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FYI/Robert de Niro calls on Iran to release Sakineh Ashtiani

December 13, 2010 | 12:12 

Over 80 scientists, politicians, cultural figures and celebrities appealed to the Iranian authorities calling to release Sakineh Ashtiani sentenced to death by stoning.

Among those who signed the letter are actors Robert Redford, Robert de Niro, singer Sting, former French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner, Catherine Ashton, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and others, RIA Novosti reported.

The letter is addressed to Iranian spiritual leader Ayatollah Khamenei and President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

As NEWS.am reported earlier, Sakineh Ashtiani, 43, was sentenced to death by stoning for adultery. Her lawyers claim that she pleaded guilty under pressure.

After the story was made public, Iranian authorities agreed to postpone the execution.

Old news

"He was dubbed Chris de Burqa when he announced that he planned to become the
first western artist to play a gig in Iran since the Islamic revolution in
1979.

But now Chris de Burgh says that he has cancelled all plans to stage a concert
there following “what appear to be blatant violations of basic human rights”
during the recent protests on the streets of Tehran following the disputed
presidential elections.

The singer, known for inoffensive soft-rock ballads such as the Lady in Red,
says he is concerned that performing in Iran would now be seen as an
endorsement of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s regime.

His manager, Kenny Thompson, said that De Burgh had intended to ask Iran’s
cultural ministry for permission to play a concert following the elections,
but had now decided against going ahead with his application. “We should
have been finalising the details at this stage, but it would be like asking
the devil for permission to play in hell at the moment,” Thompson said.

“We can’t deal with a regime that is slaughtering exactly the type of people
who are fans of Chris’s music. The people on the streets are the same people
he wanted to play for. It’s impossible to contemplate going there in the
near future.”

De Burgh was invited to play in Tehran by the Taraneh Sharghi music production
company, whose leading act, a pop band called Arian, has recorded a duet
with the Irish singer in a mixture of English and Persian.

Arian was the first band to receive a permit to perform in public since the
revolution and it gigged in Tehran in 1999. The 11-piece group was also the
first to feature male and female performers sharing a stage since the
revolution.

Their manager, Mohsen Rajabpour, said last year that he had obtained oral
permission for De Burgh to play a series of gigs at the Azadi Indoor Stadium
in the capital. But because tensions were high between the west and Iran
over Tehran’s refusal to suspend sensitive uranium enrichment operations,
the Irish singer chose to wait until after the June elections to proceed
with his application to the Ministry of Culture. Had Mir-Hossein Mousavi
been elected, he would have led a more reformist government more sympathetic
to western music."

//www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/irelan...

HUM

He is a good guy with good intentions, but he is not informed.

The Front row Seats will be for the apparatchik's Sons ...

and daughters if they behave ...

No Green Rights 

Idiot Indeed ! 

Oops

This is an old clip... havasam neest :)...

Wow ... JJ

Are you telling me after posting numerous video clips on your site, you still haven't noticed that freedom of expression, press and the music scene has improved greatly in Iran under the administration of Dr. Ahamdinejad?

How could you deny this?

Idiot

"I don't get the impression of a big, powerful state body crushing people. There appears to be freedom."

Chris, stick to singing!

Reminds me of those college days...and nights!

I've always liked Chris de Burgh. His music is without a doubt one of the most sensual kind around.
I recommend, if you have not already heard before, one of his earlier albums called Eastern Wind. Just great!

//www.amazon.com/Eastern-Wind-Chris-Burgh/dp/...

Thanks for the blog.

____________

IRAN FIRST

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Awesome!!! What a

Awesome!!! What a Character!!! Love this man and grew up with his music in Tehran as a kid .... Sailor, can you hear me?.... :-)

Love and Peace