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The Iranian government further rattles the UK’s Cage

Time Online reports:

“Iran’s top legislative body announced today that British embassy staff accused of inciting post-election violence will be forced to stand trial in Tehran.

The surprise move by the Guardian Council will cause relations between London and the Iranian regime to sink further after the two countries engaged in tit-for-tat diplomatic expulsions last week. Downing Street said the Government was concerned and seeking urgent clarification today.

The announcement could also trigger a more aggressive diplomatic stance from EU nations, which yesterday rejected British and Czech moves to pull out all European ambassadors from Tehran.”

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The first video below appeared about 10 days ago and a new video from a different vantage point just below it has emerged which explains the scene. Viewer discretion advised.

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Iranian authorities have falsely claimed that Interpol is investigating the death of Neda Soltan who was shot on June 20 in Tehran by Basij forces. Her story has had such an impact on the world and on the Iranian public that clearly the state doesn’t know how to handle the situation and can’t seem to decide on a story they can stick to. First they tried to blame the murder on foreign Hizbollah. There seemed to be problems with that story so they then accused BBC journalist Jon Leyne of staging her murder to spice up a documentary film they said he was working on. Then they said the CIA did it but apparently no one bought that story either, so they changed the story again and said that Neda had been mistaken for the sister of an Iranian terrorist. Now they say the details around her death are so mysterious that Interpol has gotten involved, except, well, they haven’t, and have publicly denied that they are involved in any way or that they have even received any such requests from the Iranian government. Read the CBS Report.

Here’s a bit of comic relief for everyone:

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Etemad Meli, opposition leader Karoubi’s reformist newspaper, was barred from distribution today for printing Karoubi’s comments. Here are some excerpts of the very well crafted statement which has not been published in the paper but continues to circulate on-line. It shows the opposition realigning itself with the first Supreme Leader Khomeini in an effort to garner support from traditionalists and further alienate the current Supreme Leader from sections of society that support Islamic rule but question the legitimacy of Ayathollah Khamenei’s rule:

My re-emergence into politics was to rekindle the memories and love of the Ayatollah [Khomeini]. It was to reminisce the days of sacrifice and selflessness, not for selfishness and certainly not for degrading others. I came back to elevate the social and political climax, to fix our ailing social and political system. I came to talk about independence and bravery, to protect our youth and [students].

They have attacked people with boots and batons and sent thousands to the hospitals. They have attacked student dorms and pierced the hearts of an innocent girl with a bullet. They have fired on innocent people from the roofs of mosques and have arrested hundreds from the streets and their residence. They have beaten and jailed people and dragged confessions of velvet revolutions from them.

What kind of velvet revolution is this; that two of its leaders (Mousavi and Karroubi) were the most experienced friends of the Ayatollah [Khomeini] and were recognized by the office of the Leader and the Guardian Council as legitimate candidates and had 15 millions supporters.

This election was the most loud, political and impressive moment in the past 30 years.  Unfortunately, it had a lot of incidents as well and has placed the role of the leadership under question. Instead of addressing these questions, they have come up with new threats. Instead of consulting with the people, they are using propaganda, force, batons, guns, bullets, prison and torture, and at the end, they claim that it’s our fault.

I have a few points that I would like to deliver to you faithful people:

1)      The book that was the 10^th presidential election will not be forgotten and will go down as the period that [the government] engaged the people of Iran as enemies and raised negative international attention. Nevertheless, this is the time that our courageous people demanded accountability and recognition.

2)      For the martyrs that lost their lives in this period, I pray and wish them to be recognized as genuine martyrs. My thoughts and prayers are with the families of those who have lost their loved ones. I also wish for a fast recovery for those who have been wounded.

3)      I do not accept the results of the election and the seal of approval that the Guardian Council has given to it. I also do not recognize the victor of the elections and will not attend any of his programs.

4)      As a student and servant of the Imam (Khomeini) I would like to express my appreciation for all the support that we have gotten before and after the elections.

5)      The most important thing in this situation is to maintain the spirit of the revolution and politics and must not give into their demands of forgetting about the results of the elections. I extend my hand to those who are willing to keep our Republic and its Islamic values intact.

I will stand for the people and the revolution till I die and will take all the issues of the nation to my heart and will continue to fight to stir the nation in the path that the Imam (Khomeini) set.

A group of musicians from the Iranian diaspora have produced the above video to show their solidarity.

They are, from left to right, Raam, the lead singer from Hypernova, a now world-famous underground band from Tehran. Johnny B is an Iranian born/New York City raised composer, vocalist, poet, and front man of the musical group Electric Black: The most punk rock country-blues orchestra on earth Ali Eskandarian – Born in Pensacola, Florida but raised in Iran, Germany, and the US, this singer/songwriter has been based out of NYC while criss crossing the country for the last few years and performing his unique blend of music. Esfand – Born and raised in Iran with deep roots in Sacred Persian music, also the ex-front man of “Landlord”, a New York City rock band, is currently making big noise with his solo deput through electronic/pop sounds. Nariman Hamed, born and raised in Iran with deep roots in the film industry, currently living in NYC has been making/editing films with many great artists and directors for the past 10 years. He is currently working on his own feature film.

Mohammad Mostafaei, who we blogged about earlier was apparently released today on bail of $100,000. Click to this post to see the original post telling of his arrest and watch a video made by the Iranian Human Rights lawyer who has fought against child executions.

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The Jerusalem Post is reporting that six demonstrators have been hanged. The details are not clear, but the article is definitely worth a read. Here’s an excerpt which should update you on the situation over the last few days:

“Speaking after Iran’s top legislative body upheld the election victory of incumbent Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, sources in Iran told this reporter in a telephone interview that the hangings took place in the holy city of Mashhad on Monday. There was no independent confirmation of the report.

Underlining the climate of fear among direct and even indirect supporters of Mousavi’s campaign for the election to be annulled, the sources also reported that a prominent cleric gave a speech to opposition protesters in Teheran earlier this week in which he publicly acknowledged that the very act of speaking at the gathering would likely cost him his life.

On Monday, witnesses said thousands of policemen and Basij militiamen carrying batons were deployed in Teheran’s main squares to prevent any recurrence of the opposition protests. Drivers who so much as shouted “Allahu Akbar” or beeped their horns had their windows smashed by the Basiji and riot police.

On Monday, the daughter of former president Hashemi Rafsanjani, spoke a gathering of opposition protesters in Teheran’s Enqelab Square, sources said. “Mrs. Faezeh Hashemi arrived and tried to give the people some words of encouragement,” said one, “but the police broke up the rally within minutes.”

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Someone on iReport has posted a photograph that’s circulating of a student reported to have been beaten by Basij. The young man is in a coma now, and quite frankly, it’s a miracle he’s a live at all. The photograph is shocking so I’ve put it after the jump.

The news coming out of Iran these days is gruesome. Videos and photographs and first hand accounts are trickling out that serve as a chilling reminder of state brutality which apparently knows no bounds. Everyday, body’s are being broken, parents are looking for their children, people are on the run. The aftermath of the mass protests is taking a decidedly more sinister form.  The Guardian has published an account of a young man who “was arrested in Shiraz on 15 June, the Monday after the election. Some sturdy young men made a human shield around the demonstrators. He was among them. He said he managed to hit some of the anti-riot police. But then they caught him and beat him up.

“I was kept in a van till evening that day and then transferred to a solitary cell where I was kept for two days,” he said. “Then I was repeatedly interrogated, beaten and hung from a ceiling. They call it chicken kebab. They tie your hands and feet together and hang you from the ceiling, turning you around and beating you with cables.”

Click here to see the picture mentioned above, but user discretion is emphatically advised. Continue reading ‘Don’t Look Away – Don’t Look at This’

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Just back from Iran, Erlich scoffs at the notion that the CIA is somehow behind the millions of people in the streets. A highly reccomended read.

“Let’s look at what actually happened on the ground. Tens of millions of Iranians went to bed on Friday, June 12, convinced that either Mousavi had won the election outright or that there would be runoff between him and Ahmadinejad. They woke up Saturday morning and were stunned. “It was a coup d’etat,” several friends told me. The anger cut across class lines and went well beyond Mousavi’s core base of students, intellectuals and the well-to-do.

Within two days hundreds of thousands of people were demonstrating peacefully in the streets of Tehran and other major cities. Could the CIA have anticipated the vote count, and on two days notice, mobilized its nefarious networks? Does the CIA even have the kind of extensive networks that would be necessary to control or even influence such a movement? That simultaneously gives the CIA too much credit and underestimates the independence of the mass movement.

Some demonstrators wanted a more moderate Islamic government. Others advocated a separation of mosque and state, and a return to parliamentary democracy they had before the 1953 coup. But virtually everyone believes that Iran has the right to develop nuclear power, including enriching uranium. Iranians support the Palestinians in their fight against Israeli occupation, and they want to see the U.S. get out of Iraq.

So if they CIA was manipulating the demonstrators, it was doing a piss poor job.

Of course, the CIA would like to have influence in Iran. But that’s a far cry from saying it does have influence. By proclaiming the omnipotence of U.S. power, the leftist critics ironically join hands with Ahmadinejad and the reactionary clerics who blame all unrest on the British and U.S.”  Read the full article

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Here is an excerpt from a letter written to the Supreme Leader of Iran by one of his daughter’s former classmates:

“You, just like the shah, silence the voices of protestors with gunshots. But don’t forget that the shah’s harsh methods undid him and caused his regime to fall…Islam permits irreligious or secular rulers. It does not permit tyrants. I pity you. All the blood you’ve spilled has forever stained your 70 years of worship and piety.

Ali Khamenei, if you pursue the path you have been following, our people’s anger will take a different form. It will turn you and your family, as it did the shah’s and his, into forlorn and helpless individuals with the word “exile” stamped across your foreheads.

Before it’s too late for you and your family, realize that Neda’s voice is here to stay.”

Read the whole missive here.

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Here is a clip from Iranian State Press TV. Unbelievable bullocks:

For more infuriating entertainment visit their website

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The Guardian’s interactive map of those detained or killed during the last two weeks.

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By all accounts the kids are in the streets tonight protesting the Guardian Council’s ruling on the election this evening.  Clashes are reported.

And also this, for comic effect:

Hussein Taeb, commander of Basij forces, claimed today that “according to recent polls 85% of the people trust the election process and the remaining 15% will be resolved with the Guardian Council’s announcement.”   Taeb did not say how these polls were conducted.

Tehran Bureau reports: CALL FROM TEHRAN – [translated] After the 10 o’clock news, when the result of the Guardian Council’s vote count was announced, the sound of Allah o Akbar [protesters chanting 'God is Great'] sounded more loudly than ever before. More and more people are joining those chanting, and people sound angrier than ever.

Mr. Mostafaei is a lawyer and human right activist that represents 31 out of 135 juveniles in death row in Iran. Mr. Mostafaei became a prominent activist after he was able to win a case five years ago involving 15 years old girl who was in trail for killing a man who she said was trying to rape her. Since then, he has become center of child execution issue in Iran by defending the juveniles and trying to change the Iranian Constitution by reversing the age of maturity from 15 years for boys and 9 years for girls to 18 years for both.

Mr. Mostafaei was arrested from his home in Iran four days ago (June 25, 2009) and was taken to Evin prison!!!
The life of many juveniles in death row in Iran greatly depends on his work, and he is the only hope for these kids. Your support can bring attention to international community about his arrest.

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Iran’s top electoral body, the Guardian Council, has confirmed the victory of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in the presidential election after a partial recount (10%). CNN reports that what has actually happened is a military coup wherein the revolutionary guard has taken power under the leadership of Ahmadinejad, further militarizing the regime. What’s interesting is that it suggests that Khamanei may have lost his legitimacy and the “elected” president has usurped power and sidelined him by securing alliances with the Revolutionary Guard. It would be a smart tactical move to see the nuclear program through to its end goal but the report suggests the putsch is against the old clerical establishment paving the way for a new class of elite to rule the country headed by Ahmadinejad. The New York Times reports, “Mr. Ahmadinejad’s rise to power was in part because of Guard support, and he has since rewarded it handsomely. The Revolutionary Guard runs Iran’s nuclear program. If the opposition gains power, the Guard has to wonder what it might negotiate away. And outside agencies estimate that Iran could become able to assemble a nuclear weapon between 2010 and 2015.”