Dear All,
There seems to have been relative calm in Iran today. If there were clashes, they have remained unreported. All my personal attempts to dial numbers in Iran remained unsuccessful. The general mood seems to be that of waiting and reevaluating the situation among the people.
Mr. Hashemi Rafsanjani, former President of Iran (1989-1997) and current Chairman of the Assembly of Experts (the group who elects and can remove the Supreme Leader of Iran) and Chairman of the Expediency Council (the body that resolves legislative conflicts between the Majlis and the Council of Guardians). He is also believed to be the richest man in Iran and definitely one of the most powerful.
Important News Headlines
* The spokesperson for the Guardian Council (which supervises the election) admitted serious irregularities in the number of votes collected in 50 districts.
* Quoting an anonymous participant, the news agency al-Arabiyyah has reported intense behind the scene discussions among the high ranking clerics in the holy city of Qom to replace the Iranian Supreme Leader, Mr. Ali Khamenei, with a council of clerics. Mr. Hashemi Rafsanjani is said to be involved in the effort.
* Mr. Hashemi Rafsanjani’s daughter and four other female relatives were arrested today and released shortly thereafter.
Mr. Mohammad Khatami, former President of Iran (1997-2005) and strong supporter of Mousavi.
* Mr. Mohammad Khatami, the reformist president (1997-2005) published a letter in support of peaceful protests and asked the government to pay attention to their legitimate grievances.
* The Grand Ayatollah Mohammad Housein Montazeri has declared three days of national mourning for those killed in the protests starting Wednesday, June 24. This is very likely to be interpreted as an invitation to national strike.
* Mr. Mousavi’s headquarters is trying to inform the public in Iran that they should get their news only through his official site www.Kalemeh.ir Apparently, fake sites have been created which circulate false news about him.
A Map of the Embassies which Accept Injured Protesters
Petition by Faculty at Edinburgh University
* Professor Elham Kashefi from Edinburgh University writes: We have written an appeal to academic community and have so far gathered around 100 signatures from prominent scientists around the world, please see attached file. Please click here “Where is my Vote?” and contact Professor Kashefi at ekashefi@gmail.com if you like to add your signature.
Panel in Columbia University
* Columbia University has organized a panel discussion on the current Iranian election with Professor Dabashi, Mr. Mohsen Kadivar (the prominent Iranian reformist) and Dr. Fatemeh Haghaghatjoo (ex-member of the Iranian parliament). Apologies to non-Persian Speakers:
[The panel discussion has seven parts. The video above is part 1/7. Please click on part 2/7 when part 1 finishes].
The Iranian National Television Shows edited versions of Rallies in Support of Iranian Protesters around the World
* According to the NIAC blog, State-run TV in Iran is showing demonstrations in other countries such as the US, however, with some serious editing. They are not broadcasting the majority of people standing and shouting in solidarity with people in Iran. Rather, they show images of demonstrators who shout, “Death to the Islamic Republic,” while they hold pre-1979 Iranian flags, which have come to symbolize the monarchy. Even worse than the monarchists, they show rallies organized by the People’s Mujahedeen of Iran, now known as the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI, MKO, MEK, or PMOI), which is on the State Department’s list of foreign terrorist organizations for committing fatal terrorist attacks in Iran and around the world: http://www.state.gov/s/ct/rls/crt/2008/122449.htm.
Tomorrow, I’ll be making fresh attempts to speak with friends in Iran.
Good Night.
Fatemeh
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
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