Last week, Akbar Ganji received the annual award from Rights and Democracy (or International Centre for Human Rights and Democratic Development), a Canadian government-funded organisation which is known to be the Canadian version of the American National Endowment for Democracy.
In his speech, he openly called for Western government's support to spread democracy and human rights in Iran, according to the Persian version of his speech, published by Dutch-funded 'pro-democracy' projects, Rooz Online and Radio Zamaneh.
The award was given to him by Saad Eddin Ebrahim one of the most avid supporters of the now-defunct Neo-conservative plans to spread democracy in the Middle East, who has also been the director of Rights and Democracy and now sits on its board of directors. (Ibrahim was previously the director of the American Islamic Congress and is still on its board, is on the advisory committee of the Journal of Democracy, published by the National Endowment for Democracy, and is exclusively represented by Benador Association. See where else he is or has been serving.)
The award was supposed to be given to Ibrahim. But according to Janice Stein, the chair of the Rights and Democracy board that also include Mr. Ibrahim, decided to award Ganji instead of Ibrahim. (Source: Rooz Online)
Before handing the award to Ganji, Ibrahim praised Ganji and talked about the many similarities between himself and Ganji. Ironically, among other things, both men have been previously praised and supported by George W. Bush. When Ibrahim was arrested and eventually found guilty and sentenced to seven years of hard labour by the Egyptian state, Bush suspended a $150m aid package to Egypt, as a result of the verdict. He later met Bush in a 'democracy' conference in Prague in 2006 and recalled Bush telling him: "So don’t lose hope. We are supporting you, and we are with you."
Akbar Ganji, too, while spending the last months of his sentence in 2005, enjoyed Bush's unprecedented and firm support. "Mr. Ganji, please know that as you stand for your own liberty, America stands with you," he said in a statement published by the White House. How do you think one should interpret all this? Ganji has increasingly become outspoken against military attack and sanctions against Iran and I personally admire him for his courage to do so.
But one has to be quite naive not to see the obvious contradictions between his anti-war and anti-sanction stance and his justification and calls for foreign intervention in Iran with the usual pretext of 'human rights' and 'democracy'. (Interestingly enough, Ibrahim calls for Western help toward democratization in the Arab world in a Wall Street Journal opinion piece.)
To me, Akbar Ganji's opposition to Bush and his administration's hardline stance against Iran doesn't mean he is in principle against foreign intervention. In fact, in his own words 'Western governments' should 'support human rights and democracy in Iran,' and that is exactly what the American Democrats think too.
Just wait and see how, with a change of administration in the forthcoming U.S. elections, Ganji and similar figures (such as Shirin Ebadi, Abbas Milani, Ali Afshari, etc.) would become proponents of the new policy toward Iran which, according to a friend, would try to buy the Iranian revolution, rather than bombing it.
Recently by hoder | Comments | Date |
---|---|---|
راه گلشیفته را باز نگه داریم | 18 | Oct 13, 2008 |
عدم خشونت خوب است، ولی فقط برای ما؟ | 10 | Sep 17, 2008 |
آمریکا را در همین اتاق تاریک نگه داریم | 12 | Aug 11, 2008 |
Person | About | Day |
---|---|---|
نسرین ستوده: زندانی روز | Dec 04 | |
Saeed Malekpour: Prisoner of the day | Lawyer says death sentence suspended | Dec 03 |
Majid Tavakoli: Prisoner of the day | Iterview with mother | Dec 02 |
احسان نراقی: جامعه شناس و نویسنده ۱۳۰۵-۱۳۹۱ | Dec 02 | |
Nasrin Sotoudeh: Prisoner of the day | 46 days on hunger strike | Dec 01 |
Nasrin Sotoudeh: Graffiti | In Barcelona | Nov 30 |
گوهر عشقی: مادر ستار بهشتی | Nov 30 | |
Abdollah Momeni: Prisoner of the day | Activist denied leave and family visits for 1.5 years | Nov 30 |
محمد کلالی: یکی از حمله کنندگان به سفارت ایران در برلین | Nov 29 | |
Habibollah Golparipour: Prisoner of the day | Kurdish Activist on Death Row | Nov 28 |
Dear Asghar Ghatel...Can we maybe leave.........:o)
by Sasha on Sat Dec 15, 2007 01:24 PM PSTJamshid is agnostic and does not care for Mohammad, Islam...... I am the Muslim convert. Yes, I know strange but true. Could we possibly please leave Mohammad out of this. The man has been dead like forever. Let the man rest in peace. He has nothing to do with the debate/discussion on this thread.
motashakkeram/Sepas
solh
To: Jamshid (koskhol)
by Asghar Ghatel (not verified) on Sat Dec 15, 2007 06:37 AM PSTJamshid,
How about you go and climb the mountain? May be you will find Mohammad!!!
What? I am asking Rosie T. about this
by Sasha on Sat Dec 15, 2007 12:16 AM PSTI am going to ask Rosie T. what cheez koloft means. Please no one on this thread educate me on the matter. I will ask Rosie T.
I really need to learn more Farsi.
Thank you
solh
Re: Asghar cheezkoloft VS Asghar C
by jamshid on Sat Dec 15, 2007 12:02 AM PSTWhy did you change "Cheez koloft" to just "C"? Why use an id that refers to your "thick" genital? You need to work on your self-esteem Asghar, before you make any opinions about politics.
First things are first.
Asghar...........Thank you............
by Sasha on Fri Dec 14, 2007 08:28 PM PSTAs I like to think objectively, I have found many similarities within the cultures and their histories. I especially love the Iranian food like Ghormeh Sabzi is just delicious. :o)
solh
To: Sasha (from: Asghar)
by Asghar C (not verified) on Fri Dec 14, 2007 08:20 PM PSTSasha,
Welecome to what I hope is a wonderful tent of great people. I hope you experience the best of Iranian culture.
Whetever you do, just remember that WE are all victoms of the same "great satan". Put that in the context of what you do and I am sure you will find interesting resemblances among many cultures.
To Asghar..............from Sasha
by Sasha on Fri Dec 14, 2007 08:15 PM PSTOne would think that it would be the case but it was a combination of things. For instance I have been studying Middle Eastern politics in general on my own for a couple of years. However it has been only since March that my focus has turned to only on Iran, Iranian culture, language, history, politics, cooking and so on. My reason was not as noble as some think.
I fell in Love with an Iranian man. Because of him I became more interested in Iran and wanted to learn more about his culture, language, and so on. In time I developed Iranian friendships with Iranians through out the world. I completely fell in love with Iran, Iranians and Iranian culture. I have seen the good and bad of Iranian culture but my appreciation for the culture has only grown and I believe it will continue to grow. It may have started because of the love for an Iranian man (platonic relationship) but it has become so much more deeper and meaningful. It has taken a life of its own.
Check out my blog on Assimilation vs Acculuration. It briefly mentions some of the struggles of my culture.
iranian.com/main/node/13259
I hope that answers your question. :o)
solh
To: Sasha (from: Asghar ...)
by Asghar Cheezkoloft (not verified) on Fri Dec 14, 2007 07:05 PM PSTI am just curious; what made you interested in iranian political affairs and history? Are you a teacher? I guess similarities between what the "great satan" did to Iran and also did to many of the central/south American countries is quite clear. But, although I suffer everytime I recall the events of 1953, I have never cared too much to look at other countries and figure out what happened as a result of US medlling and intervention and why.
Yes, Asghar.........you called :o)
by Sasha on Fri Dec 14, 2007 04:10 PM PSTAsghar: I did not "assume" anything. I said, "if" ....
Asghar: If you are Iranian you for sure know that Esfandiari's.......
Sasha: Yes, but you also used the word "are" instead "were"
so I focused on the "are".
Asghar: I hope you now understand why the complexiities of
iranian politics is something to bear in mind when
you get involved in it.
Sasha: I can assure you that no one more than I understands
the complexities of Iranian politics. We are after all
talking of centuries of rich and fascinating Iranian
political history. Even if I studied for years, I would
never gain 100% understanding of it but one does
what one can. :o)
Asghar: As you may know, those who forget the histry are bound
to repeat it.
Sasha: Yes, I know I have mentioned it on previous threads.
Actually, it was my World History/Economics teacher
Mr. Sherman that did his best to ingrain that
thought into our heads. "Those who do not learn from
history, are doomed to repeat the same
mistakes of the past." Who knew I would actually miss
Mr. Sherman (teacher and great man).
solh
to: Sasha (the mexican lady)
by Asghar Cheezkoloft (not verified) on Fri Dec 14, 2007 03:33 PM PSTSasha
I did not "assume" anything. I said, "if" .... At any event, I hope you now understand why the complexiities of iranian politics is something to bear in mind when you get involved in it. Unfortunately some of our "monarchist" bretheren try to ignore the past and pretend to create a new slate that has no memory of the past. Any real person knows that it is ludicurous. As you may know, those who forget the histry are bound to repeat it. Of course occasioanlly we also have Israeli agents on this site who pretend to be Iranians and spew anti-government (IRI) slogans. We had a wonderful country and great potential for real progress prior to 1953. In spite of its difficulties, it could manage, and I am sure would become a great wonderful [lace to live in. Then came the CIA coup and the rest is history. Not unlike Guatemala, Chile, and the rest of CA/SA.
Asghar Cheezkoloft.........Surprise!!!!!!!!! :o)
by Sasha on Fri Dec 14, 2007 02:09 PM PSTAsghar Cheezkoloft: If you are Iranian you for sure know that
Esfandiaris' were Israeli agents in Iran
running the news paper (Ayandegan).
Sasha: My advice is never assume anything. I am Mexican. It is
why I asked you for further information.
PS: I am also a woman, just in case you had assumed I was a man too. :o)
solh
To: Sasha (Re: Smart Bashid)
by Asghar Cheezkoloft (not verified) on Fri Dec 14, 2007 01:22 PM PSTSasha
What do you mean with "this"? Guessing that you mean the affiliation/history of Esfandiari and Ganji, I give you a brief response: If you are Iranian you for sure know that Esfandiaris' were Israeli agents in Iran running the news paper (Ayandegan). Not only this was well known at the time in Iran, but this is also documented in the books published from shredded documents uncovered from US embassey in Tehran. These books are openly available. As for Ganji, well I don't really have a document, but here are a couple of reasons infering his US government affiliation and roles: (i) Please read his "manifestos". These are on-line and available to everyone. At the time that US was (and still is) butchering Iraqis and Palestinians (in latter case through Israelis), Ganji's manifesto considers all these actions by the US government legitimate and as a necessity of establishing "democracy" in the ME. Here is another one: (ii) At a time that the brightest young Iranians with admittance at US universities in hand are denied visas to come to USA (perhaps because they are Iranians), Mr Ganji comes to the USA with a red carpet reception, AND gets invited to the WHITE HOUSE to meet god knows which big shit! (I heard he did not accept the invitation and did not go, but that does not matter). Would you think a person other than a servant of US government (possibly through CIA activities) would be issued visa and such invitations? As they say, I may be old fashioned, but not stupid.
Asghar Cheezkoloft.......where on earth did you........
by Sasha on Fri Dec 14, 2007 11:44 AM PSTWhere on earth did you read this? Would you please let me know where you read this? It is most definitly news to me.
solh
To: Sasha (re: Smart Bashid ....)
by Asghar Cheezkoloft (not verified) on Fri Dec 14, 2007 10:17 AM PSTShasha Khanoom,
I guess you missed the point "smar Bashid" was making. Her point was that these people (including yes, Esfandiari) are known foriegn agents. Esfandiaris, were Zionist agents from Shahanshah Aryagoooooz era, and and Ganji of CIA (circa 1980s).
Cheezkoloft
Smart bashid...........wait a minute
by Sasha on Fri Dec 14, 2007 01:33 AM PSTDid not Esfandiari go to visit an ailing relative in Iran? I think it was her mother. How does that make her not a true friend of the Iranian Nation? She risked her life to go see her relative, if that does not say love for an Iranian, I don't know what does.
How about you give me a clear definition of what it means to be a true friend of the Iranian Nation? It should prove to be interesting.
solh
Re: Smart Bashid
by jamshid on Fri Dec 14, 2007 12:15 AM PSTif mullahs got YOU to support them, then they got to be as dumb as a severely retarded idiot.
Mullahs are SMART after all ...
by smart bashid (not verified) on Thu Dec 13, 2007 07:54 PM PSTIt seems that whoever the mullahs put in jail or mistreated, there was a good reason for it. Look at Esfandiari (her husband and her are agents of zionists), Ganji and a whole host of others who were put in jail and/or mistreated. These jerks (esffandiari/ganji/etc.) are not true friends of Iranian Nation. They are bunch of stooges with a little brain and in some cases with a handout from our enemies. Mullahs seem to be smart after all ...
Re: Arezu
by jamshid on Thu Dec 13, 2007 11:48 AM PSTThe issue I have with claiming that Iran has made many good accomplishments is that it is deceiving. And I don't mean that YOU are trying to deceive. I hope you are not. But the sentence is.
The thing you have to understand is that I, you and anyone else could make accomplishments even if we are living in a prison cell. The issue is that Iran could have made FAR, FAR more accomplishments under another regime. Notice the emphasis on the word "FAR".
We should compare to what our potentials are, which is much higher than what IRI has allowed and where we are today.
Anonym7.1 .........Hey! What is up with trying.......
by Sasha on Thu Dec 13, 2007 08:05 AM PSTWhat is up with sending Jamshid to get shot by this Jesus person? Of course, I'm sure Jamshid can take care of himself and Jesus would not get a chance to shoot him. :o) Seriously, I am not a betting woman but if I were, I would put my money on Jamshid surviving. :o)
By the way thank you for not sending Arezu or I with the Jesus character.
solh
Re: To Islamist Thug .... (Re: Jes..)
by Anonym7.1 (not verified) on Thu Dec 13, 2007 07:01 AM PSTJesus said: "... next time people like you want to curb our freedome, we will make sure to pick up our guns"
Jesus, pick up your gun, go to a hunting trip with this Jamshid guy and treat him with Cheney style friendliness:
Cheney accidentally shoots fellow hunter:
//www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/02/12/cheney/
take it easy Jusus.
To: Sasha, and then Jamshid
by Arezu (not verified) on Wed Dec 12, 2007 10:49 PM PSTDear Sasha:
I know it is awful that we are on an Iranian web-site but many, including myself have called it anti-Iranian. I like you at first didn't believe it until I started to read comments posted and saw the attacks coming when someone didn’t agree with the other person’s response. The name calling, the abuse, let’s nuke Iran, let’s kill all the Muslims etc... was shocking. You are lucky it has gotten better in the past two weeks.
To: Jamshid - Fortunately, I have not seen you to be impolite, I am surprised why you jumped at Anonym777. He was providing his observation. Look not everything is black or white. Not everything in any place is 100% good or 100% evil. As someone else said there are shades of gray.
So, why are you getting so upset when Anonym777 says that Iran has made some very good accomplishments in the past several years? No honestly, without prejudice no matter how much you hate the regime, put aside your hatred and look at what the people have accomplished. You can’t or maybe I shouldn’t comment on your behalf, but just like Anonym777, what I have seen the Iranians do in the areas of science, engineering, robotics, technology, physics, defense and so many other areas is just amazing – one has to give credit where it is do. There are a lot of problems with Iran, we all know that – but it is not an evil country, and personally, unless hatred for some reason is not allowing you to see things; I can’t believe that you only see a big black spot.
And again, don't label me IRI, like the Jesus fellow. He sounds more like an Evangelical hardcore Christian.
Fundamentalists are bad whether Muslim, Christian, Jews, Scientologists, or whatever...
Thanks Sasha, Jamshid, Anonym7, Anonym777 - I have enjoyed our dialogue regardless of our differences. It is interesting when one engages in discussion and actually learns from one another.
Jesus, though you are rude, nasty, obnoxious, I really hope you calm down, and learn how to speak without insulting individuals, otherwise all of that education means nothing. Good night.
Arezu.........Is this an anti-Iranian website?
by Sasha on Wed Dec 12, 2007 07:17 PM PSTWhat is happening on this thread? I just read a comment by Arezu:
Arezu: "I have read verbatim by others on this anti-Iranian web-site. "
I certainly do not think this is an anti-Iranian website. Arezu I have to disagree with you on this point. It is called Iranian.com. Iranian.com is a mixture of many ideologies.
Also, how did you manage to make your name blue and still be a nonverified account? I accessed your name out of curiosity and it is linked back to the article on this page. You are a genius.
Arezu (not verified)
solh
To the 1st Century Jes.. (re: jamshid)
by Anonymous777 (not verified) on Wed Dec 12, 2007 04:59 PM PSTJamshidjan, I had a couple of words I spelled wrong, other than those what was bothering you?
I corrected the spelling.
Jesus, Iran has done very well past several years, it still has many tough challenges ahead (worst of which is fixng the rich and poor gap). It has tried to acquire the best technology with plenty of money it has, when encountered with sanctions and sabotage it has had to settle with less advanced technology.
During past 28 years Iran has managed to find ways around all these political and economical aggressions and keep its independence. I am not a Moslem but I am proud of those who have managed this process and I don’t care what their religion is. Likes of you have to continue blowing hot air and more fuses…
Re: anonymou777
by jamshid on Wed Dec 12, 2007 02:11 PM PSTYou claim that "During past 28 years Iran has managed to find ways around all these political and economical aggressions and keep its independence"
Well duh! Those are all political and economical difficulties that the IRI has caused out of its incompetence. It's like praising a thief and saying that during past so many years he has managed to find ways around his economical difficulties. Duh!
The audacity of you IRI garbages is such that you take a negative and try to package it as a positive.
The more time pass, the more I get convinced that you bastards are not even human beings, you are some sort of demons who have taken over my poor country.
Re: To the 1st Century Jes..
by Anonymous777 (not verified) on Wed Dec 12, 2007 01:17 PM PSTJesus, Iran has done very well past several years, it still has many tough challenges ahead (worst of which is fixng the reach and poor gap). It has tried to acquire the best technology with plenty of money it has, when encountered with sanctions and sabotage it has had to settle with less advanced technology.
During past 28 years Iran has managed to find ways around all these political and economical aggressions and keep its independence. I am not a Moslem but I am proud of those how have managed this process and I don’t care what their religion is. Likes of you have to continue blowing hot air and more fuses…
To the 13th century, dark age living Islamist
by Jesus (not verified) on Wed Dec 12, 2007 11:01 AM PSTMost of the Islamist on this site, and in the world have no clue what rational thinking, or logic is, they think nuclear power is a something that will make them powerful, and might restore Islam's "greatness", as if it had any to begin with.
Here is a map of the plates shifting:
//geology.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?si...
Look on the map at the shift vector that originates from the Arabian peninsular(as part of the Euroasian plate) toward central Iran.
It passes right under Bushehr, and our beloved nuclear power plant. The shift of that particular plate has been responsible for at least 4 major quacks in Iran (killing at least 10,000) in the last 40 years.
Shah was dumb to start that nuclear plant, IR is even dumber, and IR supporter are unfortunately the dumbest. Too bad for the people of Iran who will have to deal with the coming disaster.
Be nice to Hoder
by The Shrink (not verified) on Wed Dec 12, 2007 10:56 AM PSTHoder was molested and raped by a Mullah when he was just a child, and going through that experience has had longing effects on his mental health. As a result that trauma, he feels that he has to support and praise the Mullahs to avoid further molestation. Hoder is not a bad person but rather mentally sick. Plz, be nice to him.
Thank you for your cooperation,
The Shrink,
to Anonymous 7
by Jesus (not verified) on Wed Dec 12, 2007 10:02 AM PSTMy positions are not radical, IR has to either respect every human being, respect everyone's dignity, and life or must be removed. That is not a radical position. We kicked the Shah out because of the very same violations of HR. History is on our side, those who defend human rights.
Here is more stat on Iran. I can give stats/references on Iran from here to vazoo, but thugs like Arezu just will not get it....
On Brain drain:
//www.parapundit.com/archives/cat_immigration...
There is more recent report (2006) from IMF, coming to the same conclusion.
If IR is such a great place, why would the best of our country leave?
Anonymous7 , you living in the west speaks volume, why are you here? That is an element of proof in itself!
If Iran is the way you describe it, and the only problem is the gap between rich and poor, what are you doing here?
Re: Arezu
by jamshid on Wed Dec 12, 2007 09:45 AM PSTIran is using Russian imported graphite nuclear reactors. They are outmoded and dangerous. Almost all cases of nuclear reactor accidents in the past was related to a graphite based reactor. The Chernobyl incident is one prime example.
Other countires, even the USA, today avoid using even the most modern nuclear technology whenever they can. China and Japan have the capbiblity to build 100 or more reactors if they choose to. But they don't because statistially, it is a dangerous source of energy, and you just can't pilie up nuclear reactors, even the modern ones. Statistically, that is equivalent to suicide.
Iran is using the 60's technology. That is where graphite based nuclear reactors are. That would have been ok if they had built the reactors in the middle of the loot desert. But IRI is more about the advancement of an ideology than its citizens' lives and well being.
To Islamist Thug : Arezu
by Jesus (not verified) on Wed Dec 12, 2007 09:45 AM PSTAsking me for references in the comments section, as if I am writing a scientific, technical paper. Ironically, I work in the energy field (technical side) of it. Unlike you and your masters Arezu, I don't talk out of my behind, like every Friday morning sermon.
Iran is currently getting two VVER-440 reactors, and because of all the delays, the Russians might replace the two reactors with VVER-1000, but that decision has not been made. Russian technology in these kind of matters (i.e. nuclear reactors/safety, Flight safety) can not be trusted.
VVER-440 was developed prior to the 1970's, and VVER-1000 was developed between 1973-1976. Again, Because the Bushehr plant was originally under contract with Siemens of Germany, most of the infrastructure is incompetible with Russian Technology, especially the old Russian technology, therefore all the delays. The plant was supposed to start up in 2002 originally, 6 years later, Russian is talking about putting a different reactor in there which would take another 2 to 3 years.
//www.acsa.net/irannuclear/iranrpt.pdf
//www.insc.anl.gov/sov_des/vverbib.php
Arezu,
you are a thug, a true hezbollahi who think that is the Islamic Republic, wanting to silence everybody. YOu should SHUT UP. I am an IRANIAN, and I will give my opinion when I feel like it. And next time people like you want to curb our freedome, we will make sure to pick up our guns, and defend our rights, so you don't bring the disaster like IR to our country. I have family, relatives, including my parents in Iran. I have every right to express my opinion on this crucial.