The Latest from Iran (27 March): Rumours

2330 GMT: A Quick Note. We've taken the evening off to spend time with friends and unwind. We'll be back bright and early on Sunday.

Meanwhile, here's a new analysis for you: "Israel, Iran, and 'Existential Threat'".

1800 GMT: Public Funeral for Montazeri's Wife Blocked? Iranian officials have objected to a funeral procession for the wife of Grand Ayatollah Montazeri, who passed away today (see 1125 GMT), from the family house to the shrine of Masoumeh (the sister of Imam Reza, the eighth Imam of Shia) in Qom.

Ahmad Montazeri, the son of the Ayatollah, told BBC Persian that the officials limited the funeral ceremony to 150 metres from the burial site . The family objected, so the compromise is that the public can gather in the Masoumeh shrine where Grand Ayatollah Shobeyri-Zanjani will say the prayer.

The Latest from Iran (26 March): Break Time

1730 GMT: Temporarily Freed, Politically Active. Mostafa Tajzadeh, senior member of the Islamic Iran Participation Front and former Deputy Minister of Interior, continues to use his temporary release from prison to visit families of detainees and others who have been bailed but face long prison sentences. The last meeting is with key reformist thinker Saeed Hajarian, who was jailed for more than three months and put on trial after the June election.


1515 GMT: Academics and Political Prisoners. Students have sent an open letter to the head of Iran's judiciary, Sadegh Larijani, to protest the arrest of Abdollah Yousefzadegan, a law student at Allameh Tabatabai University and winner of the nationwide Olympiad of Literature. Yousefzadegan was detained on 15 March in Mashhad and has not yet been charged.

The letter condemns the harsh treatment of the academic elite and maintains that the arrest of Yousefzadegan “destroys the credibility of the judiciary and trust in the security institutions of the Islamic Republic".

1310 GMT: Rumour Denied. Mir Hossein Mousavi's website Kalemeh is denying the report, first circulated by Farda News, that Mousavi met Hashemi Rafsanjani on the first day of Nowruz.

1125 GMT: Rah-e-Sabz reports that the wife of Grand Ayatollah Montazeri passed away in Qom this morning. Her funeral will take place tomorrow 10:00 am local time.

Montazeri, the one-time successor to Ayatollah Khomeini, died in December.

1100 GMT: Nowruz Visits. Mir Hossein Mousavi and Zahra Rahnavard saw the family of Amir Aboutalebi, a Mousavi advisor who has been detained since January. Despite the efforts of Aboutalebi's family, he was not granted temporary release for Iranian New Year. Aboutalebi recently had his first phone call with his family after 45 days of detention.

A group of pro-Green Movement students of Elm-o-Sana’at University, where Aboutalebi's children study, also sent their sympathy to the family. Aboutalebi was a political prisoner of the Shah, losing an eye during his detention and was also pursued by the Mojahedin-e-Khalq (MKO) after the Revolution.

0950 GMT: Reformist Challenge. Rasoul Montakhab-nia, the deputy head of the Etemade Melli party, has declared that the Government "cannot speak with language of force to people." Montakhab-nia say that this new year should be a year of forgiveness(for protesters, and that responsible political figures should try to involve all Iranians in the "nezam" (system) and Revolution of the Islamic Republic.

0940 GMT: Subsidy Fightback. The President's supporters are hitting back at Parliament's criticism of his economic manoeuvres (see 0755 GMT). Former Minister of Health Alireza Marandi says that the duty of the Majlis is to support the Government, while Lotfollah Forouzandeh asks the Parliament to take the burden off the Government's shoulders and accept the subsidy cuts and spending proposals.

0935 GMT: Friday Prayer Round-Up. Rah-e-Sabz has the highlights of prayer addresses throughout the country. An EA correspondent gives the top prize to Hojatoleslam Kazem Sedighi in Tehran with "the keys  God offered to the Supreme Leader" to solve Iran's problems.  Runner-up is  Ali Hajizadeh from Tabriz, who has discovered a "Velvet Revolution" in Iraq.

0925 GMT: Rumour of Day (2). The Iranian blog Che Mishavad (What Happens) blog claims that the Revolutionary Guard is laundering money, including revenues from drug smuggling, in Bahrain and Kuwait. The money is then placed through Ali Jannati, the son of Ayatollah Ahmad Jannati, the head of the Guardian Council, into a Swiss bank.

0915 GMT: Rumour of Day.  Rah-e-Sabz claims that the Supreme Leader promised Hashemi Rafsanjani that most political prisoners would be freed. However, when the head of Iran's judiciary, Sadegh Larijani, tried to do so, the move was blocked by the "hard-line" Judge Abolqasem Salavati.

0755 GMT: The Subsidy Battle. Khabar Online keeps up the pressure on the President, featuring the claim of member of Parliament Hasan Qafouri Fard that Ahmadinejad is not authorised to call for a national referendum on his subsidy reduction and spending plans.

The Parliament approved an extra $20 billion in the Iranian budget from the subsidy cuts but has refused Ahmadinejad's $40 billion request.

0740 GMT: The relative quiet in Iran continues, as global attention focuses on the elections next door in Iraq. Press TV's top domestic headline is "Iran wins 3rd Sitting Volleyball World Championships".

There is a bit of a show for the first International Nowruz Celebrations in Tehran and Shiraz, as President Ahmadinejad tries to boost the image of international legitimacy. Iraqi President Jalal Talabani, Tajikistan's President Emomali Rahmon, and Turkmenistan's President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov are in Tehran for the two-day event, and Iranian state media reports that they will be joined by Afghan President Hamid Karzai and Turkey's Deputy Prime Minister Cemil Cicek.

A useful story from the Carnegie Council, which gets behind all the sanctions huffing-and-puffing to identify the key development, "U.S. Pressures Oil Companies to Leave Iran". This passage deserves attention and repetition:

Since the start of 2010, oil giant Royal Dutch Shell stated it would no longer sell gasoline to Iran, along with Glencore (Switzerland), Vitol (Switzerland), and Trafigura (Amsterdam). British Petroleum and Reliance (India) stopped selling to Iran in 2009. With this series of departures, Iran now imports its oil from only five sources: Total (France), Lukoil (Russia), Petronas (Malaysia), Independent Oil Group (Kuwait), and Chinese companies. [Lukoil declared just this week that it, too, would divest.]

Comments

[kiterunner]

hello again.
it's really intresting for me that u persue Iran's news very carefully.
i want to ask u 2 things:

1st would u please use our three color flag for your posts.ofcourse i myself love THE GREEN WAY OF HOPE but the symbol of iranian is their flag.

2nd i'm intrested to get known to the level of freedom of speech there in US.can u really say ANY THING u want in US with no fear?or u have your own restrictions.can u criticise your goverment an even plan to change it fundamentaly?
u can answer me either by my email(that i give u) or my weblog.
And if u know persian i'll be happy to know your opinion on my blog.

[Scott Lucas]

Kiterunner,

Thank you for your comment. We do use the Iran flag as well in our thumbnails.

I have found that there are few restrictions on free speech/freedom of publication in the US in the sense of Government prosecution for unacceptable opinions/news. The wider issue is that there tends to be a "mainstream" media which regulates itself in how it presents domestic and foreign issues. Money plays a part, as do State attempts to "spin" the news, but I find the most important factor is an American political culture that has pre-set images, for example, of "Arabs" and "Israelis".

I think, however, that the biggest change in the last decade has been that the mainstream media is no longer the "gatekeeper" of news and opinion. There are far too many outlets where people can now get their information and shape their own perceptions.

I found your blog very interesting and look forward to following it.

S.

[Catherine]

RE 0740 GMT: There is a bit of a show for the first International Nowruz Celebrations in Tehran and Shiraz (http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=121736&sectionid=351020101)

You've got to love Press TV - they unwittingly admit how isolated Iran actually is these days: "The ancient tradition of Nowruz and the rebirth of nature is observed (emphasis mine) AS FAR AWAY AS the Balkans, the Black Sea Basin, the CAUCASUS, CENTRAL ASIA and the MIDDLE EAST. " :-)

[Catherine]

Big Brother Is Listening
The International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran says that when the authorities questioned the grandson of former president Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, it proved that Iranian intelligence is eavesdropping on phone calls made by some Iranian citizens: http://www.rferl.org/content/Big_Brother_Is_Listening/1994989.html

[Catherine]

Another victory for human and child rights lawyer Mohammad Mostafaei
Hossein Haghi, a teenager sentenced to death on February 8, 2004 by the Criminal Court, was spared from execution by the victim´s family
http://persian2english.com/?p=8926

PS The execution of juvenile ofenders only became illegal in the US in 2005.

[Catherine]

Recently, Barry asked with the same incredulous indignation many of us feel, "Who is ordering all these arrests?" Radio Zamaneh has posted an article, 'Iran's Revolutionary Guards behind recent arrest of activists' which details Human Rights Activists in Iran's claims that the “plot against human rights activists in Iran is being carried out by the Revolutionary Guards Corps.”
http://www.zamaaneh.com/enzam/2010/03/irans-revolutionary-guard-2.html

Although the article refers to the recent wave of arrests of human rights activists and reporters charged with waging cyber war against the IRI, this type of arrest-cum-abduction coupled with charges of high-tech subversion and long-term solitary confinement and torture has been going on for much longer. Read the letter by one such prisoner arrested in 2008:
Imprisoned Tech Expert Saeed Malekpour Writes of Torture
http://persian2english.com/?p=8921

[Catherine]

We've had quite a bit of discussion about the pros and cons of Caspian Makan's trip to Israel, and since Passover is just around the corner (starts on 30 March), I thought it would be interesting to post an article about Iranian Jews. Since it's about Jews it's also mainly about food ;-), in this case all the delicious specialties Iranian Jews prepare for their Seder dinner, amongst other details of the celebrations:
An Iranian Seder in Beverly Hills
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/24/dining/24passover.html?src=me&ref=style

[Samuel]

"We’ve had quite a bit of discussion about the pros and cons of Caspian Makan’s trip to Israel"

What cons? All I see are Pros, pros, pros. Hopefully Mousavi will follow the example.

[Barry]

@SAMUEL

Big difference between Makan and Moussavi is that Moussavi is a skilled politician. He would not fall into that obvious trap easily.

Barry

[samuel]

Barry,

They do have something in common: they both exploited Neda's death shamelessly to promote themselves.

[Barry]

Samuel

But all in a good cause!! :)

Barry

[kiterunner]

Musavi has'nt abuse martyrdom of Neda Aghasoltan to become famous or anything else. do u know his own cousin was assassinated?!
there r many martyrs.Neda is a symbol.
And his fiance hasn't done a good work.this task improves the possibility that her martyrdom can be a plot!! of course she is a martyr but the question is who killed her.
peace upon all martyrs all around the world.

[Rev. Magdalen]

Kiterunner, I can personally attest that just last year I attended a rally in Atlanta, Georgia, promoted on a major television network, at which numerous people carried the flags that the American Founders carried when they rebelled against England. This was intended to symbolize the rallying groups' passionate desire to completely overhaul the United States Constitution and start over with one more to their liking. [Full disclosure: I completely disagree with about 99% of the changes these people want to make, but I would defend to the death their right to hold this rally, which I felt perfectly safe at even though I disagreed with most other attendees.]

The official speakers advocated using peaceful methods, but the intention to overthrow the current system was clearly spelled out: the current system was spoken of as completely flawed and in need of total overhaul. Among the crowd, there were several organized groups advocating that citizens arm themselves and prepare to defend themselves "just in case" an armed revolt becomes necessary at some point in the future, though they assured me they are only speaking of defense against "socialists coming for their guns".

Over 10,000 people attended this event, and it was featured on major news networks, indeed one of them devoted full live coverage to all the speakers at the event. Everyone had a wonderful time and enjoyed top national entertainment acts, refreshments, and free exchange of literature and CDs of all types. Police were there, directing traffic to make sure everyone was safe and business in the city around the rally could go on as usual. No one was arrested or beaten and everyone went home having done their best to convince their fellow citizens to agree with their views. Google "Tax Day Tea Party Atlanta" for more info.

Yes, in America we are completely free to advocate a total overhaul of our system, and to advocate having an armed citizenry that will defend their constitution by force. I've not only seen it, I have Sean Hannity's autograph on the back of a learn-to-shoot brochure. God bless America!!!

[Barry]

@Rev Magdalen

Good post, thank you.

The problem I see in regards to western Democracy is not one of absolutes - but rather, where do we draw lines. Ice cream is good - I think we can all agree on that. Too much ice cream is not good (it makes you sick)- once again I am sure we can all agree on that. BUT - where we can't agree(necessarily), is where do we draw the line on where good becomes not good?? :)

Personally, I don't really understand the "Tea Party" people. I can understand their passion regarding their rights enshrined under the US Constitution - which basically emanated from a revolt against a dictatorial, non representative system of Government. But what this has to do with their hatred of Socialism is beyond me. The US Constitution has nothing to do with Socialism - which wasn't even invented at the time of the American Revolution. And as far as I can make out , the current US Government (Houses and Presidential administration) was democratically elected. Please understand that I am not a "Socialist" - not really any kind of "***ist" at all :) There appears to me to be a lot of people in the US who have indeed eaten too much ice cream. Freedom of speech is good - too much is????. But where do we draw the line.? It does seem to me that so-called freedom of speech has been taken too far in the US. However, I do not know the answer to that - except perhaps some self-control by US citizens.

It is interesting to note that in my country - which I believe has quite a good and well established form of Democratic Government and Law ( basically inherited from the British) - there is no absolutely enshrined right of "free speech" . What we have is "libel laws" - which ensure that what people say does not defame others. There is a slight difference there - which I am sure most US readers here will not be able to appreciate.

I say all this - as I am concerned that the US is in some kind of "self destruct" mode right now. And I am aware that all sorts of evil people (including the Iranian Regime) are enjoying the sight of this. The US was and still is a force for good in the world. The Vandals are at the gates of Rome. It is still a MIGHTY force - but racked by internal lack of discipline!

Barry

[Megan]

Scott,

I am told that Masoumeh whose shrine is at Qom was NOT the sister of Imam Hoessein, the third Imam. She was the sister of Imam Reza, the eight Imam. I was surprised that EA Islamist scholar (!!) has not tried to point this out. I guess he was too busy to take a jab at Makan and Mousavi.

[Catherine]

RE: Where do we (or should we?) draw lines on freedom of speech and how that freedom is exercised in the US - that's a tough one. Check out what will be coming to US voters in the mail tucked away in some newspaper or magazine in time for the next campaign season. The right-wing Clarion Fund, which shipped out 28 million DVDs to swing state voters in 2008 warning of the threat of radical Islam, has announced it's working on a new film, this one on "the Iranian Nuclear threat."

The Clarion Fund, which was behind 'Obsession: Radical Islam's War Against The West', said the new film will "document the development of the Iranian nuclear program, the threats posed by such a program, and the West's inability to recognize the true nature of an extremist Islamic Revolutionary regime ..."
More: http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/03/new_iran_film_planned_by_clarion_fund.php

Clarion Fund website and press release: http://www.radicalislam.org/

There are libel laws in the US, too. But they generally require plaintiffs to prove a published article was both false and written maliciously. Britain's libel laws are considered friendlier toward plaintiffs because the burden of proof falls on the defendant to demonstrate what it published was true. I don't know about the Australian libel laws, but Britain's government is going to overhaul theirs to guard against "libel tourism" -- when foreigners bring cases to U.K. courts in hopes of a more favorable judgment than they might get in their home countries.

[Megan]

Re 18:00

This is really odd. Did Mrs. Montazeri take pills from the same medication bottle Ayatollah Montazeri was using? Somebody needs to flush all of Ayatollah Montazeri’s medications down the toilet before another member of his family die. Or they fire the KGB cook!!!!!

[Megan]

Kiterunner,

Re your comments at 10:44

I did not think Scott addressed your question fully. Sorry, Scott.

I was going to send you an e-mail with more detailed examples. I was also going to send you a handful of links where people in the U.S. openly and without fear criticize politicians. I, however, noted that Rev. Magdalen answered your question sufficiently by sharing her recent personal experience. So for now I only add that we do not arrest, torture, rape, and murder people for their thoughts, political views, or their words opposing the government. The difference between U.S. and Islamic Republic is more than day and night. I wish one day you can experience it firsthand and decide for yourself.

Norooz Mobark

[Megan]

Kiterunner,

I thought Ali Mousavi who was murdered by IR thugs on Ashura was Nephew of Mir Hoseein Mousavi and not his cousin. Is that not right?

[Megan]

Scott,

I am told that Masoumeh whose shrine is in Qom was NOT the sister of Imam Hoessein, the third Imam. She was the sister of Imam Reza, the eight Imam. I was surprised that EA Islamist scholar (!!) has not tried to point this out. I guess he was too busy to take a jab at Makan and Mousavi.

[Scott Lucas]

Megan,

Reference to Masoumeh corrected --- thank you for pointing out the mistake.

S.

[kiterunner]

i thank every body who discussed the level of freedom of expresstion in the US. it was useful for me.I'd love to know more so I have more qustion that i'll ask.

Megan,

please send me the email.And:

Yes u r right. The son of Musavi's sister, Mr.Musavi's nephew, was assassinated.
Sorry my English is not perfect. I try to be more careful.

[Barry]

We are getting a LOT of migrants - who are bringing their ethic histories/tensions with them to my country

Can anybody tell me what "Assyrians" are (today - not in the ancient past)??

http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/ring-hit-j-stamped-in-teens-forehead-in-brawl-20100329-r5y0.html

Barry

[Arshama]

Barry,

Although I know the ancient Assyrians much better, here you are with a Wiki article on modern Assyrians: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assyrian_people

Your negative approach to migrants reminds me of right-winged or so-called "centered" German parties and people. Obviously it's much easier to bash newcomers, who cannot defend themselves as easily as natives.

Arshama

[Barry]

Arshama

I am not sure where you get the idea that I am a "basher" of new migrants to my country.

The fact is that many do bring "baggage" with them - that is not unusual, nor probably even unexpected -- but certainly unfortunate!.. There are undeniable ethnic tensions all over the world - do you think that these sometimes ancient animosities cease when people migrate to the west???

It is common for people in my country to say that newcomers are welcome - but please leave their "baggage" at home.

Thank you for the Wiki article on modern day "Assyrian" people. Now perhaps I can slightly understand an event that has happened here.

Barry