News Update - September30, 2009

Please visit Moongirl's blog for ways to help the victims of the flooding in the Philippines!

Newslinks

Iran's delegation to Geneva & much more news below

Iran's Foreign Minister travels to Washington

IAEA: Iran broke law by not revealing nuclear facility

Reformist Saeed Hajarian has been released on bail (Farsi)

Netanyahu urges UN action on Iran

World powers turn up heat on Iran

Iran: Talks with 6 nations will test their respect

Talking With Iran: Chances for a Breakthrough Are Low

Videos

News Update - September 29, 2009

Before moving on to news of Iran, I'd like to take this chance to mention, that because of the devastating floods in the Philippines, many are in need of help. If you'd like to help the victims, please visit Moongirl's blog for ways to help.

Newslinks

The only viable way to confront Ahmadinejad is to support the opposition
This was very interesting to read. I do agree with one of the paragraphs claiming that Ahmadinejad went to New York to pick a fight. The recent behavior of the regime is a huge give away of what they're intentions are. During the past few days of looking through Iranian news, I'm starting to wonder if Ahmadinejad intends to move Iran up the "hierarchy" of countries, and if he's using force as a way to gain more attention to the country?

Tehran University students told to behave & much more news

What Is Iran Afraid Of?

Iran will allow Swiss access to detained Americans
FINALLY! But as glad as I am that there will at last be contact with the hikers, I have feeling they will be carefully instructed to never mention anything about torture or harsh interrogations - if they've gone through any - as well as what to tell they person they will be speaking to.I really hope they will be able to come home very soon though...no one should ever have to go through that.

IRGC commander, Saeed Ghasemi, and other guards to replace secular professors in universities (Farsi)

Rafsanjani picks Mohammad Hashemi as office chairman

Iran insists on 'nuclear rights'

We Oppose International Sanctions against Iran

Defense Secretary Robert Gates says severe sanctions on Iran could work

Assembly of Experts Should Have Examined Leader’s Record

Ahmadinejad Afraid to Join Students

Majority of Assembly of Experts Members are Palace Clerics

Video on Internet Shows Neda’s Executioner
So it looks like this man really is Neda's killer after all. I hope he will face justice for this.

Iran built nuclear site shielded from air attack

Iran: Qom nuclear plant was "to save money"

Photos

Karroubi visiting Tajernia's family while he's in prison

Photos of the Gold Bazaar in Tehran after the fire

From Tweets
I will hold back the usernames of those who made these tweets, for their safety. Some of these were directly copypasted, others I reworded.

There was a minor protest today around Hahefz St. in Tehran.

A group of 100 near Karimkhan bridge moving to Vali-Asr chanting: "Ya Hussein Mir Hussein."

More sec forces in Tehran’s main Sqaure as usual. Ta Ahmadi Nejade Harooz Hamin Basate

Seats were emptied as Javad Larijani spoke at the Phisosophy conference today.

The gentlemen of the regime were shocked and angered by Tehran University rally yesterday.

Momeni's wife, Fatemeh Adinevand, gave an interview to Internet news sites.

National alumni assoc. spokesman Abdollah Momeni's confession was broadcast last night.

Masoud Bastani is kept in the same cell as Abdollah Momeni, Shahb-e-din Tabatabaie, Hedayatollah Aghaie and Reza Nourbakhsh.

Argentina has linked 5 senior Iranian officials to 1994 Buenos Aires bombing.

Student protest in Sharif Unversity of Tech. At least 2000 students chanting outside the UNI library in Azadi st.

Videos

News Update - September 28, 2009

Sorry, Ahmadinejad. But your attempts at distracting the world with your despicable comments about the Holocaust and the nuclear missles are not working. We are still paying attention to the Green Movement. Your people are still fighting, and we are still supporting them.

Newslinks

Me and My Basij Friend

Karroubi takes Rafsanjani to task for weak stance on issues

Mother grieves jailed journalist

Adbolah Momeni's wife: He has no hope of freedom (Farsi)

Iran Mania

Iran's Mousavi opposes sanctions against Tehran

Demonstrations at Tehran Univeristy

Videos of the Demonstrations at Tehran University

Ahmadinejad should watch his back

US Officials: how we discovered Iran's secret nuclear site

Central Council holds meeting
Summary by anonymous: "The Central Council meetng of the Assembly of the Combatant Clergymen (reformist) was held with Seyyed Mohammad Khatami chairing the session. In this meeting besides reviewing and analysing the recent events of the country, the Assembly particularly...:
1-Expressed deep sorrow regarding the inappropriate and questionable behaviour of some members of the Assembly of Experts with Ayatollah Dastgheyb and stressed that the fact that even members of the Assembly of Experts are not immune to express their thoughts and opinions is a great danger for the country and in violation of the freedom of speech and the principles of democracy.
2-Condemned the continuation of keeping the detained reformist figures in solitary confinement and under harsh conditions despite the fact that their interrogations is over and they should be release on bail until their court session and asked Ayatollah Larijani, the new head of the judiciary, to stop these illegal and unethical behaviours of the authorities and act according to his promise of reform in the judiciary system.
3-Thanked the honourable people of Iran for their strong and wise presence on Qods day."

From Tweets
According to one of my sources on Twitter, the dorms at Tehran University (if incorrect, by all means, please correct me!)) have been attacked after demonstrations took place.

Cellphones within the university's vicinity stopped working, as students began their protests.

Karroubi has written a second letter to Rafsanjani, demanding him to to review Khamenei's actions.

Videos

News Update - September 27, 2009

Because it is a very dangerous time in Iran for anyone sending out information on what's happening, to the rest of the world I will not share their names for their safety - that includes those outside Iran. I encourage everyone who also have green blogs of their own to do the same.

On an interesting note: I find it, well...interesting, that Ahmadinejad is asking for video or pictures of the man who murdered Neda, and then this video shows up. If this is the correct person, I hope it will wipe that smug grin off the illegitimate president's face. I won't be surprised at all if Ahmadinejad starts trying to cover that up as well.

Newslinks

Iranian Nuclear Physicist Missing

Iran fires rockets in show of force

Iran's Global Foray Has Mixed Results

Iran's Rev. Guard buys stake in Iran telecom

Breaking the Bond Between Mosque and State

Biggest trade of Iran's stock market history (Farsi)
Summary of article by anonymous: "In the biggest trade of Iran’s Stock Market history, Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) has bought 51% of Iran’s Telecommunication Company, with the value of eight billion dollars, in only half an hour !!! This gives an insight into this organisation’s unli...mited resources and power. This takes over raises the military, economical and political monopoly of the Revolutionary Guards, who were basically the coup forces that brought Ahmadinejad to power, to new levels...."

Etemaad newspaper interviews Mohammad Reza Khatami (Farsi)
Summary by anonymous: "Mohammad Reza Khatami, former MP and senior member of the Participation Front (reformist), in an interview with Etemaad newspaper said that despite all the pressure, intolerance such and all the arrests, Participation Front will continue its operatio...n and there was not even a single member that had left the party due to all these pressure. He added that they are continuing their efforts in all fronts despite the high security and military environment of the country and that the Participation Front as an active political party is alive and dynamic and God willing will continue its work in future. He also stressed that they do not recognise the legitimacy of the tenth administration (Ahamdinejad’s coup administration) and he does not have a slightest doubt that even if Mousavi would announce today that he had made a mistake and there were no fraud in election, people would denounce him and would not accept this; and the one thing that makes everyone believe that they have chosen the right path is that people have approved and supported this path."

Ahmadinejad orders government to pay news agency money to spread lies (Farsi)
Summary by anonymous: "According to RouydadNews, recently a source in the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance has reported that Ahmadinejad ordered the government to deposit a large amount of money to the personal account of the manager of a certain news agency (coup ...propaganda) as financial help for the agency ! The same source explained that the reason for such acts is to fund certain news agencies to extensively spread lies, rumours and biased news in the society and apparently Ahmadinejad has formed a five-member committee (consistent of a manager of a news agency, a TV anchor, a manger of a news website, a cyber expert and a security-judiciary official), which operates directly under his watch for the very same purpose. He added that for instance this committee had two major projects in process; one of them was to spread false news regarding one of the victims of the recent events and the second one was to spread false accusations regarding Mohammad Khatami’s meeting with George Soros."

Photos
Those who had a cooperating hand in the deaths of so many, were in New York during Ahmadinejad's visit.





















Videos

News Update - September 26, 2009

Interestingly, recent video has popped up about possibly finding Neda's killer. According to one blog, the man has been identified as a Basiji. Now, I really want to be glad there's a chance they've found the killer, but I think we oughtta be a little more cautious. I learned that from the video of the man being slapped for protesting about his dead son's funeral (even if the man's son was a Basiji, I still feel sorry for him and that didn't deserve to be physically assaulted in his moments of grief). The man walking away may have been a Basiji, but is he the one that actually pulled the trigger? We have to becareful over who we end up prosecuting and accusing. We are all hungry for justice, but we will be very unjust ourselves if we accuse the wrong man of murder, even if he is a Basiji. Until there is undeniable evidence that this man is Neda's killer we shouldn't get too excited just yet. Let's wait and see if any further evidence comes up.

Newslinks

My dinner with Ahmadinejad

Iranian Protester Flees Country After Telling of Rape and Torture in Prison
That poor man...I can't even begin to imagine the pain he must be going through. I hope that those who've been through this pain will heal.

Ethicist blasts Ahmadinejad on IRIB

Political Activities of the Guards are on Orders from Top

Disclosure of secret nuclear plant further divides Iran's hard-liners, opposition

Turkey PM to visit Iran, urges caution on sanctions

Videos

News Update - September 25, 2009

Before you move on to read the news links, as someone who tries to keep up with the current even in Iran as closely as possible, I'm starting to get a little concerned there is gradually less and less coverage of the Green Movement. At least from many of the main news sites, I see them focus more on the nuclear and Holocaust denial situations. I know they are very important matters, but it seems like the media is starting to lose interest and shifting their focus elsewhere. It might just be me, but that's how I'm beginning to feel as I search through news sites and Twitter. I wonder if anyone else feels the same? I am also starting to believe that Ahmadinejad's comments about the Holocaust, and the recently revealed nuclear facility were just to draw attention away from the atrocities committed on protesters. Sadly, that strategy is working, it seems.

However, I am glad to see there's still several people dedicated to reporting on the Green Movement. And I can't wait until the Green Brief is officially back. There was a post from NiteOwl on Twitter, so that's a little bit of hope it'll be back soon. I think it's going to feel a little weird for me, not spending a few hours a day looking through each and every article or video. I know I'm nowhere near as good as NiteOwl is, but I hope I'm at least a little bit of help in passing news around until the GB is back.

News links

Students guided on appropriate questions to pose to Ahmadinejad

Hard to Keep a Good Thing Down

Is Ahmadinejad Successfully Distracting the Western Media?

Political cartoon about Ahmadinejad's speech

Iran's 'secret' nuclear plant: an instant reaction

Ahmadinejad Says Obama Should Back Off

Supreme Leader’s Performance “Proven”

IRAN: Protesters at the United Nations denounce Ahmadinejad

Iran Lawmakers Close Ranks, Endorse Ahmadinejad Cabinet

Tweets

IranNewsNow - 1. Mohsen Rezai, ex-IRGC head, said on live state TV that KGB helped IRGC since 1979.

Video


Transcript of the video

News Update - September 24, 2009

I really look forward to seeing the next mass protest. I love watching people come together and supporting those who are struggling. People from all walks of life just becoming this big, green community. We all want to see the Iranian people gain their freedom - which is the right of every man, woman, and child on this planet. No one, not presidents, prime ministers, and so on have no right to oppress anyone. They were placed in their position to lead their countries, not crush its people. And I think world leaders should learn a thing or two about Iran, and make them realize that the iron fist is not the answer, but the benevolent hand to reaching out to its people to love them and protect them. That is what each and world leader should do.

‘Frontline’ to Work With Upstart Site Focused on Iran

Iranians Blanket Brooklyn Bridge in Green

Iranian filmmakers hit out at Ahmadinejad

Crimes against humanity in Iran campaign (for English, scroll down to the bottom)

7 Ways to Support Iranian Democracy

Ahmadinejad offers to buy US uranium
...I can't believe he goes on to say owning nuclear weapons is immoral...does this man even listen to himself anymore?!

Videos of the protests at the hotel Ahmadinejad was staying at

Picture of Khamenei, Ahmadinejad, and Rafsanjani - this one made me laugh

Source : On the Truce (between Rafsanjani, Khamenei and company)

Iran leader sees Western plot, but no armed conflict

Ahmadinejad: Iran 'Opportunity' for Obama

Tech-savvy Iranian youth take aim at Ahmadinejad
I'd like to point out a slight mistake in the article: the article says Neda was a sixteen year old girl, however she was actually in her late twenties.

According to a tweet from Iran News Now, Ahmadinejad has no international support and no credible internal support.








This that guy really flip off Ahmadi? If so...this made my day, hands down.

News Update - September 23, 2009

Well, I hope today Ahmadinejad will receive some sort of message regarding his own actions. And even if he doesn't, I hope the Greens within Iran will know that the world is still supporting them. From what I've been reading from a couple of tweets so far, it looks like the walkout was a success, and there was so much irony to Ahmadinejad's speech. I am not at all surprised he would spew out so many lies, I'm just surprised at the fact that he thinks he can even try. According to some of the people I'm following on Twitter, seems Ahmadinejad feels sorry for other countries, and condemning their human rights issues...and yet not looking at his own actions. Somebody should hold a mirror in front of him next time he makes a speech like that. I hope at some point the NY crowd shouted "Allah o akbar"...especially because there's absolutely nothing Ahmadinejad can do to anyone outside Iran. I wonder how he's been dealing with protests and knowing there's nothing he can do about it? :)

With the NY protest being a success, there is also some good news within Iran: according to sources, Shiva Nazarahari has been released on bail. Let's hope many more will be released.

Ahmadinejad predicts his own demise

Rafsanjani warns of "secret current" (Farsi)

Picture of crowd marching in today's NY protest

More pictures

Here too

And here

Bird's eye view of crowd

We can't decide Iran's struggle. But we can avoid backing the wrong side

Iran hits out at Western 'terror'

Russia: No nuclear arms for Iran

Ahmadinejad at U.N.: Iran ready to work with other nations

Protesters decry Ahmadinejad, Gadhafi at U.N.

Hiker's family finds hope in Ahmadinejad remarks

One Ahmadinejad; Thousands of Nedas

Plane crash mars Iran military parade
How many plane crashes has it been in the past three months? This is getting very eerie...

Not Afraid of Accusatory Websites

Trials and Broadcasts of Forced Confessions Will Continue

Universities Will Not be Silent

News Update - September 22, 2009

Just a matter of hours now until the big event in NY! Please be sure to drop by at united4iran.org for more information!

Iran Calls YouTube Weapon of ‘Psychological War’

Iran president raises case of prisoners in France

Germany wants U.N. walkout if Amadinejad denies Holocaust

Truck with billboard against Ahmadinejad

On Rafsanjani

Iran leader warns against attack

Families ask Iranian leader to bring detained hikers home

Students in Iran face purge over protest fears






This one is so sad...I hope the prisoners will be set free.

News Update - September 21, 2009

Another big day for the Sea of Green is just right around the corner! International Greens can now stand together and face one of the two men behind the atrocities. He will be in New York at the UN Assembly. For more information, please visit: united4iran.org . I wish I could stand there with everyone and shout "Allah o akbar" to his face. But at least he will know that even as far as America, he could not stop his people from letting the world know of his crimes. He only pretends everything is under control, he pretends to be blissfully unaware. But deep down, he knows he is surrounded by green flames. I just wish there was a way to make him realize so much more.

On a slightly related note, I was crawling into iMeem and I find advertisement for a contest Nokia is holding there. I explore their profile and see no comments encouraging a boycott for their support of the regime, so I tried to add my own. After pressing "send", I am taken to a screen that says "submitted for approval". Meaning they are screening all of the comments...and quite possibly also filtering out the comments that encourage a boycott. Hm, I thought I found it rather strange that there were no comments about Iran. They don't want other people to know they were involved in contributing to a regime that arrests, tortures, rapes, and kills anyone who opposes them; so I think they're screening comments. Oh, darn, I was hoping to start a mess at their iMeem profile page.

Strike4Iran - (in Farsi, but for English, scroll further down)

Non-Muslims inside shrines and Muslims left outside

Delegates at the UN: Just WALK OUT on Ahmadinejad

Muslims around the world end fast, usher in Eid

Iran Activists Claim Omen in Green Icon

State against All Grand Ayatollahs

Hospitals not to Disclose Medical Records of Victims
They can't be serious...not even the victims have a right to find out about their own health status??

Self-confessions Too Have No Validity

Iran's Ahmadinejad proud of Holocaust denial













Even children are in the fight for freedom. Well, that little girl is the future of Iran, after all.

Well that is all for today. Iran is just another day closer to freedom. The tyrants are only delaying the inevitable.

News Update - September 20, 2009

A little late, I know. However, the good news is the Green Brief will be back soon! NiteOwl has been posting on Twitter. There's been a slight delay, but he will be back for sure!

Petition to nominate Karroubi for a Nobel Peace prize

Victim’s father: Many will testify if judiciary grants protection - and Karroubi summoned to court (scroll down in link)

Insider opinion: back to square one

Iran's Ayatollah Khamenei says opposition protests failed

Protests in Germany

Iran Security, Protesters Clash

Government Media Enraged by Green Wave

People with Surnames Similar to Ours in Trouble

Families bear brunt of prisoners' plight in Iran

News Update - September 19, 2009

It makes me glad to see the Green movement is still going strong. Three months of pain and suffering, but the green flames are still burning strong. Ahmadinejad and Khamenei's time is running out, and I know they will have to face judgment for their crimes against so many people. There isn't one day that I don't think the inspiration they are. And I know they will have their freedom. And as long as they continue to bravely fight the tyrants, I will continue to support them. I know many of us outside Iran will.

So today, I bring another collection of news updates. According to NiteOwl's Twitter, he's recovered and ready to be back in action. Be sure to stop by the Green Brief once it's been posted, and give him a huge thank you and welcome back! I don't have much on the news links today. The news sites don't update as often as I hoped.

D-Day for Greens

Iranian Regime Faces Worst Enemy Yet: Itself

Rival Rallies Turn Violent in Tehran

News Update - September 18, 2009

Fortunately, NiteOwl is back and ready for action! I'm just gonna post a few links from one of the regime's biggest, and most formidable foe: Twitter! But before I go on, allow me to remind all of you about the upcoming rally in New York on September 23, 2009. Other major cities are participation as well. For more information please visit United4Iran.

Now, on to the news!

Information from Tehran Bureau's Twitter:

Eighty videos from today.

Pictures

Eyewitnesses in Tehran believe Greens outnumbered govt-sponsored protesters except at Tehran University.

Qods Day Video Special: The Black-and-White Soccer Game

Politicians out for Quds day

Video

Gathering of News Links

CNN

Father of Dead Detainee is Satisfied

Wallstreet Journal

Iran Diaspora Joins to Protest Ahmadinejad

Roozonline

Government Preventing People’s Protest Demonstration

Leader’s Rep at Passdaran: Arrest Will Bring Popularity

Interview With Ayatollah Hossein Mousavi Tabrizi

Wow...the regime just keeps hitting new lows every day...

Gravestones Read: Death to the Dictator

Time

As Students Return, Iran's Regime Braces for More Protests

Video

The Slap Heard Around the World - Linking to Another Blog

I just happened to see this in some of the blogs I'm following. It is regarding the video of a man being slapped, the one I've also posted recently. It seems the situation is different from what many of us thought it was:

The slap heard around the cyberworld: fact and fiction around a viral video

Now here's a lesson to be learned...we need to be more careful at exactly what we're being shown. Some videos may be very obvious, but with others we can only be left guessing. Though one thing I can be sure of is: I really wish the people who post these kinds of videos would provide information as to what's going on.

Another thing I wanted to address is that since the Green Brief has gone missing again, I'll be posting news links like I did last time. Last word I saw from NiteOwl was he was feeling sick, so I hope he's gotten better since he last posted. It must be very hard to do what does, and it will take a toll on someone emotionally and physically, especially in a conflict such as the Green Movement. I'll probably start later tonight. So check back later or tomorrow.