March 9, 2010

Celebrated Iranian poetess Simin Behbahani

Simin Behbahani was prevented from leaving for France for International Women’s Day ceremonies.

RAHANA – “Paris municipality had invited me for March 8 and I had prepared a text about feminism and a poem about women which I was going to read at the ceremony and return on Wednesday.” Behbahani said.

“After I crossed customs and my passport was stamped, two officials called me, took my passport away, kept me till 5 am and asked questions. I was handed a paper and asked to appear before the Revolutionary Court,” she said.

Simin Behbahani joins scores of Iranian rights activists who have been barred from leaving the country under similar circumstances including Nasrin Sottodeh, Mansoureh Shojaee, Narges Mohammadi, Talat Taghinia, Badrosaday Mofidi and many more.

Iranian authorities impose a travel ban on the country’s most celebrated living poetess to mark International Women’s Day.

Happy Women’s Day, Dear Simin!

The public relations division of former president Mohammad Khatami’s office reports of his meeting with a group from the youth and students association of the Imam’s Line, in commemoration of the beloved prophet [Mohammad]’s birthday (peace be upon him).

Seyyed Mohammad Khatami congratulated the attendees on the birthday of the prophet (PBUH) and the sixth [Shia] leader [Imam], Imam Ja’far Sadegh, and said “In these blessed days, in Unity Week [that is officially dedicated to focusing on the unity between Shia’s and Sunni's in Iran], I am happy to be among you young people who are both concerned about religion and the fate of your country.

I congratulate these [joyous] occasions to the Iranian people and all Muslims around the world and I wish God will give us the privilege to better understand the path of these honorable figures and so that we can follow on it as much as we are capable”.
When the great revolution took place and a government attributed to Islam and the prophet was established, understanding the realities and the capability of acting upon [the measures of Islam] are essential. This is both in order to know our duties and to sustain the developments that have been achieved through the great Islamic Revolution of the Iranian people and ridding them of the problems and diversions that it has had from its course.

Sometimes there are diversions and problems. Particularly when these problems are such that they effect the emotions of other people, it may lead them, to carry out even greater problems and a deepened crisis. If these diversions are not corrected, there may be reactions that can -God-forbid- damage everything.

I think this is a point in time where we should be very alert; there are problems in our society and there have been great diversions, we must be alert and realistic, in reacting to these diversions. [We must] and keep our ultimate goals in mind, that is why it is important to have a clear understanding [of the circumstances.]

Reform is a broad concept, it is flexible and expandable, different people may interpret reform differently and have their own opinions about it; but the reform that we have in mind, as forces inside the Islamic Republic who have fondness for our revolution, is reform in a framework that is derived from the values and guidelines of the revolution, Islam, and the people’s will.

If there are diversions from Islam and Imam Khomeini’s path, it’s our duty to warn and, if possible, take action within the law. It is crucial that we clarify the principles of the Islamic Republic, our beliefs, and the framework of our reformism, and I have done this in my own right [whenever possible].

You, [referring to groups of university students present] are intelligent and responsible youth who strive to have beliefs that are based on religious principles, as well as our national interests and an insight into the times we are living in. You also want your actions to be in service to your people and in line with our society’s interests [what is best for our society], and this is your motivation for gathering together.

You are a civil organization, in our times, an organization is defined by it’s representation of people. Nowadays talking about “people” has become very fashionable, and everybody wants to talk on behalf of the people and present their own opinions as “the people’s” opinion, but in an modern , integrated society that has an identity , civil organizations should represent the people and the diverse groups within the society. It is important that we talk about the people and not say whatever we wish on their behalf. We should also have a better relationship with our youth, particularly on the intellectual level; we should exchange ideas and opinions with them.

It is important that we talk about the people and not say whatever we wish on their behalf. We should also have a better relationship with our youth, particularly on the intellectual level; we should exchange ideas and opinions with them.

Unfortunately, so far, we have been dealing with practical and day-to-day issues and our reactions have been somewhat emotional. Instead, we should reflect on the current situation and act in a thoughtful manner.
We have powerful enemies, the Islamic republic has enemies, Iran has enemies; Iran whose people revolted against the foreign forces who used its soil as a base to expand their influence and power over the region, toppled the poppet regime, and brought in a government they themselves desired.”

Iranian Islamic Revolution and the people, who made it happen, changed Iran from a safe haven for the foreign powers perusing their interests in the region and the world to an influential country in the world with slogans of Independence and Freedom.

The Islamic Republic knocked down the safe haven for the expansionist powers, and escaped their circle of control. It is natural that it would have many enemies. Enemies have tried and will continue to try different tricks to sabotage our government such as the Imposed War*, terrorism, scheming a Coup. This policy has been there before, is here today, and I think will continue to exist in the future. It of course is not to suggest that we should aggravate the situation with belligerent actions. As a thoughtful and tactful nation, we must act wisely and avoid creating situations that out enemies can take advantage of.

The Islamic Republic must act in moderation. The fact that we have enemies should not compel us to act belligerently and says things that contradict Islam and our revolutionary values and attract immense costs to our society.

The security and intelligence forces have done an impressive job in arresting a person who has committed great crimes [referring to Rigi’s arrest a few days ago.] I hope that this arrest would lead to the discovery our hidden problems and eradicate them. Terror and Terrorism is absolutely wrong in any shape or form. A terrorist must be held responsible for his/her actions. This arrest was a great gift to the Iranian nation and all those who whole-heartedly love Iran.

We must be smart dealing with our enemies. Be sure that the enemy doesn’t pity us. If we have problems, we ourselves are going to solve it. We won’t await others’ decision for our situation.

The art in governance is to carefully deflect problems and obstacles while holding on to holding on our positions and protecting our interests. It is easy to create tension but difficult to remove tension. Removing tension requires intellect, wisdom, and courage; the government needs to take steps to remove tension.

This is an external enemy. But we must also remain vigilant towards internal enemies. It is vital to remain conscious about this enemy that drives people away from the government. We love the Islamic republic, what are some of the characteristics, values, and principles of Islamic Republic? Are we all striving to live by these principles? Indeed reform becomes meaningful here. Protecting and loving the Islamic Republic dictates that if there are any problems in it, we should work towards identifying and solving these problems in good will.

As students who follow the path that Imam [Khomeini] lay out you must criticize. Criticism is different from scurrility. Unfortunately today some think that it is. They are not the same. A good criticism is being able to see the good and bad aspects of something and removing the bad sides with the good ones to maintain the overall framework consisting of the achievements, values, the system and the revolution, and of course that is what reforms is all about.

Go and ask those who the old system [of the Shah] resented and who were loyal to Imam. Clear your conscious and ask yourself, did we want what is going on right now in our society, or is there a problem in the picture we see today?

Ask them whether these detainments, slanders, increase in hatred, increase in costs imposed to our nation, and all the other existing methodologies that are currently adopted are what the soldiers and leaders of the revolution hoped for. If our current situation is not what they hoped for, then we must all put our hands together to improve the current situation and return to our old measures.

The revolution offered the ‘Islamic Republic’ and people voted for it. This Islamic Republic has features that it must pay attention to. One of these features is the opinion and consent of people is the base and foundation of this system.

These days everyone knows that every will and institution must be based on consent from the people. As such we take pride in the fact that this consent, as a fundamental feature of governance, is clearly visible in our religion, especially in the methods of governance overtaken by the great prophet and the first Imam of Shia, Imam Ali.

There is a term in Islamic Jurisprudence called “expansion of hand”, which means that if the immaculate does not have the mean to exercise power, he has the right to exercise it. In other words he is entitled to it [right to power], but under what conditions? ‘The expansion of hand’ is not merely having material, military and security power. It must equal the contentment of the people. Imam Ali with all his qualifications would exercise his right to power only if people gave him a mandate. If they did not, he would step aside and would not impose his rule on them. This is while he is the most competent person to rule, according to God and his prophet.

When mending the constitution, Imam [Khomeini] clearly stated that “it is not necessary for the [supreme] leader to be a jurist [or a source of immolation/Marja.] He further added that it will suffice if the leader is a religious expert, who is just, resourceful and with aptitude. A religious expert who has all those features does not have to be a jurist, since he is going to be elected by the ‘Assembly of Experts’ who are in turn elected by the people. As a result, the elected leader has the consent of the people and is approved by them and his rule is legitimate and this is very clear.”

Consent of people is an actual act that plays a crucial rule In the Islamic Republic. If people do not give their consent ‘the expansion of hand’ [to provide a legitimate mean to exercise power] does not exist. If decisions are made without public consent and the will of the civil society is besieged, then we must intervene in order to regain their trust.

If we commit to tasks that not only constrain the public’s consent, but also increase distrust and pessimism and create division in society, then we have ignored the foundations of the Islam in our Islamic republic. Being ethical is one of the most important aspects of Islamic Republic, the absense of which has created problems in the world governance.

In Islam morality is one of the most essential criteria [for a government]. It is important to look into this criterion and see whether the behavior and politics of the system is based on morality. Imam Ali says: “The one who wins by committing a sin, by deviation [from god’s path], and by immorality is not victorious. In fact he is defeated.”

In today’s world all political systems seek to justify themselves ethically. Non-followers cannot therefore be called the enemy and disposed of. This is not what the Islamic Republic sought to bring to this nation. This method is wrong. This is a departure from the methods of Islamic Republic.

In order to prevent these problems, there should be freedom of expression and freedom of speech.
What is the criterion for criticism? Who respects the rules set by Amir-al-Mo’menin [Imam Ali] nowadays: the State Media? other Media? Government supporters? or Government oppositions? Do they measure the truth based on who says what or do they measure people’s words and behavior based on truth?

The [Islamic] system should be a symbol of morality. The authorities interpret Islam continuously in ways that justifies their suppression of innocent citizens of this nation. Is it something that Islam would approve of? Is it something that we expect from an Islamic system? We should criticize these issues and the system should provide the opportunity for such active criticism.

This criticism should be [freely] presented to people and they in turn must decide on the future. That means people’s judgment should be respected. The option [to criticize] should not be taken away from a certain sector [just because they are in opposition.] Meanwhile it so happens that this sector is considerate and sympathetic [toward the Islamic Republic, making the suppression even worse]. If they [the authorities] don’t pay attention to the issues that have caused the crisis and [subsequent] protests, the dissatisfaction and distrust among people will only increase and a larger sector of the population will distance itself from the establishment. This will strengthen the presence of those who are against the foundation [of Islamic republic.]

If on the other hand the voices of the protestors are heard, then we can discuss whether our economic decisions, the current atmosphere [of fear] created due to political intimidation, and our foreign policy have served the nation’s best interests or not. Open dialogue will lead to sounder decisions without which the current crisis will only intensify to create evermore problems.

The acceptable framework for us [, reformists,] is the constitution: we want all the articles of the constitution to be executed fully and properly. Imam [Khomeini], the constitution, and our own reason all point to the same important issue that the ‘criteria is the vote of people.’ This phrase of Imam [Khomeini] means that the elections should be fair and there shouldn’t be concerns left about the way the elections were conducted and their results produced.

We should create an atmosphere where we all think of country’s interest, society’s betterment, and Iran’s honor. A place where we can focus on the real enemies: our internal enemies such as ill will, immorality, and deviation of principles as well as external enemies who want to hurt the country and the establishment.

Today, we must stand together in support of Iran, Islam, our Revolution, our people and their rights. We must ask ourselves fundamental questions, such as how are our people coping given the current political climate? How does it affect their lives? How are our resources being utilized? What is our country’s standing on the world stage?

Everything we have – whether it is our power, our economic, scientific, marketing, military or national security capabilities – have been afforded to us by our people. We are our citizens’ safe keepers and must therefore make sure that these resources are used in their best interests; not against them.

Why does the IRIB, our national broadcasting company, only instil and promote a limited perspective? I believe that many of the current challenges facing our country are a direct result of this mentality, behavior and policy. Why are we deprived of the basic freedoms that are so eloquently stated in our Constitution?

They insult reformist – those who are the face of the Revolution and sympathetic to our cause – without even giving them the ability to defend themselves against these baseless accusations and insults. What would have been right course of action would be for the national media to provide a platform for every [possible] point of view within the framework of the law.

We have always maintained and continue to assert the importance of designing a framework for our government. Of course, this framework must be in accordance with Islam and must revolve around our people and be representative of their votes. A government’s identity, in essence, is that it is derived from the people’s vote and, as such, is responsible to the people it serves. [We need] a structure that, in addition to providing freedom, respect for people’s dignity and justice for all, also abides by God’s standards of ethics and justice.

Our Republic is an Islamic one. This means that our desire is to have spirituality, ethics and justice together, elements that are all missing in this world; a fact that has caused many problems for mankind – [acting] alongside Republicanism and Islamic ideals. If our behavior and our actions have lead to the perception that the people’s vote is unimportant or that [certain] standards have been disrespected, then as guardians of our Republic and our Islamic ideals, we have the right to state that both have been tarnished.

Despite the attacks directed at us, neither we, nor our country’s youth, should cave in when it comes to these issues. We must do everything in our power to make sure that these deviations are corrected and that we return to the Islamic Republic our Revolution was founded on.

Unfortunately, there are a number of radical groups constraining any form of understanding [to be reached] that would lead to a transition of violence to calm, they further hinder the coming together of different factions.

I strongly believe that the current national climate will change for the better and many of the challenges facing our nation will be resolved if the following criteria are met: we must ensure that existing pressures are eliminated; that those who are in prison are freed; that actions [of the judiciary] are based on legal and religious criteria; that our people are provided with basic freedoms as well as their constitutional rights; and, finally, that the martial environment we currently live in is replaced with an unrestricted one, politically-speaking. Most importantly, our people must feel that there is sensitivity towards important issues such as open, free and healthy elections as well as other pertinent matters.

Being a Woman is FORBIDDEN. Cartoon by Baadehbaan

A compilation of information about all the events commemorating March 8th, International Womens Day

* * March 7th Press Release from the women students collective of the School of Social Sciences of the Allameh-Tabatabaie University

On Monday, March 8th, The International Women’s Day we women and girls, residents of Tehran will wear green overcoats and scarves in order to mobilize the biggest referendum.

This is the least dangerous step and referendum.

Monday afternoon from 4 p.m to 9 p.m. by wearing green scarves and overcoats we will peacefully, quietly, without protest and chanting of slogans we will gather at the following shopping centers:

1. Vali Asr Square shopping center
2. Geesha Mall
3. Milad and Shahrak’eh Gharb Golestan Malls
4. Tajreesh Bazaar
5. Salsebeel Avenue
6. Kaaj Square in the Sa’aadatabad area of Tehran
7. Naazeeabad Bazaar
8. Berlin Street and Jomhoori Avenue
9. Vanak Square shopping centers
10. Haft’eh Tir Square shopping centers

Happy March 8th, International Womens Day; protesting gender apartheid laws, fighting for equality.

* * Below: A video by the Iranian Feminist School.

Background song is the Iranian Suffrage Anthem:

Clara Zetkin: We announce that on March 8th we the women will go with flowers in hand to my sisters at Hotel Evin (a derogatory title for Tehran’s infamous Evin prison) with a birthday cake for all ‘green’ women who are in prison. We will cry Allah o Akbar from rooftops.

* * A message by Rahnavard, The Green Lady of Iran, for the International Women’s Day

Source: Zahra Rahnavard Facebook page & Kalameh

Dr. Zahra Rahnavard, Mir Hossein Mousavi’s wife, for the anniversary of The International Women’s Day (March 8th) in a message while condemning the discriminatory laws and the oppression against the Iranian women that these days have unfortunately increased, invited the people as well as the ruling powers in Iran to return to the compassionate and humane values to honour the dignity of the Iranian women.

In this message Dr. Zahra Rahnavard while praising the high stature of Iranian women who throughout the history always with courage and selflessness alongside men sacrificed a lot or the prosperity of their homeland, added that today the leading women of the Green Movement are unjustly in prison only because they demand justice in political, social and cultural affairs of the country.

She added that the women of the Green Movement today are shocked when witnessing the discriminatory laws and behaviours that in different forms are emerging in various matters.

Rahnavard stressed that the Green Movement is the manifestation of the ideals of any noble and justice-seeking human; and the Green Movement honours women because of these same high-valued humane and moral principles and praises their great role throughout the human history as well as the national and Islamic histories.

At the end Zahra Rahnavard hoped that the Green Movement takes major steps in eliminating the discriminatory laws and behaviours against women.

* * Call for Solidarity: Freedom and Gender Equality in Iran

Source: Gender Equality for Iran
February 2010

We (a group of Iranian feminists and women’s rights activists) demand an end to state-led violence and repression, as well as the immediate release of all political detainees in Iran. We invite all women’s rights defenders, activists, organisations, and networks worldwide to demonstrate their solidarity with the Iranian women’s movement and the broader movement for democracy in Iran by organising initiatives under the slogan “freedom and gender equality in Iran” throughout March 2010.

Over the past thirty years, the Iranian women’s movement has been at the forefront of the struggle for freedom and equality in Iran. Gender discrimination intersects with other forms of subordination – whether based on class, ethnicity, political orientation, religion, and so on. Thus, the peaceful resistance of women and men in defence of gender equality in all social spheres – legal, political, cultural, economical, etc. – has profoundly impacted the Iranian movement for democracy. Iranian women have long demanded freedom and gender equality; they have employed both individual and group strategies, initiated various campaigns, and faced insults, threats, arrests and imprisonment in the process. Many of these women are currently in prison.

Over the past eight months, the protest movement that emerged following the disputed presidential elections has been suppressed by mounting violence. Physical and psychological violence – through arrest, torture, rape, extended imprisonment, and even execution – has been exercised against civil and political activists in Iran. As of now, numerous women activists from various movements – women’s, workers, students, civil, and political – are detained and/or have received heavy sentences. The list of detainees grows everyday.

These circumstances, along with a new wave of arrests of women activists, have granted the authorities space enough to expedite legislations of a further gender-discriminatory nature, such as the “Family Support Bill,” which aims to further limit women’s rights in the name of ‘strengthening’ the family. For the past thirty years, Iranian women have been subjected to a range of discriminations justified by the Sharia-derived laws. On the 30th anniversary of the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), to which Iran is not a signatory, the women of Iran are facing increased discrimination. Fifteen years after the Fourth World Conference on Women and the drafting of the Beijing Platform for Action, in which the government of Iran participated, the Iranian government has yet to abide by its international obligations and work towards the elimination of discrimination against women.

During these critical times, the transnational solidarity of feminists and women’s rights activists with their Iranian counterparts is not only limited to the struggles of women; it also supports the broader movement for democracy in Iran. Various civil rights movements in Iran have long been in communication with both the transnational Iranian and the international communities. Global solidarity is crucial to giving voice to their repeated calls for freedom and equality in Iran.

We invite all women’s rights defenders, activists, organisations, and networks worldwide to demonstrate their solidarity with the Iranian women’s movement and the broader movement for democracy in Iran by organising initiatives under the slogan “freedom and gender equality in Iran” throughout March 2010.

Hebe de Bonafini

* * Mothers of Plaza de Mayo of Argentina announce their solidarity with Iran’s Mournful Mothers. Hebe de Bonafini, President of the Mothers of Plaza de Mayo wrote: “Repression of the Iranian government has already killed 57 people and detained more than 4000 opponents.

Iranian mothers gathered for the first time on July 28, 2009 to march in Tehran; on Saturdays, dressed in black they called for the release of all political prisoners and for the prosecution of all those members of the forces of oppression. On the night of February 8, security agents stormed the houses of many of the mothers and arrested nineteen of them. We demand their immediate release, the unconditional release of all political prisoners and the swift prosecution of the oppressors.

* * Below: A CNN Video of Fareed Zakaria interviews General Petreaus about Iran and Iraq

* *

March 5, 2010

Deutsche Übersetzung auf Julias Blog lesen

Bloggers Against the Death Penalty call to save the life of Mohammad Amin Valian

20 year old Mohammad Amin Valian was arrested on January 12, 2010 in Damghan (a city in the province of Semnan) after he published an article in a student newspaper at the University of Damghan. He was not allowed visitation or access to a legal representative. He was taken to the court directly from the solitary confinement section of the Revolutionary Guard’s prison.

The death penalty is based on a photo of Mohammad Amin Valian, taken on the day of Ashura. He was given false information and has been under much mental and physical pressure. According to ISNA, Valian said in court, “When I was in prison, I watched the trial of the reformist leaders on television!”

Execution is a regime crime

Bloggers Against the Death Penalty (BADP) call on the international community to pressure the Iranian government to reverse the unjust penalties that are given to students and other innocent people, aimed to terrorize Iranians and prevent them from participating in protests.

We are urging members of the UN High Commission of Human Rights to use all their power to save Mohammad Amin Valian’s life. We ask that the countries all around the world suspend all relations with the Iranian government until Iran stops the executions. We demand that Iran’s dossier of severe abuse of human rights be referred to the UN security council as soon as possible. We call on bloggers around the world to raise their voices to save the life of Mohammad Amin Valian and all other political prisoners in Iran.

Bloggers Against the Death Penalty

CC:

HE Ban Ki Moon

HE Navanethem (Navi) Pilay

UN High Comission of Human Rights

EU Comission of Human Rights

Amnesty International

Human Rights Watch

Translation by: Maderandaghdar Blog

March 4, 2010

Grand Ayatollah Saanei: Those protesting to the government not only are not enemies of God but it was their religious duty to self-defend.  After the release of a denial from the office of Grand Ayatollah Makarem-Shirazi regarding the so-called Fatwa that was said by the court to have been issued by him and was used as the base for issuing a death penalty for a 20-year old student for allegedly throwing two pieces of stone at plain clothes militia that were brutally beating peaceful demonstrators, the office of Grand Ayatollah Saanei also issued a Fatwa today that stated “When an group of people have an objection to the actions and behaviours of the government and express that, not only they are not enemies of God and their action is to defend their rights but also their objecting is allowed – and even in some cases – is religiously mandated.”

Grand Ayatollah Makarem-Shirazi in response to a question that whether or not he had issued a Fatwa (religious ruling) for execution of a student activist said that “there has been absolutely no such Fatwa regarding such persons” issued by him. This is while the court has just issued a death sentence for a 20-year old student activist who was also a member of Mir Hossein Mousavi’s campaign in the city of Damghan and was arrested on Bloody Ashura for the allegation of throwing two pieces of stone at the security officers and plain clothes militia in his defence when they were brutally beating people that left many demonstrators dead. To justify the death penalty for such a minor act as throwing two pieces of stone, the court announced that its ruling was based on Ayatollah Makarem-Shirazi’s Fatwa that anyone who was arrested on Bloody Ashura was enemy of God and must be executed.

The death penalty for Mohammad Amin Valian, a 20 year old student and members of central branch of Islamic Association of Students at Damghan University, was confirmed by the court of appeal for the allegation of him fighting against God because he had participate in the peaceful demonstration held on Ashura (the commemoration of martyrdom of the third Imam of Shi’a) which ended in a bloodshed after police and plain clothes militia opened fire on demonstrators. Mohammad Amin Valian who could now be executed any day, is a student activist at Damghan University and a member of Mir Hossein Mousavi’s campaign in the city of Damghan and has been raised in a revolutionary religious family. He has always carried his political views within the boundaries of the law and has no affiliation whatsoever with any illegal group The death penalty for this 20 year old student was issued because of an alleged photo showing him holding a piece of stone which in the government’s view is sufficient for issuing a death sentence. This sentence is so unbelievable that the very same Basiji student who had lobbied to get Mohammad Amin Valian arrested is now feeling so guilty that is collecting signatures from the university students to have his sentence appealed.Mohammad Amin Valian who told the court he had chanted “death to dictator” during the rally has been kept in IRGC’s secret prisons since arrest and has not been allowed to meet with his family or choose an attorney for himself.

March 4, 2010

Mohammad-Amin Valian, 20

The death sentence of a 20-year-old student activist has been confirmed by the Islamic Republic’s court of appeals, according to opposition news site Nedayeh Sabzeh Azadi, signaling the Islamic regime’s increasing reliance on execution and human rights abuses to maintain its grip on power.

Mohammad Amin Valian, a member of the reformist student association of Damghan University and an activist for opposition leader Mir Hossein Mousavi’s presidential campaign, was accused of moharebeh (waging war against God) and ‘corruption on Earth’ for having participated in protests, having thrown three rocks, and having chanted ‘Death to the dictator’ on the holy day of Ashura, December 27, 2009.

Aaron Rhodes, spokesman for the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran told Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty that the main evidence against Valian was a photo showing him holding a rock. Ashura is the tenth day of the Islamic month of Moharram, the anniversary of the 7th-Century martyrdom of Imam Hossein, a key figure of Shiism. This year, the opposition staged rallies which were confronted with extreme violence by the regime’s security forces. (For this blog’s reports and video on Ashura, click here)

The Islamic Republic’s judiciary has announced that eleven death sentences have been issued in the trials of post-election protesters, according to Radio Farda. Arash Rahmanipour, 20, and Mohammad Reza Ali Zamani, 38, were hanged on January 28, 2009, on charges of moharabeh after show trials plagued with legal improprieties.

'Judge Salavati'

The man behind the show trials and most of the the death sentences, including those of Rahmanipour, Ali Zamani, and Valian, is Judge Salavati, presiding magistrate of the 15th Branch of the Revolutionary Court. Salavati is almost definitely an alias and the first name Abolghassem or Abdolghassem have been used infrequently. It is believed that he is a protégé of former Intelligence Minister and current Prosecutor General Gholam Hossein Mohseni Ejei. No official information is known about the personal past of this figure who holds such a senior position, although his recent judicial history is widely publicized and closely linked to the persecution of dissidents and protesters.

Rare photo of 'Judge Hassan Haddad'

This is not particularly strange in the Islamic Republic, where intelligence figures and judges presiding over ‘national security’ cases hide their pasts, rarely pose for photographs, and use several aliases. For example, the real name of Judge Hassan Haddad, the deputy prosecutor for security affairs until several months ago whose colorful past includes stints as interrogator/torturer at Evin Prison in the 1980s, is Hassan Zareh Dehnavi.

Judge Mohammad Mogheiseh is another honorable magistrate who has several identities. On December 28, 2009, Mogheiseh sentenced to death Ahmad Karimi, a young carpenter accused of being a ringleader in the post-election unrest. The charge: moharebeh. Judge Mohammad Mogheiseh, also known as Mogheisieh and Nasserian, was one of the tight circle of prosecutors and judges responsible for the mass executions of thousands of political prisoners in the late 1980s. He was prosecutor at Gohardasht and Evin prisons at the time and operated under the name Nasserian, according to sources who wish to remain anonymous.

The current head of the General Inspection Organization, which investigates state bodies, is Mostafa Pourmohammadi. It was only during his confirmation as Interior Minister in Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s first government that he informed the Majlis, and only then to bolster his credentials, that he had been the Deputy Intelligence Minister for counter-intelligence for 16 years.

The regime’s secretiveness does not only extend to its officials. The names of those arrested, the accused, the charges against them, and even verdicts are routinely kept hidden.

The International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran declared that the identity of the latest protester who has been sentenced to death, presumably Valian, has been deliberately withheld by the judiciary. Nedayeh Sabzeh Azadi wrote that neither Valian, nor his court-appointed lawyer, have been informed of the verdict. This has been an unfortunately common and inhumane practice by the regime’s courts. Rahmanipour’s death sentence, for example, was allegedly issued as early as October of last year, although he was kept in the dark for months (To view relevant October article on this blog, click here)

Valian and an unnamed friend were arrested in Damghan, a small city 350 km northeast of Tehran with a population of less than 100,000, on January 12, a number of blogs and the Human Rights Activists News Agency wrote at the time. A day before he was detained, he was denounced as an Ashura protester in a newsletter published by his university’s Basij association. The pro-regime militia’s newsletter called on security forces and university officials to confront Valian. According to Nedayeh Sabzeh Azadi, the Basiji student behind the publication has been wracked with remorse since the death sentence was passed and has been collecting signatures on a petition asking the judiciary to overturn the verdict.

Ayatollah Nasser Makarem Shirazi

Opposition news site Nedayeh Sabzeh Azadi also contended that the case of moharebeh against Valian had been based on remarks allegedly made by Grand Ayatollah Nasser Makarem Shirazi that ‘the desecrators of Ashura Day are mohareb.’ The news site added that Makarem Shirazi’s comment had been considered a fatwa or religious edict by the judicial authorities.

Makarem Shirazi’s last fatwa was published, however, in November and condemned the practice of self-flagellation and cutting open the scalp to make it bleed during mourning ceremonies in the month of Moharram, including on the day of Ashura.

Though no fatwa has been issued since that date, on December 29, two days after the protest rallies of Ashura, Makarem Shirazi released a statement in which he said, ‘A group of protesters took to some of Tehran’s streets and broke the sanctity of the ceremonies [for Imam Hossein] which are a factor of the nation’s unity, first with political slogans against [the regime's structure] and then by destroying people’s property and setting fire to it.’ The statement added, ‘[...] A destructive and foreign-financed group has infiltrated the ranks of the people and its only goal is to ruin and dissolve the country and hand it over to foreigners.’ The English translation of this statement on Makarem Shirazi’s web site differs in a noteworthy manner from the original and refers to ‘a terrorist and foreign mercenary group.’

Despite Makarem Shirazi’s strong words, he does not mention moharebeh in this statement, although he does write, ‘Clear and reliable information has reached me that they are promoting the separation of government and Islam.’ Could regime officials and state media have taken this remark made by a senior cleric and reinterpreted it to justify their actions and bolster their religious legitimacy and credentials? If this is the case, the effort appears to have backfired.

Only one day after the allegations were made — faster than the grand ayatollah reacted to the Ashura unrest — Makarem Shirazi responded to a comment on the Valian sentence left on his web site.

First a word of explanation. Makarem Shirazi is a marja taghlid or source of emulation, a particularly Shiite concept. Almost all practicing Shiites choose a marja, who must be an ayatollah regarded by his peers to be exceptionally learned, as a personal guide who interprets religious texts, issues edicts, and responds to questions. In the old days, such questions, which can relate to the most mundane topics of everyday life as well as to complex theological issues, were submitted in person or through a letter. Today, the queries can be sent via the marjas’ web sites. The query page on Makarem Shirazi’s site claims that the site has over 10,000 questions and responses in its archives, and invites petitioners to go through the records before submitting their question.

Yesterday, March 3, a reader used the more public guestbook to ask for clarification on the Valian case:

Greetings. Unfortunately many insider and outsider news sources (NB The terms khodi and gheyreh-khodi are used to denote those within and close to the regime, and those who are not) are relating a rumor that the unjust death sentence of the student from Damghan was based on a ruling of Ayatollah Makarem Shirazi. Please inform the public of the reliability or unreliability of this news on your web site.

Makarem Shirazi responded:

I have absolutely not issued such a fatwa concerning such individuals, and this is mischief carried out by some sites. God willing, act according to Islamic precepts and do not hastily pass judgment. [...] I know that some young people, under the influence of certain passions, took part in some violence and they must be enlightened and guided, and if they are not linked to corrupt foreign groups, they must be pardoned.

Makarem Shirazi’s answer was incorporated into an official denial that he was behind any ruling labeling Ashura protesters as mohareb and was posted on his site today, Thursday, March 4. The ayatollah’s speedy and unequivocal response indicates the uproar that the death sentence has provoked and the desire of at least this senior cleric to distance himself from it as quickly as possible.

In another indication that the moharebeh charge, and consequent death sentence, against Valian is not only legally unsound but, more significantly for the regime, is running into clerical resistance is the fatwa issued today, March 4, by Grand Ayatollah Youssef Saanei. Saanei is a firm supporter of the green movement and famously referred to Ahmadinejad as a ‘lying bastard’ in a virulent speech on August 12. In response to the question, ‘What are the criteria for determining moharebeh and what is the punishment for it?’ Saanei responded with the criteria enshrined in the law and added, ‘It should not be left unsaid that whenever an organized group has objections against the acts and behavior of a government and these individuals voice their objections, they are definitely not mohareb and their acts are considered the defense of their rights and objection to the oppression that has befallen them, and are not only permissible, but compulsory.’

Extensive research by this blog has failed to unearth any comment made by Makarem Shirazi equating Ashura protesters with mohareb (readers are invited to provide sourced information on this matter). What is certain is that supporting the separation of church and state, mentioned in Makarem Shirazi’s December 29 statement, does not comply with the legal definition of ‘waging war against God.’

teetering scales of justice...

Moharebeh and corruption on Earth (Efsad Fel’arz) are covered in section 7, articles 183 to 189, of the Law of Islamic Punishment. Article 183 defines a mohareb as ‘anyone, who in order to provoke fear or to deprive people of freedom and security, takes up arms.’ It is unclear whether plainclothesmen and Basijis who have terrorized the population and restricted the people’s freedom of assembly, expression, and thought by employing knives, chains, clubs, electrical cables, and guns fall into this category.

Subsequent articles in section 7 expand the range of crimes which are considered moharebeh. Article 185, for example, considers armed robbers to be mohareb. But more significantly, considering the calls made by senior officials and regime supporters to brand opposition leaders Mir Hossein Mousavi and Mehdi Karroubi, and by extension the opposition movement, as mohareb, article 186 provides, ‘The members and supporters of any organized group or association which wages armed revolt against the Islamic government [...] are mohareb, even if they do not belong to the armed wing. [...] A united front, which is composed of various groups and individuals, is subject to the same verdict.’

The charge of ‘moharebeh’ or waging war against God is a particularly heavy one in the regime’s Law of Islamic Punishment, but the possible penalties, though they may include state-sanctioned violence described in excruciating detail, are at the discretion of the judge and do not necessarily involve death. Article 190 defines four possible verdicts for a mohareb, though strangely the first two options are execution or hanging. This is because the regime reserves the right, enshrined in article 195, to bring about death by crucifixion. The Law of Islamic Punishment warns that the manner in which the guilty party is bound to a cross must not result in immediate death and that if the person is still alive after three days, he or she must not be put to death. The other possible penalties are amputation of the right hand and left foot, or exile (ostracism) for no less than a year. Some Islamic jurists consider the last option to also include loss of civil rights and a ban on certain activities, for example journalism.

As article 191 explains, the judge may choose any of these four verdicts, even if the mohareb has committed murder. That judge Salavati sentenced Valian to death for having thrown rocks on the religious holiday of Ashura is indicative of the intransigent position the regime has chosen to take in order to subdue the population.

Abdolfattah Soltani

Abdolfattah Soltani, prominent human rights lawyer and member of the Defenders of Human Rights Center co-founded by Nobel laureate Shirin Ebadi, told the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran that the absolute condition for moharebeh is armed activity. ‘This has been clearly stated in all texts of Fiqh (religious jurisprudence). In articles 186 and 189 of the Islamic Penal Code, several conditions have been elaborated upon and in particular these articles clearly state, that if a group has been formed that engages in armed struggle, and if a person who is a member of such a group or associates with it promotes its goals through armed activity, then that is considered Moharebeh. Therefore, the condition of armed activity is essential in charging someone under Moharebeh and the person must have carried out effective actions. If these conditions are not present then the charge of Moharebeh cannot be applied,’ he said.

Soltani was arrested on June 16, 2009, four days after the disputed presidential election, and was held in prison for 72 days for ‘being skeptical about the results of the election,’ as he was told by Judge Majid Matin Rasekh (also an alias?).

The human rights organization asked Soltani if throwing rocks can be considered moharebeh. ‘Absolutely not,’ he responded. ‘If a person is arrested because of association with an armed group then moharebeh may apply. But if an ordinary person, for whatever reason, such as anger or losing his temper, throws a stone, aimed at the destruction of some property or hurting someone, then there are other legal charges applicable and such actions do not rise to the charge of moharebeh.’

It is sometimes said that patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel. But in the Islamic Republic, it seems that lies and death and the Islamic Law of Punishment have become the last refuge of a scoundrel. A supreme scoundrel.

Burn media, burn! -- By Nikahang Kosar

* * Below: a video of Iranian residents of Germany at the Hannover tech fair protest the presence of representatives of the Iranian Telecom (owned and run by the revolutionary guards in Iran). Prior to the fair, the Iranian protesters published open letters in German publications objecting to the presence of, effectively the representatives of the revolutionary guards at this fair. During the first day of the fair the protesters passed out flyers in German and English to the fair attendees. On the second day (March 3rd) the protesters organized and carried out a walk through of the fair with placards and photos. German police and security however confronted the peaceful protesters and even arrested one of them at the request of the Iranian regime agents who also continually photographed and filmed the protesters. The protesters did however succeed in talking to the various reps working the booths and asked them to join the people of Iran in protesting against the regime.

*  * Mizan Khabar,  a new site belonging to the Green movement reports that members of the greens were prohibited from holding commemoration ceremonies for Dr. Mohammad Mosaddegh, the late Iranian Prime Minister by Iranian regime authorities. The ceremonies and events were scheduled to take place on Friday, March 5th, at the Ahmadabad familial compound of Dr. Mossadegh, where he is buried. His commemoration services are held annually by the Council of Ahmadabad to which the Mosaddegh family also belongs.

The authorities had informed organizers that: “Since the current national conditions are unfavourable and there is a possibility that opportunists may take advantage of the event,” they cannot allow the ceremony to take place.  The authorities have called on the Mosaddegh family and the Ahmadabad compound proxies to make official announcements canceling the events.  However, the family responded by saying that they would not cancel the events as the events had a private nature.

Mohammad Mosaddegh is regarded as one of the most progressive leaders in Iranian politics and respected most factions that supported the 1979 Revolution. Over time however, the Islamic Republic has hampered any event commemorating Dr. Mossadegh, fearing the late leader’s political popularity and what he stood for.

* * Iranian regime’s TV network announced: In a broadcast interview the Ramin Mehmanparast, spokesman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs spoke about the arrest of Massouminejad in Italy, saying: “Published news regarding this arrest clearly shows a new game at hand which intends to marginalize specific issues and obfuscate others. We demand an explanation and in order to obtain the necessary information regarding the various dimensions of this matter, the Italian ambassador in Tehran has been summoned so that we can hand him is orders.”

* * Below: On March 2nd, once again Columbia University  which has been known to be one of the U.S. academic institutions which has continually accepted notably large donations from the regime in Tehran, brought another apologist of the Iranian regime to spread more propaganda to  their students. This time Columbia’s International Relations Council and Association (CIRCA) organized a lecture audaciously entitled “Iran Speaks at Columbia” and invited Vahid  Karimi, a representative form the Iranian Mission to the U.N. to discuss domestic and international politics at Columbia University’s Lerner Hall.

As seen in the video however, when a ‘Green’ Iranian student who left Iran only two years ago and is now a student of architecture at Columbia gets up to ask this shameless spin doctor of the Iranian regime questions regarding the horrific human rights violations in Iran and the fraudulent election of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, he is attacked by Karimi and harassed by faculty members who end up forcing him to either keep quiet or leave. Heil Columbia University: the International School of Promotion of Fascism and Dictatorship.

* * Mahdi Karroubi’s son’s passport confiscated at Tehran airport. According to received reports, Mohammad-Taghi Karroubi, a university professor who was on his way to London was prohibited from leaving Iran and his passport was confiscated at the Tehran airport. Mohammad-Taghi Karroubi was traveling to London for the reissuing of his book entitled “One-way Utilization of Acrimonious Forces in International Law” and for the completion of the English translation.

RAHANA – In Ashura and Tasua 2009, more than 3750 trees were cut down resulting in 314 acres of forest to disappear in Lorestan according to province’s environmental chief Ahmad Reza Kalantari.

Every year, religious delegations in Lorestan cut down thousands of trees to provide kindling for the bonfires on Ashura and Tasua. During the ceremonies, men roll over in mud, drying themselves by gathering around a bonfire before flagellating themselves on the last day of the Ashura mourning period, which commemorates the seventh century slaying of Prophet Mohammed’s grandson Imam Hussein in Karbala

In 2006, 3000 trees were illegally cut down on Ashura and Tasua in the Lavizan Forest Park near Tehran. The incident and its environmental impact on air pollution in Tehran forced the Tehran Natural Resources Office to press charges against the city.

New road constructions, often done without proper environmental risk assessment studies, are another major reason behind forest disappearance in Iran. Despite legislation which bans construction of industrial parks or mining activities in preserved areas, government and private sector developers often bend the regulations in their favour.

March 2, 2010

Film director, Jafar Panahi was arrested along with his wife, their daughter and a number of their guests.

Panahi who among others directed internationally acclaimed films such as  The White Balloon (1995), The Circle (2000), Crimson Gold (2003) and Offside (2006) was arrested along with his wife Tahereh Saeedi, their daughter Solmaz and around 15 guests when the couple’s house was raided in the early hours of Tuesday March 2. There is still no information on their whereabouts. According to a RAHANA reporter, the agents also searched the house and seized a number of items.

In September 2009 Panahi was a member of the jury for the Montreal Film Festival and he took the stage wearing a green scarf. He had also brought along scarves for other members of the Jury to wear in solidarity with protesters in Iran who disputed Ahmadinejad’s fraudulent June election.

Then in February, Panahi who was the honorary guest of this year’s Berlin Film Festival was prohibited from leaving Iran to travel to Germany.In 2006 Panahi won the Berlinale’s Silver Bear award for his achievement in film.

He was briefly detained in the summer of 2009 after he was arrested with his wife Tahereh Saeedi, women’s rights activist Mahnaz Mohammadi and Rokhsareh Ghaem-Maghami in Tehran’s Behesht’eh Zahra cemetery where they had gone to lay flower on the graves of the protesters killed in the aftermath of the June presidential election.

*  * March 4, 2010

Pooya Khabar reports the names of the people arrested on Monday at Jafar Panahi’s house:

1. Jafar Panahi
2. Tahereh Saeedi (Panahi’s wife)
3. Solmaz Panahi (Panahi’s daughter)
4. Mohammad-Rasool F. (Filmmaker)
5. Ebrahim Ghaffoori (Cinematographer)
6. Iman Ghaffoori (Cameraman)
7. Bamdaad Mowjani
8. Aryan Rahmani
9. Mehrdad Mir-Kiani
10. Kourosh Asghari
11. Morteza Dehnavi
12. Vahid Vakilifar
13. Mehdi Pour-Moussa
14. Jalal Vafaie
15. Simin Nowroozi
16. Kazem Roozi-Talab
17. Shamsi Sadeghi
18. Tahereh Mahdavi
19. Ali Vahedi

March 3, 2010

Iran’s Ministry for Culture and Islamic Guidance has said that changes should be made to Iran’s press law, so that instead of banning publications, “lawbreaking” journalists themselves should be confronted.

Mohammad Ali Ramin, the media advisor to the Iranian culture minister told Iranian TV on Monday that in the United States and some European countries, publications are not banned, but instead “the lawbreakers are banned from working and their rights as citizens are taken away.”

Mr Ramin’s comments came following the banning of the reformist newspaper Etemad and the revoking of the weekly magazine Irandokht’s licence. He also claimed that the current press laws had limited the ministry’s ability to stifle the press and expressed hope that with the soon-to-be-passed regulation by the Iranian Parliament, it would be possible to deal with “lawbreakers and criminals” themselves instead of only closing down the publication involved!

Ramin described the current situation of the press in Iran as “chaotic” and said that authorities are faced with a “small number of lawbreakers” and “seekers of anarchy.” He also expressed his dismay at the fact that journalists were being “temporarily released on bail” and then “in the most obscene way, break the laws with a group of other people and oversee two publications again.”

Following the rigged presidential election of June 2009, the government launched a massive campaign of arrest against journalists, photographers and numerous members of the press.

Following the closure of Etemad newspaper, former vice-president Masoumeh Ebtekar stated that “talk of unity is difficult when journalists are in prison and newspapers are shut down.”

Iran is currently by far the world’s worst jailer of journalists which is significant as a dictatorship such as China with a population of 1.2 billon has a considerably lower number of journalists in prison.