The Latest from Iran (25 December): A Pause before Ashura?
Friday, December 25, 2009 at 6:33 
2130 GMT: Hot Gossip of Night. There is a statement lurking on Hashemi Rafsanjani's website in which the former President uses the story of Imam Hossein, the third Imam whose death is marked by the ceremony of Ashura on Sunday, to argued that it is important to keep public consciousness alive.Rafsanjani puts forth Hossein's opposition to the caliph as the most significant political movement in the last 1400 years, with its promotion of virtues and condemnation of injustice and evil. And, in an all-too-obvious parallel with the 21st century, he asserts that Hoseein was accused of having revolted for power and collaborated with foreigners to which the Imam answered: "I'm not revolting to Govern; my revolt is to protect and correct the course of the disciples of my ancestor [the Prophet Mohammad]."
I say that the statement is "lurking" because it has not been picked up by other Iranian media and Rafsanjani has not moved to exploit it in another public forum....yet.
NEW Latest Iran Video: Montazeri’s Farewell Speech (November 2009)
REVIVED Iran Top-Secret: The President’s Gmail Account
Latest Iran Video: Tehran Protests (23-24 December)
Iran: The Momentum of Protest (It’s No Longer Just….)
1900 GMT: Iran's Nuclear Programme. On a relatively slow news day, an EA reader has pointed out the recent Doha Debate on the subject. Participants include Mahjoob Zweiri of the Centerfor Strategic Studies in Jordan, Seyed Mohammad Marandi of Tehran University, Baria Alamuddin of Al-Hayat, and Alireza Nourizadeh of the Center for Arab and Iranian Studies in London.
1850 GMT: Kalemeh is reporting that there will be no Ashura services in the Imam Khomeini mausoleum this year.
1800 GMT: Tonight's Hot Rumour. The chatter, supported by an article in Parleman News, is that former Presidnet Mohammad Khatami will speak tomorrow after the local Tasua service (6 p.m. local time) in Hosseiniyeh No. 1 in Jamaran in north Tehran.
1755 GMT: Repeating the Ashura Demonstration Routes. The plans for marches in 22 Iranian cities on Sunday (see 1415 GMT) have now also been posted by Unity4Iran.
1530 GMT: Regime Message --- Desecration, Mousavi, and Sane'i. Fars News is headlining a supposedly very large demonstration in Qom condemning the "desecrations" of the rallies after the death of Grand Ayatollah Montazeri. The pro-regime protesters called for the arrest of opposition leader Mir Hossein Mousavi and, perhaps most strikingly, chanted, "Death to Sane'i", the reformist cleric who has been in the forefront of commemorations for Montazeri and challenges to the Government.
1520 GMT: Your Friday Prayer Update. Ayatollah Ahmad Khatami in Tehran today saying, Don't Demonstrate. Really --- Don't. "Our mourning ceremonies for Imam Hussein should not make the enemies of Islam pleased since Imam Hussein is ... the symbol of unity, so the ceremonies should not be used as platform for disunity," said Khatami. He added that if people do demonstrate, it is because they are supported by the US, Israel, and other bad countries.
1420 GMT: Memorial Defiance. Despite the Government prohibition on ceremonies, Ayatollah Taheri has announced that "7th day" memorials of the death of Grand Ayatollah Montazeri will be held on Saturday night and Sunday (coinciding with Ashura) in Isfahan.
1415 GMT: Routes for demonstrations on Tasua and Ashura (26-27 December) in 22 Iranian cities have been posted.
1152 GMT: A Not-So-Happy New Year for Khamenei and Ahmadinejad? An EA correspondent passes on information from the Economist Intelligence Unit, one of the foremost locations of analysis in Britain, with its latest views on Iran. The entire report is worth a read, but the opening summary is enough to raise eyebrows:
Public criticism of the supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, because of his direct intervention in the political domain has exposed a large breach in Iran's s intricate power structure, which may weaken his authority in 2010-11.
The position of the president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, will be increasingly challenged by sections of the clerical establishment, as well as by his reformist and pragmatic-conservative opponents, following his divisive re-election.
1140 GMT: An Opening in Nuke Talks? Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki has told Iranian state television that Iran "does not have a problem with Turkish soil" for an exchange of enriched uranium. If true, that would be a shift from Tehran's insistence since November that a swap had to occur inside Iran.
1025 GMT: Marches continue in Tehran. Reports that Ayatollah Jalaleddin Taheri was present at the mourning service in Khomeni Shahr --- video has now been posted.
0915 GMT: Reports of Moharram gatherings in Tehran, watched over by security forces.
0910 GMT: The "Proper" Demonstrations. Nice example of ignoring events to tell the "right" story on Press TV's website: there is a lengthy piece on "Zanjan, venue of world's largest mourning parade". This is the gathering today on the 8th day of Moharram, which is expected to draw more than 200,000 Shi'a followers.
Funny, but there's no mention at all in the article of the other reason why Zanjan is making headlines this week (albeit not in Iranian state media): it was the site of the cancelled memorial for Grand Ayatollah Montazeri yesterday.
0730 GMT: During this week of memorials to Grand Ayatollah Montazeri, we've posted the video of what is claimed to be his last public speech.
And, for a bit of flashback fun on this day, we've revived Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's top-secret Gmail account.
0620 GMT: Today, 24 hours before the fast day of Tasua and 48 hours before the commemoration of Ashura, has started relatively quietly. There is talk of memorials for Grand Ayatollah Montazeri, but so far no confirmation of demonstrations. Meanwhile, the unconfirmed news is that a grandson of Montazeri was arrested.
Alireza Nourizadeh, Ashura, Ayatollah Ahmad Khatami, Ayatollah Hossein-Ali Montazeri, Ayatollah Jaleleddin Taheri, Baria Alamuddin, Fars News, Hashemi Rafsanjani, Imam Hossein, Iran, Iran Elections 2009, Kalemeh, Mahjoob Zweiri, Manouchehr Mottaki, Mir Hossein Mousavi, Moharram, Parleman News, Press TV, Seyed Mohammad Marandi, Tasua in Middle East & Iran
Reader Comments (21)
Here's an Ashura song by Mojeeb dedicated to the green movement for Moharam of 2009 (found via manic77): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VyfmCv71nsE
"... a large breach in Iran’s s intricate power structure, which may weaken his authority in 2010-11."? Let's hope that in 2011, Khamenei will be long gone.
"which may weaken his authority in 2010-11."
Too late, I think his autority is already weakened !!
...if people do demonstrate, it is because they are supported by the US, Israel, and other bad countries.
I say! Yesterday Gen. Brig. Ahmadi Moghaddam issued the same warning, saying that in case of a regime downfall "bandits and foreigners" (ashrar va biganegan) would rule the country: http://www.peykeiran.com/Content.aspx?ID=11200
Due to impaired consciousness, he does not realize his excellent self-description: Iran IS already ruled by Russian backed IRGC, Bassiji and plainclothes bandits, who even beat mourning chadori women: http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=4251393&l=c686eda336&id=171288838053
As often repeated by Sazegara, such statements are obviously ment for all those poor prisoners in Evin, Gohardasht and other dungeons, cut off the daily reality.
For Moharram I recommend this recitation of "shatalagh aya" to all faithful believers: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EbYRm1jqOEg (Warning: Sarcasm, irony etc.)
Rafsanjani is simply pointing out obvious parallels between the meaning of the holiday and the current situation in Iran. I have heard similar comparisons from other protesters for the past month, so Rafsanjani isn't pointing out anything new here.
What is notable about it is that he seems to be calling for a revolution even now that it is clear that an uprising independent of the Green Revolution has begun in provincial cities (Qom, Isfahan, and Najafabad). The brakes are off.
Hey where did Samuel go? I haven't seen him for days. Fled to Russia already? Mohammed Marandi has fled to the gulf (supposedly for a debate). The rats fleeing the sinking ship just in time?
Reply to Adam: LOL! Russia sounds about right!
I have finally reached EA,; it's 26 of dec. and there is nothing ! what has happened ?
"Hey where did Samuel go?"
I have been busy doing much good work which would have been highly approved of by Imam Khomeini.
Speaking of the good Professor Marandi here is a recent appearance on PressTv.
I'm sure most here will dismiss what he has to say as propaganda but what I found most interesting is his comments beginning at the 4 minute mark. Here Marandi touches on a point which I have been chronicling for quite some time, the RACIST anti-Arab bigotry of much of the anti-Revolution propaganda.
The language, the ideology, the prejudice, the outright hatred and bigotry of much of the Iranian opposition and of the emigre community against Islam and Arabs is much more extreme than what you would hear from the Front National in France or the Haider movement in Austria and other similar neo-fascist groups.
I commend Professor Marandi for bringing the issue up in his interview.
http://www.shiatv.net/view_video.php?viewkey=d1024223255d84da97af
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What to do to the enemies of the Revolution in Imam Khomeini's own words:
http://www.shiatv.net/view_video.php?viewkey=d38b55728a9f56b043d3
Samuel,
Mohammad Marandi is Ahmadinejad's Goebbels and is indirectly responsible for the murder of Iranian youth. After this vile regime is overthrown I will never let people forget that, and I suspect those in Iran will be even more eager for his trial.
I have come to the conclusion that you are not in Iran at all so you are pretty unimportant except to the extent that Scott Lucas lets you spam his message board and bully people who want to post on EA. So I will only say this... once it is clear to the people that the people are against the dictatorship, it is only a matter of time before the regime falls. The only reason Khamenei hasn't already faced a Causcescu-style overthrow is because oil revenues allow him to retain nominal control for just a little bit longer (and shamefully the west has ignored this for 20 years), but that is running out too.
I have found and attached a link to a good version of Animal Farm just for you, so you can see a history of Iran from the revolution to Khamenei: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NZldlyeR8DU&feature=related
Sammy,
I'd like to thank you for posting on EA. The twisted logic of your Khomeinist apologia is a great boon for generating sympathy and support for the Green movement. Please keep it up.
Adam,
I have come to the conclusion that you are pretty uninformed about almost every topic you attempt to write about. You know very little about Iran or its history, next to nothing about Islam or Shiites and are incoherent when it comes to general history or political theory.
You wrote on and on about a "General Strike" when it was clear you knew nothing about strikes, about the history or philosophy of General strikes, nothing about Sorel, nothing about the rich history of Anarcho-Syndicalism, its leaders, its theorists. My guess is you know nothing about Goebbels or Nazism other than what you have seen in movies.
Did you know that Goebbels was originally anti-Hitler and in favor of Hitler's rivals in the party? Did you know he was a follower of the Strasser line and only later betrayed his allies to throw in his lot with Hitler? Do you even know about Ceausescu or the history of Romania other than whay you have seen on YouTube? Are you even aware that he was for a long time the favorite Communist leader of the West and the Americans?
I really don't mind educating you (for free even) but please learn about the figures or events about which you write about so you make a bit more sense.
Samuel,
This is entirely ad-hominem attack. Yes, I know the history of all of the things I posted about.
You never actually contribute anything to people's understanding, you just attack people who post on Enduringamerica, particularly to intimidate people posting from inside Iran. Scott, please stop letting him do this.
Since you have attacked me personally and accused me of knowing nothing about Islam (without presenting any example or other basis for such a personal accusation), which for some reason beyond my understanding Scott allows you to post on his website, I am forced to verify that I actually am of Arab descent.
Borzogi,
Well of course it would help the Greenies since their leaders are so DEVOTED to Imam Khomeini. I have yet to hear higher praise for the Imam than from the mouths of Mousavi, Karroubi and Khatami. You are not implying that they are not being sincere are you?
Adam,
I do not care whether you are of Arab, Italian or Venezuelan descent but if you are then you should be offended by much of the anti-Arab bigotry of those that oppose the Revolution.
Samuel,
The ethnic line that you and Marandi keep pointing to is a complete distraction from the real issues. But that's Ahmadinejad/Marandi's entire role isn't it? Always another distraction, always another diversion. "Look what just happened in Switzerland!", "Look what America did in 1983", "Look what some Persian kid wrote about Arabs on Twitter". It is all distraction and I think you know that.
My interest here is in human rights, not ethnicity or even religion. And YOU should be offended by the senseless massacre, beating, and oppression of fellow humans right in front of your eyes.
Sam the Ham,
Nice sophistical ploy with your loaded question. Do you still beat your wife?
I frankly don't care who high-fives Khomeini, or who gives him the thumb (Iranian equivalent of the middle finger).
The will of the Iranian people is what I care about. But you obviously don't. You're indifferent to what people in Iran want.
You're an armchair theorist ensconced in your obsolete Khomeinist worldview, and your ultimate objective is to justify its coherence, viability and appeal in the face of all evidence to the contrary.
I up your anti-Arab canard with the irrefutable anti-Iranian reality of Khomeinism.
Adam,
The ethnic bigotry is very real and you see it on every website (not just Twitter) devoted to Iran including EA. Much of the emigre movement is racist and their language shows it.
It is not what American did in 1983 but what it is doing now in Palestine, Afghanistan and Iraq.
If your interest is really in human rights then you should have some context. No one has been killed in any protests in Iran for months yet you keep talking about "massacres". I'm not saying that everyone should love the Basij but "MASSACRES" when no one is getting killed??? Propaganda worthy of, yes, Goebbels.
Let's say I take you at you word that your real focus is human rights. If you were honest you would have to admit that in a regional list of human rights problems Iran, while far from perfect, would be far from the worst offender.
My own list:
Zionists
Saudi Arabia
Yemen
Egypt
Lybia
Algeria
Iraq
Syria
Kuwait
Iran
But two (or many) wrongs don't make a right some will say. Absolutely true but if the issue is human rights then context really does matter. And note many of the countries on this list have not faced the hostility faced by the Revolution for 30 years.
Finally if you really care about human rights then one must admit that the Green Leaders were responsible for much worse repression than AN when they had their day in power.
I am going to ignore all of the distractions you have once again posted as a diversion from Khamenei's human rights record. My comment regarding "massacres" referred more to the events of June and July 2009 (I fail to understand why the passing of a few months somehow erases that as an issue in your mind) but no the killing has not stopped.
It is impossible to verify how many people have really been tortured, raped, and killed since then because the Khamenei regime will not allow journalists to report from Iran since that would lead to a flood of information regarding human rights abuses, the unpopularity of the regime, and the magnitude of the protests. However there have been executions just this week and killings of the victims relatives who were protesting. Not to mention that non-violent reformist activists have been sentenced to execution despite committing no crime other than authentic political opposition to Ahmadinejad.
I am more interested to know what the older people in this picture think about yesterday 26 Dec - and probably more important, what they think about today 27 Dec.
http://twitpic.com/vb29z
Barry
As I suspected you, contrary to your prior statement, don't care about "human rights" as an issue but just want to have the Revolution overthrown. Facts are "distractions" to you. Who knows maybe you get a vicarious thrill out of events in Iran. Fair enough I have no problem with those who truly hate the Revolution as long as they are honest about it and don't pretend they really, really care about more "universal" issues such as the principles of human rights in general.