Tuesday
Nov102009
The Latest from Iran (10 November): Uncertainty and Propaganda
Tuesday, November 10, 2009 at 17:42
NEW Iran: The Mousavi Interview with Jamaran (9 November)
NEW Latest Iran Video: Khaje Nasir University Hunger Strike (10 November)
NEW Iran: The Neda Agha Soltan Scholarship at Oxford University
Iran: An Eyewitness on 13 Aban “Protest An Inseparable Part of People’s Lives”
Iran’s Nuclear Programme: Washington’s Unhelpful Misperceptions
Latest Iran Video: More from 13 Aban & from Today (8-9 November)
The Latest from Iran (9 November): Assessing the Government
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1920 GMT: We have posted, in a separate entry, the English translation of Mir Hossein Mousavi's interview with the Jamaran website.
1845 GMT: Mohammad Saleh Jokar, a senior official in the Student Basij organization, has announced that 6,000 Basij units will be created in elementary schools, seeking to promote Basij and revolutionary ideals among pupils from a young age. Jokar added that about 4.5 million students at elementary and high schools and 320,000 teachers are members of the Basij force.
1830 GMT: Rooz Online has published an English-language version of Ferehsteh Ghazi's interview with Grand Ayatollah Montazeri. The cleric asserts,
1820 GMT: Labour Activists Jailed. We reported in late October on the threats to detain leaders of the Syndicate of Workers of Haft Tapeh Sugar Cane Company after protests. Four of them --- Fereydoun Nikoufard, Jalil Ahmadi, Ghorban Alipour and Mohammad Haydari --- have now begun prison terms.
1800 GMT: Publish and Be Damned. Tehran's Prosecutor General Abbas Jafari Doulatabadi has warned that he will pursue sites that “publish baseless news”. The statement follows Monday's declaration by Esmail Ahmadi Moghaddam, Iran's commander of security forces, "There is need for greater supervision over the internet....Every time we have entered this scene, the media and individuals who show off as intellectuals attack and we step back.”
1330 GMT: A relatively quiet period, as we try to track down an English translation of the Mousavi statement on Monday to the Khomeini-owned Jamaran website, but as an EA correspondent notes: "This was a master stroke by the Khomeini family, as it places Mousavi under its own tutelage and wards off attempts to arrest him."
Meanwhile, we have video of today's hunger strike at Khaje Nasir University.
1130 GMT: US Tells Ahmadinejad, "We've Got You Covered". US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton may have just given the clearest message that Washington will work with the Iranian President, whatever obstacles he faces, to get an uranium enrichment deal.
Speaking to the US Public Broadcasting Service, Clinton said, "Look, we don't have to trust or love each other to understand that it is in our interest to try to stabilize the world." Then, noting the post-election crisis, she extended a helping hand to Ahmadinejad: "We understand the internal political dynamics, and we've been, I think, patient in helping [Iran] to see that we're serious."
0850 GMT: More on "Neda's Scholarship". The Iranian Embassy in Britain has fiercely criticised the award of a graduate scholarship in the name of Neda Agha Soltan by Queen's College, Oxford University (see separate entry).
Writing to Oxford's chancellor, the embassy expressed surprise at "a politically-motivated move", which involves the university "n a criminal case which is still under investigation by the Iranian police".
The embassy adds that Neda's death was "far from the scene of protests [which] erupted after the June presidential election". Indeed, the Iranian officials hint unsubtly, her slaying was part of a "complicated and planned" scenario.
So, the embassy concludes, "The involvement of the university in Iran's internal affairs, particularly in the country's post-election events of which the British media played a leading role, would lead to the loss of the university's scientific prestige and academic goal. This has nothing to do with the university's position and goals and will not help Iran and Britain improve their relations."
0835 GMT: More Than Meets the Eye on the Nukes? President Obama has told Reuters, ""Although so far we have not seen the kind of positive response we want from Iran, we are as well positioned as we've ever been to align the international community behind that agenda."
On the surface, that is an unexciting, hold-the-line statement. Yet it appears prominently in Iranian state media via Press TV, and it follows the clear signal from the US, via its ambassador to the International Atomic Energy Agency (see yesterday's updates), that Iran has time to negotiate the Vienna uranium enrichment deal.
So are there talks behind talks for a US-Iran agreement? And, if so, by whom with whom?
0735 GMT: EA readers have followed up our news about the petition to commute the death sentence of Ehsan Fattahian, arrested in July 2008 and scheduled for execution tomorrow for "war against God". They point us to his open letter, "I Never Feared Death".
0730 GMT: EA readers point us to a video of a heated debate at a Tehran university between Mostafa Kavakebian, a reformist member of Parliament, and his counterpart Hojatoleslam Hamid Rasaee, about the rule of law in post-election Iran.
0725 GMT: We've posted a separate entry on the announcement of Queen's College, Oxford University, of a graduate scholarship in Philosophy in the memory of Neda Agha Soltan.
0630 GMT: A relative lull in the post-election crisis yesterday. The Government is still caught up in the detailed debate over its economic plans and the two-front confrontation --- at home and abroad --- over its response to the Vienna uranium enrichment deal. President Ahmadinejad is abroad, the Supreme Leader is silent for the moment, and surprisingly little has been heard from the military and security forces.
But only a "relative" lull. After each major gathering since June, there have been quiet phases, and yesterday was far from quiet. Mir Hossein Mousavi followed Mohammad Khatami into the post-13 Aban pages (and, again, note that the interview is being featured by the Khomeini family, which should be treated as an ally of the opposition) with his declaration for unity and warning that the Government could not hide behind the claim of an immutable Constitution, given that it was not living up to that document. Demonstrations are occurring each day somewhere on an Iranian university campus, and word-of-mouth is spreading the message that the mass gathering for 16 Azar (7 December) is less than a month away. And all of this is happening despite much, possibly the majority, of the Green leadership in prison or abroad.
This morning the news from the regime is of more uncertainty and mis-information. Kazem Jalili of Parliament's National Security Commission is pushing the anti-deal line that enrichment must be done inside Iran, using uranium purchased abroad, rather than in a country like Russia. Fars is claiming a private hospital refused to treat injured security forces, only treating a "certain group of people and turn[ing] away all bearded individuals who had a Basiji appearance".
And Khalil Hayat Moghaddam, a member of Parliament's judicial commission, has taken the propaganda that Mir Hossein Mousavi and Mehdi Karroubi have split (recall the false interview with Karroubi's son) to new depths:
NEW Latest Iran Video: Khaje Nasir University Hunger Strike (10 November)
NEW Iran: The Neda Agha Soltan Scholarship at Oxford University
Iran: An Eyewitness on 13 Aban “Protest An Inseparable Part of People’s Lives”
Iran’s Nuclear Programme: Washington’s Unhelpful Misperceptions
Latest Iran Video: More from 13 Aban & from Today (8-9 November)
The Latest from Iran (9 November): Assessing the Government
Receive our latest updates by email or RSS SUBSCRIBE TO OUR FEED
Buy Us A Cup of Coffee? Help Enduring America Expand Its Coverage and Analysis
1920 GMT: We have posted, in a separate entry, the English translation of Mir Hossein Mousavi's interview with the Jamaran website.1845 GMT: Mohammad Saleh Jokar, a senior official in the Student Basij organization, has announced that 6,000 Basij units will be created in elementary schools, seeking to promote Basij and revolutionary ideals among pupils from a young age. Jokar added that about 4.5 million students at elementary and high schools and 320,000 teachers are members of the Basij force.
1830 GMT: Rooz Online has published an English-language version of Ferehsteh Ghazi's interview with Grand Ayatollah Montazeri. The cleric asserts,
The confessions that have been extracted in prison have absolutely no religious or legal value and cannot be the basis for the death or prison punishments that have been issued. Those who are responsible and their accomplices for such confessions, are religiously and legally guilty and criminal.
Whenever the execution of a religious punishment leads to negative consequences on religion or society, the judge can and must stop the execution. (see also "Ayatollah Montazeri’s Interview on Eve of 13 Aban")
1820 GMT: Labour Activists Jailed. We reported in late October on the threats to detain leaders of the Syndicate of Workers of Haft Tapeh Sugar Cane Company after protests. Four of them --- Fereydoun Nikoufard, Jalil Ahmadi, Ghorban Alipour and Mohammad Haydari --- have now begun prison terms.
1800 GMT: Publish and Be Damned. Tehran's Prosecutor General Abbas Jafari Doulatabadi has warned that he will pursue sites that “publish baseless news”. The statement follows Monday's declaration by Esmail Ahmadi Moghaddam, Iran's commander of security forces, "There is need for greater supervision over the internet....Every time we have entered this scene, the media and individuals who show off as intellectuals attack and we step back.”
1330 GMT: A relatively quiet period, as we try to track down an English translation of the Mousavi statement on Monday to the Khomeini-owned Jamaran website, but as an EA correspondent notes: "This was a master stroke by the Khomeini family, as it places Mousavi under its own tutelage and wards off attempts to arrest him."
Meanwhile, we have video of today's hunger strike at Khaje Nasir University.
1130 GMT: US Tells Ahmadinejad, "We've Got You Covered". US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton may have just given the clearest message that Washington will work with the Iranian President, whatever obstacles he faces, to get an uranium enrichment deal.
Speaking to the US Public Broadcasting Service, Clinton said, "Look, we don't have to trust or love each other to understand that it is in our interest to try to stabilize the world." Then, noting the post-election crisis, she extended a helping hand to Ahmadinejad: "We understand the internal political dynamics, and we've been, I think, patient in helping [Iran] to see that we're serious."
0850 GMT: More on "Neda's Scholarship". The Iranian Embassy in Britain has fiercely criticised the award of a graduate scholarship in the name of Neda Agha Soltan by Queen's College, Oxford University (see separate entry).
Writing to Oxford's chancellor, the embassy expressed surprise at "a politically-motivated move", which involves the university "n a criminal case which is still under investigation by the Iranian police".
The embassy adds that Neda's death was "far from the scene of protests [which] erupted after the June presidential election". Indeed, the Iranian officials hint unsubtly, her slaying was part of a "complicated and planned" scenario.
So, the embassy concludes, "The involvement of the university in Iran's internal affairs, particularly in the country's post-election events of which the British media played a leading role, would lead to the loss of the university's scientific prestige and academic goal. This has nothing to do with the university's position and goals and will not help Iran and Britain improve their relations."
0835 GMT: More Than Meets the Eye on the Nukes? President Obama has told Reuters, ""Although so far we have not seen the kind of positive response we want from Iran, we are as well positioned as we've ever been to align the international community behind that agenda."
On the surface, that is an unexciting, hold-the-line statement. Yet it appears prominently in Iranian state media via Press TV, and it follows the clear signal from the US, via its ambassador to the International Atomic Energy Agency (see yesterday's updates), that Iran has time to negotiate the Vienna uranium enrichment deal.
So are there talks behind talks for a US-Iran agreement? And, if so, by whom with whom?
0735 GMT: EA readers have followed up our news about the petition to commute the death sentence of Ehsan Fattahian, arrested in July 2008 and scheduled for execution tomorrow for "war against God". They point us to his open letter, "I Never Feared Death".
0730 GMT: EA readers point us to a video of a heated debate at a Tehran university between Mostafa Kavakebian, a reformist member of Parliament, and his counterpart Hojatoleslam Hamid Rasaee, about the rule of law in post-election Iran.
0725 GMT: We've posted a separate entry on the announcement of Queen's College, Oxford University, of a graduate scholarship in Philosophy in the memory of Neda Agha Soltan.
0630 GMT: A relative lull in the post-election crisis yesterday. The Government is still caught up in the detailed debate over its economic plans and the two-front confrontation --- at home and abroad --- over its response to the Vienna uranium enrichment deal. President Ahmadinejad is abroad, the Supreme Leader is silent for the moment, and surprisingly little has been heard from the military and security forces.
But only a "relative" lull. After each major gathering since June, there have been quiet phases, and yesterday was far from quiet. Mir Hossein Mousavi followed Mohammad Khatami into the post-13 Aban pages (and, again, note that the interview is being featured by the Khomeini family, which should be treated as an ally of the opposition) with his declaration for unity and warning that the Government could not hide behind the claim of an immutable Constitution, given that it was not living up to that document. Demonstrations are occurring each day somewhere on an Iranian university campus, and word-of-mouth is spreading the message that the mass gathering for 16 Azar (7 December) is less than a month away. And all of this is happening despite much, possibly the majority, of the Green leadership in prison or abroad.
This morning the news from the regime is of more uncertainty and mis-information. Kazem Jalili of Parliament's National Security Commission is pushing the anti-deal line that enrichment must be done inside Iran, using uranium purchased abroad, rather than in a country like Russia. Fars is claiming a private hospital refused to treat injured security forces, only treating a "certain group of people and turn[ing] away all bearded individuals who had a Basiji appearance".
And Khalil Hayat Moghaddam, a member of Parliament's judicial commission, has taken the propaganda that Mir Hossein Mousavi and Mehdi Karroubi have split (recall the false interview with Karroubi's son) to new depths:
These two have forgotten that they made a name for themselves under the banner of the Revolution, Leadership and martyrs...,as the tears of the mothers of the martyrs and the blood of the martyrs are what protect the establishment and the Leadership [from harm]. Mousavi and Karroubi's story brings to mind the tale of those people who were fighting over imaginary spoils of war; they have forgotten that they will not be able to inflict harm on the establishment and the Revolution. The harsh stance adopted by Hassan Karroubi against Mir Mousavi Mousavi clearly shows that disagreements are increasing between the supporters of the two political figures, and it will come to spelling each other's end. (English summary at Tehran Bureau)
tagged 13 Aban, Abbas Jafari Doulatabadi, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Ayatollah Hossein-Ali Montazeri, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, Ehsan Fattahian, Esmail Ahmadi-Moghaddam, Fars News, Ferehsteh Ghazi, Haft Tapeh Sugar Cane Company, Hamid Rasaee, Hillary Clinton, Jamaran, Khalil Hayat Moghaddam, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Mehdi Karroubi, Mir Hossein Mousavi, Mostafa Kavakebian, Neda Agha Soltan, Public Broadcasting Service, Queen's College (Oxford), Rooz Online, Tehran Bureau, uranium enrichment in Middle East & Iran
13 Aban, Abbas Jafari Doulatabadi, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Ayatollah Hossein-Ali Montazeri, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, Ehsan Fattahian, Esmail Ahmadi-Moghaddam, Fars News, Ferehsteh Ghazi, Haft Tapeh Sugar Cane Company, Hamid Rasaee, Hillary Clinton, Jamaran, Khalil Hayat Moghaddam, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Mehdi Karroubi, Mir Hossein Mousavi, Mostafa Kavakebian, Neda Agha Soltan, Public Broadcasting Service, Queen's College (Oxford), Rooz Online, Tehran Bureau, uranium enrichment in Middle East & Iran
Reader Comments (36)
The whole notion that the Americans care about "democracy" in the Region is laughable when you consider that America's two closest allies in the Arab world are those two great democratic nations: Wahabbi Saudi Arabia and Mubarak's Egypt. Conversely when a truly recognized free and fair election takes place in the West Bank and Gaza the first thing that the Americans try to do is overturn the Victory of Hamas.
The best news of the day is certaily this: "...a senior official in the Student Basij organization, has announced that 6,000 Basij units will be created in elementary schools, seeking to promote Basij and revolutionary ideals among pupils from a young age."
Expect a lot more stories like this soon. The Basij is being entrusted with leading the coming cultural revolution. Soon perhaps the Basij will reach Imam Khomeini's goal of a 20 million strong army.
Hey Sammy Boy,
what`s your take on the nuclear negotiations, don`t you think Khomeini is turning around in his grave? AN is gonna make a deal with the great Satan. what will be next, he recognizes the sionist state of Israel?, AN, Jafari and SL are sellouts! And do you think Benjamin will order an attack against Iran.
The U.S. government is gravely mistaken if it thinks it is making progress "negotiating" with the IRI. The will have to answer to future Iranians who will demand to know why the U.S. not only did not stand with its own principles of freedom and democracy but kowtowed to a thuggish regime, to a ruthless despot and looked away from torture, rape, and every other abuse of human rights. What is going on. I am confused and very sad. I sincerely do not see what the U.S. thinks it is gaining. Is it personal? Are the simply ignoring the truth or are they really naive to think they have gained something in "negotiating" with the IRI? United the world will bring democracy and freedom to Iran, the dance of appeasement will end in the gutter after everyone has trampled every other foot. What is going on? Do not forget that the majority of Iranians have rights and will demand to know what we are doing with those today. History has always eventually looked down on those who shake the hands of despots and those who abuse the basic human rights of people. Humanity also has a right. We must not give in.
I think Obama has been hitting the bong since he got in the White House. He seems delusional. I mean how the hell can you Negotiate with someone like AN, AN is demented, AN brings out a plate of food for Imam Mahdi when he sits down for dinner, just in case Imam Mahdi decides to pay AN a visit. Even Khomeini warned against superstition.
WIMV,
a question for you, since you`re in Iran and all. How do Iranians feel about a military intervention targeted at the IRGC and the nuke facilites, will they rally around the flag or will they welcome it.
Samual
"The whole notion that the Americans care about “democracy” in the Region is laughable when you consider that America’s two closest allies in the Arab world are those two great democratic nations: Wahabbi Saudi Arabia and Mubarak’s Egypt. Conversely when a truly recognized free and fair election takes place in the West Bank and Gaza the first thing that the Americans try to do is overturn the Victory of Hamas."
Thank you - I have just been waiting for you to bring up this dichotomy.
Those of us who actually live in a truely Democratic country and who recognize just exactly what Democracy is understand that is is not perfect. Winston Churchill had a statement about Democracy, something to the effect that it is not a very good form of Government, but it is the best that is available.
When Hitler rose to power, he did so completely legally (in accordance with the German Constitution of the time) and completely Democratically. The problem with him was that his idealogy was based on violence, coercion, and guns. He used the concept of Democracy for his own evil purposes . The World only realized that later.
Hamas was also elected "Democratically" - but we in the truely Democratic world understand that their "Democracy" is also based upon violence, coersion and guns. We can see through it!
Barry
Barry,
The more important point was the American alliance with Saudi Arabia and Egypt which shows that America does not care at all about democracy either there or in Iran.
And as for the beloved Churchill he certainly did not extend that fondness for democracy to his nation's colonies. The man devoted his entire life to keeping the colonies under the British boot and he was especially fanatical about keeping India.
But I'm sure you'll explain Churchill's actions as being due to "long and complex reasons" relating to British Colonial history. Whether it's the Americans in Korea or now the British you'll always find a way to give them the benefit of the doubt.
Hey Shangool,
Pity you don't understand recent history. Let's see President Khatami unilaterally stopped nuclear enrichment. Now who was the Supreme Leader during the Khatami presidency that allowed this to take place...
Sammy
SL was a big douce-bag then as he is now. See I understand history.
But lemme hear your thoughts... you think Israel is gonna hit Iran?
I hope so
Shangool,
Thank you. I had a good laugh; S boy for the Basiji fellow, and douchebag for SL. Very fitting for Ali Khaannei (no, this is not a typo, he is a pathetic traitor).
I read somewhere the other day that SL stands for sh*** Load. I thought that even was too generous for this senile Khaan (traitor). Is it true that Sh** Load lived on handouts in mosques? I have heard people calling him Ali geda (beggar).
Megan
I think the Mosque thing is true, that`s why he was nicknamed Ali geda, but one has to admire his progress, from being a geda to one of the wealthiest men in Iran. Unless he still goes to Mousques with a hat in his hand.
Please, we have yet another horrible news of systematic rape in prisons and not just after the "elections" but for a long time. Please get this information out. I don't know if this is the way but I hope human rights organizations will get to know these atrocities. My fellow human these are real reports of barbaric acts of the IRI. Please spread the news. This is a ling to a reliable Persian source:
http://hrdai.blogspot.com/2009/11/blog-post_14.html