The Truth About Terror

It's time once more to post another remarkable piece by Dutch Iranian university lecturer Afshin Ellian. For a while I feared he'd gone all postmodern on me, but if so, he has now largely made up with present outstanding piece on the killing of Neda Agha Soltan at the hands of a Basij militiaman.

It is truly breathtaking that those who advocate talking to Hamas and other Islamofascists, are refusing to engage into coalition talks with Geert Wilders and his PVV party, as is the case in the Netherlands (i.e. the Leftist segment of the Christian Democrat party, CDA).

A similar movement can be discerned in the broohaha over the propaganda flotilla of Free Gaza, while the same people keep stumm over the Iranian clamp down of the Green rebellion.

Regime change in Iran would have been the best bet yet for peace in the Middle East. Yet the implied notion of the ideas proposed by the islamophiliacs for improved relations with Muslims, is to sacrifice the tiny postage stamp that is the nation of Israel.

- Caption: Atlas Shrugs posted a photo of Neda wearing a Christian crucifix, first published on an unspecified German site - 

These people have really somewhere lost sight of reality. Otherwise they would have remembered that Israel, since its legitimate inception, hasn't had a moment of peace. "The occupation" of which they speak is a result of the wars against Israel. The former PM of Spain, Jose Maria Aznar has stressed that again in an article in Times this week entitled "If Israel Goes Down, We All Go Down".

Aznar also announced the foundation of a new Israel support group, Friends for Israel, an initiative he took with a number of other prominent thinkers and politicians: the Northern Ireland politician David Trimble, British historian and journalist Andrew Roberts, the American former ambassador to the UN John Bolton, the former President of Peru Alejandro Toledo, filosopher and former President of the Italian Senate Marcello Pera, the Italian author and politician Fiamma Nirenstein, financier Robert Agostinelli and the Catholic apologist and author George Weigel.

In the meanwhile things are really heating up in the Middle East.

Turkey has made a 180 degrees paradigm U turn and has turned its back on the West. On the insistence of the loony West democracy's watchdog, the Turkish army, was sent to barracks and the Islamists won the day. Erdogan has already embraced Iran and Syria. He may even have strategic aspirations regarding the reconstitution of the Caliphate. Syria is back in charge in Lebanon, without anyone in the 'international community' crying foul over unacceptable meddling.

Hezbollah in the south of Lebanon has replenished its arsenal under the watchful eye of the UN peacekeepers (Iran state press claiming "UN confirms there are no hidden missiles in Lebanon").

Two weeks ago we witnessed how Israel was forced to trade security and sovereignty for propaganda with the terror flotilla. The Turkish model of the m/s "Mavi Marmara" was so successful that repeat performances are already under way. Lebanese and Iranian vessels, laden with martyr wannabes have been despatched to break the blockade of Gaza. The latter did so with unapologetic support of the regime.

Here's the gist of Ellian's post (partly paraphrased, partly verbatim translation).

Iran showed its true face with the killing of Neda Agha Sultan on June 20, 2009. The world stood by as she died. She wanted human rights and democratic principles. The regime wants laws based on the Koran, sharia and theocracy.

Neda was killed by a Basij, a member of the Islamofascist militia. A few days prior to her death she spoke to a couple of female police officers. They told her an awful truth: "Honey, you should stop going to these rallies, because you are too beautiful. They hate beautiful women. They hate beauty. I know them. Please stop going".

The regime and the militia are targetting beautiful women, because in their minds they must be secularists. Only secular women dare show their beauty. The Islamists hate everything human and beautiful. (Dare I say they share a value here with western Leftists, who also hate anything outstanding, such as wealth and wisdom.)

Neda was killed. There's newly discovered footage of her sad death (warning: explicit!). Antony Thomas has produced a documentary about Neda and her life. It also explains the Green movement and what it entails. It's an impressive document available in three languages: Farsie, Arabic and English.

"For Neda" is narrated by Shohreh Aghdashlo, a successful, Emmy Award winning actress who played in "House of Sand and Fog", "The Stoning of Soraya" and in the anti terror series "24". (See also a post on the Lighthouse on "The Stoning of Soraya".)

Shortly after Neda's death CNN secretly dispatched a young Iranian journalist to Tehran to interview her family. Who was she? In many ways a girl like any other in any other place in the world. But this wasn't just anywhere. This was the Islamic Republic of Iran.

In his last statement Mir Hussein Mousavi has laid out the Green movement's manifesto. Three concepts are standing out: the state of law, legitimacy and freedom. Legitimacy can only be based on the will of the people.

Allah, the highest spiritual leader, the Koran and sharia law are not mentioned as sources on which the political order draws its legitimacy. Moussavi is also proposing to scrap discriminatory laws affecting women.

Who was the true master of the Basij that was responsible for the act of terror that killed Neda? According to the hadith of Abu Hurairah the Prophet Mohammed was victorious through terror - ‘Wa nosrat belro’b’ means to win through terror.

Leader Khamenei is claiming to act according to the tradition of the Prophet. The Prophet Mohammed claims that victory through terror is one of his five attributes, not of his (pre Islamic) predecessors. The narrator of this often recited hadith is Jabir bin Abdullah.

It is Mohammed's terror that took the life of Neda on June 20, 2009. This is the truth.

Update: Oh hell, the Lebanese feminazis are coming!

JP: "A floating symbol of failure" 

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Also Sprach Zarathustra. And What Say You, Khamenei?

Afshin Ellian is blogging today on the rich pre Islamic cultures and religions of Iran. This Wednesday marks an important day in the tradition of Zoroastrianism. But it's caught up in the crack down of the regime on dissenters.

Rather than translating the entire post, due to time constraints have chosen in part for the descriptive style.

Iran is the only Muslim country with a strong pre Islamic consciousness. For centuries people have been trying to keep the traditions alive, none to the pleasure of the Ayatollahs.

In the Middle Ages the Islamic authorities declared the people of Zarathustra dhimmis, on par with Jews and Christians. This saved their lives.

- Capture: Chehel Sotoun's Wall painting, that dates back to the Safavid era, depicts a Chaharshanbe Suri celebration - 

Festivities begin on the eve of the last Wednesday of the year: Chaharshanbe Suri. Bonfires are lit. Jumping the flames cleanses the soul. It is followed by the green celebrations, the feast of the resurrection of nature. Not death, matyrdom, not paradise, but life in the here and now is celebrated.

Last night millions of people in Iran, Afghanistan, Tajikistan and Kurdistan celebrated victory of light over darkness. The Ayatollahs have been trying for centuries to declare the festivities unislamic. This year Ayatollah Khamenei pronounced a fatwa, denouncing the celebrations as irrational perfidy.

"Irrational? Is Islamic prayer rational? Is chopping off hands in the 21st century rational? Is the adoration of a building in Mekka rational? Perfidy? Is the rape of protesters not perfidy? What is perfidy? Having sex with a nine year old girl, or the celebration of the eternal light?

Will Khamenei's fatwa be respected? Will there be no celebrations this year? What's quite rational are the security measures taken in Tehran. The leaders of the green movement, Mousavi and Karoubi have been calling for the celebrations to proceed as usual. As a matter of intimidation the Revolutionary Court convicted six protesters to death. To no avail."

It started after sunset. Violent confrontations between security forces and protesters have been reported in Tehran, Isfaham, Mashhad, Ardebiel, Rasht, Boroujerd and other cities. The green movement isn't against Islam, but against the tyranny of the Islamists. Most greens want a secular state.

Watch the videos in the original post.

Update

Der Spiegel sits down with Neda Agha Soltan's fiance, the 38 year old journalist Caspian Makan, who fled the country and now lives in Canada.

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Upping the Anti in Iran

At the run up to the February 11 anniversary of the Iranian Revolution, President Ahmadinejad unleashed the usual rhetoric. Suitably impressed, the world is wondering what he'll do next after ratcheting up the uranium enrichment. Allow me to paraphrase what Ellian has been posting of late.

The terror engine is at full throttle. Opposition sources say up to 10,000 political prisoners are filling Tehran's jails and dungeons - among them, independent journalists. In order to encourage unity, minorities are being targeted as the enemy within.

The regime is again allowing the foreign media in the country, but they're kept on a short leash. A number of notable journalists have asked their international counterparts in an open letter not to heed the directions of Iranian Security. Houshang Asadi and other prominent journalists in exile have forwarded the letter to their Western colleagues.

The opposition has requested human rights campaigners, scientists, writers and others to go demonstrate on February 11. Opposition leader Mir Hussein Mousavi said in an interview with media site Kalame, the Iranian Revolution in the end did not succeed. The goal was freedom, which to date hasn't been achieved. He emphasized that religious tyranny is the most evil and dangerous form of dictatorship of all.

While the real rallies will be held elsewhere, the Government plans to fill the streets with family members of the Revolutionary Guard, the Basij militia and mercenaries. The idea being that official press and television will be reporting on the staged state demonstrations, instead of the real protests.

The regime is very much afraid of Ceauşescu type developments. The Romanian dictator was hackled live on state television in 1989 (not unlike Venezuelan Castro wannabe, Hugo Chavez): a few days later Ceauşescu and Mrs C. were made history. So, for good measure only family members of loyalist troops will attend A/jad's party.

He's no longer able to deceive the people with cheap, nationalistic speeches. They aren't impressed with claims of upping uranium enrichment to twenty percent.

Ellian has promised daily updates throughout the coming week.

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Of Demons and Angels, and the Left's Brutal Contradictions

Afshin Ellian has a touching post up on Elsevier. He has the latest from Iran, and it isn't good. He also tells an anecdotal story about the Left and the apparent contradictions besetting their relationship with liberty and power.

I've found it very helpful in such cases to ask myself the question: which course of action would hurt the West most (and I mean West in the sense of "the free world"). Because that - when all justifications have been said and done - is the ultimate target.

Since Ellian's post is as lengthy as it is illustratieve, I'd narrate it rather than make a verbatim translation, allowing a few annotations in the process.

We're on the eve of the ten day period in Iran, that marks the beginning of the Islamofascist revolution. The Shah was deemed a demon, the Ayatollah Khomeini, in exile in Paris at the time, was considered an angel.

The latter flew back to Tehran, accompanied by a planeload of Western journalists. They were there to protect Khomeini, reasoning in their hubris that the Shah's military would think twice before shooting all of them down.

Western and Iranian intellectuals supported Khomeini. Those in Iran paid the price with their lifes, but the Western Left's support was completely gratuitous. Until the mass executions started the French Postmodern philosopher Michel Foucault (1926-1984) used to refer to Islamists as "the regime of truth" (in fact, he wouldn't have recognized truth if he were to fall over it!). Then he changed his mind, but it was too late for many.

Western intellectuals had an enormous influence on the Iranian intelligentsia. Many would not have supported the regime, if it wasn't for their Western counterparts' seal of approval.Yet there are many in Europe and the US who still support political Islam.

Ellian brings up his own case and that of Ayaan Hirsi Ali in the Netherlands. They find only a few intellectuals in their corner. He and Hirsi Ali are "traumatized", "Islam as such does not exist", poverty breeds angry Muslims", "a moderate Islam does exist", are only a few of their justifications. Ellian: "Political Islam isn't the problem, it's us!"

In the same way the existence of Iron Curtain was ignored. To this day the Left is ever prepared to criticize Eastern Europe, because it cheered freedom when it finally came. The democratically elected government in Baghdad will probably be detested forever.

Back on the plane from Paris to Tehran, Khomeini assured the assembled journalists he wanted freedom - indeed even for liberals and communists! And he wanted a French style Republic for the people. But he secretly carried with him the draft for an Islamic Constitution based on Sharia Law.

His heirs are now scared to death, because in the coming days lots of resistance protesters are expected to hit the streets again. They are supported by ordinary Western folk, but not by our intellectuals.

To intimidate the people the Islamofascists have executed a number of prisoners. Mohmad Reza Alizamani en Arash Rahmanipour (19) were hanged for participating in protest rallies.

Ellian concludes: "Islamists lie and cheat. They represent death. This is why death will remove them. The aggressor's fate is tragic. But every game has it's end game."

Update:

Get this great post by NASA psychiatrist Dr Sanity: "WHEN DOES DENIAL BECOME SOCIOPATHY? WE WITNESSED THE PROCESS LAST NIGHT"

For some obscure reason (not really), after watching the State of the Union address last night delivered by our President, I feel I must repost some material previously written about the relationship between denial, narcissism, and sociopathy. (...) What happens when psychological denial ceases to be unconscious and becomes a deliberate, willful, and consciously evil behavior-- in spite of all the accumulated evidence of its malignant impact on real people in the real world? At that point we can safely assume that we are no longer dealing with a purely defensive structure in the psyche; we are dealing with aggressive, unadulterated sociopathy. (...) Read it all >>>

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Breaking News From Iran

"Mutiny in the Military"

by Afshin Ellian

Breaking news!

Pundits and diplomats have been wondering why the Iranian regime is loath to use the China model against protesters and opponents in the Green Wave movement. The China model stands for an extremely brutal, widespread and violent crack down on the opposition. Well, what does it mean?

Tanks and armed military charging and firing into the crowds. A wave of executions is also included in the model. Applied to Iran that would mean deploying around three in the morning and arresting anyone 'green'.

All means of communication are shut down simultaneously. Citizens will be waking up to an address by the leader who declares the rallies over. Thousands will be executed. Swiftness and brutality is the essence of the China model. Why doesn't Khamenei do that?

He pondered it this summer before he became indisposed. He even gave the order to arrest opposition leader Mousavi. But he withdrew the order when he was told that Iran would explode.

But a more important reason may be found in the military themselves. The Army and swathes of the Revolutionary Gard (RG) would have chosen the side of the people. Khamenei's military power would have collapsed. There were indications for that, but not proof. But that has now changed.

So far the Iranian Armed Forces have not been involved in oppressive action against the people. On December 10 a number of officers and commanders issued a statement. The statement was signed by:

- A number of Pilots and employees of the Airborne Division of the Iranian Army (Havanirooz);
- A number of commanders and employees of the 33rd Artillery of Isfahan;
- A number of pilots and personnel of the Iranian Air Force;
- Lecturers at the Shaid Satari Air Force University;
- A number of officers and personnel at the Logistics Training Center of the Iranian Army;
- A number of professors and lecturers at the Imam Ali University for Army Officers;

- A number of officers, personnel and commanders of the Armed Forces Chief of Staff.

The declaration reads:

"We have been fighting together with our brothers in the Revolutionary Gard to defend the nation, the people and our honor". They emphasized that ... "the value of the country is the value of the nation". That's interesting!

It isn't abstract concepts like Iran or Islam, but it's the value of the nation that is the value of the country. Therefore the weapons of the Armed Forces and RG are disposed to the defense of the nation: "When we fought together, we had no inkling that a part of the RG would turn their weapons against the people."

The short declaration issued by these brave officers will render them immortal: "The Armed Forces are a place of refuge to the nation and will never oppress the people at the request of politicians. We will stand by our pledge not to intervene in politics. But we will not be silent when our compatriots are oppressed by tyranny."

"Therefore we warn the gardists who have betrayed the martyrs (of the Iran-Iraq War) and decided to taint the lives, properties and honor of our civilians. We give them clear warning that if they don't see the error of their ways, they will have to deal with us. We will defend the peace loving Iranian nation against any form of aggression".

The declaration has been published on the sites of various human rights organizations, Iran Press News, Amir Kabir and Gooya.

I've discussed it with various sources inside and outside Iran. It is real. If Khamenei will have these officers arrested, resistance will spread like wildfire to all barracks.

It is ironic that Air Force officers have now joined ranks with the people. Thirty years ago that was also the case when the Shah was toppled in just a few weeks' time. Now that his power is waning in the military, American and European diplomats should warn Khamenei of the consequences of his rule.

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The Women of the Iranian Vanguard

After Veterans and Remembrance Day it is once again opportune we turn our attention to tyranny elsewhere - Iran.

Although the danger exists the protestors of the Green Revolt are merely exchanging an Islamofascist collective for one of a different brand, that is a chance we'll have to take right now. They have been pushed under the Obama bus, victims of a deeply erratic foreign policy. Can someone please get the Obama from underneath that thick layer of egg?

We need to keep up exposing the crimes of the regime. Dutch-Iranian refugee, pundit and Leiden University lecturer Afshin Ellian, has another important post up on Elsevier. Here follows a free translation.

Fundamentalist Muslims Hate Women

The entire regime is in question. There are many dead and wounded; hundreds of protestors have been arrested. Primarily women.

Protestors have also addressed American foreign policy. Not against the country, but the President: "Obama, Obama, are you with us or with them?"

[Grim video material of street clashes moved to file.]

While Obama has already written two dear-Iranian-leader letters, the people themselves have called on him to support them instead. American foreign policy is called into question.

The world has noticed the role of women in the revolt against the Islamists. Also last week women took the lead. Oxfort University has instituted a philosophy scholarship in the name of Neda.

The Revolutionary Guard (RG) is prepared to crack down hard. A boy in Isfahan was shot to death as he prepared to enter his home.

Also the Basij militia is unleashed on the people. These Iranian brownshirts are being recruited from outposts and jails. They are often common criminals. Various sources have told me that on November 4th every Basij pocketed 400 dollars for services rendered ... the killing of citizens.

I heard they were particularly tough on women. One of the leaders of the opposition, Karoubi, has confirmed this. Pictures are shocking. In this footage a woman is attacked by a RG member called Mohammad Jawad Ebrahimi. The man who shot the film is employed by the security services. The pictures of course were shot to prosecute the women, not the guardsman.

Elsewhere in a parking garage a wounded woman is being treated. Why do these Muslim fundamentalists hate women so much? And why were they ordered to target them?Well, women are in de vanguard of the battle for liberty and democracy.

This film shows an almost unislamic scene. "Death to Khamenei" is painted on the wall. A woman directs a crowd in chant: "He (the leader) who claims to be just, is a liar and a murderer."

This is why they hate women. They are the leaders of this Green Revolt. There's no stopping them.

- More posts by Afshin Ellian on the situation in Iran

Who Will Speak Up for Individual Rights in #IranElection?

As even the political show trial in Iran stands symbol for collectivist injustice, it must be said that the tone of some of the reactions to our withdrawal from actively supporting the Iran uprising, serves to confirm the correctness of this decision. As said, God's speed to the collectivists in establishing regime change in Iran, but we fail to see what good it would do to exchange an Islamofascist regime with a (crypto) Socialist one. 

But should anyone actually be interested in freedom, this film explains the philosophy of liberty in the simplest possible terms. 

Here's the translation of today's Afshin Ellian post in Elsevier:

Images of the Dead Keep Emerging

Over the last thirty years crimes have been committed in the name of religion and belief, so cry out the people of Iran.

Is that true? Is it already thirty years that crimes against humanity are being perpetrated? I have spoken at length about the mass executions of 1988, how the regime within the course of just a few weeks, killed thousands of political prisoners. Even today photos and films of murdered students keep emerging. I've seen photos of Hussein Akhtarzand's body. These images paint a picture of civilians being tortured to death. Akhtarzand was a bachelor from Isfahan, a hard working man of 33 who earned a living for his younger brothers and sisters.

- Caption: Afshin Ellian - 

Neda
Information has emerged that journalist Ali Reza Eftakhari (working for newspaper Abrar Eqtesadi) was also tortured to death. Mir Hussein Mousavi says hundreds so far have been killed. But one victim has become the international face of Iran's green wave: Neda Agha Soltan. The 26 year old philosophy student was shot last month on Karegar Street in Tehran. On that day -  in order to terrorize the people - those in power decided to set a few examples. To date we knew little of Neda.

This week her mother gave a short interview to Voice of America and Radio Farda. In both interviews she emphasized that Neda did not belong to any group in particular. She just wanted Iran to be free. Here follows a short translation of the interview on Radio Farda.

Neda's mother: "We attended rallies together.  Recently she had taken up these activities. She liked going. That Saturday Neda asked me to go with her. I had other urgent matters to attend to. I asked her not to go, because things could turn nasty. But she insisted."

First she attended music lessons. Then, together with her music teacher, she went to the rally. It was a hot and busy day. They got out of the car. 

Teargas
Neda's mother: "She left the music school at 16:00. We spoke on the phone twice. She told me rounds of teargas were being fired. Then she fled into an ally to get back to the car. She was only 26 steps away from it. (Could the mother be confusing the age of her daughter with the number of steps, the distance to the car, the distance between life and death? A.E.). Her uncle had also had contact with Neda just ten minutes before her death. She said they had been lighting cigarettes to diminish the effect of the teargas. That was the last time someone has spoken to her. I was called at around 18:00 by the teacher who told me she was hit by a bullet and was taken to Shariati hospital."

Radio Farda: What did you find at the hospital?

Neda's mother: "I had called Neda's brother and sister. They arrived before I did. Her teacher told me she was hit in the leg. There was blood all over his clothes. I asked them: tell me what happened to Neda.

They told me she was hit in the shoulders. I asked: not the heart? In truth, Neda was long gone. She had died on the way to hospital. She was brought there to finish some paper work. I asked to see her. I begged them to let me see my daughter. No, they said, she's having an operation. But shortly after they told Neda's sister and her husband that Neda had died.

I saw from their faces what had happened. Then I went blank."

Buried
On the orders of the security services Neda was quietly buried the next day at 15:00 on an allocated site on Behshte-Zahra. The YouTube video of her death was available on the Internet since Saturday evening. On Sunday morning many (like myself) checked to see if it wasn't a fake. That morning I posted my article to inform you of Neda's death. Geert Wilders MP immediately demanded an emergency debate in Parliament. In the afternoon CNN, and afterwards also the BBC, started broadcasting the footage. That Sunday afternoon she was reborn as Neda, the voice of freedom. Has Neda's mother seen the film? Did she see how her daughter died?

Neda's mom: "No, I'm not allowed to see it. I heard it is a moving video that has impressed many people. Her brother cries every time he sees it. But I haven't been able to see it yet; I haven't been able to see the last moments my child was alive."

In a conversation with Voice of America she thanks the world's citizens of Europe, America and Asia.  She also thanked those politicians who declared solidarity with her daughter. Your Government is dead, our Neda (voice) is not, many in Tehran  said during the commemorations.

Afshin Ellian (wiki in English)


P.S. Next week I will answer your questions on the intelligence services and the power structure of Iran.




- Filed on Articles in "Ellian Blogs" - 

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" - 

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" - 

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" -