our loved ones, for they will never compromise and will continue to defend the rights and ideals that were expressed by millions of our compatriots who came to the streets in protest. They will continue to defend the rights of those who were slain, those who were martyred, arrested, incarcerated, tortured and mistreated. They will also continue to defend the rights of thousands of prisoners who remain strong and continue to persevere behind bars.
We ask the ruling government on the honor, life and property of our nation to refrain from acts that are inhumane, unpatriotic and against our religious foundations and will only bring us to the brink of war and destruction and instead return to a path based on logic the rule of law and the national interests of our nation.
We the families of Mir Hossein Mousavi and Mehdi Karroubi, two honorable men who have been deprived of their human rights but have nevertheless remained steadfast and true to their oath to defend the rights of our citizens, now call upon our oppressed and suffering compatriots and all freedom loving and justice seeking individuals dedicated to human rights across the globe, to act as a symbol of support for a nation that has been deprived of their rights. We ask in particular that you support the innocent martyrs and prisoners in Iran and stand with Iranians inside Iran who seek true democracy, acting as our voice to the world at large and echoing our demand for justice. Tell the world: "We demand the release of all oppressed yet resistant prisoners, including all political prisoners and prisoners of conscience across Iran and we believe that an honorable and great nation such as Iran does not deserve such economic and political hardship and God forbid war."
چکیده :ما اعضای خانواده این عزیزان با صراحت و قطعیت می گوییم که آنها برخلاف خواست خود و برخلاف قانون یک سال است که در بازداشت به سر می برند و جز تعدادی تماس تلفنی و دیدار محدود ،کوتاه و کنترل شده حق هرگونه ارتباطی با بیرون از آنها سلب شده است . آنها از حقوق قانونی خود محروم مانده اند. تا کنون هیچ شخص مسئولی حتی همین اقدام غیر قانونی راهم بنا بر جایگاه حقوقی خود نپذیرفته است . آنها از نظارت ارگان بی طرف بر خوراک و سلامتی و دارو بی بهره اند . و در مورد امنیت و کجایی مکان نگهداری آنان ابهامات زیادی وجود دارد و این نگرانیها روز به روز برای ما شدیدتر شده است.ا
فرزندان موسوی و کروبی در نامه مشترکی، از همه هموطنان مظلوم و رنج دیده و فداکار و از همه انسان های حق طلب و آزادی خواه و عدالت جو در جای جای جهان خواسته اند که پژواک صدای حق خواهی آنها بوده و صدای شان را به گوش جهانیان برسانند که زندانیان مظلوم و مقاوم ما و همه زندانیان سیاسی و عقیدتی را در سراسرایران آزاد کنید.ا
به گزارش کلمه، در این نامه مشترک با اشاره به روند غیر قانونی و غیر انسانی حصر خانگی میرحسین موسوی، زهرا رهنورد و مهدی کروبی و توجیهات حاکمیت در ادامه این حصر آمده است: ما اعضای خانواده این عزیزان با صراحت و قطعیت می گوییم که آنها برخلاف خواست خود و برخلاف قانون یک سال است که در بازداشت به سر می برند و جز تعدادی تماس تلفنی و دیدار محدود ،کوتاه و کنترل شده حق هرگونه ارتباطی با بیرون از آنها سلب شده است . آنها از حقوق قانونی خود محروم مانده اند . تا کنون هیچ شخص مسئولی حتی همین اقدام غیر قانونی راهم بنا بر جایگاه حقوقی خود نپذیرفته است . آنها از نظارت ارگان بی طرف بر خوراک و سلامتی و دارو بی بهره اند . و در مورد امنیت و کجایی مکان نگهداری آنان ابهامات زیادی وجود دارد و این نگرانیها روز به روز برای ما شدیدتر شده است.ا
فرزندان موسوی و کروبی با ابراز نگرانی از وضعیت سلامت و امنیت آنان تصریح کرده اند: ما اعضای خانواده این عزیزان با صراحت و قطعیت می گوییم که آنها برخلاف خواست خود و برخلاف قانون یک سال است که در بازداشت به سر می برند و جز تعدادی تماس تلفنی و دیدار محدود ،کوتاه و کنترل شده حق هرگونه ارتباطی با بیرون از آنها سلب شده است . آنها از حقوق قانونی خود محروم مانده اند . تا کنون هیچ شخص مسئولی حتی همین اقدام غیر قانونی راهم بنا بر جایگاه حقوقی خود نپذیرفته است . آنها از نظارت ارگان بی طرف بر خوراک و سلامتی و دارو بی بهره اند . و در مورد امنیت و کجایی مکان نگهداری آنان ابهامات زیادی وجود دارد و این نگرانیها روز به روز برای ما شدیدتر شده است.ا
آنان از حاکمان بر جان و مال و ناموس مردم خواسته اند از راه ضد ملی و ضد دینی و ضد انسانی که در سرکوب هر منتقد و مخالف خود در پیش گرفته اند و کشور را درلبه پرتگاه جنگ و ویرانی قرار داده اند به راه منطق وقانون و مصلحت مردم و میهن برگردند.ا
متن کامل این نامه که در اختیار سحام نیوز و کلمه قرار گرفت، به شرح زیر است:ا
به نام خداهم وطنان مظلوم ، رنجدیده و فداکار
انسان های حق طلب ، آزادی خواه عدالت جو در جای جای جهان
نزدیک یک سال است که عزیزان ما برخلاف نص صریح قوانین داخلی و تمامی کنوانسیون های بین المللی و به دنبال درخواست مجوز سال گذشته برای راهپیمایی ۲۵ بهمن در آنچه به صورت یک بدعت حقوقی حبس خانگی و درعمل زندانی بی نام ونشان است ، قرار دارند .حتما بیاد دارید که این راهپیمایی برای حمایت از جنبش های ضد استبدادی منطقه بود . کاری که نه برای شما و نه همراهان به بندکشیده شده شما حال در هر زمان ، نه تنها جرمی نیست بلکه نشانی از رشد اجتماعی و مسئولیت پذیریست .
آقایان موسوی و کروبی سالها در مسئولیتهای طراز اول کشور به مردم خدمت کرده اند. هشت سال ریاست مجلس و هشت سال نخست وزیری کشور تحت سخت ترین شرایط جنگی داخلی و محاصره اقتصادی ، کم ترین سابقه عزیزان ماست. آیا جز این است که در تمامی این سالها دلسوز یار و امین هموطنان خود بوده اند؟این دو بزرگوار در انتخابات ریاست جمهوری سال ۸۸ حتی از همه فیلترهای شورای نگهبان که با بدعتی به نام نظارت استصوابی و برخلاف شعارها و آرمان های بنیانگذار انقلاب در رابطه با «آزادی» برای همگان به گزینش اولیه نامزدهای انتخاباتی می پردازد، عبور کردند و طبق همان قوانین به فعالیت انتخاباتی پرداختند .آنها در حالی که شاهد تخلف های فراوان از سوی نامزد رقیب بودند، که همه امکانات کشور و همه نوع حمایت سیاسی را در پشت خود داشت ، به رقابتی سالم و عادلانه پرداختند و در مناظره هایشان نیز در کمال ادب و با بصیرت کامل و دلسوزی و با رعایت تمام مصالح ملی نظراتی را در نقد شرایط موجود مطرح کردند که تماما امروز سخنی است که دیگر همگی بدان معترفند و خود نیز تکرار می کنند.ا
ایشان، پس از اعلام نتایجی که کاملا غیر منتظره و خلاف همه مشهودات و مستندات بود و اعتراضات میلیونی مردم که براساس قانون اساسی کشور صورت گرفت؛ نظر اعتراضی خود را ابراز داشتند و پا به پای مردم معترض ایستادگی کردند. خود کتک خوردند و شهید دادند و با انبوه توطئه ها ، افترا و سرکوب ها و لشگرکشی اراذل به خانه و کاشانه خود مواجه شدند.ا
آخرین حربه ای که علیه این عزیزان به کار گرفته شد برخورد غیرانسانی و غیر قانونی مبنی بر به اصطلاح حبس خانگی آنهاست. اینک یک سال از این عمل ضد انسانی میگذرد . در این مدت مقامات و نهادهای حاکم که دست شان از هر محمل قانونی خالی است، جز این دروغ که آنها خودشان خواهان مراقبت از خویش بودهاند و ما برای حفظ جان آنها چنین کرده ایم ، حرفی برای گفتن و منطقی برای ارائه به افکار عمومی داخلی و جهانی ندارند . آیا این که هر از گاهی دروغهای آشکاری از زبان بعضی افراد مسئول در داخل و خارج از کشور به گوش می رسد ، با حقایق در تعارض نیست؟
ما اعضای خانواده این عزیزان با صراحت و قطعیت می گوییم که آنها برخلاف خواست خود و برخلاف قانون یک سال است که در بازداشت به سر می برند و جز تعدادی تماس تلفنی و دیدار محدود ،کوتاه و کنترل شده حق هرگونه ارتباطی با بیرون از آنها سلب شده است . آنها از حقوق قانونی خود محروم مانده اند . تا کنون هیچ شخص مسئولی حتی همین اقدام غیر قانونی راهم بنا بر جایگاه حقوقی خود نپذیرفته است . آنها از نظارت نهادهای بی طرف بر خوراک و سلامتی و دارو بی بهره اند . و در مورد امنیت و کجایی مکان نگهداری آنان ابهامات زیادی وجود دارد و این نگرانیها روز به روز برای ما شدیدتر شده است .ا
اینک ما خانواده آقایان کروبی و موسوی و خانم رهنورد از طرف آنان اعلام می کنیم که ما و عزیزان مان به این زندان هرچه که باشد خانگی یا غیر خانگی ، معترضیم و خواهان پایان دادن به این اقدام ضد انسانی و ضد قانونی هستیم. مسببین اینگونه رفتارها به خوبی می دانند که با اقداماتی چنین، در اراده عزیزان ما در حق خواهی خویش و دفاع از آرمان هایی که میلیون ها هم وطن مان در خیابان ها ابراز کردند و خون خود را نثار نمودند و دهها شهید دادند و دچار حبس وشکنجه و انواع مسایل دیگر شدند و نیزهزاران زندانی که همچنان مقاوم و استوار در حبس اند؛ خللی ایجاد نخواهد کرد.ا
ما از حاکمانِ بر جان و مال و ناموس مردم می خواهیم از راه ضد ملی و ضد دینی و ضد انسانی که در سرکوب هر منتقد و مخالف خود در پیش گرفته اند و کشور را درلبه پرتگاه جنگ و ویرانی قرار داده اند به راه منطق وقانون و مصلحت مردم و میهن برگردند.ا
ما خانواده آقایان موسوی و کروبی، که برعهد خود با مردم در دفاع از حقوق شان وفادار واستوار مانده اند؛ اینک به خاطر حقوق از دست رفته آنها ، به عنوان نمادی از حقوق از دست رفته مردم ایران و مخصوصا شهدای مظلوم و زندانیان بی گناه ، از همه هموطنان مظلوم و رنج دیده و فداکار و از همه انسان های حق طلب و آزادی خواه و عدالت جوی، هم گام با هموطنان داخل کشور که خواهان تسلط مردمسالاری واقعیند ، در جای جای جهان میخواهیم پژواک صدای حق خواهی ما باشند . و صدای مارا به گوش جهانیان برسانند که: “زندانیان مظلوم و مقاوم ما وهمه زندانیان سیاسی و عقیدتی را در سراسر ایران آزاد کنید . کشور وملتی با اینهمه سرفرازی و بزرگی شایسته این حد رنج تنگناهای اقتصادی و سیاسی وخدایناکرده جنگ نیست .”ا
Here is the letter:
To our oppressed and suffering compatriots who have sacrificed so much and all those who seek liberty and justice across the globe,
We are approaching the one year anniversary of the illegal house arrest of our loved ones; an illegal house arrest that violated all international conventions and domestic laws; an illegal house arrest that took place as a result of the demand by our loved ones that the ruling government issue a permit for rallies in support of the anti-authoritarian movements taking place the region at the time; an illegal house arrest that rendered our loved ones as nameless prisoners without any legal rights. Their request for a permit was an act that neither you nor your companions would ever regard as a crime, for to the contrary, it demonstrated their high level of social consciousness and their ability to accept responsibility.
Both Mousavi and Karroubi have held high level positions within the government and served their country for many years. Their service to the country includes 8 years as head of Parliament [Karroubi] and 8 years as Prime Minister under extremely difficult conditions of war and economic sanctions [Mousavi]. Throughout these years, they have both remained compassionate and loyal companions to their compatriots.
During the 2009 presidential elections, these two honorable men even passed the Guardian Council's strict vetting process, including overcoming Approbative Supervision [Tanslator's Note:an interpretation of Iran's Constitution that allows institutions like the Guardians Council to veto laws that have popular support and to disqualify candidates running for public office]. Despite the fact that this law is contrary to the slogans and ideals of the founder of the Islamic Revolution that all individuals have the freedom to participate in the selection process for the nomination of presidential candidates, these two honorable men passed the vetting process and began their respective electoral campaigns in accordance to the existing laws. Although they witness many violations of the law at the hands of a rival candidate; a candidate with an upper hand as a result of his extensive political support and unlimited access to national resources, they nevertheless engaged in healthy and fair competition during their respective electoral campaigns. Furthermore, both candidates went out of their way to remain civil and respectful during the presidential debates, voicing criticism of the country's conditions taking into consideration our national interests; criticism that is now apparent to all and continues to be voiced by many.
After the unexpected results of the presidential elections that were contrary to all evidence and documentation at hand, and following the street protests by millions of Iranian citizens in accordance to the laws stipulated under Iran's Constitution, Mousavi and Karroubi also voiced their criticism of the election results, standing firm with the protesting citizens of Iran. They too were beaten during the protest and one of their family members was even martyred. Furthermore, they faced a grand conspiracy, extreme defamation and suppression and their homes were brutally attacked and defaced by an army of thugs.
The last inhumane and illegal act imposed upon our loved ones was this so called house arrest. It has been one year since this inhumane act took place. During this time the authorities and entities associated with the ruling government, who have to date ignored the rule of law, have continued to lie and insist that it is our loved ones who have requested that the government protect them and they [the government] are only protecting their lives. They have nothing to say, no rationale to present to the citizens of Iran and the world at large for the acts they have committed. Are the blatant lies that are at times divulged by certain authorities both inside Iran and abroad not inconsistent with the truth?
We the families of the aforementioned loved ones clearly and unequivocally state that they have been detained against their will and in violation of the law for the past year. Furthermore, during this past year, with the exception of a hand full of phone calls and restricted, short, controlled visitations they have been deprived of all communication with the outside world and deprived of their legal rights. To date not a signal authority of the ruling government, has accepted responsibility for this illegal act. Their food, health and medication is also controlled rather than being provided by an independent and impartial party. There is also much uncertainty regarding their security and the location of their detention. It goes without saying that the concerns regarding their well being are greatly increasing with the passing of each day.
In addition, we the family of Mir Hossein Mousavi, Mehdi Karroubi and Zahra Rahnavard, declare on their behalf that we protest this form of incarceration, be it house arrest or other and demand an end to this illegal and inhumane act. Those who commit such acts are fully aware that they behavior will not affect on the will of our loved ones, for they will never compromise and will continue to defend the rights and ideals that were expressed by millions of our compatriots who came to the streets in protest. They will continue to defend the rights of those who were slain, those who were martyred, arrested, incarcerated, tortured and mistreated. They will also continue to defend the rights of thousands of prisoners who remain strong and continue to persevere behind bars.
We ask the ruling government on the honor, life and property of our nation to refrain from acts that are inhumane, unpatriotic and against our religious foundations and will only bring us to the brink of war and destruction and instead return to a path based on logic the rule of law and the national interests of our nation.
We the families of Mir Hossein Mousavi and Mehdi Karroubi, two honorable men who have been deprived of their human rights but have nevertheless remained steadfast and true to their oath to defend the rights of our citizens, now call upon our oppressed and suffering compatriots and all freedom loving and justice seeking individuals dedicated to human rights across the globe, to act as a symbol of support for a nation that has been deprived of their rights. We ask in particular that you support the innocent martyrs and prisoners in Iran and stand with Iranians inside Iran who seek true democracy, acting as our voice to the world at large and echoing our demand for justice. Tell the world: "We demand the release of all oppressed yet resistant prisoners, including all political prisoners and prisoners of conscience across Iran and we believe that an honorable and great nation such as Iran does not deserve such economic and political hardship and God forbid war."
چکیده :ما اعضای خانواده این عزیزان با صراحت و قطعیت می گوییم که آنها برخلاف خواست خود و برخلاف قانون یک سال است که در بازداشت به سر می برند و جز تعدادی تماس تلفنی و دیدار محدود ،کوتاه و کنترل شده حق هرگونه ارتباطی با بیرون از آنها سلب شده است . آنها از حقوق قانونی خود محروم مانده اند. تا کنون هیچ شخص مسئولی حتی همین اقدام غیر قانونی راهم بنا بر جایگاه حقوقی خود نپذیرفته است . آنها از نظارت ارگان بی طرف بر خوراک و سلامتی و دارو بی بهره اند . و در مورد امنیت و کجایی مکان نگهداری آنان ابهامات زیادی وجود دارد و این نگرانیها روز به روز برای ما شدیدتر شده است.ا
فرزندان موسوی و کروبی در نامه مشترکی، از همه هموطنان مظلوم و رنج دیده و فداکار و از همه انسان های حق طلب و آزادی خواه و عدالت جو در جای جای جهان خواسته اند که پژواک صدای حق خواهی آنها بوده و صدای شان را به گوش جهانیان برسانند که زندانیان مظلوم و مقاوم ما و همه زندانیان سیاسی و عقیدتی را در سراسرایران آزاد کنید.ا
به گزارش کلمه، در این نامه مشترک با اشاره به روند غیر قانونی و غیر انسانی حصر خانگی میرحسین موسوی، زهرا رهنورد و مهدی کروبی و توجیهات حاکمیت در ادامه این حصر آمده است: ما اعضای خانواده این عزیزان با صراحت و قطعیت می گوییم که آنها برخلاف خواست خود و برخلاف قانون یک سال است که در بازداشت به سر می برند و جز تعدادی تماس تلفنی و دیدار محدود ،کوتاه و کنترل شده حق هرگونه ارتباطی با بیرون از آنها سلب شده است . آنها از حقوق قانونی خود محروم مانده اند . تا کنون هیچ شخص مسئولی حتی همین اقدام غیر قانونی راهم بنا بر جایگاه حقوقی خود نپذیرفته است . آنها از نظارت ارگان بی طرف بر خوراک و سلامتی و دارو بی بهره اند . و در مورد امنیت و کجایی مکان نگهداری آنان ابهامات زیادی وجود دارد و این نگرانیها روز به روز برای ما شدیدتر شده است.ا
فرزندان موسوی و کروبی با ابراز نگرانی از وضعیت سلامت و امنیت آنان تصریح کرده اند: ما اعضای خانواده این عزیزان با صراحت و قطعیت می گوییم که آنها برخلاف خواست خود و برخلاف قانون یک سال است که در بازداشت به سر می برند و جز تعدادی تماس تلفنی و دیدار محدود ،کوتاه و کنترل شده حق هرگونه ارتباطی با بیرون از آنها سلب شده است . آنها از حقوق قانونی خود محروم مانده اند . تا کنون هیچ شخص مسئولی حتی همین اقدام غیر قانونی راهم بنا بر جایگاه حقوقی خود نپذیرفته است . آنها از نظارت ارگان بی طرف بر خوراک و سلامتی و دارو بی بهره اند . و در مورد امنیت و کجایی مکان نگهداری آنان ابهامات زیادی وجود دارد و این نگرانیها روز به روز برای ما شدیدتر شده است.ا
آنان از حاکمان بر جان و مال و ناموس مردم خواسته اند از راه ضد ملی و ضد دینی و ضد انسانی که در سرکوب هر منتقد و مخالف خود در پیش گرفته اند و کشور را درلبه پرتگاه جنگ و ویرانی قرار داده اند به راه منطق وقانون و مصلحت مردم و میهن برگردند.ا
متن کامل این نامه که در اختیار سحام نیوز و کلمه قرار گرفت، به شرح زیر است:ا
به نام خداهم وطنان مظلوم ، رنجدیده و فداکار
انسان های حق طلب ، آزادی خواه عدالت جو در جای جای جهان
نزدیک یک سال است که عزیزان ما برخلاف نص صریح قوانین داخلی و تمامی کنوانسیون های بین المللی و به دنبال درخواست مجوز سال گذشته برای راهپیمایی ۲۵ بهمن در آنچه به صورت یک بدعت حقوقی حبس خانگی و درعمل زندانی بی نام ونشان است ، قرار دارند .حتما بیاد دارید که این راهپیمایی برای حمایت از جنبش های ضد استبدادی منطقه بود . کاری که نه برای شما و نه همراهان به بندکشیده شده شما حال در هر زمان ، نه تنها جرمی نیست بلکه نشانی از رشد اجتماعی و مسئولیت پذیریست .
آقایان موسوی و کروبی سالها در مسئولیتهای طراز اول کشور به مردم خدمت کرده اند. هشت سال ریاست مجلس و هشت سال نخست وزیری کشور تحت سخت ترین شرایط جنگی داخلی و محاصره اقتصادی ، کم ترین سابقه عزیزان ماست. آیا جز این است که در تمامی این سالها دلسوز یار و امین هموطنان خود بوده اند؟این دو بزرگوار در انتخابات ریاست جمهوری سال ۸۸ حتی از همه فیلترهای شورای نگهبان که با بدعتی به نام نظارت استصوابی و برخلاف شعارها و آرمان های بنیانگذار انقلاب در رابطه با «آزادی» برای همگان به گزینش اولیه نامزدهای انتخاباتی می پردازد، عبور کردند و طبق همان قوانین به فعالیت انتخاباتی پرداختند .آنها در حالی که شاهد تخلف های فراوان از سوی نامزد رقیب بودند، که همه امکانات کشور و همه نوع حمایت سیاسی را در پشت خود داشت ، به رقابتی سالم و عادلانه پرداختند و در مناظره هایشان نیز در کمال ادب و با بصیرت کامل و دلسوزی و با رعایت تمام مصالح ملی نظراتی را در نقد شرایط موجود مطرح کردند که تماما امروز سخنی است که دیگر همگی بدان معترفند و خود نیز تکرار می کنند.ا
ایشان، پس از اعلام نتایجی که کاملا غیر منتظره و خلاف همه مشهودات و مستندات بود و اعتراضات میلیونی مردم که براساس قانون اساسی کشور صورت گرفت؛ نظر اعتراضی خود را ابراز داشتند و پا به پای مردم معترض ایستادگی کردند. خود کتک خوردند و شهید دادند و با انبوه توطئه ها ، افترا و سرکوب ها و لشگرکشی اراذل به خانه و کاشانه خود مواجه شدند.ا
آخرین حربه ای که علیه این عزیزان به کار گرفته شد برخورد غیرانسانی و غیر قانونی مبنی بر به اصطلاح حبس خانگی آنهاست. اینک یک سال از این عمل ضد انسانی میگذرد . در این مدت مقامات و نهادهای حاکم که دست شان از هر محمل قانونی خالی است، جز این دروغ که آنها خودشان خواهان مراقبت از خویش بودهاند و ما برای حفظ جان آنها چنین کرده ایم ، حرفی برای گفتن و منطقی برای ارائه به افکار عمومی داخلی و جهانی ندارند . آیا این که هر از گاهی دروغهای آشکاری از زبان بعضی افراد مسئول در داخل و خارج از کشور به گوش می رسد ، با حقایق در تعارض نیست؟
ما اعضای خانواده این عزیزان با صراحت و قطعیت می گوییم که آنها برخلاف خواست خود و برخلاف قانون یک سال است که در بازداشت به سر می برند و جز تعدادی تماس تلفنی و دیدار محدود ،کوتاه و کنترل شده حق هرگونه ارتباطی با بیرون از آنها سلب شده است . آنها از حقوق قانونی خود محروم مانده اند . تا کنون هیچ شخص مسئولی حتی همین اقدام غیر قانونی راهم بنا بر جایگاه حقوقی خود نپذیرفته است . آنها از نظارت نهادهای بی طرف بر خوراک و سلامتی و دارو بی بهره اند . و در مورد امنیت و کجایی مکان نگهداری آنان ابهامات زیادی وجود دارد و این نگرانیها روز به روز برای ما شدیدتر شده است .ا
اینک ما خانواده آقایان کروبی و موسوی و خانم رهنورد از طرف آنان اعلام می کنیم که ما و عزیزان مان به این زندان هرچه که باشد خانگی یا غیر خانگی ، معترضیم و خواهان پایان دادن به این اقدام ضد انسانی و ضد قانونی هستیم. مسببین اینگونه رفتارها به خوبی می دانند که با اقداماتی چنین، در اراده عزیزان ما در حق خواهی خویش و دفاع از آرمان هایی که میلیون ها هم وطن مان در خیابان ها ابراز کردند و خون خود را نثار نمودند و دهها شهید دادند و دچار حبس وشکنجه و انواع مسایل دیگر شدند و نیزهزاران زندانی که همچنان مقاوم و استوار در حبس اند؛ خللی ایجاد نخواهد کرد.ا
ما از حاکمانِ بر جان و مال و ناموس مردم می خواهیم از راه ضد ملی و ضد دینی و ضد انسانی که در سرکوب هر منتقد و مخالف خود در پیش گرفته اند و کشور را درلبه پرتگاه جنگ و ویرانی قرار داده اند به راه منطق وقانون و مصلحت مردم و میهن برگردند.ا
ما خانواده آقایان موسوی و کروبی، که برعهد خود با مردم در دفاع از حقوق شان وفادار واستوار مانده اند؛ اینک به خاطر حقوق از دست رفته آنها ، به عنوان نمادی از حقوق از دست رفته مردم ایران و مخصوصا شهدای مظلوم و زندانیان بی گناه ، از همه هموطنان مظلوم و رنج دیده و فداکار و از همه انسان های حق طلب و آزادی خواه و عدالت جوی، هم گام با هموطنان داخل کشور که خواهان تسلط مردمسالاری واقعیند ، در جای جای جهان میخواهیم پژواک صدای حق خواهی ما باشند . و صدای مارا به گوش جهانیان برسانند که: “زندانیان مظلوم و مقاوم ما وهمه زندانیان سیاسی و عقیدتی را در سراسر ایران آزاد کنید . کشور وملتی با اینهمه سرفرازی و بزرگی شایسته این حد رنج تنگناهای اقتصادی و سیاسی وخدایناکرده جنگ نیست .”ا
Friday, February 3, 2012
Protests Called for On 25 Bahman (14 February)
The Coordinating Council of the Green Path of Hope has called for protests in Iran to mark the anniversary of the 1979 Revolution. Hopefully the people will be able to get out and make their voices heard although the brutality of this regime makes that difficult. Here are the proposed routes which will be a silent protest march:
Time: 4 pm, 25th Bahman (February 14, 2012)
Tehran: between Ferdowsi Square, Navab junction and Azadi Square
Tabriz: Watch Square (Sa’at) to Abresan
Isfahan: Lower Chaharbagh Square to Revolution Square
Mashhad: Ahmadabad Street, between Dr Shariati Square (Taqi Abad) and Palestine Square
Shiraz: Mullah Sadra to Namazi Street
Kermanshah: Nobahar junction to Central Square
Urmia: Ostadan Street
Rasht: Motahari Street to Michael junction
Shahinshahr: Beheshti Avenue to Municipality Square
Ahwaz: Martyrs Square
Hamadan: near the Mausoleum of Bu Ali Sina
Amol: 17 Shahrivar Square
Lahijan: between Martyrs Square and Chahar Padishah Square
Abadan: Amiri Avenue
Anzali: Pasadaran Avenue
Yazd: Atlasi Square to Yazd University
Zanjan: Saadi Avenue
Kerman: all streets leading to Azadi Square
Ardebil: Shariati Square
Khorramabad: Shohada Street
Eslamshahr: Bagh Feyz Street
Boroujerd: from Razan Square to the end of Takhti Street
Borazjan: Hospital Square
Talesh: from Imam Khomeini Square to governorate
Ilam: from Imam Square to 22 Bahman Square
Gorgan: from Shalikubi Street to Vali-Asr Square (Kakh)
Tonekabon: between Imam Square and Martyr Shiroudi Square
Dezful: Shariati intersection to Ghazi intersection
Babol: Noshirvani University Avenue
Sanandaj: Azadi Square to governorate
Sabzevar: Kashefi Street
Qazvin: Khayyam Street from south to north
Birjand: Modarress Street
Bandar Abbas: Imam Khomeini Avenue
Arak: all streets leading to Bagh Melli Square
Qom: Eram and Saffayeh Streets in the vicinity of the homes of Grand Ayatollahs Sanei and late Montazeri
Khansar: Gas Station - Imam Khomeini Street - Imam Khomeini Square
Behshahr: Imam Khomeini Avenue towards Park Mellat
Shahroud: Sarcheshmeh to the waterfall
Bojnourd: 17 Shahrivar Square towards Martyr Square
Shahre Kord: Fassihi junction to Cinema junction
Yasuj: Saheli Park
Semnan: Saadi Square to Kowsar Square
Kashan: 15 Khordad Square
Sari: from Watch Square (Sa’at) to Municipality Square
Varamin: from Railroad Square to Varamin’s Central Square
Kazeroun: all streets leading to Kheyrat and Martyrs Square
Astara: Imam Khomeini Avenue
Time: 4 pm, 25th Bahman (February 14, 2012)
Tehran: between Ferdowsi Square, Navab junction and Azadi Square
Tabriz: Watch Square (Sa’at) to Abresan
Isfahan: Lower Chaharbagh Square to Revolution Square
Mashhad: Ahmadabad Street, between Dr Shariati Square (Taqi Abad) and Palestine Square
Shiraz: Mullah Sadra to Namazi Street
Kermanshah: Nobahar junction to Central Square
Urmia: Ostadan Street
Rasht: Motahari Street to Michael junction
Shahinshahr: Beheshti Avenue to Municipality Square
Ahwaz: Martyrs Square
Hamadan: near the Mausoleum of Bu Ali Sina
Amol: 17 Shahrivar Square
Lahijan: between Martyrs Square and Chahar Padishah Square
Abadan: Amiri Avenue
Anzali: Pasadaran Avenue
Yazd: Atlasi Square to Yazd University
Zanjan: Saadi Avenue
Kerman: all streets leading to Azadi Square
Ardebil: Shariati Square
Khorramabad: Shohada Street
Eslamshahr: Bagh Feyz Street
Boroujerd: from Razan Square to the end of Takhti Street
Borazjan: Hospital Square
Talesh: from Imam Khomeini Square to governorate
Ilam: from Imam Square to 22 Bahman Square
Gorgan: from Shalikubi Street to Vali-Asr Square (Kakh)
Tonekabon: between Imam Square and Martyr Shiroudi Square
Dezful: Shariati intersection to Ghazi intersection
Babol: Noshirvani University Avenue
Sanandaj: Azadi Square to governorate
Sabzevar: Kashefi Street
Qazvin: Khayyam Street from south to north
Birjand: Modarress Street
Bandar Abbas: Imam Khomeini Avenue
Arak: all streets leading to Bagh Melli Square
Qom: Eram and Saffayeh Streets in the vicinity of the homes of Grand Ayatollahs Sanei and late Montazeri
Khansar: Gas Station - Imam Khomeini Street - Imam Khomeini Square
Behshahr: Imam Khomeini Avenue towards Park Mellat
Shahroud: Sarcheshmeh to the waterfall
Bojnourd: 17 Shahrivar Square towards Martyr Square
Shahre Kord: Fassihi junction to Cinema junction
Yasuj: Saheli Park
Semnan: Saadi Square to Kowsar Square
Kashan: 15 Khordad Square
Sari: from Watch Square (Sa’at) to Municipality Square
Varamin: from Railroad Square to Varamin’s Central Square
Kazeroun: all streets leading to Kheyrat and Martyrs Square
Astara: Imam Khomeini Avenue
Monday, January 16, 2012
Hossein Alaei Denounces Regime's Behavior and Comes Under Attack
I am re-posting below the complete post from another blog that does an excellent job at explaining the significance of a recent article by Hossein Alaei. Although the regime is already attacking him, Alaei resonds that "I will continue to fight Tyranny".
On January 7, 1978, an article that was published in an Iranian daily sparked the Islamic revolution, three decades ago. The article scorned landowners who were trying to reverse the Shah's land reforms and mocked how in their desperation they had tried to get the clergy on their side but only one suspicious Indian born cleric had taken up their cause. The article explicitly named Seyyed Rouhallah Khomeini aka 'Indian Seyyed' as the backward reactionary cleric from the dark ages who, fifteen years earlier, had unsuccessfully tried to oppose the land reforms and women having the right to vote.
Two days later, Khomeini's supporters and seminary students in Qom marched through the streets of Qom and demanded other Grand Ayatollahs to condemn the article and issue a fatwa to kill the author. The Shah deployed his troops and it is said that six of the protesters were killed. I remember clearly reading about the crackdown in the newspapers, which included a picture it claimed was of seminary student protesters covering their faces and chanting with their raised fists. These protests continued and escalated and in less than a year, the likes of those seminary students I saw in the picture printed in the newspaper, had taken over the power in Iran and our lives changed forever.
On 9th January, 2012, Thirty Two years after the Qom riots that sparked the Islamic revolution in Iran, Naval Commander Hossein Alaei, wrote an article to commemorate the Qom uprising. Former Naval Commander Alaei is the founder of the IRGC Navy forces in 1985 and a prominent war time commander. Apart from the head of the Navy, he has also been the head of Combined Armed Forces, head of the Aeronautical Industries and is a member of the Imam Hossein university scientific committee, where Islamic Republic officers are trained.
Alaei's article to commemorate the Qom uprising was on the surface addressing the Shah, but Iranians are too familiar with these similar improvisation tools that Iran's poets have used over centuries to speak the unspeakable. It was clear that Commander Alaei was not just addressing the Shah and was referring to the present situation in Iran.
Alaei finishes his article with this Koranic verse : "فاعتبروا يا اولي الابصار"
So learn the lessons, you men of vision"
See the translation of the main parts of the article at the bottom of this post.
It took one day for the Commander to fall from hero to zero and the hardline papers and newspapers started their campaign to vilify the former war hero.
Baseer (Insight) site called him a despondent element who had cut his former ties and relied on his track record at the front, during the war, to act as his shield.
Raja News also berated him and compared him to the author of the article in 1978 that set off the Qom riots.
Fars, also accused Alaei for drawing parallels between then and now and said Alaei and his hypothetical questions from the deposed Shah is an attempt to compare the crackdown then with that of the recent 'sedition'.
Some of the other news sites which had copied the original article quickly removed the article.
But it is never enough to just write against a person who dares to criticise the Supreme Leader, physical threats usually continue next, and true to form, hardline newspapers are reporting hundreds of "mourners" marking the 40th day after the anniversary of Imam Hussein's martyrdom, have gathered outside Commander Alaei's house, chanting slogans against him.
"Commander Wake up!", "Commander Alaei, You Have Failed", "Alaei, Shame on You, Shame on You".
Translation of Alaei's article in commemoration of the Qom uprising:
“9 January 1978 is the beginning of a popular and pervasive uprising which, in about a year, was able to expel the Shah from the country and bring an end to 2,500 years of monarchy in Iran,” Alaei writes. “But this incident was ignited very easily, and the regime itself provided the pretence.
“The wrongful behaviour of the Shah’s security forces had amplified the people’s dissatisfaction with the monarchy and helped maintain it,” the former commander continued. “As the number of people killed on the streets, imprisonments and political prisoners rose, the Shah’s regime essentially lost its valour too.”
“Up until that point, the people would not address the Shah directly in their protests and would [instead] try to voice their criticism regarding the lack of freedom of speech, the lack of political freedoms and the maltreatment exercised by state agents such as the Imperial Guard. But a continuation of the state’s violent conduct and a harsh clampdown on protests caused the people to direct their opposition against the Shah himself and to demand a fundamental change in the ruling system.”
“The writing of letters to the Shah was [soon] under way and he was rightfully pronounced as the person behind all the country’s upheavals.”
In his piece, Alaei argues that the 1979 Islamic Revolution was aimed at preventing another “lifelong rule” and allowing Iranian “to determine their own destiny through free elections.”
Alaei then raises a number of questions he says the Shah “probably” pondered after being forced into exile, questions that might serve as an “important lesson for others.
“Would the situation have not ended in a better way, had I shown restraint at the funeral of Imam Khomeini’s son and refrained from provoking the population with an offensive article written by my information Minister under an alias? If, after the publication of the article in a state-owned newspaper, I had allowed for it to be responded to, wouldn’t my rule have lasted longer? If I had allowed for the people to hold peaceful protests … wouldn’t the affair have ended there? Wouldn’t I have obtained better results, had I not ordered agents to shoot at protesters … ?”
In an apparent reference to the illegal house arrest of opposition leaders Mir Hossein Mousavi and Mahdi Karroubi, Alaei writes that the Shah probably asked himself, “If instead of placing prominent [political leaders] under house arrest and exiling them to remote cities and imprisoning political activists I had paved the way for a dialogue, would I have been forced to flee the country?”
Here is the full explanation:
On January 7, 1978, an article that was published in an Iranian daily sparked the Islamic revolution, three decades ago. The article scorned landowners who were trying to reverse the Shah's land reforms and mocked how in their desperation they had tried to get the clergy on their side but only one suspicious Indian born cleric had taken up their cause. The article explicitly named Seyyed Rouhallah Khomeini aka 'Indian Seyyed' as the backward reactionary cleric from the dark ages who, fifteen years earlier, had unsuccessfully tried to oppose the land reforms and women having the right to vote.
Two days later, Khomeini's supporters and seminary students in Qom marched through the streets of Qom and demanded other Grand Ayatollahs to condemn the article and issue a fatwa to kill the author. The Shah deployed his troops and it is said that six of the protesters were killed. I remember clearly reading about the crackdown in the newspapers, which included a picture it claimed was of seminary student protesters covering their faces and chanting with their raised fists. These protests continued and escalated and in less than a year, the likes of those seminary students I saw in the picture printed in the newspaper, had taken over the power in Iran and our lives changed forever.
On 9th January, 2012, Thirty Two years after the Qom riots that sparked the Islamic revolution in Iran, Naval Commander Hossein Alaei, wrote an article to commemorate the Qom uprising. Former Naval Commander Alaei is the founder of the IRGC Navy forces in 1985 and a prominent war time commander. Apart from the head of the Navy, he has also been the head of Combined Armed Forces, head of the Aeronautical Industries and is a member of the Imam Hossein university scientific committee, where Islamic Republic officers are trained.
Alaei's article to commemorate the Qom uprising was on the surface addressing the Shah, but Iranians are too familiar with these similar improvisation tools that Iran's poets have used over centuries to speak the unspeakable. It was clear that Commander Alaei was not just addressing the Shah and was referring to the present situation in Iran.
Alaei finishes his article with this Koranic verse : "فاعتبروا يا اولي الابصار"
So learn the lessons, you men of vision"
See the translation of the main parts of the article at the bottom of this post.
It took one day for the Commander to fall from hero to zero and the hardline papers and newspapers started their campaign to vilify the former war hero.
Baseer (Insight) site called him a despondent element who had cut his former ties and relied on his track record at the front, during the war, to act as his shield.
Raja News also berated him and compared him to the author of the article in 1978 that set off the Qom riots.
Fars, also accused Alaei for drawing parallels between then and now and said Alaei and his hypothetical questions from the deposed Shah is an attempt to compare the crackdown then with that of the recent 'sedition'.
Some of the other news sites which had copied the original article quickly removed the article.
But it is never enough to just write against a person who dares to criticise the Supreme Leader, physical threats usually continue next, and true to form, hardline newspapers are reporting hundreds of "mourners" marking the 40th day after the anniversary of Imam Hussein's martyrdom, have gathered outside Commander Alaei's house, chanting slogans against him.
"Commander Wake up!", "Commander Alaei, You Have Failed", "Alaei, Shame on You, Shame on You".
Translation of Alaei's article in commemoration of the Qom uprising:
“9 January 1978 is the beginning of a popular and pervasive uprising which, in about a year, was able to expel the Shah from the country and bring an end to 2,500 years of monarchy in Iran,” Alaei writes. “But this incident was ignited very easily, and the regime itself provided the pretence.
“The wrongful behaviour of the Shah’s security forces had amplified the people’s dissatisfaction with the monarchy and helped maintain it,” the former commander continued. “As the number of people killed on the streets, imprisonments and political prisoners rose, the Shah’s regime essentially lost its valour too.”
“Up until that point, the people would not address the Shah directly in their protests and would [instead] try to voice their criticism regarding the lack of freedom of speech, the lack of political freedoms and the maltreatment exercised by state agents such as the Imperial Guard. But a continuation of the state’s violent conduct and a harsh clampdown on protests caused the people to direct their opposition against the Shah himself and to demand a fundamental change in the ruling system.”
“The writing of letters to the Shah was [soon] under way and he was rightfully pronounced as the person behind all the country’s upheavals.”
In his piece, Alaei argues that the 1979 Islamic Revolution was aimed at preventing another “lifelong rule” and allowing Iranian “to determine their own destiny through free elections.”
Alaei then raises a number of questions he says the Shah “probably” pondered after being forced into exile, questions that might serve as an “important lesson for others.
“Would the situation have not ended in a better way, had I shown restraint at the funeral of Imam Khomeini’s son and refrained from provoking the population with an offensive article written by my information Minister under an alias? If, after the publication of the article in a state-owned newspaper, I had allowed for it to be responded to, wouldn’t my rule have lasted longer? If I had allowed for the people to hold peaceful protests … wouldn’t the affair have ended there? Wouldn’t I have obtained better results, had I not ordered agents to shoot at protesters … ?”
In an apparent reference to the illegal house arrest of opposition leaders Mir Hossein Mousavi and Mahdi Karroubi, Alaei writes that the Shah probably asked himself, “If instead of placing prominent [political leaders] under house arrest and exiling them to remote cities and imprisoning political activists I had paved the way for a dialogue, would I have been forced to flee the country?”
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
Rafsanjani's Daugther Sentenced to Prison
The daughter of a former President of the Isalmic Republic of Iran is sentenced to 6 months in prison for speaking her mind. Of course this is not a suprise as a former Prime Minister and Speaker of the Majlis have been under house arrest for nearly a year. The regime has slowly turned against those who supported the revolution that created and are trying to change it for the better.
Faezeh Rafsanjani will likely be treated better than the thousands of other political prisoners in Iran who face torture and inhumane conditions. At the same time, it is sad any time that an Iranian citizen has to go to jail merely for practicing rights that are enshrined in the Iranian Constitution.
Hopefully this sends a message to those who still support the regime that you and your loved ones could be the next one targeted. The only way to live free from the dangers of tyranny is to destroy tyranny. In this new year, let us start again our efforts.
Here is the full story:
The daughter of influential former Iranian president Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani was on Tuesday sentenced to jail and banned from political activities for "anti state propaganda" dating back to the 2009 disputed presidential election, Iranian media reported.
The Islamic state has piled pressure on the opposition ahead of a parliamentary election in March 2, the first test of the clerical establishment's popularity since the 2009 vote that critics say was rigged to re-elect Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
Rafsanjani, who heads a powerful body that resolves disputes between parliament and a hardline clerical body, sided with the pro-reformers after that vote, which brought tens of thousands of people onto the streets during eight months of protests.
Daughter Faezeh Hashemi Rafsanjani went on trial last month on charges of "campaigning against the Islamic establishment," student news agency ISNA said.
She was arrested and briefly detained after addressing supporters of candidate Mirhossein Mousavi when they gathered near the state television building in Tehran in defiance of a ban on opposition protests in the aftermath of the election.
"My client has been sentenced to six months in jail and banned from engaging in any cultural and political activities for five years," ISNA quoted her lawyer Gholam-Ali Riyahi as saying. She has 20 days to appeal.
Thousands of people, including senior members of the reformist bloc, were detained after the vote for fomenting unrest. Most of them have since been released, but more than 80 people have been jailed for up to 15 years and five have been sentenced to death.
Iranian media reported on Friday that Iran had blocked the former president's website for carrying pro-reform statements.
Mousavi, a former prime minister, and Mehdi Karoubi, a cleric and a former parliament speaker who led the opposition, have been under house arrest since February and denied any contact with the outside world.
Iranian authorities said the 2009 vote was healthiest in three decades and accused the United States and Israel of backing the opposition to overthrow the clerical establishment.
The election and its aftermath plunged Iran into its biggest internal crisis since the 1979 Islamic revolution and has created a deepening rift among the hardline rulers.
The registration of hopefuls for March's election ended on Friday with more than 4,500 candidates registered.
Ahmadinejad's allies will want to secure a majority in the assembly to bolster his chances of winning a presidential vote in 2013.
Leading reformist politicians said pro-reform political parties have decided not to provide a separate list of candidates because the basic needs of a "free and fair" vote have not been fulfilled.
Authorities are concerned that a low turnout will further harm the establishment's legitimacy.
Frustration is simmering among lower- and middle-class Iranians over Ahmadinejad's economic policies. Prices of most consumer goods have risen substantially and many people struggle to make ends meet.
Faezeh Rafsanjani will likely be treated better than the thousands of other political prisoners in Iran who face torture and inhumane conditions. At the same time, it is sad any time that an Iranian citizen has to go to jail merely for practicing rights that are enshrined in the Iranian Constitution.
Hopefully this sends a message to those who still support the regime that you and your loved ones could be the next one targeted. The only way to live free from the dangers of tyranny is to destroy tyranny. In this new year, let us start again our efforts.
Here is the full story:
The daughter of influential former Iranian president Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani was on Tuesday sentenced to jail and banned from political activities for "anti state propaganda" dating back to the 2009 disputed presidential election, Iranian media reported.
The Islamic state has piled pressure on the opposition ahead of a parliamentary election in March 2, the first test of the clerical establishment's popularity since the 2009 vote that critics say was rigged to re-elect Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
Rafsanjani, who heads a powerful body that resolves disputes between parliament and a hardline clerical body, sided with the pro-reformers after that vote, which brought tens of thousands of people onto the streets during eight months of protests.
Daughter Faezeh Hashemi Rafsanjani went on trial last month on charges of "campaigning against the Islamic establishment," student news agency ISNA said.
She was arrested and briefly detained after addressing supporters of candidate Mirhossein Mousavi when they gathered near the state television building in Tehran in defiance of a ban on opposition protests in the aftermath of the election.
"My client has been sentenced to six months in jail and banned from engaging in any cultural and political activities for five years," ISNA quoted her lawyer Gholam-Ali Riyahi as saying. She has 20 days to appeal.
Thousands of people, including senior members of the reformist bloc, were detained after the vote for fomenting unrest. Most of them have since been released, but more than 80 people have been jailed for up to 15 years and five have been sentenced to death.
Iranian media reported on Friday that Iran had blocked the former president's website for carrying pro-reform statements.
Mousavi, a former prime minister, and Mehdi Karoubi, a cleric and a former parliament speaker who led the opposition, have been under house arrest since February and denied any contact with the outside world.
Iranian authorities said the 2009 vote was healthiest in three decades and accused the United States and Israel of backing the opposition to overthrow the clerical establishment.
The election and its aftermath plunged Iran into its biggest internal crisis since the 1979 Islamic revolution and has created a deepening rift among the hardline rulers.
The registration of hopefuls for March's election ended on Friday with more than 4,500 candidates registered.
Ahmadinejad's allies will want to secure a majority in the assembly to bolster his chances of winning a presidential vote in 2013.
Leading reformist politicians said pro-reform political parties have decided not to provide a separate list of candidates because the basic needs of a "free and fair" vote have not been fulfilled.
Authorities are concerned that a low turnout will further harm the establishment's legitimacy.
Frustration is simmering among lower- and middle-class Iranians over Ahmadinejad's economic policies. Prices of most consumer goods have risen substantially and many people struggle to make ends meet.
Heshmatollah Tabarzadi Message From Prison
Political prisoner Heshmatollah Tabarzadi sends a message from prison.
2012 Preview: The Ailing Economy and More
As the discontent from this financial crisis starts to rise, it will be interesting to see if people will start to protest and other will start abandoning the regime because they are no longer receive financial support. The upcoming Majlis elections in the beginning of March should provide an opportunity for people to express their frustration with the regime especially since it will be rigged. This might be an interesting time to see if people once again take to the streets to protest the regime. Also all this is happening in the context of Iran's closet ally in the region going towards civil war and the possible collapse of the Assad regime.
The regime has responded to all this by first pretending nothing is wrong and then blaming outside powers for the country's problems. In the latest effort to deflect attention to their own failings, the regime has threatened to close the Straight of Hormuz while conducting military exercises and describing further progress of their nuclear program. Of course, all of this is spending precious money that could have actually been used to help people deal with the collapsing economy.
As the internal economy continues to do poorly, relations with other nations continue to go downhill raising the prospect of war. The regime likely would want a war so that people will rally around the flag and crack down harshly on any dissent that does rise up. Moreover, a limited war that would cause a naval and air war, but the lack of ground troops would not threaten the regime's hold on the country. This would raise oil prices giving the regime more money and causing people to lose track of the economic problems.
Hopefully the Obama administration will be too smart to be dragged into a war that the regime wants. The increasing economic problems will cause the power of the regime to collapse and allow the opposition to once again take to the streets to push for change. The upcoming Majlis elections and a possible collapse of the Syrian regime might also give the people of Iran more motivation to start fighting the regime. All this means that 2012 might once again be a year in which the Iranian people will rise up against the regime that is destroying their country. Stay tuned for an interesting year.
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