A struggle for freedom

"Embarrassing Situation"

noreply@blogger.com (Dust and Trash) — Tue, 22 May 2012 14:03:00 +0000

[Comment by Shahin] I bought 5 breads and was cooling it on a table in front of the baker. Two well dressed young men, probably students, coming from behind asked me the price of a bread. I answered: "250 Toman". The guys went back two steps. I could see one of them sweating. They tried to talk lightly, but I still could understand what they are talking about.

One of them asked: "Did you get your Yaraneh this month?". Yaraneh is a cash payment by the government on the poorer people.
"No, not yet", answers the other one.
"I have no money left, not even 100 Toman"

I am ashamed. I have bought 5 breads and I am alone and those two guys have not even the money for two breads. I am feeling the sweat coming down from my forehead. Not knowing what to do, I offer them two breads. The guys take them and go away without saying any word. It was an embarrassing situation for all of us.

Unpopular Sanctions' Effect in a Pro-American Country

noreply@blogger.com (Dust and Trash) — Tue, 22 May 2012 12:48:00 +0000

Is it the sanctions which is breaking the backs of the poor people or is it the mismanagements of Iran's government? And wasn't it the Iranian foreign policy, which has made the west to sanction Iran? Yes, it was, undoubtedly.

"But why the hell is the west sanctioning the medicine and how shall such sanctions weaken the Iranian regime?", you probably have heard this or similar questions. And such question leads many people to ask: "Is the US really on our side?!". You may think that the West is hoping that the bad economy would lead people to the streets.

I was talking to a manger of a fabric, who was trying to tell me what the sanctions have affected to it's workers. He told me that some basic materials of his fabric were made by the US and that those products haven't been delivered since the last embargo. If they would buy the same materials from an Iranian fabric, they would cost three times more than the old products. Their product couldn't be sold any more because of it's high prise. Many of his workers are unemployment now and they answer the first question with "both of them". I didn't ask him what his fabric is producing, since I didn't want to break his anonymity. It was unexpectedly enough, that he was telling me such tough stories. Just hours ago a friend introduced him to me and I was asking myself: "Is Iran still the most pro-American country"

The manager continued: "imagine if the US would remove all the sanctions. No one could say any more that the miserable economical situation is because of the hostile US policy. It would be obvious that they [if one is talking about they, he is talking about the government] are ruining workers' lives. And they couldn't beaten down the demonstrations so easily by labeling it as pro-American demonstration. It would at least make the gaps inside them [the government] much bigger than it is at the moment".

And as I told him that it is impossible for the US at the moment to remove all the sanctions, he agreed with me and said: "Yes, but guess what would happen, if they cut some important sanctions and the regime wouldn't change it's current foreign policy. And guess what would happen if the US would remove some sanctions and Iran would change it's policy [He wanted to tell me that in both cases it would be the end of the regime]. You will see in the future, how a part of the regime will try to break the upcoming nuclear talks".

Politics is not as easy as that manager tried to explain to me, I think. But his words were part of the reality. And more importantly: many people think like him in Iran. Some may be neither managers nor workers, but could be unhappy with not being able to download android apps with their smartphones.

I don't want to end this note too black and white: I think, most of the Iranians still like the US and dream of living there. With some good reasons, they are just a little bit more suspicious about it's policies.

Israelis and Iranians love each other

noreply@blogger.com (Dust and Trash) — Mon, 19 Mar 2012 22:07:00 +0000

Support the campaign here, here or here.

Sean Stone, Nadarkhani and Freedom of Religion

noreply@blogger.com (Dust and Trash) — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 15:17:00 +0000

Sean Stone, Oliver Stone's son (photo left), has converted to Islam. He is the new super star of Fars News. Sean Stone is a blond prominent Muslim, who has chosen Islam as his new religion freely.

Youcef Nadarkhani is an Christian convert. Freedom of religion is not valid for him. He still may be hanged!

May We Repeat Khomeini's Questions in Today's Iran?!

noreply@blogger.com (Dust and Trash) — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 09:06:00 +0000

This is Ayatollah Khomeini's speech before the Islamic Revolution, 1979.
Now we would like to ask the current regime of Iran the same questions.

Don't Let Them Utilize The Anti War Movement

noreply@blogger.com (Dust and Trash) — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 18:24:00 +0000

London, January 28.
In this "anti war" gathering in front of US Embassy gathering, some Iranians and supporters of the Green Movement were chanting "no to war" and "no to dictatorship in the middle east" before they were attacked by supporters of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Hezbollah of Lebanon and the Syrian Regime. The attackers were holding the flags of Syria and Hezbollah. The police separated both groups.

A group which is having problems with the Free Iran flag, doesn't care so much about people's lives or dignity. It is just participating in the gathering to misuse the anti war movement.

News Fiction

noreply@blogger.com (Dust and Trash) — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 01:17:00 +0000

Euro News: a young girl detained in Baku
INA News Agency:
Arrest of few 10 year old girls in Mashhad, Iran
for Islamic dress code by Islamic security forces!!

Why I decided to write this note

Spreading propaganda respectively wrong news is not only used by the Islamic Republic, but also by some of it's radical opponents. Not only for ethical reasons shall we fight these kind of lies. Some of these reasons are not clear for every one:

1. 2009 Ashura Protest - Madyar (a journalist and human rights activist) reported (I cannot open his blog at the moment, about a false report which led to the arrest of many people. The Tweets "Hurry up! Lots of people are needing your help in front of Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcaster" and "Lots of people are on the way to IRIB" was getting retweeted fast. About 150 people believed it and went to there. They got beaten or arrested. In the best case the tweet was sent with good will, but ended in disaster.

2. Those radical regime opponents are playing with our credibility with their lies. Their lies will come out. How could our readers distinguish between them and us?

3. Read the story.

The Stories of the picture above:

Vahid Online, one of the most followed activists in Google Plus caught:
BBC: Azerbaijan 'crackdown on dissent'
Euro News: a young girl detained in Baku police crackdown
Radio Free Europe: Little Azeri Girl May Be Nameless, But She's Far From Powerless
INA-Iran News Agency: Arrest of few 10 year old girls in Mashhad, Iran for Islamic dress code by Islamic security forces

I just googled the title of INA and found many untrustworthy pages, which have copy pasted the nonsense. Some even translated it into English.

For Vahid Online, me and people like us, the style and the source are the reasons not to believe such reports, but the news could be a real story nowadays! Vahid writes (my translation):

"You rarely see such [wrong] news in Google Plus, but some networks get lot of likes, because such emotional news are written for an audience whose first priority for clicking the like button is to be against the Islamic Republic.

Such sources find a picture and write a story about it. In the best case some one emails them the wrong news. The only important thing is that the report is against the Islamic Republic [and not if the story is true or not]"

The comment of one of the plus users (vahid H-Yousef) is also very interesting:

"Ladies and Gentle man, dear supporters of Islamic Republic

For sure it is also a lie that boys and girls have been raped in Kahrizak and Evin!

Torturing of the young people is also a lie!

For sure it is also a lie, that many people have been hanged!

[...] We are living in the most free country in the world, right? [...]

I don't know that guy, but I have seen such accusation very often in Internet, specially by members of militant groups in Twitter. Any contradiction means you are a regime agent.I wonder if they really believe it. Probably some of them do, at least some of them, I guess. I personally don't care, but be aware of them.

footnote:
Freedom Messenger is another untrustworthy source, which is quoting INA-Iran News often. It doesn't mean that all of those who are co-working with Freedom Messenger are lier. Some people just know the protest videos uploaded by Freedom Messenger and send their own videos to them!

Opponents but Analogicals of Islamic Republic (2)

noreply@blogger.com (Dust and Trash) — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 22:34:00 +0000

Ariamehr TV, or call it voice of fascists

In this video, some one talks to the moderator of "Ariamehr TV", which is broadcasting from the US!

The caller says that the TV-Program was very 'nonsense'.
The moderator asks him to say: "Death to the Islamic government, ...".
The caller does: "Death to the Islamic Repuplic, Khamenei, Khomeini, etc."
TV moderator: "Say Viva Shah (King)"
Caller: "Why Shall I?"
Moderator: "Go die" and hangs up.

You can find hundreds of such videos in youtube.

and they try to brand every one who doesn't talk like them as fascists (or probably Islamic Republic's agents)!

Ariamehr TV has probably almost no audience inside Iran, since it has nothing to offer but some insulting words. But some times people may take a look at it and ask themselves the question: "If we kick out the Mullahs, will such ~~people~~ idiots govern our country?"

The effect of such TVs are very counterproductive. I wonder why some people support such a TV financially.

you might also want to read:
Opponents but Analogicals of Islamic Republic

Nude Photo Revolutionary Arrives in Iran

noreply@blogger.com (Dust and Trash) — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 15:32:00 +0000

Golshifteh Farahani's new picture is the topic number one in Iran. It has been shared many times in Facebook. Also people inside Iran share the picture on their profiles. As if they wouldn't be afraid of the government. As if the picture gave people a new energy.

Sure some people are angry about the picture - I am not talking only about those who were worried about violation of diplomatic practices of the Islamic Repuplic after Asghar Farhadi shook the hands with Angelina Jolie (!) - but the mosts comments I read were positively and even thankfully.

This picture has become news (and there is a video beside that picture). The campaign was successful. The new nude photo revolutionary, started in Egypt, has truly arrived in Iran, although if Golshifteh is in Paris now.

You could also read a much more detailed note on this subject in my German language blog.

How Iran Spreads Propaganda through the International Press

noreply@blogger.com (Dust and Trash) — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 20:03:00 +0000

Iman Shahrvandbegar, a very precise Iranian activist, founded out a good example of how Iranian regime spreads nonsense propaganda through the international press. It is worth translating and working out:

NTD quotes Epoch Times: "Chinese Admiral Threatens World War to Protect Iran"

While Epoch Times had quoted Press TV, NTD didn't find it necessary to tell it's readers that the first source was Press TV.

Later on, Press TV (a news network owned by the Iranian government) keeps writing on the wrong News: here and here.

It is how we miss the first sources at the press. Wrong informations will be produced by Sepah (Army of the Guardians of the Islamic Revolution). Sepah gives the product to Press TV. Later on, the bull shit gets published without naming the first source, namely Press TV. The wrong informations become news.

Hourly Wage of Soft War Soldiers: 7000 Toman

noreply@blogger.com (Dust and Trash) — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 17:11:00 +0000

A soft war soldier is some one who is working for regime in Internet, mostly at social networks such as Facebook or Twitter. Their job is to spread propaganda or to attack activists psychologically by insulating them. Their activity has began officially two years ago, as Sepah (Army of the Guardians of the Islamic Revolution) realized the importance of Internet for the democracy movement in Iran and decided to fight it.

Now, a clergy friendfeed user said that they earn 7000 Toman ( 4.4 $) an hour. It is a good payment in Iran, specially if you know that the quality of their job is very low (I am not talking about the Iranian Cyber Police or the Iranian Cyber Army)

I ask myself how much a payment of a soft war soldier in a foreign country is.

Iranians Condemn the Attack by the Basij on the British embassy

noreply@blogger.com (Dust and Trash) — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 15:45:00 +0000

We as Iranians and activists of the Green Movement, strongly condemn the attack by the Basijis on the British embassy (many others are condemning the attack via Twitter, Facebook, Google Plus and etc. )

We ask the media, such as Guardian, to stop calling the embassy attackers "students". They are just some paid Basijis, as we can see in this picture.Or do they look like students?

This is the first video which shows pro regime supporters attacking the British embassy:

What would be a possible goal of the attack?
Bahman Kalbasi, New York, UN Correspondent of BBC TV News, Persian Service tweeted:

Attack on UK embassy: another sign that powerful elements in Tehran welcome more isolation for #Iran in order to strengthen their hand.

For new updates and videos, please follow me on Twitter

Hundreds of Workers Protested in Tabriz (Video); Green Movement Still Silence

noreply@blogger.com (Dust and Trash) — Fri, 25 Nov 2011 16:41:00 +0000

On Sunday, hundreds of workers protested on the anniversary of the approval of labor law. In this video we see workers from Tabriz chanting "minister without competency, resign, resign". According to Azoh news agency thousands of workers had participated on the demonstrations

On the same day 3000 workers , according to ILNA (Iranian Labor News Agency), 500 according to Fars news (next to Revolutionary Guards / Sepah), gathered in Tehran in front of Iran Parliament.

Photo from Tehran

While the Green Movement was very silent in the last months for many possible reasons, the economical dissatisfactions are raising rapidly in Iran. Specially the worker class is feeling the pressure. The question is, if the main part of the Green Movement, namely the middle class, joins the workers' demonstrations in the future or if it goes it's own way.

Iran's Green Movement; demanding freedom, desiring peace #No2IranWar

noreply@blogger.com (Dust and Trash) — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 13:05:00 +0000

by green friend

A Letter in a Bottle

noreply@blogger.com (Dust and Trash) — Sun, 13 Nov 2011 19:52:00 +0000

[utopia] - It's a horrible day.

It's the seventh month of the war while I am writing this letter. It is my last possibility to try to get some contact with the outside world.

Lots of regime opponents were killed in these months by security Forces. I got the informations from my friends two weeks ago. I don't know how they got those informations, but they were spreading first hand news till they were arrested two weeks ago.

Internet telephone are down since months, satellite TVs are not more broadcasting any more or we cannot receive any signals. It is making me worried! People spread rumors. I cannot distinguish which one is true and which one right. Some say the world has gone crazy, war is broken out every were. Some say it is regime propaganda. Which version is right?

I wanted to talk to people about my arrested friends and get some information. I wanted to know if they are still alive. But no one can help me and I cannot blame them for that.

People have their own problems. Hospitals are full of injured people. Diseases are spreading. No one can help me.

Dear recipient, if it is possible to you, give us a sign of live. Tell us how life is going on in your place.

I hope that this letter will give you some information about our situation thus you could help us. If your situation is as bad as ours, it is not worth coming to us.

Courage - Statement over arrest of Iranian singer Arya Aramnejad

noreply@blogger.com (Dust and Trash) — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 22:59:00 +0000

poster by green friend

In a small town in Iran, six former political prisoners wrote an statement to defend one political prisoner.

In these days, fear is ruling over Iran. People are not only afraid of war. In today's Iran, people cannot even celebrate a birthday party without being afraid of security agents - I am not talking about the underground parties - at a traditional Coffeehouse.

While many of Iranian activists and bloggers outside Iran, me included, don't do their activities with their real names, those six non famous people dare to write:

"They tolerate scandals over billions of dollars bank fraud, but responded to the critics of innocent youth with brutality". and: "Which mysteries do you want to hide by such an arrest? Which shame is still uncovered?"

It is courage.

And the political prisoner they are defending, is the green singer and activist Arya Aramnejad. He was arrested and tortured after making this song once before:

I founded an English translation of this song on a Facebook fan page:
(his official Facebook page is here)

(Arabic Prayer)

In the middle of ashura's noon*
The asleep Yazid** of our time
Woke up from his old grave
In order to kill the sweethearts
What is the sin of our people except the cry for freedom?
God be a witness to the attack against human dignity !

Chorus:
Ali*** stand up and cancel the game of these hypocrits
That these ones dress the devil with the clothes of justice
They poison Mohammad's religion with their own will
To a point that they want to make you believe the Mehdi (12th Imam in Shiite Islam) gets his orders from them

(Arabic Prayer)

The month of Muharram**** was drowned in blood
By the devil's army*****
Kharijites****** in religion's clothes put the Quran on their spear again
It is the presence of the antichrist's spirit which is felt
In this mysterious dark road

oh GOD ! Enlighten IRAN with you sun !

Chorus

*Imam Hossein, one of the most important Imams for Shiite Muslims was killed at noon of Ashura day, in the 27th December 2009 (corresponding to the day of Ashura), Iranian people took to the streets to protest against their dictatorial regime, 37 people were killed by the regime on this day
**the enemy of every Shiite believer, the caliph that killed Imam Hossein
***the first Imam for every Shiite Muslim
****holy month in Shiism corresponding to the month Imam Hossein was killed, all kind of violence is forbidden during this month
*****this "army" belongs to Khamenei... I let you guess the courageous metaphora
******Kharijites are the ones who killed Imam Ali

you may find another songs of Arya Aramnejad here: http://www.youtube.com/user/AryaSongs

Don't give up the diplomatic way; #No2IranWar

noreply@blogger.com (Dust and Trash) — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 19:56:00 +0000

Once, we learned walking.
We felt and tried walking again. And again and again.
We failed and failed. But we tried it till we could walk.
Could we walk if we would give up after failing many times?

See also:
Iranian Intellectuals Warn Against Possible Military Attack

Please Don't Kill Our Last Enlightenment Tool, The Goole Reader

noreply@blogger.com (Dust and Trash) — Sat, 22 Oct 2011 16:34:00 +0000

Google Reader,

For Many:

the Last Door to Freedom

Don't kill it

Google will be retiring many Google Reader's features like friending, following and shared link blogs. It is nothing unusual for companies to change their products. Probably these changes don't bother most Google users worldwide . But these changes will probably cause big problems in Iranian struggle for freedom and enlightenment. Why is Reader so important to us?

Let's see why Google Reader is so important for democratization process of Iran:

1. Google Reader is uncensored in Iran. If the Iranian government would want to filter Google Reader, they would have to filter all of the Google products, which is almost impossible. Because of that, many people use Google Reader to read censored websites and blogs, since they are all filtered.

2. Many activists such as Vahid Online share the most important news with Google Reader's share button. If we know that 7500 people are following Vahid, we can imagine how important Google Reader is. Including, it is very easy to write comments under the news.

3. Including to the news, people can write other stuff in Reader. They can share their feelings and experiences with each other. It is not important who you are but about the content. For many, Reader is the only door to the outside world and it is why it is so popular in Iran.

4. Many bloggers, already suffering under filtering, will lose almost all of their subscribers inside Iran. Arman Amiri e.g. predicts to lose 4000 of his daily readers. He could still share his new notes in google plus, but most of people cannot open the link. He asks himself if he would continue blogging at all and whether the risk he is taking would still be worth it.

Just think about the lack of Reader for these people.

I am sure Google doesn't want to prevent Iranians from all these possibilities. May be they don't know the meaning of their product to the people of Iran. May be they know it and have a solution for it already. I don't know. But I think it was the only thing I could do for thousands of worried people in Iran.

What you could do

For now, please sign this petition.

If you are able to, please inform journalists and Google directly about Reader's meaning to the Iranians (and probably some others, too).

Thank you.

Occupy Melli Bank #OccupyMelliBank

noreply@blogger.com (Dust and Trash) — Sat, 22 Oct 2011 03:12:00 +0000

Occupy Melli Bank and ask "where is my money?". Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/OccupyMelliBank

in the context: Iran for Beginners: So What is This $2.8 Billion Bank Fraud?

"Military Partners of Foreign Countries"

noreply@blogger.com (Dust and Trash) — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 00:40:00 +0000

"Authority exercise in the presence of military partners of foreign countries was held in the special unit of NAJA" writes Ayandeh News on these pictures. NAJA is the Iranian Police and these guys seem too be their enthusiastic teachers. For whom are they clapping?

Iranian regime is getting ready for the upcoming days. They are calculating with something.

Is it a NAJA-Gorilla?

Satellite-Fight (?)

Iran's newest problem: Palastine's U.N. Membership!

noreply@blogger.com (Dust and Trash) — Fri, 23 Sep 2011 20:20:00 +0000

Islamic Republic has a new big problem: It has to decide if to support Palestinians U.N. membership request or not. Would Iran supports the membership, so would Iran recognize Israel. Wouldn't Iran support Abbas, so would be Iran on Israel and US' side!

Iran, Unite! ... but how?!

noreply@blogger.com (Dust and Trash) — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 22:51:00 +0000

This note is written for Iranians outside Iran.

I think the problem of unity occurs mostly outside Iran, as Ahmad Betebi said to persiantoenglish.

We know that Iranians fighting for democracy have very different political views. In the same time, we know that unity is important in a struggle for freedom: we know very the meaning of "united we stand, divided we fall". But how? How can we get united? I try to write some suggestions:

1. the question of flag

Which flag do you prefer?

How important is that to you?

In some cities outside Iran, two groups didn't agree to demonstrate on the same time. Both of them chanted the same slogans against the policies of the Islamic Republic. Both of them wanted the freedom of all political prisoners. As one group was finished with the demonstration, the other group started! Why?

One group wanted to use the Iranian flag with the sign "Lion and Sun". The other group wanted to use a green flag. Both groups wanted the other group to use the flag of their own. What was the problem?

The second group said if they would use the flag with "Lion and Sun" symbol, monarchists would misuse them and say Iranians are wanting monarchy. "Green is the color of Iran protesters, so we use it". The first group said "Lion and Sun" was the national flag of Iran before the Islamic Republic, so every one has to fight under this flag. For sure there were also Iranians which demonstrated under both flags. There are lots of "green monarchists", and lots of greens who like the flag with "Lion and Sun"

suggestions:

1. The best solution would be to agree on one flag. If these groups are not able to agree on the flags of the others, they could agree on one anther flag, for example on "falcon standarad of Cyrus the Great".

falcon standard of Cyrus the great

2. Since they chant the same slogans, these groups can use their favorite flags but demonstrate together.

Libyans, despite the diversity of many tribes, showed that it is possible to fight united under one falg.

2. next system

We have to agree that the only solution for Iran's future, after the fall of Islamic Republic, is a free referendum. After a referendum we will see and accept what the majority of Iranians are wanting: a constitutional monarchy, a republic or something else. It is useful to talk about advantages and disadvantages of both systems. On the other hand, insulting each other doesn't help Iran's future. It just sickens any democratic atmosphere. Insulting is destructive for unity.

3. how we should behave towards extremists

We have to ignore extremists who cannot tolerate different oponions and distance ourselves from them. We have to make extremists clear that they are sickening the atmosphere in Internet. They have to know that we don't like people insulting other groups, although if they behave to be our supporters. We can e.g. unfollow and block them on Twitter and in Facebook. We have to ignore them till they understand their methods are not working in the 21st century.

Protests over Lake Urmia

noreply@blogger.com (Dust and Trash) — Sun, 28 Aug 2011 01:21:00 +0000

Flamingos of the Lake Urmia. It was yesterday.

The lake is extincting now.

large number of people have taken part in demonstrations in the cities Orumiyeh and Tabriz . It was an environmental and political protest in the same time: on August 16, 2011, the Iranian Parliament rejected a "motion to invest funding to increase the inflow of water into Lake Urmia to save it from a complete extinction.
The motion was recommended by the deputies from the city of Urmia asking to take an immediate action to save the Lake.", Campaign to Save Lake Urmia reported.

from right to left: 1996, 2001, 2010

Are you thinking about the Aral Sea?

The security Forces used tear gas against the protesters. About 300 protester were arrested, reported radiofarda. Do you remember Iran condemning the British government for its 'brutal beating' of 'the opposition'? @Iranianrevolt wrote a suitable tweet:

#Iran savagely crushes an environmental protest in #Tabriz, #Urumiya while expressing sympathy for #UKRiots

In this video, you see how security forces try to stop people to come to the streets

People chanted: "The Lake Urmia is dying, the Parliament orders to murder it" und " Let us feel the lake with our tears"

Clashes between protesters and security forces

Libyans are on the right way to democracy (?)

noreply@blogger.com (Dust and Trash) — Mon, 22 Aug 2011 00:25:00 +0000

At least this report made me hopeful, that Libyan rebels are on the right way to democracy, that they are not installing one dictatorship instead of Gaddafi's:

Rebel spokesman Mahmoud Shammam promises that Gaddafi will not be harmed and that the rebels want to see him stand trial in Libya. He tells Sky News:

"We're not going to put (supporters of the regime) on trial, we're going to tell them they are Libyan, they are our brothers and sisters and we are going to ask them to join the revolution. We're going to build a state where everyone can get a good education, etc etc.

There are many rumours about (Gadaffi's) location. We're going to guarantee his safety and the safety of his family. We want to see him be tried in Libya and not in any other place in the world. We're establishing a state of law and we would like to see him in the court."

Asked about reports that looters are moving into the Rixos hotel in Tripoli, he says:

"It's very hard to control the people and this emotion but we're asking them... not to take revenge. We're doing every possible thing but after 42 years of dictatorship, people have the right to carry out their emotion. But we would like to tell them to control that emotion and don't be against law and order."

source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/global/middle-east-live/2011/aug/21/libya-syria-israel-middle-east-unrest

Imprisoned Student Activist: Ali-Akbar Mohammdzadeh

noreply@blogger.com (Dust and Trash) — Thu, 04 Aug 2011 12:33:00 +0000

Student Activist, Ali-Akbar Mohammadzadeh

Introduction - This is Ali-Akbar Mohammadzadeh, the 22 years old head of the Islamic Association of Sanati-Sharif University. Actually, Islamic Associations are normal student organizations and have nothing to do with Islam anymore. The organizations were called Islamic after the Islamic Revolution. Since the members were elected and generations changed by time, the members and ideas changed, but the name didn't.

Ali Akbar's friends call him Alak (from Ali and Akbar). After the rigged Iran Election 2009, the government arrested many students and tried to forbid all the Islamic Associations and other student organizations, except Bassij-Student organizations, in the universities. Alak was one of those who didn't give up the fight and almost lonely, he organized many student meetings.

Ali-Akbar Mohammadzadeh was arrested on 15 February 2011, a day after an anti-government protest in Tehran. He has spent 54 days of his imprisonment in solitary.

About 160 graduates of Sanati-Sharif university and more than 200 supporters have signed a letter on the head of judiciary and ask him to end Ali-Akbar Mohammadzadeh's illegal detention. The letter, translated by Banooye Sabz, is as follows:

"We, a group of students at Sanati Sharif (Sharif University of Technology), protest the long term imprisonment of our classmates. We are of the opinion that all student activities on campus should be subject to the rules and regulations of the university itself and that any involvement by external institutions will only lead to the violation of the university’s independence.

We believe the long term imprisonment of Mr. Mohammadzadeh to be illegal and demand with all due respect that our colleague’s right to due process and justice be observed in a court of law. The student body at Sharif University of Technology impatiently awaits the return of its classmate Ali Akbar Mohammadzadeh to campus."

Please join the Facebook page "Release Ali-Akbar Mohammadzadeh" .

foot note:

Imprisoned journalists will get support by journalist associations such as reporters without borders. Imprisoned lawyers will get support by some lawyers' association. But who will support students? There are some students such as Majid Tavakkoli who has been supported globally. But isn't he an exception? Let us make other imprisoned student famous, too. May be as a Blogger game?

If you like the idea, you can introduce one infamous student activist (You can e.g. use this link on daneshjoonews) and send me a link of your introduction. You can also ask other Bloggers to play this game. For the beginning, I ask two of my great friends, persianbanoo and Liss, both of them human rights Green Movement activists.

If the game/action is successful, I will make a new page, list the name of students, and link them to your post.