May 07, 2005
Loving the Mullahs!
Now before rolling into this interesting tidbit of news from the Telegraph, let us just say how puzzling it is that the Bush Administration on one hand has openly stated it's support for the Iranian people:
"And to the Iranian people, I say tonight: As you stand for your own liberty, America stands with you." - State of the Union (President George W. Bush)
But on the other hand, neither the Administration nor the majority of elected American politcians have done anything other than say they support the Iranian people. Why would they make such statements regarding one of the most important issues of our time, and then do nothing to backup their rhetoric?
Many would say that making statements of support for the Iranian people, who are on the verge of achieving their freedom (and are looking for moral, financial and political support from the "Freedom-Loving" West), and failing to push through policy that puts words into action is in fact more damaging than having not said anything in the first place!
Luckily there are noble ones such as Michael Ledeen and the cadre of intelligent bloggers, journalists, and a few radio personalities who have taken hold of this issue, have strongly supported the Iranian people, and echo these messages throughout the world! If the Administration won't go after the Mullahs, at least the citizens of this great Nation get the picture, and are putting foot to ass.
In the meantime
The British Govt. and Mullahs are continuing their dance.
"Iran is preparing an offer to buy MG Rover's entire operating plant and reopen the Longbridge assembly lines for immediate production. The bid to save up to 20,000 jobs in the West Midlands is seen an effort to earn goodwill in Britain and soften the Government's hard line on Iran's nuclear programme."
- Telegraph
As Andrew Stuttaford stated in his May 03 article entitled "The Trouble With Tony":
"It can be a lonely business being a critic of Tony Blair in this country — outside, at least, the fever swamps of the far Left."
He's absolutely right. Many Americans tend to think that because Tony Blair has stood by President Bush's side throughout the Iraq war, that he is a good guy and the British are America's allies, 101%. This couldn't be further from the truth. The current British govt may be a friend, but in the eyes of many, they're a bad friend, due to several reasons, but none more appalling than their open support and appeasement of the Mullahs.
Doing business with illegitimate, rogue regimes, is the most ANTI-FREEDOM policy a government could ever follow. So why do Tony Blair, Jack Straw, and some American Politicians fall victim to the appeasing traps and snares of the Terror Masters and their high-paid lobbyists? They no doubt feel that in the short-term, there is more money and benefits in it for them (the appeasing politicians) than would be if they supported and helped 70 million people achieve their freedom, which ultimately would make long-term stability, stronger economies and democratic and technological evolution a reality!
What a shame. In the meantime, the Iranian people continue to fight for their freedom. They will no doubt achieve it. Those who valiantly supported and endured with them in their struggle will be praised, honored and remembered.
Those who appeased will be remembered too!
Be sure to read Michael Ledeen's latest: The Hand Of The Mullahs
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March 16, 2005
Ask Google for a Noruz Icon/Graphic for March 20th!
ActivistChat.com forum members are asking Google to publish a Noruz (Persian New Year) graphic on their website for March 20th. Why not send an email to GOOGLE in support of this effort!?
In the meantime, take a look at some more of these great pictures from Chahar Shanbe Souri celebrations in Iran.
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March 15, 2005
The Iranian People's SHOCK & AWE in Tehran!
Current reports reveal that The Iranian people are conducting their own SHOCK AND AWE campaign against the Mullahs throughout Iran - and have taken the opportunity of Chahar Shanbe Soori to take their country back. If they can continue the fight for at least 48 hours they have a good shot!
Spread the word and the photos!
-via report from an Iranian
"Clashes with the Islamic Regimes thugs are taking place across Iran on this day which celebrates an ancient Persian celebration of Chaharshanbe Soori. The people of Iran, despite the Islamic Regimes efforts to eradicate Iranian celebrations, have taken to the streets in the masses to take part in this great celebration.
Sounds of firecrackers are heard throughout Iran.
In Tehran a large crowd is moving towards "Rajaei Shahr Prison".
Callers describe some areas as "war zones"!
The power of some fireworks have crushed the windows of shops and government buildings in the vicinity.
Fires are lit in the streets.
Cars are being put on fire
The financial institutions of the Islamic Republic are being attacked and put on fire
Pictures of the Islamic Republic's leaders are being burnt
Slogans against the Islamic Republic and its leaders are being shouted by the people
People are burning tires in the streets and the Islamic Regimes thugs have attacked people, other disciplinary forces such as the "Pasdaran" have stood by on the sidelines as the people of Iran celebrate this POLITICAL CELEBRATION!
Gunshots are being heard in major Iranian cities
Another police car in Tehran has been lit on fire
Hundreds of people have been arrested but hundreds of thousands of Iranians have demonstrated tonight that they are willing to stand up to oppression by all means and they shall continue their demonstrations, against the anti-Iranian Islamic Regime, throughout cities across Iran!
In Esfehan people are calling for people to converge at the Hotels in which the OPEC representatives are staying at (Hotel Abbas is one of them...)
Demonstrations are taking place in all provinces across Iran from Kurdestan, Azerbajian, Khuzestan, Mazandaran.....
Ba Sepaas"
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March 03, 2005
Ledeen's Book Review, & The Sex Slave Trade / Appeasement.
Michael Ledeen gives us a thoughtful and accurate review/assessment of two recently published Iran-related books.
Summing up the "Persian Puzzle" by Kenneth Pollack, Mr. Ledeen states:
"So for all its detail and its imposing documentation, The Persian Puzzle doesn't get us very far, either in understanding the fanatical beliefs that drive the Iranian tyrants, or in devising a policy that might yet liberate Iran, and enable a new generation, by all accounts free of religious madness and devoted to Western values, to assume its rightful control of its destiny."
And regarding David Harris' new book about the Iranian crisis entitled "The President, the Prophet, and the Shah - 1979 and the Coming of Militant Islam" Mr. Ledeen comments:
"So, not a great book, and certainly not an important book, but it's fun, and it well captures the moment."
Read the whole review here, and join the forum discussion here!
In other news, not only are the EU and some American politicians and "thinkers" giving the Mullahs more time to perpetuate turbulance, instability and violence throughout the Middle East through their appeasement and daily offerings of carrots and dip to the Islamic Regime, but these appeasers are also turning a blind eye and indirectly aiding the criminals who abduct, sell, rape and abuse young Iranian girls day in and day out! (Read the entire article at Iran Focus.)
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February 24, 2005
Forces unable to control Tehran uprising lasting more than 6 hours.
via Iran Focus
Tehran, Feb. 24 – In a recent secret report to the Iranian regime's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, Iran's Revolutionary Guards Corps pointed out that were a demonstration or rebellion to last more than six hours in Tehran, the security apparatus would no longer be able to control the situation.
"Society is in an unstable state. Were certain sensitive locations in Tehran to 'explode' under these circumstances, and the capital sink into chaos, if uprisings continue unabated and grow larger for more than six hours in Tehran, the situation would become uncontrollable", the report said.
The Iranian capital has been the scene of numerous clashes between people and State Security Forces over the past few months.
The Iranian regime has stepped up repression throughout the capital over the past year to combat any outbursts against the state.
Clashes have also erupted elsewhere in Iran in recent weeks. Iranian Kurds and security agents clashed heavily on Friday in three towns in western Iran, leaving dozens injured and hundreds arrested.
The disruption occurred after SSF agents used force to disperse demonstrations taking place simultaneously in the towns of Sardasht, Saqqez, and Baneh in protest against severe fuel shortages in the area, eye-witnesses reported.
The demonstrations quickly turned violent as protestors fought back and shouted slogans against Iran's ruling clerics.
Similarly, thousands of people flooded the streets of Mahabad (Kurdistan province) in mid-February, clashing with the SSF after days of gas, water, and electricity interruptions.
The demonstration quickly turned into a mass rally and youths set fire to banners and posters celebrating the 26th anniversary of the revolution that toppled the monarchy.
Eye-witnesses reported that at least two plainclothes policemen were injured during the ensuing clashes.
This is not some secret. All Iranians as well as the whole world understands how stable (or not) the regime is. Perhaps the level of strong rhetoric and policy support coming out of Washington these days will be the catalyst for major country-wide demonstrations, that would certainly result in a true and genuine "referendum".
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February 22, 2005
Khatami, Ebadi, and Sham Referendum's - oh MY! (IRAN UPDATE)
Mohammad Parvin has written an important article which has been published at FrontPageMagazine.com!
He begins by exposing the 60000000.com petition for what it really is, reiterating what most freedom-loving Iranians already know, which is that orchestrated attempts to massage a theocratic regime into a civilized 21st century democracy that upholds the will of it's citizens is an old tactic of regime-preservation that is known all to well by most Iranians.
Mr. Parvin makes note of the fact that most of the referendum's architects are so-called "reformers", many of whome were allies and advocates of Khomeini at one time or another.
Just like the so-called reformer Khatami and just like the so-called human rights champion and nobel peace prize winner Shirin Ebadi, this 60000000.com referendum represents more of the same empty promises and pseudo-solutions, that ultimately aim to sustain the regime, and are more or less concocted by the regime itself and promoted by it's sympathizers.
Mohammad Parvin justifiably closes with a few simple things President George W. Bush needs to do in order to put his words (of Iranian freedom) into action:
· Acknowledge the fact that the freedom-loving Iranians want a secular democratic regime and are against the entirety of the Islamic Regime, its constitution, and any form or shape of the interference of religion in state.
· Impose a smart sanction against the Islamic Regime of Iran. This sanction should be a real one and not of the type that would exclude 200 American companies such as Halliburton and General Electric. A sanction that does not have any loopholes and does not allow Halliburton or GE to stay in Iran for another five years to finish their current obligations (obligations to whom?).
· Reduce the diplomatic relations with the Islamic Regime to the lowest possible level.
· Apply the U.S. Anti-Terrorism Act indiscriminately and do not allow the IRI lobby groups such as AIC and individuals like Senator Biden to legitimize a terrorist regime.
In the meantime, if signing petitions is your cup of tea, then check out the 70,000,000 petition that was created by the Iran of Tomorrow Movement. It calls for a fair and free referendum only post-regime-change.
UPDATE: Roger Simon and Forum Members on the recent Earthquake!
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February 17, 2005
Encourage PBS Frontline to air this important DOCUMENTARY!
Many of you might recall that PBS Frontline broadcasted the documentary by Jane Kokan who had traced the steps of Zahra Kazemi, a Canadian photojournalist who was murdered by the regime in the Summer of '03.
A new Documentary has made its way out of Iran and is currently being aired by Canadian Broadcasting’s Passionate Eye.
If you support the movement for freedom and would like PBS Frontline to air this new documentary, then join with thousands of others across the blogosphere and contact PBS urging them to purchase and air this documentary.
Feel free to copy and paste (use) the following letter in your correspondence to PBS:
To contact PBS, click here!
--------------------------------------
Dear Frontline PBS,
As a long time and ardent fan of your award winning series and excellent documentaries I am writing to you to request that you consider purchasing and airing a tragically moving and remarkably poignant documentary called “Prostitution Behind the Veil, by Swedish- Iranian director Nahid Persson. You can read about the documentary on:
http://www.dfi.dk/sitemod/moduler/index_english.asp?pid=21530
The documentary is also airing this week as part of Canadian Broadcasting’s Passionate Eye: http://www.cbc.ca/passionateeye/behindtheveil.html
The documentary reveals the brutal and tragic underside of the Islamic Republic of Iran, where state sanctioned prostitution and heroin addiction under the aegis of Islam, are destroying an entire generation. The documentary also reveals the oppression and indignities that women in the Islamic world are subjected to, much of which is simply never seen by the west and especially in the United States. Much has been written about the state sponsorship of terrorism and the development of weapons of mass destruction by the Mullahs in Iran, very little though is ever written about the destruction of the Iranian people by a corrupt and terrorist Islamist theocracy. Most Americans have never really seen images of life inside the dreaded theocracy in Iran, nor have they ever had a chance to watch the ravages and destruction that this theocracy has caused in the lives of its people. The filmmakers and addict/prostitutes in this documentary have taken great risks to reveal this hideous underside of the Islamic Republic of Iran, you can carry their message to Americans by purchasing and airing this documentary. As a Frontline and PBS supporter I strongly urge you to purchase and air this documentary.
Thank-you
--------------------------------------
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Will Washington Support Democracy in Iran? (Update)
Update: Another 'Accidental' Fire at Tehran's Gold Bazar
Hopefully the United States will support the Iranian people in this great time of democratic revolution.
If the United States doesn't support the Iranian people, then the spread of freedom and democracy in the Middle East is in danger because the world already knows where the EU governments (currently) stand (Also, WSJ article: "Parsing Gerhard". Of course we all understand and respect the fact that people, corporations and governments need and want to make money. There is nothing wrong with capitalism and the spread of freedom is not anti-capitalist in anyway, in fact a Middle East that is free, peaceful and democratic will not only strengthen the economies and growth of that region, but more importantly strengthen the overall global economy.
Why doesn't the world ditch the old policies of the past (supporting tyrants to facilitiate maximum business leverage and exploit humanity) in exchange for a level, democratic, and just playing field where business, creativity, capitalism, and humanity can evolve and progress to heights that can most certainly be achieved in a short time.
In the meantime, be sure to read the message forum, as well as DoctorZin's Thurday Briefing on Iran, a worthwhile 1, 2 combo of related news and views.
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February 16, 2005
Mullahs Punish Mahabad, Cut off Gas in the middle of Freeze
Recently there were large anti-regime protests in the city of Mahabad. As punishment, the regime has now cutoff the gas to the region in the midst of the coldest winter ever, creating a deadly situation for the citizens of Mahabad.
The governor of Mahabad has apparently been trying to restrain public anger, but demonstrations and clashes continue with agents of the SSF.
The demonstration quickly turned into a mass rally and youths set fire to banners and poster celebrating the 26th anniversary of the revolution that toppled the monarchy and brought to power Iran's clerics, eye-witnesses reported.
Hundreds of SSF agents, plainclothes police, and members of the Bassij (Iran's paramilitary police) attacked the demonstrators with clubs and batons, arresting at least 10 individuals, as residents shouted antigovernment slogans.
Eye-witnesses reported that a number of plainclothes policemen were injured during the ensuing clashes.
In other news Lawmakers Urge Strong US Position On Iran
Hopefully Congress continues to get tough, but at some point, solid policy backed up by action in support of the Iranian people is the only answer.
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Iranian State TV: Explosion in Area Near Nuke Plant!
Iranian State TV: Explosion in Area Near Nuke Plant
Hard to tell what the situation is at this point. Always a possibility that the Mullahs are self-inflicting these blasts to achieve their own means and objectives...
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February 13, 2005
Clashes in Iran between people and Security Forces!
via IranFocus
Tehran, Feb. 13 - Thousands of people flooded the streets of Mahabad (northwest Kurdistan province in Iran) this morning, clashing violently with State Security Forces after days of gas, water, and electricity interruptions.
According to local residents, household gas has been cut off in the town for the past four days, electricity has been out for more than 24 hours, and water was repeatedly cut off for several hours at a time over the past day.
Protestors gathered in front of government offices, complaining that there as extreme shortage of bread as bakeries could not provide them during the energy blackout.
Temperatures in Mahabad have reportedly dropped to as low 15 degrees below freezing over the past few days.
The demonstration quickly turned into a mass rally and youths set fire to banners and poster celebrating the 26th anniversary of the revolution that toppled the monarchy and brought to power Iran's turbaned clerics, residents reported.
Mahabad residents complained that the price of bread on the black-market had increased to 2,000 rials.
SSF agents, plainclothes police, and members of the Bassij (Iran's paramilitary police) attacked the demonstrators with clubs and batons, arresting at least ten individuals, as residents shouted slogans against the Iranian regime.
Eye-witnesses reported that at least two plainclothes policemen were injured during the ensuing clashes.
Schools in Mahabad have been shut down during the blackout period.
The Iranian people are currently standing for their freedom - and have been doing so every single day. Perhaps it's about time for America to really provide support to the Iranian people?
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February 08, 2005
Secretary Condoleezza Rice is Taking Care Of Business!
Remarks at The Institut d'Etudes Politiques - Science Politique Paris
[audio]
TOP NOTCH POLICY SPEECH! Make sure you listen or read all of it!
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February 06, 2005
French Government BANS Pro-Iranian-Freedom Rally!
Source: Iran Focus
Paris, Feb. 04 - "Iran's main opposition group, the National Council of Resistance of Iran, issued a statement today condemning the French government's decision to ban a peaceful protest by Iranian exiles in Paris against the dictatorship ruling Iran, despite prior approval.
The NCRI called France's decision to cancel the rally "kowtowing to the demands of the medieval regime seeking to expand its repression from Tehran to Paris", adding "French officials as part of a shameful deal with the clerical regime in power in Iran, banned a February 10th demonstration by Iranians in Paris".
February 10 coincides with the 26th anniversary of the 1979 anti-monarchic revolution in Iran.
It said, "According to reports from organisers of the demonstration in Paris, more than 40,000 Iranians from across Europe were expected to attend the rally, something which would terrify the ruling mullahs".
"The demonstration was sponsored by more than 250 European parliamentarians and dozens of international human rights organisations", it added.
In an interview with Iran Focus one Iranian exile living in Paris called the decision "a mockery to French values for basic human rights, such as the freedom of expression".
"Iranians who escaped the clutches of the medieval regime have the right to protest against those who have executed over 120,000 dissidents and imprisoned and tortured more than half a million. France, which is thought to be the bastion of freedom, has allowed the regime to spread its tentacles here and taken away the legitimate right of our oppressed people to demonstrate for their fellow compatriots under the mullahs' dictatorship", Javad Mahmoudi said.
The NCRI revealed from sources from within Iran that France gave into the demands of the Iranian regime to secure economic deals for French companies, adding that Tehran was spreading its dictatorship thousands of kilometres to the heart of Europe."
If banning pro-freedom rallys is their wish, so be it. It won't stop the Iranian people from winning their freedom.
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February 04, 2005
16 trucks carrying weapons en route from Iran discovered in Iraq.
Source: Iran Focus
"Baghdad, Feb. 04 – 16 trucks carrying weapons and large sums of money from Iran were discovered over the past few days en route to Iraq, according to an Iraqi Defence Ministry source.
Speaking to the Iraqi daily Al-Mashreq, the source said that the weapons included rifles, mortar rounds, and explosives. He said that those arrested admitted to being agents of Iran's Ministry of Intelligence and Security (MOIS), and said that lodging had been provided for them in Samara, Balad, Najaf, and Latifiyeh.
The individuals revealed that they work working on behalf of the MOIS in conjunction with Iran's Fajr Forces. During interrogation the Iranian agents also revealed the names of a number of Fajr commanders and MOIS agents whom they worked for."
Perhaps the weapons were intended to be used for agricultural purposes?
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February 03, 2005
Condoleezza Turns Up The Heat!
US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has only been on the job a short time now, but she's already off to a positive start!
"I don't think anybody thinks that the unelected mullahs who run that regime are a good thing for either the Iranian people or for the region," Ms Rice told reporters accompanying her to Europe and the Middle East.
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February 02, 2005
Letter From: The Office of Iran of Tomorrow Movement (URGENT)
Click here for the .pdf file of Letter!
Discuss in the forum!
"Dear American Citizens,
As you are reading this letter, preparations for celebrating the “Islamic victory against America” is underway in the heart of our nation. The Director of the Interests Section of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Washington, D.C., Mr. Ali Jazini, has reserved a large section of the Bethesda North Marriott Hotel and Conference Center for a celebration of the “Twenty Sixth Anniversary of the glorious victory of the Islamic Revolution and Death to America Day,” on February 6th at 6:00 pm.
The date chosen to hold this celebration, February 6th, has been formally declared on the Islamic Republic’s Calendar as “Death to America Day.” This date is associated with the Iran Hostage Crisis in which Islamic fundamentalists, acting under the orders of the Islamic Government, stormed the U.S. Embassy in Tehran and took 52 American Diplomats hostage, holding them for 444 days. This celebration is a blatant insult to those Americans who suffered for 444 days during the Hostage Crisis and to the 241 Americans who died at the hands of the Islamic Republic in the 1983 bombing of an American barracks in Lebanon. President Bush has repeatedly declared the Islamic Republic as “a state sponsor of international terrorism”.
Furthermore, under President Clinton (Executive Order 12959), the Islamic Republic has been declared “an extraordinary threat to the national security, foreign policy and economy of the US”. Trade with the Islamic Republic or facilitation of its activities within the borders of the United States is illegal under U.S. law. Allowing this “celebration” to take place at the Marriott could very well violate these legal parameters that have been set in place to protect national security.
It will be a dark day in American history when a terrorist group holds a victory celebration in our nation’s capitol. America will not tolerate such a disgrace. We are prepared to take any action necessary to stop this terrorist sponsored event. We can do our part in “The Homeland Security” on February 6th. This nation will boycott the Marriott Properties in its entirety.
Do your patriotic duty! Write or call Marriott ( bob.daley@marriott.com, (301) 822-9200, 5701 Marinelli Rd., North Bethesda, MD 20852) and let them know that America will not be disgraced and you will not allow this abhorrent celebration to take place in the heart of our great Nation. Patriotic American citizens will be present at the front entrance of the Bethesda Marriott on February 6th, the day that is marked as “Death to America Day”, in order to stop these terrorists from entering the Marriott Ballroom and rejoicing in their crimes against America.
If we let this event take place, today it may be the Islamic Republic celebrating on February 6th in Washington D.C., but tomorrow it will be al-Qaeda in New York on September 11th."
17328 Ventura Blvd. #209 Encino, CA 91316 USA
Phone: 818-986-0200 Fax: 818-474-7229
WWW.SOSIRAN.COM 24-hour Message Center: 888-SOS-IRAN
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January 31, 2005
The Vision Thing
More important words from Michael Ledeen, undoubtedly one of the strongest supporters of Iranian freedom!
Posted by ActivistChat.com at 10:07 AM | Comments (2) | TrackBack
January 30, 2005
Protest against Marriott Hotels By S.O.S. Iran!
Source URL for PDF file: http://www.sosiran.com/Documents/Marriott.pdf
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The people have won. (In Iraq)
Omar at IRAQ THE MODEL has the scoop.
Meanwhile, the Islamic regime in Iran must be wondering what effect this election will have on the Iranian people who are overwhelmingly anti-regime, pro-freedom, and hoping that the free world will come to their aid, not through bombings, but through utilizing the wealth of other means that can undoubtedly help the Iranian people achieve their long-awaited freedom.
This just in: A workers protest was put down in northern Iran!
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January 09, 2005
WORLD FAMOUS GOOGOOSH JOINS S.O.S. IRAN FREEDOM MOVEMENT!
The important announcement can be watched via the XTV Video Stream below. Googoosh called Ms. Homa Ehsan (S.O.S. Iran/XTV HQ) on Thursday 1/5/2005 to announce her decision to join the S.O.S. Iran freedom movement and Persian Gulf Commitee.
In order to watch the segment containing Googoosh's announcement, move playback forward to 1:24:00 hour.
http://tofoiran.packdeal.com/clips/HomaEhsan/20050105-MzHoma-225.asx
http://tofoiran.packdeal.com/clips/HomaEhsan/20050105-MzHoma-30.asx
http://tofoiran.packdeal.com/clips/HomaEhsan/20050105-MzHoma-06.asx
ActivistChat.com welcomes Ms. Googoosh's decision! As she is now part of the FREE IRAN movement, please consider supporting the googoosh.com petition and show support and thanks to her in any way you can.
To learn more about Googoosh please visit: http://www.googoosh.com
Petition Promoted by Googoosh.com: Let Our Diva, Googoosh, Free to Sing
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January 05, 2005
Bush Admin #2 should listen to the Scots!
Great article by Struan Stevenson, a Scottish MP.
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January 01, 2005
What about freedom and the Iranian people?
Hopefully someone in the Bush Administration will read Saul Singer's latest article in the Jerusalem Post entitled "Interesting Times: Bush's Lost Year". Most important is this part:
"Branding Iran, Iraq, and North Korea as the "axis of evil" was the right thing to do. But saying that and then not having a policy, much less implementing it, toward Iran is worse than not having said it in the first place. Since then it seems that Bush has learned not to set such bold markers. That's the wrong lesson; we need more markers and more follow-up."
Could the Bush Administration also start listening and paying more attention to what Dr. Michael Ledeen, the American people, and Iranian activists have been saying for years now about the regime in Iran and the great potential for freedom in the region?
Posted by ActivistChat.com at 09:35 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
December 11, 2004
Please Help to Save "Leila" from Execution by Mullahs!
To: United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights
8-14 Avenue de la Paix
1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland
Leila, a 19 year old woman, faces imminent execution in Iran. What childhood she has had has been marred with physical and sexual abuse from the age of 8, giving birth to her first child at the age of 9. Having become a concubine to an Afghan man at the age of 12, Leila was forced into prostitution by him until the age of 14 when she gave birth to twin daughters. Leila was then given to a 55 year old married man who continued her history of abuse until her arrest at the age of 18, when she was found guilty of prostitution. Prostitution carries the death penalty under the Islamic laws of Iran.
It is our duty to defend the innocent at all times regardless of race, religion or creed!!!
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November: Human Rights Abuses in Iran!
Ahh yes, the Mullahs in Iran continue to repress the Iranian population, back terrorist actions in Iraq and maintain a steady course to the BOMB! But have no fear, the European foreign ministers will save the day and come to an agreement with the clerics, an agreement that will be forgotten one week from now, then the clerics and foreign ministers will meet again, alas the viscious cycle will continue.
Be sure to peruse and pass along November's Compilation of Human Rights Abuses in Iran!
In the meantime, Reza Pahlavi met with the President and CEO of National Geographic Magazine and was reassured by Mr. Fahey (Nat. Review) that the National Geographic Society recognizes 'Persian Gulf,' as the undisputed historic name of the body of water south of the Iranian plateau...
How about some Saturday Satire to wrap things up?
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November 09, 2004
Two Must-Read Articles!
The first highly-recommended article is a "SPECIAL REPORT" published in Defense And Foreign Affairs Daily, entitled US Policy Approaches to the “New Middle East”, With the Emphasis on Iran. This analysis by Dr Assad Homayoun gets our highest regards across the board.
Here's a taste:
"Moreover, Russia will not change its commitment to Iran because of economic and strategic interests. Neither will the bulk of the European governments, which are trying in vain to change the mind of the Tehran Administration. They appear to wish to support a government which is totally rejected by its own people. The governments of France, Germany and Britain, due to their economic interests, have been trying to appease the ruling clerics, coaxing Tehran to depart from its strategy of developing nuclear weapons. These governments must soon face realty and understand that nothing will deflect the clerics from their course of action.
Pres. Bush’s initiatives for political, social and economic reform, and for promoting democracy in the greater Middle East, along with his roadmap for a viable Palestinian state, are sound within the context of historic trends and current realities, but Muslim leaders, too, are showing signs that they know they must address the region’s social and economic problems and proceed toward genuine reform.
Clearly, within this reality, the ongoing stalemate between Israel and the Palestinians would, if not addressed in the emerging post-Arafat era, be detrimental to the security of the wider Middle East. A new approach to Palestinian-Israeli problems is imperative to the stability of the region, and now seems possible.
A stable and democratic Iran — possibly only with the removal of the clerical Government — would be most significant in helping to achieve a stable peace in the region, particularly given the ruling clerics’ pivotal efforts in financing and sustaining the Palestinian, HizbAllah and proxy Syrian conflict against Israel.[5] Regional stability, including an end to the Palestinian-Israel conflict can only be reasonably expected to occur when the clerical leadership of Iran is replaced by a secular, democratic Government.
The conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan and against transnational terrorism will not be solved or eased unless until the Iranian clerical Administration, the operational and financial center for terrorists and a major sponsor of the insurgency in Iraq, is removed from power. Perhaps as significantly, Iran, with its history, strategic location, population, and resources, can, with a return to a secular, nationalist Government, play an important rôle for peace and stability of the region.
Today, the great majority of Iranians have indicated through a wide range of quiet and public protests that they are against the ruling clerics and are ready to rise to establish a secular democratic government. The President of the United States has repeatedly supported the cause of Iranian freedom, but different voices from different branches of the Administration, expressing different and confusing messages, has been disappointing to Iranians who have been for decades struggling for freedom."
Please take the time to thoroughly read this article! When you're finished, why not wash it down with Michael Ledeen's Latest and Greatest:
"Just as political considerations (mostly Tony Blair's, not ours) delayed the liberation of Iraq beyond all rational measure — thereby enabling the terror masters to plan the Iraq strategy we have seen — so politics (driven by the Jerry Bremer and endorsed by the State Department and the National Security Council brain trust headed by the soon-to-depart Robert Blackwill) imposed the catastrophic withdrawal of the Marines from Fallujah last spring. I trust that nothing of the sort will happen this time, for each retreat only ensures more deaths and a more difficult and costly battle next time.
But asking for politics to be removed from strategy is like asking for pheromones to be removed from sexual attraction. It can't be done. The political remedy is the selection of a suitable War Cabinet. The president must have the advice of people who will not shirk from the unpleasant tasks before us, and who are capable of leading their agencies to maximum performance.
Unfortunately this probably means a wholesale housecleaning. If it were up to me, I would urge the president to replace the secretaries of state and defense, the national-security adviser, and the heads of the FBI and the DIA (Defense Intelligence Agency). All are exceptionally gifted and patriotic people. All have worked very hard. But all have failed, for different reasons and to different degrees. There is a very narrow window of time to make wholesale changes, and I hope the president will seize his moment."
Two great pieces... dynamic duo perhaps?
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November 06, 2004
Islamic Republic's Qods Day March in London Disrupted by Iranian Dissidents!
via Iran va Jahan -
"Islamic Republic’s efforts to capitalise on the Palestine conflict was disrupted today in London by several Iranian dissidents who shouted counter slogans at the marchers and handed out leaflets describing the evils of the Islamic Republic to the onlookers and passers by.
The leaflet outlined the sufferings of the Iranian people at the hands of the clerics ruling Iran and stated that a regime which acts against her own citizens is no friend of Palestinians nor any other nation.
The leaflet also exposed the priorities of the Islamic Republic which purchased arms from Israel during the Iran-Contra affair but refused the help of Israeli NGOs to the earthquake victims in Bam.
Other notable events during the march was an Iranian female journalist who was attacked by one of the fundamentalist women while interviewing one of the Iranian dissidents and the refusal of a Left Wing English organisation to take part in the march after reading the leaflet by Iranian dissidents and talking to them.
The Iranian dissidents had gathered at the march after calls by Supporters of the Pro-Democracy Movement in Iran and the International Alliance of Iranian Students.
For further details contact : London@daneshjooyan.org"
Following is the leaflet handed out by Iranian dissidents:
Freedom Loving People of Britain,
The Islamic Republic of Iran is exploiting the Palestine issue as a propaganda tool by holding an AL-Qods day rally in the streets of London.
In its 25 years of existence, the Islamic Republic of Iran has executed thousands of Iranian dissidents, jailed hundreds of political activists, closed down all the newspapers for the slightest of criticisms of its outdated ideology, and assassinated scores of its opponents outside Iran, including in Europe and Britain.
A medieval regime which claims to represent God on earth is no friend of its own people and has little regard for the lives and well beings of its own citizens, let alone the Palestinians and others in the Middle East. Islamic Republic of Iran, is an evil regime which thrives on exporting Islamic fundamentalism, meddling in other countries, and sponsoring international terrorism.
A regime which treats her own people in such brutal manner, is no friend of any other nation including the Palestinians. Her only objective by holding this Al-Qods rally is nothing but inflaming further a sensitive situation in the region.
Islamic Republic of Iran is the same regime which purchased arms from Israel in the Iran-gate affair and yet refused the humanitarian aid by Israeli NGOs during the devastating Bam earthquake. Such are the priorities of the Islamic regime in Iran.
The Iranian people in the last twenty-five years have experienced with their flesh and bones, the injustices of the Islamic Republic. The Iranian people have experienced the false promises of its founder, Ayatollah Khomeini, when he promised them free electricity, water, buses etc. upon his return from exile, but his religious dictatorship has brought nothing to Iranians except poverty, corruption, and terrorism.
We ask you to defy their Al-Qods day of propaganda by all means you can. The solution to the problems of Middle East is not Islamic fundamentalism but a secular democratic regime in Iran which can bring about peace and prosperity to the people of the Middle East and security for the world.
As the protesting workers and teachers shouted in the streets of Iran, ‘Leave Palestine be, think of your own people’
Alliance of Iranian Students in London
Supporters of the Pro-Democracy Movement in Iran
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October 18, 2004
Bloggers Rise UP!
The regime of Mullahs, who the EU is so desperate to appease in an effort to sustain lucrative economic relations, is on the verge of stoning a 13 year old girl to death.
via Iran Press Service -
"According to Iranian and foreign press, Zhila Izadi, a 13 years old girl from the north-western city of Marivan had been condemned to death by stoning after being found that she had been pregnant from her 15 years-old brother."
...
"Human rights activists in Denmark said though Zhila’s sentence had not been confirmed yet, but the fear is that, with the family’s approval, she faces the same faith as that of Ms. Ateqeh Rajabi, the 16 years-old girl hanged in public by the judge, a cleric, who condemned her on charges of prostitution.
“A court in Marivan has condemned Zhila to death by stoning and the family, which is very fundamental, has agreed”, confirmed Ms. Nahid Riazi of a Copenhagen-based human rights group that fights to the rights of women, adding that the young girl had been separated from her new born baby after the birth.
Ms. Rajabi was publicly hanged on a street in the city centre of Neka in the northern province of Mazandaran, on 15 August, for "acts incompatible with chastity".
Faced with domestic and international outcry of dismay, the authorities said the young girl was “mentally incompetent”.
However, informed sources revealed that Ms. Ateqeh was sentenced to death after, during the "trial", she expressed outrage at the misogyny and injustice in the Islamic Republic and its Islam-based judicial system.
“The lower court judge was so incensed by her protestations that he personally put the noose around her neck after his decision had been upheld by the Supreme Court”, the sources reported.
The execution of Ateqeh Rajabi was the tenth execution of a child offender in Islamic Republic recorded by Amnesty International since 1990.
Amnesty International is alarmed that this execution was carried out despite reports that Ateqeh Rajabi was not believed to be mentally competent, and that she reportedly did not have access to a lawyer at any stage.
As a party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, Iran is bound not to execute child offenders. Both treaties provide that capital punishment shall not be imposed for offences committed by persons under 18 year of age at the time of committing the offence.
Though it is possible that the Iranian authorities reject the stoning sentence, but it remains that the accused could very probably be condemned to death, human rights sources said, calling on the international community to put pressure on Iranian authorities to save Zhila from death."
Please contact all mainstream media, international organizations and American presidential candidates... ask them if this concerns them.
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October 14, 2004
Iraq Accuses Iranian Embassy of Killing Agents!
via AFP -
...
"Prime Minister Iyad Allawi's government has escalated its rhetoric against Iran in recent days, accusing the neighbouring Islamic republic of running a campaign of sabotage in Iraq.
But Shahwani's claims of huge caches of documents seized in the September raids are the most explicit charges to date against Iran and the first time an Iraqi party has been publicly named as Tehran's proxy.
Shahwani said that during the raids, "Documents were obtained ... (showing) the Iranian regime ... is seeking to embroil some of the SCIRI members in subversive acts to exaccerbate Iraq's wounds and dominate it."
The intelligence director said the documents showed Iran had a 45-million-dollar budget for sowing chaos in Iraq and had recruited members of Badr and a subsidiary party, Hezbollah, to kill Iraqi intelligence agents."
45 million is pocket-change for the Mullahs. They are certainly spending several times that throughout Iraq.
Iraq Accuses Iranian Embassy of Killing Agents
October 14, 2004
Agence France Presse
AFP
Iraq's national intelligence chief Mohammed al-Shahwani has accused Iran's Baghdad embassy of masterminding an assassination campaign that has seen 18 intelligence agents killed since mid-September.
Shahwani told AFP a series of raids on three Iranian "safe houses" in Baghdad on September 29 had uncovered a treasure trove of documents linking Iran to plots to kill members of the intelligence service and using the Badr former militia of the Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq's (SCIRI) as its tool.
SCIRI has vigourously denied the allegations and counter-charged that the intelligence service is full of veterans of former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein's military who are now renewing their vendetta against former Shiite resistance groups based out of Iran in the 1980s.
Since mid-September, 18 Iraqi intelligence agents have been killed in Iraq, 10 of them by the Badr organisation on orders from Iran and the rest by Al-Qaeda-linked foreign militant Abu Mussab al-Zarqawi, Shahwani charged.
"Badr and Zarqawi have assassinated 18 of my men," Shahwani said from his heavily-guarded villa in central Baghdad.
Shahwani confirmed that two of his intelligence agents were beheaded by Zarqawi's Unity and Holy War group, as seen in a video released by the fighters on Wednesday.
The intelligence chief said he suspected Tehran was funding Zarqawi, but lacked conclusive proof.
Prime Minister Iyad Allawi's government has escalated its rhetoric against Iran in recent days, accusing the neighbouring Islamic republic of running a campaign of sabotage in Iraq.
But Shahwani's claims of huge caches of documents seized in the September raids are the most explicit charges to date against Iran and the first time an Iraqi party has been publicly named as Tehran's proxy.
Shahwani said that during the raids, "Documents were obtained ... (showing) the Iranian regime ... is seeking to embroil some of the SCIRI members in subversive acts to exaccerbate Iraq's wounds and dominate it."
The intelligence director said the documents showed Iran had a 45-million-dollar budget for sowing chaos in Iraq and had recruited members of Badr and a subsidiary party, Hezbollah, to kill Iraqi intelligence agents.
"A document (showed) that Iran allocated a budget to Badr Corps, totalling 45 million dollars.
"Among the objectives of this budget is to back the formation of a security service grouping several directorates to carry out a set of subversive acts including ... physical liquidation."
Shahwani flipped through folders of charts and writing in Farsi that he said his agents were still sifting through.
He claimed his intelligence service had obtained the names and addresses of Badr members working directly for Iran.
Badr, the former paramilitary wing of SCIRI, has formerly renounced violence since the party returned to Iraq in the spring of 2003 after a 20-year exile in Iran.
SCIRI vehemently denies the charges.
"These are false accusations made against the organisation. Badr and SCIRI are the biggest threats to terrorists," said SCIRI spokesman Haitham al-Husseini.
Instead, Husseini charged that Shahwani, a general who fled Saddam's Iraq, was running amuck and taking out his bias against Shiite parties which fought Saddam during the 1980s when Iran was at war with Iraq.
"We criticise the way the new intelligence agency is ... hiring ex-officers of Saddam Hussein's military back to their posts. They have a history of targeting SCIRI and Badr members."
The two groups currently serve in the interim parliament and Allawi government.
Shahwani says that four Iraqis who were arrested following a botched assassination attempt on an Iraqi intelligence officer in September belonged to the Hezbollah of Iraq party and had confessed to being on the payroll of Iran's intelligence service
Hezbollah is part of the SCIRI alliance of Shiite parties.
The intelligence chief took out dossiers and glossy photos of 27 members of Iran's embassy in Iraq and accused them of masterminding Iranian covert operations.
"We will ask them to leave the country," Shahwani said.
Shahwani also claimed that Iranian spies had held meetings at Iraqi politician Ahmed Chalabi's Baghdad home since May when the one-time Pentagon favourite's house was raided by Iraqi police and US forces, saying that Chalabi was suspected by the Americans of leaking intelligence to Iran.
The Iraqi foreign ministry declined to comment on the intelligence chief's allegations against the embassy.
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Liberty vs. The Mullahs
via New Statesman -
...
"Iran is surrounded, and in some cases threatened, by nuclear countries and forces: the Americans in the Gulf, Nato's arms in Turkey, Israel (with its formidable though absurdly unacknowledged nuclear arsenal), Russia and Pakistan. Having its own bomb would lessen the constraints, allowing Iran more freedom to try to expand its theocratic influence. Whatever the deplorable consequences of a nuclear Iran for world safety - not only the perils of a bomb in the hands of a fundamentalist regime, but also the copycat effect on the region, possibly signalling the death knell of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) - it would provide a safety net for Tehran's own leaders."
...
"Yet with George W Bush and Ayatollah Khamenei in charge of their respective countries, with hard men on both sides, the notion of a new relationship seems a forlorn, if not surreal, hope. The much more likely outcome, if Iran continues to defy the IAEA, is that the US will succeed, at the end of this year, in getting Iran referred to the UN Security Council for breach of the NPT, and will then press the council to punish Iran with some form of sanctions. It is quite unclear what such sanctions might be, beyond a tightening of existing restrictions on dual-use equipment and so forth, or indeed whether Russia and China would allow any sanctions resolution to get through the council.
In its current mood, Iran would probably shrug off minor sanctions. But, for all its bravado, the country is not in a strong position economically. For the moment, it is floating along, buoyed up by the high price of oil, its people lulled into political passivity. But oil and gas apart, Iran has nothing to sustain it. Its other industries are sclerotic, and a strong nationalistic tendency in the new parliament (right-wing, because most reformist candidates were barred from competing in February's general election) is blocking development by insisting on vetting all foreign contracts. While America's unilateral sanctions are painful, barring all US investment and deterring others from investing in Iran's oil and gas, UN oil sanctions would destroy the regime.
None the less, it is unlikely that petroleum consumers will impose oil sanctions, if for no other reason than the precipitous effect this would have on oil prices. Nor, so long as the top people in Iran and America keep their jobs, is there likely to be any sort of grand, solve-all bargain. So we have a stalemate: it looks as if the perilous brinkmanship will continue - until one side or the other steps over the edge."
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