Marandi defends recent executions

Iran has hanged two men over protests that followed the country’s disputed presidential election in June last year.
The two men were allegedley working to “overthrow the Iranian regime”.
Speaking to Al Jazeera, Mohammad Marandi, a politics professor at Tehran University, defended the executions.

Mousavi and Karoubi: “The people are present in the scene and without fear”

Translation from the Facebook page supporting Mir Hossein Mousavi

Farsi version

Mehdi Karoubi and Mir Hossein Mousavi in a meeting that was held in Mehdi Karoubi’s home on Saturday morning, while expressing sorrow over the execution of some of the citizens, demanded legal investigations about the situations of the political prisoners. Mousavi and Karoubi by pointing out the cases of the two political prisoner who were executed recently stated:

“It seems like the [two] prisoners who were executed [recently] were arrested months before the election and their cases had nothing to do with the post-election events and according to their lawyers they could only have a short meeting with their clients and the legal procedures were not completed for them. It seems like such actions is only to scare people and discourage them from participating in February 11th rally.”Mousavi and Karoubi emphasised: “The widespread arrests of the political figures, journalists and academia with the charges of protesting in order to defend their rights is illegal and this is while the process of obtaining confessions from these prisoners is also in contradiction to Islamic principles and the constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran.”

Karoubi and Mousavi by pointing out the sermons delivered by Ahmad Janati, Secretary General of the Guardian Council and the Imam of Tehran, in this week’s Friday Prayer while expressing regret for the comments made by an Imam in a Friday Prayer said:

“Unfortunately instead of using the Friday Prayer’s podium to invite people to good, the Friday Prayer Imam by suggesting to the head of the judiciary that if they had not shown weakness on the events of July 9th (18 Tir ) and if the judiciary would have had executed some then, the events of Ashura would have not happened; encourages the authorities to repress and kill people and also justifies the actions of the authorities in executing some citizens with vague and fabricated charges. This is a very sad situation that the platform of Friday Prayer has become a podium for encouraging violence and inviting authorities to execute the citizens!”

Mousavi and Karoubi announced that the only way to resolve the current crisis and returning peace to the country is in releasing all political prisoners, opening the free media, letting the parties to become active again and holding free election and stressed that:

“Now the majority of the people are present in the scene without any fear in order to regain their rights, and their demand is to hold free elections but it seems like unfortunately the voice of the majority of the people is not being heard [by authorities].”
Karoubi and Mousavi announced that the continuation of the current situation will result in harming the foundations of the Islamic Revolution and the Islamic Republic which have been the outcome of the efforts and sacrifices of many brave Iranians and added:

“It seems like there is an illusion of conspiracy to overthrow the system among some authorities, and this trend of thoughts will make the country fall and will endanger the foundations of the system.”

Mousavi and Karoubi emphasised:

“The majority of the people only want to regain their rights and are not seeking to overthrow the system but it seems like the rulers are even feeling danger by this justice seeking voice of the people while the only way to end the crisis is to listen to the voice of the majority and respond to it [appropriately].”

It is also important to note that Mousavi and Karoubi invited all the people to participate in February 11th rally.

Letter by Participation Front to head of judiciary about executions

Translation from the Facebook page supporting Mir Hossein Mousavi (with special thanks to  “Negar Irani”).

Farsi version

Dear Mr. Larijani the honorable Head of the Judiciary,

The news of the execution of 2 prisoners accused of being Moharebs created a spark of surprise and astonishment amongst the nation of Iran and during a time when the political atmosphere is one of fervent hope to wipe out the dark clouds of hatred and vengeance, this faulty action by the judiciary system was only further proof that there is no willingness and desire to create calm in the country’s political atmosphere.

The judiciary, already accused of political maneuvering and ignoring justice and fairness, because of its illegal and doubtful behavior towards reputable political forces arrested and jailed unfairly after the elections, will now be questioned even more after issuing suspicious death sentences for 9 people and hastily executing 2 others.

A death sentence is regretful regardless of whom it is issued against, or whether or not that person deserves the punishment or is guilty of the crime. Even though we have no intellectual or actual kinship with these people, we are worried that the judiciary system is under the influence of forces that continue to move towards ordering further bloodshed and executions.

You are well aware that the death sentence is the only sentence that is irreversible. The legislators have therefore deliberately and knowingly created bureaucracy intended to lengthen the process between issuing and implementing a sentence in order to minimize any possible errors and unfair sentencing. The hasty executions of Mr. Rahmanipour and Mr. Alizamani have created much ambiguity and many open questions.

These two young men were naturally executed with your approval. In order to provide clarity to a highly inflamed public and in particular the supporters of the Islamic Revolution, who view this type of behavior against Islamic principles and enlighten the public and eliminate any unnecessary advertising and propaganda against the system and more importantly protect the dignity of the judiciary and make sure that it is not compromised, it is important that you respond to the myriad of open questions raised some of which we will present in this letter. If these sentences were fair and based on the law then calm will return to the political atmosphere. If god forbid, it is determined that unknowingly, these sentences were unfair and wrong, then you need to make it clear who will take responsibility for this heinous act, so that we eliminate the need to create committees such as those created to deal with the crimes at Kahrizak.

1) When were these individuals arrested? What was the reason for their arrests?

2) What was the logic for trying these individuals in the courts dealing with the aftermath of the elections, when they were clearly arrested a few weeks before the elections?

3) How were confessions obtained from them? In addition to their confessions, what other valid evidence was used to document their crimes?

4) Were fair judiciary procedures observed in their proceedings? Did they have access to legal representation? Were their lawyers allowed to visit them? Were their lawyers provided with sufficient time to review their case?

5) Is there any validity to the claims that the defendants were encouraged by interrogators to provide false confessions with the promise of lighter sentences? If true, does this not undermine the foundation of such a court?

6) Can the confessions given at the show trials, directed by those who committed the crimes at Kahrizak and were also responsible for interrogating the accused, be the basis for issuing such heavy sentences?

7) Was the minimum Islamic compassion shown towards the accused, allowing them to meet with their families one last time before their execution?

Mr. Larijani, these questions and many tens more that have remained unanswered, have lead the public to believe that the issuance and implementation of these sentences had no legal basis, was politically motivated and without logic, and God forbid, used to create political pressure and generate fear amongst the nation.

Mr. Larijani, we are aware that many of the penal codes based on constitutional principles were ignored in the the issuance and implementation of these sentences, in particular rules 168, 165, 38, 35, 32 and that the lack of response to these ambiguities will cause irreparable damages to the country and the system.

I will share the truth with you / You can either learn from my words or take offense

The Islamic Iran Participation Front
29 Jan 2010

Iran Labor Report: Sugar cane union leader released after 17 days in jail

Network of Iranian Labor Unions (NILU)

Reza Rakhshan, a leader of Haft Tapeh Sugar Cane Workers’ Syndicate was released on January 19th after putting up $150 thousand bail money—a hefty sum for a workers’ family.

On the morning of January 3, Rakhshan was called in by the security personnel at Haft Tapeh Sugar Refinery for questioning and was immediately handcuffed and taken to the local police precinct.  Subsequent to this, Intelligence Ministry agents went to his house and requested to search it without producing a warrant. Rakhshan’s family turned down the request. That did not stop the agents to force their way in, taking away with them Rakhshan’s personal belongings such as his computer, books, satellite dish, CD’s, etc.

Reza Rakhshan has been the subject of several arrests so far this year. The chief charge against him at Dezful Provincial Court of Justice is “spreading lies against the government”.

On the day of his arrest, Rakhshan was taken to the Shush Public Prosecutor office where he was charged with plotting against the system. Bail was announced, but once his family produced it, the judiciary officials refused to accept it. Instead he was sent to Ward 5 of Dezful city prison.

On January 15, Shush municipal court charged Rakhshan with defamation with a bail set for $30 thousand while the revolutionary court separately charged him with campaigning against the system with a set bail of $120 thousand. At noon, on January 19 Reza Rakhshan was finally released on a bail of $ 150 thousand while his case was pending.

Five more Haft Tepeh Sugar Can Workers’ Syndicate steering board members still remain in Jail, including the syndicate’s elected head, Ali Nejati.

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Najafabad commemorates Montazeri’s death

For the commemoration of the 40th day anniversary of the passing of the late Grand Ayatollah Montazeri, Thursday January 28th, all of Najafabad’s (the birthplace of Grand Ayatollah Montazeri) businesses were closed down and many people participated in the memorial ceremonies for Grand Ayatollah Montazeri. These ceremonies were held despite the heavy security presence and restrictions enforced by the regime’s agents.

Mehdi Karoubi: There is no retreating when it comes to people’s rights

Thanks to Mousavi’s Facebook group for the translation.

Original source: Saham News

Mehdi Karoubi in an interview with SahamNews, Etemad Melli’s official website, answered some questions about the recent news by FarsNews, coup government’s propaganda machine, and once again emphasised that he firmly believes that the presidential elections was rigged and he is no compromise and retreating when it comes to defending people’s rights. The full transcript of his interview is as follows:

Mr. Karoubi! Recently there was news from you regarding the placement of Ahmadinejad’s administration that was followed by different interpretations. The most important interpretation that bothered many people was the idea of your retreating and overlooking your position after the election. Did your remark mean retreating and entering a new phase?

It is really strange for me that the experts misunderstood my clear and blunt remark. I ask the experts to pay attention to the introduction and conclusion of my remark. I have emphasised on my criticism over the problems with the election and its results which were the outcome of fraud and engineering the votes and continue to do so. However, Mr. Ahmadinejad is the head of the administration, whom despite all the protests has taken the power in the executive branch and thus must be accountable for his actions. Currently everyone, inside and outside [the country], in favour of him or in opposition, calls him the head of the establishment’s administration meaning the one who controls the executive branch. Therefore, they demand [from him] what is the responsibility of the head of the executive branch. This is not something new and does not mean retreating from the previous position at all. This is just like other countries that when someone takes the power, regardless of how, he/she is called with the relevant title. The protestors’ and my criticism about the legitimacy of this power is still intact and I still believe that the people’s right to determine their fate was ignored in the tenth presidential election. If the election had been held correctly and the Guardian Council had really safeguarded the constitution, the outcome would have been different and the country and people would not have paid such cost. As I have said before, since this administration has not risen from the people’s vote, it cannot continue with its work.

You criticized the guardian council while Mr. Janati in his latest remarks has said that the Islamic Republic conducted one of the healthiest elections. He called the claim of fraud in election by people inside and outside the country ridiculous and stupid and said those people have sold themselves and have committed betrayal that no one has done before. What is your opinion about these remarks that are a clear insult to this country’s nation and its senior figures?

I read Mr. Janati’s remarks too. It is close to thirty years that Mr. Janati has been in the Guardian Council and for many years he has been the Genral Secretary of this council and has had a decisive role in there. The talent of Mr. Janati and his friends has been to turn the legal stature of this council to this pitiful situation. He considers the claims of fraud in election ridiculous and calls is betraying the country but who is that does not know the one who betrayed this revolution, the martyr’s blood, Imam [Khomeini] and the dear people of Iran is he himself that has brought the country and the revolution to a point that even funerals are held with the presence of the riot police and plain clothes militia. Pre-approving candidates in the elections and extensively disqualifying this country’s experts in various election such as for the assembly of experts, the parliament and the presidential election and making up results as they please and even changing results after the announcement of them are some of his talents which these betrayals are not only evident to him but also to the people. Mr. Janati, today the cry of Iranian people is the response to your betrayal of the people’s votes, the constitution and Imam Khomeini’s and martyrs’ idea by making the principle of the election meaningless and slaughtered the republics of the establishment.

Hamid Dabashi: White moderates and Greens

American pundits who pontificate on the internal affairs of others only reveal themselves as irrelevant and ridiculous, writes Hamid Dabashi.

Mr. Dabashi is an Iranian-American intellectual historian, cultural critic and literary theorist. He is the Hagop Kevorkian Professor of Iranian Studies and Comparative Literature at the Columbia University in New York, the oldest Chair in Iranian Studies.

I must confess that over the past few years I have been gravely disappointed with the white moderate. I have almost reached the regrettable conclusion that the Negro’s great stumbling block in his stride toward freedom is not the White Citizen’s Councillor or the Ku Klux Klanner, but the white moderate, who is more devoted to “order” than to justice; who prefers a negative peace which is the absence of tension to a positive peace which is the presence of justice — Martin Luther King, Jr, “Letter from a Birmingham Jail,” 16 April 1963

The only reason the world at large should take notice of what American pundits think of the Green Movement in Iran is that their self-indulgent pontificating reveals much about the troubled world we live in and that they think they must lead. Indeed, one of the most magnificent aspects of the unfolding civil rights movement in Iran is that it acts as a catalyst to expose the bizarre banality of American foreign policy commentary and its limitations in dealing with the rest of the world. Those in American circles that are of the “bomb Iran” persuasion are lost causes just like the Ku Klux Klan. It is the equivalent of what in a different context Martin Luther King Jr called “the white moderates” that warrants more attention.

Perhaps the single most important problem with American politics, policymakers and pundits — left or right, liberal or conservative, Democrat or Republican — is that they think that anything that happens anywhere in the world is about them or is their business. The imperial hubris that seems definitive of the DNA of this political culture wants either to invade and occupy other people’s homelands and tell them what to do, or else disregard people’s preoccupation with their own issues and impose, demand and exact “engagement” with them, whether they want it or not.

Take the most recent piece of nonsense published on the civil rights movement in Iran by Flynt and Hillary Leverett, “Another Iranian Revolution? Not Likely” ( The New York Times, 5 January 2010), which has absolutely nothing to do with or seriously to say about the Green Movement, and yet everything to reveal about the pathology of American politics as determined inside the self-delusional Beltway cocoon.

As early as mid-June 2009, the Leveretts defending the fraudulent election of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad (“Ahmadinejad won. Get over it,” Politico, 15 June 2009). That millions of Iranians had poured into their streets and put their lives on the line did not seem to bother the Leveretts. In addition to a condescending tone, in which the Leveretts partake freely when talking about a groundbreaking civil rights movement about whose origin and disposition they are categorically ignorant, the chief characteristic of their take is that they keep fabricating non-existent targets and then shooting them down. The result: what say has everything to do with the besieged and bunkered mentality inside the Beltway and absolutely nothing to do with the Green Movement. Chief example: “The Islamic Republic of Iran,” they believe, “is not about to implode. Nevertheless, the misguided idea that it may do so is becoming enshrined as conventional wisdom in Washington.”

Whoever said it was? No scholar or otherwise serious and informed observer of Iran writing in Persian or any other language and still in her or his right mind can predict — or has predicted — that the Islamic Republic will or will not fall, and even if it did, one way or another, it would have nothing to do with what “conventional wisdom in Washington” opts to enshrine or not to enshrine. If there are folks inside the Beltway who think the Islamic Republic will fall any day now, Abbas Milani will become the American ambassador to Iran, or the Iranian ambassador to the US, depending on the season of his migrations to the left or right, and Lolita will soon become required reading in Iranian high schools, well that’s their problem, and yet another sign of their dangerously delusional politics. That hallucination has nothing to do with the Green Movement, and thus the Leveretts need not have sought (in vain) to discredit a monumental social uprising of whose origin and destination they are oblivious.

These Washingtonians live in a world of their own. A massive civil rights movement has commenced in a rich and diversified political culture of which people trapped inside the Beltway have no clue. Thus what American pundits make of it is entirely irrelevant. This is a civil rights movement some two hundred years in the making, whose course and contours will be determined inside Iran and by Iranians. No Iranian could care less what people in halls of power in the United States think of their uprising, unless and until they start harming it. There are two sorts of harm: economic sanctions, covert operations and military strikes, advocated by the likes of Milani; or else engaging with the illegitimate and fraudulent government of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, as the Leveretts advocate. These are both interferences in the domestic affairs of Iran. Mr and Mrs Leverett ought to know they will be remembered in Iranian history as the 21st century equivalent of Kermit Roosevelt if they persist, as they have since the commencement of the Green Movement in June 2009, in actively siding with what in Iran is called “the coup government of Ahmadinejad”.

The supreme irony of the Leveretts’ position is that while the ghastly propaganda machinery of the Islamic Republic accuses anyone who utters a word against their criminal atrocities of being “an agent of CIA”, here is an ex- CIA agent acting as the greatest proponent of their theocratic terrorism. The Leveretts’ main concern is with President Obama hurrying up to “engage” Ahmadinejad before it is too late. To pre-empt neocon belligerent chicanery the Leveretts seek to push the president in the direction of diplomacy with Ahmadinejad’s administration. That legitimate and even laudable and noble concern, however, soon degenerates into an arrogant and ignorant dismissal of an entire civil rights movement as something ephemeral and even non- existent.

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Iran Labor Report: Workers block road after management’s decision to cannibalize plant

Via Network of Iranian Labor Unions (NILU)

January 24, 2010

180 Kerman Bafteha Textile workers closed several roads to protest share-holders’ decision to end operations. The roads stayed blocked from 12:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday. One of the protesting workers told the semi-official Iran Labor News Agency (ILNA): “Some in the management decided to dismantle the company and move the equipment to the city of Qazvin and we decided to block the roads at noon in opposition to this decision.” He added that the management had decided on January 20 to lay off 18 of the workers. Another 35 were slated to be dismissed by February 10th and the rest in the following month next. The executives are to put the 14 thousand acre land on auction.

Prior to this, according to the same worker, 550 were employed at the plant while today only 180 remain. Another worker mentioned that in 2000 and 2001, the management had declared the equipment to be rundown and unsuitable for operation. At the same time, the same machinery had been transferred to the provinces of Golestan and Tabriz under different ownership where they were still in use.

Running down healthy and newly-privatized plants, cannibalizing their equipment and selling their choice assets, such as land, is a common practice in Iran.

The political deputy at the Kerman governors office, Gholam Rezai, met with the protesting workers at 4:00 p.m. and made a vague promise to put together a commission with Jadidsaz, the company representative at the governor’s office.

Mehdi Karoubi condemns rigged election and violence on people one more time

Translated by “Negar Irani” for MirHossein Mousavi’s Facebook group:

Source: Saham News

In relation to issues regarding the election, Mehdi Karoubi, the head of the Etemad Melli Party, said: “With the passing of time, I become even more convinced of the extensive manipulations and fraud that took place in the recent elections, as every day we receive new information that demonstrates the regrettable nature in which the authorities handled the trust given to them by the people of Iran.”

With regards to the events that occurred after the elections, Karoubi noted: “Ask yourself what were the desires and demands of the the people who spontaneously came to the streets in such large numbers after the election? What were the demands of the 3 million people who roared in the streets from Imam Hossein to Azadi square, with their silent march, without any form of advertising or propaganda motivating them to attend? Should the response to a nation who took to the streets with such noble intentions have been batons, tear gas and gun shots? Should our dear youth who dared ask “Where is our Vote?” within the framework of the law, have faced violence and death at Kahrizak and other prisons?”

Karoubi strongly criticized the unacceptable treatment of the people and said: “We should tell those responsible for these atrocities “How do you expect the people of Iran to accept your one sided claims regarding the election when it is so evident that you lie? Did some of you not have the audacity to suggest that these young people had lost their lives to meningitis? Would you have ever admitted to the occurrence of these crimes had it not been for persistent and defiant cries & demands by myself, Mr. Mousavi and the brave nation of Iran?”