Iranian Revolution For Liberty

Before we become engrossed in the facts of today, I would like to ask you to join me in prayer not only for their success, but also for their safety from the basijis and IRGC. May they all turn their arms against the government and join the revolution.

Today the fight continues. Most countries have stepped forward and condemned the violent repression by the Iranian government. There are many photos, videos, and articles about this atrocity. I shall provide a list of articles written by others at the end of this post. I will also be updating, so remember to come back.

The Iranian TV and newspapers (that is, the ones that are still open) are reporting that 8 people were killed yesterday (I heard it was 10 civilians and 5 basijis) and 300 plus were arrested. Ali Habibi Mousavi, nephew of Mousavi who lost the election this year (we'll never know), was also killed by these creeps. He was shot after being run over and then shot in chest. It was no accident.

There are reports that his (Mousavi's) nephew's body is missing. Let me just add one note of importance here. I do not like Mousavi. He is the same as Ahmadinejad. If he was not, he would not have been allowed to run for office. Just so we are clear on this issue. I support the Iranian Green Movement, not the elitist government officials.

One of the interesting items I read about was Coup in Iran?. If this is true, we may be a witness to the history of the collapse of the Iranian tyrannical regime! I just pray that they do not turn out to be oppressors.

I read something about the December 22nd. Many people and relatives freed two men who were to be hanged, and they were shot dead. The creeps caught the two men which made the crowd even angrier. Eventually, the two men were hanged.

AtlasShrugs has this to offer:

IRAN REVOLUTION: MASSIVE PROTESTS, DEATHS REPORTED, CHAOS.

Pandemonium as clashes continue in Tehran for 2nd day as protesters defy Islamic Government (more) Eyewitness reports and opposition websites say Security forces fired on the crowds in several places, wounding many, killing at least four that we know of. [Read more.]

Many pictures are included.

Winston was also watching closely as the riots broke out. They didn't have to turn into riots, but the thuggish government just has to start firing at innocent people (my assessment). I think he may have taken his leave. He does need to sleep, and he liveblogged all day and night.

From reading the tweets at #iranelection, it appears that there is much fighting going on between the freedom fighters and the anti-riot goons. It seems to be an uprising all over Iran, but we must wait and see.

One thing I know for sure, they want to accomplish this victory by themselves. Do they want our support? Of course they do! They want everyone who is a freedom-loving person who loves peace's support. I shall return in a while, but I must go for a while. Have a nice day, and don't forget to pray for the safety of the freedom fighters and the demise of all tyrants.

Update: Here is a cartoon found through twitter's #iranelection. He hopes one day the Iranian people will actually see this!

Update II: This is an article I read last night (or was that this morning?), and it is very good. It covers news, photos, and videos. Please be careful though, some of these videos are graphic. Are you brave enough to watch what is really happening in actual life in this world, or are you too cozy? Hmm.

Update III: Here is some more live blogging from EnduringAmerica.

Daftar-Tahkim-Vahdat, the main reformist Student Alumni Organisation, also issued a statement:

What a regret that a government that considers itself to be risen from religious teachings and a national revolution, on the noon of Ashura opens fire on innocents and does what even the most notorious rulers of this country throughout the history [e.g. the Shah deposed in 1979] had not dared to do.

2055 GMT: Taking Sides? We’ve posted the video of President Obama’s statement (see 2020 GMT) and it’s even harder-hitting than we thought:”History will be on the side of those who seek justice. [Read more.]

If you want to see what has happened so far today, this is a good source.

This next articles asks if this is the beginning an Iranian-style anti-fada.

The opposition has proven it has the resolve and resilience to sustain its risky challenge, despite the regime’s ruthless use of force, mass arrests, show trials and reports of torture and rape in prison. In the escalating political showdown the opposition has the momentum.

Just as important, the emergence of people power is also setting a new precedent in the last bloc of countries ruled by authoritarian regimes. Thirty years ago, Iran’s revolution redefined politics throughout the Middle East by ending dynastic rule and introducing Islam as a modern political idiom. Iran’s uprising is doing it again — this time by taking to the streets to demand an end to dictatorship as well as calling for fundamental rights such as free speech, a free press and respect for the individual vote. [Read more.]

The London Times Online seems to think the opposition people have many different reasons that don't necessarily mix. I disagree to a certain point, but that is their right. I won't chop their head off over it. /sarc

Source(s): TimeOnline: Seven opposition leaders arrested as Mousavi nephew's body 'missing'.
EnduringAmerica: Iran: A Point of No Return?
Free Republic: Coup in Iran?.
AtlasShrugs: IRAN REVOLUTION: MASSIVE PROTESTS, DEATHS REPORTED, CHAOS.
The Spirit of Man: Khamenei is a donkey.
Political Cartoons: Iranian Revolution Color.
IranNewsNow: Live-blog: Ashura in Iran – December 27, 2009.
EnduringAmerica: The Latest from Iran (28 December): The Regime’s Arresting Strategy.
TimesOnline: Is this Iran’s Berlin Wall moment?
The Spirit of Man: Khamenei is a donkey.

For my friends in jail in Iran

By Hossein Shahidi


Several Iranian journalists were imprisoned for reporting on post-election demonstrations

My friends and colleagues Jila Baniyaghoob and Bahman Ahmadi-Amouee have spent more than 45 days in Tehran's Evin prison - without charge.

They are being held in Evin's Ward 209, where 'security' or political prisoners are kept.

They are among some 30 Iranian journalists jailed following protests against the declared results of Iran's presidential elections on June 12, whose names have been recorded by Reporters Without Borders and the Association of Iranian Journalists.

Last week, Jila's mother and Bahman's brother were allowed to see them, separately, for 10 minutes each at the prison. Jila's mother, Eshrat Ouliayi, said Jila had lost weight and looked "emaciated".

For those who have seen Jila before, thin and petite, this is very worrying.

Bahman is bigger.

But the court appearance by former president Mohammed Khatami's deputy, Mohammad-Ali Abtahi, has shown what could happen to even larger people after such a long stay in prison.

Professionalism and compassion

Bahman and Jila were arrested
shortly after the June 12 election

I first met Jila in 2004 in Kabul, the capital of Afghanistan.

She had been invited to speak at a conference organised by the Afghan Women Journalists' Forum, with which I was working as a UN gender and media specialist.

She was impressive because of her courage and professional commitment and her personal passion for the people about whom she wrote, including the people of Afghanistan, as shown in this article, A Journey to Afghanistan.

I then met Jila in Tehran, along with her husband Bahman, another professional journalist. I have learned much from their reports and books. Read more here ...

Source: Al Jazeera (English)

Iran stops opposition paper publishing

From correspondents in Tehran, Iran | July 01

IRAN halted the publication today of a reformist party newspaper after its defeated presidential candidate said he would refuse to recognise Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's re-election, its website said.

Former parliament speaker Medhi Karroubi said yesterday that the government emerging from the disputed June 12 election was not "legitimate'' after Mr Ahmadinejad's victory was certified by the nation's top electoral body.

"Last night, after Karroubi's statement was released, representatives of the Tehran prosecutor and the culture ministry prevented the publication of Etemad Melli newspaper,'' his Etemad Melli party said on its website.

"They wanted the statement censored and not published -- so the newspaper will not be published today,'' it said.

The newspaper is one of the few reformist publications to have survived a crackdown under Ahmadinejad's rule.

However, it chief editor Mohammad Ghoochani is among scores of reformist leaders and journalists detained in a crackdown by the authorities on opposition activists and protesters in the wake of the disputed election.

Iran warned the opposition on Tuesday it would not tolerate further protests after the official election watchdog, the Guardians Council, upheld Ahmadinejad's re-election despite complaints of widespread irregularities.

Source: The Australian

Dozens of journalists jailed in Iran

June 27

MORE than two dozen Iranian journalists are among the hundreds of people imprisoned by the hardline government in Tehran as part of the violent post-election crackown, according to Amnesty International.

As many as 30 journalists remain in detention, according to the human rights group, which calls the arrested reporters "prisoners of conscience".

Mass gatherings have waned into scattered protests as the Iranian clergy that rules the country tightened its repression of opponents since the bitterly disputed election.

Foreign news journalists have been banned from the streets, and some foreign reporters have been expelled from the country.

Two journalists reporting for foreign news outlets have also been arrested, according to Amnesty: Maziar Bahari of Newsweek, on June 21, and Iason Athanasiadis-Fowden of The Washington Times, who was arrested on or around June 19.

About 20 of 25 employees of the Iranian newspaper Kalameh Sabz were arrested at their office on June 22. Their whereabouts remain unknown, according to Amnesty. Opposition presidential candidate Mir Hossein Mousavi established the newspaper earlier this year.

Amnesty International spokeswoman Sharon Singh said Amnesty has at least two sources on each of the arrests. In many cases family members bring their problems to the organisation.

"If nothing else, the authorities must immediately disclose the whereabouts of these journalists, ensure that they are not tortured or otherwise ill-treated and allow their families and lawyers access to them,'' said Hassiba Hadj Sahraoui, deputy director for the Middle East and North Africa for Amnesty International.

"Unless the authorities lift all unlawful restrictions on freedom of expression which includes the right of journalists to report on events and release all the journalists arrested, we can only assume they are trying to hide evidence of abuse and further silence any critical voice,'' Sahraoui added.

Keyvan Samimi Behbehani, editor of the banned Nameh magazine, was arrested at home, the group says. He is a member of the Center for Human Rights Defenders' Arbitrary Arrests Committee.

Also arrested was Mohammad Ghochani, the editor of Etemad-e Melli. Amnesty International believes he is held in a Ministry of Intelligence prison.

Source: The Australian