Somebody Hand the Pope an AK-47!

Yet another day into the Green Counter Revolution, and another post in Elsevier authored by Dutch-Iranian refugee and Leiden University lecturer, Afshin Ellian puts a fascinating light on the ideology of pieces.

Try imagine Pope Benedict delivering Sunday Blessings at Rome's St Peter's Square holding a Kalashnikov. Laughable? Are you one of those who are convinced that "religion is never violent"? Try Islam! Well, perhaps it is not a religion, but a political ideology masquerading as one.

After all, until well into the last century almost all thought systems worth their weight were based on a theological structure - even one as innocent as Naturalism - simply because to many it was the only frame of reference available. Sit down for this one:


An Imam, a Prayer and a Machine Gun

Before the Iranian Revolution a majority of Iranians didn't know what Friday Prayers was. Well, it's like Sunday Service [or Mass]. In the time of the Shah it was held in a few mosques on a limited scale. But after the revolution Imam Khomeini appointed Friday Imams in all Iranian cities. Tehran has four of them. The University of Tehran was named as the official site for Friday Prayers to be held.

The Friday Imam holds a two part sermon while he touts a weapon, a kalashnikov or another machine gun. Yes, even for us that was a extraordinary sight to behold: an Imam, a machine gun and a Prayer.

I suspect in Saudi Arabia an Imam holds a sword. Can you imagine a vicar holding a gun while delivering his sermon? It's hardly imaginable. It's a clear example of one of the violent aspects of Islam.

Imam Khomeini defined Friday Prayers as a deed of worship as much as a political act. Ultimately, it is a political act more than anything else.

After a while Friday Prayers became less popular. Only the established order attended, and there weren't that many. This is why soldiers and officers (in plain clothes) are brought in on occasions the world needs to be impressed.

Last Friday was different. All kinds of people attended Friday Prayers because of its political connotation. Finally it became a mass demonstration against the regime.

The Friday Imam, Rafsanjani (the regime's second man) was openly crititical of the Government. According to Rafsanjani the regime is in an unprecedented crisis, the result of the way in which this Government treats its citizens. He took the opportunity to make known his displeasure with the performance of the security services towards the citizens. Rafsanjani concluded that the Islamic regime has lost its credibility when the citizens no longer trust the apparatus of state.

Iran is an Islamic Republic. Rafsanjani concluded that the Republican aspect of the regime is in danger and therefore the regime itself. It's a correct conclusion, but it comes rather late in the day. For the last thirty years he has helped into being a regime that certainly has nothing to do with a free Republic. Now that his own existence is in jeopardy, he suddenly sings the praises of the Republic.

And yet, Rafsanjani got response almost at once from another Ayatollah. Ayatollah Yazdi is one of the pillars of the current regime. Yazdi said that Rafsanjani's statement helped its opponents.

According to Yazdi, Rafsanjani has also made a theological-political mistake. What is that crucial fallacy? The Islamic regime is in the first place an Islamic state. Not the will of the people, but the satisfaction of Allah is the legitimacy of the Islamic state, says Yazdi. But how do we know if Allah is satisfied? Elementary: if you practice the laws of Allah, Allah is satisfied.

Because the continuation and the existence of the Islamic state prevails over the will of the people Yazdi has a theological point. A free Republic can never be Islamically pure. Conversely a true Republic can never be Islamic either.

But the Iranian people have already made clear they do not want to live Islamically pure. They want a Republic, a free Republic. This is why they're losing their children. This uprising is a Republican Revolution contrary to Sharia law.

Therefore many, men side by side with women, went to Prayers at the University of Tehran. According to many Ayatollahs this flies in the face of Allahs wishes.  Men and women shouldn't be praying side by side. They must be separated, also during prayers.

What do the people want? Do they want to 'protestantize' Islam? What is happening in Iran is great! No, it's unbelievable.

- Filed on Articles in "Ellian Blogs" - 

The World Wide Awake

Someone please switch off the lights.

The Novelty of Liberal Values

Who would have thought that in our enlightened times the freedom of expression needs an army of defenders! Of course, those who are not blind enough to see, may have noticed we've been sliding into a postmodern form of fascism the last few years. 

Yesterday we were overjoyed to be able to report on the policy U-turn performed by the new British Home Secretary, Alan Johnson, the long awaited successor to Jacqui "Jackboot" Smith. He has decided to scrap his predecessor's hate list of people banned from Britain – a list that included US talk show host Michael Savage, along with an untold legion of Islamic hate preachers and terrorists. Savage was going to sue for libel, but he may review in the light of this encouraging news.

But the case opens questions on another matter, the British ban on Islam critic and Dutch MP, Geert Wilders. Although the barring of an MP from another EU member state is unheard of and techniquely even worse than the banning of Savage, the Labour Government of Gordon Brown remains unrepentant where Wilders is concerned.

At least that is what we must assume, given the fact that only a few weeks ago Wilders was also barred from attending the first session of his appeal. Today we find confirmation in an article in Dutch 'paper' De Pers, one of those free publications the early commuter might pick up from one of the world's metropolitan railway stations. Most of them, teetering on the brink of rather commendable public school bulletins, barely deserve the epithet.

This particular rag contains an interview with the Chair of the Birkenhead Society, a staunch defender of frank opinion and open debate even if they themselves happen to disagree with it. The article is an eye-opener in more ways than one: the author pretends to be confronted with such a principle for the first time in her life! She registers - perhaps - feigned surprise at such novelties as reason, laissez fair, Enlightenment, and liberal values; and whatever has the freedom of speech got to do with democracy!

It beggars belief that by now a generation has come of age that was raised in an atmosphere of "shut tf up because I say so, you moron!" - in which the natural choice in the face of intimidation is appeasement.

Here are a few of the highlights:

De Pers: "If Wilders loses, so does the Britain"

The British decision to bar Wilders from entering the country is "a threat to democracy" [!], opines the Birkenhead Society. [The author signals her surprise of such a notion.] The Society will assist Wilders in appealing the Government's decision. 

Abhijit Pandya (30), Chairman of the British Birkenhead Society cannot stress enough that the freedom of expression is at the root of our [Western, liberal] society. Wearing a grey suit and tie [to Pragmatist collectivists that's relevant!] the chairman delivers a fiery speech about liberal society in which everyone is free to offer an opinion and people seek open debate. [Again: 'feigned' surprise!]

The organization has some 60 members.  (...) Upon learning of the British Government's decision they offered to help Wilders with his appeal. (...) The Birkenhead is funded by member contributions, gifts and legacies.

What Wilders says is not the point. They would have done the same for an extreme Left politician [as opposed to this extreme Right specimen - note the absence of quotations marks], says Pandya ... even though the Birkenhead's own talking points - the burqa, immigration, integration, national identity - are in reasonable approximation of the Wilders' agenda.

- Caption: Lord Birkenhead portrait on the front cover of Time Magazine, circa 1920 - 

This isn't about Muslims either. Wilders' British lawyer stems from a family of Sheffield Muslims. It's about the discourse. "The Koran was written in a certain period of our history. That fact should be debated. We must be able to talk about its meaning and proscriptions."

Abhijit Pandya discusses the Wilders's case in legal and philosophical terms. He speaks of reason and Enlightenment, about debates and Galileo. Throughout history people who spoke the truth have been tortured and killed, he states passionately. That doesn't mean, that Wilders - whom he hasn't met - speaks the truth. "But if you silence him, you're killing the debate. We must stop protecting [the sensitivities] of minorities."

Wilders' British allies believe in ultimate laissez fair in social discourse. There should be no prohibitions, says Pandya. Not of [Hitler's book] Mein Kampf, nor of a terrorist's cookery book for bombs. (...)

The young conservative founded the Birkenhead four years ago with a small circle of friends. It followed a bout of social unrest caused by a play in Birmingham in which a Sikh woman was raped. Hunderds of furious Sikhs took to the streets and the play was cancelled. Pandya is still upset about it. "That's bowing to violent intimidation by a minority".

- Caption: Vanity Fair portrait of Lord Birkenhead circa 1900 - 

The same is true in the Wilders case. The Government feared rioting and had him barred. The next session in the legal procedure of Wilders versus the Secretary of State, is on October 12 and 13 at the Asylum and Immigration Tribunal in Londen. Much is at stake, asserts Pandya. "I'm afraid we will lose, and that would be a severe loss for Britain."

The Birkenhead is proud of the British heritage. Churchill, Thatcher, Enoch Powell are their heroes. The organization fights political correctness and positive discrimination (affirmative action). "Great Britain is much too protective of the feelings of minorities", says Pandya, the child of an Indian mother and an Ugandan father. "If someone gets racist to me, I tell him he's an idiot. That's it. We cannot shield ourselves from the opinions of others. Mature people ought to debate each other on the basis of arguments."

Does he see the irony in the offspring of immigrants defending an anti immigration politician? Pandya responds annoyedly: "I'm not a racist? Shouldn't we take his case because he's white? That's not the point. The freedom of speech is at stake."

- Filed on Articles in "In Defense of Liberty" -

The Great Unraveling Begins

Watch also a NewsMax interview with Barbara Howard, Chair of the Florida State Congress of Racial Equality and a Governmental Relations Consultant.

Of the Freedom Fatwa, Political Consciousness & Tumbling Turbans (cc the leader)

How important the present uprising in Iran is, as it is aimed at toppling a rabid, nuclear trigger-happy regime of Islamofascist apocalyptic cheerleaders, and just how this dovetails with geopolitical forces, is born out by today's post in Elsevier authored by Dutch-Iranian refugee and Leiden University lecturer, Afshin Ellian.

We are in uncharted territory! Here be dragons ...

Just a few days ago we witnessed a prominent cleric, Grand Ayatollah Hossein Ali Montazeri issue a Jeffersonian Fatwa for Freedom! The mainstream press kept it under wraps, or perhaps they just missed it, busy as they must have been covering Obama's completion of the US Supreme Soviet, or frantically reporting of the latest narcissistic socialight's transgressions.

After giving you the translation of Ellian's post we will wrap this up with another enlightening interview on the same topic, published recently on Front Page Magazine.


"The West Must Support the Iranian People"

"They've killed my son. For 26 days they've told me that my son was in Ewin Prison. You all know who the murderers are. No one can stop me, no one can stop us. They've killed my boy."

Those words were spoken by the mother of Sohrab (19) at his funeral. She wanted to become one with the soil. [ed. Read what happened to Sohrab in "Allah's Sons Keep Up the Killing in Iran"].

A few days ago Mousavi and his wife visited Sohrab's family. The mother explained to Mousavi that the people will not be stopped. In that part of the city thousands of protesters shouted "death to the dictator". It can all be watched on YouTube [links below].

Last Friday [yesterday] once again hundreds of thousands of people  hit the streets. According to several witnesses Tehran's streets contained a million people and more. The BBC states the people shouted: "Azadi, azadi (freedom); Mousavi, we support you."

YouTube video: Tehran, July 17 2009 - Part I

This really was the most historic Friday prayers in Iran. It was crowded, because Rafsanjani (Iran's second man) was giving a sermon. That's why the protesters addressed him: "Rafsanjani, if you are silent today, you are a traitor."

YouTube video: Tehran, July 17 2009 - Part II

Also present were Hezbollah types. They were ferried early morning with buses to the enclosed prayer site. Only once did they dare call for "death to America, death to Israel". The masses outside yelled: "Death to Russia; Russia shame on you, let us in peace".

YouTube video: Tehran, July 17, 2009

This is just unbelievable. The people have a political consciousness. Yes, the Americans and the Israelis have nothing to do with the situation in the country. But Russia does. The Russians and the Chinese are loyal allies of the regime. They were among the first to congratulate and acknowledge Ahmadinejad as President. The people know the security forces are trained principally by the Russians. [Watch a Russian flag burnt in effigy ceremony here].

The Russians are doing this, because they truly make lots of money from the moronic ayatollahs. All Russian produced airplanes are sold to Iran. It is old junk that isn't worth a dime. But it has killed 2500 people over the course of 20 years. Russia also sells nuclear technology and weapons to Iran. Moscow must understand that if the people succeed in toppling Ahmadinejad's and Khamenei's regime, such dealings will be over. 

Rafsanjani's sermon was not broadcast on state television, but through the international media everyone knows what was in it: "The regime is in an unparalleled crisis. The people do not trust the Government. The Government must release political prisoners." He also talked about the victims of the uprising.

These words were spoken by the regime's second man. It would seem that even Friday's sermon isn't safe territory anymore for the established order.

Well informed sources have told me that on June 15 Rafsanjani took delivery of a letter sent by the Revolutionary Guard's High Command. The letter consisted of eight lines, conveying two messages: (a) There's still a red line that must not to be crossed. (b) This goes for Rafsanjani as well, and if he joins Mousavi, the Revolutionary Guard (RG) will act mercilessly. The letter was signed by Jafari (Supreme Commander of the RG). 

The letter ended: cc Ayatollah Khamenei. I've never heard of such a thing in my life! Cc the leader. This means that real power is no longer in the hands of Khamenei. In power are a number of very radical ayatollahs and the RG.

I hope Western Governments are aware of that, because it is with these people, and not with Khamenei, that they must negotiate Tehran's nuclear ambitions. This is a club that wants a nuclear device very badly indeed. Almost everyone in the enlightened world is aware of that.

If the West should make the wrong choice like Russia did, it will be punished by the Iranians. That is not in the interest of the West. It is clear that the people will take this to the very end. And the West must support them.

Also Karoubi, the other Ahmadinejad rival, took part in Friday prayers. In full view of everyone he was attacked by plain clothes scum. His turban tumbled. Isn't that ironic? Even the clergy are no longer safe in Iran. A theocracy is the least safe system for clergymen: there is no separation of judge and prosecution. Sinister, isn't it?

The turban tumbled! Isn't that symbolic for the Islamic regime itself? Islamofascism without a turban! Perhaps the end of Iranian Islamism is neigh.


Front Page Magazine: "Russian Intelligence and Islamic Terror", by Jamie Glazov

Frontpage Interview's guest today is Konstantin Preobrazhenskiy, a former KGB agent who became one of the KGB’s harshest critics. He is the author of seven books about the KGB and Japan. His new book is KGB/FSB's New Trojan Horse: Americans of Russian Descent.

FP: Konstantin Preobrazhenskiy, welcome to Frontpage Interview.

Is Russia America’s ally in fighting Islamic terrorism?

Preobrazhenskiy: No absolutely not. And this is one of the many American prejudices and misunderstandings of Russia.

Americans generally believe that Russia is as afraid of Islamic terrorism as the U.S. is. They are reminded of the war in Chechnya, the hostage crisis at the Beslan School in 2004 and at the Moscow Theater in 2002, and of the apartment house blasts in Moscow in 1999, where over 200 people were killed. It is clear that Russians are also targets of terrorism today.

But in all of these events, the participation of the FSB, Federal Security Service, inheritor to the KGB, is also clear. The FSB’s involvement in the Moscow blasts has been proven by lawyer Mikhail Trepashkin, a former FSB Colonel. For this he was illegally imprisoned in 2003.

A key distinction between Russian and American attitudes towards Islamic terrorism is that while for America terrorism is largely seen as an exterior menace, Russia uses terrorism as a tool of the state for manipulation in and outside the home country. Islamic terrorism is only part of the world of terrorism. Long before Islamic terrorism became a global threat, the KGB had used terrorism to facilitate the victory of world Communism.

FP: Give us the background of Soviet involvement with Islamic terror. (...) >>>

For more on the use of terror as a form of coercion in totalitarian systems, see our file "The Unholy Alliance".

Update:

Oh oh ... NYT reporting fallout from Rafsanjani sermon today. Get this: "Ayatollah Muhammad Yazdi, a conservative member of Iran’s Guardian Council and the former head of the judiciary, lashed out at Mr. Rafsanjani, saying the former president did not have the right to call for the release of arrested protesters. He also said Mr. Rafsanjani had exaggerated the role of democracy in Islamic government and thereby diminished the importance of divine sanction. “Legitimacy and acceptance are different in Islamic government,” Ayatollah Yazdi told the semi-official Fars news agency. “Votes alone do not create legitimacy.”"

- Filed on Articles in "Ellian Blogs" - 

Allah's Sons Keep Up the Killing in Iran

In order to get out the message and for as long as the uprising in Iran is in progress, we will continue to post translations of relevant articles published in Elsevier, written by Dutch-Iranian refugee and Leiden University lecturer, Afshin Ellian. They are collected in a dedicated file as specified at the bottom of each post.

Reminding you of a post published yesterday by blogger NiteOwl on "Anonymous Iran" who has been able to piece events of the last few days together on the basis of tweets.


Nega Agha Soltan, who died before the eyes of millions of people, was the first symbol of the Iranian resistance against the Islamic regime. She is now accompanied by a new symbol of innocence: nineteen year old Sohrab Arabi.

An innocent young man who went with the Persian, green flow. One morning he said goodbye to his mother. Then he took to the streets to fight for the Republican ideal of liberty. It unavoidably clashed with the Islamic Caliphate. He never returned home.

His mother went to Ewin Prison. She was told her son had been arrested. But last Saturday (July 11) - almost one month later - she learned from Mortazawi, the Officer of Justice of the Revolutionary Court of Tehran - that her son may be dead. As stated, Mortazawi earlier indicated Sohrab had been arrested.
She was sent to the Security Department where she was shown the photos of some sixty corpses. Her son was in one of those pictures. Yes, the assassinated Sohrab was one of them.

Like Neda, Sohrab had been hit by a bullet close to the heart. We don't know if perhaps he had died of torture and was shot afterwards. Why had Mortazawi declared earlier that Sohrab had been arrested? It's also possible that - like Neda - he was shot in the street in broad daylight.

The family was allowed to bury him in Tehran. But political demonstrations were forbidden. To make sure, officials of the Security Services attended the funeral. It is truly heart-wrenching to hear the mother wail at the burial. 

Mourners carried this texts:

The boy is this picture is missing. His mother is crying day and night.

The boy in this picture has huge eyes and a clenched fist forever.

Standing on the tarmac, he screams. His bossom is a garden of strange tulips.

The boy in this picture gave his life on Wishing Street [sic].

I'm going to tell his mother: I am the boy in that picture.

How many protesters are being killed in Iran by the sons of Allah? The exact figure is unknown. Over five thousand! How many injured? Several thousand.

Will it withhold the people from demonstrating? No. Last week, July 9 thousands of people again hit the streets of Tehran, Tabriz, Shiraz, Isfahann, Ardebil, Kurdistan Mas'had and other cities to commemorate the 1999 student uprising. These demonstrations are well documented. How long will they keep it up? No one knows.

But Sohrab's mum? She embraced her child, the child of the green wave of freedom. She embraced Sohrab's grave. Oh, it is unbearable if your innocent child is murdered by the state. A state, made up of criminal beardmen. Guys, this is unbearable.

We must also remember all the other mothers of missing and murdered children. We must not forget they're fighting for and are being killed for the values we in the West think of as normality.  But the mother of Framarz, my uncle's son, was not even allowed to bury her child. My uncle died two days before the elections. He had to mourn his missing child in silence. Now all of Iran is mourning her missing children.

Oh, it is unbearable.

Update:

Harry's Place announces a new movement launched from Britain's House of Lords, "Iran Solidarity". Link to the Declaration.

- Filed on Articles in "Ellian Blogs" - 

Confessions of a Rebel: "Why I Strayed"

The following is a free translation of a post written by Dutch-Iranian refugee and Leiden University lecturer, Afshin Ellian, published earlier today in Elsevier - a confession, as promised: "Why I strayed".


In the name of the merciful and forgiving Allah,

Hail to the Great Khomeini, the spirit of Allah, the sword of imam Ali, et cetera;

Hail to the Great Leader Khamenei, the righteous and clever shepherd of this people, et ectera;

Hail to Mohammed, the last, most beautiful and, yes, the cleverest Prophet of all time, and his many women and concubines, et cetera;

Hail to the martyrs, their brave (benefits eligible) family members, asses and goats;

Brothers and sisters,

While I stem from a family of godfearing people I have betrayed you, Islam, and Islamic Iran multiple times. Some of my family may have drank scotch, but that was the fault of the Shah, who was destroyed by his infidelity. In spite of the fact that I have participated in the greatest wonder in the history of Islam - the Islamic Revolution - I became a Leftist and resisted the laws of Allah. What infamous behavior! Please judge me if you will, but pray for my damned soul.

- Caption: Hat Tip "Difficult Images" - 

Emprisoned, thanks to the efforts of the brothers of Intelligence, I discovered that prayers and recitation of the Koran could be beneficial to my sinful spirit. I fear I cannot divulge how the brothers have pressed that insight upon me. But I can tell you that it hurt. With this I mean of course, that the truth hurt. Of course the brothers haven't laid a finger on me. Allah may do so in the future. Because without Allah's pain there is no salvation. "Allah is merciful", promises the Koran.

Although when I was nineteen I learnt that the roads of Marxism, neo Marxism, Leftist totalitarianism, and all other forms of Leftism lead nowhere, I didn't see the light of Allah and the imam Khomeini.  I even rebeled against the Stalinists, which is the reason I had to take refuge in the west.

Why didn't I see the light of the Prophet Mohammed? Had infidelity blinded me at a tender age? Why didn't I see at the age of nineteen that the road to truth leads not to Amsterdam, but to the Ewin Prison? Please, judge me!

While I have had time and space to read the Koran and return into the warm embrace of the Islamic state, I chose the road of incredulity. I started reading the works of a number of Jewish philosophers, Hannah Arendt and Karl Popper. Isn't that odd? Why did I remain a little Leftist? Why didn't I see the absolute truth of the true Islamic regime? Please, judge me!

When I saw in Afghanistan how rotten the Soviet Union was, I chose an even more corrupt civilization, namely Western liberal democracy. In those days the immortal imam Khomeini wrote an open letter to the last Soviet leader and invited him to convert to Islam. He warned the Soviet leader not to choose liberal civilization. I should have scrutinized the letter more closely, but I didn't. Instead I studied the books of Spinoza, also a Jew. Please, judge me!

As I arrived in Europe at twentythree I should have realised the superior quality of Islamic civilization. Women walking the streets half naked! That alone should have brought me to my senses. Alas, it didn't happen. The West adores male as well as female gods. They call that the freedom of conscience. The liberty to insult the most holy and dear they call the freedom of expression. And then there's equality among men and women, hetero sexuals and gays. I've befriended gays. Yes, it's terrible. How can I explain this to Allah and his armed angels? I can't. Please, judge me!

As I was studying law and philosophy I should have seen that the godless Europeans know nothing of such fields. The fact alone that in the Netherlands the trial of a murderer can take over four years proves the irrationality and the injustice of the system.

According to the laws of Allah such a trial should be short and forceful. In a case of murder witnessed by two men and four women, the perpetrator must be killed. If so inclined, he can be hung from a crane. And if the state decides not to prosecute, the victim's family members have the right to claim the life of the assassin.

An unfaithful spouse may be simply stoned to death. If they'd only do that in Europe, women wouldn't roam the streets half naked and act like harlots. And philosophy? What has Martin Heidegger taught me? The fundamental question of the meaning of life is an error. In reality the vital question is the meaning of death and life after death. I am so shamed! Please, judge me!

I'd learnt of course that the Prophet had warned us against Jews. Even the good ones, the ones with the other voice, had warned me. But I befriended them anyway. No,  this is really too serious to reiterate. I must be punished. Please, judge me!

Although I knew that the Western media are the enemies of Islam and the Islamic state, I started collaborating with them. Elsevier, a Dutch newspaper, The Wall Street Journal and Der Spiegel are all in the enemy tank. The Editors work for the intelligence services. They are executing the Zionist plan against Islamic Iran. Shame! Please, judge me. I deserve the severest punishment. No need to pray for me.

The camera was switched off. I asked the interrogator: "Was that okay?" "Almost, we have to do it again, because I want you to talk with a western accent. And this confession comes across as far too romantic: say you worked at NATO. The audience needs to hate you. Cut the crap about the Left. Everyone was Leftist at the time, I was. You have to prove you're a spy", said the nice inquisitor. Another brother said: "Mention the names of the Editors-in-Chief".

"But I forgot", I exclaimed at once. "No problem", exclaimed Saied Mortazawi, the Officer of Justice at the Revolutionary Court of Tehran. "You'll remember fast enough after fifty lashes". The lights went out.

- Filed on Articles in "Ellian Blogs" - 

Tehran Senenade ...

MightierThan.com: "Iran: The Rooftop Project"

One of the most compelling elements of the continued uprising in Iran has been when each night under the cover of darkness Iranians chant themselves hoarse from the rooftops, balconies, and windows of their homes. This is done to express resolve, hope, frustration, and probably more than anything else, to provide a way that people can be together in spirit and in their cause. As long as the sound of voices echoes through the night, Iran is not yet free. It is the soundtrack of revolution.

This is meant to be the most complete possible collection of recordings of nighttime protest in Iran since the beginning of the uprising. (...) >>>

Here's just one example recorded July 3.



An oppressed people can get enormously creative in finding ways to express themselves in the face of brutality. It reminded me of the small acts of defiance in Europe during Nazi occupation.

But a certain evolution can be discerned in the chants. The one recorded last night - July 9/18 Mir has a quality of almost desperate audacity. Watch and hear the entire collection at MightierThan.com.

Today in Iran: updating throughout

- ..... RT @IranRiggedElect BREAKING NEWS: Plainclothes attacked Amirkarbir Univ Dorm: http://bit.ly/eZZ8p #iranelection

- ..... HI world news, u hear us? @ABCNews @CBSNews @foxnews @NBCNews @CNN @nicopitney @BBC RT #iranelection RT PLZ

- ..... After guards couldn't control streets around enghelab, they called for help and they sent 3 vans full of guards #iranelection

- Here is a list of solidarity rallies world wide, as compiled by Mousavi’s facebook page:

Iran: Everywhere-all day
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=95846014620
Los Angeles: Federal Building- 7pm
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=205998615525
Washington DC: Freedom Plaza- 6pm
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=101536187539
Munich: Neuhauser- 7pm
Hamburg: Ganseuarkt- 6pm
Vancouver: Vancouver Art Gallery- 6pm
NY City: Washington Square Park- 7pm
Berkeley:UC Berkeley -6pm
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=134121448384
Seattle: WestLake Center- 6pm
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=118220654399
Boston: Copley Square- 6pm
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=118780114777
Berlin: Breitscheidplat- 6pm
Denmark Odense: Munike Mose- 0pm
Toronto:Mel Lastman Square -8pm
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=99237022630
Los Angeles:Federal Building in Los Angeles -5pm
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=205998615525
Irvine: Jamboree & Barranca -6pm
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=110507658054

- Los Angeles Times: "Protesters, officers clash violently in Iran's streets", by Ramin Mostaghim and Borzou Daragahi

Over 1,000 demonstrators gather in Tehran, continuing to protest the June 12 presidential election. Security forces fire tear gas and beat protesters. Many people wear masks to hide their identities. 

Reporting from Tehran and Beirut -- Violent clashes erupted today in downtown Tehran between more than a thousand determined young men and women chanting, "Death to the dictator" and "God is great" and security forces wielding truncheons.

The screams of a woman being beaten could be heard from nearby buildings, a witness said. Business owners could be seen hustling protesters into their buildings to shield them from plainclothes officers and anti-riot police who fired tear gas canisters. (...) >>>

- Tehran Bureau: "Udates from 18 Tir" (July 9)

On Thu, Jul 9, 2009 at noon (US Eastern) “I just spoke to my friend who was there. He didn’t want to speak on the phone, so I just asked him: “On a scale of 1 to 10 , 10 being the worst, how bad was it?” and he said: “7″.

The other thing he said was that there were a lot of people around the university where he was, there was tear gas everywhere, and two basij militias badly beat the guy right in front of him (blood and everything), but that the guy was helped by those around him. The two militias ran away though before anyone could get to them.

Apparently there were basij militias scattered beating the heck out of people with batons and then running, but there were no gunshots heard. (...) >>>

Here is video update Part 28:



You can find them all on this YouTube channel

Tweets:

- ..... ppl and basijj clash@Enghelab square ppl outnumber basij by 10 to 1-Clashes@Tehran Univ & Vanak Sq-ppl joining Imam Hossein Sq 2 Enghelab Sq

- ..... chants are more radical this time: "Death to Khamenei" #iranelection

- ..... Protests mutating to urban street fights in side streets.


- Bloomberg: "G-8 Condemns Iran’s Crackdown, Shies Away From Sanctions Threat"

Group of Eight leaders condemned Iran’s violent crackdown on protests against President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s reelection, while avoiding the threat of sanctions. The G-8 statement, following President Barack Obama’s trip to Moscow to “reset” ties with Russia, illustrated the difficulty of winning Kremlin backing for new steps to isolate Iran. (...) >>>

- Reuters: "Iran won't back down "one step" in atom row"

... Let's build some confidence then, say G8 to Iran regime, currently cracking skulls in Iranian cities ... 

- ..... Tehran-streets leading to Enghelab full ppl at least 8to10 thousand...all clapping and sign of Freedom fingers #iranelection #iran #gr88

- Heavy Clashes near Azadi Sq. at least 3 people get shoted by Sec. forces...#iranelection

- ..... This news spreads so fast(still unconfirmed):"Police(not IRG) fire at Basiji militia.#iranelection

- ..... Basij forces mercilessly beating people. In Shiraz Basij and Police force suddenly stormed by protesters #iranelection #iran #gr88 #tehran

- ..... #iranelection Guardian Council admitted the electoral result tactic of "Blatant Theft" has not reaped the benefits they had hoped for

- Mousavi expected to appear at Mosque in Tehran this evening - have no other details. #iranelection

Today in Iran: the anniversary of the 1999 student uprising

Another day, another great post by Afshin Ellian.  Protests will be held today in London and Oslo. Today is also the anniversary of the 1999 student uprising that shook the Islamist regime in Iran ten years ago.

A  key leader of the uprising, Roozbeh Farahanipour (37) was jailed for several months and tortured extensively.  Earlier this week he returned to Iran clandestinely and plans to lead today's nationwide protest. NewsMax yesterday published "Opposition Leader Returns to Lead Protests in Iran", an article by Kenneth R. Timmerman on the subject.

Dutch-Iranian refugee and Leiden University lecturer Afshin Ellian posted this article earlier today on Elsevier. The following is a freeish translation of "On the usefulness of the turban for ayatollahs".

Ayatollah Khamenei, the supreme sacred and secular leader of Islamic Iran, has closed the file on the rigged elections. This is strange, because every night around 10PM the sky of Tehran is filled with the sounds of "Allahu Akbar, death to the tyrant!"

On the highest echelons of power there's still speculation whether to depose the selfproclaimed President Ahmadinejad and supreme tyrant Ali Khamenei. The regime is split about the way in which Khamenei exerts power.

For the first time in the history of the Islamic Republic there's division and strife between fatwa eligible ayatollahs. A number of respected ayatollahs have fatwahed Ahmadinjad's presidency illegal. And some have declared the actions by the Revolutionay Guard and the paramilitary haram (forbidden). Yet Khamenei declares the protests ended.

Khamenei makes a crucial mistake. He is not the people's leader, nor the clerics'. He's just the leader of killers and fawners. He's not eligible to proclaim the protests ended. Reality is entirely different.

Recently in Mashad, one of the holy cities of Iran, one of Mir Hosein Mousavi's representatives died as a result of torture.

Hated state television showed a number of protesters making public confessions. 

- Caption: Hat Tip: "Tehran 24" - 

The president of the judiciary, ayatollah Sharoudi, ordered the Courts and the Prosecution to work with the secret services to act harshly against persons who cooperate with the free media.

But what is cooperation? Broadly interpreted:

1. Those who put critical material at te disposal of the foreign media and on the Internet. Material includes giving interviews to CNN, or to the present site.

2. All who use the free media and the Internet.

So, whoever reads this post is guilty of a crime. If the file is closed on the protests, why is it necessary to act so harshly and openly against civilians? Because the file isn't closed. Millions are still trying to get in touch with the free media.

Sharoudi is the president of injustice. On his watch innocent people are tortured and killed. Say, Iran has truly changed. What advice should we give Sharoudi? Simple: given the nature and the extent of his crimes Mr Sharoudi should hang himself instantly with the aid of his turban. His Nazi predescessors weren't that lucky. But an ayatollah is a lucky criminal: he has a turban.

A majority of [Dutch] Parliament is willing to support an initiative in which scientific institutes and corporations will put free computer capacity at the disposal of the Iranian opposition.  I ProxyIran is a great initiative. Parliament is even willing to allocate human rights funds. [Check it out! "It costs next to nothing to do and requires little effort but is of tremendous importance for the Iranians' capability to organize themselves without the fear of detection."]

The association of journalists also needs to spring into action. A great number of them are in Iranian custody. They need to get in touch with their European colleagues and write to the EU Presidency and the Secretary General of the UN.

Listen up, Khamenei. The case isn't closed. You'll see this week how Iran commemorates the murder of scores of innocent students in 1999. The green wave of freedom is hard to suppress.

Post Scriptum - Iran state television showed public confessions, people confessing to being traitors. I want to do the same. Next Saturday you can read it here.

- Filed on Articles in "Persian Power Play" -