Wednesday, July 1, 2009

Bring Me Back the Meaning of My Life

This is an English translation of a love letter written for Mostafa Tajzadeh by his wife, while he's in the notorious Evin prison and said to be under torture after the Iranian presidential elections in June 2009. A note to consider before reading this love letter from Fakhrosadat to Mostafa: Mostafa and Fakhrosadat were close to the late Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the founder of the Islamic Revolution of Iran. Like many other supporters of Khomeini, they supported the Islamic revolution with good intentions and in recent years they have supported the pro-democracy reform movement in Iran, and are thus considered opposition for the hardliners such as Ahmadinejad. It is worth noting that Khomeini himself was weary of the damage these hardliners could do and did not allow them to thrive while he was alive.

My dear, my sweetheart, my darling

I didn't fall in love with your looks when I was seventeen, though beautiful they were and still are. Because in the two meetings we had when you proposed, we didn't even remember that fondness was what our mothers and grandmothers said it's supposed to be

And I didn't fall in love with your riches as you told me the first day that you had none, none at all, and you told me in later days "because I don't want to lie, I should say out of everything in this world, I have a motorcycle" and I frowned because the thought of motorcycle riding was not beautiful in my mind and I preferred to walk on foot and be late

And I didn't fall in love with your ranks as you had none. You said "I am in the Islamic Revolution Committee, and in the Friday prayers staff" and I didn't care at all what you do.

Honey, I fell in love with your character, and I chose you for your own name "Mostafa" (the chosen one) and you became my chosen one. I, Fakhrosadat, was the baby of the family and everybody was waiting to see who the last groom of our family will be and your brother-in-law told me the day after you proposed "It was as clear as day that you were going to like this guy"

I don't know why he said that but I liked you because you were the man of my dreams in 1981, exactly two years after the victory of the Islamic Revolution. Me, a seventeen year old Fakhrosadat, a fiery revolutionary who cared not for the musts and must-nots that were determined by the norm. I wanted you who wanted nothing other than the ideals and beliefs that were my ideal and belief. And you loved Ruhollah who coupled us together forever, and I want you who are still standing for the ideals you had then.

Oh my partner in life, stay strong for your ideals and know that I'm always proud of you and your perseverance.

You were in a rush for us to get married and I too, and we both insisted that our mentor and leader must solemnize our marriage. We decided that both our families would try to reserve a time with the late Imam. You through Mr. Khamenei and us through Mr. Mohtashamipour who Imam loved like he loved his children Mostafa and Ahmad and everybody knew that. I don't remember which time came first, but on January 27, 1981 we were together on our way to Jamaran for an eternal bond. You remember, I know you remember well, and I still remember your face full of tears in the hands of the Imam, and my own tears, and my own tears, and my own tears

I announced my marriage portion to be a series of the Tafsir al-Mizan and the Imam asked me to determine some money too and I told him to do as he saw fit, and he asked if I knew how to use the Tafsir and I knew, and after a silence he said the vows and I was in a hurry to say "I do" and me and you had no care for where we were and what conditions we had as though we were spellbound. And the Imam told us to tolerate each other and he told me to tolerate my husband and you to tolerate your wife so we learned that intolerance is a possibility in people's lives, and we decided to forever keep the promise we made in front of the Imam and we tolerated each other and the problems of life and its ups and downs and its sweet and sours, but we could never tolerate one instance of separation and now you've just taken your path and gone away?????????????? No they took your path and they took you away my chosen one This was not what we had promised. Do you remember every time we talked about you going to war I would get nervous and you would tell me not to worry for martyrdom requires a grace that not just any guy can achieve, and every time you heard the news of a dear one being martyred, you would get mesmerized and possessed, and when news came that Mohsen had risen to heaven and Hossein had been captured how you treated the families of these cousins so that they would forget the pain of the loss of their children when they smelled your presence and saw all your kindness and compassion, my sweetheart

Do you remember the home we had rented was filled with pictures of martyrs? From Rajayi and Bahonar and Beheshti and Motahhari, to all the relatives and friends who were martyred, and everyone said is this a house or a museum of martyrs? And in one of the last times we moved you cleaned most of the picture frames really well you put them in a box and said their respect must be kept and we took their memories to the depth of our hearts to keep them safe from any harm, and... do you remember all those pictures were smiling except the one of the Imam but we liked the charisma?

I hear in their home to home searches they seize the picture albums, and I'm so glad that you hid those pictures from evil eyes and took them away from dirty hands

I have so much to talk to you about. I don't know if you've heard my voice in these 18 days of division. They say you only hear the "Allah-u-Akbar" chants. I wish our house was still in Sa'adat Abad so you could hear my voice from section 209 in Evin which they say is newly built like the house that was never built for you and for us, and you would say "Fakhri, our lives are coming to an end" and I would say I fear even if we die we won't get a house in the afterlife, and you would laugh and say "which of the departed have ever been left homeless?" and I...now I despise all the houses, any house that is empty of you.

For me to be there and you not, my soulmate and companion where are you? Did those who took has bonded us together and whoever takes us apart would break his you away know that our Imam heart, and are these things even important for those strangers who vulgarly stole you from your house on your mother's birthday?????????????????????? My sweetheart, being away from you is not only difficult for me but for whoever knows you and whose soul is wounded at thought of the slightest pressure on you, it's hard, so hard. I wish I could talk to you even if just for the three minutes they allow non-political prisoners I wish before the interrogator - who I don't know if he knows anything of Islam -- had cut us off I would have told you that we are fine and everyone here is thinking of you in their prayers, and I would tell you that you are not just in my heart but in the heart of all Iranians and all the people you loved with all your heart, for whose rights you fought and stood up and persisted. I read Hamd for the perseverance of you and other dear ones detained and I pray for tranquility for myself and their families and I know there is no one more caring than our God towards you and others and I've left you in his hands and ourselves too, but remember one thing: I chose you for your courage and persistence towards your ideals, don't let the promise we made with our Imam break, my chosen one And one more thing: without you I'm meaningless and life without you is meaningless.

Bring me back the meaning of my life.

Fakhrosadat Mohtashamipour Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Link to the Original Translation

Monday, June 29, 2009

The Voice of Iran: Neda



Musical Tribute to Neda by Maral

Neda, you're not going down,
your eyes might be close,
your blood on the ground,
but I know,
you'll be around,

Neda, Neda, take my hand...


*Nedā (ندا) is the the Persian word for "voice", "calling" or "divine message," and Neda Agha Soltan has been referred to as the "voice of Iran".
source: Neda's page on Wikipedia

Monday, June 22, 2009

Iran Human Rights: At Least 19 People Were Shot Dead & Several Dozens Wounded just in Tehran Demonstrations on Saturday 20 June 2009


Young Student, Neda, who was shot dead by a Basiji militia hiding on a nearby rooftop

Iran Human Rights, June 21:
Despite the warnings by the Iranian regime’s supreme leader Ali Khamenei, thousands of pro-democracy Iranians went into the streets in Tehran and other Iranian cities today. Demonstrators were met by thousands of security forces and paramilitary Basidj militia.

According to sources in Iran more than 19 people were shot dead and several dozens wounded by the shots fired at the demonstrators.

Unofficial reports say that at least 150 people might have killed in today's [20 June] Tehran demonstrations.

Some reports say that snipers shot people at the lower parts of the body and some of those wounded were taken away in Basidj vans to undisclosed locations. According to our reports, there have been protest demonstrations in other Iranian cities such as Shiraz and Isfahan.

Another disturbing report from "Human Rights Activists in Iran" said yesterday that the phone lines of Tehran’s Evin prison were cut off while many of those arrested last week were transferred to this prison.

Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam, the spokesperson of Iran Human Rights asked the world community to show clear support for the pro-democracy movement in Iran and condemn the Iranian regimes use of violence against peaceful demonstrators.

He said: " World community must not recognize Ahmadinejad as the president and send clear warning against extensive use of violence against defenseless protestors who are demanding their legitimate rights".

Source: Iran Human Rights Website (www.iranhr.net)

International Solidarity with the People of Iran

A Petition Against the Government-Sponsored Violence in Iran
June 22, 2009


We, the undersigned scholars, academics and writers around the world, are concerned about the human rights crisis in Iran. We request the United Nations to condemn the current coup d’état and support Iranians in their demand for a fair and democratic election. Deeply worried by the reports of Iranian paramilitary groups and security forces firing upon and arresting peaceful civilian demonstrators, we demand that the international community act now to prevent further violence and bloodshed. We call on the government of Iran to respect and uphold the right to peaceful protest. We call upon democratic institutions and organizations around the world to condemn government-sponsored violence against peaceful Iranian protesters. We also call on governments around the world to ask the UN Secretary General, the High Commissioner for Human Rights, and the Human Rights Council to appoint a UN special commission to monitor the post-election situation in Iran and to inform the Security Council about the arbitrary arrest and detention of student activists and leading reformists in Iran.

Mohammed Abed; Guliano Amato; Dora Apel; David E. Apter; Andrew Arato; John Atlas; Etienne Balibar; Joanne Barkan; Zygmunt Bauman; Mark Beissinger; Daniel A. Bell; Seyla Benhabib; Michael Berlin; Sheri Berman; Richard Bernstein; Michael Bérubé; Casey Nelson Blake; Giancarlo Bosetti; Ken Brociner; David Bromwich; Daniel Brook; Luther P. Carpenter; Jean Cohen; Charles W. Collier; George Cotkin; Giorgio De Michelis; Jane Dailey; Neil Denny; Andrew Ian Dodge; Michael Doyle; Max Dunbar; Ellen DuBois; Marc Edelman; Cynthia Epstein; Edward Evans; Henry Farrell; Giulio Ferroni; Nina zu Fürstenberg; Nancy Fraser; Vera Frenkel; Manuel Anonio Garreton; Jeanie Gosline; Kathleen Gerson; Gary L. Gerstle; Brian Gilbert; Todd Gitlin; Fabian L. Glagovsky; Eugene Goodheart; Linda Gordon; Linda Grant; Alan Greenberg; Mark Greif; Murray Hausknecht; Agnes Heller; Patrick Heller; Gur Hirshberg; Jennifer Hochschild; John Holzrichter; Maurice Isserman; Noah Isenberg; Ramin Jahanbegloo; Angel Jaramillo; James Johnson; Michael Katz; Michael Kazin; Alejandro Ribo Labastida; Shalom Lappin; Daniel Larner; Jeremy Larner; Jesse Larner; Mark Levinson; Steven Lukes; Kanan Makiya; Jeff Madrick; David Marcus; Avishai Margalit; Edna Ullmann-Margalit; Jake Marmer; Giacomo Marramao; Andrew Martin; Guido Martinotti; Kevin Mattson; Deborah Meier; Michael Meranze; Harold Meyerson; S.M. Miller; Nicolaus Mills; Jo-Ann Mort; Olivier Mongin; Andrew Murphy; Ashis Nandy; Martha Nussbaum; George Packer; John Palubiski; Ilene Philipson; Maxine Phillips; Ruben Pulido; Wes Ramsay; Eric Reeves; Phillip Richards; Corey Robin; Ben Ross; Marco Roth; Lillian Rubin; James Rule; Richard Sandbrook; Henry Shue; Alan Sommerstein; Buzz Spector; Jerome Slater; Christine Stansell; Judith Stein; Charles Taylor; Ruy Teixeira; Kay Trimberger; Evan Tucker; Adrian Tysoe; Inna Tysoe; Salvatore Veca; Felix de Villiers; Judith B. Walzer; Michael Walzer; Paul Wapner; Michael Weiss; Jon Wiener; Melissa Williams; Richard Wolin; Susan Wright

Source:Dissent Magazine
http://www.dissentmagazine.org/online.php?id=257

22 June 2009: Tehran: Ongoin Contestation on the Streets

Iranian police and military forces have turned Shiroudi Sport Compound into a military garrison. The sport compound is located in central Tehran, close to Haft-e-Tir Square, where many demonstrations have been taking place during June uprising.

Saturday, June 20, 2009

20 June, 2009: Day 8th: Resistance, Rage & Blood on the Streets of Tehran, its Suburbs & other Cities in Iran




A Summary Report of, thus far, the Bloodiest Day in the Islamic Republic of Iran:

Despite the state ban of today’s demonstration (following the Supreme Leader’s speech in Friday Sermon, 19 June), thousands of people took to the streets of central Tehran, chanting “Death to the Dictator” and “Down with Dictatorship.” Due to heavy censorship of all communication venues by the current government, the only available sources of information from Iran are incoming news from twitter, eyewitnesses, blogs (particularly, Revolutionary Road), Facebook, and Youtube videos taken by cell phones on the streets.


:Anti-riot police & Basij militia occupying, in-advanced, Ferdowsi Square on Revolution Street:


:Anti-riot police & Basij militia blocking access to demonstration sites:

In Tehran, ongoing reports confirmed heavy and bloody clashes between different fractions of Iranian security forces (including military police, anti-riot police, Basij militia – many in plain dress and wearing masks) and protesters in central Tehran, on Revolution St. from Ferdowsi Square (2 city blocks east of Revolution Sq.) to Freedom Sq. (the west-end of Revolution St.) – an area of some 6 kilometers – and the surrounding neighborhoods; as well as Amirabad mid-town neighborhood (few city blocks – approx. 3 km – north of Revolution St.), where parts of University of Tehran campus and its dormitory are located.


:Map of Enghelab(Revolution) Street & its surrounding areas, Azadi (Freedom)Square:

Meanwhile, helicopters were flying above the demonstration areas. The demonstrations started, as planned, around 4:00 pm – local time (LT) – by tens of thousands of people gathering in Tehran’s Revolution Square, amidst heavy presence of police and military forces (see pictures above). This is while by using tear gasses and blocking the entry roads to the whole area from the early hours of the rally, the police and military forces, practically, tried to disperse present protesters into surrounding residential areas and deny many more access to the demonstration sites.

Nonetheless, by 4:20 pm (LT), Revolution St. (the main route of June demonstrations) was packed up to its west-end, Freedom Square. By 4:30 pm (LT), anti-riot police, military police, and Bajis militia started attacking and dispersing demonstrators into the surrounding (mostly residential) areas, using batons, tear gases, and pepper sprays – also, late-evening reports from Emam Hospital speak of burned injured civilians, confirming the possibility of pouring either boiled water, chemical water or acid on protesters – unconfirmed reports speculate acid is being poured by helicopters flying above the contested areas. By 5:20 pm (LT), reports of heavy clashes and sounds of gun shots in Khosh St. around Freedom Sq. came in. By 5:40 pm (LT), heavy clashes between demonstrators and police and military forces (using tear gas and water cannons) on Freedom St, and chants of “Death to Dictatorship” by the people were reported. There are some reports of beating ordinary people on the streets and not just protesters. By 5:50 pm (LT), news of gathering some 2,000 to 3,000 protesters at Tehran University campus, followed by police surrendering of the campus, where the hardest and bloodies confrontations have been reported in Amirabad neighborhood.


:The writings read: My martyr comrade, I will take back your vote:


:Fire & fights in residential areas of Tehran:


:Street fights in residential areas:


By 8:30pm (LT), reports of Mir-Hossein Mousavi’s (the opposition presidential candidate) presence among the people and his speech in Jayhoon St. (on Revolution St., close to Sharif University and Freedom Sq.) came in. According to confirmed sources, Mousavi declared he’ll stand all the way with the people: “I am prepared for martyrdom. Shame on you and your tricks the coup government” and “If I am arrested the nation is to strike indefinitely.”

Residential houses close to the contested areas have been opening their doors, giving refuge to injured protesters. Confirmed reports speak of European Embassies' (Embassies of Britain, France, Denmark, Portugal, and Australia – so far) opening their doors and accepting injured protesters. This is due to the fact that many confirmed evidences show those injured who have been taken to the hospitals are being immediately arrested by police and military forces, taken to unknown locations, without informing families’ of the victims. Local reports saying Canadian Embassy has refused to accept anyone so far. According to news coming from Fatemieh Hospital in Tehran, until 11:00 pm (LT), some 30-40 civilians were dead, 200 more injured, and police has been taking names of incoming injured civilians. Incoming news speak of ongoing shooting at people on the streets of Tehran and calling for urgent medical help at site. Meanwhile, incoming news speak of mass arrests of journalists in Tehran. This is while, so far, not only some 600-700 reformist political figures (many of them part of the political structures) and activists, but also many young social organizers have been arrested within the past days.


:The brutal suppression of demonstrations started by shooting civilians:

While clashes and street fights, initially, started in the central city – in areas around Revolution St. – and then shortly later, spread to mid-town (University of Tehran campus), later in the evening and into the night, the street fights between civilians and police/military forces made it to other parts of the city, as well as the east and west side suburbs (mostly lower middle-class and working-class areas): by 7:00 pm (LT), upper town areas on Vali Asr Street (Vanak Sq.), by 8:47 pm (LT), going up north of Vali Asr (Tajrish Sq.), by 9:17 pm (LT), Arya Shahr neighborhood (west of Tehran), by 10:48 pm, Gisha neighborhood (west of Tehran), by 11:00 pm (LT), Haft Hoz neighborhood (east of Tehran), by 12:00 pm (LT), Navab St. and Azarbayjan St. (both south of Tehran), by 12:15 pm (LT), reports of fires in Haft Hoz Sq. (east of Tehran) and use of Molotov Cocktail by protesters in pushing back Basij militia.

By 9:45 pm (LT), hundreds of thousands of Tehranians took to their roof tops, chanting “Allaho Akbar” (God is great) for an hour – both in memory of the days of the 1978-9 revolution, and, as a sign of collective resistance and solidarity, symbolically implying ‘the fight will go on’. Eyewitness reports speak of the highest intensity of chanting within the past week. Some reports speak of plans by people to march into central Tehran tonight.

News of similar scenes of heavy and bloody clashes between police/military forces and civilians has been reported from other cities: Ahavaz (southern Iran), Rasht (northern Iran), Tabriz (northwestern Iran), Isfahan (central Iran), Shiraz (southern Iran).

Below are some videos from today (Saturday, 20 June 2009) street scenes in Tehran. Some videos contain violent scenes. Discretion advised.

20 June 2009, Demonstrations on the Streets of Tehran, around 5:30 pm (LT)

Above: Chanted Slogans: Death to the dictator; Down with this falsified, populist government; People why are siting aside, Iran has turned into Palestine;


20 June 2009, Demonstrations & Confrontations on the Streets of Tehran


Above: Chanted Slogans: Death to the dictator; Until Ahmadineajad is here, everyday will be like this; People, why are you sitting aside, Iran has turned into Palestine; O' Hossein, Mir-Hossein; Don't be scared, don't be scared, we're all together.


20 June 2009, Rage & Blood On the Streets of Tehran


20 June 2009, Rage & Blood on the Streets of Tehran


20 June 2009, Shooting at Civilians on the Streets of Tehran (Discretion Advised)


20 June 2009, Killing of a Young Girl by Basij Militia on the Streets of Tehran (Discretion Advised)


"At 19:05 June 20th
Place: Karekar Ave., at the corner crossing Khosravi St. and Salehi st.
A young woman who was standing aside with her father watching the protests was shot by a basij member hiding on the rooftop of a civilian house. He had clear shot at the girl and could not miss her. However, he aimed straight her heart. I am a doctor, so I rushed to try to save her. But the impact of the gunshot was so fierce that the bullet had blasted inside the victim's chest, and she died in less than 2 minutes.
The protests were going on about 1 kilometers away in the main street and some of the protesting crowd were running from tear gass used among them, towards Salehi St.
The film is shot by my friend who was standing beside me.
Please let the world know." From Facebook Notes.

In the memory of all those brave souls who have lost their lives on the streets, and, in solidarity with all brave women and men who have courageously taken to the streets of Tehran and other cities in Iran; voicing their rights as citizens, resisting oppression and dictatorship, getting injured and arrested. You are making memorable pages of the history of this much troubled country.

Tehran's Autoworkers and Bus Syndicate In Solidarity with People's Movement

According to several sources, since Thursday, 18 June, autoworkers at Iran Khodro - Iran's biggest auto company - have been on partial strike in solidarity with post-election protests. Also, Vahed Syndicate (the syndicate of bus drivers and workers of Tehran and suburbs) issued a solidarity statement on 18 June ... See below for both news:

Strike in Iran Khodro:

We declare our solidarity with the movement of the people of Iran.

Autoworker, Fellow Laborers (Laborer Friends): What we witness today, is an insult to the intelligence of the people, and disregard for their votes, the trampling of the principles of the Constitution by the government. It is our duty to join this people's movement.

We the workers of Iran Khodro, Thursday 28/3/88 in each working shift will stop working for half an hour to protest the suppression of students, workers, women, and the Constitution and declare our solidarity with the movement of the people of Iran. The morning and afternoon shifts from 10 to 10:30. The night shift from 3 to 3:30.

Laborers of IranKhodor


Vahed Syndicate Statement: Any Suppression or Threat of Civil Liberty Condemned

Any Suppression or threat of civil liberty condemned

In line with the recognition of the labour rights, we request that June 26 Action Day - Justice for Iranian workers - to include the human rights of all Iranians who have been deprived of their rights.

In recent days, we continue witnessing the magnificent demonstration of millions of people from all ages, genders, and national and religious minorities in Iran. They request that their basic human rights, particularly the right to freedom and to choose independently and without deception be recognized. These rights are not only constitutional in most of the countries, but also have been protected against all odds.

Amid such turmoil, one witnesses threats, arrests, murders and brutal suppression that one fears only to escalate on all its aspects, resulting in more innocent bloodshed, more protests, and certainly no retreats. The Iranian society is facing a deep political-economical crisis. Million-strong silent protests, ironically loud with un-spoken words, have turned into iconic stature and are expanding from all sides. These protests demand reaction from each and every responsible individual and institution.

As previously expressed in a statement published on-line in May of this year, since Syndicate Vahed does not view any of the candidates support the activities of the workers’ organizations in Iran, it would not endorse any presidential candidate in the election. Vahed members nevertheless have the right to participate or not to participate in the elections and vote for their individually selected candidate.

Moreover, the fact remains that demands of almost an absolute majority of the Iranians go far beyond the demands of a particular group. In the past, we have emphasized that until the freedom of choice and right to organize are not recognized, talk of any social or particular right would be more of a mockery than a reality.

The Syndicate of Workers of Tehran and Suburbs Vahed Bus Company fully supports this movement of Iranian people to build a free and independent civil society and condemns any violence and oppression.

In line with the recognition of the labour rights, the Syndicate requests that June 26 which has been called by the International Trade Unions Organization ‘Day of action’ for justice for Iranian workers to include the human rights of all Iranians who have been deprived of their rights.

With hope for freedom and equality

The Syndicate of Workers of Tehran and Suburbs Vahed Bus Company

18 June 2009