Observing Iran

Makan's Critiques Share Responsibility

Even though I oppose Israel’s genocidal policies towards the Palestinians, I do however believe Caspian Makan has every right as an Iranian to travel and live safely in any part of the world he desires. If the leaders and supporters of the Green Movement think that Makan’s trip is ill-timed and inappropriate they should think again. They need to listen to the message of the Iranian people calling for peace and humaneness. The Islamic regime in Iran has lost any legitimacy to tarnish the humanitarian activates of Makan or any other Iranian. His trip to Israel is a demonstrative gesture of peace and civility in opposing Ahmadinejad’s hate rhetoric.  Criticiques opposing Makan’s trip to Israel share with Ahmadinejad hate sentiments of Jews and Israel. Such sentiments in today’s world are condemnable and shameful....Toe Kaz Mehnat Digaran bi Ghami  Nashayad Keh Naamat Nahand Aadami

Well put Paula

Thank you

You are a very talented artist, Ms. Slater

I just visited your site, enjoying your beautiful works. Does it really qualify me to express my thoughts about sculpturing? Some would say yes, some would say no.

I, personally, prefer not to make a fool out of myself.

Caspian's right to speak out

I believe Caspian has earned the right to speak out to anyone who will listen. The Iranian dictatorship took everything from him; they murdered the love of his life, they imprisoned him, tortured him, took thousands of his photographs which he was using to write a book about his beloved country Iran, he lost his home, his family, his country, his health has suffered and his life has been threatened. But yet he speaks out for the Iranian people, for the human rights abuses they have suffered. Through tears of his own personal loss, he bravely speaks out! So don’t let anyone tell you lies about his motives or try to confuse you with propaganda that makes you lose focus or forget all the young Iranian people who have given their lives in the fight for freedom.

Caspian went to Israel on a peaceful mission to spread the word about what Neda thought and stood for, just as he has traveled to several other countries to speak out about Neda and the plight of the Iranian people. The Iranian government will try to use this trip as a wedge to divide the Iranian people and green movement as they always do. Remember, they will use any means, any gossip, any lies to take the focus off of their murdering, torturing, raping and imprisonment of their own Iranian people. Don’t be fooled. Stay resolute in what you know, that the Iranian dictators have lied and murdered, and raped and oppressed its own people. Don’t lose that focus.

Please don’t fall for this bait and switch game that the Iranian dictators play. This isn’t about Iran versus Israel, it is about the Iranian people and the green freedom movement against their own cruel oppressive government, only then will Neda, Sohrab and all the other freedom fighters who have suffered torture, imprisonment and death have not been in vain.

(To be clear, I think Palistine should be its own independent state and Israel should NOT be building more settlements in disputed areas. But, the Isreali people are not the enemy of Iran, they are praying for the success of the green movement in Iran.)

bbc interview with caspian makan

my biggest regret is that i am too old to learn new languages properly. thus, i would be grateful for a summary of what caspian makan said in this bbc interview. even just the gist of it. with thanks in advance.

BBC's interview with Makan after visiting Israel

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=tBdmQxueG_c

Dear HHH

I live in the UK, I write in "British English" ;)

//observingiran.blogspot.com/

another perspective

i did not read the blog of nasih in detail or the email letters between her and hoda. i was not ‘there’ with caspian and neda in their private moments. it is none of my business, or anyone else’s. my heart goes out to the parents and family of neda, and to the iranian people. the only place where i was an eyewitness was at caspian makan’s visit to the student union at the university in jerusalem. this visit was held WITHOUT FANFARE, NO PRESS, was NOT a photo op for anyone. it was a mutual human reaching out. the hall was packed, there were orthodox jews, seculars, righties, lefties, members of the palestinian groups with their internal varieties, students from the iranian studies dept. who wanted to practice their persian in the questions and answers, homesick expats, and all kinds of people. caspian looked broken, but spoke with care and tact. he was harshly challenged by a palestinian student who compared caspian’s experiences and those of others in evin to the israeli jail, although he himself never had jail experience anywhere. there was a heated, but open debate. others said touching things and difficult things. but people talked. although maybe a small part of the audience came out of curiosity (not to say voyeurism) about neda, most wanted to have a human engagement on a non-political level with someone from iran, and to be hospitable. makan himself talked about humanity and universal things, not about neda, and there was no hijacking of any personal story or posturing as a mouthpeice for a political or national movement. if anything, the students who attended this meeting were jarred from their complacency, and maybe such encounters will turn them into more active promoters of change in the troubled situation here.

It's DEFENSE not DEFENCE

Most people write Defense like yard fence :)

fiancee not fiance, again most people write fiancee like finance 

Americanized not americanised

I do not support him 1 bit Respect is more precious than playing

Everything is sacred.

دست پاچه

I agree

It is in green interest not to start any feud with Israel. In any case Palestinians in Israel are getting better treatment than Iranians in their own country.