Persian Realm

Not just the African press

Thanks DK for the post on Taylor.  I hope the time that tyrants can get away with murdering with impunity is coming closer to a close.  I saw the AP piece on it yesterday.

Below is the trailer of an excellent documentary "Pray the devil back to hell" about the peaceful demonstrations of the women of Liberia against violence.  You may have already seen it.   If not, I recommend it.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uon9CcoHgwA

The narrator of the trailer is Leymah Gbowee the Liberian Noble peace Prize winner (2011) for organizing and leading the women of Liberia.   

African press hails Taylor verdict as warning to other leaders

'Watch out' (bbc)

African press hails Taylor verdict as warning to other leaders

Many newspapers in Africa have welcomed the guilty verdict against former Liberian leader Charles Taylor, who was convicted of aiding and abetting war crimes committed during the Sierra Leone civil war.

Commentators say the verdict, handed down by the UN-backed Special Court for Sierra Leone, marks an end to impunity and should serve as a warning to all rights abusers in Africa - past, present and future.

Touring the international courts and tribunals of The Hague

Inside the city of justiceWatch (BBC, VIDEO)

Touring the international courts and tribunals of The Hague

The Hague is known as the international city of peace and justice.

The Dutch city hosts of a variety of international courts and tribunals where war crimes trials are conducted.

With the verdict on former Liberian President Charles Taylor due in the Special Court for Sierra Leone, the city is once again likely to be in the glare of the global spotlight.

Anna Holligan takes a tour around the city, to visit the four main courts based there and find out what the differences are.

ICC Judge finds Charles Taylor guilty of Sierra Leone war crimes

Judge delivers verdictWatch (BBC, VIDEO)

Former Liberian leader Charles Taylor has been found guilty of aiding and abetting war crimes during the Sierra Leone civil war at a trial in The Hague

Taylor has been on trial at the Special Court for Sierra Leone for almost five years.

He was accused of backing rebels who killed tens of thousands during Sierra Leone's 1991-2002 civil war.

Related:

Liberia's Charles Taylor guilty of Sierra Leone war crimes (cnn) 

ICC: Former Liberia president Charles Taylor to learn fate

Critical moment for international justice (bbc, VIDEO)

Former Liberia President Charles Taylor will hear The Hague whether he has been found guilty of war crimes and crimes against humanity.

Mr Taylor is accused of fuelling Sierra Leone's brutal civil war in the 1990s.

He denies all 11 charges including murder, rape, mutilations and the use of child soldiers.

The BBC's World Affairs correspondent Peter Biles reports. 

ICC: 'Great evidence' on Gadhafi son

ICC: 'Great evidence' on Gadhafi son (CNN, VIDEO)

Tripoli, Libya (CNN) -- Libyan prosecutors have gathered "great evidence" against the son of former dictator Moammar Gadhafi, International Criminal Court chief prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo said Thursday, reopening the controversial question of where Saif al-Islam Gadhafi will be tried.

Both the International Criminal Court and Libya's new authorities want to put him on trial, and the two sides have been battling over it since his capture in November.

• NEW: Interim prime minister insists Libya can give Saif al-Islam Gadhafi a fair trial
• NEW: "We intend to project the real image of the new Libya," the prime minister says
• Libya and the International Criminal Court have been battling over where he will face trial
• Saif al-Islam Gadhafi was captured in November

Rwanda genocide suspect sent home

Rwanda genocide suspect sent home (bbc)

The UN tribunal trying Rwandan genocide suspects transfers pastor Jean-Bosco Uwinkindi to Kigali - the first suspect to face justice in Rwanda.

Judging the judges: UK debates reforming European Court of HR

Judging the judges (bbc)

UK leads debate on reforming European Court of Human Rights

The UK is chairing a special conference in Brighton, on England's south coast, to consider how to reform the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR).

The conference on 19-20 April aims to produce a declaration agreed by all 47 nations in the Council of Europe, which will modify the way the court handles human rights cases.

ICC prosecutor arrives in Libya to discuss case Gaddafi's son

The chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) arrives in Libya to discuss the case of Col Gaddafi's son Saif al-Islam, indicted for crimes against humanity.

'Libya trial' for Gaddafi's son rather than by ICC

'Libya trial' for Gaddafi's son (bbc)

Saif al-Islam Gaddafi could be tried in Libya, rather than by the International Criminal Court, officials close to the case tell the BBC.

ICC demands Saif al-Islam Gaddafi's transfer

ICC prosecutor rejects Palestinian recognition

The prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) has rejected a request by the Palestinian Authority to recognise the court's jurisdiction.

The decision blocks a move to have the war crimes tribunal based at The Hague investigate the 2008-2009 Gaza war.

The prosecutor said it was up to "relevant bodies" at the UN or ICC member countries to determine whether Palestine qualified as a "state".

Only then could it sign the court's founding treaty, the Rome Statute.

France to extradite Rwanda genocide suspect

Libya, France, ICC seek extradition of Gaddafi's ex-spy chief

Nazi camp guard Demjanjuk dies in bed

John Demjanjuk, who was found guilty for his role as a guard at a Nazi death camp in World War II, has died aged 91, German police say.

He had been sentenced in May 2011 by a German court to five years in prison, but was released pending an appeal.

He died at a home for the elderly.

The court said Demjanjuk, 91, was a guard at Sobibor camp in Nazi-occupied Poland in 1943. He denied this, saying he was a prisoner of war and a victim too.

An estimated 250,000 people died in the gas chambers at Sobibor. Demjanjuk was convicted of being an accessory to the murder of the 28,060 people who were killed there while he was a guard.

Demjanjuk's family said during his trial that he was very ill.

Gaddafi spy chief Abdullah al-Senussi held in Mauritania

Gaddafi's espionage chief 'held' (bbc)

The intelligence chief of former Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi has been arrested in Mauritania, reports say.

Officials said Abdullah al-Senussi was detained at Nouakchott airport.

Mr Senussi, 63, was Gaddafi's brother-in-law, and has been described as one of his most trusted aides.

He fled Libya when Gaddafi was ousted and killed last year after an uprising and months of fighting. He is wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for crimes against humanity.

Mauritanian security officials said Mr Senussi was arrested during the night as he arrived on a regular flight from the Moroccan city of Casablanca on a false Malian passport.

Neither the ICC nor the Libyan government have been unable to confirm the reports.

The BBC's Sebastian Usher says that if he is in custody he could provide the most detailed insights so far into the inner workings of the Gaddafi regime.

Does the ICC cost too much? 10 years, $900m, one verdict

The price of justice (bbc)

By Jon SilvermanProfessor of Media and Criminal Justice, University of Bedfordshire

The International Criminal Court has delivered its first judgement, after a decade in existence, and spending nearly a $1bn. Critics say it costs too much, but is this fair?

The International Criminal Court (ICC) currently has an annual budgetof over $140m (£90m) and 766 staff.

Since its inception, its estimated expenditure has been around $900m (£600m).

With only one completed trial to show for a decade of effort and expenditure, the ICC has faced regular criticism that it sucks in investment with few results to show for it.

Congo warlord guilty in Hague court first verdict

The International Criminal Court finds Congolese warlord Thomas Lubanga guilty of recruiting and using child soldiers - the court's first verdict.

The International Criminal Court (ICC) has found the Congolese warlord, Thomas Lubanga, guilty of recruiting and using child soldiers between 2002 and 2003.

It is the court's first verdict since it was set up 10 years ago. He will be sentenced at a later hearing.

Did you say "former" crown prince Ms Zolfaghari?

Arash

I want IR gone as much as the most anti-IR person does. But I don't want to shoot myself in the foot in the process. You can talk about Israel being a democracy in America. It sells well around here; not in Iran.

If Reza Pahlavi is brought to power with Israeli power he will never live it down. Do you want a repeat of 1953? Yes IR may be overthrown but the resentment will remain. Imagine songs about "Submission to Israel" by modern versions of Farhad. A new revived Islamic opposition. It will haunt Iran for another 30 years and keep us back. No thank you. Some help is better avoided not matter how "good intentioned". Besides it is not necessary and very dangerous.

I don't know how old you are and where you got raised. But you are not dealing with Americans. Not even dealing with Iranian Americans. You are rather dealing with Iranians. Many of whom have had anti-Israeli propaganda shoved in their minds for years. Now Iranians happen to be infatuated with America but not Israel. Therefore help from America may be accepted. But from Israel: don't you think about it! The only result will be a backlash and a very major one I guarantee.

veiled prophet of Khorasan

Just as Khomeini used PLO and other terrorist organisations to help him with his revolution, now the opposition should use any means ( Israel included) to fight back. By the way unlike IR we should not have any problem with Israel. After all Israel is the only democracy in Middle East.

Arash

Reza Pahlavi must use any means ( massive help from U.S and Israel) to prepare himself for a battle with IR otherwise he will not have any chance. 

Do you realize what an Israeli American attack will do? It will destroy any credibility Reza Pahlavi has in Iran. Israel my foot! What just to prove all Khamenei said is right? Are we crazy to deliberately discredit Reza Pahlavi.

The one thing that is true is mistrust of Israel among Iranians. You may not be happy about it but it is true. So get used to it and accept it. Anything that happens must be first started in Iran. Then only supported by outside.

In addition there should be no overt Israeli involvement. Better to have no Israeli at all. Plus there is no need for it since anything requires internal support. Please think about results of what you are asking before doing it.

Re: battle with IR will be ...

No it will not if done right. I posted this a minute ago on another blog:

//iranian.com/main/blog/yasmine/make-your...

But I will re post it here.

The most effective way is to get Iranians to rise. America reviewed potential alternatives and to her credit Hillary did not go for MEK. Now it seems as if she is reviewing Reza Pahlavi. I hope she does support him. Meanwhile they want to get Iranian people and military angry at their rulers. In order to get there America is tightening the screws one notch at a time. It will take a couple of years. But if Obama gets a second them I feel Islamic Republic is done. President Obama is a very thoughtful and calculating man. He benefits from Hillary who seems to get what is going on. Putting aside the campaign rhetoric she is pretty smart. Just pray that Obama wins; and specially that Newt does not. 

THe battle with IR will be a tough one!

Reza Pahlavi is without doubt the most favourable leader in opposition and is loved by millions in and outside Iran. However he knows that without a strong, well organised team ( political party) he will never be able to toppel IR. IR is a tough regime and will not give up without a fight. The events in future in Iran will be very similar to Libya or Syria and not much like Egypt and Tunesia.

Reza Pahlavi must use any means ( massive help from U.S and Israel) to prepare himself for a battle with IR otherwise he will not have any chance. 

Brave move...but..

You need to consistently and perisitently lobby all member governmets to counter IRI's bribing them with its corrupt finacial power.

Well done my brave king. You remind me of Bahraam who had to win his crown from the den of two wild beasts (lions). In your case there are 3: Rahbar-e Malóon, Russia and China.
Good luck to you my king!

Good move RP

This should flag the Mullahs that they are being watched and hold accountable. 

Respect

I have my doubts whether this will work, but i have all the respect in the world for this man. 

A republican's view

As a skeptic but long-time observer of the former crown prince, I must admit this is quite an intriguing move.

Bold, for sure!  Out of the box, for sure!  More than we have seen for a loooooong time
from any, I mean any, member of our opinion maker, "elites!"     

True, it may be a long-shot or an exercise in futility, but it is a novel way of staging our
national cause for the international community to respond to. 

Sure the mollah’s allies on the UN Security Council
will dissalow, through veto or parliamentary maneuvers, their protégé and chief client, Ali Khamenie, to be embarrassed. 
But let them!  I would imagine
there is victory in telling the Islamic Shi’a world that it took two
godless people (Atheist China and Atheist Putin) to save their Super-Duper Leader's Tail (as in roobah). 

For his move, this “republican” says Mr. Reza Pahlavi deserves
accolades.

Now, come on, be fair and think about it, wont you?

I wish him every success in

I wish him every success in this endeavor. We just have to wait and see what happens.

A state of war only serves as an excuse for domestic tyranny.--Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn.

The cornered rat syndrome

“Doctrine of command responsibility, where commanders,  all the way up the chain of command to the leader (Rahbar), can be held liable for war crimes their inferiors commit if the commander knew or should have known they might be committed and did nothing to stop or prevent them”

Would the success of RP’s request not make a dangerous rat even more dangerous.

Up until now a lot of the IRI criminals from Rahbar downwards, have been hoping that if one day the proverbial S**t   hits the fan, they can catch a chopper to a deserted airfield and fly out of Iran.

If on the other hand they become internationally wanted criminals they would no longer have that option and may then have to stay and fight to the bitter end.

Most these dictators seem to have a group of people prepared to stay with them to the end.  As a so called Shia Islamic leader Khamenei can end up having a lot more followers resulting in a bloody civil war. 

This could drag the situation on,  causing a lot more deaths and destruction, when otherwise the potential of a quick getaway and a sanctuary may just get the rat out of its hole. 

We can then use international law to go after them just as they think they’d gotten away with it.