News

Kourosh Zaim

I also read a few things about Kourosh Zaim, and have noticed that some of his words are used on students' banners during protests. I'm surprised how bold he is in some of his writings, especially because he is still awaiting trial after his last arrest about a year ago.If he's been around in the INF for so long, I'd like to know what he sees as new and different factors in the pro-democracy movement today.

responses

Dear Ms. Mehrban,

You are most welcomed.

Best,

Masoud

P.S. You have chosen a wonderful screen name. If there were more people who were mehraban, then this world would have been a much better place.

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Dear Iran Dokht,

This coalition in based in Tehran. They have been working on this for more than 4 months to gather all the people around this platform. They wanted to release this about 4 months ago, but there were many problems.

//www.radiofarda.com/content/f35_Tabarzadi_Solidarity_for_Democracy_and_Human_Rights/1740495.html

All of the signatories believe in non-violent methods of struggle. I think if they could maintain their coalition for about 2 months, then many more would join them. I think the next 2 months are critical for their success. They will confront many obstacles. The BEST help we could give them is our voices of solidarity and support. The more Iranians publically support them, the higher the likelihood of their success.

Best,

Masoud

Thank you Dr Kazemzadeh

I really liked the 12 principles listed. Where is this group based in and in which way can people help this group?

This committee calls upon all Iranians and all the freedom-loving people around the globe to help this committee to achieve its goals.

Please clarify "help" and "goal". I know the goal is stated as "establishing a governmental system that is based on human rights and basic rights and the rule of law", but I am confused as to what means are being considered to reach this goal and what kind of help can one provide.

Thank you 

IRANdokht

Thanks Mr. Kazemzadeh

This is one good news coming from Iran.  I read an open letter by Mr. Zaim about the Islamic Republic's mis-management that had been published inside Iran.  I did not know of Mr. Zaim, I just saw his name again in the list that you have published in relation to this piece.  

sepaas gozaram Dariush gerami

sepaas gozaram Dariush jaan.

Great Initiative

More Power to you.

Best,

DK

Committee for Solidarity for Democracy and Human Rights in Iran

The Formation of the Committee for "Solidarity for Democracy and Human Rights" in Iran

Yesterday, May 25, 2009, the committee for "Solidarity for Democracy and Human Rights" in Iran was formed by a group of political and civil society activists. In its first official document, this committee, which is chaired by Adib Boroumand, invited civil society and political activists to join this committee.

The founding document states:

The situation in our country is extremely grave and sensitive. In the past years, the ruling regime has undermined the most basic human rights of the citizens of Iran, ignored the international treaties on human rights and international law, as well as lacked commitment to the rule of law. These actions have caused historical and golden opportunities in both internal and external realms to be destroyed, and the nation has been forced to endure terrible economic, social, cultural, and financial hardships. These dreadful conditions are due to the regime’s lack of competence, planning, and management as well as its lack of respect for the basic rights of the people.

The great people of Iran bestowed to the world the first declaration of human rights, which promoted harmony of cultures, freedom, equality, racial and religious harmony and comity. The Iranian people have been struggling for over 100 years for the establishment of independence, liberty, democracy, and human rights through such movements as the constitutional movement, the oil nationalization movement, and the 1979 social and political struggles. With this glorious history, the Iranian nation deserves to have a governmental system based on democracy, human rights, basic rights and the rule of law.

The following constitute our principles:

1. Protection of territorial integrity and independence of Iran.

2. Acceptance of the principles contained in the United Nations Charter, Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the relevant conventions and treaties.

3. The rule of law, promulgated by the free will of the people.

4. Changing the constitution and abolishing all the articles which are against the rule of the people.

5. Separation of religion and the state.

6. Emphasis on democracy, human rights, and basic rights.

7. Emphasis on equal rights of ethnic groups in Iran.

8. Emphasis on equality of rights of women and men.

9. Elimination of all forms of discrimination based on gender, race, ethnicity, beliefs, and religion.

10. Protection of the Persian language which forms the core of the culture, unity and historical and national identity and respect and acceptance of all other languages in Iran.

11. Condemnation of all forms of violence and torture whether done through official structures or un-official ways.

12. All-embracing economic and social developments along with promoting social justice as well as condemning any form of exploitation.

This committee calls upon all Iranians and all the freedom-loving people around the globe to help this committee to achieve its goals.

Members of the Interim Executive Committee are:

Davood Hermidas Bavand (Chairman)

Mohammad Maleki (Secretary)

Akbar Pir-Hadi

Mohammad Oliyai-Fard

Kourosh Zaim (Secretary for Political Affairs)

Esmail Moftizadeh (Adviser on Human Rights)

Keyvan Samimi

Alireza Jabari

Nasreen Sotoudeh

Heshmatollah Tabarzadi (Spokesperson)

Issa Khan Hatami (Secretary for Executive Affairs)

The Founding Members of the committee are:

Professor Adib Boroumand (Secretary-General of the Iran National Front)

Dr. Lagha Ardalan (member of Central Committee of the Iran National Front)

Ajlal Aghvami (Spokesperson of Kurdistan Human Rights Organization)

Dr. Seyyed Javad Emami (member of the Central Committee of the Democratic Front of Iran)

Amir Reza Amir Bakhtiar (member Iran Party)

Dr. Mohammad Oliyai-Fard (attorney and human rights activist)

Bahram Abtin (President of Cultural Center of Lor Bakhtiari Persians of Iran)

Dr. Davood Hermidas Bavand (member of the Leadership Council of the Iran National Front)

Sepideh Pour Aghai (human rights activist)

Ali Akbar Pir Hadi (member of the Executive Council of the Vahed Bus Drivers Syndicate)

Ahmad Pour Ebrahimi (human rights activist)

Saeed Tourabian (member of the Executive Council of the Vahed Bus Drivers Syndicate)

Behrooz Javid Tehrani (political prisoner)

Abolfazl Jahandar (university student activist)

Bijan Janfeshan (writer and human rights activist)

Alireza Jabari (member Writers Association of Iran)

Issa Khan Hatami (member Central Committee of the Iran National Front)

Ziba Hajiloo (university student activist)

Hamid Reza Khadem (member Youth Organization of the Iran National Front)

Abbas Khorsandi (Secretary-General of the Democratic Party of Iran, political prisoner)

Alireza Khosravani (President of the Ahura Manesh Association of the Fars province)

Mohammad Reza Khonsari (member of the Political Prisoners Association)

Nahid Kheiabi (women’s rights activist)

Dr. Mohammad Ali Dadkhah (attorney, member Human Rights Defenders Association)

Saeed Derakhshandeh (political prisoner, human rights activist)

Jamal Doroodi (member Central Committee of the Iran National Front)

Ali Rastegari (member United Students Front)

Reza Rakhshan (Secretary for Public Relations of the Haft Tapeh Sugar Workers Syndicate)

Ashkan Razavi (member, Engineers Organization of the Iran National Front)

Dr. Fariborz Rais-Dana (economist, political activist, member Writers Association of Iran)

Mohandes Kourosh Zaim (member Central Committee of the Iran National Front)

Shaahin Zein-Ali (Secretary of the Association of Liberal and Nationalist University Students)

Nasreen Sotoudeh (attorney and women’s rights activist)

Parviz Safari (member Central Committee Democratic Front of Iran)

Mohammad Masoud Salamati (member Central Committee Democratic Front of Iran)

Gohar Shemirani (women’s rights activist)

Keyvan Samimi (editor-in-chief of the banned magazine Nameh and member Human Rights Defenders Association)

Siamak Taheri (political and citizens’ rights activist)

Mohandes Heshmatollah Tabarzadi (Secretary-General of the Democratic Front of Iran)

Mohammad Askari

Kazem Anbari (citizens’ rights activist)

Retired Gen. Naser Farbod (first Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the armed forces after the 1979 revolution)

Mohammad Hassan Fallahiehzadeh (political prisoner)

Dr. Hesam Firoozi (human rights activist and political prisoner)

Ali Ghobadloo (citizens’ rights activist)

Amin Kord (member of the Central Committee of United Students Front)

Maryam Mahboub (women’s rights and citizens’ rights activist)

Esmail Moftizadeh (political and human rights activist)

Dr. Mohammad Maleki (university professor and the first President of the University of Tehran after the 1979 revolution)

Behzad Mehrani (blogger and First Secretary of the Coalition of Human Rights Activists in Iran)

Abdollah Moradi (member of the leadership of the United for Democracy)

Hamid Reza Mohammadi (political prisoner)

Dr. Naghi Pour (member Central Committee of the Iran National Front)

Zohoor Nabavi (political prisoner)

Minoo Yousefpour (women’s rights and citizens’s rights activist)