One of the MANY posters calling for peaceful "Green" protests on Feb. 11th in Tehran and other major Iranian cities. Please see the posters throughout this post as well as the link at the end of this post for many more.
Dear All, I
Greetings from Washington University in St. Louis…after a long delay. As those of you in academia know well, spring semesters are notorious for being busy. To attend to my teaching and departmental duties, the windows (e-mails and the blog) had be put on the back burner for a while. I am happy to be back with a plan: to make the windows shorter so I can sustain them. I
While you not have had a chance to follow the details, the Green Movement has sustained itself in the face of much brutality from the government. I
* About two days away from celebrating the 31st anniversary of the Iranian 1979 Revolution, and as the government of Mr. Ahmadinejad (in deep financial and political trouble) has invited the western press to witness, and report, the celebrations, we hear from Reporters without Borders that 65 Iranian reporters are in jail. This figure is unprecedented. Over a dozen of these reporters, whose fault is that they wish to report the events in Iran freely, were arrested in the past two days in anticipation of the “celebrations.”
I
One of the MANY posters calling for peaceful "Green" protests on Feb. 11th in Tehran and other major Iranian cities. Please see the posters throughout this post as well as the link at the end of this post for many more.
Mr. Mousavi’s Daring Interview I
* Last week, for the first time, in an interview with the online magazine “Kalameh-i Sabz,” Mr. Mousavi suggested that the goals of the 1979 revolution for democratization of Iran have not been achieved and therefore, the revolution is incomplete. Furthermore, he said that “Religious despotism” is the worst kind of dictatorship. A group of us have praised his courage and expressed support for his position in an open letter (available here: Open Letter In Support of the Greens), which will be publicized shortly. If you are an academic of Iranian heritage and would like to add your voice to ours please e-mail your willingness, name, and position to: drahni@optonline.net and please do so a.s.a.p. I Two New Warnings for the Supreme Leader I
* As green Iranians prepare for a massive rally on Thursday, Feb. 11, two major religious figures, Ayatollah Mousavi Ardebili, and Hojat al-Islam Hashemi Rafsanjani warned the supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei of the consequences of his actions. Both these political and religious authorities asked for immediate, and unconditional, release of political prisoners and suggested that Mr. Khamenei distances himself from extremists.
I Recommendation to the Green Marchers
I
*A large number of posters and guide lines have been distributed in Iran over the past few days concerning the Thursday rally. The main points are: I
One of the MANY posters calling for peaceful "Green" protests on Feb. 11th in Tehran and other major Iranian cities. Please see the posters throughout this post as well as the link to the left for many more.
* Come out in large numbers! The foreign press is present and you will be safe.
* Do not wear clothes that make you conspicuous.
* Instead of shouting your slogans and possibly being arrested, write them down in public places.
* Don’t use any form of violence, verbal, or physical.
* Take as many pictures as you can.
* Do not take your green signs out until you are in the Azadi Square …or close.
* When Mr. Ahmadinejad begins to speak, take your green signs out, stand up and turn your backs to him. I
To see a nice selection of the posters, please click here February 11, 2010 Posters to see the power point slide show that I have prepared. It is not even a third of what is being distributed. I just did not want to make the file too large. I
I
Have a great day.
I
Best,
Fatemeh
I
===================================
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
==================================
Iranian students flooded the streets and campus today, December 7th, 2009. See the videos below for live coverage.
Dear All,
This window is dedicated to the brave Iranian students who came out today on Students Day in large numbers to make it clear that their protests to the June general election, and the way it has been handled by the government, are far from over. With security forces everywhere, including the entrance to hospitals, peaceful unarmed protesters were subjected to teargas, pepper gas, physical assault and arrest. The government of Iran had extended the religious holiday of Ghadir in the hope that the students would return to their home towns and today’s protests would remain small. The scope and intensity of the demonstrations, however, made it clear that many students did not take advantage of the offer. Furthermore, many non-students joined them in their protests. In this clip, Amir Kabir Students open the door and let in the outside protesters into the university:
I
I Protests Continue Amidst Arrests I
Incoming reports, limited to eyewitness accounts, and short clips taken by cell phones and posted on youtube, indicate that the protests continued in many cities in Iran, amidst arrests and attacks, into the afternoon and early evening hours. The most common slogan addressed to the members of the Revolutionary Guards militia, the Basij, was “How much money do you get to wield that baton?” This particular clip was taken from facebook and posted on the NIAC website: http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=105011899516362. I
Locations of the Student Protests
The Iranian government suspended the permits of the foreign press momentarily so they could not report the student protests of today. Perhaps they would have been wiser to permit proper reporting. Below there are clips of student demonstrations across Iran. Pieced together, they picture an ominous future for the regime which seems unable to overcome its state of denial of the reality. I could have added many more clips. I Tehran University:
* Some major cities in the world predicted the events of today and expressed solidarity with Iranian protesters. Let me share the video of a beautiful modern art work that the Canadians made to express their support for these protesters and the Green Movement as a whole.
* A high-power green laser projected on the Sky dome/Rogers Center to bring awareness to the current situation in Iran . Thousands of residents of Toronto were able to see the projections from their apartments, homes and on the streets below. Watch it all the way (approximately six minutes) with the speakers on to hear the music:
I
Zahrah Rahnavard, Mousavi’s Wife, attacked Outside Tehran University
* Today’s demonstrations were used by government forces to make targeted attacks. Among these was an attack with pepper spray on Zahra Rahnavard, the wife of the presidential candidate Mir Hussein Mousavi. Rahnavard, whose eye sight has been effected, is in hospital.
I
Mousavi’s Youth Campaign Organizer Arrested
* Another victim of the police was Mohamad Ja’far Tahmasebi, the cultural coordinator of the student organization affiliated with Mr. Mousavi’s campaign. He was arrested today while protesting with fellow students in Tehran.
I Faezeh Hashemi Among the Students
* On the positive side, the student protesters were visited by Faezeh Hashemi, one time representative of Tehran in the Majlis, and daughter of the two times president Mr. Hashemi Rafsanjani. She was warmly recieved and thanked by the demonstrators:
I
Students of Iranian Descent in Holland
* Before closing this special window, I am going to turn to another struggle the Iranian students have been facing in another part of the world.
* Court Hearing in case of Iranian Students, 10 December 2009: Since July 2008, the Dutch Government has banned Iranian citizens, as well as Dutch citizens of Iranian descent, from parts of certain university graduate programs. In addition, five locations have been designated as forbidden for the latter group. This measure is presumably meant to avoid the ‘proliferation of sensitive information. Iranian students have been objecting to this ban arguing that securing any information can be perfectly achieved without such a discriminatory measure.
* The Campaign of Iranian Students has taken legal actions against the Dutch government, and the case will soon appear before the court. Although the initial assessments are promising, the students have asked for public support, especially in the form of their presence during the court hearing. The court hearing is scheduled on Thursday, the 10th of December at 10:30 am at the Palace of Justice in The Hague. I Put Your Gun Down!
* There are reports that at least one student has died in Iran today. One can only hope that the Iranian authorities see the reality of the situation and realize that violence will not calm the struggle for reform in Iran. I was looking for a piece of art that would heal the sadness caused by today’s events, and I thought of the Iranian master vocalist Mohamad Reza Shajarian. He has a song based on lyrics by the celebrated contemporary poet Fereidun Moshiri. The refrain to this song, which Mr. Shajarian dedicated to the Green Movement in Iran reads: “Put your gun down!” It is the most fitting piece to end this window:
===================================
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
==================================
A photo of one of the courageous Iranian women defying the government's orders and proudly demonstrating in favor of the Green Movement during the November 4th, 2009 "Quds Day" protests.
Dear All, I
I hope you are well. I have not sent you a window in a long time. This is not because in Iran the opposition has stopped its efforts or some of the issues have been resolved. As you see from this window, neither of these is the case. The delay is merely the result of my business with teaching and departmental duties. So, without further ado, let me open window 98. I Another Image from Iran Receives World Attention I
* Images from Iranian Greens have now become part of the world visual repertoire. To the right, is another incredible image of courage during the Nov. 4th protests. The image was circulated worldwide.
I Ahmadinejad Supporters No longer Back Him I
* Since the controversial re-election of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in June, determining the degree of his support among the population in rural and small urban areas has been at the center of debates over the issue of electoral fraud. The research presented here is the result of polling and the tracking of political opinion in eleven rural and small urban areas with populations between 8,000 and 34,000 people in Fars and Isfahan provinces in the following periods: two five-month intervals from June 2008 to March 2009; and late April, the first week of June, the middle of July, and the middle of September in 2009.
I
* The polling, done by people local to these areas, was conducted in various places of employment and recreation, via telephone, and face-to-face. Despite organizational difficulties, the total amount of people who participated over this period was 11,529. The study tried to reflect the demographic percentages of each town in the sample groups. For example, the largest group polled in most areas was the 20-to-32-year-old age group, which is the dominant age group, according to official records. The methodology for the study was based on theoretical work on polling conducted in non-and semi-democratic polities: http://www.insideiran.org/featured/study-reveals-ahmadinejad-supporters-in-rural-areas-no-longer-back-him/.
I Protests Continue Amidst Harsh Sentences I
* Recently, Mr. Saffar Harandi, President Ahmadinejad’s ex-minister of Islamic culture, tired of strong negative reception of the officials in major universities, visited a teacher training college in the small town of Karaj outside Tehran. As you watch the students protesting his presence on this small campus, remember the brutality with which the regime puts down any kind of objection. The results of the trials of 89 post-election protesters announced recently indicate that while 3 were released, 81 received jail time ranging from 6 to 15 years, and 5 were sentenced to death. As you see in this video, however, the brutal crack down seems to only intensify the protests:
* Ali Behzadian-nejad received a six years jail sentence for the anti-government comments that people put on his blog. You might be interested to know that he is the nephew of Ghorban Behzadian-nejad, one of the organizers of Mr. Mousavi’s election campaign.
I
Dr. Ramin Pourandarjani
The Kahrizak Doctor Dies at the Age of 26 Due to a “Heart Attack”
* As you know, after the June 2009 election, many who protested the fairness of the election ended up in the Kahrizak prison which soon developed a reputation as the Guantanamo of Iran. Mr. Karrubi, one of the candidates, has been pursuing an investigation into the assaults in Kahrizak. Today, the news of the death of Dr. Pourandarjani, the young physician who examined many of the detainees, adds to the validity of the claims that torture has
been used on these detainees: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/tehranbureau/2009/11/kahrizak-doctor-dies-first-lady-appears-in-public-in-rome.html.
Mahmoud Vahidnia speaking and criticizing the Supreme Leader at the Q&A session.
I Fox Apologizes to Haddadi, the Iranian NBA Player, for Derogatory Remark I
* The Iranian American community is learning to use its voice. Hours after two Fox commentators made derogatory remarks about Hamed Haddadi an Iranian American NBA Player, thousands of demands for apology were made. Fox had to apologize to Haddadi, twelve hours after the two anchors had made their remarks: http://www.niacouncil.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1557&Itemid=2.
I
Neda Agha-Soltan
Oxford University Establishes Scholarship Named after Neda I
* Neda Agha Soltan was shot to death during a protest that took place days after the disputed election in Iran. The scene of her shooting and tragic death was captured on cell phone and viewed worldwide. She has since become the symbol of the Iranian youth’s protests to the 2009 election. Queen’s College at Oxford has just announced the establishment of an Iranian Studies Scholarship in honor of Neda: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/8354372.stm.
I Iranian Graduate Students and Professionals in the U.S. Ask for Multiple Entry Visas II
* For years, the Iranian graduate students in the U.S. often have had to stay in the country for the duration of their studies because if they leave – even for a family emergency – they will face the strong possibility of not being allowed back in and therefore loose their graduate career. For the first time, the Iranian graduate students and professionals are campaigning to get the INS to allow them have multiple entry visas. In their letter, they described their community as an “active and vivacious part of the international environment at universities” and “one of the most distinguished contributors to American academic life.”
I Is There a Threat of an Israeli Attack on Iran? I
* At least this round of diplomacy with Iran does not seem to be getting very far. If so, would Israel decide to move ahead with an attack on Iran? Could (and should?) the U.S. prevent that? Why? These are all issues that Trita Parsi, President of the Iranian American National Council is addressing in his latest article written for Huffington Post: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/trita-parsi/washington-can-give-an-is_b_373205.html.
I A New Hit Song from Shajarian I
* Amidst uncertainties about the new steps the current government might take to curb further protests to its legitimacy, Iranians continue to show great interest in music and other art forms.
I
* In Iran, many artists are iconic figures for reform – distinct among them the legendary vocalist, Mohamad Reza Shajarian. Shajarian who had spoken candidly about the undemocratic nature of Mr. Ahmadinjad’s government while in Germany was reprimanded upon return to Tehran last week. Nonetheless, due to his immense popularity, no arrest was made.
I
* It would be fitting to close this window with a song which was posted on Youtube in spring. It shows him – and his son Homayun, at concert in Tehran. This song is now a major hit. Based on a ghazal of Rumi which ends with the refrain “saghiya” it addresses the cup-bearer, a symbolic figure able to free the soul from the narrow confines of sobriety and dry logic:
I
I
The poster reads: "Students Strike All Over Iran: 50 Cities, 200 Universities". See the link below for many more examples of the posters circulating in Iran currently.
December 7 Protests Approaching I
* In the meantime, Iranians prepare for another day of protest: “Students Day,” the 16th of the Persian month of Azar (Dec. 7). The posters for this day are already circulating. One of them is on the right and many other examples are here: December 7th Student Protest Posters.
I
Good Night,
I
Fatemeh
I
===================================
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
==================================
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.
I
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:
Tehran, though people disperse to avoid the riot police, large crowds form:
I
Mashhad University (Azad):
I
Mashhad University (Azad):
I
Mashhad University (Ferdousi):
I
Tabriz University:
I
Ahvaz University:
I
Shahre Kurd University:
I
Isfahan:
I
Najafabad University:
I
Tehran, “guns, tanks, and Basijis don’t change anything”:
I
Tehran, “Green Iran does not want nuclear weapons”:
I
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.
I
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
I
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.
I
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.
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."
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:
I
Good Night,
Fatemeh
I
===================================
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
==================================
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,
I
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.
I
Another example of the new "Green art." See the link above for a full slide show.
II
A Football Match
I
* 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.
Ahmadinejad on those Killed in the Post-Election Protests
I
* 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.
II
* 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
The Complexities of the Current Negotiations with Iran
III
* 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.
* 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.
I
I
Iranian Artist Manijeh Sehi
Manijeh Sehi’s Feat of Color
I
I
* 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.
I
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.
=================================== 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 ==================================
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,
I
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.
I
What is most amazing is that the Iranian government considers the existence of undesirable websites as “foreign interference” in its internal affairs.
I
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”
I
I
The Green Machine! Good News for the Greens in Iran
* 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:
I
I
I
Breaking News
I
* 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.
I
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.
I
I
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.
I
I
Abdol Kareem Soroush Speaks Up
I
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.
I
I
The Green Day Coming
I
* 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
* 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:
I
I
I
Another Iranian Woman Artist
I
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!
=================================== 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 ==================================
Extremely large crowds continue to protest the election in Iran. In fact, reports now put last Friday's protest at over one million! Click the link below to see many more photos from the recent Green protests throughout Iran.
I
Dear All,
I
It is now believed that the Friday rally has been bigger than a million.
New developments are reported in Iran around the clock. While there is frustration, there is also hope that some positive changes will result. The latest is the following piece of news about the army. Before we get to that though click on the following link to see some photos of recent demonstrations: Photos from Recent Protests in Iran.
I
Click the link above to see many more photos from the recent Green protests throughout Iran.
I
I
36 Army Officers Arrested
I
* Quoting Persian websites, Mr. Mousavi’s Facebook page reported – hours ago – that on Friday (July 17) 36 army officers were arrested in Iran because they planned to attend Mr. Rafsanjani’s sermon wearing their uniforms as a sign of the opposition of the army to the way members of the Basij have treated peaceful protesters in Iran. While these officers were arrested before taking their action, their plan may represent the feeling among a larger segment of the army which has not made its sentiments public yet: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/jul/19/iran-army-officers-arrested.
I
I
Meet Ahmad Na’eemabadi
A picture of Ahmad Na'eemabadi being held up by protesters.
* During the July 17 March to the Friday prayer, some people carried silently the images of their loved ones lost during the Basij attacks after the disputed election. Meet Ahmad Na’eemabadi (photo on the right).
I
Reactions to the Friday Event
* In Iran, Mr. Rafsanjani’s Friday sermon was embraced by the reformists and blasted by the hardliners. To see one perspective on Mr. Rafsanjani’s presentation outside Iran, click on the link to this Guardian’s editorial.
I
I
Mr. Ahmadinejad’s Controversial Appointment
* On Friday, Mr. Ahmadinejad who was in Mashhad, made a very controversial appointment. To replace his first deputy who had resigned on Thursday, he appointed Mr. Karim Mashsha’i. Mr. Mashsha’i is a relative of Mr. Ahmadinejad and is seriously disliked by the major clergy as well as the President’s hardliner allies.
I
I
Hunger Strike In Front of the United Nations
* A group of Iranian academics, activists and intellectuals – with no attachment to any particular group or organization – are going to go on hunger strike from July 22 to 24 in front of the U.N. to express their deepest concern and support for those arrested in Iran since the elections. I am very sorry not be able to personally joint them. I hope you express their support for their important action. Their website is: http://www.strike4iran.com/.
I
I
Very Scary News
I
Just had an e-mail from a friend in Iran that phone contact with prisons has led a very scary rumor which is as follow:
* According to unconfirmed news, the post-election political prisoners are in danger of being executed — if they do not confess to various crimes and sign letters of apology. An e-mailer, who reports this news based on a phone call with a prisoner, says the accusation for these executions is “smuggler and drug dealer.” “Please let the amnesty international and other human rights organizations know” says the e-mailer “that innocent people are being executed and their only crime is seeking freedom and asking for a just and fair election in Iran.” I do hope that this unconfirmed news is not true.
I
I
Siemens may Loose Hundreds of Thousands of Dollars
* Before we get into these election specials, the windows on Iran attempted to portray the diversity of the Iranian culture through the arts. This is a good time to share with you a clip made by Iranian documentary makers in reaction to the current events:
II
I
I
* And while we are on the topic of cinema, below is an interesting short documentary about the acclaimed Iranian woman film maker Tahmineh Milani who has made gender and Iranians women’s issues the center of her films. The only corrective I’d offer is that contemporary Iranian cinema has produced other fearless filmmakers including Rakhshan Banietemad who is interviewed briefly in this documentary:
II
I
I
Good Night,
I
Fatemeh
I
=================================== 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 ==================================
Ayatollah Rafsanjani delivered a powerful sermon at Friday prayers today at Tehran University. See more pictures from this important event below.
I
Dear All,
I
Today close to a million Iranians attended the Friday prayer at which the ex-Iranian President Mr. Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani was to deliver the sermon. Well, I listened to all of almost 65 minutes of his speech and can tell you this: The Old Man of the Islamic Republic Delivers!
I
I did not think I would ever be sending you an image of Mr. Hashemi Rafsanjani in these windows. But he paid his dues today and may indeed have earned the forgiveness of many a skeptic in Iran. By the time he finished his Friday sermon, the crowds were chanting “Hashemi, may God protect you!” to which he replied “May God protect YOU so you stay present in the arena of Iranian politics.”
I
Hashemi Rafsanjani delivered big time today for the Green Movement. After his sermon today, the crowd chanted: "Hashemi, May God Protect You!"
II
I
Rafsanjani’s Speech
I
* Mr. Rafsanjani spoke about 65 minutes. He was calm, articulate, slightly emotional at times, but as confident as always.
I
* At some point toward the end when the crowd chanted anti government slogans, he said half jokingly “let me say it, I am doing it better than you.”
I
* Most important chants of today were: “Down with the dictator” and “We will not abandon Mousavi.” When an official prompted the crowd to chant “Death to America” they responded with “Death to Russia” alluding to the fact that Russia supported Mr. Ahmadinejad after the faulty election.
II
II
Mr. Rafsanjani’s Main Points
I
* He started with the story of Prophet Mohammad’s mission and his basic reliance on the people’s presence and participation.
I
* He used examples to show that Khomeini emphasized the role of the people in governance above other sources of power including military force.
I
* He described the early stages of the election campaigns as a great success, especially since people’s participation was tremendously high. But then it was mishandled from the last days prior to the election.
I
* People’s trust in the current government is seriously undermined.
II
* We are in a state of crisis. Just as the Islamic aspect of the “Islamic Republic” is important so is the “Republic.” If we abandon it we will fail.
I
* A government not wanted by its people cannot function.
I
Lets take a break from the analysis of Rafsanjani's sermon for a second and take another look at the crowd at event (above). It is reported that close to one million Iranians turned out for Rafsanjani's sermon/rally at Tehran University. See link below for many more pictures from the sermon/rally.
III
I
Mr. Rafsanjani’s Suggestions
I
* Open the state run media to the protesters to speak freely and with no censorship.
I
* Act within the limits of the law.
I
* Address the public distrust in the accuracy and fairness of the election and really look into the way the election was conducted.
* For all of you to get a view of today I have put together a slide show of images collected by a good friend, Kowsar Jamshidi. Kowsar is a talented photographer but tells me these are not her own pictures. Please click here: Pictures from July 17th Friday Prayer Rally.
I
II
*There are tons of images of today’s demonstrations on you tube. Here is one video compilation:
I
I
I
Good Night,
I
Fatemeh
I
=================================== 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 ==================================
It was Neda Agha Soltan, then Sohrab A’rabi, and now – the latest – is Taraneh Mousavi. Taraneh, a 28 year old woman was arrested while returning from the June 19 demonstrations at Ghoba Mosque in Tehran. An anonymous caller told her family she was in a hospital. According to blogs, when they got there she had been moved out of the hospital but a nurse recognized her and told her parents that she had suffered injuries resulting from rape. Her parents don’t know if this is true. The story of Taraneh was told on the Huffington Post Today with the hope that she may be found, even saved. Well, we know that is not possible anymore. Taraneh’s body was found today — badly burned. We will never know what exactly happened to her. It is so important that you know her face. Please click on the attachment to meet Taraneh. And please know that she will be remembered with pride whether she was raped or not: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/shirin-sadeghi/the-rape-of-taraneh priso_b_233063.html.
I
I
The Friday Prayer Tomorrow
* It is possible that terrorizing events such as Taraneh’s death will in fact encourage people even more to participate in the big rally tomorrow. The destination will be Tehran University where Ayatollah Hashemi Rafsanjani will speak. He has been a supporter of Mr. Mousavi all along. And he is a powerful politician. What will he exactly say? There are many speculations. The important thing, however, will be the size and the success of the rally.
II
I
Mousavi, Khatami, and Karrubi will attend Tomorrow’s Rally
* Even more important than the size of the rally is the attendance of these three reformist leaders particularly given their low profile in the past two weeks.
Mr. Ahmadinejad and His Cabinet will Not Attend Tomorrow’s Event
* Mr. Ahmadinejad and his ministers will be meeting in the city of Mashhad in northeast Iran and will not attend tomorrow’s prayer.
I
I
Important Resignations
* Mr. Saffar Harandi, the Minister of Culture and Guidance (vezaarate farhang va ershaad) and Mr. Aghazadeh, one of the President Ahmadinejad’s Deputies both resigned today. The significance of these resignations will unfold in the coming days.
I
I
Missing Tehran University Professors
* I would like to close this window honoring a few missing academics in Iran and hoping that they are all right. There is no news of these Tehran University Professors: Prof. Hosseinali Arab (pharmacology), Ali Asghar Khodayari (mineralogy), Davood Soleimani (theology). They were arrested about three weeks ago: http://khabaronline.ir/news-12792.aspx.
I
I
Let us hope the news of tomorrow’s rally will be happier.
I
Good Night,
I
Fatemeh
I
=================================== 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 ==================================
I sent you a special window to let you know that this Friday will be an eventful day in Iran. Ayatollah Rafsanjani, the second most powerful politician in Iran, and a person viewed as supporting Mr. Mousavi, will lead the Friday prayer in Tehran and deliver the sermon. The reformists are asking their supporters to come out in large numbers. At the same time, there is an air of uncertainty about weather Mr. Mousavi himself will attend the event and weather Mr. Rafsanjani will make a decisive move against the system.
The general mood of the protesters in Iran is that of defiance. The fact that the official media does not acknowledge the crisis and acts as if everything is in perfect order leaves people frustrated and angry. Women continue to be most visible on the streets. Meet one of them:
Women, without a doubt, have played a decisive role in the Green Movement. Their courage on the streets in the face of the Basij has been inspiring to many, both in Iran and throughout the world.
I
New Statement Released by Mr. Reza’i
* Mr. Reza’i, one of the four candidates for presidency who is ideologically closest to Mr. Ahmadinejad, issued a new statement today asking the government to acknowledge the people’s grievances concerning the election and to attend to their complaints. More important than the response that he will get is the fact that he is not convinced at all that Mr. Ahmadinejad’s government will be able to move forward under the current circumstances.
I
I
Attacking a Person Filming the Events
* NIAC blog posted this video taken on July 9 when a person filming the protests is attacked by the riot police and miraculously saves the brief video clip:
I
I
I
Anonymous E-Mailer
* Anonymous e-mailer returning from a demonstration ( most probably July 9) described the police as anxious, frustrated and worn out, and the people as “not in an aggressive mode and in control of their behavior.” The e-mailer estimated the demonstrators about 10,000.
* People living in neighborhoods which have substantial “revolutionary guard” residents report loud “Allaho Akbar” chants at night which indicates clear support among that group.
I
I
The Allaho Akbar Nightly Chants Loud on July 9 and on July 12
* This You tube video posted on the night of the demonstrations on July 9 shows that the nightly chants were particularly loud:
I
I
I
* A video from the July 12 chants. For the first time, people seems to be using megaphones to get their voices heard more clearly:
I
I
I
Sajjadpour and Parsi’s Excellent Analysis of the July 9 Events on the Newshour
Sohrab A'araabi in Azadi Square....Remember his smile.
* Many predict that when dust of current clashes in Iran settles, the number of the casualties among the street protesters will turn out to be much higher than what is thought to be now (which is in the twenties). One such figure is Sohraab A’araabi, a 19-year old man killed apparently on the same day as Nedaa Aghaa-Soltaan, and in a similar manner (see picture to the right). He was scheduled to take the university entrance exams in a few days’ time. His mother is a member of Mothers for Peace. He was buried yesterday in plot number 257 at Behesht-e Zahraa cemetery, Tehran, about 20 meters from Nedaa’s grave-site. Last night, in the Ekbaataan, Sohrab’s Neighborhood in Tehran, in addition to the roof-top shouts of “Allah-o Akbar” and “Death to the Dictator,” there was, “Our Sohraab is not dead, it is the Velaayat [the rule of the [Islamic] jurisprudent] which is dead.”
=================================== 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 