Windows on Iran 97 / Breaking News

Protests continued in Iran on the anniversary of the day the students took over the American embassy in Iran. Today, however, protestors were out to protest the summer election results and show their support for the Green Movement (Photo: November 4th, 2009).

Dear All,

Wednesday, November 4 was an important day in Iran. The official commemoration of the day the students took over the American embassy after the 1979 revolution turned into another occasion for widespread protests against the government of Mr. Ahmadinejad.

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November 4 Demonstrations

Another photo from the November 4th Green Movement protests.

 

* Those who think the Iranian riot police defends the public properties against violent rioters must watch this short clip:

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Mr. Karrubi in today’s protests:

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Tehran Links:

http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=1074346277817&ref=mf

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http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=103708769645910&ref=mf

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Shiraz, very disturbing:

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Shiraz:

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Kerman:

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Kerman:

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Tehran, Metro Station:

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Tehran, though people disperse to avoid the riot police, large crowds form:

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Mashhad University (Azad):

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Mashhad University (Azad):

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Mashhad University (Ferdousi):

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Tabriz University:

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Ahvaz University:

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Shahre Kurd University:

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Isfahan:

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Najafabad University:

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Tehran, “guns, tanks, and Basijis don’t change anything”:

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Tehran, ”Green Iran does not want nuclear weapons”:

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A Book by one of my Stellar Students!

* Before the political events in Iran took over the windows, I used to introduce great books about Iran from time to time. I have one for you in this window called the Tribeswomen of Iran: Weaving Memories Among Qashqa’i Nomads. The author? My very own student in Persian (2003-2004) Julia Huang. Julia continued to study Persian at Yale (in addition to Turkish and Arabic). She graduated from Yale in 2008. She was a Fulbright Scholar in Turkey in 2008-2009 and conducted research on NGOs there. She is currently coordinating three NGOs in Mumbai, India. Next year (2010-2011) she will be studying at the London School of Economics and will be writing about her NGO work in Turkey, Central Asia, the Caucasus, and now India. Check the book out at Amazon.

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Dr. Etemad on Persian BBC

* Should Iran have nuclear energy? Should it allow western countries to enrich its uranium? Should it stay a member of NPT and IAEA? Dr. Akbar Etemad, the founder and first president of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran from 1974 to 1978, is known as the ”father of Iranian nuclear technology.” He addresses these issues in an interview with the BBC Persian program. I am sorry not to be able to provide you with English subtitles. Still, I am sure many Persian speakers on the list would find his angle on the subject very enlightening: http://www.bbc.co.uk/persian/tv/2008/12/000000_ptv_hardtalk.shtml

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Hengameh Shahidi

Hengameh Shahidi on Hunger Strike

* Hengameh Shadidi is an Iranian human rights activist, who has been in prison for the last 124 days, despite her heart condition. She decided to go on a hunger strike to protest her arbitrary detention and after 8 days she lost consciousness. She is currently in the hospital. To the right is a beautiful picture of her.

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Mohamad Ghouchani

I’temade Melli’s Editor-in-Chief Released

* I’temade Melli’s editor-in-chief, Mohamed Ghouchani, was released from Evin Prison on October 30th after 131 days in prison. He was left on the street at 2:00AM—no explanations, no accusations.

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What is the Best Course of Action for the U.S.

* The Iranian Nobel laureate Shirin Ebadi thinks the U.S. must press Iran for Human Rights violations: http://www.mcclatchydc.com/251/story/77184.html.

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Iran One of the Five Friendliest Nations

Open Travel says "Iran's most precious jewel is its people" and that Iran has some of the friendliest people in the world. They conclude: "The hospitality of ever-smiling Iranians is sincere and simple - they are always eager to help travelers, offer a cup of tea, pay for your lunch or invite home for dinner."

* How is friendliness measured? No idea, but you can see the article for yourself: http://opentravel.com/blogs/5-friendliest-nations-on-planet-earth/.

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Opera Based on Rumi’s Story of Moses and the Shepherd

* Let’s end on a musical note. A performance of a story by the medieval Iranian poet Rumi by the L.A. Symphony and the Iranian Mastan Ensemble in September:

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Good Night,

Fatemeh

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===================================
Fatemeh Keshavarz, Professor and Chair
Dept. of Asian and Near Eastern Languages and Literatures
Washington University in St. Louis
Honorary Co-Chair, Iranians For Peace
Tel: (314) 935-5156
Fax: (314) 935-4399
==================================

Windows on Iran 96

The youth of Iran have been absolutely pivotal in the success of the Green Movement. See below for their most recent impact on the newly opened university campuses all throughout Iran.

Dear All,

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I hope you are well. Some of you have forwarded Iran related information to me with a hint of “where is window 96?” And some have outright asked! It is so good to know that you are anticipating these windows. It has been a busy time in the semester.

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Let us open window 96 with a delightful music clip from the Jewish community in my own town, Shiraz.

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On a Musical Note

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* Before we got pulled into the post election political whirlpool, I used these windows to give you a glimpse into the diversity of Iran. To be sure the political news is still interesting and very important. However, let us keep our cultural tradition going.

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* You might not know that my historic hometown Shiraz has given birth to some of the best Iranian Jewish musicians. They have contributed not only to Jewish music but to mainstream Persian traditional music as well. The following is a beautiful short video dedicated to Jewish sacred music. I wish it was longer than six minutes. But here it is:

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Break Through with Treatment of Spinal Cord Injury

* After this beautiful musical opening, let me move on to a piece of news about a great scientific breakthrough in Iran. Iranian Scientists in Ruyan Institute, using human embryonic stem cells, have treated serious spinal cord injury in mice. Watch the mouse regaining the power to walk after total leg paralysis: http://www.pbs.org/frontlineworld/watch/player.html?pkg=rc78iran&seg=1&mod=0.

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Iranian Professor is Awarded 2009 “Benjamin Franklin Medal”

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* Professor Lotfi A. Zadeh was awarded this prestigious award for his construction of the idea of “fuzzy logic” and fighting to get this seemingly “imprecise” approach to logic academic respect.

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Khatami on his birthday with his giant birthday cake.

An Unusual Cake for Mr. Khatami

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* On Oct. 12, 2009 Mr. Mohammad Khatami the reformist Iranian president (1997-2005) turned 66. He recieved a great birthday gift from his supporters who showed up in his office with an unusual cake. I made a very short slide show for you to see some happy scenes from present day Iran. Click here to see a slide show of pictures from his birthday party: Khatami Birthday Slideshow.

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Tools of Communication

* Someday a study should be done on the diverse and innovative tools that Iranian supporters of the Green Movement have used to communicate their deep conviction to improve the social conditions in Iran. I have included poetry and song clips in these windows. I have even shared images of banknotes with slogans on them. If you look below, you will see a banknote on which a well-known nursery rhyme has been re-written to tell the story of the Iranian economy: selling cheap oil to China, importing useless goods, and allowing domestic production to go down the drain.

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* The number of banknotes with green writings on them has reached a point that certain members of the parliament have suggested getting them out of circulation. Given the high percentage of such banknotes, however, the proposal does not seem practical.

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The First Death Sentence

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* It is sad that in a society in which the scientists dedicated themselves to saving lives, politics does the opposite. Unfortunately, the first death sentence has been issued in relation to the post election protests. While the ruling can be appealed, the appeal might fail.  To read the press release from the office of the Iranian Human Rights Documentation Center, click on the link below. If the sentence is carried out, the crisis enters a completely new stage: http://www.iranhrdc.org/httpdocs/English/pdfs/PressReleases/2009/Statement%20on%20execution%20of%20Zamani.pdf

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Grieving Mothers

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* Every Saturday afternoon, mothers who have lost a child in the post election protests, joined by some relatives and friends, hold a quiet walk in the Laleh Park in Tehran. It is one of  the many forms in which the supporters of the Green Movement remind everyone that their demand for a fair election and a democratic government is alive and well. The following is a short clip from Saturday, Oct. 10:

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* You can read about these mothers who are becoming a global icon for justice: http://www.iranian.com/main/2009/oct/mourning-mothers.

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Ph.D Defense Conducted Outside the University

* As you will see in the item below, Iranian university students continue to demonstrate against the current government. The seriousness of these protests became apparent when Tehran Polytechnic conducted a Ph.D. defense in a building outside its main  campus on Saturday, Oct. 10. The reason why this defense could have led to protests is that the main advisor was Golam Ali Haddad Adel, a member of the Iranian Parliament who supports Ahmadinejad. According to the website of Tehran Polytechnic, even though the defense was moved out of the university, Haddad Adel’s name was still not mentioned in the announcement: http://www.autnews.me/node/3576.

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Universities Across the Country in Constant Protest

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* What news services here do not seem to reflect is the widespread nature of the protests across Iran. Below are some short sample videos that the students have managed to capture on cell phones and make available to outsiders:

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Mashhad University:

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http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=1061080906191&ref=mf

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Tehran University of Science and Technology:

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http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=102631346420319&ref=mf

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Azad University, Tehran:

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http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=102620073088113&ref=mf

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Shiraz University:

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Shiraz University Protest

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This is an article, not a clip describing the students protest: http://www.autnews.cc/node/3420.

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Shahre Kord (Azad U.):

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http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=102616716421782&ref=mf

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* Other major universities such as Isfahan and Tabriz University have reported similar incidents.

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What is Missing

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* An interesting analysis of the recent events in Iran:  http://www.iranian.com/main/2009/oct/whats-missing.

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The Moderate Conservative Prevails

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* While from the outside, the Iranian political scene might look black and white (the hardliners verses the reformists), the reality on the ground is far more complicated. Days ago, Mr. Ali Larijani, a moderate conservative – and an opponent of Mr. Ahmadinejad – won the overwhelming support of his senior conservative colleagues in the parliament to stay in the leadership position. I would not present Mr. Larijani as a liberal by any means. However, in the recent events, he has criticized the conduct of the election, the state-run media, and Mr. Ahmadinejad himself. Here is some more detail of the vote in his favor: http://www.insideiran.org/media-analysis/parliamentary-speaker-larijani-prevails-over-pro-ahmadinejad-mps/.

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Upcoming Day of Students Solidarity with People

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* Peaceful demonstrations are planned for the 13th of Abaan (Nov. 4)to highlight the solidarity between the students and the general public in Iran. Clips like this are already circulating. The refrain of the song “hamrah show aziz!” which could be translated literally as “walk with me, my dear!” or metaphorically as “join our movement” is now a hit song:

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* Iranian bloggers are already busy posting images of wall writings and other announcements for the up-coming demonstrations: http://iranisabzpics.blogspot.com/2009/10/blog-post_9991.html.

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A beautiful painting by Ms. Shahverdi. Please click the link to your left for more of her incredible work.

A Beautiful Exhibit

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* Let’s close the window with a slide show of Ms. Shahverdi’s beautiful paintings. Unfortunately, her website does not provide much biographical information about her. Enjoy her paintings. Click here for a slide show of her work: Ms. Shahverdi Slide Show.

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Don’t forget to share the blog with friends: http://windowsoniran.wordpress.com/.

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Good Night,

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Fatemeh

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===================================
Fatemeh Keshavarz, Professor and Chair
Dept. of Asian and Near Eastern Languages and Literatures
Washington University in St. Louis
Honorary Co-Chair, Iranians For Peace
Tel: (314) 935-5156
Fax: (314) 935-4399
==================================

Windows on Iran 95

As the Green Movement continues its political resistance and protests, the green movement is expanding in new and interesting ways. One such way is the what I call the new "Green Art." Please see the photos above and below, as well the slide show linked below for many beautiful examples of this new dimension of the Green Movement in Iran.

Dear All,

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I hope you are well. As I was thinking hard about how to balance the heavy political doze of these recent windows with some cultural content, I came across a set of beautiful art work, visual  manifestations of the recent events by anonymous Iranian artists. What I love about them most is that despite their sad theme, they generate energy and hope. I turned them into a power point slide show that you can enjoy, take to class, or share with friends. What better way to open this window? Please click to see what I call the new “Green Art”: The New Green Art of Iran.

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Another example of the new "Green art." See the link above for a full slide show.

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A Football Match

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* The truth is it is hard to speak about anything happening in Iran these days without running into politics. The government cancels most events that would give people an opportunity to gather together and feel somewhat safe to express themselves – inside a packed stadium, for example. Soccer matches may be next in line for cancellation. For now, they are still going on, but the one you will see below, which took place on Friday, Oct. 2, was marked by demonstrations: http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=102474203102700.

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A Short Pictorial Essay on Meshkatian

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* Last week I told you about the passing of a great Iranian composer and instrumentalist, Parviz Meshkatian. The following is a short pictorial biography for him with one of his compositions played in the background: Pictorial Biography of Parviz Meshkatian, the great Iranian composer and instrumentalist.

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Ahmadinejad on those Killed in the Post-Election Protests

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* Much of the objection of Iranians to Mr. Ahmadinejad – even before the 2009 election – centered around the fact that he made false claims. Gradually, he came to be known as “dorough gou,” the lier. This was one of the points that Mr. Mousavi raised during the election campaign and recieved much sympathy for it. Below, I have attached a clip from Mr. Ahmadinejad’s interview with Charlie Rose during his last visit to U.S. In this part of the interview, he claims that only about 30 people died in the post-election protests and most of them were supporters of his government. Making no mention of the attacks by security forces on unarmed demonstrators, which are amply available on youtube, he names one of the victims – Mohsen Rouholamini – as the son of a friend. What Charlie Rose does not seem to know is that the victim in question died in prison as a result of fractures to his skull. This is not denied even by Iranian officials.

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* Here is the clip from Charlie Rose interview. At the end of this clip there is another brief clip that dates back to Mr. Mousavi’s election debates, where Mr. Mousavi says, “This is an amazing phenomenon. He [Mr. Ahmadinejad] can look at you straight in the face, point to something white, and say ‘this is black’ without

blinking”: http://www.facebook.com/mousavi?ref=nf#/video/video.php?v=102405879776199. Or watch it here:

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* Now, please take a look at this report in the National Iranian American Blog.  Not only did Mr. Mohsen Rouhulamini die in prison, his family, supposedly friends of the Mr. Ahmadinejad, were not given permission to mourn his death for weeks after his tragic death: http://niacblog.wordpress.com/2009/09/02/tomorrow-the-40th-day-anniversary-of-mohsen-rooholamini/.

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The Complexities of the Current Negotiations with Iran

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* Negotiations are going on between Iranian officials and their European and American counterparts in Geneva as we speak. President Obama has expressed cautious optimism after the first round of talks. Iran appears willing to allow international inspectors to come to its recently declared nuclear facility near the city of Qom. There are rumors of tougher sanctions against Iran and Russia’s support for them. However, there are also rumors of Russia’s direct involvement in the Iranian enrichment efforts. Juan Cole’s blog “Informed Comment”, today Oct. 3rd, has a wealth of information on all of the interrelated aspects of these recent developments: http://www.juancole.com/2009/10/russia-china-satisfied-with-1109-talks.html.

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* On the complexities of the new energy related developments, particularly as far as Russia and China are concerned, you might find this article by Pepe Escobar interesting: http://www.tomdispatch.com/post/175121/pepe_escobar_pipelineistan_s_ultimate_opera.

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* I would like to mention again that, in my opinion, far more important than any other factor for the health and safety of Iran and the region is to support the democratic aspirations of the Iranian people. The majority of the Iranians will tell you that this will not be achieved by tougher sanctions or military intervention. The International community can do this by refusing to recognize the Iranian government and making deals with it until and unless it frees the political prisoners, and allows its people the peaceful expression of their views.

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Iranian Artist Manijeh Sehi

Manijeh Sehi’s Feat of Color

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* Now, to close this window, I invite you to enjoy another visual feast. A professor and an artist, Ms. Sehi’s work has been exhibited in Iran since 1999. Click here for a slide show of the most recent exhibit of the her works: Recent Exhibit of the Paintings of Manijeh Sehi.

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Here is one example of the beautiful and strikingly colorful paintings of contemporary Iranian artist Manijeh Sehi. Please see the link above for a complete slide show of a recent exhibition of her work.

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Have a great night, and don’t forget to share these windows and the blog http://windowsoniran.wordpress.com/ with friends.

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Best,

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Fatemeh

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===================================
Fatemeh Keshavarz, Professor and Chair
Dept. of Asian and Near Eastern Languages and Literatures
Washington University in St. Louis
Honorary Co-Chair, Iranians For Peace
Tel: (314) 935-5156
Fax: (314) 935-4399
==================================

Windows on Iran 94

"Green" Protests continued as Tehran University opened for its first day of classes on September 29th. See the link to the left for more pictures from the Tehran University protests.

Dear All,

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Amidst rumors that Iranian universities may remain closed to prevent the students from contributing to further protests (the government suggested swine flue as the reason), they actually opened today. And so did the student protests. Click here to see a slide show of these lively demonstrations posted on the web a few hours ago: Protests on Tehran University’s First Day of Classes.

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Clips from Protests in Tehran University

* While in the U.S. last week, Mr. Ahmadinejad described Iran as calm and united. The following short clips from fresh protests in Tehran University indicated they were substantial in size. The chants are “Coup d’etat government, resign” and “Death to the dictator.” Passers by on the streets near Tehran University echoed the slogans: http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=1229114336271 and

http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=1229101975962.

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Mr. Ahmadinejad in New York

* A glimpse of the welcome to Mr. Ahmadinejad in New York:

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Ahmadinejad "welcomed" in N.Y.C.

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* Crowds reported to have numbered between five to eight thousand protested in New York particularly outside the U.N. building as Mr. Ahmadinejad spoke inside on Wednesday, September 23rd. Returning to Iran this weekend, Mr. Ahmadinejad has claimed the trip to be victory in changing the world opinion about Iran. Here

is one clip:

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* Over 140 delegates left the hall as Mr. Ahmadinejad started to speak. These included delegates from Canada, U.S., European countries, Australia, China, and Lebanon:

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* Unfortunately, the disclosure on Monday of a new nuclear facility in Iran is stealing headlines from very important political developments in the country. The truth is democratic developments in Iran could have more far reaching implications for the region than the building of a new enriching facility. Furthermore, according to people familiar with the Iranian nuclear industry (i.e. Scott Ritter) there was nothing secretive about this center and the U.S. knew about it for years: http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/cifamerica/2009/sep/25/iran-secret-nuclear-plant-inspections.

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The Qods Day Protests, Strong and Widespread

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* Busy with teaching duties and end of Ramadan ceremonies, I did not get to send out the information I collected on Qods day protests on Friday, September 18 in Iran. After months of forbidding Iranians from public protests, this was day they were allowed to protest freely. While the day was supposed to be dedicated to the Palestinian cause, they were converted to support for the Green Movement.  While the Iranian government still lives in a state of denial pretending everything is normal in Iran, the intensity and the spread of these protests served to remind the people that the opposition is alive and well.

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* In the following clip, you hear the radio contact between members of the Basij informing their headquarters of the growing size of the demonstrations on various streets in Tehran. The crowd grows so large that at some point the central command asks the Basij members not to announce number estimates any longer:

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* Also, if you have the time, here is a collection of over 120 video clips from demonstrations in various parts of Iran. You don’t have to know the language to see what is going on. Nonetheless, let me give you the translation for the most popular slogans chanted by the crowd:

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“Down with the Dictator”

“This is the last message for the Supreme Leader, the Green Iran is ready to rise”

“A Leadership implicated in crimes can no longer rule legitimately”

“Neither Gaza, nor Lebanon, I will give my life for Iran”

“Government of coup d’etat, resign!”

And finally as Ahmadinejad speaks, thousands of people outside the building chant “dorugh gu! shasto do darsadet ku?” which translates to “Lier! where is your 62%?“ referring to his claim that he won 62 percent of the vote in the election. To see all of the clips, click here: http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=8B795CE302E95F0C&page=1\.

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The Loss of Parviz Meshkatian

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* Last week, Iran lost a highly acclaimed composer and performer in the world of traditional music. Thousands of Iranians attended his funeral last week. I close this window with a clip of Parviz Meshkatian performing on the Santur (Persian hammer dulcimer):

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Please remember to share http://windowsoniran.wordpress.com/ with friends.

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Good Night,

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Fatemeh

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===================================
Fatemeh Keshavarz, Professor and Chair
Dept. of Asian and Near Eastern Languages and Literatures
Washington University in St. Louis
Honorary Co-Chair, Iranians For Peace
Tel: (314) 935-5156
Fax: (314) 935-4399
==================================

Windows on Iran 93 / Qods Day Special

This Qods Day flyer reads: "We are all together!" To see more examples of the flyers being circulated in Iran for Ruz-i Qods protests, please see the link below.

Dear All,

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I was not going to open another window until this weekend, but tomorrow is a VERY important day. Traditionally, the last Friday of Ramadan has been named the Qods Day by the founder of the 1979 Iranian Revolution. On this day, every year, a rally is organized by the government in support of the Palestinians. This year, Iranians are transforming the Qods Day into a day of protest by all who are oppressed against their oppressors. My anonymous e-mailer writes from Iran:

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“we are getting prepared for another huge demonstration on friday. it is becoming too dangerous. people have been assigned to inform everybody around them make aware that they are joining the demonstrators so that in case they disappear others would know about it!”

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* Also, my e-mailer writes about the latest three communiques issued by the ministry of higher education, describing them as:

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“…very authoritarian and restrictive, censoring  and investigating orders for univ. teachers and students as the univs. will be opening in 2 weeks. it is s.th. like the middle ages’ investigations and the soviet union’s security strategies. the min. of interior is trying to do the same in the society. we are all dazed, confused and frightened.”

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Colorful Announcements of Tomorrows Rally

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"Rally to Protest Violence on Qods Day!"—To see more of the creative and colorful flyers for the Qods Day protests, click the link below.

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* Click here (Ruz-i Qods Flyers Show) to see a colorful array of words and designs on the flyers that, despite the censorship, have been designed and distributed by Iranians announcing tomorrows rally as an uprising against dictatorship.

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Remembering Neda Agha Soltan

The second sculpture of Neda Agha-Soltan, entitled "The Angel of Freedom." Please click the link to the right for more information about this second sculpture of Neda.

* As Iranians prepare to put themselves in danger again to voice their protests in another big rally tomorrow, let us remember Neda Agha Soltan, the Iranian woman killed by the Basij forces on June 20th 2009, and hope this time it will be more peaceful.

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New Bust of Neda

* Paula Slater, the artist who built a beautiful bronze bust of Neda Agha-Soltan before, has  sculpted a new portrait bust of the woman who has come to be know as the Angel of Iran. Click on the second attachment to see the new and beautiful piece, this time in clay, with Neda’s hair free and natural. To read about the artist and her work, visit: http://www.prlog.org/10335368-paula.

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Rally in Support of Mousavi never Stopped

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* It is much harder to demonstrate in small towns and not be identified by the security forces. Despite this fact, and despite the brutality with which the Iranian government responds to any public expression of Support for Mr. Mousavi, these expressions have been occurring in various parts of the country ever since the election. One of the biggest, and most recent of these demonstrations took place in the small and holy city of Qom on the eve of September 12:

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Caught Red-handed

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* If you are interested in the dynamics of the post-election demonstrations and the official discourse on the recent events, this five minute video clip which has English subtitles is a must watch till the end. First, it shows clips from the Iranian State-run TV interviewing people who are basically thugs or drug addicts who “confess” they rioted to loot public property. Or, they are too young and have been deceived by “foreign media” to protest the results of the election. After these, you see actual clips taken by ordinary people, from windows of their apartments, showing the security forces damaging public property themselves and beating people. The protesters actually protect the police from the anger of the crowds where ever they are outnumbered by a large group of protesters:

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Please forward this message and website http://windowsoniran.wordpress.com/ to your friends in Iran and elsewhere in the world and send your thoughts and prayers of peace, and support, for tomorrow in Iran.

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Have a great day,

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Fatemeh

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===================================
Fatemeh Keshavarz, Professor and Chair
Dept. of Asian and Near Eastern Languages and Literatures
Washington University in St. Louis
Honorary Co-Chair, Iranians For Peace
Tel: (314) 935-5156
Fax: (314) 935-4399
==================================

Windows on Iran 92

Keep spreading the word about the September 18th "Ruz-i Qods" Green Rally!!! Please post this flyer to your blog, facebook page, or website. And, see below for lots of new and important information!

Dear All,

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All signs point to the fact that difficult – and decisive – days may be ahead in Iran. But the good news first. For years, Iranians who are ranked as number four bloggers in the world, have been prevented from visiting the sites that the Iranian government has considered containing information contrary to its interests and filtered. Those who devised creative ways to break the filter and get into such sites, are usually in danger of being found and subjected to jail and other punishments.

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What is most amazing is that the Iranian government considers the existence of undesirable websites as “foreign interference” in its internal affairs.

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Well, this state of affairs may have been ended once and for all. Using Google, an Iranian by the name Mehdi Saharkhiz has come up with an internet tool which he has called the “Green Machine”

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The Green Machine! Good News for the Greens in Iran

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* Here is the site that gives you instruction for downloading the Green Machine. According to Mr. Mousavi’s facebook page, after you download the Green Machine, you can visit any website – filtered or otherwise – without being detected: http://greenmachine.s3.amazonaws.com/green.html.

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Latest Friday Sermon by the Supreme Leader

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* On the morning of Friday, September 11, Mr. Khamenei delivered his latest Friday sermon affirming his earlier position that the election had been a great success and that any protests will be dealt with harshly. It is not quite clear what is his definition of “harsh” as, death, torture, and forced confessions have all been tried already. Anyway, this is the response he got from the residents of Tehran in the evening:

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Breaking News

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* Dr. Ali Reza Beheshti, Professor of Political Science in Tehran University and chief consultant of Mr. Mousavi’s election campaign, who continued his efforts by heading the group that Mousavi formed to follow up on physical abuses in the Iranian jail, has just been arrested. Mr. Mousavi issued a statement (no.12) to condemn the arrest. He predicts that other grave attacks are on the way: http://www.rahesabz.net/story/1301/. For the English translation on Mousavi’s Facebook, visit: http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=134451867605&ref=mf.

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Former Reformist Presidential Candidate Mehdi Karroubi

* There are strong – unconfirmed – rumors that the Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has already issued the order for the arrest of the reformist leader and presidential candidate Mr. Mehdi Karrubi.  While this is a very likely move at this point, it is also possible that the rumor is spread in order to test the public reaction.

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Ahmadinejad Will Not be Invited to the Party

* President Obama’s spokesperson has made it clear that in his journey to the U.S. to speak in the United Nations this month, Mr. Ahmadinejad will NOT be invited to the official party that the United States will throw for the world leaders.

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Abdol Kareem Soroush Speaks Up

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Leading Islamic intellectual Dr. Abdol Kareem Soroush (or, Dr. Abdulkarim Soroush).

* The renowned Iranian reformist thinker, Dr. Abdol Kareem Soroush who has been controversial with his criticism of the Islamic Republic over the past two decades, has written an open letter to the Supreme Leader. The letter criticizes the leader for his response to the protests and predicts the fall of what Soroush calls “Islamic Dictatorship”: http://www.rouydadnews.com/pages/150.php.

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The Green Day Coming

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* The first day Iranians will have an opportunity to walk out and show their opposition is Friday September 18. It is traditionally know as the Qods Day in support of the Palestinians. However, there are already indications that this year Sept. 18 will be a Green Day more than anything else. Mr. Mousavi’s facebook has

posted this: Green Mousavi Banner on Highway Bridge!

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A Beautiful New Song for the Green Movement

* Iran’s poets and artists continue to celebrate the Green Movement. Here is the latest song. The lyrics are by Houshang Ebtehaj ”Sayeh,” one of the most acclaimed ghazal writers of contemporary Iran:

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Another Iranian Woman Artist

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A beautiful painting by Nasrin Khosravi. Please click the link to the left for more of her wonderful work.

* Because, I opened this window with an anxious tone, and because I am preparing it on the tragic day of September 11, I would like to close it with the soothing watercolor work of an Iranian woman painter, Nasrin Khosravi, who – in this series of paintings – has celebrated peace and serenity with images of people, flowers, doves, and more. Click here for a presentation of her work: Nasrin Khosravi Paintings. Enjoy!

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Don’t forget to share http://windowsoniran.wordpress.com/ with friends.

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Good Night,

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Fatemeh

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===================================
Fatemeh Keshavarz, Professor and Chair
Dept. of Asian and Near Eastern Languages and Literatures
Washington University in St. Louis
Honorary Co-Chair, Iranians For Peace
Tel: (314) 935-5156
Fax: (314) 935-4399
==================================

Windows on Iran 91

Flyer for the September 18th Green Movement Rally.

Dear All,

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Let me welcome you to Window 91 on Iran and proceed to our first news item. As you will see, there is a lot going on in Iran.

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Mousavi’s Statement #11

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* Yesterday, Mr. Mousavi released his Statement No. 11, a historic one in its scope and planning details. The statement is a clear indication that the Green Movement is pulling itself together and preparing for long term resistance. For both Persian and English versions of the content of this statement, visit:  http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=132573722605&ref=mf.

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* The government of Mr. Ahmadinejad has been canceling public events related to the month of Ramadan in order to deny the public any opportunities to gather. The Greens are now looking forward to the rally planned for September 18. The flyer is on the right.

Breaking News

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* Literally hours ago, security forces broke into the office that Mr. Mousavi’s camp had set up to collect information about those killed or injured during the post election protests. This office, which was run by Ali Beheshti (son of the deceased Ayatollah Beheshti and a spokesperson for Mousavi’s camp) was viewed as one of the few places in which people felt safe to speak about what actually happened to them. This is yet another sign of aggression by Mr. Ahmadinejad’s government demonstrating its inability to govern by any means other brute force:  The question is for how long? See: http://norooznews.org/news/13807.php.

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Who is Afraid of Who? Keeping Hope Alive

* Anyone who is in close contact with Iran notices a fundamental change since the election: previously, Iranians were afraid of the government. Now, the government is afraid of the people. Everything that the current government does is an attempt to undermine this new spirit of hope for change.

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* As the regime blocks normal channels of communication, Iranians are consistently a step ahead inventing new and creative ways of communication to keep hope alive. The latest is writing slogans in support of the Green movement on Iranian bank notes (see the examples below).

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Iranians have developed some very creative ways to protest even as the regime continues to crack down. For example, one of the new ways to express support for the Green Movement is to write it on the Iranian government's money!

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* At  the same time, artists are at work to keep the spirit of hope alive.  The Iranian vocalist Maestro Shajarian has released a new song called “Zaban-e Atash” The Language of Fire. In this song Mr. Shajarian invites the Basij to put their guns down and stop their armed aggression against the people. The lyrics are by the contemporary Iranian poet Fereydoun Moshiri:

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* You can participate in keeping Iranians hope for a green and peaceful transition to democracy alive by wearing a green wristband.

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More Opposition from the Religious City of Qom

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* The latest news from Iran indicates further opposition by major religious figures in Qom to Mr. Ahmadinejad’s government. There are indications that a new statement by these Ayatollahs is on the way: http://mowjcamp.com/article/id/27115.

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Atypical Interview

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Abdullah Ramezanzadeh

* In a courageous interview with newspapers, Abdullah Ramezanzadeh, the spokesperson for Khatami’s camp, who was arrested soon after the elections said that after 80 days of solitary confinement, he is still in the dark about the accusations against him. He said during the arrest there were serious injuries to his head and ribs and his cell condition is pretty bad. According Mr. Ramezanzadeh, during the interrogations that usually go from 10 pm to 4 am, even though he is blindfolded, the interrogator sits behind him. He also said he was told his conditions would improve if he made public confessions. In a highly unusual move, the judge ordered the security forces to leave the court room so Mr. Ramezanzadeh would be able to speak freely: http://www.parlemannews.ir/index.aspx?n=3245.

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Scripted Democracy

* Following rumors that the viewing of the Iranian Television has dropped below forty percent, there have been efforts to air ”interviews” in which the public express support for the state-run TV. Someone leaked an interesting picture where a brief script was held for an “interviewee” to read from. The script reads “These are rioters. They ought to be arrested and punished. I thank the Iranian National TV for impartial reflection of view points.” See the photo below:

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The script he is holding reads: "These are rioters. They ought to be arrested and punished. I thank the Iranian National TV for impartial reflection of view points."

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Now, to see the varieties of natural green from Iran, and to close this window on a green note, click here “The (Naturally) Green Iran” for the very short slide show that I have prepared for you from the latest photos of Iran.

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I will leave close this window with this beautiful picture of the Iranian (Green!) countryside. Please click on the "The (Naturally) Green Iran" link above for more stunning photos.

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Good Night,

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Fatemeh

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===================================
Fatemeh Keshavarz, Professor and Chair
Dept. of Asian and Near Eastern Languages and Literatures
Washington University in St. Louis
Honorary Co-Chair, Iranians For Peace
Tel: (314) 935-5156
Fax: (314) 935-4399
==================================

Windows on Iran 90

Although life has not yet returned to normal in Iran, Iranian artists are still busy producing great works. Above is a poster about a new film by Samira Makhmalbaf, called "Green Movement." See the end of this Window for more on the Iranian art scene.

Dear All,

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There has been a long pause between window 89 and window 90 which you are reading. This is not because there have not been important new developments in Iran but rather because of the new academic year. Here at Washington University in St. Louis, we are starting another busy and full year. I have been focusing on that. I wish those of you who will start your academic year a happy and successful one wherever you are.

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Speaking of opening of the universities, there are indications that Tehran University, and some other universities across Iran, may remain closed this coming fall semester. The excuse given, in unconfirmed rumors, is the swine flue. But everyone knows better. If indeed these the universities do not open, this is another indication of the lack of confidence among the Iranian authorities about keeping the discontent under control.

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Demonstrations Continue

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* Despite heavy and brutal crack downs, arrests, and talk of torture in prisons, street protests have not ceased completely. Here is the video of one today. The crowd had gathered to break their fast with Mr. Mousavi, Karrubi, and Khatami at a mosque in Tehran. While the event was canceled by the security forces, the people did not leave. They chanted in support of Mr. Mousavi and for Mr. Ahmadinejad to resign:

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* On Friday, the chants in a football match turned into “Mousavi, Mousavi” as well:

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Mr. Ahmadinejad Surrounds Himself with Young Loyalist

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* Mr. Ahmadinejad has proposed a cabinet made of young loyal ministers unlikely to oppose him in any way. According to an academic in Tehran: “He’s in defensive mode, there’s no question about that. He doesn’t have the strength, tenacity and confidence he had before. For him it’s imperative to surround himself with cronies and people who don’t disagree with him if he’s to have any chance of pushing through his programs.” Three of his proposed ministers have already got a vote of no confidence from the parliament.

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In Front of Evin Prison

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* Since Ramadan, the month of fasting for the Muslims, has begun, families of the those arrested in relation to their protests to the election gather outside the Evin prison to break their fasts in memory of the loved ones who are spending their Ramadan in captivity:

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Deposing the Supreme Leader — A New and Important Topic

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* According to the Iranian constitution “The Assembly of the Experts” has the legal authority to remove Ayatollah Sayyed Ali Khamenei the Iranian supreme leader if the two conditions of ”prudence and justice” are not met by the leader.

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* In the past two weeks, various groups, including Associations of the Iranian Ex-members of the Congress, have written open letters to the Assembly suggesting it was time for them to discuss this matter. Since the Iranian media claimed that letter to be fake, the association confirmed its content a few days after its initial release.

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* Sunday, August 16, a group of clergy (who did not reveal their names for security reasons) sent another letter to the Assembly. This letter is bolder in tone and demands the removal of the leader.

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* Over the past weeks, four influential Ayatollahs: Montazeri, Taheri, Barat Zanjani, and Dastghayb have already issued decrees to the effect that the leader is automatically deposed because he has not met the above conditions by taking sides with Mr. Ahmadinejad and not the people.

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* The very fact that this debate has started is extremely important.

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Removal of the Tehran Prosecutor General

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* The supreme leader has made a number of concessions in the past few days including the appointment of Ayatollah Sadeq Larijani as the new Head of the Iranian Judiciary. Mr. Larijani has in turn removed Mr. Saeed Mortazavi, the Tehran Prosecutor General who has a reputation for hostility with reformist media and is said to have closed over a 100 of them over the past eight years. It remains to be seen if the removal of Mr. Mortazavi is a gesture to appease the protesters or if it will lead to real change.

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Families of Prisoners under Pressure

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* Ms. Mohtashamipour, the wife of a reformist ex-minister who is now in jail, wrote in her personal blog that Mr. Abtahi’s family, particularly his young daughter, were under enormous pressure to deny their earlier assertion that their father told them in brief phone conversation that he is given pills that make him comfortable and “oblivious to the world.” Mr. Abtahi was the first reformist put on television to make a confession.

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* In the meantime, one of Mr. Ahmadinejad’s advisers seems to have come across a new and effective weight loss strategy. Concerning Mr. Abtahi’s confused and frail look during his appearance in court, Mr. Janvanfiker has observed: “Maybe Mr. Abtahi has seized this opportunity and made an effort to lose weight.” See if you find him in a health conscious mood: http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=104230&sectionid=351020101.I

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Former Vice President and Reformist leader Mohammad Ali Abtahi pictured before his arrest (left) and after spending several months in jail (right).

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Amnesty International asked the Iranian Supreme Leader to Appoint a Committee on Allegations of Rape

* For the first time since the Iranian Supreme Leader came to office, Amnesty International addressed a letter directly to him asking the leader to personally appoint a committee to look into allegations of rape in Iranian prisons: http://www.bbc.co.uk/persian/iran/2009/08/090815_amnesty_iran_torture.shtml.

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Artists Still Busy Creating their Art Work

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A very interesting piece by Iranian artist Yacob Amamehpich. To see more of his work, click the link in the text to your left, entitled "Yacob Amamehpich Art Show."

* While life in Iran has not returned to normal, artistic creation continues. It has been a tradition in these windows to introduce Iranian artists to you. Let me close this window by doing exactly that. The first art work I want to show you is the poster at the top of this Window, which is for a film about the Green Movement by Samira Makhmalbaf.

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* Also, if you click here (Yacob Amamehpich Art Show) you will see a brief and colorful show of the August exhibit in Elaheh Gallery in Tehran. The paintings are by Yacob Amamehpich, the artist from Tabriz picked by the gallery judges as the artist of the month. An example of his beautiful work is to the right.

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Good Night,

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Fatemeh

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===================================
Fatemeh Keshavarz, Professor and Chair
Dept. of Asian and Near Eastern Languages and Literatures
Washington University in St. Louis
Honorary Co-Chair, Iranians For Peace
Tel: (314) 935-5156
Fax: (314) 935-4399
==================================

Windows on Iran 89: The Green Movement

"We are Countless"—a design by Mir Housein Mousavi.

Dear All,

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Thank you all so much for your kind and encouraging messages. As you see, I have slowed the pace of these updates. This is not because the opposition to the election in Iran has dissipated. Rather it has moved to a new stage by expanding its horizons beyond the election results and to a more general demand for democratization of the country. While the opposition is diverse, I believe the Green Movement formed around Mr. Mousavi and Mr. Khatami continues to be the focal point of the activities.

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As I write to you, reports are coming in concerning demonstrations in the Bazaar of Tehran. That Bazaars are the heartbeat of the traditional economy of the country makes this a significant development. There have been eyewitness reports of at least three serious injuries and a number of arrests. I dedicate the fimage of this window, a personal design by Mr. Mousavi called “we are countless” (above), to these protesters.

Back to our updates. A week ago, on Wednesday August 5, Mr. Ahmadinejad’s inauguration ceremony took place in the Iranian parliament. But it was no ordinary ceremony — certainly not one fit for a president who claims 24 million votes. Here is a selection of events:

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Inauguration Ceremony

Mr. Ahmadinejad delivering his inauguration speech after the swearing in ceremony. Many prominent politicians and high ranking clerics refused to attend the ceremony.

* There were more than 5,000 security forces present around the houses of the Parliament in Baharistan Square where Mr. Ahmadinejad was sworn in.

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* Train operators for the Tehran Metro system were reportedly ordered not to stop at Baharestan and Melat stations, citing security concerns.

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* Still, people gathered and chanted anti government slogans. Mr. Ahmadinejad arrived in a helicopter (another first in the history of presidential inaugurations). His camp has since denied this claim suggesting he traveled by car to be “among his people.” Interestingly, no photos of him “among his people” have appeared in the Iranian press so far.

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* Many members of the parliament were absent. Some left as soon as Ahmadinejad began to speak. In fact, many seats were empty and had to be filled with guests invited by Ahmadinejad’s party.

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* Among those absent were prominent clerics and political leaders such as Hashemi Rafsanjani, Khatami, Mousavi, Karroubi, Nateq Nouri, Mohsen Rezai, Ghalibaf, while many international guests and ambassadors also avoided the inauguration. Ayatollah Khomeini’s grandson did not attend the ceremony either.

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* In his speech, Mr. Ahmadinejad mocked the world opinion by suggesting he does not care about the approval or disapproval of the governments that do not congratulate him on his victory.

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* He compared the opposition in Iran to gard o khak (“dust and dirt”) usually raised by a passing wind.

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* Among the arrested was Haleh Sahabi, an activist and daughter of Ezatollah Sahabi who is the manager and editor of the banned newspaper Iran-e Farda. Hale Sahabi is a women’s right activist and reports indicate that she was assaulted by plain-clothed individuals and arrested.

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Forming the Cabinet May Not be as Easy as Attending Inauguration in a Helicopter

Mr. Ali Larijani

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* Mr. Ahmadinejad is now embroiled in a huge fight with Mr. Ali Larijani, the speaker of the parliament, who criticizes his choice of ministers. More importantly, according to information published on an insider web site http://rajanews.com/, Larijani had congratulated Mousavi on the eve of the election. He has access to the highest levels of power in the regime. What did he know about the election that made him do that?

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Link: http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/babylonbeyond/2009/08/iran-wellinformed-larijani-congratulated-mousavi-on-election-day-report-says.html.

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Ayatollah Makarem Shirazi has not Congratulated Ahmadinejad!

Grand Ayatollah Makarem Shirazi

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* Following rumors spread by state-run media that the influential Grand Ayatollah Makarem Shirazi had congratulated Mr. Ahmadinejad, the office of the Ayatollah issued a statement clarifying hat he has not congratulated him and “will not do so”: http://mowjcamp.com/article/id/12060.

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Further Rifts within the System

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* In a effort to tighten his grips on the Intelligence Ministry, on August 10, Mr. Ahmadinejad fired four of the senior officers in this ministry. Reportedly, they did not support his “velvet revolution” theory with enough zeal.

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More On Confessions

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* There is a fascinating short documentary about a young Iranian journalist Mohamad Reza Jalaiepour, called “I Confess.” It has English subtitles too. I highly recommend it to all:

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Link here too: http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=126649937392.

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* Apparently one tactic to get the prisoners to confess is distribute fake newspapers in the prison with headlines that suggest the crisis is over, the protests are finished, Mousavi and Karroubi regret their actions, and the world is accepting Mr. Ahmadinejad’s government. Below is a photo of one such fake news paper.

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Photo of one of the fake newspapers being circulated in the prisons to encourage false confessions. The one above includes headlines such as "Mousavi and Karroubi Express Regret and Admit the Election was Fair" and "Obama congratulates Ahmadinejad."III

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* The trials and forced confessions seem to be hurting no one more than the government itself. While open surveys cannot be done under the circumstances, general views expressed by the public indicate the majority do not believe the authenticity of the trials.

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* Amy Goodman’s interesting conversation with the leading Iranian dissident Akbar Ganji on the latest events, including the trails in Iran: http://www.democracynow.org/2009/8/10/iranian_dissident_journalist_akbar_ganji_blasts.

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* Iranian artists on all levels and backgrounds are producing artwork highly critical of the sham trials and forced confessions. Here is one by a group of young musicians called “I confess”:

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Don’t forget to share the address of the blog http://www.windowsoniran.wordpress.com with friends.

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Good Night,

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Fatemeh

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===================================
Fatemeh Keshavarz, Professor and Chair
Dept. of Asian and Near Eastern Languages and Literatures
Washington University in St. Louis
Honorary Co-Chair, Iranians For Peace
Tel: (314) 935-5156
Fax: (314) 935-4399
==================================

Windows on Iran 88 (Election Special 34)

Protest in Baharistan Square tomorrow! See the link on the left for more information and directions.

Dear All,

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Much has been happening in Iran in the recent days. Let us open window 88 without further ado.

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Tomorrow’s Demonstrations in Baharistan Square

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* The Green movement has planed a peaceful protest rally tomorrow, August 5 at 9:00 a.m., in Baharistan Square where the Iranian Parliament is located and Mr. Ahmadinejad’s new term in office will be inaugurated. For the flyer with directions in Persian, click here: http://www.mowjcamp.com/article/id/9018. On Monday, August 3, Mr. Ahmadinejad was appointed to office by the Supreme Leader who traditionally performs this ceremony for the winner of presidential elections.

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Protests As The Supreme Leader Appointed Ahmadinejad

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* The ceremony was carried out quietly with little celebration. The two previous presidents, Rafsanjani and Khatami, many top clerics including Khamenei’s close ally Mr. Nateq Nouri, the candidates Mousavi and Karrubi, and, most importantly, Hasan Khomeini, the grandson of the founder of the revolution, were all absent. While the actual ceremony was held at 10:00 am the first news of it was broadcast at 1:00 pm.  There were many demonstrations in various parts of Tehran that were timed to coincide with the event. Here is a very short clip from the main street Vali Asr:

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* There are at least half a dozen demonstrations clips but I don’t want you to miss this one posted on line hours after the ceremony. The old lady says, I am 85 years old, I have come to this rally to take my vote back: http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=102538009756701&oid=45061919453.

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* And the rooftop chants were particularly loud and clear on Monday night:

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Fun News about Green Wristbands

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* Italians have been expressing their support for the Green Movement in Iran since the election. Last week in fashion show in Rome Gattinoni models wore green wristbands to show their solidarity (see photo below).

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Last week Gattinoni models in Rome's fashion show wore green wrist bands to show their support for the Green Movement.

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* In the meantime, the Iranian rowing champion Mohsen Shadi, who won the gold medal in an international competition in Czechoslovakia, also wore a green wristband. But the Iranian-run Press TV did not like that and cut off his wrist (see the photo below for yourself).

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Mohsen Shadi's green wrist band is conveniently cut out of Iranian-run Press TV's photo from his recent gold medal win at the international rowing championship. See the original picture on the left and the Press TV picture on the right.

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On the Important Matter of Confessions

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Mehdi Bazargan, the first Prime Minister of Iran after the 1979 Revolution.

* Here in the U.S. we have had our share of debate on torture and the validity of what people might say under pressure. With the staged confessions on the national Iranian television, this is now the topic of the day in the country. There a few pieces that people circulate. One is a famous quote be Mr. Mehdi Bazargan, the first Iranian prime minister after the 1979 revolution. Though not alive, Mr. Bazargan continues to be most respected. Here is what Mr. Bazargan said about staged confessions:

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“In two days, my term as member of the Parliment will be over. I will loose my diplomatic immunity. It is possible that, like many of my supporters, I will be arrested. If you are told that I will appear on TV to ‘clarify matters and reveal untold secrets,’ then hear me say things that are very different from what I have so far been saying, Beware, that person is not me!“

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(Jomhuri Islami, Ordibehesh 1363)

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* Here is a cartoon (on the issue of confessions) which is circulating widely these days in Iran:

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Let’s Go Iranian on Him!

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* An American high school teacher at a NYC reports a very interesting incident:

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“…recently one student stood up to our very intimidating principal, (something that almost never happens). When he did not get permission for what he wanted, another student said “Let’s go Iranian on him.” By that he meant organize a protest. And so now they ‘IRAN’ anything they want to change…”

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This is a cool piece of news I am sure Iranians would very much enjoy.

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Protesters Continue to be Attacked

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* Attacking and arresting a protester during the Monday mourning ceremony in Tehran:

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More Arrests

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* While a number of prisoners had been released in hope of a calmer atmosphere for Mr. Ahmadinejad’s  inauguration, fifty more protesters were arrested on Monday. While the official figure of arrests after the election has been around 2,500, and dead in the 30s, some fear the actual death toll could turn out to be  in the

hundreds: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/interactive/2009/jun/29/iran-election-dead-detained.

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Another Issue of Kalame Sabz

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* A new issue of the Newsletter “The Green Word.” For Iranians who might not be able to open the link, here is the pdf file: Kalame Sabz-July PDF File.

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Music Festival in Shiraz

* Just as political protests continue, important matters such as art festivals are not necessarily cancelled. Here is a link to beautiful performance in the Music Festival in my hometown Shiraz. You might have to paste the link onto your browser to hear this beautiful Shirazi tune arranged for a group performance:

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Please remember to share the link http://windowsoniran.wordpress.com/, particularly with those who are in touch with Iranians.

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Good Night,

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Fatemeh

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===================================
Fatemeh Keshavarz, Professor and Chair
Dept. of Asian and Near Eastern Languages and Literatures
Washington University in St. Louis
Honorary Co-Chair, Iranians For Peace
Tel: (314) 935-5156
Fax: (314) 935-4399
==================================