Sunday
May022010
Iran Eyewitness: "The Movement Is Still Strong and Vibrant"
Sunday, May 2, 2010 at 7:30 
The following was posted yesterday on the discussion board at Anonymous Iran by a regular contributor. I do not know the contributor personally, but an EA source who does assures us of his/her reliability:Greeting Friends:
Its been a long 40 days since I posted on this great forum. You all know where I have been and I will try to give you all as much information as I can about my trip to IRAN after 25 years of absence.
First, I would like to thank you all for your heart warm prayers and compassion you posted here when I was detained in Iran. I read most of them and they made me cry and happy at the same time. Thanks from bottom of my heart.
Iran Analysis: The Scattering of Protest is Still Protest
The Latest from Iran (2 May): Persistence
When our plane landed in Tehran it was about 5 or 6 AM and to be honest I was nervous, excited and anxious all at the same time. I knew lot of people were waiting for me on the other side and I wanted to get there as fast as I could. But as soon as I reached the passport counter, and after they looked at my passport I was detained by 3 revolutionary guards along with 4 other passengers that I could see. They took me to a room and I was there for about 6 hours by myself and then they took me to another room for questioning.
There were 3 people with plain clothes and one of them began asking me questions. He wanted to know what I have been doing since the faked election and how involved I am with Green Movement and what's my plan when I get back to US. I told them "I am an American citizen and I love my country which I was born in and I am here to visit my family and friends and no matter what all of you guys do to me I have nothing to say today or in the future."
They confiscated my laptop, my cell phone and my camera and they could not find anything at all and I could tell they were all pissed. By the way, I never got them back after I left and they also took my passport when I was detained . I basically told them to fuck yourself and I am ready for any consequences. They called me "dirty American" everyday.
I was by myself for 2 days and on the 3rd day they took me to another room where I met the other 4 people, all Iranian born with dual citizenship. One from the Netherlands, one from Bangaladesh, one from Australia and one from Germany. Then they brought us some food and fresh water after 2 days.
I got to know those people but we could not talk about anything political at all because there were 4 guards in the room at all times. After questioning all of us many more times, we were let go on the 6th day. They told me I have only 30 days visa and have to leave my own country by then. So I called home and my family came to pick me up about 3 AM.
It was a happy time when I went home and it was nice to see everyone after 25 years. But I was very tierd and drained out.
The next day about 6 Am I decided to go to Beheshte-Zahra (Tehran Cemetery) to pay my respects to NEDA and many other compatriots who lost their lives for the freedom and democracy of Iran. It was a day that I never forget. Neda's grave was covered with beautiful spring time flowers, so much so that you could not see the grave stone. So many people would stop by, pray, cry, put some flowers ther and leave. you could not see a dry eye there. The death of Neda impacted my life tremendously and I was powerless while I was there and looking at those beautiful pictures of her by her graveside. I was there for about 4 hours and talk to lots of people and every single of them would curse Khamenei and Ahmadinejad before they left.
About 2 days later there was a Hunger Strike in front of Evin Prison by the families of prisoners and I joined them as well. It was 72 hours strike and so many people showed up that the Police just left us alone and didn't ask us to leave. In those 3 days I learned alot about the people, the regime, and what's really going on in the country.
Everyone knows someone else who has been arrested or turtured or still languishes in jail. Clearly, the economic and political crises are taking a toll on everyone. Tehran was empty during Norouz (Persian New Year). Most everyone had left town for vacation or visit family . But you know, the protests continue. The movement is still strong and vibrant, particularly given the brutality of the regime and its readiness to make good on its threats of violence. Green Movement is not ready to give up the fight just yet.
I visited Shiraz, a beautiful city south of Tehran a week later and it was awesome to see people having fun for at least a few days during these festive holidays. On my 3rd day, there was a demonstration in front of Shiraz University against the regime for jailing some of their students so I joined them and by the end of the day, I was detained again along with most of those students. This time they let me go after 3 days and they warned me not to do it again while I am still FREE. Oh well.....I told them again where to put it.
Today, Tehran is a changed city, with lots of sophistication, a communitas mutually dependent, tolerant form of citizen-activism that is fully conscious of its interests and resistant of tyranny, self-delusion. Meanwhile, Khamenei's dictatorial regime is in near disarray, as each branch of government blames the others for its failure. Its international problems are multiplying and there is no hope in sight. The future blongs to Green Movement.
Tehran also is an expensive town these days and even middle class families have a hard time to make ends meet. The everyday necessities are hard to find. Beef is $12 a Kilograms, chicken is $15 Kilograms. Egg are about $1 each and if you are lucky, you get to buy 6 of them. If you are very rich and wealthy in Iran, you can find anything need very easily. No body I talked to like Khamenei or Ahmadinejad. They talk about Mousavi but they don't think his is their savior. They all want the whole government to change. They don't want an Islamic regime any more. They are aiming for Republic of Iran in near future.
As the plane took off from Teharn Airport, I felt sad that I was forced to leave the country I love so much. I felt my compatriot's heart in my chest. My heart is still very heavy and my tears are still rolling. As Iranians mourn the passing of those who have fallen and reflect on the difficult experiences of the last few months, they should not for one moment lose sight of what has been achieved....I am so proud of them as an Iranian. And we will fight till victory is reached.
We will stop these atrocities, we will get back our dignity, honor, freedom and liberty back from the Islamic, Rapist, Murderer, Criminal Regime. I pray for every single woman and man in Iran everyday. May God bless them with his glory. Amen.
Reader Comments (28)
Thank you so much, Iraniam, for your braveness and your encouraging report!
I am convinced that our tears turn into laughter...
Azadi, edalat - in ast shoare mellat
ma bishomarim V V V
Arshama
People know why reports such as these show only a small side of the events, right? Do you even GET that once you are in a certain circle, you think your whole perspective is the world's perspective? Can you guys understand why the person says "No body I talked to like Khamenei or Ahmadinejad."?
Mousavi was just an excuse, people are fed up with the IRI, they want complete change.
The end is near for them.
VICTORY AND PEACE COMINMG TO IRAN SOON.
Ali,
I understand your point about political attitudes in Tehran in general and Iraniam's circle of like-minded contacts in particular, something we should be careful not to automatically extend to the entire country. But people of all social classes everywhere have been extremely dissatisfied with the regime for a long time. In May 2008 while taking a sunset walk along the Caspian to the north of Bandar-Anzali, my husband and I ran into 2 middle-aged fishermen having a smoke before going out to fish. After the usual warm greetings and where are you from exchange, they seemed very eager to continue communicating with us even though they only spoke a few words of English. After a minute, one of them, completely unsolicited, wanted to us to know something without a shadow of a doubt. He pulled a 20,000 rial note out of his wallet (with a picture of Khomeini on it), threw it to the ground, stamped on it with his foot, spat at it and said: "Bad man! Bad man!". His companion made gestures of agreement. We were amazed at their candor with complete strangers - but that was still towards the beginning of our month-long trip, and we were to hear much more criticism of past and present holy cows in the days that followed.
to Ali
Terms and definitions – Ali`s deeply failed attempts to understand the meaning of a“certain circle”. You wrote: „Do you even GET that once you are in a certain circle……………..”
Just some examples – I leave it up to you to decide what a “certain circle” means.
1. Iranians so called “President” tried to visit a university (1 days ago)
“Jaras has reported a heavy security presence inside university campus. The forces reportedly prevented any of the students from entering the auditorium where the speech was taking place, unless the students were Basij members”.
Painful – ore not? And who is - the “certain circle” – the mass protests of the students or the so called “President” with his Basij members looked up in a special room?
2. Now we have 3 cyber – basij on EA – its rezvan, samuel and you – called “Ali the scientific”. Painful – ore not? Who is the “certain circle”- you and your the cyber – basij colleges or the thousands of freedom and peace loving people reading and commenting EA articles?
3. You and your cyber – basij colleges have lost so many words on EA – but there was no (Repeat: not one!) statement about human rights. Painful – ore not? And - my Dear friend “Ali the scientific”: Who is the “certain circle” – you 3 cyber – basij or the thousands who wants to discuss matters of human rights?
I `am quiet sure – even you don’t want to talk about human rights and “certain circles” Always hopefully waiting for your answers – but please - answers which deserve acknowledgment.
I remember in the 8 years of Bush, almost every American I met, would without me even asking or it even being the topic of discussion, would immediately point out how much he hated Bush.
So you see what I mean.
You just proved our point and refuted your own.
Follow your own advice, M. Ali. Leave your cocoon and breathe the fresh air for a change. Your olfactory is filled with rosewater laced with sweat. You are spending too much time with people who man the IR spy agency.
There is life after IR. Become a member before application for membership runs out.
Except Bush was democratically elected twice...
No, read above.
Sorry, Megan, I'm not a Membership kinda guy.
[...] Augenzeugenbericht aus Teheran: Die Zukunft gehört der Grünen Bewegung [...]
"Democratically elected"...ahem.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_presidential_election_in_Florida%2C_2000" rel="nofollow">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_pres...
I'm sure Bush liked to think he got 63% of the vote too.
Ali,
Actually I reacted too quickly because I was about to log off :-).
No, you don't see what I mean if you say Americans spontaneously coming up to you, a visitor in their country, to complain about one term-limited political leader, is the same as Iranians spontaneously coming up to me, a visitor in their country, to complain about a 30-year old system of theocratic rule and strict social controls first established and imposed by the man whose face they were stamping and spitting on..
Hi DC 16,
RE "You just proved our point and refuted your own"
I had no idea this was a team debate :-)
But if you're still receiving notifications from this thread, have a look at my more considered reply to Ali to see if it checks out on the logic end (all my degrees are in language and literature!)
Except, Catherine, the ones who don't have a problem will not necessarily come up to you and tell you that they have no problem with the government. Its the people who are disastisfied that want to show the foreigners that they don't like them. Similiar to the people I met, whether in my country or other countries, who told me about Bush. I doubt somehow who liked Bush would come up to me and say, "By the way, I like Bush and voted for him".
It was for these reasons that I would boast to my middle eastern friends that I was sure that Bush would lose and trampled in the second election, because almost all Americans I knew, offline & online, were extremely anti-Bush. Since then, I have tried to be much more careful...
Ali,
You just replied to yourself (see above) and perhaps that's why I couldn't see a reply button next to your last post.
What you say about our ability as foreigners to learn about the popularity of political leaders or systems of government obviously depends on the country and the nature of conversations you get into with people. I also heard from Iranians who expressed their support for the regime a/o Ahmadinejad a/o particular policies of the government in the course of general conversation. As you know, Iranians of all stripes love to show interest in and hospitality towards visitors, and everyone LOVES to talk :-), So I heard the opinions of all kinds of people all throughout the country, based on which I wrote above "people of all social classes everywhere have been extremely dissatisfied with the regime for a long time".
I think after a few replies under each other, the reply button disappears!
Hope you don't mind be reposting the same comment from another thread, but this explains it I think:
I suspect this might actually be because I've set a limit on thread comments (ie the number of times you can reply to a reply). It's not ideal but if it's unlimited you end up with comments that look
l
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as they try to squeeze into ever smaller widths.
My current plans for the new site use a bit more space overall, and a lot more space for the main post/ comments column, so hopefully we'll be able to allow threaded comments to go on for a bit longer before this happens.
Test and announcement:
It was nessecary for obvious reasons to change my username :
My old name was gunni - it wasn`t accept by Disqus.
so I was lucky - my new name is Gunniy.
Gunni with Y,
Welcome back to EA :-)
[...] Iran Eyewitness: “The Movement Is Still Strong and Vibrant … [...]
M. Ali,
I agree with your stance. I would only mention that the Bush administration was eventually voted out. The republicans went to war on a lie and paid the price. In Iran with the SL that is not possible. That is the big difference between the US and Iran. We have a choice and can act on it. It's far from perfect but the past 200 years has shown it does get the job done at the end of the day. Regardless the biggest point is the US government serves the people while in Iran the people are largely relegated to serving the system.
Thx
Bill
That's debatable....especially his first term with the voting irregularities in his brother's state.