Monday
Jun152009
Iran's Elections: Shirvin Zeinalzadeh on Al Jazeera
Monday, June 15, 2009 at 11:59
Shirvin Zeinalzadeh, who has been writing for Enduring America on Iranian politics and foreign policy, appeared on Al Jazeera's Inside Story on Sunday to discuss the developing situation in Iran with Professor Sohrab Behdad:
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BzawnLtnZ1s[/youtube]
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BzawnLtnZ1s[/youtube]
Reader Comments (7)
Zeinalzadeh is insulting the Iranian people on Al Jazeera with his lies! He said today on Al Jazeera that Any government would shoot on the crowds if they attacked state and public property. My question to Zeinalzadeh is: Would you then also defend the Shah's troops who fired on the crowds when they attacked state and public property by setting fire to THOUSANDS of cars, HUNDREDS of buses, HUNDREDS of Banks and government buildings in 1979? Or is it only the fascist dictatorship of Khamenei and Ahmadinejad and co who have the right to do so? The same people who are ruling Iran today were the ones who ordered people to attack state and public property in 1979! Many of them took part in those attacks, and here Zeinalzadeh is sitting as hypocrisy itself, trying to convince the world that this is an issue about law and order! It's tragic that Al Jazeera allows people like him air time! Imagine that the BBC would provide air time to a brown-shirt hardcore nazi sympathizer in 1944 as people were being killed in concentration camps! That's what it feels for Iranians to see zeinalzadeh and "Seyed" Marandi's disgustingly arrogant face on Al Jazeera as people are getting killed in Iran. And believe me when I say that far more than just 7-8 have been killed so far! We're perhaps talking about hundreds of killed people across all of Iran!
Aljazeera maybe is trying to give voice to different perspectives and view on the current events in Iran. If there is freedom of expression it should be for anybody with any expression. We should practice tolerance.
M.S.,
You are right --- Al Jazeera is trying, in each of its panel discussions, to have a balance of viewpoints. They are having difficulty, however, finding participants who will support the pro-Ahmadinejad perspective.
S.
Dear Shahram,
Under no circumstances did I mention that it is acceptable to shoot into the crowd on Al-Jazeera. I in fact condemned all the violence, be it from protestors or security forces.
Furthermore, I am neither backing or opposing any particular candidate, I am however trying to bring across the point that Iran must set an example to itself and the rest of the world that it is a law obiding nation, and that respecting international law should be a high priority whether dealing with internal or external affairs.
My invitation to Al-Jazeera was as a security analyst, a subject in which I have a wealth of experience, therefore feel honoured to be part of the debate.
I would like to re-iterate that I mentioned there is a legal process in action at the moment in Iran with the re-counting of the votes. Should this lead to a re-election or final decision, then this must be done accordingly and within the law.
S.
"I would like to re-iterate that I mentioned there is a legal process in action at the moment in Iran with the re-counting of the votes. Should this lead to a re-election or final decision, then this must be done accordingly and within the law."
The Guardian Council has reiterated that there is no provision under Iranian law to hold a 're-election'. This legal process was purely a strategy to buy the authorities time rather than a genuine effort to address grievances.
I think most people would read your comments to be implictly supportive of the State in its handling of this crisis. I think many will find talk of 'legal process in action' a bit disengenous given the State's obvious effort to silence criticism and its clear acts of violence against, not just on violent demonstrators, but on journalists, lawyers and peaceful activists.
Shirvin, your claims of being impartial on this subject are almost as laughable as your horrendous miscalculation of the protests of being the usual "dust" after an election.
You need to work harder on your deception skills, you are fooling no one.
I find life an exciting business,The point is succinctness of expression. qxfnnv qxfnnv - mulberry bags.