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" 

Gerelateerd

- "Ellian Blogs"
- "Persian Power Play"
- "Turkey Trot"
- "The Levant Intrigate Intrigues"
- "Middle East Project"
- "The Flotilla Tactic"

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" - 

Team O's Pre-election Overtures

Breaking News: 
The Washington Times: "EXCLUSIVE - US Contacted Iran's Ayatollah Before Elections - Administration overture to Khamenei ridiculed in sermon"


Read it all! And then come back, hear John McCain and learn why ...



"Diplomatic Neutrality is Not an Option"

As we've explained in these pages over the last couple of days, neutrality in the presence of evil is a myth. It doesn't exist. A neutral stance translates into siding with it. Too bad for postmodern society, but a moral choice is on the cards. In Bush terms: you're either for us, or against us. You either support the people of Iran, or you end up on the scrapheap of history with the evil ayatollahs and other apologists of oppressing regimes.

The Washington Times today tells of Neda - the iconic martyr created by the mullahs. A video of her killing has been posted here on the specific request of our contact in Tehran. Please pass it on. A single girl might bring down an entire regime of angry old men  - who knows, save the world from nuclear terrorism.

The TWT editorial confronts the American administration with its stark choices (who could have thought!):

"As recently as a month ago, many Americans doubted that the Iranian people wanted democratic change. That debate is over. No one can credibly claim that the West is foisting the ideals of freedom on Iran's millions. They are telling us through their actions that these truths are self evident and not limited to any culture, time or place. To paraphrase Thomas Jefferson, they are placing before mankind the common sense of the subject in terms so plain and firm as to command their assent."

Afshin Ellian is further clarifying his and Geert Wilders' demand  earlier this week for the Dutch Embassador to Iran be recalled and diplomatic ties severed between the countries.

In debates with opponents Ahmadinejad maintained that his foreign policies are very successful. He needed to do that because his rivals identified him as a dangerous adventurer. Ahmadinejad countered by pointing out that because of his policies, 

the Americans no longer pushed for regime change. And the Europeans would be willing to strengthen ties with Iran as evidenced by the fact that Europe is Iran's largest trading partner. In other words, foreign policy is the central theme in the discourse.

The regime is pointing the finger at the West for stoking social unrest. A ludicrous accusation: it is rather disingenuous to tell Iranian mothers that their children are acting on the behest of the CIA, Mosad, AIVD and MI5.

At the same time the regime presents itself as a stable, internationally recognized state. Important in that respect are North America and Europe, because of young Iranian protesters' affinities with these continents. The business world of Tehran is standing before a stark choice: participate with the people, or remain neutral.

If the policies of Europe change, they cannot maintain an attitude of neutrality. Even more so, because another rally has started around 4 PM [ed. yesterday June 23rd]. This means that the business sector is no longer able to function as of noon. And they are profoundly anxious what might happen to their own children en grandchildren participating in the rallies.

What do we win in severing diplomatic ties?

- It is a strong signal to Tehran. Angela Merkel has affirmed Germany's support of the protesters. In so doing she undercut the legitimacy of the Iranian Government. Simultaneously the Iranian people will take it as a firm endorsement.

- A clearer and sharper European policy will cause the regime's elite to split. It is already

devided and they are facing a people who won't stop mass demonstrations. There are also a number of international interests at stake: peace, security and democracy in the Middle East.

- And the humanitarian situation? We must not forget the Iranian state is responsible for the safety and wellbeing of the people. There is not a civil war going on yet that might warrant humanitarian assistence.

The Italian Embassy offering emergency assistence to a number of the injured, is just symbolism. The absolute majority of  wounded cannot be helped by Western embassies. The wounded are usually treated at home by doctors and nurses. The moment the Netherlands or any other EU countries start assisting injured protesters in any significant way, the Iranian Government will start blocking the roads to these embassies.

And finally in the coming days we can expect more casualties, some will be fatal. But after thirty years of state terrorism there's a real chance to influence the government of Iran in a positive way. That should be the main focus now, also of European nations.

The price for change is high. But if the regime doesn't change, the price will be even higher. If Khamenei stays on, the killings will go on on a greater scale and the European embassies will be powerless to act.

So sever ties and send a clear message to the Government and to the people of Iran. Neda Salehi was remembered yesterday on a square in Iranian style: after a few minutes the rally was violently broken up. Neda was probably killed by a professional sniper of the Revolutionary Guard. Civilians are usually bludgeoned to death by their leaders. 

To instill fear some demonstrators have been shot from rooftops. The same tactic was used in Sarajevo. The people's answer is: Natarsid, natarsid ma hame ba ham hastim, do not be afraid, do not be afraid, we are together. Wouldn't that be a beautiful motto for EU foreign policy?

P.S.

Many ask me in the Netherlands and abroad why I do not include more messages in my blog. It's simply not wise to do so. I only disclose matters if I can do so without endangering people's lives.