Meeting Mahbod

Last Friday, I visited the “Book Soup” on Sunset Blvd in Los Angeles to attend a book reading by Mahbod Seraji, the author of Rooftops of Tehran. Given the recent events in Iran, the atmosphere at this gathering started off somber. However, the heaviness melted just as soon as Mahbod took to the podium to tell us about his journey from a young reader on the rooftops of Tehran, poring over Jack London, to a writer of his first novel which promises to become a bestseller. Mahbod’s positive energy and impeccable delivery put me at ease immediately. Together with Sepi Seraji, his better half, the couple managed to inject just enough genuine camaraderie to the atmosphere in order make it an enjoyable evening for all>>>

Simplistic and shallow

During this highly emotional and volatile period in our history “Stoning of Soraya M” is released and what a timely arrival as if Hollywood had possessed a looking glass into the future. At the first glance, a movie that exposes the brutality of theocratic regime and its repressive laws and customs must be welcomed by all freedom loving Iranians, but the whole project reeks of an odious distortion. Presumably, in pursuit of freedom and justice we must embrace any document that exposes the brutality of evil and dark forces that extinguishes life and liberty. But the film makes rather spurious presumptions, and that is precisely the problem with the film; Iran is an arid land dominated by forces of darkness and evil doers>>>

Facts and Beyond

The disputed Iranian election of June 12th returned Ahmadinejad to office with a huge margin of votes over his main rival, Mousavi. Given Ahmadinejad’s track record for the past four years, there is a fear that he may interpret his official victory as an unconditional mandate to continue business as usual contrary to the demands of the opposition: an opening up to the West, more freedom, cutting back on handouts, and more. There is no hard evidence to either support or dismiss the official results. Recounting the votes will not resolve the dispute as a suspicion will always remain as to whether some of Mousavi’s votes were discarded. Rerunning the ballot vote has been ruled out by the ones holding the power>>>

Last night

I need ample shoulders
For this last night

I need new eyes
To stare at death

I need a caring friend
To tell the pain >>>

گفتی - گفتم

گفتی کودتا می کنم
گفتم برای من فرقی نمی کند
گفتی باتون یا گلوله می خواهی
گفتم  انتخاب با توست
گفتی اعتراض می کنی؟
گفتم اعتراض را قبول ندارید >>>

از چنگالش خون باز هم

حقه‌ها در حقه ها
مردان زنان حتا کودکان
را لحظاتی بی حس
اما آفتاب فصل بیداری
و مردمی مقاوم باز هم
ایران زنی با ندای آزادی
در هم میشکند
اسارت از رژیم تازی
>>>

یک هفته قبل، یک هفته بعد

یک هفته قبل از انتخابات رفتم ایران. سالها بود که در ایران سوار قطار نشده بودم. در واقع از چند سال قبل از انقلاب که بچه بودم و همراه مادرم چندین بار با قطار از آبادان که محل تولد و زندگی من بود به تهران رفتیم و برگشتیم. البته آبادان که ایستگاه قطار نداشت، باید میرفتیم خرمشهر که چسبیده به آبادان بود. حالا بعد سالها دوباره در ایران با قطار مسافرت میکردم. مدتهاست به خودم یاد داده ام که مقایسه نکنم. مخصوصاً مقایسه چیزهایی که میبینم و تجربه میکنم در ایران با سوییس. این یک قیاس مع الفارق است و اصلاً جایش نیست. چون غیر از ناراحتی و عذاب چیزی عاید نمیشود. سعی میکنم که هر چیز را با شرایط محیط خودش و امکاناتش مقایسه کنم تا کمتر غصه بخورم. بگذریم که در این حالت هم کم نیست شرایطی که غمم میگیرد.>>>

In our hands

If the expatriate community can unite it can become a very powerful force, far stronger than the American and Israeli military forces that some mistakenly think is the only option for change. Once the expatriate community unites it can then empower Iranians in Iran. It is estimated that the total wealth of the expatriate community is above $600,000,000,000. If one percent of this can be directed towards bringing about freedom and democracy in Iran we would be a power strong enough to take on the totalitarian regime in Iran. The first step is to organize and unite those that are willing to work for freedom and democracy in Iran>>>

قصه از کجا شروع شد؟!

داستان از اینجا شروع شد: از آنجا که خامنه ای در جریان حمایت آیت الله خمینی از میرحسین موسوی و سنگ روی یخ کردن ایشان٬ از میرحسین کینه گرفته بود٬ پس از فوت آیت الله٬ با همدستی هاشمی رفسنجانی٬ درصدد انتقام برآمده و با تغییر قانون اساسی٬ میرحسین موسوی را برای مدت بیست سال به کناری نهادند. در آن زمان دو مورد اساسی وجود داشت که آقایان آنها را بین خود تقسیم کردند٬ آقای خامنه ای قدرت را برداشت و آقای هاشمی ثروت را! سالها گذشت تا خامنه ای متوجه شود قدرت در آنجاست که پول باشد. همچنین با رجوع به سابقه تاریخی متوجه شد که در روز کودتای ۲۸ مرداد سال ۱۳۳۲ ٬ همان آدمهایی که در صبح فریاد "درود بر مصدق" را سر می دادند٬ با پولهای سرازیر شده از سوی امریکا٬ در ظهر همان روز شعار " مرگ بر مصدق " را سر دادند و این هیچ دلیلی نداشت جز وجود آن پول کثیف!>>>

Green Street

You won't be free unless you help me to get my freedom. Don't remain silent while in the dark of night you hear screams of mothers for the lives of their kids. Don't cover your ears when you hear the cries of the children for their mothers and fathers who have been shot by hooligans. They're trying to silence them and me and take away the thirst for freedom when they are done with us they will look for you. Yes, my friend, my freedom is your freedom. Therefore, I beg you, to please post on this site any media that can show injustices to freedom fighters. – Jabi, on Facebook. For the Iranian people everything begins on June 12, 2009, with their 10th presidential election since the 1979 Islamic Revolution>>>

The Marchers Turn Green

Like the sprouts of wheat
Which must grow green,
The marchers turn green.
They have green ballots in their hands
And red passion in their veins,
Oblivious to death
Who is wearing a dirty turban
And a long dark robe.
"This land belongs to us >>>

"نِـدا"ی آزادی

همه ناقوس های جهان بـا هـم
تنها  نامِ  تو را  می نوازند ...
که این
آفتابِ امیـدهای توست
که روزنه های ریزِ بشارت را
در شبهای تمامیتِ تلخِ تاریخ
و در نبضِ پُر تپشِ هر خُرداد
به تداوم می تپد ... >>>

Man in the mirror

"That man staring back
through my spiked bathroom mirror
is an impostor.
Dark, almost shining
skin ought to be porcelain
to match my decor.
The nose too, too wide,
this is not what I paid for
in my wonderland. >>>