Thru Other Eyes

On The Road Again

2009-10-30T04:31:02+01:00

As much as I love Wille Nelson's rendition of 'On The Road Again', I love even more being on the road again myself. During my 4 week absence you can follow my travels to Cambodia and Laos at Leonard's Trail.

Be well in the meanwhile and happy trails wherever your road leads you.

Twittelleh

2009-09-18T20:26:02+02:00

This is too funny! I am also gonna give up my Twitter account and move over to Twittelleh!

My Thoughts on Rosh Hashanah 2009

2009-09-17T22:47:08+02:00

(Note: if you'd like some appropriate background music click here.)

Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, heralds the beginning of the Ten Days of Awe. These ten days between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, are a time of intense introspection as we contemplate our deeds in the year passed and according to tradition prepare ourselves for God's judgment.

Jewish tradition says that on Yom Kippur, God irrevocably seals our fate for the coming year in the Book of Life. As is recited in one of Rosh Hashanah's important prayers the Unetanah Tokef, "On Rosh Hashanah it is written, and on Yom Kippur it is sealed."

It is in these 10 days of awe that we have the chance to intervene in the fate that God provisionally has in mind for us: "On Rosh Hashanah it is written, and on Yom Kippur it is sealed." On Rosh Hashanah one could easily descend into total panic. "Oh my, look at this list of all the things I have done: the times I hurt someone's feeling, gossiped, lied, cheated, cut corners with my own morality, let others down, didn't do as much as I could have to help someone, didn't give as much as I should have to the poor and needy, didn't care as much as I should have about someone's welfare... And now only ten days to change my fate! How?!! How??!! How??!!!!"

How indeed? It would be very cruel if the same Unetanah Tokef prayer that teases us with the knowledge of this 10-day intervention opportunity did not give us some insight into how one can intervene. So you won't be surprised to hear that the same prayer does reveal the three tools for a successful intervention program. And how powerful these tools must be if they hold the key to changing the mind of an omniscient and omnipresent divine Being: tshuva (repentance), tefilla (prayer) and tzedakah (charity).

The common translations of these three concepts - atonement, prayer and charity - are the subject of much Rabbinic discussion and fall far short in communicating the power that these three concepts embody.

Tshuva actually means 'return' and not regret or contrition in the sense of 'repentance.' When we pursue tshuva we strive to return to the highest level of good that is found within each of us.

Tefilla is not prayer in the sense of asking God for this or that or as one of my Jewish philosophy professors once said the 'God as cosmic bellboy' interpretation of prayer. Tefillah is not what I ask from God but what I ask from myself:

"Tefillah is about self-relfection and introspection. Therapy for my soul. I judge myself. I open my heart and sould. I look within, honestly bravely... I hold my potential up to my actual and see where I need to work on myself."

And finally, tzedakah which comes from the word 'justice' and 'righteousness' does not refer to charity, or the voluntary act of giving. Tzedakah is rather an obligation, within the means we each have at our disposal, to give and be giving to others not because it is a nice thing to do but because it is the only just and righteous thing to do. It is the obligatory pursuit of service to others who need our help which lies at the very core of tzedakah.

As wonderful as each of these three tools can be on their own, none is powerful enough in isolation to overturn the provisional will of God. The prayer tells us "tshuvah, tefillah AND tzedakah" not 'OR.' And when we look at the concepts in their true light we understand that when combined these three create a powerful cosmic cocktail capable of giving us the strength to move Heaven and Earth. True, honest introspection and soul-searching is the only way to return to our highest inner selves. And once we open that door and embark on that path we will discover the inevitable conclusion that within the means we have it is our obligation to aid those who need our help.

And you know what? These lessons have nothing to do with being religious, which I am not. Far from it. But I am only human so it is handy to have a period of time when these thoughts and these challenges once again take center stage.

I wish every one of us a year when we recommit to find the best in ourselves and strive to manifest that in the world.

"To whom much is given, much is expected."

2009-08-29T03:04:02+02:00

A short thought as I watch the moving, touching, sad and funny memorial for Ted Kennedy.

"To whom much is given, much is expected." That ideal inspired Ted Kennedy's life and deeds. It was perhaps the very fundament of his belief and values system. It was certainly the well-spring of his political success. I too should try harder to live by that credo. Not because I have so much, but because so many have so little.

Thank you Teddy for this lesson also.

My Thoughts on Ted Kennedy

2009-08-27T22:37:43+02:00

The Kennedy family has put up a beautiful website about the Senator's life and about the events and arrangements leading up to his burial in Arlington National Cemetery. There are also tributes and a place where people can add their own thoughts or stories. I just shared this on that website and I would like to share it here:

In 1960 I was five years old but it wasn't too many years later, around the time I was 11 or 12, a year or so before becoming Bar Mitzvah, that I was already becoming quite politically aware and even involved.

And I grew up in Massachusetts in a Democratic family.

My political, social and perhaps even moral development was impacted and influenced by the Kennedys. And that is the kind of impact and influence that Senator Kennedy has exercised over his 47 year career in public life. That is for me his legacy and message.

By what he has done, by what he has fought for and by how he has fought those fights Senator Kennedy has helped us learn about fairness, justice and human dignity. And even after his most vulnerable and dark moment of human failings, Chappaquiddick, we have seen how he dedicated most of the rest of his life to repairing the negative karma he knew was his.

That's a sign of the most humble sort of greatness we can strive for as human beings. That's what Senator Kennedy's life, and his sickness and how he marched towards death, will mean to me. He was a great man and his absence would have been felt at any time. He will be even more sorely missed today, in a time when there are so few men like him in positions of leadership.

An Irish blessing:

May the road rise to meet you.
May the wind be always at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face.
And rains fall soft upon your fields.
And until we meet again,
May God hold you in the hollow of His hand.

Something new from Thru Other Eyes

2009-07-19T22:32:27+02:00

I've got a new thing going on my blog and I call it the 'The Daily View'. It's a near-daily quick look at something interesting I come across. Take a look-see.

MJ

2009-07-07T22:15:49+02:00

"I'm Starting With The Man In The Mirror
I'm Asking Him To Change His Ways
And No Message Could Have Been Any Clearer
If You Wanna Make The World A Better Place
Take A Look At Yourself, And Then Make A Change"

Do Coincidences Exist in the Middle East?

2009-07-06T15:58:03+02:00

What do you think? Do coincidences exist or is the timing of certain events just too fortuitous to be random coincidences, especially when one is talking about events in the Middle East? In Dutch, the word for coincidence is 'toeval.' The word can be also read as 'val toe' which loosely translated means falling in(to) place.

Are certain events concerning Iran mere coincidences or are certain things just falling into place? Consider the following three things that all happened to appear in yesterday's news.

American green light for Israeli attack on Iran?
On Sunday, Vice President Joe Biden was asked by George Stephanopoulos, host of ABC's "This Week," about Iran and Israel. He was specifically asked what he thought about Prime Minister Netanyahu's statements that if Obama's engagement with Iran bears no fruit by the end of the year that Israel will take matters into its own hands. A follow-up question addressed the USA's position if Israel were to decide to attack Iran. Biden's answers clearly seemed to be a 'wink-wink' if not an out and out green light for an independent Israeli course of action, even if that included military action against Iran.

Here's the exchange:

STEPHANOPOULOS: And meanwhile, Prime Minister Netanyahu has made it pretty clear that he agreed with President Obama to give until the end of the year for this whole process of engagement to work. After that, he's prepared to take matters into his own hands. Is that the right approach?

BIDEN: Whether we agree or not. They're entitled to do that. Any sovereign nation is entitled to do that... If the Netanyahu government decides to take a course of action different than the one being pursued now, that is their sovereign right to do that. That is not our choice.

STEPHANOPOULOS: But just to be clear here, if the Israelis decide Iran is an existential threat, they have to take out the nuclear program, militarily the United States will not stand in the way?

BIDEN: Look, we cannot dictate to another sovereign nation what they can and cannot do when they make a determination, if they make a determination that they're existentially threatened and their survival is threatened by another country.

In and of itself interesting statements by the VP which of course led to many questioning if this indicated a change in US policy especially given Biden's statement three months ago on the same subject when he said Israel's then new government would be ill-advised to attack Iran:

"United States Vice President Joe Biden told CNN on Tuesday he did not think that Israel's new government would order a strike on Iran's nuclear facilities. "I don't believe that Prime Minister [Benjamin] Netanyahu would do that. I think he would be ill-advised to do that," Biden told the U.S. network's reporter Wolf Blitzer."

The White House was quick to assert that Biden's statements yesterday were no alteration of standing policy: "White House officials said that the vice president's remarks demonstrated only U.S. allowance of Israeli sovereignty, and not a change in policy on the part of the Obama administration." Whatever that means...

Laying the groundwork for an attack?
On the same day, Sunday, the Times of London reported that Israel had recently secured Saudi assurances that it could use the airspace of Sunni Saudi Arabia if needed for an attack on its Shia neighbor Iran.

And if that wasn't enough then you can check out a report initially published in yesterday's Jerusalem Post asserting that "the IAF plans to participate in aerial exercises in the US and Europe in the coming months with the aim of training its pilots for long-range flights."

So all in one day, 1) we hear America's VP giving wide berth to any action against Iran deemed necessary by Israel; 2) we learn that Saudi Arabia may have taken what would be in any other situation the extraordinary step of granting Israel at least tacit approval for using its airspace in an attack on Iran; 3) and we read that Israel is perhaps stepping up long-range flight training for its pilots in Europe and in the USA.

Hmmmmm? What does 1 + 2 + 3 equal in this equation? Of course one could claim that all these statements and news stories have been leaked with the intention of pressuring Iran. But given the historical wackiness shown by Ahmanidejad, given the fact that we now know Ahmadinejad is clearly the Supreme Leader's golden boy, given the total disregard shown by Iran's government over the last weeks for world opinion and especially for the lives of its own people, then using these things as leverage would hardly seem worth the effort. And serously believing that they could have any effect as leverage seems outlandish.

So the question reamins, coincidence or things falling into place?

Iran Twitter Report - June 30 - July 3

2009-07-03T16:19:43+02:00

You have undoubtedly noticed that Iran has pretty much disappeared from the mainstream media. This gives people the incorrect idea that it's all over. Although the government has been very successful in quelling large public gatherings through violence, intimidation and mass arrests it is clear that this thing is anything but over. It has perhaps gone into a new and slow-moving phase where most of the action is behind the scenes. But as many expert commentators have said over the past weeks, it is going to be impossible to get this genie back into its bottle.

So what has happened the last few days? We finally have some news about Persiankiwi, the nighttime chanting continues and according to many is growing still in intensity and there are plans forming for a national strike in the coming week. But the real story at the moment is the continued and by many measures growing split among the country's top clerics and political elite. So that's where we will begin.

Clerical and political split

This is now perhaps the major story of what's going on. And although much of what is happening is out of the public eye, there is a lot happening in full view. We in the West in particular are conditioned to perceive Iran as one massive monolithic and impenetrable slab of clerical dictatorship and religious extremism. The events of the past week should lay that misconception to rest in a big way.

The most shocking and telling public statements come from at least two major spiritual leaders: Ayatollah Hadi Ghaffari and Ayatollah Seyed Jalaleddin Taheri. These are not the only spiritual leaders who have criticized events since the election but they have this week made or published statements that directly and harshly criticize Supreme Leader Khamanei.

Ayatollah Ghaffari is no boy scout or reformer. In fact he was insrtumental in creating Hezbollah. This makes his brutal frontal assault on the Supreme Leader a clear signal that something is going on behind the scenes as these kinds of public rebukes were unthinkable three weeks ago. A few excerpts:

“Khamenei, your recent actions and behavior has brought shame to us clerics. Our image in the streets and bazaars has been tarnished as everyone is placing us in the same category as Ahmadinejad.”

“Khamenei, you are wrong, your actions are wrong. I believe in the velayat e fagih more than you.”

“I’m not preaching these messages so that I could be associated with the West. I loathe the West and will fight to the last drop of my blood before I or my land succumbs to the West. On the contrary, I’m preaching these messages on the count that the respect for our profession is gone.”

“Young people are not praying anymore, whose fault is that? It is your fault Mr. Khamenei, it’s your fault for placing us in the same line as that lunatic Ahmadinejad.”

“Ahmadinejad is nobody, you should congregate with us instead of him.”

The statement mentions 'velayat e fagih' which is the 'concept of the governance of the Islamic jurist as Supreme Leader' upon which the Islamic Republic of Iran is based. Here again, perhaps a surprise to many, the interpretation of this concept is anything but monolithic and there is even much room for the somewhat Western idea of seperation of powers between the executive branch and the 'spiritual branch' if I may call it that. This article gives an excellent introduction to this important concept and how it is being contested now amongst leading Iranian clerics.

The statement by Ayatollah Seyed Jalaleddin Taheri was no less harsh. Taheri was a close friend of Ayatollah Khomeini, the first Supreme Leader, and for years led Friday prayers in one of Iran's important provinces. In his statement Taheri refers often to Khomeini's examples indirectly implying that today's religious leaders have betrayed the Islamic revolution with their current behavior:

"Did the imam [Khomeini] believe that those who are supposed to be impartial should formally and official support a particular candidate? Can the Guardian Council, several of whose members publicly supported and continue to support Mir-Hossein Mousavi's rival, address electoral complaints?"

"Did the imam [Khomeini] allow the public property of Muslims to be used by one candidate without any limits….and has religion given you such permission? Why does the protection of law only apply to you and your friends, and [why] do religion, law and the imam only become dear when you can benefit from them… where does your totalitarianism end?”

"I thought that in light of the interests of the nation, revolution and country, perhaps the regime's officials would address irregularities that occurred prior to and during the election in a fair and just manner, but it is obvious that officials are not willing to address the fraud and rather intend to suppress the protesters using security and terror tactics. I, as a minor clergyman, in unison with the majority of people who lost their vote, consider this election to be manipulated and null, and consider the reappointment of the head of the government for a second term, to be illegitimate and a usurpation."

On the political front, this week also saw bold statements being released by Mousavi, Mehdi Karoubi and former President Mohammad Khatami. Despite great pressure from the authorities, these three were determined to increase their verbal pressure on the government. I am not sure about the statements of Mousavi and Khatami, but Karoubi's statement was domestically limited in its distribution as the newspaper that was publishing it was closed for several days by the government to prevent its publication.

Other tweets coming out of Iran today and yesterday continue to point to the fact that this internal power struggle, which has clearly spilled out into the public arena with these statements, is having some practical implications:

- Some kind of big meeting among Mullahs in Mashad yesterday. Ahmadinejad's visit to the holy city had been canceled

- Mashad visit by Ahmaji'd cancelled as rough reception threatened.

That this traditional pilgrimage of each newly elected President to Mashad, Iran's holiest city, has apprently been canceled could be of great significance. Twitters seem to indicate that there was a question if even thousands of Basijis could guarantee Ahmadinejad's security and some tweets indicate that the trip may have been canceled due to the objection of some clerics.

The Twitter reports that Hashemi Rafsanjani has refused to lead Tehran's most important Friday prayer services for the second time in a row is also very significant: "Just confirmed independently that Rafsanjani refused to lead Friday Prayers in Tehran this week. That makes 2x now."

All in all, it is clear that there is a major unresolved split among the country's leading clerics. We'll have to see what the coming days and weeks bring.

Persiankiwi

Tuesday night Twitter began to buzz with some news about Persiankiwi. One of the Iranian Twitters who would know tweeted a short but clear message around 22.00 Tehran time: "Persian Kiwi is not arrested, but he does not have access to internet.” This was shortly confirmed by another trusted source in several sequential tweets: "Persiankiwi is safe and is contacting a few of us. The ONLY Persiankiwi is still persiankiwi. I believe they R well and safe. I have had contact with Persiankiwi, they have knowledge of our private conversations from weeks ago, so I am not worried."

These messages were retweeted hundreds if not thousands of times over the last few days and many people kept asking for more information. One of the three Twitters who have seemed to be the closest to Persiankiwi tweeted yesterday: "Fellows, don't inquire too much about Persiankiwi. He isn't in any position to tweet but he isn't arrested either." It seems that Persiankiwi's public role in any case has ended as he is likely gone deep 'undergound' to stay out of the hands of the authorities.

Who knows if we will ever know who was behind Persiankiwi but Iranians and the whole world in fact should be very grateful for the incredible work he did in the first two weeks of the 'revolution.' I am thankful he/she/they is safe.

Nighttime chanting

This has become the major form of protest and according to all accounts is still quite strong and perhaps growing. From various Iranian Twitters:

- "Allahu akbar was heard louder than all the previous nights"

- "Situation in Tehrn hasn't calmed down v/much. Ppl still chanting @ nights, loudr & loudr n furious."

- "Allah o Akbar chants going strong at night in large cities like sfahan, shiraz, ahwaz, mashad, tabriz"

And this despite the fact that Basijis are reported to be conducting nighttime raids of private homes of suspected chanters and are rampaging through neighborhoods just before dusk in order to intimidate people.

Nighttime chanting July 2

Basiji intimidation July 1

And this....

- There is a great deal of activity regarding a possible national strike next week during three Shia religious holy days known as the days of seclusion: "NATIONAL Seclusion (aka strike) (15-17 TIR = jul 6-9 Mon-Thurs), ULTIMATE GREEN RALLY" This has also been reported on Mousavi's Facebook giving it much legitimacy. We will have to see if the strike materializes.

- A Islamist lawyer from the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt has filed a complaint in the Egyptian courts calling for the banning of Ahmadinejad from an international meeting next week in Egypt and his arrest if he shows up:

"Ahmadinejad's visit to the Sinai Peninsula is a threat to national security and he has to be banned from entering the country, and if he does, he has to be arrested and prosecuted... If he is not the legitimate president, then he shouldn't be received in Egypt as such. His illegitimacy is obvious in the protests against him inside Iran."

- For two very chilling first-person accounts from individuals who have been arrested and released see these articles in the LA Times and The Gaurdian.

As always my thoughts and prayers are with all those in Iran and in particular those who have been arrested and may be undergoing terrible acts of torture.

Iran Twitter Report - Sunday June 28 & Monday June 29

2009-06-29T18:17:10+02:00

(written Monday afternoon, 6.30 PM Tehran time)

Today's round-up includes the gathering at and near the Ghoba Mosque, the reinvigoration of the opposition movement, nighttime rooftop chanting, voter fraud, whereabouts Persiankiwi still unknown, the return of one missing Iranian Twitter with his reports of friend's experience while under arrest and some video links.

Reinvigoration

Yesterday was a different day then the several days before. As you will have certainly heard from the mainstream media, there were once again street demonstrations at and near the Ghoba Mosque. Protesters used the annual memorial celebrations for Ayatollah Mohammad Beheshti who along with dozens of others were killed in an anti-government bombing in 1981 as cover for renewed street presence.

The figures given by the mainstream media of 3 - 5 thousand demonstrators were largely contested by Iranian Twitters who put the figure much higher. Be that as it may, the real significance of yesterday was a definite change of tone on Twitter. The government's brutal crackdown on street protests and on the flow of information plus the widespread arrests had all begun to take their toll. Over the last several days there seemed to be a palpable despondency in the Twittersphere, a dip that was also felt in the air of the Tehran as described in this NY Times article that appeared just the day before on Saturday.

But Iranian Twitters and their supporters were clearly reinvigorated yesterday by the street actions and by the presence among the protesters of many of their important leaders and sources of inspiration. Rafsanjani's daughter Faezah was there as was her mother. Opposition presidentail candidate Karoubi also marched among the people and Masouvi addressed the crowd via a mobile phone hooked up to a magaphone.

As one of the popular Iranian Twitters commented, "RT To all who lost their hopes last days: IT IS NOT OVER RT RT RT." The 'RT' in a Twitter message stands for 're-tweet' which is a request for others to repeat and pass on the message. The several 'RTs' and the use of caps clearly conveys the excitement and elation felt by this person and undoubdtedly many others on the ground in Iran.

Nighttime rooftop chanting

While the street protests had all but disappeared until yesterday, the nighttime rooftop chatting has not subsided despite the cruelest efforts of the various militia to intimidate people into silence as reported in the mainstream media and by Twitters: "During past days plain clothes went door to door and warned people to stop chanting." Three different popular and well-followed Twitters all made the same reports of Sunday night chanting:

- Ladies and gentlemen I believe we actually have ourselves revolution. Allah Akbar even louder tonight.

- Again tonight Great allah o akbars. we can do this people, keep it going. If we succeed the world will never be the same.

- Tonight people continued "Allah-o-Akbar" even when threatened by Basijis & plain cloths.

Another Twitter made an interesting observation about the chanting, pointing out again the role women are playing in the opposition movement: "Some areas I hear more women chanting than men, probably due to the hatred from losing their children." Chanting has also been reported in many other cities around the country.

The surprising and courageous role of young Iranian women in the opposition movement was also described in this report from the New York Times writer Roger Cohen. (Check out all of Cohen's fascinating reports direct from Tehran from June 11, the day before the election, until he left Iran on June 27.)

Voter fraud

The Gaurdian Council (check out this handy diagram if Iran's complex power and political structure is not totally clear for you) is scheduled to release today the results of a small-scale vote recount. Twitters however are doing a very good job themselves of bringing certain oddities to light, "all the votes in these ballot boxes are for ahmadinejad HMMMMM..." and providing a link to a graph showing the counts of 38 ballot boxes where Ahmadinejad received every single vote cast. In addition, several Twitters talked about the fact that the official counts presented on the website of a government ministry have continuously been changing.

Persiankiwi

The whereabouts of Persiankiwi still remain clear. Late Sunday night one Twitter who had gone missing and re-emerged yesterday (see below) made a report of Persiankiwi's arrest:

- heard about PersianKiwi I have no idea how they captured him/her...

- I don't think if gov really captured PersianKiwi, they knew about his/her twitter & hopefully will be released soon

This report caused a stir late last night on Twitter with dozens of requests for confirmation or source of the information being tweeted every hour by many people following these events. Nothing definitive has been said since with many other Twitters who could also know about his/her fate asking people to stay calm and wait for more concrete information before spreading rumours.

The return of a missing Twitter

Another well-followed trusted Twitter disappeared several days only to re-emerge late last night. His last tweets before his disappearance were quite chilling and led people to fear the worst. He closed saying he would be returning the next day to Tehran and then was off the grid for several days.

- I'm only posting this to say I'm still alive & not in Tehran, I had a bad incident with Basij and couldn't use computer

- I will not be able to twit tonight, no PC where I'm going to spend the night

- Shayan's brother's fate is still unknown, Reza has been released yesterday & at hospital right now & I think Masood is safe

- as soon I can walk properly again, I will go back to Tehran. probably tomorrow night

Late last night he re-appeared explaining that he was finally able to reconnect to Titter, apparently after several days of unsuccessful attempts: "finally managed to load twitter! HTTPS protocol is still blocked by some ISP & no chance getting to twitter with apps."

His tweets last night mostly focused on relaying in great detail the experiences of his friend Reza who had been arrested days before and subsequently released to hospital where he was recovering from wounds received while demonstrating:

- Reza released from Hospital yesterday he is banned from university and now is a stared [marked by gov] student

- he spent his first 48h of arrest at level -4 of ministry of interior building without food or water

- he said all sort of people were there & some of them were just unlucky people just walking in streets and captured for no reason

- Reza estimated around 200 people were in each room and there were not enough space to even sit on the ground

- they didn't open the plastic handcuffs for a day & half, & randomly beat up people in there

- there was also a awful problem of only one toilet for all people in there and a impossible time limit of around 1min for each person

- He said in the second day some pain cloth people came with papers forcing people to sign them

- the papers were prewritten confessions all in different hand writings saying the signer is a member of organization by mousavi

- and after they knew Reza is a student they moved him to a more harsh environment with some other people

- in morning a man introduced him self as Intelligent came saying he will record their confections with camera

- he promised if one of them confess in front of camera he will free them all & they will blur his face & nothing to worry!

- at night around 10PM they Released Reza & his family instantly moved him to a hospital for internal bleeding

- Reza had no idea why they suddenly released him & some of his inmates

- I skipped some of the incidents as Reza requested. he's very weak both mentally & physically

Although this account can not be verified, it certainly seems credible given the behaviour of the regime. And it strokes with this first-person account, 'What Will Happen To Those Arrested In Iran? I Can Tell You' from an Iranian who was arrested as a 20 year old student during the student protests of 1999.

Video links

Here are some links to videos that were taken and distributed yesterday, Sunday June 28. As you watch them, keep in mind that those taking them and later uploading them for the world to bear witness do so at extreme personal risk. These are people willing to risk almost everything, including their lives, to let us know what is really happening in Iran.

Mehdi Karoubi, opposition candidate, marching with people near Ghoba Mosque

Large cheering crowd in front of Ghoba Mosque: Interesting to note the many people using their phones to film. In past days people were afraid to be seen with phones for fear of being attacked by the Basiji.

People marching near or on way to Ghoba Mosque: Chants of "Death to the dictator" are loud and clear.

Another view in front of Ghoba Mosque

Inside Ghoba Mosque

Protest in another city Kermanshah: Chants of "Death to the Dictator"

Protest in Kermanshah: In this video much gunfire can be heard

As I finish writing this, it is now about 8.30 PM in Iran. One English language Twitter is reporting that several thousand persons trying to form a human chain in a Tehran location are clashing with police. And another, "On Parkway right now people are beeping their horns, and basij has responded by smashing their windscreens and slashing their tires." The other Twitters I am following have been silent most of the day or have just been posting general comments.

As always, my prayers and thoughts are with these incredibly brave people.

Iran Twitter Report - Saturday June 27

2009-06-28T15:42:36+02:00

(Written Sunday afternoon)

Even though the information coming out of Iran via Twitter remained sparse on Saturday there were several things of interest. The mainstream media has largely returned to reporting based on what is available from government sources which in and of itself is a large and unfortunate victory for the government's propaganda machine.

The victory is so big that many people are beginning to assume that the protest movement has been quelled and as one friend said to me on Saturday, "But that thing's over, isn't it?" It is clear that the government's violent campaign against its citizens and the efforts to restrict the flow of information and hunt down and arrest key sources of information has had a significant effect. We have entered a phase best characterized by that philosophical question, "If a tree falls in the forest and no one is there to hear it, does it make any noise?"

So what was happening on Saturday? We will cover a demonstration by victims' mothers, look at what's happening behind the scenes, we have a few words about the battle for cyberspace and of course an update on Persiankiwi.

Victims' Mothers

Although the government's violence and intimidation has quelled almost all street protests and gatherings there was at least one yesterday calling for the mothers of victims to gather near the grave site of the heroine Neda. One Twitter reported:

- Victim's Mothers Will Gather in Park Laleh At 19.00, Near Where Neda Was Shot Dead Last Sat.
- More than 200 Women With Candles and Flowers Gathering Where Near Neda Shot Dead. (not confirmed)
- More Women Trying to Join Mother's Meeting, Police Blocked All Ways.

While another source reported that the protesters were attacked by security forces and include one fatality:

- Reports: More than 7,000 Protesters Siting on the Street Near Neda Was Shot Dead. Police Sourended Them (not conf.)
- Anti-Riot Police Attacked Protesters in Park Laleh...
- Police Crack Down ppl who siting where Neda Shot Dead.
- A Female Student Who Was Shoted, Named SHALIR 19yrs. Confirmed Dead.

There were also reports of between 20 and 60 arrests.

Behind the scenes - the trees we don't hear falling

Since the elections it has been clear that there is a split among the country's leaders. According to many sources, the out of sight maneuvering is still going on in full fury:

- believe it or not a number of hard line Mullahs saying calling for executing protesters goes too far
- storm perhaps gathering strength and reach. Confidence some of those quite close to Supreme Leader could turn green
- Finally some news from a clerical contact in Mashad, there are closed talks among reformist clerics in Qom and Tabriz

Evidence of these discussions and growing split has been reported by some other mainstream media. Several important spiritual leaders have surprisingly come out publicly with strong condemnations of both the elections and the government's handling of the protests. For example, Grand Ayatolah Montazeri issued a very clear and harsh statement:

“Over the last several days I have been witnessing the glowing presence and the lively and sacrificial efforts of my dear and dignified sisters and brothers, old and young, in the campaign for the 10th presidential elections. Our youth also demonstrated their presence in the political scene with hope and good spirit, in order to achieve their rightful demands. They waited patiently night and day. This was an excellent occasion for the government’s officials to take advantage of and establish religious, emotional and nationalistic bonds with our youth and the rest of our people.

“Unfortunately, however, this opportunity was wasted in the worst possible way. Such election results were declared that no wise person in their right mind can believe; results based on credible evidence and witnesses has been altered extensively, and after strong protests by the people against such acts ... they attacked the children of the same people and nation right in front of the domestic and foreign reporters, and used astonishing violence against defenseless men and women and the dear students, injuring and arresting them. And, now, they are trying to purge activists, intellectuals, and political opponents by arresting a large number of them, some of whom have even held high positions in the government of the Islamic Republic."

And from the same article: "Two other important ayatollahs, Ayatollah Abdolkarim Mousavi Ardabili, a close aid to Ayatollah Khomeini and the Chief Justice when he was living, and Ayatollah Asadollah Bayaat Zanjani, also issued statements in support of Mr. Mousavi, the main reformist candidate; they have rejected and harshly criticized the official results." If interested another article does a good job of describing the behind the scenes power struggle now playing itself out.

And while large public protests have all but ceased, there are also reports that there are serious efforts still on-going to implement strikes as the next weapon of choice in opposing the government. As one well-followed source reports, "Quite careful planning happening about national strike. It will be coming soon, but requires to be properly planned."

Information, disinformation and the battle for cyberspace

On Twitter there are on-going efforts by government agents to sow confusion and disinformation. The best example of that was a long exchange on Saturday by a Twitter who has been fingered by many as a government agent. He was claiming that a very trusted source had been arrested, was being tortured, was giving up the names and addresses of key protesters and that whatever the person continued to Twitter was false and should not be listened to. However the continuing reporting of the Twitter who was allegedly arrested left no doubt that this was an attempt to discredit the vital information he/she continued to distribute.

In addition, there are on-going efforts by many people to disrupt the ability of Iranian authorities to effectively use their own websites to attack the protesters and disseminate false information. Yesterday that effort seemed to focus on bringing down this security forces website which is being used to post pictures of protesters in an effort to trace their identities. One non-Iranian Twitter was leading that effort yesterday. He has made available for download a very small and simple program that can be run from any Windows pc that floods the website in question in such a way as to bring down the server it is being run on. I have three of our Windows pcs running the program.

In addition spontaneous groups continue to emerge around the world who are joining forces in creating alternative Internet pathways for the protesters to use which bypass the Iranian web structure, allow anonymous Internet communication and which are better hidden from the Iranian cyber authorities.

Creating these run-arounds is very simple from a technical point of view. The great challenge is maintaining trusted avenues of communication to get the IP addresses of these so-called proxy servers into the hands of those who need them. In the first days this information was communicated via Twitter but as the Iranian government quickly figured out the role Twitter was playing it was necessary to move this communication underground.

Unfortunately it is becoming more and more difficult for those inside Iran to maintain or secure safe mobile telephone numbers and Internet access points. The mobile network, installed by Nokia and Siemens, has a feature called deep packet inspection that allows the Iranian government to quickly and accurately trace mobile phones that are being used for sending and receiving more data than what is necessary for normal voice traffic.

Persiankiwi

The fate of Persiankiwi is still the subject of much speculation. The Twitter that appeared on Friday calling himself Persiankiwi2 has already disappeared and the account is closed. This leads me to believe that it was nothing more than someone playing a hoax. At one point there appeared the message, "persiankiwi has been arrested. I'm so sorry. I get this news from a credible source but I hope it is incorrect" only to be quickly countered by a different credible source with, "Please stop reporting rumours, no one knows anything, they may likely be safe and maintain radio silence.”

However, late Saturday night a new account appeared called Persiankiwie who made 4 tweets:

- Am Safe. Basiji corrupted my twitter acct. DO NOT SEND INFO TO ME @persiankiwi! Great danger!
- Am safe but on the move.
- Can confirm plain clothes inside and outside of Mir Mousavi's location.
- Situation chaotic- safehouses discovered-ppl released from police have fear in their eyes- some tortured-world forgetting us.

To me this sounds exactly like the original Persiankiwi but there is still no confirmation from those who could know. One credible Twitter source is still waiting a reply from his/her last message directed at Persiankiwie 11 hours ago, "Please send me 1 of our old private exchanges so I know it is yourself." (Again, I am paraphrasing some messages so they can not be googled.) Perhaps today will bring more clarity about Persiankiwi's fate.

As always, our thoughts and prayers are with all those who are struggling for a better Iran. May their struggle be triumphant and may they be kept from harm.

Iran Twitter Report - Friday June 26

2009-06-27T01:01:20+02:00

Today the non-government information flowing out of Iran was even slower than yesterday with little information of substance. That plus the sad death of Michael Jackson has pushed the situation in Iran way down the ladder in the mainstream media. However there are some noteworthy bits. Here is a round-up of what I could glean from Twitter and other web sources.

Green Balloons

Given the extreme violence against protesters in the last couple of days, there was a call on protesters to release green balloons today. It is impossible to know how many people did so as the information flow has slowed from a trickle to a drip-drip. Between the called-for time of 1 PM until 1 AM (both Iran time) I could find only 250 tweets (a posting on Twitter is called a tweet) talking about green balloons and almost all of those were from people outside of Iran. Many contained links to pictures and videos that did make their way out today but after randomly clicking on dozens of the links I could only find four different videos (1, 2, 3, 4) and a handful of pictures.

Persiankiwi

The whereabouts of the now famous twitter known as Persiankiwi remained a hot topic for discussion and speculation. The great majority of visitors to my weblog in the last 24 hours came from Google searches about Persiankiwi. Sometime yesterday a new Twitter account was opened named Persiankiwi2. People on Twitter wanted to know if this was the real deal, a fame-seeking copy-cat or an Iranian government agent.

Persiankiwi2 made 17 tweets over a period of five hours and has again been silent for the last 12 hours. I re-read many of Persiankiwi's tweets, trying to compare them to Persiankiwi2 and it seems to me that there is a subtle but noticeable difference in the English grammar and syntax. A trusted source who is still Twittering had this to say (I can't imagine that the Iranian authorities haven't noticed this Twitter yet but there are many admonitions on Twitter to avoid mentioning trusted Twitters by account name so I won't. I have also changed the text from Twitter short hand to normal language to make it impossible to copy and then to google. Just being cautious, not paranoid, although I was surprised by one weblog visitor today who arrived via Farsi language Google from Iran.):

- "could be him but I should explain so people can decide to follow or not to follow. The day Persiankiwi stopped I was called by an unknown person asking me if I was *****? So I am worried." (note: she was apparently concerned that her phone number had been compromised if Persiankiwi had indeed been arrested).
- "I am still waiting for persainkiwi2 to relay to me a direct private message with content we previously exchanged to prove his/her identity."
- "I am worried that the tone of @persiankiwi2 is very different from the original. Please be careful for now."

Baharestan Square

On June 24 there was an attempted demonstration in Baharestan Square by the Parliament building that according to protest sources inside Iran turned into a bloodbath. I know this happened two days ago but if you missed this it is a must listen. As I listened to this Iranian woman describe in a live phone call with CNN what she saw, I had chills running down my spine and tears rolling down my cheeks. Her account jives with other Twitter messages and what she tells to CNN is corroborated by the last messages from Persiankiwi, who went to the demonstration:

"just in from Baharestan Sq - situation today is terrible - they beat the ppls like animals. I see many ppl with broken arms/legs/heads - blood everywhere - pepper gas like war. they were waiting for us - they all have guns and riot uniforms - it was like a mouse trap - ppl being shot like animals. saw 7/8 militia beating one woman with baton on ground - she had no defense nothing. so many ppl arrested - young & old - they take ppl away - we lose our group. ppl run into alleys and militia standing there waiting - from 2 sides they attack ppl in middle of alleys."

Arrested journalists

According to Amnesty International up to 30 Iranian journalists remain in detention in Iran. I read today that one of those is Maziar Bahari, an Iranian-Canadian independent filmmaker and Newsweek journalist. I had the pleasure and honor of meeting Maziar at a Passover dinner (he is not Jewish but is a friend of friends) two years ago. We had fascinating dinner conversation that night and have had the occasional email correspondence since then. My thoughts and prayers are with him, his detained colleagues and of course everyone in Iran. I now hope more than ever to take up his gracious offer to visit Iran with him one day, hopefully a free Iran. His last two articles from Iran were on June 17 and June 15.

Michael Jackson

Michael Jackson? Yes Michael Jackson. His tragic death has not gone unnoticed, even among Iranians tweeting from Iran. One Iranian tweeted about Michael between his/her normal tweets opening up a poignant personal window:

"Jackson videos helped me back when I was facing trial and possible jail term in the Islamic Court. In the 1980s spent many daytime hours under threat in the Islamic Court and my nights watching videos of the singer who died today. Who else recalls the morality police in the 80s who had a MJ patrol going around arresting young men who were dressing like he was? Lots of people loved Michael and we struggle so our young people can be free to listen to whomever they want in freedom."

He/she then returned to the business at hand:

"We are at the moment safe, going through many proxy servers to get our info out. There will always be others to carry on. I must sign off for now. I am not under arrest and please don't click on links in tweets saying I am. I need some rest and will then try and find some more real news."

It is amazing how people can remain, well, just normal people in the midst of the most abnormal circumstances we can imagine.

God has many names but only one face. May He bless these brave people in Iran and their cause and keep all innocent Iranians safe from harm. Goodnight.

Iran Twitter Report - Thursday June 25

2009-06-25T22:55:01+02:00

Something out of the ordinary is going on in Iran today as the information coming out via Twitter and other sources has slowed to a trickle with very little substantive information. At first I thought that maybe I was missing something but even CNN, with their fully decked out Iran desk, confirmed my suspicions:

"The Internet communications that CNN monitors to determine what is happening in Iran, where the government has imposed severe restrictions on international journalists, appeared to have slowed Thursday. It was not clear whether that was because there was less activity or because the government was blocking access."

The Iranian Twitter, Persiankiwi,

that I have quoted here the last two days is one of the most followed both inside and outside of Iran. Many mainstream media outlets were also using him as a key source.

Shockingly he has been off the grid for 24 hours now. In light of his unusual absence, his last three tweets (a tweet is the term for a Twitter message) last night are chilling to re-read:

"we must go - dont know when we can get internet - they take 1 of us, they will torture and get names - now we must move fast"
"thank you ppls 4 supporting Sea of Green - pls remember always our martyrs - Allah Akbar - Allah Akbar - Allah Akbar"
"Allah - you are the creator of all and all must return to you - Allah Akbar"

I have been told that his very last tweet is something that Muslims say before dying which makes his absence all the more frightening. His disappearance has been one of the primary subjects on Twitter today. These are four examples from the newest 25 messages about Persiankiwi that have appeared in the last 15 minutes only. Over the past 24 hours there have been thousands of tweets inquiring about Persiankiwi and wishing him well.

"reema80 Is wondering where @persiankiwi is... hope he/she/they are safe"
"iheartcards I wonder where @persiankiwi is."
"drpedwards @persiankiwi, the silence is deafening, I hope the gov't will be thwarted in its attempts to silence you and your comrades."
"ladyeclectic Anyone know what's happened to @persiankiwi they haven't posted in over 24 hours... "

About an hour ago, another trusted and much followed source, tweeted: "persiankiwi would often move for better connection, plenty of my contacts have no more than 1 hour each day, so there still could be hope." On the other hand there are some sources reporting that Persiankiwi has been injured, arrested or has escaped from Iran. Of course none of these can be confirmed and they come from sources that are impossible to evaluate.

This one Twitter quoted above was also the subject of much speculation during the day. The message, "??????? confirmed in custody of Basji probably confessing all" was repeated for hours but these rumours were fortunately put to rest by many new messages from the person in question including the one quoted above about Persiankiwi. From the same source it also appears that the night time rooftop chanting is as strong as ever: "Again a night chanting on rooftops of Allah Akbar and Marg bar Dictator..."

There has also been some renewed activity today on the cyberwar front. I noticed an increased amount of traffic warning people of government agents posing as protesters and foreign sympathizers who are directing people to new 'safe' internet connections which are allegedly being tapped by the authorites.

Messages like "Tweet freely in Iran. Bypass govt. censorship. Use for free. Select country Canada at http://tinyurl.com/nzxco5" are being countered by messages like, "Warning: tweets with phrase "select country Canada" are gov agents hunting protestors. Please RT." (RT = 'retweet' meaning to pass along).

Even though it appears that the government may be making significant progress in closing the web loopholes used by the protesters, there are still videos finding their way to the web. Here are a few examples of new videos from yesterday's events that have found their way out today:

http://www.iranianuk.com/article.php?id=38901; http://www.iranianuk.com/article.php?id=38903; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h-zUFeoG-L0

Also of interest is a letter from a doctor at a Tehran hospital that has made its way out. The doctor describes the condition and numbers of the wounded and dead which contradicts the claims of the Iranian government. There are also pictures of protests staged by the hospital staff outside the hospital. Brave people indeed!

We will just have to impatiently wait and see what tomorrow brings. As Oxfordgirl commented about two hours ago: "Tense times as Khamenei prepares to speak again at Friday Prayers."

Iran Twitter Report - Wednesday June 24

2009-06-24T21:52:43+02:00

It is now midnight in Tehran and here is the Twitter report for the last 24 hours from the individual I follow most closely. It makes for heavy reading with its eye-witness report of deadly and brutal attacks on people today at Baharestan Square. Also, this Twitter and his group of trusted contacts are apparently now on the run as the authorities seem to be closing in on them. He writes: "we must go - dont know when we can get internet - they take 1 of us, they will torture and get names - now we must move fast." That and two other messages were posted four hours ago and since then nothing more. With only 24 messages today versus his 100 messages yesterday, it is clear that things are getting ever more difficult and dangerous as the regime tightens both the physical and IT noose.

      Allah - you are the creator of all and all must return to you - Allah Akbar - #Iranelection Sea of Greenabout 4 hours ago from web

   2.
      thank you ppls 4 supporting Sea of Green - pls remember always our martyrs - Allah Akbar - Allah Akbar - Allah Akbar #Iranelection about 4 hours ago from web

   3.
      we must go - dont know when we can get internet - they take 1 of us, they will torture and get names - now we must move fast - #Iranelection about 4 hours ago from web

   4.
      Everybody is under arrest & cant move - Mousavi - Karroubi even rumour Khatami is in house guard - #Iranelection -about 4 hours ago from web

   5.
      they pull away the dead into trucks - like factory - no human can do this - we beg Allah for save us - #Iranelection about 4 hours ago from web

   6.
      Lalezar Sq is same as Baharestan - unbelevable - ppls murdered everywhere - #Iranelection about 4 hours ago from web

   7.
      they catch ppl with mobile - so many killed today - so many injured - Allah Akbar - they take one of us - #Iranelection about 4 hours ago from web

   8.
      in Baharestan we saw militia with axe choping ppl like meat - blood everywhere - like butcher - Allah Akbar - #Iranelection RT RT RTabout 4 hours ago from web

   9.
      reports of street fighting in Vanak Sq, Tajrish sq, Azadi Sq - now - #Iranelection - Sea of Green - Allah Akbarabout 4 hours ago from web

10.
      rumour they are tracking high use of phone lines to find internet users - must move from here now - #Iranelection about 4 hours ago from web

11.
      phone line was cut and we lost internet - #Iranelection - getting more difficult to log into net - #Iranelection about 4 hours ago from web

12.
      all shops was closed - nowhere to go - they follow ppls with helicopters - smoke and fire is everywhere #Iranelection about 5 hours ago from web

13.
      ppl run into alleys and militia standing there waiting - from 2 sides they attack ppl in middle of alleys #Iranelection about 5 hours ago from web

14.
      so many ppl arrested - young & old - they take ppl away - #Iranelection - we lose our groupabout 6 hours ago from web

15.
      saw 7/8 militia beating one woman with baton on ground - she had no defense nothing - #Iranelection sure that she is deadabout 6 hours ago from web

16.
      they were waiting for us - they all have guns and riot uniforms - it was like a mouse trap - ppl being shot like animals #Iranelection about 6 hours ago from web

17.
      I see many ppl with broken arms/legs/heads - blood everywhere - pepper gas like war - #Iranelection about 6 hours ago from web

18.
      just in from Baharestan Sq - situation today is terrible - they beat the ppls like animals - #Iranelection RT RT RTabout 6 hours ago from web

19.
      Larijani pressing for Mousavi to be given airtime on IRIB to discuss elections #Iranelection RT RT RT - tahlilerooz.irabout 22 hours ago from web

20.
      MOUSAVi - on his wesite - Wed Sea of Green is 100% confirmed - no cancellation will be made #Iranelection RT RT RTabout 22 hours ago from web

21.
      Wednesday 4pm Baharestan Sq, Tehran - Sea of Green - #Iranelection RT RT RT - Mir Hossein Mousaviabout 22 hours ago from web

22.
      Mousavi has stated 'If I am arrested or killed - strike until the Gov falls' - #Iranelection about 22 hours ago from web

23.
      Kayhan - Iranian Gov newspaper - has tonight called forthe arrest of Mousavi - #Iranelection RT RT RTabout 23 hours ago from web

24.
      all hospitals is surrounded by militia to check why ppl going in - if gun or baton injury - they arrest and beat u #Iranelection10:52 PM Jun 23rd from web

Iran Twitter Report - Tuesday June 23

2009-06-24T18:58:46+02:00

I have been closely following the events in Iran for the last week and a half. Unless you have been living in a cave you will know that the mainstream media is unable to report what's going on due to severe government restrictions. All the real news that is filtering out is coming from mostly young Iranians who are risking at best their freedom and at worst their lives to break through the government's information embargo and counteract the propaganda that official government news sources are spreading. They are passing information about events and developments on the ground, planned demonstrations and requests for assistance primarily through Twitter and Facebook. And they are secretly filming and photographing what's happening and uploading this material to Youtube and other websites.

The Twitter reports of those close to the action are unlike anything that we are used to from mainstream media. They are often eye-witness accounts or accounts from people they call trusted sources. Their entries often come in real or near real time and are packed with all the emotions that the person is feeling as they write. It is high human drama, often raw and more often than not since a few days ago full of fear and anxiety.

If you want to know what's really going on from a human perspective then forget the mainstream media and go right to the source. After all, that's what the mainstream media is doing at the moment.

Here is what one of the more authoritative Twitters reported yesterday, June 23, 2009. I am reprinting this person's Twitter activity for those who are not following Twitter or who do not follow this one particular source. Although it is not difficult to trace who this is from, since Twitter is open to all, I am not printing his or her's Twitter name. The time period covered is from 2.30 AM on June 24 back to about 4 AM on June 23:

      Larijani pressing for Mousavi to be given airtime on IRIB to discuss elections #Iranelection RT RT RT - tahlilerooz.irabout 1 hour ago from web
   2.
      MOUSAVi - on his wesite - Wed Sea of Green is 100% confirmed - no cancellation will be made #Iranelection RT RT RTabout 1 hour ago from web
   3.
      Wednesday 4pm Baharestan Sq, Tehran - Sea of Green - #Iranelection RT RT RT - Mir Hossein Mousaviabout 1 hour ago from web
   4.
      Mousavi has stated 'If I am arrested or killed - strike until the Gov falls' - #Iranelection about 1 hour ago from web
   5.
      Kayhan - Iranian Gov newspaper - has tonight called forthe arrest of Mousavi - #Iranelection RT RT RTabout 1 hour ago from web
   6.
      all hospitals is surrounded by militia to check why ppl going in - if gun or baton injury - they arrest and beat u #Iranelection about 4 hours ago from web
   7.
      all foreign embassys surrounded by militia to stop ppl going in - #Iranelection about 4 hours ago from web
   8.
      The parks in north of city are closed at night and militia attacking any ppl in park or walking in streets - #Iranelection about 4 hours ago from web
   9.
      we have report of large street battles in east & west of Tehran now - #Iranelection about 4 hours ago from web
10.
      there is militia controlling movement from downtown to north of Tehran to stop ppl joining Sea of Green - #Iranelection about 4 hours ago from web
11.
      tomorrow Mousavi annouce start of a new type of protests - peaceful and silent - soon there will be strikes #Iranelection about 4 hours ago from web
12.
      the only question now is how will the end happen - peacefully or with civil war - #Iranelectionabout 4 hours ago from web
13.
      the ppl have lost all faith in this Gov - Iran can never be same as b4 again - #Iranelectionabout 4 hours ago from web
14.
      all normal life in Iran has stopped - now everybody only talk about Sea of Green and rumours of how Khamenei will go - #Iranelectionabout 4 hours ago from web
15.
      We can hear ppl shouting from balcony right now 'Allah Akbar - death to Khamenei' - #Iranelectionabout 4 hours ago from web
16.
      Guardian Council has extended time for considering election fraud claims 5 days more from tomorrow deadline #Iranelectionabout 4 hours ago from web
17.
      everywhere is road blocks and fires and sometime u hear guns shooting - #Iranelectionabout 4 hours ago from web
18.
      It is just like living under martial law - u cannot go anywhere without being stoped or beaten by militia - #Iranelectionabout 4 hours ago from web
19.
      the city is full of Baseej and Revolutionary Guards and plain closthes militia carrying baton and tear gas - #Iranelectionabout 4 hours ago from web
20.
      We have just returned and outside the city sky is full of teh sounds of 'Allah Akbar' from ppls on balconys - #Iranelectionabout 4 hours ago from web
21.
      we must log off for a few hours - going to streets to see what is happening - #Iranelection thank uabout 7 hours ago from web
22.
      confirmed IRIB - Iran expels 2 UK diplomats - #Iranelectionabout 7 hours ago from web
23.
      CONFIRMED - Musavi facebbok - Wed march Baharestan Sq 4pm Mousavi will attend too #Iranelectionabout 7 hours ago from web
24.
      yesterday we saw a 10 years old child die from teargas in his face - #Iranelection - could not film becos militia everywhereabout 8 hours ago from web
25.
      travelling thru Tehran now is worse than Bagdad - any moment u can be beaten or arrested - #Iranelectionabout 8 hours ago from web
26.
      some embassys provided protection b4 but now they are all surrounded by militia - also if u are injured then they arrest u - #Iranelectionabout 8 hours ago from web
27.
      also one of us is badly injured and we cannot take to hospital - treating with trusted doctor contacts but needs hosp - #Iranelectionabout 8 hours ago from web
28.
      We are having difficulty getting updates to u as so many of our contacts been arrested - life here is v/v/dangerous now #Iranelection RT RTabout 8 hours ago from web
29.
      Shirin Ebadi - Nobel Peace Laureat - calls for International Political sanctions against Iran Gov - #Iranelection RT RT RTabout 9 hours ago from web
30.
      Maryam Zolfeghar - journalist IRNA - arrested today - #Iranelectionabout 9 hours ago from web
31.
      Mousavi - http://bit.ly/fmvIZ - #Iranelection RT RT RTabout 9 hours ago from web
32.
      Mousavi - no matter what the reaction of the Gov - the Bazaar will close or be at standstill - #Iranelection RT RT RTabout 9 hours ago from web
33.
      Mousavi - There is nothing to fear - if asked - YOU ARE ONLY GOING SHOPPING - #Iranelection RT RT RTabout 9 hours ago from web
34.
      Mousavi - the objective is to bring Tehran to standstill - millions of people go shopping but NOBODY SHOPPING - #Iranelection RT RT RTabout 9 hours ago from web
35.
      Mousavi - do NOT wear green - dress normally - bring your children - if stopped u are ONLY going shopping - #Iranelection RT RT RTabout 9 hours ago from web
36.
      Mousavi - stop all work and travel with friends & family toward Tehran Bazaar every day at 9am - #Iranelection breaking newsabout 9 hours ago from web
37.
      Mousavi - From Today every morning at 9am WE ALL travel to Tehran Bazaar - whatever reaction from Gov - Bazaar will close #Iranelection RTabout 9 hours ago from web
38.
      Mousavi - We will not expend any more energy talking to the Gov in the streets - we must change course #Iranelection breaking news RT RT RTabout 9 hours ago from web
39.
      reports that Bazaars throughout main Iranian cities were mostly closed today for unofficial strike - #Iranelectionabout 9 hours ago from web
40.
      تجمع در مقابل مجلس شورای اسلامی – چهارشنبه سوم تیر #Iranelection آقای موسوس ساعت 5 سخنرانی خواهند داشت.about 10 hours ago from web
41.
      والسلام علي من التبع الهدي #Iranelection #Iran #Neda #Tehranabout 10 hours ago from web
42.
      اسلام دین صلح است دین دوستی برادری نه برادر کشی #Iranelection RT RT RTabout 10 hours ago from web
43.
      آیا همه دروغ می گویند اما صدا و سیما راست می گوید ! #Iranelectionabout 10 hours ago from web
44.
      آیا صحنه های کتک زدن مردم عادی دروغ است ؟ #Iranelectionabout 10 hours ago from web
45.
      چرا میترسید ؟ شماها وجدان دارید؟ شماها خدا می شناسید ؟ #Iranelectionabout 10 hours ago from web
46.
      چرا سیستمهای ارتباطی را قطع کرده اید ؟؟ موبایل ,SMS , یاهو مسنجر اینترنت , پارازیت #Iranelectionabout 10 hours ago from web
47.
      آیا چند میلیون انسان که همه از مردم هستند ارازل و اوباش می باشند ؟؟ #Iranelectionabout 10 hours ago from web
48.
      کدام را باور کنند آنچه را که با چشمان خود دیده اند یا آنچه را که شما ها در صدا و سیما وارونه نشان میدهید #Iranelection RT RT RTabout 10 hours ago from web
49.
      بیایید و ببینید در تهران چه میگذرد آیا چند میلیون انسان که همه از مردم هستند ارازل و اوباش می باشند ؟؟ #Iranelection RT RT RTabout 10 hours ago from web
50.
      آیا شماها انسانید تا کی باید سکوت کرد آنهایی که در خانه نشسته اید و یا به خیابانها نمی آیید آیا شما ایرانی نیستید ؟ #Iranelection RTabout 10 hours ago from web
51.
      چشمان ما دید که چگونه مردم را به حد کشت کتک میزدند چرا ؟ آیا اینجا ایران است ؟؟ #Iranelectionabout 10 hours ago from web
52.
      چشمان همه دیروز در امیر آباد تهران شاهد بود که چطور یک کودک 10 ساله را با گاز اشک آور کشتند #Iranelection RT RT RTabout 10 hours ago from web
53.
      ما آرام نخواهیم نشست هر شب در تمام میادین تهران دست به اعتراض خواهیم زد #Iranelection RT RT RTabout 10 hours ago from web
54.
      از خون شهدا بترسید که آه آنها گریبان شما را خواهد گرفت #Iranelection RT RT RTabout 10 hours ago from web
55.
      اسلام دین صلح است دین دوستی برادری نه برادر کشی #Iranelectionabout 10 hours ago from web
56.
      امام حسین برای چه قیام کرد و کشته شد ؟؟؟ #Iranelection RT RT RTabout 10 hours ago from web
57.
      چرا ما نمی توانیم بگوییم رای ما چه شد ؟ چرا ما نمی توانیم بگوییم چرا مردم را می کشید ؟ #Iranelection RT RT RTabout 10 hours ago from web
58.
      ما تا کی باید ساکت بنشینیم و نتوانیم اعتراض کنیم ؟ چرا اعتراض ما را به اسلام و خدا نسبت می دهند ؟ #Iranelectionabout 10 hours ago from web
59.
      ما مخالف نظام و اسلام نیستیم . ما از خود شما هستیم , ما همه مسلمانیم , ایرانی هستیم #Iranelectionabout 10 hours ago from web
60.
      reports of large pro-Gov Baseej militia in front of UK embassy Tehran - #Iranelectionabout 12 hours ago from web
61.
      ppl not sure if national strike today - many busineses closed - #Iranelectionabout 12 hours ago from web
62.
      political prisoners being tortured to deny support for Sea of Green - #Iranelection - prison sourceabout 12 hours ago from web
63.
      all over Tehran on walls is written 'death to the dictator' - #Iranelectionabout 12 hours ago from web
64.
      The streets of all major citys in Iran is like war time - civil unrest EVERYWHERE - #Iranelection support for Sea of Green EVERYWHEREabout 12 hours ago from web
65.
      journalist sources - any reports published in Iran are censored in full by Gov first - #Iranelectionabout 12 hours ago from web
66.
      This is militia and what they are doing in Iran to ppl - http://bit.ly/bAvTZ - #Iranelection RT RT RTabout 12 hours ago from web
67.
      Neda - http://bit.ly/WD9tC - #Iranelection RT RT RTabout 12 hours ago from web
68.
      yesterday - hundreds of thousands of cars in Tehran streets with lights on to show support for Sea of Green - #Iranelectionabout 12 hours ago from web
69.
      Militia all over Tehran on motorbike beating pedestrians for no reason - #Iranelection - to frightened peopleabout 12 hours ago from web
70.
      Gov demos outside UK embassy in Tehran today shouting 'death to England' - 'death to BBC' - #Iranelectionabout 12 hours ago from web
71.
      Khamenei to address the world at Friday prayers this week again - #Iranelectionabout 12 hours ago from web
72.
      players of IRI national football team banned from speaking to press after wearing green armbands in Korea game - #Iranelectionabout 12 hours ago from web
73.
      student of Ferdows Uni - Ashkan Zehabian in a coma for past 5 days after being beaten by Militia - #Iranelectionabout 12 hours ago from web
74.
      news: all staff & journalists at Kalame Newspaper arrested last night - #Iranelectionabout 13 hours ago from web
75.
      The process is slow - but certain - when Rafsanjani speaks - he will be heard - #Iranelection endabout 13 hours ago from web
76.
      When all positions clear - Rafsanjani has the military, financial & clerical power to mobilise - #Iranelection cont...(12)about 13 hours ago from web
77.
      Rafsanjani is allowing Revolutionary Guard commanders to choose their side - with ppl or against - #Iranelection cont...(11) trusted or notabout 13 hours ago from web
78.
      Rafsanjani is standing back to see who is who - who support who - to see who is trusted - #Iranelection cont....(10)about 13 hours ago from web
79.
      Rafsanjani is slowly eroding support for Khamenei from behind scene - #Iranelection cont....(9)about 13 hours ago from web
80.
      Rafsanjani is also waiting for wave of support to grow both in & out of country - #Iranelection cont....(8)about 13 hours ago from web
81.
      Rafsanjani is waiting 4 Gov to show world extent of their suppression of ppls - #Iranelection cont...(7)about 13 hours ago from web
82.
      Until today Rafsanjani has remained silent about elections fraud in Iran - #Iranelection cont...(6) - this silence is v/importantabout 13 hours ago from web
83.
      Ppl of Iran know that Rafsanjani opposes Khamenei and ANejad - #Iranelection cont...(5) - there is big division btween them for past 10yrsabout 13 hours ago from web
84.
      Rafsanjani is possibly most powerful man in Iran - he has support of army and many of Revolutionary Guard - #Iranelection cont...(4)about 13 hours ago from web
85.
      During elections ANejad attak reputation of Rafsanjani on behalf of Khamenei - #Iranelection cont...(3)about 13 hours ago from web
86.
      Rafsanjani is head of Guardians who appointed Khamenei - He has power to remove him too - #Iranelection cont...(2)about 13 hours ago from web
87.
      At Friday prayers last wk Khamenei named Rafsanjani - it is very unusual to name anyone at Friday prayers - #Iranelection cont... (1)about 13 hours ago from web
88.
      Mousavi has called for largest March of Sea of Green on Thurs in Tehran in memory of the martyrs - #Iranelectionabout 13 hours ago from web
89.
      ری/ تاج زاده، امین زاده،رمضان زاده، ابطحی و سایر بازداشت شدگان به شدت برای اعترافات ساختگی تلویزیونی تحت فشار هستند #iranelectionabout 22 hours ago from web
90.
      please remember always - Sea of Green is voice of people of Iran - we will resist and defend with our life - #Iranelection Allah Akbarabout 22 hours ago from web
91.
      one of our ppl is injured badly by Militia - this was unprovoked attack - #Iranelectionabout 22 hours ago from web
92.
      Again we say thank you to our friends who are helping from outside - you know who you are - Sea of Green - #Iranelectionabout 22 hours ago from web
93.
      now it is very late here and we must rest - tomorrow will another long day #Iranelectionabout 22 hours ago from web
94.
      Tehran hospital caualty levels very high - hospital source - #Iranelectionabout 22 hours ago from web
95.
      Tonight there was sound of guns in several parts of Tehran - #Iranelection - inc Shahrak Gharb, Tehran Pars and Gheytariehabout 22 hours ago from web
96.
      In Tehran there is unofficial martial law at night - #Iranelection about 22 hours ago from web
97.
      Rafsanjani controls much of the army - until now he is silent - after trigger event he will act #Iranelection about 22 hours ago from web
98.
      2009 will be a long summer of suffering for Iran - but Sea of Green will change Iran forever - #Iranelection about 22 hours ago from web
99.
      today Gov hackers broke into our profile - after several hours of hard work we hacked back into our own profile - #Iranelection about 22 hours ago from web
100.
      واکنش های گسترده به حوادث ایران؛ درخواست بان کی مون: دبیر کل سازمان ملل خواستار توقف بازداشت ها، http://bit.ly/wT8ur #iranelection about 22 hours ago from web