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Athens is Frontlines
12-Oct-2010
Towering over a triad of green, white and red tents, the Akademia of Athens looms large in the distance. Founded in 347 BCE, the initial sacred grounds of Platonic Academy were once dedicated to Athena, the goddess of wisdom. The great Aristotle roamed its precincts in the grove of olive trees as he pondered Plato’s lecture “On the Good.”
Today, come rain or shine, the modern Akademia is the Persian battleground, housing the Campaign of seemingly destitute refugees in its bosom. The Persian battle cry reverberates across the Aegean Sea to awaken the Greek conscience once more, to question the foundation of their democracy, and to highlight the refugees’ human rights worldwide.
As autumn creeps in, rain lashes against the red canvas, soaking Neda’s picture. The poster depicting Sakina’s stoning verdict hasn’t been spared either. One by one, water seeps into the colored placards and distorts the images of Iranians imprisoned, tortured, and hanged by the Islamic Republic of Iran. The children of asylum seekers dash in the rain to seek refuge under the tents. Tomorrow, another family dresses up in their best Sunday school attire to head to the Greek Ministry of Interior. One more interview is scheduled to determine the destiny of an Iranian family in exile.
However, the next day brings no resolution to the plight of the asylum seekers. The interview to determine the eligibility of the applicants for political asylum is postponed until the following week. Time and again, every Tuesday, the same family is summoned to the Ministry of Interior for a chance to appear in front of the interviewing committee. Every Tuesday, they are turned away without an explanation. “The father’s file is misplaced,” a Greek official annoyed by the persistence of the translator grumbles under her breath. Another employee barks, “One of the interviewers couldn’t make it. Come back next week.”
Consequently, as a direct result of such delays and non responsiveness to the peaceful requests of the asylum seekers, the Central Committee representing the Campaign is forced to take drastic actions. On Monday, October 11, 2010, the asylum seekers together with their Greek attorney working pro bono will deliver a letter to the Greek officials demanding immediate review of thirty pending cases. If no action is taken within three days, the asylum seekers will go on hunger strike and sew their lips. Tents will be erected on the site of the Campaign to house those participating. “The time is up for the Greek government,” says Ribwar Ghobadi pounding his fist on the table. “The Campaign’s headquarters is here! If the Greek officials want to talk, they must come to us!”
For thirty one years since the establishment of the Islamic Republic of Iran, patriots in exile have asked a simple question from themselves and each other: “How can we fight IRI while living outside Iran?” From Los Angeles to New York, from North America to Europe, from Middle East to Australia, this blasted question has consumed brilliant minds while generating superficial answers devoid of substance.
Some Iranian patriots in exile are biding their time till military attacks are carried out against their homeland. Others have become poets, writers, and bloggers to either vent their frustrations or exercise freedom of speech and tolerance of opposing views. Nearly all of them have preserved Persian customs and traditions and have taught their offspring Iranian patriotism. Think-tanks have been formed, campaigns have been launched, and demonstrations have been organized. Although the seasoned patriots now buried in foreign soil have passed on the torch to the younger generations, for thirty one years, the same question remains unanswered.
In Athens, beneath the green rooftop, sit three Iranian college students who have escaped our homeland only one week ago. Around the same table under the asylum seekers’ tent, supporters of Mir Hossein Mousavi are greeted by a veteran Kurd. A hot steaming cup of tea brewed Iranian style is placed in front of each guest. The Kurdish pishmarg of Democratic Party takes the seat next to the leftist Komala member while leaning to whisper an Iranian T'aarof in the ears of a newly arrived Pahlavi loyalist.
The college students are from the University of Shiraz and have stopped by the site of the refugees’ Campaign to seek advice. “We are just passing through,” they explain. “How do we get to Germany?”
And with this laden plea, there lies on the table the answer to the question asked for thirty one years: To fight Islamic Republic of Iran while living abroad, Iranian political activists must identify the frontlines in the war against the regime and join the on-going battle without delay.
Due to its close geographic proximity to Israel, Palestine, and Lebanon, Greece has become the Islamic Republic’s best ally in the European Union. In an attempt to export Islamic revolutionary frame of mind and to influence foreign and domestic policies abroad, the Islamic Republic of Iran has established deep roots on Greek soil and befriended Greek officials, politicians and police forces. The Islamic Republic’s embassy in Greece is run by a substantial number of employees estimated to be two hundred fifty members while spies and informants are recruited from the hefty population of hungry refugees in Athens.
Naturally, the geographical location of Greece has also drawn political activists escaping Iran through shared borders with Turkey to the Greek soil. In other words, by sheer luck, this ancient democracy has turned into the corridor through which Iranians seek refuge in the rest of Europe and possibly even North America.
Once they arrive in Greece, Iranian political refugees are finger printed and given a “Red Card” granting them no legal or human rights in Greece. As long as their applications are pending, asylum seekers are virtual prisoners on Greek soil. The European partner states deferring to the Conventions of Schengen and Dublin hold Greece responsible for the processing of asylum applications filed in the member states and deport the refugees back to Greece. Meanwhile, the Islamic Republic of Iran rejoices at the plight of the political activists now neutralized in a state of limbo in Greece and entangled in the never ending web of bureaucracy and red tape.
Today, Athens is the frontlines in the war fought in exile against the Islamic Republic of Iran. But where are you?
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ودیو تازه: شباهت فاشیست های یونان به بسیجی ها
LalehGillaniFri Oct 15, 2010 04:25 PM PDT
فاشیست های یونان به کمپین پناهجویان ایرانی سر زده و در طول روز جمعه چندین برخورد با آنان رخ داده است. شباهت فاشیست های یونان به بسیجی ها و جیره خوران رژیم ملایان قابل توجه میباشد.
از بد حادثه ایــــنجا به پناه آمده ایم
LalehGillaniFri Oct 15, 2010 11:40 AM PDT
ما بدین دیر نه پی حشمت و جاه آمده ایم
از بد حادثه ایــــنجا به پناه آمده ایم
هموطن، از پناهجویان ایرانی در یونان حمایت کنید
Fax the Ministry of Interior
0827 699 210 30 00
Fax UNCHCR
6417 672 210 30 00
بیانیه شماره ۷ کمیته پناهندگان سیاسی ایرانی در یونان
LalehGillaniFri Oct 15, 2010 11:00 AM PDT
امروز پنج شنبه مورخ ۱۴/۱۰/۲۰۱۰ کمپین پناهندگان سیاسی ایرانی که شامل ۴۴ نفر می باشد ، پس از ۴۴ روز اعتراض مسالمت آمیز که از اول سپتامبر مقابل در ورودی آکادمی فلسفه افلاطون و بانک صادرات رژیم آغاز شده بود ناچار به تغییر روش مسالمت آمیز خود شد .
کمپین پناهندگان سیاسی ایرانی روز دوشنبه ۱۱/۱۰ با تجمع در مقابل ساختمان وزارت کشور یونان و ارائه لیست ۴۴ نفره که در میان آنان ۴ زن و ۹ کودک می باشند به مسئولان این وزارت خانه اعلام نمود که تا روز پنج شنبه ۱۴/۱۰ منتظر واکنش رسمی آنان خواهد ماند . همچنین اعضای کمپین روز چهار شنبه با تجمع در مقابل ساختمان وزارت امور خارجه یونان آخرین اعتراض مسالمت آمیز خود را به گوش مقامات دولت یونان رسانیدند .
اما همانطور که انتظار میرفت دولت یونان که روابط بسیار خوب سیاسی و تجاری با رژیم اسلامی ایران دارد و یکی از نشانه های ان دیدار صمیمی و دوستانه جورج پاپاندرو نخست وزیر دولت یونان با محمود احمدی نژاد در نیویورک است ، حق پناهندگی سیاسی ایرانیان را قربانی روابط سیاسی و تجاری خود با رژیم ایران کرده است .
ما پناهندگان سیاسی ایرانی به نشانه اعتراض به این سیاست ضد بشری از امروز ۱۴/۱۰ اعلام اعتصاب غذا کرده و ۵ نفر از داوطلبان با دوختن دهان خود بی تفاوتی مسئولان دولت یونان را محکوم نمودند . هم اکنون در حین نوشتن این بیانیه فرد دیگری به لیست دهان دوختگان افزوده شده است .
داوطلبان دیگری که مایل به دوختن دهان خود می باشند در انتظار پاسخ فوری دولت یونان هستند و در صورت عدم پاسخگویی دولت یونان به آمار دهان دوختگان ایرانی در آتن افزوده خواهد شد .
کمیته پناهندگان سیاسی ایرانی در یونان
نگذارید گمنام بمانند
LalehGillaniFri Oct 15, 2010 10:34 AM PDT
نام پناهجویان ایرانی در یونان که دهانشان را دوخته اند و اعتصاب غذا کرده اند. نامشان را تکرار کنید تا گمنام نمانند:
ماندانا دانش نیا
محمد پورصمد
محسن عبدالحسینی
افشین طالبی راد
امیرحسین نوباری
احمد مرادی
Laleh jan, thanks for the update
by Anahid Hojjati on Fri Oct 15, 2010 10:13 AM PDTDear Laleh, it is sad that ambulance did not come and Mandana had to be transported to hospital by taxi. Greek officials should do better than this. What a shame.
Greek Ambulance Didn’t Come
by LalehGillani on Fri Oct 15, 2010 10:07 AM PDTIn the afternoon of Friday, October 15, 2010, there was turmoil in the camp of Iranian asylum seekers in Athens. On Thursday, it had rained all day and was cold outdoors. On Friday, the weather changed again and became hot. Mandana Danesh Nia who has sewed her lips and is on hunger strike became ill and needed immediate medical attention. The Iranian asylum seekers contacted Athens emergency services multiple times and requested an ambulance. The Greek officials refused to help.
Mondana was transported to the hospital in a taxi and is still under medical observation. The Campaign of Iranian Asylum Seekers will file a formal complaint against Athens emergency services. The tapes of repeated emergency phone calls will be released to the public once the Greek officials make the tapes available.
Amir Ghiassi
by AmirKabir on Fri Oct 15, 2010 01:08 AM PDTThey believe "Cheraghi ke be khaneh ravaast, be masjed haraam asat".
They believe, If you are a good gardener, first take care of you own garden.
When they talk about people, freedom and democracy, they are talking about their own.
As i wrote before, from their angle this serves their interest for free propaganda against Iran. therefore, shouldn't be interrupted. As Laleh wrote, this is another front to fight IRI. So don't expect any help any time soon.
متاسفانه سیستم بین المللی میخواهد که بین ما اختلاف و تفرقه باشد
Amir Sahameddin GhiassiThu Oct 14, 2010 07:56 PM PDT
متاسفانه سیستم بین المللی میخواهد که بین ما اختلاف و تفرقه باشد و به بی تفاوتی و بی انصافی ما دامن میزند که چون منافع آنان را تامین میکند. مشگلات بر همگان روشن است که اعتیاد نبودن کار و نداشتن امکانات تحصیل همگانی و ... سد راه ما هست. ولی آنان که به کشورهای مثلا آزاد تشریف آورده اند چی؟ چرا آنان با هم متحد نیستند و به هم کمک نمی کنند. نظر من کمک مادی نیست بلکه کمک معنوی است. مثلا بسیاری از ایرانیان که در خارج میگویند حدود پنج میلیون نفر هستند چرا زیر دست و پر بال ایرانیان دیگر را نمی گیرند و آنان را رهنمایی و هدایت نمی کنند؟
در میان این ایرانیان بسیاری خیلی هم موفق و موید هستند و درحالیکه جوانان ما فرزندان ما در یونان مجبورند دهان خود را بدوزند چرا آنان که می توانند قدمی در این راه بر نمی دارند و این جوانان ایران را که فرزندان معنوی همه ایرانیان هستند را حمایت نمیکنند؟
They are the children of Iran
by Amir Sahameddin Ghiassi on Thu Oct 14, 2010 05:11 PM PDTI do not know why we the Iranian are not united. I do not know why we do no help each others. I do not know why we are indifferent. All these young people are the children of Iran, our children and we should help them. They need education, work, place to live and freedom. The Iranian American who have power should use it to help them. May be later they will be in the same situation. I have place for them and work for them, please be concerned about them. if we be united, we will win, if not all of us will lose.
Laleh
by AmirKabir on Thu Oct 14, 2010 05:58 PM PDTYou wrote, US embassy has closed the doors to them and don't even talk to their representatives. You know why!
They love to see it dragged and used against Iran, but what they don't realized is that this is also exposing western countries for the liar they are. This proves that none of them are for human rights, freedom and democracy as they claim to be. This is what IRI will use against them. So to help the refugees it would be better to criticize the lack of support for human rights by western country rather than using it against Iran.
Iranian-Americans don’t have the stomach!
by LalehGillani on Thu Oct 14, 2010 02:30 PM PDTAmir Sahameddin Ghiassi wrote: “If they can come to USA, Florida, I have a boarding school here.”
Iranian political refugees can’t come to USA. The American embassy in Athens refuses to even talk to a representative of the Campaign and has closed its doors to all of them. Iranian-Americans are citizens, tax payers, and voters in the US. However, whatever lobbying power they have in Washington, DC, they are not using it. Powerful Iranian-Americans don’t have the stomach to look at the pictures of the refugees with their lips sewn.
من برای همه آنان هم جا و هم کار دارم
Amir Sahameddin GhiassiThu Oct 14, 2010 10:41 AM PDT
من که معلم دانشګاه هستم و یک شبانه روزی هم در اورلاندو دارم که مدرسه ایران و آمریکایی جنوبی نام دارد برای همه آنان هم جا برای زندګی و هم کار کشاورزی پرورش ماهی و حیوانان دیگر و هم گل و گیاه و میوه از کارهایی است که می توانند انجام دهند. اگر کار ویزای آنان درست شود در اینجا هم می توانند کار کنند و هم تحصیل و هم زندگی در خانه ایران ..من زنده باد ایران امیر سهام الدین غیاثی
آدرس و تلفن در مت انگلیسی هست. 4072819704 و آدرس ای میل هم در آنجا هست.
10420 Lehman Road, Orlando,Fl. 32825 and Sghiassi_fhc@hotmail.com Viva Iran
I have place, work and possibilities for all of them.
by Amir Sahameddin Ghiassi on Thu Oct 14, 2010 10:31 AM PDTIf they can come to USA , Florida, I have a boarding school here. They live here, work and study. I have a farm in the boarding school, agricultural activities, growing fish and chicken.... My email Sghiassi_fhc@hotmail.com. or 10420 Lehman Road, Orlando, Fl. 32825 , the boarding is close to university. 4072819704
شیر زن ایرانی قبل از دوختن دهانش سخن میگوید
LalehGillaniThu Oct 14, 2010 10:24 AM PDT
پناهجو ایرانی در آتن قبل از دوختن دهان خود خطاب به دنیا با صدای حق میگوید:
بگذار دنیا ببیند پنج دهان دوخته شده
LalehGillaniThu Oct 14, 2010 11:33 AM PDT
روز پنج شنبه 14 اکتبر، پنج پناهجو سیاسی ایران در یونان دهان خود را دوختند. به داد پناهجویان برسید!
We suffer in Iran and outside of Iran
by afshinazad on Wed Oct 13, 2010 04:34 PM PDTWe Iranian from last 32 year being migrating to foreign countries and yet after all these years we have not come up strong organization to support our country man and women who are running away from tyranny and as long as we don’t have united frontline for protecting Iranian, unfortunately our people will be used as a barging tool for countries like Turkey and Greece. They do deport Iranian as they did to me by Turkish 27 years ago and they will continue doing that to reach to their self interest and human rights issue is forgotten case since fall of communism. Jewish community outside of Israel has a greatest organization which will support their people all over the world and second best is BAHAI community which are very strong worldwide to protect and assist BAHAI community and I have witnessed that 27 years ago in turkey how they came with lawyers and saved them from deportation.
خاک عالم بر سر این تُرکا ... !
کلاه مخملیWed Oct 13, 2010 03:27 PM PDT
واقعا خَر در مقابلشون اِبن سیناست - آخه این چه کاریه که این بچه ها را بر میگردونن به این دَیوس آخوندا ... اَه اَه ... !
مگه کشور قحط بود؟
LalehGillaniWed Oct 13, 2010 03:19 PM PDT
فعالین سیاسی که تصمیم به ترک ایران دارند، بطور "غیر قانونی" باید از کشور خارج شوند. اکثریت از طریق مرز ترکیه فرار کرده و از آنجا به خاک یونان میرسند. به واسطه رابطه نزدیک دولت ترکیه با جمهوری اسلامی، فعالین سیاسی که در ترکیه دستگیر میشوند، به دست ماموران اطلاعات ترکیه و ایران افتاده و سر از زندانهای ایران در میاورند. تنها راه چاره این است که به سرعت از ترکیه خارج شده و به کشور دیگری برسند. از لحاظ جغرافیایی، یونان نزدیکترین مقصد میباشد.
از این یونانیا بخاری بلند نمیشه ... !
کلاه مخملیWed Oct 13, 2010 01:20 PM PDT
از زمان اسکندر تا حالا، اینا از ایرونیا بدشون میومده - آخه کشور قحط بود که این بچه ها پاشدن رفتن یونان .. ؟ ! :)
The Latest Video from Athens
by LalehGillani on Wed Oct 13, 2010 01:16 PM PDTIranian political refugees gathered in front of the Greek Ministry of foreign Affairs on Wednesday October 13, 2010 and delivered their message to the Greek government:
Why don't you get the "Royals"
by Dirty Angel on Wed Oct 13, 2010 01:00 PM PDTto set up a SERIOUS international fund for Iranian refugees ?
40billion declared, ey opa and whoopydeboo, it would just, seriously less than, take one billion....
اگر تخم داشتم، میگفتم به تخمم
شیر زن ایرانی میگوید: تصمیم خود را گرفته ام
LalehGillaniWed Oct 13, 2010 12:45 PM PDT
Iranian political asylum seekers are planning to go on hunger strike tomorrow morning,10/14/2010. An Iranian political activist who escaped Iran with her husband and young daughter has made up her mind to sew her lips. I spoke with her briefly today and tried to persuade her to wait. She replied, “I have made up my mind. I am determined to sew my lips.”
Will the Greek government hear her voice spoken through sewn lips?
Deal with the root cause of
by Simorgh5555 on Wed Oct 13, 2010 12:39 PM PDTDeal with the root cause of the problem: The Islamic Republic itself. Very simple. Destroy the Islamic Republic so no more Iranian flee their country.
Please supprot military action.
این ملاها آدم بشو نیستن ... !
کلاه مخملیWed Oct 13, 2010 12:25 PM PDT
نخیر ...
“Don’t you see he has been tortured?”
by LalehGillani on Wed Oct 13, 2010 11:05 AM PDTParthianshot91 wrote, “Brothers, we already have thousands of anti-regime movements abroad amongst Iranians, what we need to do is stay in Iran and continue the movements there. In our own country, that's where it will and shall happen. We need to be in Iran for the regime to change, in their own backyard.”
The decision to leave Iran is perhaps the most painful and difficult decision Iranian patriots have to make in their lives. This decision, nonetheless, is a personal one. The change in Iran will come from within. I have no doubt about this.
Iranian political refugees in Greece still bear the marks of physical torture on their bodies. During one of the interviews to evaluate the applicant’s eligibility for political asylum, the Greek official in charge of the interviewing committee was so moved and horrified that she ended the process and told her colleagues, “Don’t you see he has been tortured?”
یا ملت ایران یا تروریستهای جمهوری اسلامی
LalehGillaniWed Oct 13, 2010 10:52 AM PDT
کمپین پناهندگان سیاسی ایرانی در یونان روز چهارشنبه، 13 اکتبر 2010 در مقابل وزارت امور خارجه یونان دست به اعتصاب زده و نمایندگان کمپین پیام پناهندگان را به دفتر وزارت امور خارجه تحویل دادند:
یا از ملت ایران حمایت کنید یا از تروریستهای جمهوری اسلامی!
Laleh jan, I am with "Roozbeh" and "Hoshang",
by Anahid Hojjati on Wed Oct 13, 2010 09:19 AM PDTLaleh jan, thanks for all your work and yes, ignore those who have nothing positive to contribute and cannot get up to do anything. Actually this one even did not require getting up, just keep sitting and send an e-mail. Easier than this is not even possible.
خدمت رفیق گیلا
Hoshang TargolWed Oct 13, 2010 08:50 AM PDT
Laleh, thanks for the post and ignore the disparaging comments
by Roozbeh_Gilani on Wed Oct 13, 2010 05:41 AM PDTsuch as: "iranians should not blame others" or "If i was in these brothers and sisters shoes, i would have stayed in Iran " (himself an exile with nothing better to do than writing on iranian.com 24/7).
You are one of the few on this site who I noticed is actualy doing something about Iran's plight, from where you are abroad. Great contrast with this pathetic amalgamation of ex savaki, confused islamists (greenish yellow!), paid agents of islamist regime, and a few middle aged gringos with sad lonely lifes resorting to iranian.com trying to look "intellectual" with irrelevant comments. This rejected, on the run, confused elderly bunch know nothing about Iran, are not Iranians, will never fight for Iran let alone live there.
Keep posting your great comments my fellow Gilani!
BTW FAX already sent to Greek Embassy.
Best. Roozbeh.
"Personal business must yield to collective interest."
Bavarian Corporal
by Agha_Irani on Wed Oct 13, 2010 12:05 AM PDT"I'm simply voicing my own personal opinion"
Hahahahahahaha - as if the Bavarian Corporal (aka Sargord) isn't provided with a script of what to say by his islamist terrorist masters.