News Update - October 3, 2009

Newslinks

Islamic Association of Amir Kabir University: tyranny continues (Farsi)

Iran's leader: Obama wrong to say nuke site hidden

Report Says Iran Has Data to Make a Nuclear Bomb

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad revealed to have Jewish past

Iran moves to execute man for crime committed when he was 17

General Firouzabadi will keep his post

Iranian FM rejects reports on meeting with US Congress members

Revolutionary Guards Responsible for Zeidabadi’s Fate

Iran - G 5+1 Talks Will be Inconclusive

A New Wave of Purges of Social Science Academicians

From Tweets

Mahdi Mirdamai has been released.

Photos

Behzad Nabavi in the hospital

Videos

News Update - October 2, 2009

Newslinks

Taeb transferred from head commander of Basij to a position in the IRGC (Farsi)

Authorities in Iran Arrest 18 Students

Officials condemn the illegal and sudden arrests of members of the Central Council (Farsi)
Summary by anonymous: "Following the illegal and sudden arrest of more than 15 members of the Central Council and Tehran’s Council of the Unity Consolidation Bureau (Tahkim-Vahdat, the main Reformist Student Organization) on Friday morning during an unofficial meeting, the... Unity Consolidation Bureau in a statement addressed to the officials while strongly condemning this illegal act and pointing out the intense environments in the universities, warned that refusing to immediately release all these student activists would have unrecoverable and unimaginable consequences and definitely these kinds of blind measures not only would not help to calm down the universities’ intense environments but is like "starting a flame in a gunpowder stock."

Mir Hossein Mousavi calls on strengthening social networks

Two Iranian dissidents say they were raped in captivity

German Firms Feel Pressure Over Tehran Trade

Iran, world powers plan second round of nuclear talks

From Tweets

Fifty female police officers were present outside Azadi stadium today.

Jailed opposition leader Behzad Nabavi has been moved from solitary confinement to intensive care.

Videos






That is just...so truly sad...I can only offer them my deepest sympathies.

News Update - October 1, 2009

Whew, it's very late, I know. My apologies, all.

Newslinks

Iran, world powers agree to meet again

Iran releases prominent opposition figure on bail

Ahmadinejad: Iran's Man of Mystery

Iran’s Power Brokers

Protests despite crackdown, Assembly of Sleepers, and the insatiable Revolutionary Guards - VOA Newstalk - 30

From Tweets
I only edited some of the spelling and grammar in some of these posts:

Montazeri [Grand Ayatollah] called for relaxation of control, saying people should be executed only if a danger to the country.

Montazeri's forces won out over Rafsanjani's in this.

Ladjevardi, the Butcher of Tehran, Rafsanjani's ally, was removed from his post as prosecuter general of Evin.

Videos

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.

Letter to Fayah - A Poem Written By Me

Dear child, sweet child,
I read your letter.
I kept your words in my heart,
and now I send a letter to you.

I did not know you,
and you did not know me,
yet our hearts were connected.
And from one letter I learned so much about you.

I know you loved life.
You loved it so much,
that you gave it,
so others could be free.

You wanted to become a mother,
and you expressed your regret,
that this would never happen.
But it did.

You became the mother,
of hope, courage, and inspiration.
Your children reside in the hearts of many,
and they encourage all to continue the fight.

You are feeling the sun in your face,
for now you are much closer to it.
And Neda is there with you,
as are all your brothers and sisters who also gave their lives.

I know you are with them.
And Allah is there with all of you.
And those that linger here,
will be able to see freedom in their country because of you.

They will heal,
they will laugh,
they will love life,
and they will be free.

The tyrants may have shattered your body,
but not your spirit, and what you gave to your people.
And you will continue to live on in the hearts of your family and friends,
as well as ours.

Thank you.
Sincerely,
A friend you did not meet, a friend you did not know.

---

Dedicated to Fayah June 23, 1986 - August 2, 2009.

Another brave person taken from her loved ones by tyrants in Iran. She sent a letter to her friends, and that letter reached countless people around the world. This was her final message to the world:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

She died on August 2, 2009 after being beaten by the Basiji forces. Her family notified her contacts weeks later. Today is her 40th day anniversary, and I wanted to dedicate this poem to her, as well as those who died since the Green Movement began. And though I never knew this woman, I am still deeply saddened that this happened to her - however, it is nothing compared to what her family must be going through, as they are undoubtedly being harassed by the government as a result of a stance for freedom. I can only offer my deepest sympathies to her family and her friends, and hope they will heal and be safe.

Rest in peace, Fayah.