News Update - June 05, 2010

Persian2English is in need of volunteers for June 12th online event. Please contact them at editor@persian2english.com

Calendar for upcoming events

Petitions:

Amir Reza Arefi - 21 - Stop His Illegal Execution

Save Abdolreza Ghanbari from Execution!

Letter to IRI Embassies, Consulates, & Interest Sections to Guarantee Fair Treatment of Prisoners of Conscience

Not One More Execution

News Links

Iran Jams Documentary of Iranian Protester Neda

The line has been clearly drawn in the sand - Hassan Khomeini, considered by regime on the side of the Green movement

Interview with Nushin Arbabzadah on the Role of Afghan Protests in Iran’s Opposition Movement

Detained prisoner fears for his life in prison

Saba Vasefi: Attempted Arrest, Accident, and Coma

Director of the Reformist Organization of Qazvin's International University Detained

Ayatollah Bayat-Zanjani addresses letter to Hassan Khomeini regarding events on June 4

‘We Are Ready to Pay Any Price’

The Last Ayatollah

Letter: For My Daughter, Shiva Nazar Ahari

Selected Headlines from the Tehran Bureau - June 4, 2010

Evin’s Ward 350: Political Prisoners and Problems with Food, Medicine, and Abuse

“Release All Political Prisoners And I Will Forgive The Murderers of My Son,” Says Mother of Slain Protester Sohrab Arabi

Extended video from the December 27, 2009, Ashura clashes with security forces in Tehran

Iranian senior cleric condemns hecklers of Hassan Khomeini

Two Detained Students Released

Azam Vaysameh’s Second Phone Contact with Family

Two Missing University of Tehran Students Still Incommunicado

Student Activist Alborz Zahedi Sentenced to 1 Year Suspended Imprisonment

From Twitter

- Khozestan(S.IR) Labor activist Pejman Rahimi has been sentenced to total 7 yrs & 40 lashes in 3 separate cases.

- Hamed Rouhinejad's heath is deteriorating, he suffers from MS, is sentenced to 10 yrs, Med help not provided.

- Families of Kamangar,Vakili & Haydarian met with Kurdish Governor asking for help in getting their bodies back.

- Governor asked the families to pray for their forgiveness, discussions got heated & the families left.

- Sec agents contacted families of the executed & threatened them & told them not to show up at Governor's office anymore.

- In the Islamic Republic of IR simplest rule of "deceased must be buried within 24 hrs" is not observed by Government.

- Activist Alborz Zahedi has been sentenced to 1 yr suspended for three yrs.

- A man convicted of drug trafficking was hanged in Miyaneh(NW.IR) today.

Misc. Sources

- Mir Hossein Mousavi by issuing a statement while expressing his point of views regarding the events that happened at the ceremony commemorating the 21st anniversary of the passing of Ayatollah Khomeini, strongly condemned the organized insults made on Seyyed Hassan Khomeini, the grandson of Ayatollah Khomeini, during this ceremony and called it an engineered plan. Full English translation of Mir Hossein Mousavi's statement is as follows:

In the name of God

Few years ago late Ayatollah Tavasoli, the close ally of late Imam [Khomeini], dedicated his life to fight with a project that its aim was to eliminate Seyyed Hassan Khomeini (the grandson of Ayatollah Khomeini) from the political scene and removing Imam [Khomeini] from memory of the nation. The sad and shocking passing of Ayatollah Tavasoli although created a pause in this project but did not stop it.

This year the ceremony commemorating the anniversary of the passing of Imam [Khomeini] on June 4th was reduced to only one day and all the other public and official programs including the programs of June 4th and 5th nights was eliminated and even in this brief ceremony it was expected that it would be limited to only mentioning few moral characterises of Imam and nothing would be said regarding Imam’s respect for people’s vote and his view that the parliament is on top of all affairs, and again it was predictable that Imam’s concerns about the dangers of radicalism and dictatorship in the future of the revolution would be ignored and in contradiction to Imam’s humility toward the shia Imams, some would be portrayed in same the level of Imam Ali (Shia’s first Imam) and other saint Shia Imams, but those opposing violations, lies, corruptions, violating the constitution and destroying the country because of foolish policies would be portrayed as opponents.

Judging this method of comparison and falsifying the history is by knowledgeable historians, informed politicians and accomplished principalists and I only suffice to this point that the recent killings and imprisonments are the consequences of such interpretations of history, religion and principles and one should find out what would be the opinion of the senior religious figures about these kinds of interpretations given their practical results and outcomes.

This year’s ceremony, because of the recent crimes of Israel, was with the harshest anti- Zionism slogans but among these harsh slogans there was no reference to the interview of one of the Arab presidents, who is an ally of Iran, in which he recently said that the government of Iran is for their negotiations with Israel; and again it was not far from prediction that the advice of late Imam [Khomeini] to the officials of the government in the story of Mac Farlyn would be forgotten, the advice that said: “Don’t do anything that you cannot explain to the people.”

Isn’t it time to ask this question that with all these deceptive, obscure and damaging policies, who can be considered as golden opportunities for United States, Israel, MKO and the monarchists: The freedom and justice seekers who seek the glory of Islam, Iran and the Iranians through return to the constitution and eliminating corruption and lies? Or the suspicious cults that with their policies are destroying the working class, teachers, staff workers , farmers and all the oppressed classes, and despite their rhetoric and verbal attacks against East and West have handed over the Muslim markets to the foreigners?

Disruptions and insults made by few on the ceremony commemorating the anniversary of the passing of Imam [Khomeini] in front of the podium could not have happened without the previous consent and engineering. Who is not to know that always some in an organized manner and to create disruptions, such as what happened, gather in front of podiums? In the ceremony of June 4th this also happened and in front of the cameras and surprised eyes, a small group extended the usual insults this time to the grandson of Imam [Khomeini]; presumably because he never wanted to leave the people alone, [but] [they are] unaware that these kinds of engineered actions will raise more awareness on the importance of safeguarding and protecting the inheritors of Imam [Khomeini].

Seyyed Hassan Khomeini is one of the shining starts of the Seminary schools and our national scene and plans to diminish this light will not have any result but damage for their architects.

Mir Hossein Mousavi

Video

News Update - June 04, 2010

Petitions:

Amir Reza Arefi - 21 - Stop His Illegal Execution

News Links

Mahboubeh Khansari makes 1st phone call from Evin prison (Farsi)

Saeed Matinpour

Mohammad Oliyaifard

Majid Dori

Mahdieh Golroo

Majid Tavakoli

Mohammad Oliyaifard

Kianoosh Asa's brother was arrested for writing a letter to Larijani (Farsi)

How I secretly filmed the For Neda documentary

Statement by the Green in Tabriz on the anniversary of 22 Khordad

Iranian leaders accuse dissidents of betraying Islamic revolution

Film about Iranian protest victim Neda Agha-Soltan beats regime's censors

Six Kurdish Students Arrested by Security Forces | Attempted Arrest of Farzad Kamangar’s

Senior cleric, Ayatollah Dastgheib writes a letter in support of Mousavi (Farsi)

Ahmadinejad warns opposition, blasts Israeli raid (Which is really ironic, coming from HIM.)

Iranian Journalism in the Political Labyrinth

Iran leader raps opposition before vote anniversary

Free goodies: It must be another regime event

When abuse becomes ingrained in security forces: video shows police mistreating illegal Afghan immigrants

Khamenei delivers dire threat to opposition leaders

Eisa Saharkhiz’s Coronary Condition Worsening inside Gohar Dasht Prison

From Twitter

- Payam Fanaian, one of the Bahaii's arrested on Ashura was released.

- In the last few weeks multiple summons to Brach 3 of the Revl Court have been sent to Nader Ahsani's home.

- Nader Ahsani was arrested 12/2, was in solitary 58 days, later released on bail, sentenced to 1yr, re-arrested 4/19.

- Intel Mins is trying to arrest student activist Nader Ahsani. Problem is he has been in Evin 350 since April 19.

- Documentary filmmaker Mohamad Nourizad has issued a warning re the safety of himself & his family.

- Nourizad has been in Evin about 6 months, was assaulted in Evin few weeks ago & suffered a concussion.

- Nourizad says he has seen many acts from Intel agents & has heard testimony of other prisoners to fear for his life.

- Nourizad: If you hear of my demise, in prison or outside later, it will be the work of the Un-Known Soldiers.

- During his speech, Khomeini's grandson was repeatedly interrupted by crowds chanting "death to Mousavi".

- As Hassan Khomeini kept getting interrupted by crowd he said; there are a small group of people trying to create chaos.

- Hassan Khomeini: People will not tolerate this small group who are creating chaos, people hate their conduct.

- Hassan Khomeini did not finish his speech & left the podium & as he did the crowd cheered.

Video

News Update - June 03, 2010

Petitions:

Save Hossein Ronaghi-Maleki (Babak Khorramdin)

News Links

Iran Baha'i Leaders Scheduled In Court On Election Anniversary

Iran: Mahboubeh Abbasgholizadeh sentenced to 2 ½ years in jail and 30 lashes for ‘acts against national security'

Gender segregated is an attempt to control the universities in Iran (Farsi)

Mottaki in European Parliament; Green protesters outraged

Leader’s Pardon of 81 Political Prisoners Show Arbitrary Nature of Prosecutions

Lawyers of Imprisoned Teacher’s Union Member File Complaint with Tehran Prosecutor

The Crackdown Before the Crackdown

One Year Later

Nobel winners join call for release of US hikers in

Opposition in Iran: New Confrontations Ahead

Fars News Fabricates Letter By Student Activist

Kamran Asa, brother of martyr Kianoosh, has been re-arrested (Farsi)

Protesters Urge Australia Not to Deport Iranian Cleric

Khamenei Lashes Out Against the West Ahead of Iranian Anniversaries

More Iranian Opposition Groups Seek to Rally on June 12

Iran regime being ruined: opposition leader Karroubi

The Cleric Who Changed: Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran's Supreme Leader, was not always deeply conservative

Iranian minister calls for political cleansing of universities

Majid Dorri Protests his Imprisonment in Exile Sentence

Beheshti University Student Rajabali Dashab Sentenced to 5 Years in Prison

Several Detained Students Released

From Twitter

- Saudi newspaper Al-Jazirah reports that Iran former nuclear negotiator, Hossein Musavian, seeks asylum in US.

- Payam Fanian 1 of the Bahais arrested Ashura has been released on bail. He's been sentenced to 1 yr by Appeals Court.

- Abedini has already been tried in Ahvaz, found guilty of bunch of BS charges & sentenced to 11 1/2 yrs.

- Abedini has been beaten up, is kept among dangerous criminals, been told they are sending him Tehran for 2nd trial.

- The judge in Shabnam's case told her, in Court, "You are being punished for your family connection to MKO".

- Farzad Madadzadeh has been sentenced to 5 yrs in Rejaei Shahr prison. He is Shabnam's brother.

- Deputy Chair of Advar-Tahkim, Shabnam Madadzadeh(F) has been sentenced to 5 yrs in Rejaei Shahr prison.

- Azad Uni student Milad Fadaei has been released on bail after 6 months in prison. He is sentenced to 1 yr.

- Khajeh Nasir U student soheil Mohamadi has bn released on bail after 7 months in prison. He is sentenced to 3 yrs.

- Amir Kabi U student Nima Latif Tojar was released on bail. He was in prison 158 days under pressure & is sentenced to 1yr.

- Members of Women's Movement met with Mousavi & his wife today. Details will be published soon.

- Behrooz Javid Tehrani was student activist during Tehran Uni uprising 11yrs ago & only 1 living left in prison.

- Beheshti Uni student Rajabali Dashab was sentenced to 5 yrs in prison by the Appeals Court.

- Political prisoner Hamid Haeri has been sentenced to 15 yrs to be served in Karaj Gohardasht prison.

- Haeri is in poor health, had suffered 2 heart attacks before, walks with a cane, had hip injury due an accident before arrest.

- Kamran Assa brother of Kianoush Assa has been arrested in Kermanshah. This is the 2nd time they are arresting him.

- Good News: HR activist Laleh Hassanpour has been released on bail.

- Union leader Mansour Osanlo has been in Sepah solitary last 3 days under new pressure to accept new charges.

- Tarlani allowed a 15min family visit 1 a month. All his ID's& documents confiscated ¬ returned preventing follow up of case.

- Amjad Kourdnejad & Jamal Rahmati Tehran U Kurdish students have been missing for 2dys & feared arrested by Intel.

- Student activist Hassan Tarlani 23, in Kerman prison is being pressured & interrogated long hours everyday.

- Tarlani is among dangerous criminals, they put prisoners sentenced to death in his cell before they are executed.

- Tarlani is sentenced to 10 yrs mostly based on his family history. His grandfather was executed in the 80's.

- Farsnews reports Karoubi was attacked by crowd at Khomeini's Shrine, pic they are using is from last year Book Fair.

- Farsnews says people were chanting anti-Karoubi slogans as he left the Shrine. No other news outlet reporting this yet.

- Khamenei will preside over this Fridays prayer services & Ahmadinejad will be the speaker before the services.

Photos

Mashhad Bahai cemetery was vandalized

Video