The Bridge # 6 by thebridgejournal thebridgejournal

T he Bridge IRAN’S FIRST INDEPENDENT JOURNAL IN MULTIPLE LANGUAGES

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Sunday November 8, 2009

Street journalists and Barbaric regime

r Zarqami, Head of Media and Broadcasting in Iran, with your permission citizens have also made their reports; of their massive protests, of the violence of the security forces and baton wielding Basij militia at the hands of the government. Of course they don’t have the facilities of your vast organization and they‘re not allowed to film. And yet you filmed the people who were brought in front of the “den of espionage” (the Islamic Republic’s description of the American Embassy) [continued on pg 19]

NEWS 

Evin Prison following 4 November Protest 

Interview with Khalil Bahramian, Defense Lawyer for Hamed Rouhinejad (Sentenced To Death) and Ahmad Karimi

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Arrested Haft Tappeh Union Members to Serve Prison Sentences

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Baha'i Citizen's House Searched In Babol

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“She was like an angel” Neda's mother talks about her daughter

400 New Detainees at

Setareh From Evin

THIS WEEK: Shirin Neshat

13 Aaban In and out of Iran

The Green Movement, Hejab and Ending the Death Penalty

Arrests continue in Kurdish Regions

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Strengthening of theRevolutionary Guard’s Intelligence Arm

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Students and Human Rights Activists Detained in 13 Aban Demonstrations

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Victory of Sanandaj Bakery Workers Against Wage Reduction

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100 Journalists Arrested in150 Days

Pg 12 Hypernova

Pg 11

Transsexuality in Iran: An Interview with Sharareh Attari, Director of 'It Sometimes Happens'

Pg 7 Stop Covering Up Sexual Assaults in Prison

Pg 3 Obama, Obama, It’s them or us!

Pg 7

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Iran police detain 109 over rally

Iran On the Edge 

Demand for the Prosecution and Trial of Those Responsible for 1360s (1980s) Mass Killings

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Koohyar Goodarzi, Journalist and Human Rights Activist Expelled from Sanati Sharif University

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Pg 18

Pg 16

No One Knows About the Persian Cats

Pg 15 The revolution is alive

November detainee families outside the Revolutionary Court

Pg 13 The Era of a New Politics Has Arrived

Protest gathering of 4

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Iran set to Execute Kurdish Political Prisoner Ehsan Fattahian

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Fars claims private hospital helped fuel unrest

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National Coach: European teams reluctant to come to Tehran

P6 26

Pg 25

Pg 23

Pg 22

Pg 4,5,8,9,10

Berlin celebrates fall of wall

orld leaders gather to mark "happiest day in postwar German history" Thousands of people in Berlin are celebrating the 20 year anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall. World leaders are expected to join them in marking the event, which paved the way for the end of the Cold War. Celebrations will primarily take place at the Brandenburg Gate, the symbol of German reunification in 1990. They will be led by German chancellor Angela Merkel, who grew up in East Germany. She called it "a celebration of the happiest day in postwar German history". 1,000 giant foam dominoes, painted by young people, will be toppled along the former route of the wall, to show the chain of events which swept across Europe, collapsing Communist governments in 1989. A big concert will take place at the Brandenburg Gate featuring musicians from across the world, including conductor Daniel Barenboim and DJ Paul van Dyk. Mayor Klaus Wowereit said: "History is palpable and alive here. The peaceful revolution of the fall of the Wall 20 years ago paved the way to an unprecedented transformation of Berlin." The wall was built by Communist East Germany in 2

1961, a 155km structure to prevent East Germans from running away into capitalist East Germany. More than 100 people It was unexpectedly opened on 9 November 1989, after weeks of pro-democracy protests. Guests will include architects of the events leading up to the fall of the wall, such as former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev, Lech Walesa, head of the Polish opposition movement Solidarity, and Hans-Dietrich Genscher, then West German foreign minister. French president Nicolas Sarkozy, British prime minister Gordon Brown, and US secretary of state, Hillary Clinton are also expected to attend. Yesterday, Clinton said that the oppressed still needed to be freed. She said: "Our history did not end the night the Wall came down. To expand freedom to more people, we cannot accept that freedom does not belong to all people." Far-left groups held a protest march in the centre of Berlin at the weekend, in an attempt to disrupt the glorification of a historical moment that unleashed the forces of capitalism. Ironically, the party is being backed by corporate sponsors.

Shadi Sadr receives Human Rights Tulip award

hadi Sadr, Iranian lawyer and womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s activist received the Dutch Human Rights Tulip award today in a ceremony at The Hague.

sies all across the world are told to extend their support to all human rights activists.

Ms. Sadr called for legal proceedings against the perpetrators of widespread systematic violence in Iran. She maintained that "Western governments, including the Dutch government as the host of the International Criminal Court, can ask the UN Security Council to pursue the issue of crimes against humanity through setting up an international court for Iran."

The award includes a 10thousand-euros prize and the opportunity to claim 100 thousand euros in subsidies toward a project to forward the recipientâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s human rights activities.

Shadi Sadr was elected by the Dutch foreign ministry out of 116 people from 63 countries Zamaneh reports that upon re- who were also nominated for ceiving the award, Ms. Sadr de- this award. clared that the issue of human rights in Iran should become a Justine Masica, Congolese hutopic of negotiations alongside man rights activists, was the the issue of the nuclear activi- first recipient of the Tulip ties of the Islamic Republic. award last year.

Maxime Verhagen delivered the Human Rights Tulip award to Ms. Sadr declaring that the Dutch government supports human rights activists in Iran as well as other countries. He maintained that Dutch embas-

According to the award organizers, Shadi Sadr was chosen for her legal activities, publication of critical articles in various websites, the campaign to fight stoning and activity in RAAHI organization. Shadi Sadr was also the recipient of Lech Walesa human rights award this year along with two other Iranian human rights activists, Roya and Ladan Boroumand.

13 Aaban In and out of Iran By Pejman Akbarzadeh Today is 13 Aban 1388 Wednesday 4 November 2009; there is unrest all over Iran. This time however it’s the 30th anniversary of the hostage taking the workers of American Embassy in Tehran. The Iranian government and local media refer to this place as “den of espionage”. On the 13th day of Abaan 1358 in the Iranian calendar the hostage taking pf American Embassy staff was carried out by students who were followers of the Imam line. (Imam Khomeini). This event led the biggest political crisis between Iran and the United States. The hostage taking took 444 days until the 30th of Dey 1359 in the Iranian calendar when a contract was drawn up between the Algerian, American and Iranian governments. The pivotal agreement in this contract was: Iran’s commitment in order to release the American hostages. America’s commitment to refrain from interference in the internal affairs of Iran. In previous years, on 13 Aban, government supporters have staged protests and slogans against the United States of America. Today also in the local media (Islamic Republic media) an important part of the special protests against America took place at the former American Embassy building in Tehran and other cities of Iran. Ayatollah Makarem Shirazi declared on state television that 13 Aban is one of the most important days in the history of our revolution. Outside of his jurisprudence, he also said that people would declare their enemy by appearing in the intense protests. However this year, for the first time people who are against the Iranian government and regime were also present dur3

ing the protests. This issue was a cause of concern for the government officials of Iran even before the day arrived. Revolutionary Guards of the Islamic Republic gave a statement that 13 Aban is the national day of struggle against arrogance, therefore participants in this ceremony are asked to shout slogans only against America. Sections of the public were invited to attend the ceremony with warnings that people should beware of the possibility of mischief and misplaced intentions at this great event. Despite these statements and warnings people addressed the highest officials of the Islamic Republic in opposition, as video footage uploaded on YouTube have shown. Ariane, an eye witness, in an interview with Zamaneh radio said: “There were many people today who gathered at Hafte Tir Square between 3 and 4pm. They came ready to face the suppression of the Special Forces unit. The forces attacked people and dispersed the crowd with pepper spray and tear gas. They forced businesses on Hafte Tir square to close their shops so there would be nowhere for the people to escape from the forces. Before, the election was the issue raised among people, but now the it was the whole establishment.”

Dabestani” dispersing the sound level of gun shots and the people being beaten by police enforcements. Iranians and citizens of other countries have also gathered in protest today. This afternoon in the Netherlands, opposite the Hague Tribunal, a demonstration was held from 5-7pm. Part of the route was cancelled due to rain, but poetry readings continued. Vahid describes this gathering: “There was a speech in front of the court, alongside a memorial and slogans were chanted in support of the Iranian people. People were holding cards demanding the freedom of political prisoners, free elections, and also the trial for recent crimes perpetrate. These were carried out in exactly the same way as the protests in Iran. Demonstrations were also held in Paris, in solidarity with the Iranian people, opposition to Video footage sent from Iran the election results, and the showed renewed slogans violence against people. Iraj against Russia, and the singing Adibzadeh was present. At St of revolutionary song “Yar e Michel Square, between 300-

400 people came together to support people in Iran. Also members of the human rights associations were also present and gave a speech to the people. One of the Iranians who participated in the protests in Paris, in an interview with Zamaneh radio said: “I am here today to show Ahmadinejad that nothing can silence these voices.” He said that the least we could do is participate in the protests held outside Iran and show our support in this way, as unfortunately we are not in Iran and we cannot participate at the protests held in Iran with all other Iranians. German cities that hold thousands of Iranians, planned protests on Saturday. Speaking from Aachen, Hadi Movayedi said: “We think that this is the strongest movement we have had since the days of the constitution. The influence of this movement both inside and outside the country is that different views were gathered around a series of common slogans. Even at the beginning of this movement, there were collaborations between us and other associations in Dusseldorf and Cologne. With these efforts there are now six human rights and political organizations working hard together.” Mr Movayedi explained the reason for holding the demonstration on Saturday 7 November “If we were to hold this event on Wednesday, then it would have been impossible for people to gather.”

400 New Detainees at Evin Prison following 4 November Protest

vin prison has issued registration cards for at least 400 people arrested between Noth vember 4 and 6th, during the 13 Aban protests. The detainees were moved in groups to Evin from different police stations and temporary detention centers and have been placed for the most part in Ward 209 and the isolation section of Ward 7. Some reports suggest that the actual number of detainees could be higher but judiciary and police officials are purport that only a small number of people have been arrested during the protests.

Women’s Rights Activist Behnaz Mehrani Summoned to Court

n Wednesday, November 4th 2009, Behnaz Mehrani was summoned by phone to appear before the Revolutionary Court to “explain” her activities. Over the past few days several feminist activists and members of the One Million Signatures Campaign have received written or over-the-phone summons to appear before the Revolutionary Court. Ayda Sa’adat, Elnaz Ansari, Khadijeh Moghadam, Maryam Malek, Kaveh Mozzafari, Jelveh Javaheri and Parisa Kakai are among the group of activists who have been summoned. Behnaz Meharni is a feminist and children’s rights activist and a member of One Million Signatures Campaign.

“Hamed & Ahmad don’t know anything about Anjoman Padeshahi Iran (API)” “The former Tehran prosecutor had a hand in writing the scenario.”

nterview with Khalil Bahramian, Defense Lawyer for Hamed Rouhinejad (Sentenced To Death) and Ahmad Karimi

Q- Mr Bahramian, have you been representing Rouhineajad since the start of his trial? A- In the beginning, Mr Sayf-Zadeh and another colleague were representing Hamed Rouhinejad, and I was not involved. Following the verdict, his family contacted me, and, after reading the file, I agreed to represent him in his appeal, which will be heard by the Supreme Court. Q- Can you explain what your findings were after reading about the case?

A- I found out that my colleagues had presented the defense case before the 28th branch of the Revolutionary Court, but in the end the court found Rouhinejad guilty of charges and sentenced him to death. Rouhinejad’s charges included having ties with API, acting against the Islamic Republic, and armed struggle. When I was reading the file I noticed that, during the preliminary investigations, my client had told the truth in its entirety to the investigators. An individual named Ali Zamani had promised to take my two clients and his own child to the US, where they could work - something that was obviously beyond his abilities. Rouhinejad was a student at the time.

Q- Do you have other clients awaiting trial who are accused of having ties with API? A- I represent Ahmad Karimi, a defendant in the same case awaiting trial. He will be tried at the 30th branch of the Revolutionary Court on November 9th, 2009. Q- What are your main arguments for the court of appeal? A- I have filed an appeal with the Supreme Court where I have listed my arguments. Having met my client in prison, I understand that he suffers from multiple sclerosis. His two arms are almost paralyzed and he is unable to write for more than a few minutes at a time. He has lost sight in his right eye. He is a disabled person and lacks the physical power to undertake actions against the country. His disability makes him in-

100 Journalists Arrested in150 Days Reporters Without Borders published an announcement on Thursday, condemning the recent arrest of Iranian journalists stating that in less than 150 days, 100 journalists have been arrested in Iran. This organization with its headquarter in Paris addressed the latest arrests in Iran announced that Farhad Pooladi, France news agency reporter and Nafiseh Zarekohan colleague of 4

many reformist newspapers were arrested on 13 Aban (4 November) following the street demonstration just one day before Hassan Assadi Zeidabadi, human rights activist and blogger was arrested. This organization emphasized that the French journalist had legal permission to report news. According to this statement Reporters Without Borders has also reported the arrest of

capable of being involved in political propaganda activities. The court’s verdict does not comply with legal norms, and I am convinced that it has become common practice for revolutionary courts to hand out harsher than normal sentences in similar cases. The mere fact that my clients were put on trial with the post-election detainees shows that this is a political verdict. In my view, Mr. Mortazavi, Tehran Prosecutor at the time, tried as always to present a heavily loaded file to the court and misrepresent the case to the public. Both my clients were arrested before the election and had nothing to do with the post election protests. I can say beyond any doubt that neither Ali Zamani nor my two clients had connections with API or even knew anything about the organization. They were just three young people who, along with Zamani’s child, went to Iraq, hoping to eventually go to a Western country. Poverty and other problems forced my clients to return to Iran with the approval and coordination of the Intelligence Ministry. They told the officials about their ordeal without holding anything back. Q- From what you’re saying, they did not face any problems upon their return to Iran. Can you tell us why such heavy charges were brought against them during the trial? A- From what I’ve been told by my client, his interrogators pressured him to become part of a fabricated scenario. It is my understanding that the former Tehran prosecutor had a hand in writing the scenario. For now, we have filed an appeal which will be heard by the Supreme Court. I hope the Supreme Court judges will hear the case with God in mind and decide based on their conscience and beliefs, unlike their previous decisions, which were to uphold the verdict without considering the case in order to please others and get on with their political agenda. They must bear in mind that they have to answer to God and the Iranian people. Q- Have you been given a time by the Supreme Court as to when this appeal will be heard? A- It’s common for the Supreme Court not to set any date. The judges read the cases one at a time and decide if there are grounds for appeal. I hope the judges will decide with their conscience. Source: ROOZ

freelance journalist Negar Sayeh at the beginning of Aban and stated: “In less than 150 days since the beginning of street protests against the re-election of Mahmud Ahmadinejad on 22 Khordad (12 June), at least 100 journalists and web bloggers have been arrested and 23 of them are still in prison”. Reporters Without Borders says that in addition to the arrest of 100 journalists in the past 5 months, more than 50 journalists

have been forced to leave the country and the journalists who’ve remained in the country are continuously threatened by the regime. In its annual report, Reporters Without Borders states that with regard to freedom of press, Iran has fallen to a lower position this year and stands at 172 among 175 countries. [More News on pg 5]

Strengthening of theRevolutionary Guard’s Intelligence Arm

wo weeks after Ayatollah Khamenei approved sweeping changes to the structure of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) and remarks by Mohammad Ali Jafari about the necessity of the IRGC’s engagement in intelligence and security affairs, the website “Basirat,” run by the IRGC’s political affairs division, announced the imminent appointment of Gholamhossein Ramezani as the IRGC’s Counter Intelligence and Security Director.  A spokesperson for the IRGC’s political affairs division reported, “Following the transfer of Hojjatoleslam Taeb from the Basij resistance force to the IRGC intelligence unit and his replacement with Commander Naghdi, other changes are taking place in the IRGC leadership. As a result Hojjatoleslam Gholamhossein Ramezani will be appointed as the IRGC’s Counter Intelligence and Security Director, replacing Commander Nejat.”   According to Basirat, Nejat, who in addition to being the IRGC’s counter-intelligence and security director also headed the special Vali Amr brigade in charge of the supreme leader’s personal security, will be given a post in the National Security Council as deputy of internal security.   Prior to his appointment,

Gholamhossein Ramezani had served as counter intelligence and intelligence directors in both the country’s police force and IRGC in various periods.    The news of changes in the IRGC’s intelligence leadership has been announced two weeks after the IRGC’s chief Mohammad Ali Jafari announced sweeping changes to the IRGC’s structure and leadership as approved by Ayatollah Khamenei, also noting the institution’s increasing engagement in security and intelligence affairs.   IRGC’s chief said, “Today is the era of soft warfare, and we must be able to carry out our duties in confronting soft threats. This requires organizational and structural changes, and the changes that have taken place in the past year, two years are in connection with this development.”   Mohammad Ali Jafari also spoke of Hossein Taeb’s appointment as the IRGC’s Intelligence Director, “The necessity of Mr. Taeb’s service as the IRGC’s Intelligence Director prompted us to appoint him to this post. This is a very important post, because today the regime expects more from the IRGC in intelligence matters.” Prior to the official announcement of recent changes in the IRGC’s leadership, some analysts had predicted that the Hossein Taeb-Gholamhossein

Ramezani duo would help to construct the core of the IRGC’s intelligence and security activities. According to analysts, in addition to his ideological and professional affiliation with Taeb, Gholamhossein Ramezani has played an influential role in carrying out the recent election coup and the postelection arrests. Ramezani played a key role in arresting and cracking down on reformists during the presidency of Mohammad Khatami, when he served as the police force’s counter-intelligence and intelligence director. The appointment of figures such as Hossein Taeb, Mohammad Reza Naghdi and Gholamhossein Ramezani to senior intelligence posts in the IRGC’s and the beginning of the second phase of changes in the institution continue the trend of IRGC’s transformation from a military unit to a security unit, which began two years ago with the appointment of Mohammad Ali Jafari as Head the IRGC.   The recent changes take place following wholesale dismissals in the Ministry of Intelligence, where, in addition to the minister, five deputy ministers and dozens of senior managers have been removed from their posts since the election.

Victory of Sanandaj Bakery Workers Against Wage Reduction

ccording to reports by Free Workers Unions in Iran, a three hour strike of bakery workers in Sanandaj on 4 Aban (26 October) with an ultimatum of fulfillment of their demands or a full one day strike of all bakers, achieved not only a stop in reduction of their wages but also the authorities’ agreement to increase their wages.

centage. Sanandaj bakery workers cook 32 units of bread and according to the recent changes, their salary increases by 2080 Tomans ($2). According to the workers, if all bakery workers had participated in the strike, there was a possibility of increasing the wages even more. The Free Workers Union of Iran in congratulating the workers added that the victory of preventing the reduction of wages is considered a symbol of workers’ fight to increase wages and asked all Iranian workers to fight for higher wages in solidarity.

According to this report on 11 Aban (2 November), in a meeting with the officials the bakery workers’ representatives discussed the 10 gram increase to each loaf of bread and an increase in workers wages from 379 Long Live the Bakery Workers of Sanandaj! Tomans (30c) per loaf baked (120 loaves) to Long live Labour solidarity! 435 Tomans (40c). Wages of all bakery workers have also increased by the same per[More News on pg 8] 5

Arrested Haft Tappeh Union Members to Serve Prison Sentences

wo board members of the Haft Tappeh sugar cane factory’s labor union have been arrested and taken to prison to serve their sentences. Two Haft Tappeh labor union board members were arrested by the company’s security on Thursday November 5th at 10am. The two union activists, Jalil Ahmadi and Fereydoon Nikoofar were handed over to security forces at 2pm who in turn took them to Dezful prison to serve their sentences. The Revolutionary Court in Dezful had previously sentenced the two to fixed and suspended prison terms for their activities. The Provincial Court of Appeals upheld the Revolutionary Court’s verdict for both activists and referred their cases to the enforcement department of Dezful Court. The activists were arrested today to serve their sentences. In October, 2009, the Revolutionary Court in Dezful found a group of labor activists guilty of union activities and sentenced them to prison terms. Ali Nejati, Feraydoon Nikoufar, Ghorban Alipoor and Jalil Ahmadi were each sentenced to a six month of fixed prison term followed by a six month suspended term. Mohammad Haydari-Poor was sentenced to a four month fixed prison term followed by eight months of suspended term. According to reliable sources, the three remaining activists will also be arrested in the coming days to serve their sentences.

Arrests continue in Kurdish Regions

n the past few days, a number of people have been arrested in different parts of Kurdistan by security forces. In the city of Mahabad, a woman named Roghayeh and a man named Mahmoud Cheereh were arrested by security forces under charges of having ties with the Kurdish opposition. Mr Cheereh is the father of a deceased member (guerrilla) from the Kurdish opposition. It has been also reported that the Intelligence Ministry forces of Naghadeh raided the house of a civil activist and writer named Hassan Ashaari last Saturday. The so called forces arrested Mr. Ashaari and took him to an unknown location. Another report from the city of Naghadeh claims that a cultural activist named Kaveh Hassanpour has been released on $50,000 bail until the hearing of his charges.

Transfer of Arrested Girls I Never Feared Death: The Plight to an Unknown Place of Ehsan Fattahian Jafar Pooyeh

t has been reported from different cities that a day after the mass protest of Iranian people, 13 Aban (4 Nov) that turned into a day of fighting against dictatorship, intelligence agents and plain clothes forces have attempted to arrest many young adults and freedom seekers. The repressive and barbaric acts of the Supreme Leader’s forces were so shameless that many worldwide reacted. Robert Gates, spokesperson for the Whitehouse, despite President Obama’s peaceful statement, addressed the Supreme Leader of Iran and reacted against protestor repression stating: “The government of Barak Obama is closely following the changes occurring in Iran and deeply hopes that the protests won’t turn violent”. Yet he is clearly aware that these acts of indecency by the regime are a result of world remaining indifferent towards the human rights situation in Iran and the lack of a centrist policy position against people’s suppression. By adopting a different tone of voice, he tried to not stay indifference against the suppression of people in Iran. Public’s sensitivity to the Iranian people’s movement due to citizen reports is so strong that politicians have reluctantly been forced to react. At the same time, Bernard Kouchner, France’s Minister of Foreign Affairs in a press conference took a strong position against the people’s repression stating: “This act will damage the character of Iran’s regime even more; a regime which puts pressure on internal forces and is not willing to have discussions with other countries.” However, the strongest position has been taken by the German Green Party. Ms. Claudia Roth, leader of the German Green Party in a statement against people’s repression by repressors of the regime wrote: 6

“Unstoppable and extensive protests in Iran shows the critical situation in this country which has put pressure on the non democratic leader of this country. The Leader’s decision has been to intimidate and pressurize, which has made the situation in Iran critical. We are sympathetic with the victims and those injured as a result of repression by the regime.” Despite all the objections to the regime’s repressive forces against the people’s protests, Iran’s regime still continues with its repression, entering political activists’ houses or those of well-known human rights defenders attempting to arrest them. According to news received from Bahar Street in Tehran, female protestors were transferred to an unknown place by bus on 13 Aban. Many girls have also been arrested on the streets around Hafte Tir and Valiasr, who are still missing and noone is aware of the location of their captivity. Numerous others were detained at the end of the protest and taken to Ward 209 of Evin prison. Considering the shameless record of behavior of the repressive forces against arrested females we ask all international communities, human rights and especially women rights organizations to take a stand against the arrest, unknown circumstances and captivity place of these young girls and women and put pressure on the regime to announce the place of their captivity. Arrested brave females are the core leaders of the people’s movement. These courageous and freedom seeking leaders must be freed immediately and unconditionally.

he last glimmers of the dusk sun Are showing me the path on which to write; The sounds of leaves under my steps Are telling me “let yourself fall And you will rediscover the path to freedom.” I never feared death. Even now, as I feel its odd and honest presence next to me, I still want to smell its aroma and rediscover it; Death, who has been the most ancient companion of this land. I don’t want to talk about death; I want to question the reasons behind it. Today, when punishment is the answer for those who seek freedom and justice, how can one fear his fate? Those of “us” who have been sentenced to death by “them” are only guilty of seeking an opening to a better and fair world. Are “they” also aware of their deeds? I started my life in the city of Kermanshah, the name of which has always been on the tongues of my compatriots for its greatness; the city which is called the cradle of civilization. As my thoughts were developing, I came to see and feel the injustice and discrimination; an injustice that targeted me not only as an individual but also as a member of humankind. I went in thousand different directions to find out the reasons behind injustice. Alas, they had made the arena so closed for those who were thriving for justice that I could not find my way in. I immigrated to another arena outside the superficial boundaries to find answers to my questions. I became a Komeleh guerilla in order to find my stolen identity. Yet I never separated from my first home, and once in a while I returned there to renew my memories. And then one day, they found me during one of my visits, arrested me and put me in a cage. The greeting my captors reserved for me from day one convinced me that my fate would be similar to those who had walked before me along that road: torture, fabricated charges, biased court, an unjust and politically motivated verdict and finally death. Let me put it this way: after being arrested on July 20th, 2008, in Kamyaran, I was taken to the Intel-

ligence Ministry’s local office. A few hours later, as I was blindfolded and chained and could not see or move, a person who introduced himself as the deputy prosecutor began questioning me. His questions were irrelevant and filled with made up accusations (let me remind you that it is strictly against the law to interrogate people in places other than courts and tribunals). This was the first of many interrogation sessions I had to face. The same night, I was taken to the Intelligence Ministry’s provincial headquarters in Sanandaj, where I had to attend the real party: a dirty cell with a disgusting washroom. The blankets had not been washed for years. This was the beginning of three months of going up and down the hall from my cell to the interrogation room, always being beaten along the way. The honorable interrogators were so keen to get a promotion or make a bit more money that they accused me of all kinds of bizarre things, even though they knew of the falsehood of their accusation. They used every means in their power to prove that I had taken part in armed operations. In the end they could only prove that I had been a member of Komeleh and had taken part in propaganda activities against the regime. The 10 year sentence handed by the initial court is good proof that I only had one charge. The 1st branch of the Revolutionary Court in Sanandaj sentenced me to 10 years in prison, to be served in Ramhormoz Prison outside Kordestan. The political and administrative establishment in Iran has always been in favor of centralized policies, but, apparently, in my case, they had decided to reverse course! [Continued on pg 11]

The Green Movement, Hejab and Ending the Death Penalty By Asal Akhavan

n the months following the June 12 coup, Iran has been engulfed in a massive movement and while this real people’s movement has become known as the green movement, it is in fact a kaleidoscope of colors portraying all political and social movements in it, which under normal and stable political conditions would probably have been opposing each other rather than standing side by side.  The goal of this movement, as its leaders and spokespeople inside and outside Iran have said is the establishment of the democratic rights of the people, such as freedom of opinion and expression, freedom of parties, syndicates, and associations, freedom in elections, press freedom, and freedom of association. It is clear that these democratic rights are the minimum requirements for a civil life for all political and social groups which is why they can constitute the basis of an effective political coalition, which may only be temporary.   The most recent movement of the Iranian people, while different from the 1979 revolution, carries with it three decades of bitter experience from that revolution. In the last three decades, the death penalty has been one of the most common words 

Works  Turbulent, 1998. Two channel video/audio installation.  Rapture, 1999. Two channel video/audio installation.  Soliloquy, 1999. Color video/audio installation with artist as the protagonist.  Fervor, 2000. Two channel video/audio installation. 7

in the political literature of the country and the Islamic Republic has created a new record in the number of political executions not only in the history of Iran but of the whole Middle East. “Must be Executed” was one of the main slogans of the 1979

revolution, something that in time gradually came to include those who had supported.   This is something that the Green Movement is aware of and has experienced. But how does a movement that has been created to build the future disassociate from its bitter past and damage?   There is no doubt that this movement must succeed. But as we currently focus on winning, we must also be conscious and sensitive to possible future deviations and harm. The very fact that “must be executed” has been eliminated from the slogans of people is a hopeful sign but we need greater guarantees about the future ahead of us.   For example, the views of many individuals and groups in the movement regarding two important is

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Passage, 2001. Single channel video/audio installation. Logic of the Birds, 2002. Multi-media Performance. The Last Word, 2003. Single channel video/audio installation. Mahdokht, 2004. Three channel video/audio installation. Zarin, 2005. Single channel video/audio installation.

sues are still unclear: the death penalty, and forced Hejab . One cannot use the battle against Ahmadinejad’s administration as an excuse to ignore these two and other important issues that concern fundamental human rights. It appears that the manner by which intellectual and political groups look at these two issues is a good criterion to see their practical commitment to human rights.   The groups in the Green movement, ranging from right to left, from new religious and liberal thinkers to national -religious groups and the Marxists must expressly respond to the question of their views regarding banning the death penalty. They must also specify their position regarding forced Hejab. Specifically, does the government have the right to impose and dictate what women must wear?   The groups that dominate this movement have a greater duty to clarify their views, and specifically Mr Moussavi and Mr Karoubi, and those who inside and outside Iran act as their spokespeople and have specific views in this regard, must express their views categorically so that we may gain reassurance and become more trustful, in view of past experience and events.

Munis, 2008. Color video/ audio installation based on Shahrnush Parsipur’s novel Women Without Men.  Faezeh, 2008. Color video/ audio installation based on Shahrnush Parsipur’s novel Women Without Me  Expressing the inexpressible 

THIS WEEK: Shirin Neshat Shirin Neshat (born march 26, 1957 in Qazvin, Iran) is a contemporary Iranian visual artist who lives in New York. She is known primarily for her work in film, Video and photography. Her work refers to the social, cultural and religious codes of muslim societies and the complexity of certain oppositions, such as man and woman. Neshat often emphasizes this theme with the technique of showing two or more coordinated films concurrently, creating stark visual contrasts through such motifs as light and dark, black and white, male and female. Neshat has also made more traditional narrative short films, such as her recent work, Zarin. The work of Shirin Neshat addresses the social, political and psychological dimensions of women's experience in contemporary Islamic societies. Although Neshat actively resists stereotypical representations of Islam, her artistic objectives are not explicitly polemical. Rather, her work recognizes the complex intellectual and religious forces shaping the identity of Muslim women throughout the world. As a photographer and video-artist, Shirin Neshat was recognized for her brilliant portraits of women entirely overlaid by Persian calligraphy (notably through the Women of Allah series). In 2009 Neshat won the Silver Lion for best director at the 66th Venice Film Festival for her directional debut "Women without Men". She said about the movie: "This has been a labour of love for six years.(...) This film speaks to the world and to my country."

Iran set to Execute Kurdish Iran police detain 109 over Political Prisoner Ehsan rally Fattahian

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hsan Fattahian’s lawyer, Nassrollah Nasri, was notified on November 6 that his client will be executed on Wednesday morning, November 11, 2009, Human Rights Activists in Iran (HRAI) reported today. Ehsan, 27, was arrested in July 2008 and first sentenced to 10 years in exile by Branch 1 of the Revolutionary Court in Sanandaj. During the appeals process his sentence was changed by Branch 4 of the Kordestan Appeal Court to execution for being an “enemy of God” (Mohareb), allegedly by being a member or PJAK (Kurdistan Independent Life Party). Despite undergoing torture, Ehsan refused to confess to carrying arms and participating in an armed struggle. His family maintains that he’s being persecuted for his Kurdish political activities. Ehsan’s interrogators tried to force him to make a false confession on tape, and he was often physically assaulted by guards in prison. In response to the regime’s intention to execute him, Ehsan started a hunger strike on November 8, and his fellow Kurdish prisoners in the Central Sanadaj Prison began an open-ended hunger strike as well. In his last letter from Sanandaj Prison, Ehsan wrote: I don’t want to talk about death; I want to question the reasons behind it. Today, when punishment is the answer for those who seek freedom and justice, how can one fear his fate? Those of “us” who have been sentenced to death by “them” are only guilty of seeking an opening to a better and fair world. Are “they” also aware of their deeds? If the rulers and oppressors think that, with my death, the Kurdish question will go away, they are wrong. My death and the deaths of thousands of others like me will not cure the pain; they will only add to the flames of this fire. There is no doubt that every death is the beginning of a new life. The Alliance for Kurdish Rights calls for the immediate release of Ehsan Fattahian, and all Kurdish political prisoner in Iran. 8

ore than 100 people were detained for public order offenses after Wednesday's protests in Tehran, officials say. The protests coincided with an official rally to mark 30 years since the storming of the US embassy during the 1979 Islamic revolution. The 109 people were on the fringes of an opposition-organized demonstration when they were detained. Security spokesman Azizollah Rajabzadeh said 62 are due to face trial while the others were released after questioning.

Protest gathering of 4 November detainee families outside the Revolutionary Court

he families of detainees gathered in front of the Revolutionary Court on Saturday 7 November and demanded the release of their loved ones. The protest began gathering at 9am. By 9.03am there were more than 140 families and their number was increasing by the minute. Others joined them in support. Some of families, especially mothers stood in front of the court with hand written scripts showing their demands, such as: "We demand the immediate release of our loved ones". Many of them are unaware of their loved ones location and situation. Among the detainees are a large number women and young girls between the age of 20 and 30.and their families have no information about their whereabouts. This has caused so much distress that they have no faith in promises and demand unconditional freedom for their loved ones.  Police repression forces, plain-clothes and Revolutionary Guards brutally attacked the families after seeing the placards and tried to take the placards from the mothers’ hands. But they refused to let go.  Human rights and democracy activists in Iran, condemn these arrests and the lack of information provided and demand the commissioner of human rights and international officials to act for the unconditional and immediate release of political prisoners in Iran.

Kouhyar Goodarzi, Journalist and Human Rights Activist Expelled from Sanati Sharif University

Kouhyar Goodarzi, human rights activist and aerospace engineering student of Sanati Sharif University has been expelled from the university and strictly banned from entering the campus or dormitory area for one semester. Goodarzi was summoned to the disciplinary committee one day after the students protest against the presence of the Minister of Science and was charged with negative influence on other students, protest and interview with BBC

Persian TV. He was charged with granting an interview with BBC Persian, while according to recent law; interview with internal or external media is not a crime. According to disciplinary laws, the disciplinary committee must not be used as a tool to suppress students’ protests or objection. Such charges against individuals and issuing verdicts based on other crimes is against the law and the issued verdict holds no legal value.

Another Kahrizak…What's happening in Khorin Detention Centre in Varamin?

ollowing the arrests on November 4th in Tehran and particularly that of young girls and women, some worrying news has been circulating on the unclear situation of these detainees in recent days. According to reports the arrest of women and girls on November 4th had been planned by the criminal coup government. Police had already disclaimed the arrest of women and young girls. This dangerous denial is made while there is clear evidences that100s of people were arrested dur-

ing the protests on November 4th and most of them were women and young girls. According to reports almost all the women and girls arrested have been transferred to Khorin, the terror prison near Varamin where there have been alerts of crimes even worse than those reported at Kahrizak. Reports say that some of Khorin’s regular prisoners have been transferred to Evin prison to make room for the women and girls. Immediate action from human rights and international organizations is vital to prevent more horrors. [More News on pg 9]

Baha'i Citizen's House Searched In Babol

he Baha'i rights committee of HRA reports that on Wednesday October 21, agents from the Intelligence Ministry in Babol raided the home of Pejzman Nikoonejad a Bah'i resident of the city. The agents arrested Nikoonejad and confiscated religiouos books and personal belongings. Nikoonejad was released after being questioned for two hours.

Karroubi: Iranian government doesn't know what it's doing pposition cleric Mehdi Karroubi addressed Iranians in a video message in which he criticized the Ahmadinejad government's changed stance toward the United States. Karroubi expressed surprise at Iran's policy change toward the U.S. and said that the sending of a congratulatory message and letters to Washington was in direct contrast with the regime's bashing of the American government.

He referred to Mohammad-Reza Mir-Tajeldini's remarks about Ahmadinejad's two-hour meeting with 50 American officials during his last trip to New York and said, "If even a tenth of such a meeting had taken place during previous administrations, shroud-wearing devotees would have [taken to the streets and] thrown Tehran, Qom and Tabriz into chaos." "Why is it though that hardliner dailies such as Kayhan have nothing to say about this issue?" "Iranian interests are not the play-toy of nouveau politicians. One day there is a meeting with the Americans over Afghanistan, the nuclear issue, and oil, and next, they ruin everything." "I think such policies will create doubts among the people and it is obvious that the government is confused and does not know what it is doing," said Karroubi, adding that he believed talking about such issues were his duty.

Demand for the Prosecution and Trial of Those Responsible for 1360s (1980s) Mass Killings

Fars claims private hospital helped fuel unrest

ars News Agency reported that a private hospital fueled the post-election unrest by refusing to treat injured police officers and individuals resembling Basij militiamen. The Parcham report carried by Fars wrote that the unnamed private hospital had allocated its resources to treating a 'certain group of people and turned away all bearded individuals who had a Basiji appearance.' According to the report, while Health Ministry regulations clearly state that the names of patients must be registered on hospital administration forms, many of the "leaders" of the unrest who were brought in were treated group of families of those who were killed in without their names being recorded. Parcham also alleges that after treating the ‘60s have issued a statement demanding the wounded, demonstrators were the prosecution and trial of those involved, given clean clothes and sent home in especially in the collective executions that ambulances. occurred in1367 and that the government announce the After the unlawful behavior of the hosnames and identities of those who were buried at that pital's director was brought to light, he time at Khavaran cemetery in Tehran. In respect to releft the country on an alleged research vealing these identities they have also demanded that the grant and returned to Tehran a few names of those killed during recent events must also be days before Nov. 4, Parcham added. announced. The hospital director continued his unlawful behavior after his return and Nowroz website, the database news of the Participation refused to admit many of the wounded Front, long ago announced the names and identities of almost 100 people who were killed during recent events. brought in during Nov. 4 protests, the Iranian officials calculated this number to be 30 people. report claimed.

During the 1360s (1980s) a large number of government opponents were executed in Iran’s prisons. According to Herana news agency reports quoting Zamaneh radio, the group that released this statement have announced that they also seek the abolition of execution, for any crime and torture under any title. They have asked the authorities of Iran to release all political prisoners of conscience, without any constraints or conditions. In this statement, the Iranian government has been asked to officially recognize the burial place of those who were killed during past events and return their bodies to their families, to allow families to mark the place with a tomb stone and finally to allow families to hold memorial events privately at home or at the cemetery at which they are buried - this is currently forbidden. The burial place of those executed in the 1360s has never been announced to the families and they have been barred from holding any mourning ceremony under any circumstances. Another point which has been raised in this statement is that the Iranian government should allow the families to receive the final testaments of their loved ones as well as the indictment of political prisoners and those who have been executed in the past 30 years, in order to reveal the reason for their execution. These families, of those who were executed during the 1360s say that the events following the June elections has given them the opportunity to talk about the executions after a long time. Some officials of the Islamic Republic of Iran such as Mohammad Javad Larijani and Ayataollah Mohajerani have raised their opinions on the executions of those who were opposed the government in the ‘60s.

271 schools in Tehran Province temporarily closed due to swine flu Some 271 schools in cities across Tehran Province have been temporarily closed due to the swine flu epidemic, the Tehran Education Department’s public relations officer for provincial cities said on Saturday. Ali Soleimani added that 19 school children in Tehran Province have been diagnosed with the H1N1 virus and 12 of them have been hospitalized. The director of the Tehran Education Department has said six of those infected with the virus are from the city of Tehran. So far, many schools in Kashan and Isfahan have been temporarily closed to prevent the spread of the H1N1 virus. On October 28, 235 schools at the elementary and secondary levels were closed for eight days in Kashan. The Health Ministry has said 23 citizens have died of the H1N1 virus so far. The Health Ministry announced last week that 515 new cases of swine flu have been detected in the country, increasing the number of those infected with the disease to 2,153. [More News on pg 10]

Relatives of Victims Unable to Iran authorities confirm Families of political Mourn location of detained detainees protest prison The families of many of the young people killed in November 4 protesters post-election unrest have been unable to mourn conditions

ccording to the letter, the post-election detainees in the general holding cells of Evin prison, especially sections 7 and 8, lack all forms of hygienic provisions and are in dire c o n d i t i o n s . Reportedly, 50 political detainees are currently in this section and due to lack of space sleep in the halls of the section. Those who protested the condition were reportedly transferred to solitary confinement last week. Citizen’s rights accorded by the judiciary, allows at least one square meter to each prisoner. The letter from the families maintains that their “loved ones are currently placed in cells where they have even less than half a square meter of space.”

oncerns over the transference of detained protesters of November 4 demonstrations to the undesirable detention centre in Varamin was put to rest by Sohrab Soleymani, head of Tehran prisons. Mr. Soleymani told Mehr news agency that “Khoreyn” detention centre is only used for the “general criminals of the area” and there are 40 to 50 female criminals at this site and neither of them was arrested on November 4th. On November 4th, 109 people were arrested and over 40 of them were released on bail. The rest are reportedly transferred to Evin Prison. From the start of protests against the alleged fraud in the election, over four thousand people have been arrested. Police claims under 400 of those are still in custody. The arrest of these people which also include a group of prominent political and social activists has been contested by reformist clerics and human rights groups. The government appointed committee in charge of following up on the situation of these detainees has issued no reports except for denying Mehdi Karroubi’s allegations that some of the detainees were raped by prison officials. Human Rights Watch announced last week that they have concrete evidence that rape of detainees in the postelection arrests in Iran has occurred and expressed concerns that the government intentionally neglected the evidence.

They add that “In this cold weather, they do not have a bed and are forced to sleep on the cold ground and many of them are suffering from the International Federation of Human flu.” Rights Leagues (FIDH) has also expressed concern over possible torture of

Section 8 of the Evin prison is cus- members of university alumni group, tomarily used for drug smuggling Advar-e Tahkim-e Vahdat detainees. and murder convicts and it appears that the transfer of political prisoners to this section is another form of National Coach: European teams reluctant to come to Tehran pressuring them. Iran football coach Afshin Ghotbi The government has arrested over said that the big European teams are four thousand people in the post- not interested in coming to Tehran. election protests to the alleged "I would rather face the powerful fraudulent victory of Mahmoud European teams but they are relucAhmadinejad. Over three thousand tant to come here. Meanwhile, we have been released mostly on bail. have to pay a lot of money to big teams to play with them and Iran's Families of many of the remaining Football Federation has no budget prisoners have been actively pursu- for this," Ghotbi told reporters in the ing their cases demanding their re- national team's training session lease or in the least, better conditions ahead of the warm-up match against whilst in custody. Iceland which will be held at the Azadi Stadium on Tuesday. 10

properly because the authorities have banned ceremonies for the dead, hampering the grieving process. Some have not had their loved ones’ bodies returned or have had to wait weeks, and there have been reports of the authorities burying frozen bodies en masse. The victims were among the many thousands of young people who protested at the declaration that President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad had won re-election. They, as well as opposition leader Mirhossein Mousavi and reformist candidate Mehdi Karroubi, say the authorities rigged the June 12 vote to ensure the re-election of Ahmadinejad. Security forces cracked down on the protests and many died, the best-known being Neda Agha-Soltan, a young woman whose shooting was captured on a mobile phone. An Iranian commander was quoted in September as saying 36 people died in the unrest including three in a Tehran prison. Human rights organisations inside Iran believe the true figure is more like 200. To their families, the victims were just campaigning for a better future for Iran. Much of the country, however, now sees itself as being in a state of national mourning. On Radio Farda on August 11, 2009 Alireza Beheshti, a member of the Mousavi-Karroubi Committee for the Support of the Harmed, said, “Due to policies dictated by security officials, the families of the deceased were not able to perform proper burial ceremonies for their lost ones.” The mourning process is an important rite in Iranian society with particular ceremonies on the third, seventh, and fortieth days after death. These are all part of the process of healing but that can only start with the certainty of death and knowledge of how the person died. For this reason, close friends and relatives go to the mortuary to see the body washed. After 40 days, the bereaved then revert to life as before, still remembering the deceased on their birthdays, the anniversary of their death, and other days that are reminiscent of them. All this has been disturbed by the absence of the bodies of the protesters or the delays in releasing them. People showed great forbearance during the Iran-Iraq war, when many Iranian soldiers died. Mothers were able to cope with their loss because of a belief that those martyred were in God’s trust. It was all very different in the latest protests, with many families made to wait weeks before the deaths of their sons and daughters were confirmed. There were similar delays in the delivery of corpses, preventing families from holding proper ceremonies. Many were merely given directions to the burial place. Complete mourning is a catalyst for healing. Denying families the ability to hold ceremonies in mosques and other public places prevents them from keeping alive the memory of the deceased. Mourners gain strength from collective remembrance, ultimately enabling them to heal deep wounds. A mother whose son’s death was hidden from her finds it hard to move beyond shock and denial. A father who watches the crushed body of his child being buried cannot be expected to grieve when the authorities refuse him the ability to mourn. Without support and empathy, they cannot overcome their loss. People have found some ways to alleviate the pain caused by the restrictions, like a gathering in Tehran on July 30 that commemorated those killed in the protests. Mothers supporting each other in their grief hold weekly gatherings and notable figures from the protest movement have visited some of the families in mourning. But this is not enough. Since many believe that these young people lost their lives in the quest for freedom and truth, they believe their passing must be commemorated at the national level. Full healing will depend on widespread support from society.

From pg 6 (I Never Feared the judges of this country can Death: The Plight of Ehsan Fat- say that they have not broken tahian) their oath and have remained

Recently provincial appeals courts have become the judicial authority to rule in cases related to political prisoners, even in capital punishment cases. Capital punishment cases were the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court. So, the Kamayaran prosecutor objected the initial ruling, and, surprisingly, against Iranian law, the 4th branch of the Kordestan Appeals Court changed the 10 year sentence to a death sentence. According to Article 258 of Iranian Criminal law, appeals courts can only issue a heavier sentence when the initial sentence is lighter than the minimum punishment required by law. The indictment presented by the prosecutor stated the charge as Moharebeh (enmity against God). The minimum punishment required by law in similar cases is 1 year in prison. Now, be the judge yourself and compare the 10 year prison sentence (served in exile) with the minimum required to see how illegal, unlawful and political the death sentence is. Let me add that, shortly before my sentence was changed to the death sentence, I was taken from Sanandaj prison to the Intelligence Ministry’s detention center, where I was asked to make a false confession on camera, show remorse for the actions I had not committed and reject my beliefs. I did not give in to their illegitimate demands, so I was told that my prison sentence would be changed to the death sentence. They were fast to keep their promise and prove to me how courts always concede to the demands of intelligence and nonjudicial authorities. How can one criticize the courts then? All judges take an oath to remain impartial at all times and in all cases, to rule according to the law and nothing but the law. How many of 11

Setareh From Evin

fair and impartial? In my opinion the number is countable with the fingers on my hand. When the entire justice system in Iran orders arrests, trials, imprisonments and death sentences with the simple hand gesture of an uneducated interrogator, what is to be expected from a few minor judges in a province that has always been discriminated against? Yes, in my view, it is the foundation of the house which is in ruins. Last time I met in prison with the prosecutor who had issued the initial indictment, he admitted that the ruling was illegal. Yet, for the second time, it has been ruled that my execution should be carried out. It goes without saying that the insistence to carry out the execution at any cost is a result of pressures exercised by political and intelligence groups outside the Judiciary. People who are part of these groups look at the question of life and death of a prisoner only based on their own political and financial interests. They cannot see anything but their own illegitimate objectives, even when it is the question of a person’s right to life - the most basic of all human rights. How pointless is it to expect them to respect international treaties when they don’t even respect their own laws? Last word: if the rulers and oppressors think that, with my death, the Kurdish question will go away, they are wrong. My death and the deaths of thousands of others like me will not cure the pain; they will only add to the flames of this fire. There is no doubt that every death is the beginning of a new life. Ehsan Fattahian, Sanandaj Central Prison Source: Human Rights Activists In Iran

A report from Evin prison on 14 Aaban (5 Nov)

have just returned from Evin an hour ago, my mind is not functioning and I just want to scream. It was around 3pm that a friend told me about the protest of detainees’ families in front of Evin prison. We immediately joined them there and were greeted by some 400-600 family members and humans rights activists outside the prison gates. About 10 minutes later, several guards and soldiers rushed out of the main gate and started pushing people away from the scene. At this time a car pulled up by the gate and several people, who were all handcuffed got out. Seeing this, people started chanting and the situation became charged. After paying close attention I realised that some of them were my friends. It was obvious they were brought in from other detention centers and traces of pain were evident on their faces. At this time some of the detained friends started chanting too. I saw Yashar and Raha's faces. They were showing the peace sign with their hands in the air and chanting “Death to the Dictator”. My eyes welled with tears and I

felt my heart sinking. I heard from a friend who was with them that Raha never stopped chanting as she was transferred to the security forces' car. Although I didn't know everyone, many faces were familiar. It felt like I had known them for years. I was upset that my friends had been captured by the devil and there was nothing I could do about it. I decided to start chanting with the others. At this point security forces started threatening everyone to leave the premises, but nobody was paying any attention to their threats of arrest. We stayed there with continued threats from the security forces for another 30 minutes after the gates were closed, until darkness fell. But I feel I left my heart back there, behind those closed gates. I will suppress my anger until future protests. I will wait to release all my anger towards the reactionary forces. We have been also been notified that many detained friends were taken to the office of the Intelligence Ministry behind Reza's Computer Bazaar. Until future events... Down with the dictator of the Islamic regime

“She was like an angel” Neda's mother talks about her daughter

he night before she was killed on the streets of Tehran, the woman the world would come to know simply as Neda had a dream. "There was a war going on," she told her mother the next morning, "and I was at the front." Neda's mother had joined her on the street protests that erupted after Iran's disputed June 12 presidential election. But on that fateful morning, she told her daughter she couldn't go with her. As Neda prepared to leave, her mother was filled with anxiety. "I told her to be very careful, and she said she would." More than four months after Neda's death, her mother, Hajar Rostami, described the pain her family has endured and how grateful they are to millions across the world who have hailed Neda as a martyr - a symbol of freedom for Iran. She spoke with CNN by phone in her native Persian langauage from her home in Tehran a few days ago: "As a message to everyone, I really want to thank the whole world. And I don't really know how to thank them, so I ask of you, Please find the right words for me. I can't tell you how much it has warmed our hearts, how much it has helped us." There’s an Iranian expression that describes a grieving person's need to talk about the pain

in her heart, to empty her soul. And that's what this is: a mourning mother who for months has wept and remained silent about her daughter's killing, until now. "This is a pain that will never heal” she said in a gentle, hushed tone. Watch mom mourn the "look in her eyes"

heated protests. "It didn't occur to her that anything was going to be different," her mother said. Then, Neda was killed. A single bullet struck her chest. Recalling that day, her mother paused in the hour-long interview. The family, she said, has gone back to the scene and retraced Neda's movements. "She was only 26 steps from her car." “I need not worry” Those were 26 steps Neda never On June 20, Neda Agha-Soltan, had a chance to take the differ26, headed to Tehran's Niloufar ence between returning home to Square, where thousands of pro- her family and becoming a symbol of a greater struggle inside testers had gathered. Clashes Iran. were particularly intense that day, with demonstrators and riot 'She was absolutely police squaring off. Neda, accompanied by her mubeautiful' sic teacher, called home with frequent updates. "Mom, there While millions across the globe are just too many clashes hapwere transfixed by Neda's death, pening. There are a lot of police captured on video, her family and security forces around." entered a traditional seven-day Tear gas was thrown at the grieving period. Her parents' crowd and Neda headed to a house was too small to host evemedical clinic to get her eyes ryone; they gathered at Neda's washed. "My eyes are really older sister's home. burning badly" she said. “She was never the type of girl Twenty minutes later, Neda's who would resort to force.”  mom reached her again. "She The family, Neda's mother said, said she was on her way back was barred from holding a mehome, that I need not worry." morial service. Neda told the same thing to her "I did see Neda when her body aunt and uncle, who also called was being washed before burto check up on her. ial," she said. "When her body Wearing blue jeans, a black shirt was covered in the white shroud and white sneakers, Neda for burial, when they uncovered walked towards her car, parked her face, I saw her. She was abon a side street not far from the solutely beautiful, with a smile,

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a beautiful smile. Like an angel." It was during the seven days of mourning, around the third or fourth day, that a relative told her about the video of Neda's death, by then widely watched on the Internet. Her mother didn't watch it that first week. "But when I returned home, I did see the video," she said. "It was enormously painful. So painful that I've never been able to watch it again all the way through to the end.It was the moment of seeing her give her life, the life leaving her body. That was very painful. The look in her eyes at that moment...I wake up with that look in her eyes every morning; I go to bed with the image of that look in her eyes every evening." She continued, "I want to say that the moment that bothers me the most, that bothers me terribly, is the moment Neda got shot. That's because Neda was an extremely brave person. Ever since she was a child, she was brave and fearless. So that moment when she got shot, I saw it in the video, she couldn't believe it, that she had taken a bullet. So much so that she takes a look at her body. And when she sees she's been shot, she takes a few steps backwards and then falls. The only words she managed to utter was: 'Teacher, I'm burning.' And people said she passed within 44 seconds." [Continued on pg 13]

From previous pg( “She was daily basis, when I think of like an angel” Neda's mother talks her, I can't tell you how hard about her daughter ) it is. It's hard to speak" Neda, the second of three children, shared her room She visits Neda's grave every with her younger brother, who Friday and is heartened that plays the guitar and violin. even now, throngs of people Neda loved the piano, and still greet her. "It's as though wanted him to learn to play. she only just passed away." Just days before she was She carries with her a painting killed, she picked out a piano of her smiling daughter that for him. He has since bought she received as a gift. "People it. "When he comes home go and write the word 'martyr’ from work he plays the piano on her grave in red ink and and sings in Neda's memory. then the authorities go and And that's what keeps us gowipe it off." ing every evening" their Neda’s mother said her mother said. She hopes the daughter's killer is still at people of Iran and the world large, but she's confident the will hear her story - Neda's person will be found and tried story - and never forget her in court. "I am waiting for that daughter. day.I saw Neda as a martyr from the start. Neda was a "I want to thank you for remartyr for her homeland." membering her. That’s what stays with me, and her eyes, A “caring” debater the look in her eyes in those last moments that had a story Long before Neda became an to tell that I can never forget," iconic figure, she was a "very she said.. "Neda has made me excited girl who always had enormously proud." answers to everything. She was very good natured, It is tradition in Iran to give friendly, very emotional and away personal belongings of a caring…extremely emotional loved one after they die. But and caring," her mother said. Neda's bed, her makeup stand, “I saw her face when they un- her photographs everything covered her. She was abso- that was hers remains unlutely beautiful ...like an an- touched. The reason; Neda gel. She was never the type of appeared in her sister's dream girl who would resort to and told her not to part with force." anything. "I am alive," Neda In their last face-to-face con- said. versation, the mother and daughter debated the political climate inside Iran. "We had a hearty debate and discussion," her mother said. “Neda was divorced. After the divorce she tried to get a job, but it was impossible. Every time she went for an interview or filled out an application, she felt people viewed her differently. Neda loved aerobics. She also liked to sunbathe at our local swimming pool. Her last meal was her favorite dish, pan kabob.” Their home is now adorned with photographs of Neda. One of her last gifts to her mom was perfume, a birthday present she cherishes. "On a 13

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Iran On the Edge

The Islamic Republic is facing a political and economic crisis. Obama must keep that in mind as he plans his next move.

ran is at a tipping point, and President Obama's policies in the next few months could define the Iran that emerges from the current turmoil. In considering the next step in its engagement with Iran, the Obama administration must take a hard look at the country's increasingly unstable domestic situation. Given the an increasingly serious political and economic crisis, the "Islamic" in the Islamic Republic of Iran is no longer applicable -- nor is the word "republic." After the recent elections and the brutal treatment of protestors and anyone opposed to the regime, the mullahs are no longer seen as legitimate by the Iranian people. The Revolutionary Guard Corps has carried out a bloodless coup with the blessings of a puppet supreme leader and president. Today Iran is, for all intents and purposes, a secular military dictatorship.

an estimated $40 billion. Tehran can no longer pay the bills, keep the regime's corrupt sycophants satisfied, and deliver a minimum level of subsidies to poor Iranians to keep the lid on political dissent. Faced with these economic realities, the regime has decided to cut energy and food subsidies, gradually increasing the price of basic goods such as oil, electricity, and bread to international market rates over a period of about five years. While many senior members of government have long appreciated that this was necessary in order to achieve an economic turnaround, they were loathe to take this step for fear of a domestic backlash. Now that subsidies are being slashed, the people are beginning to stir.

Electricity bills have increased by 300 percent, with payments due within 45 days and late payThe country's economy is also in ments subject to a 20 percent dire straits. The regime has put interest penalty. The expected off reforms for three decades, price increases associated with blaming sanctions for its selfthe elimination of subsidies inflicted failures. Inflation is should send inflation soaring running at an annual rate of 20- above the 30-40 percent rate, 25 percent. Unemployment is making the lot of poor Iranians around 20 percent and on the unbearable. rise. Iran's foreign exchange reserves have declined rapidly, to [Continued on Next pg]

From previous pg ( Iran On the Edge)

Film review: Bright Star (PG)

Both the regime and average Iranians hope that a rapprochement with the West can alleviate these economic pressures. They assume that the removal of sanctions and Iran's re-integration into the global financial system will quickly reinvigorate economic growth. But they are wrong. Iran's economic wounds are largely self-inflicted; they are the result of failed institutions, ill-conceived economic plans, and pervasive corruption. The removal of all sanctions will enable corrupt business and political leaders to amass even larger fortunes as they scramble to represent U.S. firms in Iran, but average Iranians will see very little benefit so long as the present regime stays in power. For economic conditions to improve, Iran needs a dramatic change in policies and practices, not just the removal of sanctions. The continuing turmoil in Tehran has also afforded Iran's ethnic minorities -- principally the Arabs in the Southwest, the Baluchis in the Southeast, and the Kurds and Azeris in the Northwest (but also Lurs and Turkmens) -- an opening to challenge the regime with their list of growing grievances. There is fear among Iranians that their nation may be in serious danger of dismemberment if additional political and economic pressures are brought to bear on the already strained government. The Iranian regime, fearing these developments, has exhibited an unprecedented willingness to negotiate with the United States in order to regain its legitimacy. The United States should seize this opportunity -- not only by tackling the issue of nuclear enrichment, but also by raising governance issues with the Islamic Republic. Embracing the regime in Tehran and lending it unconditional support, as the United States has done with other dictatorships in the region, will only backfire. Washington is fooling itself if it thinks it can prop up this regime. The mullahs have lost all credibility, and the Iranian people are unwilling to pretend otherwise. It is in America's interest not to alienate the Iranian people and the rest of the Muslim world.

Ryan Gilbey

A deft treatment of John Keats's love life ď&#x201A;ˇď&#x20AC;

Dead romantic

sometimes referred to as an "eye-of-God" shot. Here it feels more like Keats himself has storyboarded the action. There's a unique awkwardness reserved for poetry on film, but Campion sidesteps this by handling the poems with special informality. Fanny asks her sister, Toots (Edie Martin), to read Keats's work aloud, so the first excerpt we hear - the opening stanza of "Endymion" ("A thing of beauty is a joy for ever") - is delivered in the child's halting, singsong voice, before Fanny snatches the book from her hands and silently completes the reading herself.

As Keats, who is 23 when the film begins, Whishaw wears thick, shaggy hair like a cowl and purses his plump lips in the manner of someone sucking jam from a wooden spoon. When he recites a poem, his eyes dart from side to side, as though trying to keep up with a high-speed ping-pong match. It was the cat wot done it, at least for me. Either Whishaw plays him as a grubby-looking oik, with holes in his socks and an overcast pallor that or the rabbit. In Bright Star, the 18-yearold Fanny Brawne (Abbie Cornish) is curled up that renders any shafts of sunlight in his mood all the more magical. When he's plodding in the window of her mother's Hampstead through a meadow with Brown, their stupor is townhouse, reading poetry by her neighbour, John Keats (Ben Whishaw), with whom she is interrupted by a ball, tossed suddenly into the frame. Keats reaches up and pulls it from the gradually becoming besotted. A moggie that air in a casual movement that makes us aware has been mooching around Fanny's room of his lightning reflexes, his youthfulness. pushes its boxy head into her book and turns the page in a lazy but insistent gesture. Even as his health is failing, we see how he is Hats off, then, to Topper (is it strange to check lit up inside by Fanny's curiosity and company. a cat's name in the credits?), and to Jane Cam- This is an organic screen romance, not a trick of lighting or editing. Neither actor idealises pion for keeping the screen thrumming with their character: Keats is prone to sulking, Fanny spontaneity. Every inch of this film is intican be maddeningly irrational. But they do conmately alive. While Fanny is busy crossing swords with Keats's chauvinistic friend Charles vey the pull of mutual intelligence and how it shades into attraction. Much of the momentum Brown (Paul Schneider), a girl in the background offers a dozy rabbit to another child to in this largely plotless film comes from Corpet. You'll never catch a bit-player rhubarbing nish's uninhibited vitality. Her excitability in one of Campion's movies, but there's more to sometimes exposes the Australian accent she it than that: the central love story is fortified by has worked hard to conceal, turning "poems" back into "pomes". But it would be a stony the detail bristling around it. heart indeed that did not forgive the actress this lapse, especially in the light of her work in the The romance between Keats and Brawne, final scenes of the film, when her hands make which began in 1819, two years before the poet's death, isn't used to explain or corroborate shapes in the air as though trying to describe what Keats wrote in that period - the film gives the contours of grief. their love its own worth. Campion is more interested in the point where life and art become For what it's worth, Bright Star is already my favourite of Jane Campion's films. It has the indivisible, and her stylistic choices are moddream logic of The Piano, the crazed inventiveelled on this idea. Sound and song spill over from one scene to the next, while Greig Fraser's ness of Holy Smoke, the forensic detail of In the cinematography takes its cue from Keats, who Cut. It's a reminder not to take for granted this clambers high above the forest floor or reflects director, who has spent her career pulling rabon a dream in which he was floating above the bits out of hats, nor to commit the same slight treetops. Fraser keeps finding vrtiginous cam- against love. era angles from which to gaze down at the characters through a lattice of branches. This is

“Obama, Obama, It’s them or us!” By Elham

n November 4th once again brave Iranian students demonstrated their massive power and urge for freedom. November 4th (13 Aban) is Student Day in Iran and this year demonstrations were bigger than ever. Throughout Iran students and other citizens put their hands together to show their solidarity and firm standing on getting their motherland back from the evil regime of the Islamic Republic. While all this was going on in Iran, I heard a very interesting speech from a spineless president in this part of the world. I would like to touch on his speech here and give him some answers that should have been said to his face had this been possible. In the statement Obama released on Tuesday November 3rd he raised November 4th 1979 and the American hostage taking in Iran. The tone of his statement gave the sense of him telling the Iranian regime that as long as they are not harming the States, their actions would not face any consequences from the government of the United States. I assume that includes nonaccountability to their recent killing sprees. I for one am sure that Iran's regime will interpret this as a green light and based on what we have seen they already 15

have. One of the most talked about phrases that Iranians used on November 4th was “Obama, Obama, You’re either with us or with them!” Let's take a look at what he has done to prompt the people to think of such a phrase. President Obama has been one of the most talked about politicians in recent months and could have used his unimaginable power to do some good deeds around the world and especially in Iran. Instead he decided to sit back, relax and watch the disaster from far, far away. In his most recent message he talked about the 52 American hostages in 1979. He took some of his precious time to remember them and once again let the world know what had happened in that year. Meanwhile thousands of Iranians' are imprisoned in the Islamic regime's barbaric prisons and are being tortured, raped and many have died as a result. But he decided to stay silent and not even mention these recent events once. You be the judge, would you call him a coward or not? I honestly don't know, and don't want to know why he remains silent when the people have been screaming to get their voices heard and doing everything possible draw attention to our desperation. But no, he could not be bothered with that. To me he is just another

pathetic spineless coward who thrives on love from people. He is just too weak to stand up to anybody, and let's not forget his love for being adored and treated as a messiah. He will play along as long as he does not have to face fearless and demanding citizens. During his campaign, on many occasions he talked about “taking a special interest” in Iran's nuclear matter and its problems, which we all know what they are by now. He was going to force the regime to stop the nuclear program and was going to “clean out” the danger areas. But now that it is time for action, Mr Obama says that the US wants to move beyond this past, and seeks a relationship with Iran "based on mutual interests and mutual respect." “For 30 years,” said President Obama, "we have heard ... what the Iranian government is against; the question now, is, what kind of future it is for." Finally I want you to judge; was it right to give such useful power to Obama? Do you agree that maybe, just maybe he could have put his power to work a lot better than he has? I would really hope to see Obama take action. Instead of clinging to the past and punishing Iranians for what the regime has done.

The following is the complete message released on Tuesday evening: "30 years ago today, the American Embassy in Tehran was seized. The 444 days that began on November 4, 1979 deeply affected the lives of courageous Americans who were unjustly held hostage, and we owe these Americans and their families our gratitude for their extraordinary service and sacrifice.  This event helped set the United States and Iran on a path of sustained suspicion, mistrust, and confrontation. I have made it clear that the United States of America wants to move beyond this past, and seeks a relationship with the Islamic Republic of Iran based upon mutual interests and mutual respect. We do not interfere in Iran’s internal affairs. We have condemned terrorist attacks against Iran. We have recognized Iran’s international right to peaceful nuclear power. We have demonstrated our willingness to take confidencebuilding steps along with others in the international community. We have accepted a proposal by the International Atomic Energy Agency to meet Iran’s request for assistance in meeting the medical needs of its people. We have made clear that if Iran lives up to the obligations that every nation has, it will have a path to a more prosperous and productive relationship with the international community.  Iran must choose. We have heard for 30 years what the Iranian government is against; the question, now, is what kind of future it is for. The American people have great respect for the people of Iran and their rich history. The world continues to bear witness to their powerful calls for justice, and their courageous pursuit of universal rights. It is time for the Iranian government to decide whether it wants to focus on the past, or whether it will make the choices that will open the door to greater opportunity, prosperity, and justice for its people.”

Stop Covering Up Sexual Assaults in Prison

Source: Human Rights Watch Judiciary Ignored Documentation of Torture (New York, November 6, 2009) - Iran’s judiciary should immediately investigate cases of sexual assaults in prison and prosecute those responsible, instead of covering up these crimes, Human Rights Watch said today.

tors dropped him off by car somewhere in Tehran with his hands and feet tied, bleeding, and semi-conscious. People who On August 9, in a letter pubfound him on the street took him lished in the Etemad Melli paper, to a hospital. the reformist presidential candidate Mehdi Karroubi wrote that The medical examiner’s office, “some detained individuals which reports to the judiciary, stated that some authorities have examined Mehtari the next day. raped detained women with such The report, which has been seen force, they have sustained injuby Human Rights Watch, deries and tears in to their reproscribed: discoloration and inductive system.” flammation under both eyes “caused by being hit with a hard Mehtary’s is the only known object”; bruises on the left rear case of official documentation of of his head; deep scratches on injuries consistent with allegaboth wrists and both ankles; tions of rape with a wounds on his right shin; second stick. Sources close to Karroubi, degree burns caused by a hot ob- who has established a committee ject around his head, neck, left to investigate the condition of shoulder, and on both hands to- political prisoners detained after taling two percent of his body the elections, said that judiciary surface; and bruises on both but- authorities told Karroubi that tocks and the external area of the rapes with a stick have taken anus caused by being hit with a place and been documented by hard object. The report also the medical examiner's office but noted that Mehtari complained that the identities of the perpetraof anal pain. tors were unknown.

Human Rights Watch has documented three cases of sexual assault in Iranian prisons on persons arrested since the disputed June 12, 2009 presidential election. In the most recent case, the medical examiner’s office confirmed that multiple injuries suffered in prison by Ebrahim Mehtari, a young activist, resulted from torture and mistreatment consistent with his allegations of sexual abuse. But Judiciary authorities refused to conduct further investigations and instead told Mehtari and his family that there would be severe consequences if they talked about the Mehtari told Human Rights abuse he suffered. Watch that when hospital authorities learned he had just left “It’s shameful for Iran’s govern- the prison, they tried to destroy ment to close its eyes to official the medical report, but his father evidence of severe sexual abuse was able to make a copy of it of detainees by prison authoriwhile visiting him in the hospities,” said Sarah Leah Whitson. tal. Mehtari, 27, was first arrested on July 26 and released on August 1. On August 19, several officers whom Mehrati’s family said he believed were members of the Revolutionary Guards, abducted him from his workplace and later transferred him to a location in eastern Tehran. He told Human Rights Watch that during his detention he was severely beaten repeatedly and sodomized with a baton or stick. On August 24, he said, his cap-

The third case involved Maryam Saberi, 21, who was arrested on July 30 during the commemoration of the 40th day after the killing of Neda Soltan " whose shooting death during a demonstration shocked the world. Saberi was arrested after her photo appeared on a website connected to the Revolutionary Guard that posted pictures of protesters and asked people to identify the people in the photos so that they could be arrested. Before she was released on August 12, Saberi says, she was raped four times by the prison guards.

authorities are required to investigate and prosecute those responsible. The Human Rights Committee, which authoritatively interprets the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which Iran is a party, has said that complaints about ill -treatment must be investigated effectively by competent authorities. Those found guilty must be held responsible, and the alleged victims must themselves have effective remedies at their disposal, including the right to obtain compensation. Background On August 10, Ali Larijani, speaker of the parliament, delegated a special committee to investigate Karroubi’s allegations and review evidence of the physical condition of those detained during post-election events. On August 12, Larijani announced on behalf of the committee that Karroubi's claims were completely false and that ‘in careful reviews of the Kahrizak and Evin prison detainees, no cases showing abuse or rape were found.”

On August 29, Ayatollah Sadegh Larijani, the head of the judiciary and brother of the parliament speaker, appointed a committee to review allegations of those arrested during the recent events, including rape claims. The committee consisted of Ebrahim Raeesi, first deputy to the head They said that judiciary authori- of the judiciary, Gholamhossein ties also asked Karroubi how Mohseni Ejehi, general prosecuMehtari’s father had been able to tor, and Ali Khalafi, the head of photograph his son's anus to judiciary’s office manager. document his wounds and that the authorities had used their In their report to Sadegh Larijani skeptical stance to try to dison September 12, the committee credit Mehtari’s allegations. wrote that they found “no evidence of rape in the cases of the A second young activist, Ebra“The official documents and im- individuals claimed by Mr. Karhim Sharifi, 24, who was arages of Mehtari’s tortured body roubi,” and that his claims and rested on June 23, told Human speak for themselves,” Whitson documents “are all fabricated Rights Watch that he had been said. and designed to divert public raped in detention while he was opinion.” handcuffed, blindfolded and his Mehtari is now outside of Iran. feet were tied, and that he had After he left the country, security The committee also demanded attempted suicide several times forces raided his family’s house judicial action against those who after his release. He said that ju- twice. During the second raid “through propagation of falsediciary officials had refused to they threatened his father with hoods and presentation of accuaccept his complaint and told arrest if he talked about the sations and slander” have damhim that if he spoke out about his abuse his son had suffered. aged “the reputation and credicase his family would be in danbility of the government and cerger. The prohibition against torture is tain symbols of it.” absolute in international law, and

Latest Reports on Prisoners (November 8th): Prisoners Fariba Pajooh has been deDenied Medical Care by Evin tained for 80 days and is reOfficials portedly in critical mental and physical state. During her detention, she has been systemMahsa Naderi, Davvod atically mistreated and verSoleimani and Fariba bally abused by prison guards. Pajooh are denied Evin prison guards refuse to medical care. give Pajooh her medication Prison visits were canceled and prison officials are ignoring her repeated complaints. for Hossein Nourani-Nejad, Fariba Pajooh was arrested on Esmail Sahabeh and Saeed August 22nd, 2009 and has yet Nour-Mohammadi. Behzad Navai appeared be- to be charged. fore the court. Farhad Pouladi, Habib Ha-  Saeed Nour-Mohammadi and Esmail Sahabeh Held jian, Hadi Haydari, Incommunicado Mohammad-Javad Mozafari, Saeed Nour-Mohammadi and Mohammad-Amin Shirzad, Ebrahim Shirkavand and May- Esmail Sahabeh, both arrested at Komail Prayer service, are sam Vareh-Chehr were restill held in solitary confineleased. ment in Evin prison. They Ehsan Fattahian has gone have not contacted their famion hunger strike. lies since the arrest and are being held incommunicado.  Behzad Nabavi in Court This morning Sahabeh’s father Second court hearing for Behzad Nabavi, a senior mem- went to the prison hoping to see him but was denied visit ber of the Mojahedin of Isby prison officials. Sahabeh’s lamic Revolution organizafather had an official authorition, was held behind closed doors today. Nabavi had asked zation to visit his son but the in writing and verbally to have interrogator opposed the visit. Saeed Mohammadi was previan open trial to answer to ously arrested after the eleccharges brought up against tion but was released after 62 him during the show trials. The court rejected his requests days. Both men are held in and he had to defend himself Evin prison since October 21st during a closed hearing. The when they were arrested. Yescourt has recessed until Tues- terday 10 other Komail prayer detainees were transferred to a day. Nabavi was taken back to the public ward in Evin. hospital after the hearing. He was arrested in June, 2009 fol-  Mahsa Naderi in Critical Condition lowing the presidential elecThe imprisoned student, Mation. hsa Naderi is being denied  Fariba Pajooh in Critical medical care despite suffering from a range of health condiMental and Physical tions. Nadrei was arrested on State Fabruary 20th, 2009 and senFariba Pajooh’s family was able to meet her today despite tenced to one year in prison. The judge has refused to grant the opposition of Evin officials, and after they showed an her a sick leave. Naderi suffers from severe migraines, kidney authorization letter from the problems and gallbladder intribunal. The family had to wait for a long time before the fection. Her migraines have visit and was able to meet her worsened over the past few days. Judge Moghiseh has rethrough the glass divider the portedly told the Naderi’s parvisitation cabin. 17

ents to go and ask the MKO to free their daughter. Mahsa Naderi is a 19 years student in economics. She is currently serving her sentence in women’s ward of Evin prison. Parastoo Sarmadi was Denied Visit with her Detained Husband Parastoo Sarmadi was not able to visit her husband, Hossein Nourani-Nejad in prison today. The family who had gone to Evin this morning was told by prison officials that Nourani-Nejad’s name was not on Evin prisoners’ list. The family then contacted the Prosecutor’s office and was able to get a visitation permit. After waiting a few hours, prison officials told the family they would only allow the visit if Parastoo Sarmadi left the visitation room. Evin officials claimed that Sarmadi was making too much hubbub over her husband’s detention and should remain silent till his release. Hossein Nourani-Nejad has been detained since his arrest 60 days ago. 

fers from severe flu. He told the family that despite his critical condition, prison officials are refusing to take him to prison’s medical facility where he can see a doctor. Dr. Davood Soleimani is a former MP for Tehran and a member of the Participation Front. During his time in the parliament he was a member of the Majlis Culture Committee. Soleimani was also the deputy director of students’ affair at Tehran University. He was arrested on June 16th, 2009 and up until last week was held in solitary confinement. Soleimani is currently detained in a public ward in Evin prison. Ehsan Fattahian on Hunger Strike The Kurdish political prisoner, Ehsan Fattahian has gone on hunger strike to protest his death sentence. He is currently detained in Ward 2 of Sanandaj Central prison. Fellow political prisoners have announced that they would go on hunger strike if Fattahian’s execution takes place. 

7 Detainees of 13 Aban Released Hassan Hajian, member of the participation Front was released today on his own recognizance. He was arrested during 13 Aban protests in Tehran. The AFP correspondent, Farhad Pouladi was released from prison today. Pouladi was arrested while covering 13 Aban protests. 5 detainees of Komail Prayer service were released from prison this afternoon. Hadi Haydari (cartoonist), Mohammad-Javad Mozafari, Mohammad-Amin Shirzad, Ebrahim Shirkavand and Maysam Vareh-Chehr were all arrested on October 22nd, 2009 during a Komail prayer service. 

Hojat Sharifi Contacts his family Hojat Sharifi contacted his family two days after being arrested. Sharifi who is a member of Adavar Tahkim Vahdat told his family he was unaware of his detention place. Sharifi was arrested with his wife, Nafiseh Zareh-Kohan. There is no news on the fate or whereabouts of Zareh-Kohan who is a journalist and a member of the Iranian Alumni Organization. Ahmad Zaid-Abadi, Abdollah Momeni, Mohammad Sadeghi, Hassan asadi, Koohzad Esmaili and Mousa Saket are the other detained members of the Advar Tahkim Vahdat. 

Source : Davood Soleimani in Human Right Activists in Iran Need of Medical Care In a phone call from Evin prison, Davood Soleimani informed his family that he suf

18 Transsexuality in Iran: An Interview with Sharareh Attari, 18

Director of 'It Sometimes Happens' By Sasan Ghahreman

There was some commotion in the first screening on June 27, 2006 in Khane-ye Honarmandan (House of Artists.) One or two viewers, who found the film inappropriate, protested and questioned the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance’s authorization of such a film. As it turned out, there was no need for me to answer or defend myself, because the rest of the audience answered on my behalf.

Ms. Attari, before we begin, please tell us a little bit about yourself and your experience with work, study, and life. In the Name of God, my name is Sharareh Attari. I am 33 years old, and I still live with my parents, honoring the same traditional and religious ideals from my youth. Though I had dreams of becoming an astronomer, when I was 17 years old, I unexpectedly discovered film. From age 19 to 21, I studied film directing at Jahad University, after which I went to Professor Samandarian’s azad (free) workshopfor acting. After studying theater, I worked an additional two to three years in that field. It was then that I became a senior assistant director and worked in planning, management, and production of film and television. In 2003, I made a fictional documentary-style film on Ashura (the religious ceremony commemorating the death of Imam Hossein). When and how did you come upon your idea for the film It Sometimes Happens? How did you find and select the actors for your film? In 2004, I was invited to the house of someone I did not know to see a musician friend. The owner of the house, Amir, was not there, but my friend was, along with a few other people, one of whom was a man by the name of Mehrdad but who everyone called “Shide.” Although his clothes and appearance were male, Mehrdad’s behavior was female. His hair was perfect, his makeup precise and thick, and his eyebrows plucked. Years ago I had seen people similar to him and had run into quite a few around Shahr Theater, but I had always avoided contact with them. Seeing them had made me sick with visions of sexual deviance. Mehrdad was friendly and kind, but I was not. I was angry that I was there, I felt it beneath me, and I was unwilling to even look at Mehrdad. But it was not God’s will that the situation remain tense. Mehrdad put all of his effort into winning me over. 18

With behavior unique to a woman, he drew me in and began to confide in me. Then came the tears…and after the tears, “Shide” was the only way I could see her. She told me so much about her life, and after some time, I realized I had taken her hands into mine, saying, “I understand, I understand.” That was the seed for this film. That was how it all started. I learned that Amir, the owner of the house, was scheduled to have a sex-change operation a few days later. That is when I made my decision. I thought that maybe I could make a film that could transform society’s views and prejudices into a fair and reasonable perspective. Just as I was embarrassed at my initial behavior, I wanted others to notice their own prejudices. There was not much time before “Rima’s” (Amir’s feminine name) operation. I said to myself, “Here goes nothing,” and began. Amir was the focal point of the film: Amir’s life, before the operation, the actual operation, and her life after. Mehrdad (“Shide”), Ali (“Hilda”), and Shahin (“Sharmine”) were three other transsexuals who appeared in the film, along with Amir’s mother and sister, a sex-change specialist, and an Islamic cleric. How would you describe the film? Because of financial difficulties, it took three years to complete the film and still it was not perfect. However, the result, with all of its shortcomings, was very

The film was shown a second time just a few days ago in Khane-ye Sinema (House of Cinema) in a theater that was so packed that there was no standrewarding. Because it took so ing room. There were just as long to make and because Amir many viewers outside as those set out to live his life, the film admitted into the theater. The took on a fictional quality. But, only thing we could do to acin fact, it is 100 percent docucommodate them was to schedmentary. As far as I know, when ule an additional screening. I started, no one had discussed this subject in Iran. At the time it The audience’s attitude was very was considered crazy. Everyone rewarding, as the majority told me that the film would just claimed that their views on the collect dust in my house. But I subject had changed. I was gratethought that even among people ful because that was precisely who come to my house as guests, what I had hoped for. Many of the film could be influential and those who attended were theater worthwhile. This project would and movie actors and actresses, not be in vain. By the time I fin- musicians, and writers. The secished, three years later, several ond showing also brought in films with similar themes had many people from various embeen made. When it was ready, I bassies as well as United Nations took the film to the Ministry of staff in Iran. Culture and Islamic Guidance. Without a single “powerful con- In a question and answer session, nection” or bureaucratic diffione woman remarked that a few culty, I was given permission to days prior she had seen a film by show my work, but only in do- a famous female filmmaker that mestic and international festihad a minor transsexual characvals. Interestingly enough, even ter and that it had made her though I was given this permis- laugh in the theater. She went on sion, most domestic festivals de- to say, “I repent right here in the clined to screen the film because presence of God that I made fun of the sensitive nature of the sub- of those people and laughed at ject. It Sometimes Happens was them that day.” One famous aconly accepted by a large annual tor noted that, “I have always celebration of Iranian Cinema seen those people, and even once where it was nominated for an or twice I played the role of one, award for best documentary and but never understood them.” One for best documentary director. Danish gentleman said that in spite of living in a free country How many times were you able where these issues are not taboo, It Sometimes Happens had to show this film? What attichanged his view. When he retudes, debates, and controturns to his country, he will adversy surrounded it? dress this subject with others. I Until now, the film has been am so happy that the film was shown four times. We have had able to encourage viewers to two scheduled private screenings gain more insight and develop a of the film and, in both cases, we fairer attitude in regard to this held an additional screening. subject.

Street journalists and Barbaric regime



Today in most cities showed

scenes of discord with the government of “Seyed Ali Khamenei” and there are reports that students of Esfahan University had a very bountiful gathering, all the time singing the revolutionary anthem “Yare Dabestani”. We draw



According to the people’s reports and images posted of each person who made up millions, members of the Ahmadinejad’s government and its supporters, the level of violence by the baton wielding Basij was unprecedented. The level of violence was such that many women

r Zarqami, Head of Media your attention to it now were left with fractured heads and Broadcasting in Iran, and many women fell unconscious with your permission citiafter the blows they suffered in pun According to reports from the city zens have also made their ishment. The level of violence of of Rasht, the people marched reports; of their massive protests, of the the arrogant within Iran on the offiagainst your conditioning governviolence of the security forces and baton cial day of struggle against arroment and raised your attention to wielding Basij militia at the hands of the gance is clearly evident in these imthis with the “Yare Dabestani” government. Of course they don’t have the ages that have reached the public of anthem facilities of your vast organization and the people and the world. they‘re not allowed to film. And yet you filmed the people who were brought in See All Videos here: http://youtube.com/user/TheBistoon  The posted images that front of the “den of espionage” (the And have not been broadcast in the Islamic Republic’s description of the Live Report on our blog: anti-people media and never American Embassy) with astonishing http://shooresh1917.blogspot.com/ will be unless we show them, organization, from every possible anspeaks of the people’s desire gle. Our people can’t show the faces for the formation of a “people’s of the 16 and 17 year old kufiya weargovernment”. Thousands who ing Basiji children who don’t even are clearly visible in these imknow their left from their right, and ages, were shouting say that they took to the streets “by “Independence, Freedom, a order of their leader” on the day of People’s Government!” struggle against global arrogance, later broadcasting the “America Amer Tehran University, on the ica…”(anti U.S. ) anthem. day designated to the “struggle But, with the permission of your antiagainst global arrogance” was people media, the people have also the scene of protest against doreported from the streets of Iran, remestic arrogance and the stuporting that on the official day of dents greeted this day with slostruggle against global arrogance, the gans of “Death to the Dictaarrogant inside our own country were tor” and “Death to the Subeating our sisters and mothers at the preme Leader’s Jurisdicapproaches to Hafte Tir Square. The tion”. people also reported that the batons of “your leader’s” soldiers inflicted a great deal of pain. If you don’t believe  pecial forces who this ask the boy whose head was swarmed the streets to create smashed, he knows that pain well. The violence and beat people were people reported tear gas, they reported in the end not able to stop the how enthusiastically they greeted Karoubi, sea of people, and in the end people  1000s of people in Tehran with and people reported how the leader’s were able to embitter the taste of the conclusive judgement of him as a anonymous, violence seeking soldiers who coup government and stand in hope murderer, declared the authority of are sympathizers of Ahmadinejad’s govof future days. The presence of the your conditioning leader - whom ernment have put Moussavi under house guards generating violence is eviyou recognize in your media broadarrest. dent in these images. casts as the “substance of the muslim world” – void. The protestors in With Mr Zarqami’s permission, the people  Although US controversy was one these images available to the public have also reported, that child Basij were in Iran and the world, they chanted: of the aims of the Islamic Republic planted in front of the American Embassy and the leadership, pronounced day “Khamenei is a murderer, his and other loutish Basij at the entrances to and night even at football matches jurisdiction is void!”. Rather Hafte Tir Square so that they may attack where stadium billboards are covpeople with unprecedented violence. With than the American flag, it was his ered with “America, depraved subthe permission of Mr Zarqami and other image that was torn down and stance of the century”, people pay lying media of the Islamic Reublic’s govtrampled on. The images are broadmore attention to the government ernment including IRNA and Fars who cast here for you. Experts have atand people of America than to your placed the Basiji among the people to tributed this behaviour to the conpropaganda. People in this clip are pummel and beat them, the people have tinuation of the dictatorship and the expressing this in the simplest way also made their reports, a fragment of excessive practice of murder by with “Obama, Obama, It’s which we present for your observation. government forces. them or us!” ZEDBAZI [continued on Next pg]

without interest, asking the Basij to leave the university.

From previous pg(Street journalists and Barbaric regime)... 

In contrast to people’s view that the government wants to introduce America as the enemy of the Iranian people gathering a load of people outside the American Embassy, equipping them with flags and spending a sizeable sum on their anti-people ceremony, people all over Iran went for simple hand clapping and sloganslike “The

Russian Embassy is a den of espionage”. Word on the street suggests that the government and leadership are extremely angered on hearing such slogans. One government member in a historic speech, forgetting that Ayatollah Khomeini has been dead for years, quoted on his behalf, saying “With the intention of misleading people, they’re chanting Death to Russia”. 

The university students’ protest against domestic arrogance thrived with the zeal of the crowd.



Likewise protestors in this after asking the anti-riot police to wash Ahmadinejad, once again recognized the official leader as a murderer and therefore declared his authority void. If it’s inconceivable, just watch. The protestors also suggested that Mojtaba Khamenei bow out now with no need to wait for the pomp and ceremony of death.



Unlike the sorrow of the exhaustive violence of the coup d’etat forces, the people with great wit and spirit clapped their hands and in some street barricades.



A group of protestors standing against the inalienable right of the Basij who are in the process of destroying Iran, shouted: “A free green Iran doesn’t want an atom bomb!”



Protest against domestic arrogance took place in different points of the country. With this direction, the people of Shiraz did not deny domestic arrogance, shouting “Death to the Dictator!”



The people of Esfahan in unison with the country’s other cities sang “Yare Dabestani” against the coup d’etat government.



The people of Shahr Kord didn’t leave the coup d’etat government



The people of Ahvaz too, stood alongside the Iranian people, singing anthems and shouting slogans.



The people of Iran also reported from Tabriz , transmitting footage of slogans of “Death to the Dictator” and calling for support from Mir Hossein Moussavi.



According to footage posted by protestors in Mashad, the people of Mashad also hit the streets to protest against the dictatorship anddomestic arrogance.



Even on the metro returning home, people chanted against Russia and its support for the coup d’etat government, and domestic arrogance.



This street war is very absorbing. People have become so shrewd and act so quickly that any spectator is left in awe that with the slightest approach of the government’s violence seeking security forces, the vast crowd of people disappear.



The people of Kerman too want Ahmadinejad’s coup d’etat government to step aside, and called “Ya Hossein, Mir Hossein” lobbing kicks at the abusive government.



The throwing of tear gas towards the people by the violence seeking Basij forces is evident.



Here is another report, another example of the height of primitiveness of the agents who beat the people of Iran.



According to reports submitted, a number of our compatriots were trying to track down our oil revenue then realized that it had been spent on Basij forces, at the same time they know that the people of Iran are at the mercy of a vile man by the name of Mr Jannati.



Protestors today followed a woman’s slogan “He who they call righteous, is a murderer.”



We have reports and images of Tehran University students making charitable offerings to Basij forces with quick slogans.



And more footage from Qazvin and the students saying: “Our Neda hasn’t dies, it’s the government that’s

[Continued on Next pg]

From previous pg(Street journalists and Barbaric regime)… It’s exactly five months that the Islamic Republic has resorted to “open violence” showing this in the worst possible way, by even killing its protestors and opponents. As to which forces and which people, and how, they have been reared and trained such that what we have seen on 13 Aban (4 November) and witnessed before that is an example that must be pursued and a proper reaction shown to it. On 13 Aban, savage forces of the coup d’etat government proceeded to the extreme of fracturing heads and rendering others unconscious and the women who stood at the front of the queue to try and save people were treated in the most ruthless and cold-hearted way. That which has been published in photographs and footage and that which has been conveyed by objective witnesses describes a violence that one must question the angry and confused state of the government. Although the coup d’etat government has assigned another game to the people and sees it as an occasion for propaganda against the waves of protest of thousands of lost citizens and the media and governments and people of the world have been witness to an absolute objection to the government, the anger and promotion of violence is astonishing after two days of talks and statements. Such that anyone would think that the coup d’etat forces remain only for the massacre of the people. But how can this “open violence” be stopped? The Islamic Republic according to the country’s current constitution and with attention to international covenants that it has signed and must commit to, does not have the right to subject the citizens of Iran to such savage beatings and injury. Firing tear gas such that the heads of Karoubi’s caretakers are injured, firing plastic bullets such that several people ended up in hospital, bleeding on Qods Day, beating people’s heads and faces with batons such that people are fractured and rendered unconscious, are indications of extreme violence that Ayatollah Khamenei and Ahmadinejad

and the heads of the three branches must be accountable for. In Iran today because of corruption in the daily workings of the judiciary imposed by institutions affliated to the government and the leadership, the citizens of Iran are not permitted to question their rights in respect to this open violence. The representatives of the Islamic Council do everything in parliament except defend the rights of the people they claim to represent. Public and independent institutions with supervisory roles that have the power to perform are non-existent. In such circumstances there is little that can be done against this dirty violence and forcing the government to put an end to it. The soldiers reared by the government have the power to carry out any act with iron immunity and newspapers like Keyhan promote this.

13 Aaban,student day in Iran on Foreign Media

The only solution against this violence is pressure on the Islamic Republic in every possible way (to the extent of this open violence) on behalf of foreign governments, international institutions, the United Nations and international groups defending human rights.. This mission that must be undertaken very quickly and forces outside the country must put all their efforts into it. Supporting the people of Iran isn’t simultaneous gatherings outside embassies. They must do all they can, using every possible resource to put the maximum pressure on the Islamic Republic to stop this inhuman behaviour. The bodies of our mothers should not be subjected to batons that descend and strike to silence the rights of the people. Our mothers and sisters suffered the most brutal treatment from the government trained security forces on 13 Aban and the days preceding it. We must show severe disgust towards this savage treatment and security forces outside Iran must view this problem as their fundamental responsibility. This behaviour by the government can only be compared to barbarism. Dealing with such a government in this age is the responsibility of each and every noble and democratic human being whose heart beats for hum a n i t y .

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The Era of a New Politics Has Arrived (1)

By Amir K. Khiaban No. 50 1. Art

An important distinction between good and bad art is that bad art 'tells', while good art 'shows'. A bad poem says, "I am in love", but a good poem recreates the feeling of being in love through the use of poetic metaphors. It doesn't say, "I'm in love"; it writes: "Woe, blade, do not scar my cheek through neglect, Oh, hand, do not disturb the serenity of my hair, And do not shame me, Oh, heart! the drunken you, without having drunk a drop; The moment of meeting is close." Kafka, in his novel Metamorphosis, does not state that humans lose their humanity in a capitalist system. Good art does not 'tell'; instead, with the help of literary metaphors and artistic creativity it creates an atmosphere, in which it shows this metamorphosis of humans. When Gregor Samsa wakes up one morning, he realizes that he has been transformed into a [giant] beetle. Kafka does not speak of the alienation of the human relations in the twentieth century cities. He shows Gregor's relations with his family. When you finish reading the book, you are shaken. Its impact sticks in the deepest corners of your soul, and you carry that effect with you forever. The art that tells assumes for itself a passive audience. Good art, however, activates the intellectual and sensual powers of the addressee. Art that tells is a finished product, ready to be digested by the consumer. Art that shows involves the audience in the outcome of the construction 22

of and the level of concrete reality and facts. Producing ideas alone does not lead us to social truth. 3. Revolutionary Politics Revolutionary politics is poetic and committed to the truth. Bad politics says, "People, you must revolt!" Revolutionary politics shows people that, to live free and equal, a social revolution is needed. Bad politics says, "People, Moussavi and the reformists cannot lead you in the direction of a democratic society." Revolutionary politics, however, shows how and why the interests of one faction of the the meaning. The addressee is power elite -- though possibly not a mere observer, but a pardifferent from the interests of the ticipant. current dominant faction -- are not equal to the interests of the people. Revolutionary politics 2. Social Research The unearthing/understanding of shows that reformists' politics social realities is possible with and strategies are alien to social the help of research. An impor- and political freedoms, and that tant phase of research is the op- their aim is not social justice. erationalizing stage. We cannot Revolutionary politics 'shows'. reach reliable conclusions with a Bad politics says: People, sepamere idea. A social researcher rate your ranks from those dewho is investigating the role of fending the ancient regime, from the educational system in the the representatives of the great [formation of] definitions and world powers and those who structures of gender roles, in or- contribute to your oppression der to test a hypothesis and in and exploitation. Revolutionary order to get closer to the social politics shows that people, in oractuality, must operationalize der to attain freedom and to her/his research. Hundreds of build a people's governance, pages of presenting ideas and must form their own massive conceptualizations do not com- front independent of this or that plete the task of research. For ruling faction, or independent of example, the researcher studies the interests or likings of this or through the textbooks used in the that imperialist country. Bad elementary school years, and politics says Islamic Republic is through a close investigation of capitalist, so it must die. Revoluthe illustrations/photos, shows tionary politics shows people that women are usually porthat the economic policies of the trayed doing house work and rulers are designed to protect the other family-oriented activities, interests of the wealth hoarders etc., while men are seen engaged and the powerful, and shows too in social activities, free actors, that a free society is a society in independent and dominant. which the ownership of the Or else, you want to investigate means of production and sources the living conditions of workers. of wealth are not in the hands of You must operationalize this re- a few, but one where collective search. One researcher may pre- ownership over the sources of pare a survey and, with the aim wealth has been established. In of scientific sample-taking from bad politics, bad politicians the intended community, go to speak badly, and the people are the workers and collect the the audience. Bad politicians needed information, and analyze carry out the political acts, they and explain it. Another reare the actors/initiators, and the searcher may go to a working people are the observers. It is class neighborhood and live possible that the people hear there for several months and note what they say, and even believe his/her observations, and then in them, but this belief can only based on those, attempt to ana- help in bringing the particular lyze and explain the findings. politician to power, and cannot In order to proximate the social help in the popular sharing of truth, we must repeatedly travel power [by the people]. back and forth between the level In revolutionary politics, people of the abstract and understanding are not an audience. People are

actors. Their decisions, their thinking and their actions are the parts that complete the revolutionary politics. They themselves, from what revolutionary politics has revealed before their eyes, gain awareness and become involved in determining solutions, tactics, and what-is-tobe-done's. The social revolution for which the revolutionary politics seeks a path is not one of replacing ancient rulers with modern ones. It is, rather, a new system of rule based on the collective power of the people, and the people matured in the fires of social struggle are the citizens and the creators of it. Bad politics remains on the level of ideas and hypothesizing. 'Long live freedom!' 'Long live social welfare!' 'Long live people's power!' Revolutionary politics, however, operationalizes these ideas. [It shows] what practical steps are necessary in order to reach freedom, social welfare and justice. Bad politics says Islamic Republic must go. Revolutionary politics seeks those practical forms and methods, which can be put to use, and which are capable of overthrowing the Islamic Republic in reality and establishing a people's governance. Bad politics says that the available media are not free and reflect the interests of the ruling elites. Revolutionary politics proposes practical plans, in which free media can take form and the people's real voice cannot be censored. Bad politics raises merely the pictures, images and symbols of people's struggles, and rallies the people around them. Revolutionary politics, although not neglectful of symbols and signs, focuses its concentration on operationalizing the ideas from which those signs and symbols receive their justification. Iranian society is experiencing immense developments. The society has passed an era and is experiencing a new birth. The tunes sung these days in the world of politics have no proportionality with the immensity of this era. Both the reformists' politics and that of the available political parties and organizations, like a bad poem or a weak tract, will not remain in the memory of time. The society is in need of a new revolutionary politics and is working to develop it.

The revolution is alive By Babak Kasrayi On September 18 there were mass demonstrations in Iran, confirming the fact that the movement that began against electoral fraud is not dead. That movement shook Iranian society, and although there will be ups and downs, it will continue until the present hated regime is brought down. The key question is the role of the working class and the need for a revolutionary leadership. The Islamic Republic of Iran has a hard task before it. It is a counter-revolutionary regime that has to suppress a revolution… under the guise of being “revolutionary!” After all, how could a regime call itself “revolutionary” and at the same time justify preventing the masses of people from conquering the streets? On September 18, the Iranian masses, in a very intelligent move, used Quds Day, typically a day of government-sponsored rallies that nobody goes to, to further their revolution and continue their struggle against the Islamic Republic. This was the biggest presence of the masses on the streets, since the millionsstrong demonstrations just after the elections that ignited the revolution. The Quds Day demonstrations proved that the revolution is alive and kicking. Quds is the Arabic name for Jerusalem and “Quds Day”, the last Friday of Ramadan in the lunar Arabic calendar, is an initiative first launched by Khomeini with the aim of supporting his fellow fundamentalist, anti-leftist colleagues in the region under the disguise of “supporting the Palestinian people”. The Iranian people have always seen through all this and that is why the government has usually had a hard job filling the streets on this day. But not this time around! In the week building up to this day people were determined to use Quds Day 2009 (September 18) as a stage for their protests. And this is exactly what happened. Depending on the different reports one reads, the demonstrators numbered anything from tens of thousands to one and half million in Tehran. This is despite 23

a very clear warning by the government’s military thugs, the misnamed “Revolutionary Guards”, that declared all protesters would be treated as Israeli spies (the harshest possible accusation in Iran). The protests were not limited to Tehran, however, but took place all over Iran including Tabriz, Qom, Esfahan, Mashhad, Shiraz, Rasht, Booshehr, Ahvaz and Kermanshah. Contrary to what many of the media have tried to depict, not all the slogans were nationalistic.

Although some people did use the slogan of “Not Gaza, Not Lebanon, I give my life to Iran”, this was by no means the dominant slogan. The slogan that evidently became the dominant one was “Death to the Dictator!” According to reports, at one point thousands of protesters filled Valiasr Street, the major avenue in Tehran which runs across much of the city, chanting “Death do the Dictator”. Analysts say that it is pretty clear that they are no longer aiming this slogan only at Ahmadinejad but also at Khamenei, the Great Dictator himself. There were also slogans such as: “Cannons, Tanks, Torture or Rape will not stop us anymore”. This is reminiscent of an old revolutionary slogan of the 1970s used against the Shah’s regime. What is to be noted is how once again the masses of Iran demonstrated their endless courage and determination in facing up to this criminal regime. On Quds Day, even the trucks of government thugs were surrounded by the protesters. While the government thugs shouted “Death to Israel”

from their trucks, the people responded with “Death to Russia”, showing their anger at the Russian government’s cordial relations with the Ahmadinejad government. One interesting detail was the fact that there were also some slogans against Chavez, as unfortunately he has publicly supported the Iranian regime. He has repeatedly come out in support of Ahmadinejad, in the mistaken view that the Iranian regime is “anti-imperialist”. The Venezuelan CMR already warned that this wrong position of Chavez risks alienating those who are the natural supporters of the Venezuelan revolution in Iran, the workers, the youth, the women, who make up the ranks of those who have been struggling against the reactionary Iranian regime in the last few months. [See Solidarity with the movement of the Iranian masses – Statement of the Revolutionary Marxist Current (Venezuela)] Another interesting aspect was that in the face of the immense courage and determination of the masses on September 18, the police and Basij thugs did not attack the protesters with their usual killings and beatings. Their action was limited to using tear gas and arresting a number of protesters. It was clear that their so-called “leniency” comes out of a fear of openly clashing with hundreds and thousands of people on the streets, and of provoking an even bigger movement Continuous struggles The turbulent atmosphere is evident in every part of Iranian society. In the last days of September, the government finally resorted to opening the universities. Ahmadinejad didn’t dare to be present at the opening of the new academic year in Tehran University. He instead sent his Minister of Science, Kamran Daneshjoo, who had to meet hundreds of protesting students who had gathered in front of the Central Library of Tehran University chanting: “Death to the Dictator, both leader and doctor” (referring to “The Supreme Leader, Khamenei” and “Dr. Ahmadinejad”) and also “Students prefer death to indig-

nity”. Students marched through the university and gathered in front of the university entrance in Enqelab Avenue. Only a strong presence of police and security guards prevented students from joining forces with people who had gathered outside the entrance in their support. On October 2, the masses even used the Tehran soccer derby match between two famous Tehran clubs, Persepolis and Esteghlal, to protest against the Ahmadinejad government. The match was in the colossal Azadi Stadium, watched by nearly 100,000 people, and you could even hear the anti-Ahmadinejad slogans on State TV! The Quds Day demonstrations proved a very important point: nothing can take the situation back for the regime to the “good old times” before June 22. People will use every possible opportunity to fill the streets. The “nightmare” of revolution will haunt the Islamic Republic until it comes tumbling down. And it is this fact that colours all further developments. “Unity of the regime”? We saw before how the old leaders of the “Reformist” wing of the regime were tried in Tehran show trials by their erstwhile cousins. They were forced to renege on all their ideas. In a humiliating move, Sayid Hajarian - the main “Reformist” ideologue who is the survivor of an assassination attempt and who has always been regarded as sort of a martyr for the reformists - after denouncing whatever he once proclaimed and thanking his “brothers” for his place of confinement (that he described as being more “enjoyable than a prison”) was freed last week. On the other hand, Mousavi and Karoubi, two election candidates and “leaders of the reformists”, have resorted to unprecedented criticisms of the regime they had once contributed to building. Although they too were careful to add that their ultimate goal is how to “avert the crisis” [read: save the regime] while continuing their criticisms so as not to lose all their support among the masses; support that is already being undermined, the more people progress in their demands.

[Continued on next pg]

From Previous pg( The revolution is alive)... In a statement that would undoubtedly disgust some people who have been putting their lives at risk in fighting this regime, Mousavi said: “Our demand is full execution of the Constitution and the return of the Islamic Republic to its initial ethical principles. We want the Islamic Republic, not a word more, not a word less [echoing Khomeni’s famous saying; my translation, BK] and he then went on to condemn those who want to go “beyond the regime” and break the “structures”. In general, we could say that the more the revolution has progressed, the more heightened have the internal divisions within the regime become. However, it is Rafsanjani, the fox of the regime, that “Man of crises”, that has astonished his “reformist” allies with an act that reveals that his crude political manoeuvres are truly unpredictable. This astonishing act happened at the 6th Summit of the Assembly of Experts, which is headed by Rafsanjani and has the constitutional power of replacing the Supreme Leader and picking a new one. Many people were contemplating about what this Assembly might do under the leadership of Rafsanjani to counter Khamenei. But the summit, in its final declaration and in its opening speech, gave its full support to Khamenei, as if to pour a bucket of cold water on all the “Reformist” leaders who had tied all their hopes to Rafsanjani. The final declaration praises Ayatollah Khamenei for his role in “putting out the fire of conspiracy and the incidents after the elections”. It goes on to say: “We (members of the Assembly of Experts) once more declare our allegiance to the Supreme Leader of the Revolution, Ayatollah Khamenei…. And we declare him to be the only candidate that is worthy of leading the nation” [my translation, BK]. The fact that this declaration was read out while Rafsanjani was no longer in the room (he left the summit in the early hours of its second and last day) means simply that he was trying not to completely alienate himself from his “Reformist brothers” and not to attract more contempt from the people. His signature, however, was on this declaration. The show of “allegiance” to Khamenei on the part of the Assembly of Experts was quickly welcomed by the kind Supreme Leader. He used the occasion of his Eid-al-Fitr (End of Ramadan) sermon to give the green light to Rafsanjani. It was noticeable that Rafsanjani, and also Hassan Khomeini, Ayatollah Khomeini’s son who has been mixing with the “reformist” camp, attended the sermon. Khamenei said that while what the accused reformists have said in the show trials “about themselves” is acceptable, one cannot accept their accusations against “others”! It was clear that by this he meant he is ready to put to 24

one side confessions that the reformist leaders, in the show trials, have made involving the Rafsanjani family and its well-known thieving activities. These events outraged Karoubi who wrote a very angry letter to Rafsanjani asking what is the point of having an Assembly of Experts if it is just a rubber-stamp for Khamenei. “Isn’t it better for such an Assembly to be left only for the day that, God forbid, something should happen to the Supreme Leader?” he asked. [My translation, BK]. We can conclude from all this that different factions within the regime are doing their best to unite in the face of the massive people’s movements that they we once again saw on September 18. But that does not necessarily mean they will be successful in this endeavour. Rafsanjani knows very well that he has to take his cue from Khamenei who openly declared in his Friday sermon, about three months ago, that he feels closer to “The President” than his “revolutionary friend of 50 years”, i.e. Mr. Rafsanjani. He, like other reformists, knows well that if the regime had the strength to deal firmly with this crisis, they would be among its first victims. We therefore should not exaggerate the degree of “unity” within this regime. While Rafsanjani’s green light to Khamenei in the summit of Experts was unexpected, disunity and confusion still shines out from every corner of this rotten regime. Obama and Ahmadinejad go “fishing”!

The Ahmadinejad government would love to jump at such a prospect. Ahmadinejad has already been talking about how he should be considered as a “friend” by Obama. In a move that is unprecedented in the last 30 years, Saeed Jalili, Iranian nuclear negotiator, met with William Burns, US envoy and “highest ranking Foreign Service Officer in the United States” as part of the Geneva negotiations. But there are two problems that will ruin this joint daydreaming and “fishing” on the part of Ahmadinejad and Obama: The Islamic Republic has long tied the question of its legitimacy to “opposition to the Great Satan” and leading the camp of Fundamentalist Islamists against the “world of arrogance”. Making a sudden turn and shaking hands with the “Great Satan” will surely further destabilize the regime in its ideological roots and will cause further divisions within it. The revolutionary movement that has shaken society for the past three months cannot be stopped by these deals of the ruling class. The masses have entered the pages of history and they will not be driven back so easily. The Islamic Republic is tangled in a political, economic and diplomatic dead-end and Obama cannot really do much about this fact, as much as he would like to. Where to go?

There is a Persian proverb that refers to those who try to “fish in muddy waters”, by which is meant abusing a situation in their own favour. This is an apt way to describe the recent behaviour of Obama and US imperialism. Obama had clearly waited for the perfect timing to reveal the details about nuclear facilities in the city of Qom. He did so - standing shoulder to shoulder with Brown and Sarkozy at the G20 meeting in Pittsburgh - to show he is more serious than ever. He also had already made concessions to Russia by announcing the dismantling of US missile bases in the Czech Republic, so as to make sure he has Russian support should he need to inflict more sanctions on Iran. Obama has several aims in mind. He is trying to pressure the weakened Islamic Republic that is under the fire of a revolution, to “sober up” and accept the honoured position of being a “Western ally”. This could be a big stone for Obama, with which he could kill two birds, i.e. strengthen the new “western-allied” Islamic Republic and help them suppress the revolution at the same time; and also be able to count on a new ally in the region to help sort out the terrible mess that US imperialism has got itself into in Afghanistan and the Middle East.

We have repeatedly said that the weakness of the Iranian Revolution so far has been the lack of an active and conscious participation by the workers as a class. Although from the beginning we did witness workers’ protests and even strikes, a general strike that could stop the wheels of society never materialised (despite a lot of calls for it from different parts of society). However, in the last month we have seen an intensification of workers’ struggles which will surely be an important factor in the coming revolution. It is not for nothing that Samare Hashemi, Ahmadinejad’s close advisor, last week had to say in Kerman, “Some of the heads of the opposition after the recent chaos have been trying to create economic sabotage in different sectors such as industry, agriculture and finance. This could lead to sabotage within the regime” [My translation, BK]. We know very well what Mr. Samare is referring to when he speaks of “economic sabotage”. He is referring to strikes that are growing everywhere in Iran. On October 3, the Haft Tapeh agribusiness workers started new protests, gathering in front of the doors of the management offices. They are demanding the unpaid wages of the last two months. On September 26,

autoworkers at the Zagros Factory in Boroujerd organized a gathering for the third day in a row protesting nonpayment of their wages. Before this we also saw the three-day strike of some of the workers in the textile factory of Kerep-Naaz in Kermanshah province. The employers had to give in to some of the workers’ demands and the workers have threatened that they will go on strike again if all their demands are not met. Now everybody is talking about how the “Blue-collars” have also risen. Iran is passing through a decisive moment. The people’s movement is growing and seeking every opportunity to assert its power. Every official occasion is exploited to express the anger of the people. Demonstrations for the anniversary of the 1979 Revolution next February will undoubtedly turn out once again to be antigovernment demonstrations. Workers and the people should use every opportunity to raise revolutionary morale and the true heritage of the defeated 1979 revolution and go toward to finish what the 1979 revolution left unfinished: to bring down Iranian capitalism and establish workers’ rule. What is required is for the working class to step forward in a decisive manner and put itself at the head of the protest movement. The youth in particular should turn to the workers directly and unite the student movement with that of the working class. The demands of the workers on such questions as jobs for all, decent wages and conditions, should be brought together with those of the movement as a whole. All this should be part of the preparation of a mass, all-out general strike at some stage. That is what will finally put the nails in the coffin of this hated regime. If a genuine revolutionary party of the working class existed, the whole process could be accelerated. All the conditions have matured for a revolutionary overthrow of the regime. Lacking this revolutionary leadership of the working class, we see the present situation, where the movement rises and recedes again, at each step drawing lessons and preparing for the next stage. This creates a vacuum, which unfortunately can even be filled by elements such as Mousavi, who instead of leading is using his authority to hold the movement back. All genuine Communists, Socialists and Marxists in Iran should be working towards building what is missing, a revolutionary party of the working class. However, the masses will not sit and wait for such a party to be built. They will move through whichever channels are available. To the degree that the working class, in unity with other oppressed layers in society, such as women and youth, plays the role that history has reserved for it in the upcoming developments, the Iranian Revolution will take an important step forward.

ART MAGNET Movie: No One Knows About the Persian Cats

by Josh S. Henaman photos by M'Lou Elkins

Production year: 2009 Country: Iran Runtime: 106 min. Directors: Bahman Ghobadi Cast: Ashkan Koshanejad, Hamed Behdad, Negar Shaghaghi Screened for first time at Cannes film Festival’ parallel show “Un Certain Regard”(May 2009) where it won the special jury prize ex-aequo, and showed at London Film Festival two weeks ago, the Iranian film Kasi az irani gorbehaye Khabar nadareh (“No One Knows about the Persian Cats”), is a overwhelming and shocking trip in the underground music scene in Tehran, directed by kurdish-iranian filmaker Bahman Ghobadi, regularly boycotted if not totally censored by the central government, who had to seek refuge abroad.Co-written by Roxana Saberi (who was released just in May), the story begins shortly after Ashkan, a member of an indie rock band, is released from jail and follows him and female singer Negar as they attempt to obtain, via forgers and bootleggers, the passports and visas that will allow them to leave Iran to play a gig in London. The threat of the police and authorities is all around. Bands soundproof secret rehearsal spaces and venues; one heavy metal band avoids arrest by playing in a stinking cowshed on a farm far out of town; members of another band talk about 25

having their instruments confiscated. The movie is really about the universal power of music and the passion of the youth which know no boundaries. We see that Iranian musicians go to any lengths to defy censorship and restrictions to play their music. They do not need concert halls. They play anywhere: from metro stations to cow sheds and for anyone who wants to listen. Where Persian Cats works best is when it combines the dreams of being in a successful band and playing in London – the sort western audiences may be used to – with aspirations of personal and artistic freedom that those audiences would take for granted. Music and lyrics for the young Iranians has become a desperate, but at the same time powerful, means of expression and communication with the world at large. Ghobadi's film manages to convey all the passion, energy, anger and hope that is contained in these music. It is a brave, and undoubtedly controversial (specially with the two leads seeking asylum in the west) film made with so much passion that the viewers can not remain unmoved. It is masterfully directed and photographed and brilliantly edited. A masterpiece which is certain to become another milestone in the history of Iranian and world cinema. Absolutely unmissable.

It has to be said. You just can't get away from it. And we're pretty sure the band members themselves are probably tired of seeing it reiterated over and over in article after article, headline after headline… and we're going to be the first to disagree with it. Hypernova is not an Iranian band.

anthem, the guys of Hypernova walked onstage one by one to face a steadily growing crowd of Goths there to see headliners, The Sisters of Mercy. With the whirl of guitars and frantic drumbeats, dapper lead singer Raam hugged the microphone close and started with "Somewhere Far Away." In a deep baritone cry, Raam held the mic in a death grip and for that first song didn't venture from that one spot. With lyrics such as, "This world is not for the feint of heart," the lack of audience interaction on the first song almost seemed to say that Raam was keeping this song close. It was for him. It was for the band. And it was an homage to everything they have been through. Once the song ended, Raam finally acknowledged the audience with a slight bow of thanks.

Okay, on the surface that is not exactly true. The band IS from Tehran, Iran and if there ever was a poster child for being an "underground" rock band, try honing your craft under a regime where the threat of arrest and physical harm for even humming a hook from Western music was a distinct possibility. It was in this atmosphere that Hypernova forged their sound, perfected their licks and built a After that brief bit of tribute to reputation for pure rock. their past, Hypernova opened up to the here and now with In the U.S., about the only ex"Universal," a somewhat poppy, perience the majority of Ameri- finger-snapping riff that the Holcans have had with a society in lywood crowd embraced in a which music was outlawed un- frenzy of applause. If you were der penalty of imprisonment or to say Raam played to the crowd death was in watching the antics as a cool and confident frontof High School everyman Ren man, you would then have to McCormack in Footpoint out guitarists Kodi and loose. Needless to say, we've Poya as the band's chaotic been pretty sheltered if the only side. For every smooth slide example we can pull is a pop that Raam gave the audience, culture bit o'cinema starring the two guitarists followed it up Kevin Bacon. with battling energetic grinds to the forehead. Their camaraderie So why are we going as far to quickly became apparent during say Hypernova is not an Iranian the song "Sinners," and the band? If the show at the Henry members showed that they are Fonda Theatre in Hollywood destined to riff and play off each was any indication, Hypernova other much like the greats of is so much more. rock history. Amidst an orchestral trumpeting

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From previous pg (Hypernova)... That's not to say bassist, Jam, and drummer, Kami, didn't play their part. It's hard to imagine "Somewhere Far Away," without the soul-crunching bass or the cymbal crash of "Universal." As much as Raam and Kodi bounced off each other, Kami and Jam filled in the gaps and brought it all together. On tour with the Sisters of Mercy for the better part of a month, Hypernova is promoting their upcoming release, "Through the Chaos." With highlights of their live performance being, "Lost in Space," "Viva La Resistance" and the final song, "Fairy Tales That Don't Have Happy Endings," it

jority of the population is in their twenties, and listening to Western music is illegal since Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad banned it in December of 2005. Bassist Jamshid and lead vocalist/guitarist Raam met at a military camp in Iran. Raam, whose vocal style has been linked to Joy Division frontman Ian Curtis, lived in Eugene, OR, for several years in the 1980s before returning to the Middle East, and formed the group with drummer Kami, second guitarist Kodi, and rhythm guitarist Poya. Though suffering from a limited access to the music they enjoyed, they were influenced by Sisters of Mercy, the Strokes, Arctic Monkeys, the Kings of Leon, the Ramones,

looks and sounds like the album is going to make a few Best of 2009 lists. One standout of the evening was the haunting "American Dream." Starting off with some post-60's groovy grind that had an end-of-summer vibe, the song showcased Raam, now on guitar. Simply put, "American Dream" has an opening that feels like a gut punch of reality to anyone with even a bit of knowledge of the band's past. The song itself felt more personal than any other and with the opening lyric, "I know I'll never go back home again," it brought to the forefront that no matter what, you can never go back to how it all began. Everyone has a story and everyone knows how they came to be where they are. The song itself is a warning against becoming the cold, plastic and easily packaged product for the consumer at the expense of your beliefs. "Is this what we really want?" The band seems to ask itself that very ques- NOFX, and Queens of the Stone Age. With an aspiration to be tion. heard in the United States, their dream became a reality In 2007, where a casual application over the Internet garnered an invitation And it was that song, "American Dream," that truly cemented the to play at the South by Southwest Music Conference in Austin, TX. belief that Hypernova isn't simply an Iranian band. They're a band But legal issues blocked their visas and prevented their appearance that is going to show the world it doesn't matter who your influin Texas, and they were stuck in Dubai. ences are and it doesn't matter what side of the street you picked up that guitar on. All that matters is you do what has to be done in or- Their consolation prize was a onetime appearance at the club Fat der to get where you need to go. Baby in New York City on the Lower East Side, made possible with help from New York Democratic Senator Charles Schumer. "All I ever wanted was to rock and roll." From there, despite marginal attendance, the ball started rolling for Hypernova, as editors from MTV and The New York Times heard That lyric says it all. and touted them, as did ABC News, Telegraph UK, and NPR, who all conducted interviews with the bandmembers. Eventually they moved to Los Angeles while splitting time in New York City; produced a limited-edition EP, Who Says You Can't Rock In Iran?; Biography: worked on their debut album, Through the Chaos, produced by The modern political underground crunch dance-rock band Hyper- Herwig Maurer; and explored further performance opportunities. In 2008 they toured as the opening act for their idols Sisters of Mercy. nova were hatched in a most unlikely locale -- Tehran, Iran. Between their debut in 2000 and their international breakout in 2004, Critics have compared them to Bauhaus and Interpol, and they have been featured on the VH1 television network. Interestingly enough, the ensemble had been performing to a growing audience, albeit under strict veils of secrecy in their homeland. In Iran, the vast ma- Hypernova sing their lyrics in English. 26