Source: The White House Blog

March 20, 2010

In this video, President Obama sends an important message to those celebrating the Persian holiday of Nowruz, and in particular to the people and government of Iran. While recognizing our continuing differences with the Iranian government, the President outlines his commitment to a more just and hopeful future for all Iranians. To everyone celebrating Nowruz around the world, may you have a peaceful and prosperous new year.

This video is also available with Arabic subtitles.  Full transcript available in English, Persian (PDF), and Arabic (PDF).

March 20, 2010

U.S. President Barack Obama renewed his administration’s offer of dialogue and diplomacy with Tehran on Saturday, a year after his offer of a new beginning with Iran failed to achieve concrete results.

Obama, who addressed Iranians in a new videotaped appeal to mark the observance of Nowruz — an ancient festival celebrating the arrival of spring — has pledged to pursue aggressive sanctions to prevent Iran from getting a nuclear weapon.

“We are working with the international community to hold the Iranian government accountable because they refuse to live up to their international obligations,” Obama said in the address, according to excerpts released by the White House.

“But our offer of comprehensive diplomatic contacts and dialogue stands,” he said.

Iran, which has refused to halt its uranium enrichment program, denies it is seeking to build a nuclear bomb and says its nuclear program is aimed at generating electricity.

Obama said Washington was committed to a “more hopeful” future for the Iranian people despite U.S. differences with Iran’s government.

During his first year in office, Obama marked Nowruz with a then-unprecedented message offering Iran a “new beginning” of diplomatic engagement with the United States.

But Tehran rebuffed Obama’s gesture and relations soured further when Iranian authorities cracked down on opposition protesters after a disputed election last June, drawing U.S. condemnation.

“Over the course of the last year, it is the Iranian government that has chosen to isolate itself, and to choose a self-defeating focus on the past over a commitment to build a better future,” Obama said.

“Even as we continue to have differences with the Iranian government, we will sustain our commitment to a more hopeful future for the Iranian people,” he said.

FOCUS ON PEOPLE, SANCTIONS

Obama said the United States was increasing opportunities for educational exchanges for Iranian students to study at U.S. colleges and universities as well as working to increase access to Internet technology so Iranians could “communicate with each other, and with the world, without fear of censorship.”

Obama’s openness to engaging diplomatically with Iran if it “unclenched its fist” broke with the previous administration’s policy of seeking to isolate the Islamic Republic, which President George W. Bush branded part of an “axis of evil.”

Obama has not ruled out any options in dealing with Iran, the world’s fifth-largest crude oil exporter, but U.S. officials have repeatedly made clear that their preferred option is diplomacy, given the difficulty of enforcing sanctions and the risk that military action could cause wider conflict.

The United States has agreed with Britain, France and Germany on a draft proposal for a fourth round of sanctions that would place new restrictions on Iranian banks and target the Revolutionary Guard and firms linked to it.

Washington has been struggling to win over China and Russia, both veto-wielding members of the U.N. Security Council and key allies of Iran, to agree to more aggressive sanctions.

In a development on Friday, Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin told visiting U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton that Russian support for a new U.N. sanctions resolution was possible.

The United States, anxious not to undermine growing domestic opposition to President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s government, has emphasized that any sanctions will be aimed at Iran’s government, not its people.

“I want the Iranian people to know what my country stands for. The United States believes in the dignity of every human being, and an international order that bends the arc of history in the direction of justice,” Obama said.

He said the United States wanted “a future where Iranians can exercise their rights, to participate fully in the global economy, and enrich the world through educational and cultural exchanges beyond Iran’s borders. That is the future that we seek. That is what America is for.”

(Editing by Peter Cooney)

Source: The New York Times

March 19, 2010

OKLAHOMA CITY — Ali Farokhmanesh’s father, Mashala, played volleyball for Iran in the 1980 Summer Olympics, but that was not as prestigious as it might seem. For one thing, Mashala played most of his games on concrete courts. And volleyball players need to dive.

Ali Farokhmanesh, right, with Adam Koch, hit a jump shot of nearly 30 feet to send Northern Iowa past U.N.L.V. on Thursday. Sue Ogrocki/Associated Press

“He taught me about work ethic,” said Ali, who has become a nationally known senior guard for the Northern Iowa basketball team overnight.

Farokhmanesh swished in a jump shot of nearly 30 feet with 4.9 seconds left to lift the Panthers to a 69-66 victory Thursday over Nevada-Las Vegas in the opening round of the N.C.A.A. tournament. U.N.I. (29-4), the No. 9 seed in the Midwest, will play top-seeded Kansas (33-2) on Saturday.

Although U.N.I., in Cedar Falls, is making its fifth tournament appearance in seven years, the Panthers are generally seen as big underdogs — a potential Cinderella. During a news conference Friday, U.N.I. players were asked how many of them would start at Kansas.

“I don’t know the answer to that one,” Adam Koch, a senior forward, said.

The players feel as if they have earned the right to play the Jayhawks. The Panthers, most of whom come from the upper Midwest, work hard and get along. Farokhmanesh, who averages 9 points a game, is one of the main reasons for their success, and for a reason.

He has had to make a name for himself. When he played at West High School in Iowa City, the public-address announcers flubbed the pronunciation of his last name (fuh-ROAK-muh-NESH) so many times that they referred to him simply as Ali when he made a basket.

Northern Iowa wanted him then, but Farokhmanesh had to go to Kirkwood Community College in Cedar Rapids to improve his grades. Ben Jacobson, who had just become the U.N.I. head coach after serving as an assistant, kept after Farokhmanesh.

“He’s carried himself with a level of confidence that has just helped this program,” Jacobson said Friday.

Farokhmanesh grew up on the West Coast before his family moved to Iowa when he was a teenager because his mother was a native. Farokhmanesh tried playing volleyball, but he moved to basketball because most Iowa boys play the sport.

“It’s something he doesn’t really talk about,” Koch said of Farokhmanesh’s athletic background, “but to have one of your parents be in the Olympics, that’s pretty big-time. I guess we’re just fortunate he’s playing basketball.”

His parents have struggled at times; Farokhmanesh says his father has told him stories about how he used to fill up on 49-cent McDonald’s cheeseburgers. His father’s decision to leave Iran was abrupt and not without its drawbacks.

Ali says he has never seen his father’s grandparents or his aunts and uncles in Iran.

His father has taught him only rudimentary Farsi — “not enough to keep a conversation going,” he said — because he did not want to appear to be keeping secrets from Ali’s mother.

“I’d like to go back there at some point,” Ali said.

Because of the political turbulence in Iran, he knows that the chance to visit might not come for a while. But the values he learned from his father, and, by extension, his family have helped him become a better basketball player. He says he shoots 600 to 700 jump shots a day.

“He’s one of the hardest workers I’ve ever met,” said Jordan Eglseder, U.N.I.’s 7-foot, 280-pound center. “The shots he makes are unbelievable. Someone could be right in front of his face, and it wouldn’t faze him at all.”

Farokhmanesh knows Kansas will be a formidable opponent. U.N.I. has made it this far by playing tight defense, and the Jayhawks run the floor as if they are being timed. If he can make some long-distance shots, Northern Iowa probably has a better chance.

“When you’re a small program like this, you want to get your name out there,” he said.

Northern Iowa does not carry the players’ last names on the backs of their purple jerseys. Farokhmanesh says that is fitting, because it has been a team effort. He was surrounded by television cameras in the locker room Friday, but he could see over the bright lights.

“Look over there,” he said, pointing to about a dozen of his teammates watching him. “They’re all laughing at me.”

March 18, 2010

Ali Kanturi says he was tortured and beaten into making a confession

Student activist Ali Kanturi has jumped bail and fled Iran after a two-year struggle against his country’s legal system.

Last month he learned that he had been sentenced to 15 years in jail after being found guilty of abduction and extortion. His lawyer describes the charges as “astonishing” and Kanturi says he is innocent.

He had already been given a 32-month jail term for the lesser charge of acting against national security. The BBC’s Persian language service caught up with Kanturi the day after he reached the city of Van, in eastern Turkey.

When my lawyer told me I’d been sentenced to 15 years in jail, my head began to swim. Then my family rang saying the order to carry out the other court decision [the 32-month term] had also arrived.

So, it suddenly became clear they were going to imprison me for both sentences. I realised I should leave. With the charges they’d brought against me, I had no other option.

I fled across the border to Turkey.

I can’t tell you all the details of my escape, but what I can say is that a man whose number I’d been given met me in Urmia, an Iranian city near the Turkish border.

He took charge of me and four others whose language I didn’t understand. Apparently they were Bangladeshis.

We approached the border and stayed in a border village for three days. Then we crossed over and spent three more days on the Turkish side of the border.

We spent the week in very difficult conditions in rough, mountainous terrain. Then, I came here to the city of Van in eastern Turkey.

Arrest and beatings

It all started two years ago. I think I was first arrested on 12 January 2008. They took me to Chubindar prison in Qazvin province [west of Tehran] and from there to a detention centre.

It was like I’d been taken to the end of the world. I was charged with acting against national security.

In reality, I had been involved with a student group campaigning for social and civil rights.

I had also started a non-governmental organisation in Qazvin to campaign against drug addiction.

After a few days in the detention centre, the situation got even worse.

They made further allegations against me that I’m too ashamed to mention, accompanied by a range of medieval tortures: beatings and confining me in a tiny cell.

They put me under such pressure that I finally signed a confession. That was the worst part of it.

Finally I was sentenced to 15 years in prison for alleged abduction and extortion, separate to the 32 months for my supposed actions against the state.

I have managed to escape with my life. I’ve only just got to Turkey, so I have no specific plans for the future.

The most important thing for me is to stay safe. I think I will introduce myself to the legal authorities to find out what I should do next.

But in view of the problems I’ve heard from other people, who have received unwelcome calls from Iran, I don’t feel very safe even here.

March 17, 2010

It has been decades that Iran and the Iranian people have been surrounded by bitter stories of human rights violations. Different governments from kings to sheiks have egotistically believed that ignoring the basic and self-evident rights of individuals can prolong their reigns. However, history has proven that continuous acts of atrocities and injustices are inevitably brought to light through the struggle and perseverance of freedom seekers.

It has been more than thirty years that human rights has been under the assault of the ruling theocracy, and the abuses have intensified in recent months, especially against human rights activists.  The Committee of Human Rights Reporters (CHRR) has received its share of terror, torture, arrests, and false charges.

Exaggerated claims that human rights activists are connected to foreign or political organizations have been repeatedly disseminated by Tehran’s prosecutor, domestic and military media, intelligence interrogators, and internet bandits. No plausible or credible evidence has been introduced to back their accusations of blatant lies.

By using so-called experts, the Ministry of Intelligence has begun to cover up the extent of human rights violations. In actuality, the baseless allegations are aimed to promote groups that otherwise have no influence in public opinion.

The Committee of Human Rights Reporters has indicated in their mission statement, in interviews, and in their official announcements that their activities are limited to human rights issues, and they are proud of their work.

The transparent work of CHRR is evidence that the committee has not been influenced by political and ideological opinions of its members or political groups and organizations. The position of the committee is the defense of the rights of all people, regardless of their political or religious opinions. The Human Rights Charter and its protocols and resolutions are the basis for the committee’s work.

The circus-like atmosphere of the official media has aimed at corrupting the truth. The official government media distorts the truth to such an extent that it is not only in contradiction with humane and social norms, but it is also in contradiction with the laws that are used to present the evidence. A (portion of) the media’s earnings comes from the taxes provided by the people.

The government is responsible for a clear assault on the privacy of individuals, condemning individuals without due process, abusing their authority to spread unfounded claims about individuals, unethical behaviour, and violating the current Islamic Republic of Iran’s laws. It is well known that it is the intelligence officers who have kept human rights activists in prisons for many months while spreading unfounded accusations against them. The media assault is an indication of the increasing pressures on activists to participate in show trials so unjust and cruel sentences can be issued to them.

The Committee of Human Rights Reporters emphasizes that it will continue its activities of reporting human rights conditions on both the national and international levels through collaborations with independent and credible international human rights organizations.

CHRR is deeply concerned about the extended illegal detention of its members Shiva Nazar Ahari, Koohyar Goodarzi, and Navid Khanjani. CHRR condemns the new wave of arrests of human rights activists and underlines the necessity of the unconditional and urgent release of all detained human rights activists.

Translation source: Lissnup

Below: A video by Iranian animator and painter Soheil Tavakoli: TULIPS. He has dedicated the video to the Mournful Mothers.

March 19, 2010

According to the Kaleme website,  journalist Bahman Ahmadi Amouee who was arrested on June 20, 2010, has been temporarily released from prison on a heavy bail of approximately $500,000 USD.

The appeals court has sentenced Amouee to five years in prison.

Amouee’s wife journalist Jila Baniyaghoob was arrested at the same time as her husband, but was released two months later.

A number of political prisoners arrested post-election have been released in the days leading up to the Iranian New Year (Norooz, which begins on March 20, 2010).

March 19, 2010

Committee of Human Rights Reporters - Dorsa Sobhani’s family is prohibited from visiting their detained daughter in the days leading to Norooz, the Persian New Year.

Dorsa’s lawyer’s visit to the judiciary has proven ineffective, as authorities have prohibited visitation even to her lawyer.

In the previous days, Dorsa’s family have written several letters to the Tehran Prosecutor, the Article 90 Commission, and the Judiciary Commission of National Security, requesting much more investigation into Dorsa’s case.

It is reported that authorities at the Revolutionary Court have refrained from redirecting the inquiries to the head of the judiciary, and have insisted that the efforts of Dorsa’s family are ineffective.

The reasons behind Dorsa’s arrest are still unknown.

Dorsa Sobhani, the 20 year old member of the One Million Signatures Campaign and activist for educational rights was arrested on March 8, 2010 during an assault on her home by 12 security agents. On the evening of March 2nd her father’s house was raided and her personal belongings were confiscated.

March 2, 2010 marks a day of widespread assaults and arrests for a large number of civil and human rights activists in various cities across Iran.

Translation by: Xan I.

March 19, 2010

Lest we rest, for our inaction shall mark our annihilation

Visiting the graves of loved ones on the last Thursday of the [Iranian] year is considered by us as a national and religious responsibility, and it demonstrates our closeness to those we have lost.

I regret that I am not in Tehran to perform this duty.

Our dear slain children are not next to us on the [Iranian] New Year’s eve, but their memories shall live forever.

I hope that those prisoners whose empty place is felt strongly by their families are released and returned to the arms of their loved ones.

As a mother with an aching heart, I take refuge in God’s grace. What crime did our children commit that they should be subject to such injustice?

Our youth only demanded to have the same rights every human being is entitled to.

Once again, as a mother, I wish peace, freedom, joy, and health upon everyone. My son wanted the same thing, but he was….

Parvin Fahimi
Sohrab’s mother
Thursday, March 18, 2010

Student activist Sohrab Arabi, 19, was killed at Evin prison due to severe torture. His death was announced to his mother on July 11, after 26 days of frustration. He became one of the symbols of the Green Movement. Sohrab was detained on June 15 during 2009 presidential election unrest.

Pastor Vahik Abrahamian, an Armenian Christian residing in Tehran, Iran, who was visiting a friend, upon his return to his home was arrested in Tehran by plainclothes security officers. The manner in which he was arrested and the prolonged detention in Evin notorious prison, has created grave concern amongst the Iranian Christian community, particularly with family and friends.”

As per reports by FCNN correspondents and sources within the country, on Saturday 20th February 2010 (2 Esfand 1388) plainclothes security officers arrested 44 years old ‘Vahik Abrahamian’ , who is an Armenian Christian leader, as he was departing a friend’s house who was visiting Iran from Europe.

The manner in which Pastor Abrahamian was arrested is very unsettling and indeed ambiguous. As per received reports, 3 plainclothes security agents who were in a green Peugeot vehicle, swarmed upon Mr. & Mrs. Abrahamian as they were departing their friends house.

What is quite uncommon in any similar incident, one of the agents was filming the whole episode with a handheld camera. The agents showed an arrests warrant with permission to ’shoot to kill’. After searching their vehicle and seizing all personal belongings, they set Mrs. Abarahmian free and took Pastor Vahik to Evin prison.

As per FCNN reports, wife and parents and extended family and friends of this Armenian Christian leader, are extremely concerned for the well being of the prisoner and are completely in state of shock. Mrs. Abrahamian has been unwilling or afraid to discuss the matter with anyone.

All Pastor Vahik’s family and friends vouch for his meek, humble and Godly character. All are unanimous that he was not only God fearing and law abiding citizen but was also very compassionate and sensitive particularly to the drug addicts and reached out to serve them. All are totally convinced that his character is beyond reproach and are hoping that this grave misunderstanding by the authorities will clear and he will be set free.

It’s noteworthy that Pastor Abrahamian had dual Dutch and Iranian citizenship, yet chose to live, work and serve in his native country Iran, staying close to aging mother and family.

As per obtained reports, there are many unanswered questions with regards to the circumstances leading to his arrest which is normally conducted in detaining known terrorists or political activists. The authorities have neither commented why this extraordinary measures were taken and nor why is he being held for such lengthy period. It’s also unclear who is holding this law abiding ordinary citizen and which authority has ordered his arrest! It seems that we have a long wait to hear from Islamic republic Juridical and legal authorities about reason of his arrest.

The received reports indicate that after elapse of over a month from his arrest, there is complete silence by Iranian Legal and juridical authorities and so far he has been denied appointment of a lawyer or visits by next of keen. Mother, Wife, brother and extended family are extremely concerned for his well being and are grief stricken with no clear and promising news.

At this time we would like to beseech all Christian community in Iran and overseas to fast and pray for his release and also pray for other Christians arrested in the last days and weeks in various cities in Iran. May God in His grace intervene in this situation and let’s hope that he will unite with his family bringing great joy and relief in the festive days of the Nowruz’ spring in Iran