Archive - Dec 18, 2009 - Article

Defining moment

A new opportunity is now emerging for the "Green Movement" in Iran to demonstrate opposition to the Islamic Republic and the manipulated presidential election results earlier this year. Friday, December 18, marks the beginning of the months of Muharram and Safar in the Islamic lunar calendar. For the regime in Tehran, gaining control of the streets has become gradually more difficult since the Green Movement turned all officially sanctioned political ceremonies into opportunities to wage protests against the Islamic Republic. The coming two months, however, represent the first time that a religious opportunity has come up>>>

All eyes on Neda

Neda Agha-Soltan’s death raised questions – obvious ones, such as how even a brutal regime could be so brutal. But others, too – how many of the hundreds of thousands who have watched her last moments did so more than once? Is it voyeurism? At what point does it become entertainment? And given that Ms Agha-Soltan signed no release form, is it right that footage of her death was posted on YouTube in the first place? Is it not enough to know that someone has been killed? Do we have to see it? >>>

پایه گذر نکبت

او بانی ولایت فقیه بود. نظریه ای که مردم را از نظر عقلی ناقص و محتاج به داشتن ولی فقیه برای هدایت آنان چون هدایت گوسفندان بوسیله چوپان میبیند. او تا انجا مردم رو قبول داشت که بدون تفکر مستقل دنبالش برند و از او اطاعت کنند جمله معرف خمینی: اگر 35 میلیون بگن آره، من میگم نه شاهدی بر این ادعاست. خامنه‌ای وارث خلف خمینی هست. در واقع آنچه را که امروز بعنوان رژیم “جمهوری” اسلامی میشناسیم. این دیکتاتوری نظامی مذهبی چیزی جز تداوم طبیعی افکار ضد دمکراتیک؛ تمامیت خواهانه و قرون وسطایی “امام” راحل نیست>>>

Not for sale

When, more than ten years ago, we founded the Alliance for Defense of Human Rights in Iran (ADHRI) in Washington, D.C., after the serial murders of 1998, more than 20 people began attending the meetings. At the beginning, there were constructive discussions. The first event and demonstration in DC took place two decades after the Revolution sponsored by the Alliance. They were both timely and successful in drawing attention to the abuse of human rights in Iran. Until that time, everyone was scared or frightened to talk, let alone organize an event. But soon enough, like many other organizations, ADHR became political; each group trying to push their own agenda>>>

The Party Nazi

The other night Becky and I arrived at a large gathering of family and friends. Our generous guest, Mrs. Nicey had obviously spent a good deal of time meticulously preparing for this occasion, cleaning, cooking, and decorating. Her recently remodeled home was tastefully painted and painfully overfurnished with the usual suspectsin the mix, French, Qajar and modern American articles. As soon as we arrived Mrs. Nicey rushed to greet us. She looked rather frazzled though. It must have been the stress of all the hard work of arranging the perfect party. She shook hands and accepted the bottle of wine>>>