Tuesday
Feb092010
The Latest from Iran (9 February): 48 Hours to Go
Tuesday, February 9, 2010 at 21:16 
2205 GMT: The Tajik Show? BBC Persian follows up on the curious story of the "release" of former Vice President Mohammad Reza Tajik from detention. Tajik appeared on the 22:30 programme on IRIB 2 saying that there was no election “fraud” and that “foreign and Zionist media” are riding the wave of the protests.2145 GMT: Lawyer Forough Mirzaei and Mahin Fahimi, a member of "Mothers for Peace", have been released from detention.
2100 GMT: And Analysing Rumour of Day (Week? Month?). We've posted a snap analysis considering the reasons for and implications of a Rafsanjani "ultimatum" to the Supreme Leader.
NEW Iran Snap Analysis: The Rafsanjani "Ultimatum" to the Supreme Leader
NEW Iran Feature: Human Rights Round-up (1-7 February 2010)
Latest Iran Video: Protest at Sharif University, Tehran (8 February)
Iran Document: Khatami Statement for 22 Bahman (8 February)
Iran Special: The 57 Journalists in Iran’s Prisons
The Latest from Iran (8 February): Staying with the Real Story
1924 GMT: Rumour of Day (Week? Month?) --- Rafsanjani "Ultimatum" to Supreme Leader. The Green site Rah-e-Sabz, without citing a source, makes the following claim:
Authorities went to arrest the wife of Mir Hossein's chief advisor Alireza Beheshti, who was already detained, on Tuesday, but could not find her. She then called Hashemi Rafsanjani from her hiding place and told him, "Look where we have got to that the grandchildren of the late Ayatollah Beheshti (Alireza Beheshti's father) have to be on the run in dahey-e fajr (the 10-Day Dawn preceding the anniversary of the 1979 Revolution)." This allegedly upset Rafsanjani to the point to tears.
During his regular Tuesday meeting with the Supreme Leader, Rafsanjani reporetedly demanded the immediate release of Beheshti and an end to these “shameful” actions. Beyond this, Rafsanjani spoke with Ayatollah Khamenei about the management of the country, the post-election crisis, detentions, and the press. The former President then allegedly gave Khamenei an ultimatum (“etmam-e hojjat”, which may also translate into “last word”) to take action.
Rah-e-Sabz says that it will publish more about this meeting later.
Now there is no way to verify the website's claim, but Alireza Beheshti has been freed. Coinicidence or validation of the report?
1920 GMT: We have posted an updated list, amidst recent arrests, of 63 journalists in Iran's prisons.
1820 GMT: Confusion over Tajik. Earlier today there were reports that Mohammad Reza Tajik, a Vice President in the Khatami Government and professor at Shahid Beheshti University, had been released with Alireza Beheshti (see 1723 GMT). Now it is being announced that Tajik has not been released but will be on television at 22:30 local time (1900 GMT) to talk about post-election events. Is this a version of the "confessions" aired on Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting this summer?
1815 GMT: Ali Malihi, a journalist with Etemaad newspaper, has been arrested at home.
1730 GMT: But Nabavi Gets 5 Years. An Iranian court has confirmed a jail sentence of five years for leading reformist politician Behzad Nabavi.
1723 GMT: Beheshti Released. Mehr News is reporting that top Mousavi advisor Alireza Beheshti has been released on bail from Evin Prison.
1720 GMT: The Fate of the "9". Remember that, at the time of the executions of Mohammad Reza Ali Zamani and Arash Rahminpour two weeks ago, the Iran Government declared that nine other political prisoners faced the death penalty? Iranian state media are now reporting that one of the nine will be executed while eight will serve prison sentences.
1710 GMT: Competing Protests. Peyke Iran reports a trend in labour protests for workers to chant Green slogans.
Meanwhile, pictures from pro-Government demonstrators protesting today in front of the Italian and French Embassies.
1635 GMT: More on Human Rights. Complementing our own round-up and list of journalists (which we need to update --- it is now 65 detained in Iran's prisons), Pedestrian has posted an update on a number of cases.
1630 GMT: Crime and Punishment? Kalemeh claims, from a judiciary official, that a 23 year-old man has been arrested for the murder of a protestor, shot by a pistol, on the evening of 24 Khordad (14 June) in Tehran. The official also says that the accused --- who is not identified as member of the military, police, or Basij militia --- did not have orders from any security officials and was acting by himself.
1535 GMT. Carrot. Stick. The rumour of the day, put out by Parleman News from a source in the Tehran prosecutor's office, is that key Mousavi advisor Alireza Beheshti will be released within hours.
The reality of the day is that the son of Mehdi Karroubi, Hossein, has had his passport confiscated as he got off a flight from Dubai.
1525 GMT: Back from academic break to find that the Italian Foreign Minister, Franco Frattini, has claimed that "dozens" of Basij militia tried to attack Italy's embassy in Tehran today.
1205 GMT: Saleh Noghrekar, Zahra Rahnavard’s nephew and the head of the legal committee of Mir Hossein Mousavi’s campaign, has been arrested.
1200 GMT: The family members of detainee Mohammad Nourizadeh, former chief editor of Kayhan who following criticised the Supreme Leader and the head of the judiciary in a post-election letter, have been summoned to the Revolutionary Court.
1055 GMT: Tehran's Back-and-Forth Sideshow. So here's the latest from Iran's Foreign Ministry on the uranium enrichment talks:
"“The issue of a nuclear fuel swap [with the West] … is still open. We have announced our conditions in a clear and transparent way. If the other sides provide our conditions and adopt a realistic approach, it (the swap) would be possible. It (the swap) by no means goes counter to our obtaining the required fuel through other means."
1030 GMT: A Relatively Quiet Morning. No significant political moves, so as we prepare for coverage of 22 Bahman, we are trying to assess the extent of the slowdown/halting of communications, as are other front-line media covering events. Some EA sources inside Iran can still communicate with us; others appear to have been cut off.
0740 GMT: Putting on the Show. Latest on the uranium enrichment front --- Iranian state media is loudly proclaiming that Tehran, under the supervision of the International Atomic Energy Agency, has begun the attempt to enrich its stocks from 3.5 to 20 percent.
0730 GMT: Qalibaf v. The Government. Tehran Mayor Mohammad-Baqer Qalibaf, relatively quiet in the post-election crisis but still a key political player --- and possibly a central figure in a move against President Ahmadinejad --- has again attacked incompetent officials, comparing them to "rioters".
0723 GMT: An Appeal to the Supreme Leader. Ayatollah Mousavi-Ardebili has visited Ayatollah Khamenei, seeking the unconditional release of all political prisoners and exclusion of "radicals" from the Government.
0720 GMT: Today's Prison Numbers. Two students have reportedly been released by Iranian authorities, but 16 more have been detained, including 14 from Amir Kabir University.
0705 GMT: Baghi, Montazeri, and the Interview That Led to Jail. Emadeddin Baghi's interview with Grand Ayatollah Hossein-Ali Montazeri, filmed two years for the BBC but never aired, has now surfaced. Baghi has been detained since December, in part because of this video. This is part 1 of 3:
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5lRIw8ivIYk[/youtube]
0700 GMT: Add another journalist to our list of those detained. Vahid Ostadpour has been arrested.
0655 GMT: Amidst the articles on Iran this morning, full marks to Reza Aslan at The Daily Beast as he previews 22 Bahman and puts the President's nuclear move in its place: "Ahmadinejad is trying everything in his power to change the subject....These announcements are a joke; they cannot be taken seriously."
0650 GMT: Imprisoning Dissent. On Monday, former Deputy Foreign Minister Mostafa Tajzadeh was sentenced to six years in prison for his threat to "national security". Here is an example of that threat in a speech before the election (hat-tip to Pedestrian):
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KzqJY8JjTJM[/youtube]
In the days of the Shah, the people of Iran had every kind of freedom, except for political freedom. When one of the slogans of the revolution became esteghlal, azadi, jomhooriyeh eslami [independence, freedom, the Islamic Republic of Iran], by “freedom” they only meant political freedom. Which other kind of freedom was it that we didn’t have? You could freely practice your religion. If you were the type who wanted to go to the mosque, you could, if you wanted to go to a bar, you also could. The path was open. The freedom we did not have was political freedom. We did not have a free press, we did not have free political parties, we did not have free elections, we did not have free unioN....
With what rationality did the Imam [Khomeini] put aside the Constitution [during the time of the Shah]? His most important reason, the brightest, most historic [reason] he put forth, was when he said: “Our fathers, our mothers, in another time, thought that this Constitution [the one under the shah] was the best. Today, their children are mature and wise, they recognize that they want a new Constitution.” He thus acknowledged the right of every generation to govern its nation on its own....
It is imperative that the election be free, and if for any reason, anyone undermines this freedom, they are acting against the law. They tell us: “Don’t worry” [about fraud in the election]." Well, we are worried. I personally am very distraught over what Mr. Mahsouli [Ahmadinejad's Minister of Interior in 2009] is doing over at the Interior Ministry. They are shuffling around and changing everybody these days, even the secretaries. I don’t know what they are doing in there that has become so secretive and confidential.
0645 GMT: We've posted the debut of what we hope will become a regular feature: Tricia Sutherland looks over the past week in a "Human Rights Round-up".
0620 GMT: So another day in the countdown to 22 Bahman begins.
Monday was more a day of manoeuvre and anticipation than high drama. The Supreme Leader did put out a high-profile statement but, despite the headlines of "punching" Iran's enemies and declaring the Islamic Republic's supremacy, there was little beyond the rhetoric. Both Mir Hossein Mousavi and Mohammad Khatami used meetings and interviews to reiterate demands and determination, while making clear that their approach was not tainted by foreign intervention and within the framework of the Republic.
And, of course, the regime continued its efforts to ensure that their supporters, rather than the opposition, have the public space to themselves on Thursday. There was a steady stream of reports of detentions. Loudspeakers were set up alongside the likely route of the Green movement's march, and communications continued to be restricted, with claims that stations like Voice of America Persian are now jammed.
What is harder to read, in part because of those fogged communications, are the preparations for the demonstrations. Is the claim of "3 million on the streets" --- taken not from an opposition spokesperson but from a source inside Tehran's police headquarters --- best assessment, a bit of sensationalism, or even disinformation to set up a let-down when the crowds fall short of that number?
Wait-and-see time.
tagged 22 Bahman, Ali Malihi, Alireza Beheshti, Amir Kabir University, Arash Rahmanipour, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Ayatollah Hossein-Ali Montazeri, Ayatollah Mousavi-Ardebili, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, Behzad Nabavi, Emadeddin Baghi, Etemaad, Forough Mirzaei, Hashemi Rafsanjani, Hossein Karroubi, International Atomic Energy Agency, Iran, Iran Elections 2009, Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting, Kalemeh, Mahin Fahimi, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Medhi Karroubi, Mir Hossein Mousavi, Mohammad Khatami, Mohammad Reza Ali Zamani, Mohammad Reza Tajik, Mohammad-Baqer Qalibaf, Mostafa Tajzadeh, Parleman News, Peyke Iran, Reza Aslan, Sadegh Masouli, Shah of Iran, Shahid Beheshti University, Tahavol-e-Sabz, The Daily Beast, Vahid Ostadpour, uranium enrichment in Middle East & Iran
22 Bahman, Ali Malihi, Alireza Beheshti, Amir Kabir University, Arash Rahmanipour, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Ayatollah Hossein-Ali Montazeri, Ayatollah Mousavi-Ardebili, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, Behzad Nabavi, Emadeddin Baghi, Etemaad, Forough Mirzaei, Hashemi Rafsanjani, Hossein Karroubi, International Atomic Energy Agency, Iran, Iran Elections 2009, Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting, Kalemeh, Mahin Fahimi, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Medhi Karroubi, Mir Hossein Mousavi, Mohammad Khatami, Mohammad Reza Ali Zamani, Mohammad Reza Tajik, Mohammad-Baqer Qalibaf, Mostafa Tajzadeh, Parleman News, Peyke Iran, Reza Aslan, Sadegh Masouli, Shah of Iran, Shahid Beheshti University, Tahavol-e-Sabz, The Daily Beast, Vahid Ostadpour, uranium enrichment in Middle East & Iran
Reader Comments (37)
Scott
The link concerning Galibaf, 7h30, dosen't work.
Chère Ange,
Here comes the link concerning Ghalibaf: http://ayandenews.com/news/18396/
Bonne journée!
Merci beaucoup mon cher Arashma, bonne journée à toi aussi .
Frankly he's the best !! he's "direct" and gets straight to the point instead of beating around the bush,all without fear because he knows he's right; self-criticism is not hard for him, it's the quality of clever people !
RE 1030 GMT: ..we are trying to assess the extent of the slowdown/halting of communications ... Some EA sources inside Iran can still communicate with us; others appear to have been cut off.
Could you also ask the US State Department to keep an eye on Twitter's maintenance schedule? ;-)
Iran’s Future Tied to State’s Treatment of Green Movement
February 8th, 2010
http://www.insideiran.org/news/iran%E2%80%99s-future-tied-to-state%E2%80%99s-treatment-of-green-movement/
#4, Ange
I am wondering if it's not too late even if he's clever ; it must be without SL, the blood sucker !
#6, Catherine
Thank you for this article, good summary and easy to read
Arsama
Look at this :
http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=107724082578477&ref=mf
Ma bishomarim V
Very moving, oh...my...god:
http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=107721512578734&ref=mf
@ Ange RE post 7
De rien ma chère. Here's another one you (and hopefully others) will like:
They're Wearing Green in Dubai
How the Iranian diaspora is gearing up for Feb. 11.
http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2010/02/01/theyre_wearing_green_in_dubai
Preparing for 22 Bahman:
Sunday, February 07, 2010
IRGC's security plan for controlling Enghelab Street on 22 Bahman
and
Friday, February 05, 2010
Important Tips for 22 Bahman Protests
and
Thursday, February 04, 2010
Suggestions for Green Bahman by Green Movement of Mashhad
http://kimbersiranlog.blogspot.com/
{ 1055 GMT: Tehran’s Back-and-Forth Sideshow...on the uranium enrichment talks:
““The issue of a nuclear fuel swap [with the West] … is still open. We have announced our conditions in a clear and transparent way. If the other sides provide our conditions and adopt a realistic approach, it (the swap) would be possible. It (the swap) by no means goes counter to our obtaining the required fuel through other means.” ]
REGARDING: A Modest Proposal to UNECCEZS* and a final warning
We have tried our best to negotiate with the West through back channels and other means, but they insist on public insults. Our requests are simple.
We need to have fuel rods for our medical reactor. Doctors in our nuclear medicine department have determined that certain special isotopes are needed to treat our President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. We had thought that on humanitarian grounds and in exchange for certain accomodations, that the West would have completed a deal with us in secret.
These specialized isotopes are the only substances available that will kill the snake heads that grow from Mahmoud's shoulders.
We had offered to send President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to Paris for treatment if France would provide some provisions for his flight.
We did not ask for a gourmet meal, or peanuts, or anything difficult to provide. For the safety of the crew, we simply asked that he be provided with a few French brains for the snake heads to eat. Mahmoud has not completed his flying lessons, and if the snakes ate the pilot, he would not be able to fly the plane.
We would advise cooperation. We will provide detailed research papers in private, but we will not negotiate such delicate matters in public.
The Russians and Chinese will not vote for sanctions. The Russian Ambassador is somewhat distressed that the snake heads growing from his shoulders do not seem to respond to Russian medical remedies. We have offered to provide vital information from our research, but we did warn him that proper protocol does not recommend allowing a demon to kiss his shoulders. The demon in question has disappeared.
A FINAL WARNING: Although you have demonstrated your HAARP weapon, we are not impressed. We have shown the power of our weapon: we have stopped Sunspots from forming on the Sun, and we have caused Washington, D.C. to be buried in snow. This is the first punch. Don't make us slap you silly.
*UN Elite Committee for Cultural Exchange and Zahhak Studies
There is no top-dog but Khamenei and Ahmadinejad is His messenger
[...] via enduring america [...]
Re. 1710 GMT: “...Meanwhile, pictures from pro-Government demonstrators protesting today in front of the Italian and French Embassies.”
Radio Zamane is saying that in response to the attack on Italian Embassy in Tehran today, Italy will not participate in 22 Bahman events:
http://zamaaneh.com/news/2010/02/post_12157.html
Ange, merci pour le vidéo. It's amazing!
Just found this encouraging clip: http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=107509985932455&ref=mf
And my favourite Nikahang Kowsar makes Khatami say: "sakhtar nashkunid... yaar gele dareh" ;-)
http://www.roozonline.com/persian/cartoon/cartoon-item/article/2010/february/09//-4bc0a2a4ad.html
("Don't break the system, my darling will complain" The cartoon refers to the popular "beshkan, beshkane", which means to snap, but also to break.)
As I am not quite sure if 22 Bahman will be the end of our struggle, we should make plans ahead, i.e. for International Women's Day on 8 March and especially for Nowrooz (21 March).
When winter ends, ices will melt down and Green will rise :-)
Ma bishomarim V
Does anyone know what 's the meaning of " etmame hojat kard" ; it's Raf who "etmame hojat kard" with SL!
http://www.tahavolesabz.com/new_show.php/348
I'm quite pessimistic about Bahman 22. I think you're going to get the same group of committed protesters, numbering in the thousands, but the majority of Tehranis will be sitting at home or playing in shomal (Caspian shore) or Dubai. Sorry if I'm being a downer, but it's the impression I get from talking with various people who have good connections, and the fact that the last week has been very quite. I hope I'm wrong. Really hope I'm wrong!
ange pari,
“etmame hojat kard” = gave him an ultimatum = gave him his final word = no room for arguments or discussions
It is a very strong expression in Persian, usually used in a threatening context.
Ange, it means to issue an ultimatum.
I was just reading the same story on Jaras: http://www.rahesabz.net/story/9868/
beshkan beshkane ...
@Arshama
"beshkan beshkane" hehe.
But its still not clear what words were exhanged, or is it?
Even if we had a miracle on 22 Bahman, I would not believe ! I knew that it was important what Raf has done when I read the comment of somebody saying " I don't believe that he has done this"!!
But they speak all time without any outcome ; we could be disappointed if we were too happy; we have to be careful.
It's ok Bozorg, you're not being a downer - and you're welcome to your own pessimism - I quite simply don't believe you.
Doesn't match from what we are hearing.
After so many deaths and tortures mr Rafsanjani only sheds a tear when it comes to revolutionairies? Is the life of a revolutionary worth more?
the news american lie , die to america , islamiC republic IRAN >>>>>>>22 bahman Zende Bad
iran dOnt green . hehe