The Latest from Iran (17 April): Remember

1700 GMT: Taking Care of the Students. Iranian human rights activists report that from the beginning of academic year, more than 170 students at Tehran's Amir Kabir University were summoned to the Disciplinary Committee. About 40 face suspension and, so far, five others have been banned.

1645 GMT: In Case You're Wondering. In addition to the rhetoric at the opening of the Tehran conference on disarmament (see 1115 GMT) about US as "atomic criminal" who should be tossed out of the International Atomic Energy Agency, President Ahmadinejad has proposed that the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) should play a leading role in global nuclear disarmament.

1445 GMT: Labour Watch. In the run-up to May Day, Rah-e-Sabz reports on the dismissals of workers in Arak and the strike of Keshavarzi Bank employees in Tehran

1400 GMT: Political Prisoner Watch. Journalist Mojtaba Lotfi, a head of the information unit for the office of the late Grand Ayatollah Montazeri, has been arrested and imprisoned again.

NEW Iran: Former Tehran Chancellor Maleki on Detention & Green Movement’s “Forgotten Children”
The Latest from Iran (16 April): Grounding the Opposition

1235 GMT: Tehran Friday Prayer in 3 Words. Apologies that, lost in the southeast US, I was unable to give you an immediate summary of Hojatoleslam Kazem Seddiqi's Friday Prayer. Here it is....

Adultery Causes Earthquakes


Or, to be precise, Seddiqi said that reducing sins were necessary for preventing the occurrence of natural disasters. And it seems that many Iranian women who do not abide by the Islamic dress code lead youth astray: “They cause the spread of adultery in society which leads to the increase in earthquakes.”

1230 GMT: Students & Soft War. Khabar Online reports on the naming of committee members in a student organisation which will fight the "soft war" of the opposition and Green Movement.

1220 GMT: Tip of the Iceberg. Beyond the Fatemi Street corruption claims, Khabar Online is featuring insider information about "Buddies of the South" (bachehaye jonub), heads and employees of oil fields who allegedly form a lobby in Parliament and Government that is so influential it can change the Minister of Oil.

The website is also pressing claims against conservative MP Habibollah Asgaroladi over alleged purchases of shares in a Chinese bank (Asgaroladi has denied the story).

1200 GMT: Corruption Watch. Follow this carefully: Jahan News has reportedly given details on "The House in Fatemi Street" insurance fraud. The newspaper links the main person charged, Jaber Alef, with First Vice President Mohammad Reza Rahimi.

We'll need to check this, as the claim about Jahan's coverage has come to us from Peyke Iran, a strongly anti-regime website. However, it should be noted that Jahan is within the conservative establishment, linked to MP Ali Reza Zakani.

1155 GMT: Regime Failure. Visiting the family of detained student and women's rights activist Bahareh Hedayat, Mehdi Karroubi reiterated that the "project of violence" against people's demands had failed.

1135 GMT: Political Prisoner Watch. Rah-e-Sabz has a summary of the concerns over the health of political prisoners such as journalists Emaduddin Baghi and Mehdi Mahmoudian, and labour activist Mansur Osanloo.

1130 GMT: Rafsanjani Watch. Fars News is pushing the claim that Iran's judiciary has issued a warrant for the arrest of Mehdi Hashemi, the son of Hashemi Rafsanjani. The website claims that Mehdi Hashemi, who is currently in London, will be taken into custody as soon as he enters Iran and that, in case he does not return, other “legal methods” of arresting him are also under discussion.

Fars has a follow-up interview today with a member of Parliament's National Security Commission.

1125 GMT: Claim of Day. Give credit to pro-Ahmadinejad member of Parliament Mahmoud Ahmadi Bighash for an attempt to link the international with Iran's internal situation.

Bighash tells Khabar Online that the reason for President Obama's recent "insolence" towards Iran is the meetings of reformist MPs with Mir Hossein Mousavi, Mehdi Karroubi, Mohammad Khatami, and Hashemi Rafsanjani.

1120 GMT: Azeris and the Green Movement. Frieda Afary in Tehran Bureau provides a valuable translation of a 21 February declaration by activists in Iranian Azerbaijan, "Our Standards Concerning the Democracy-Seeking Process and the Green Movement", putting forth 10 "principles and issues".

1115 GMT: Diversion Alert (see 1030 GMT). Here we go --- Agence France Presse reports:

Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in an opening message to a two-day nuclear disarmament conference hosted by Tehran, said the use of nuclear weapons was "haram", meaning religiously prohibited, and branded Washington as the world's "only atomic criminal."

Hardline President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad went a step further and called for Washington's suspension from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) along with all other nations who possess nuclear arms.

"Only the US government has commited an atomic crime," said a message read out from the all-powerful Khamenei, who formulates Tehran's foreign policy, including its nuclear strategy.

"The world's only atomic criminal lies and presents itself as being against nuclear weapons proliferation, while it has not taken any serious measures in this regard," he said.

1100 GMT: Political Prisoner Watch. On a day of remembering, some possible good news. An Iranian activists' website is reporting that two charges against journalist Isa Saharkhiz, who has been detained since soon after the June election, have been dropped.

Meanwhile, 160 journalists, bloggers, and activists have addressed the head of Iran's judiciary, Sadegh Larijani, in an open letter calling for the immediate release of journalist and human rights activist Kaveh Kermanshahi.

1030 GMT: In a few hours, the "mainstream" view of Iran is likely to be Tehran's conference on nuclear disarmament, with Iranian state media heralding Iran's leadership for peace (and no prospect of a militarised nuclear programme) and their non-Iranian counterparts looking for signs of challenge to the "West".

So be it. We're going a different route, starting this morning with an interesting interview with Dr Mohammad Maleki, the former chancellor of Tehran University who was detained from August to March until his release on bail. After describing the conditions of his imprisonment, Maleki makes a pointed call for the leaders of the Green Movement to "remember" and put forth the cases of young people who have become political prisoners.

Maleki's words are especially pertinent as the opposition continues to reshape itself after 22 Bahman (11 February) and the attempt by the regime to remove it from existence. Iranian journalist Reza Valizadeh, who has fled the country, writes of the "dubious derision of [the Green Movement's] popular slogans", in particular, Mir Hossein Mousavi's framing of the movement within rather than outside the Islamic Republic. It is also worthwhile to read the readers' responses to the piece, such as "[This is] criticizing those who, under the most difficult conditions, are trying their best to make Iran a better nation."

There is also some sniping from reformist MP Mohammad Reza Khabbaz, who is quoted by Khabar Online as saying that Mehdi Karroubi doesn't speak on behalf of his party Etemade Melli, given that it is "out of service".

Despite the tensions and despite the regime pressure that prevented him from going to a disarmament conference in Japan, Mohammad Khatami persisted with the message on Friday. He said the "goodwill call" for ameliorations and reforms remains, i.e., protests will continue, while reiterating his concerns over the treatment of political prisoners (see yesterday's last update for further details).

Comments

[Catherine]

Intimidation campaign against families of political prisoners
According to human rights activists, in recent months, families political prisoners have come under increasing pressure from authorities. Recent reports suggest that dismissals from jobs, academic expulsions and threats are being used by authorities to exert further pressure on the families of political prisoners.
http://en.irangreenvoice.com/article/2010/apr/16/1689

[Arshama]

@ 1200 GMT: Corruption Watch and “The House in Fatemi Street” insurance fraud.

Scott,

Jahan News has really published this news, which is #1 in the most read articles list: http://www.jahannews.com/vdceof8zojh87zi.b9bj.html

A commentator refers to Mahshahr, where they cut off a thief's hand and foot for stealing to feed his family some days ago, and suggested to hand over this file to Mahshahr court for fast handling. Another cites the full names, where ... appear in the Persian text: Mohammad Reza Rahimi, Esfandyar (Rahim) Mashaie, Mohammad Ali Abadi, Ali Saeedloo, and Mehrdad Bazrpash. And many readers predict that no legal action will be taken against them.

We should listen to the people's voice...

Arshama

[Scott Lucas]

Arshama,

Many thanks for confirming this.

S.

[Catherine]

Arshama,
I saw that report about the case in Mahshahr last week. The report I read was in the AFP, here it's reposted on another site:
http://www.asiaone.com/News/AsiaOne+News/Crime/Story/A1Story20100414-210320.html

and
http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/318627,iran-judges-order-limb-amputation-of-armed-robber-hang-accomplice.html

What do the readers of Jahan think about punishments like this? Or readers of other sites you visit where these incidents are reported/commented on? Do people widely accept amputations as normal or is there a growing sentiment against these Sharia corporal punishments?

[Catherine]

Details on Recent Family Visit with Majid Tavakoli

After a lengthy process by the judiciary, Majid Tavajoli’s family was finally able to visit him in prison.

During the visit, Majid Tavakoli told his family that, despite having made repeated requests in writing to the prison and judicial authorities, he is still being denied his rights, including the right to make phone calls. The student activist also voiced a strong objection to his unlawful and ongoing confinement in solitary confinement.
More: http://persian2english.com/?p=9467

[Catherine]

Malaysia denies halting fuel exports to Iran
Najib Razak, Malaysian Prime Minister, has denied reports that Malaysia has stopped sale of petrol to Iran saying there has merely been no requests for fuel from Iran since March.
http://www.zamaaneh.com/enzam/2010/04/malaysia-denies-halting-f.html

[ange paris]

Azeri yoldash Yasha ! Viva Azeri comrades!

[Catherine]

The plot thickens in the travel ban story

Hamid Rasai, Iranian Member of Parliament announced that proceeding from complaints filed by 150 MPs, opposition leaders Mohammad Khatami, MirHosein Mousavi and Mehdi Karroubi have been barred from the travelling abroad.

Fars news agency reports that Hamid Resai announced this action has been taken “as a policy to confront heads of the recent sedition.”
More: http://www.zamaaneh.com/enzam/2010/04/iranian-mp-contends-irani.html

[Catherine]

Travel ban on Khatami Cont'd

OTTAWA — Jean Chretien is denouncing Iran's refusal to permit its former president to attend a nuclear disarmament conference in Japan.

The onetime Canadian prime minister -- co-chair of the influential group of former world leaders which is hosting the conference-has written Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to protest the travel ban imposed on Mohammad Khatami.
More: http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20100416/chretien_khatami_100416/20100416?hub=Canada&s_name=

[Catherine]

RE the wonderful news that charges against journalist Issa Saharkhiz, who has been detained since soon after the June election, have been dropped (11.00 GMT), here's another example of his resistance to all pressures put on him so far:

A group of prisoners held in section 350 of Evin prison have been able to send a letter to the Secreatry General of the United Nations and have urged him to pay a visit to ward 350 of Evin prison and to hold private talks with the prisoners during his visit to Iran.

The letter addressed to Secretary-General of the United Nations Ban-Ki Moon has been signed by prominent reformist figure Issa Saharkhiz on behalf of fellow inmates in section 350 of the notorious Evin prison. The letter is dated 15 April 2010.
More: http://en.irangreenvoice.com/article/2010/apr/17/1697

[Gloumdalclitch]

I'm stunned. I always thought it was the increase in earthquakes which leads to the spread of adultery in society

[Arshama]

Catherine,

Re your question in post #4

I cannot talk on behalf of readers in Iran, but I think all forms of such stone age cruelties are as disgusted as in other civil societies. Obviously very few dare to speak out, and those who have done so, are now imprisoned -- just remember the high numbers of HR activists detained since the rigged elections.
The opinion of the commentator, who made this suggestion appears to be clear: in Mahshahr a man was punished who had only wanted to fill the empty stomachs (shekame khali) of his family. Cutting off one's limbs for petty larceny of food, while regime thugs stealing millions of dollars remain unpunished is a grieving accusation to all Iranian readers...

Arshama

[DC]

I'm sorry you had to find out this way Gloumdalclitch

[Bill]

I thought I had heard it all but "Adultery Causes Earthquakes" takes the prize. I could only guess this guy has been sampling too much of the Opium coming over the border. I do have to wonder why he did not blame it on the Zionists, Bahais, or the US. God know their are millions of agents under Iran stomping their feet to make this happen.

[danial]

@Arshama, post #12...

I remember watching a program on Al Jazeera, it was a documentary on Sharia law in an African state. They interviewed a man guilty of theft and he said he could actually choose between state court and a Sharia court to defend his case.

Imagine, a developing country where poverty, murder, rape and corruption is common, the justice system is still better than that in Iran. Its so infuriating.

I'll post the link to the the video if I find it.

[Catherine]

Danial,
I think I saw that documentary too. The one I saw takes place in Nigeria and it's called "Inside a Sharia court". I saw it on BBC World. A female journalist goes and spends a lengthy period of time observing how Judge Isah's Sharia court handles cases and compares it with the dual English court system that exists alongside the Sharia courts in Nigeria. The corporal punishments in some cases sounded a lot worse than what actually was done. There was a thief who was supposed to be lashed and they basically used a little twig to hit him. But a few amputation cases are also discussed. In this documentary plaintiffs and defendants alike are interviewed and asked what they think of Sharia court justice. Many preferred the system to the English court because it was much faster and in their opinion also fair. The documentary also takes a close look at the how English system works.

These are the only links I could find quickly:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/this_world/7021676.stm

http://sweetness-light.com/archive/bbc-documentary-inside-a-sharia-court (the video clips have been removed because of terms of use violations but they give you an idea of what to look for if they're still available somewhere)

[danial]

@Catherine...

Yes, that's the one. Thank you for the link and for correcting me.

Omar, the second caliph of the Islamic Caliphate, is despised in Shia Islam (and Iranians in general for invading the country) for many reasons. However, there is record of him pardoning people of committing petty theft and when asked why, he said he was to blame for not providing better.

Have you heard the saying "the end justifies the means"? well I honestly want to the 'end' is for the "people".

[danial]

my post #17...

correction: "Have you heard the saying “the end justifies the means”? well I honestly want to the ‘end’ is for -[these]- “people”.

[Catherine]

Bill,
I don't know if you saw my post in the 16 April thread about the “Adultery Causes Earthquakes” Friday parayers sermon, but there's more:

Not to be outdone, Labor Minister Sadeq Mahsouli said the best way to prevent an earthquake in Tehran is to pray and seek repentance.

Referring to President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s recent remarks about the possibility of an earthquake in Tehran, Mahsouli said, “We can’t invent a machine to prevent earthquakes from happening but God has invented such a machine and that is abstaining from sin, prayer, repentance, helping the impoverished, charity, altruism and forgiveness.”

“This formula is the best formula for averting disasters. In other words, by becoming Islamic we can have the power to cause change.”
http://www.fararu.com/vdcc0iq0.2bqp48laa2.html

:-)

[Bill]

Catherine,

No I did not and thank you for pointing it out. Funny how the answer is always more religion!! One wonders if they ever heard of science such as the study of tectonic plates. Ironically can you now better see how politics is also a part of Islam--because everything else is supposedly as well!! Reminds me of the faith healers "laying on hands" with the supposedly sick then wiggling on the ground and presto they are healed once they get up--just have faith!!! :)

Thx
Bill

[Barry Ward]

This provides an answer to those who ask the question :"Why is it OK for Israel to have nukes - while it is not OK for Iran to have them" Because Iran is run by maniacal idiots, that's why.

Barry