Nicht alle Befürworter von Mousavi sind weltlich eingestellt. Viele, wie mein Freund Omid, sind strenggläubige Moslems, die dem Regime nicht länger vertrauen.
19. August 2009 | " Basij madreseye eshq ast" ("Basij ist die Schule der Liebe") — ein Motto der Basij aus Kriegszeiten, zugeschrieben dem früheren iranischen Premierminister Mir Hossein Mousavi.
Das eingerahmte Portrait des verstorbenen Imam Khomeini im Schulbüro ragte hoch über unseren Köpfen auf. Der Direktor, ein Invalide und Basij-Veteran des Krieges zwischen Iran und Irak und Organisator der Kampagne für Präsidentschaftskandidat Mir Hossein Mousavi, war sichtlich erschüttert. “Als der Imam starb, dachte ich, es könnte nichts schlimmeres geben. Aber was in diesen letzten Tagen passiert ist..." Eine Woche nach der umstrittenen Präsidentschaftswahl im Iran waren viele von Omids Freunden und Kollegen der Kampagne bereits verhaftet oder zum Verhör gebracht worden, Männer, mit denen er während des Krieges ein Vierteljahrhundert zuvor an der Front gestanden hatte. Sie hatten zusammen gearbeitet, um die Wahl für Mousavi zu entscheiden in einer Kampagne, die für sie nicht weniger war als die Verteidigung der Revolution, eine Chance, um das Vermächtnis Khomeinis vor dem unwiderbringlichen Verlust zu bewahren. Jetzt, wo die Wahl vorüber und es fast sicher war, dass sie gestohlen wurde, hatte Omid angesichts der Möglichkeit, verhaftet zu werden, seine Hoffnung verloren. Er fühlte sich nicht länger sicher in dem Land, dass er einst als Teenager verteidigt hatte. “Bad berim. Bayad az Iran berim.” "Wir müssen Iran verlassen.”
Stimmen wie die von Omid sind in der Berichterstattung über Irans Präsidentschaftswahl kaum zu vernehmen, zweifelsohne deshalb, weil sie nicht in die allgemein anerkannte Handlung der Geschichten passt, die uns aus Teheran erreichen. Diese Geschichten, die zum Teil durch die westlichen Medien unterstützt werden, legen nahe, dass die Opposition primär aus jungen, gebildeten Städtern besteht, die der Authorität des Klerus müde sind und unbedingt eine endgültige Trennung von Religion und Politik wollen. Sie wiederum stehen einem Regime gegenüber, das seine Stärke aus den frommen, armen Städtern und Landbewohnern bezieht, einer hochgradig traditionellen Bevölkerungsgruppe, die eine Annäherung an den Westen ablehnt und die schleichende Modernisierung des letzten Jahrzehnts verdammt, die Satellitenschüsseln und fremden Kulturen, die allmählich die nationale Identität Irans abtragen. Und der Wille dieses Regimes wird auf den Straßen von den Basijis durchgesetzt, den religiösen paramilitärischen Freiwilligen, die eine jüngere Version von Omid sind.
Zusammengenommen repräsentiert diese Szenerie der städtischen Fortschrittlichen gegen die religiösen Konservativen für einige westliche Kommentatoren die gesamte Bandbreite der Möglichkeiten für die Islamische Republik. In ihren Analysen stellen sie in Frage, ob die Protestbewegung über die Enklaven der Mittel- und Oberklasse Teherans hinaus wirklich populär ist. Nun, wo die Proteste der Straße gegen den Staat in isolierten und unzusammenhängenden Ereignissen verebben, kehren einige Beobachter sogar wieder zu früheren Behauptungen zurück, dass Ahmadinejad die Wahl vom 12. Juni tatsächlich gewonnen hätte. Beinahe zwei Monate nach der Stimmabgabe nähern sich Stimmen aus den U.S.A. und aus Teheran (aus offenkundig unterschiedlichen Motiven heraus) wieder der Wahrnehmung an, dass die Welt den Iran wieder einmal nicht "erfasst" bzw. den "wahren" Iran nicht verstanden habe.
Die Wahrheit ist, dass das Herz der Opposition aus Männern und Frauen wie Omid besteht. Für diese aufrechten Bürger war ihr Glaube Grund genug, für Mousavi zu stimmen, einen Mann, der weithin anerkannt ist für seine Frömmigkeit, Wahrheitsliebe und Loyalität zum verstorbenen Imam. Sie sind Gläubige, Iraner, die sich dem Versprechen der Islamischen Republik als einem ethischen Projekt verpflichtet fühlen, einem Mittelweg aus Autonomie und tragfähiger Modernität, ohne die materiellen Exzesse und den Säkularismus in Europa und den U.S.A., China und Indien. Tief religiös und dem Andenken Khomeinis verpflichtet, haben sie in großer Zahl für Mousavi gestimmt, um die Kontrolle über ihre Vision des Islam und die postrevolutionäre Staatsbürgerschaft zurück zu gewinnen, die nun von Ahmadinejad und seinesgleichen entstellt wird.
In den Monaten und Wochen vor und nach der Wahl hatte ich die Gelegenheit, mit vielen solchen Wählern zu sprechen. Die meisten waren ehemalige Basiji, Männer wie Omid, die sich in den 1980er Jahren, als sie noch auf die Oberschule gingen, freiwillig zum Kampf gegen Saddam Husseins angreifende Armeen gemeldet hatten. Sie arbeiten heute als Direktoren und Lehrer in vielen der besten privaten islamischen Schulen Teherans, die in dem Ruf stehen, ehrerbietige, ihrem Glauben und der Wissenschaft verpflichtete Absolventen hervorzubringen.
Als geehrte Kriegsveteranen und respektierte Lehrer stehen diese Menschen auf dem Kreuzweg der Vergangenheit und der Zukunft Irans. Es ist eine Zukunft, die viele von ihnen zum ersten Mal in ihrem Leben in Frage stellen.
In unseren Gesprächen betonten sie, dass sie diese Wahl und die darauffolgenden Entwicklungen als einen Kampf um Authentizität sehen, um das Recht, zu definieren, was einen guten Moslem ausmacht. Sie fühlten sich angegriffen von einer Regierung und einer Führung, die nicht willens ist, triviale Politik von dem zu trennen, was sie als erhabene Botschaft des Propheten und des Imams ansahen. Als Lehrer waren sie durch das Vorgehen der Regierung während und nach den Wahlen in ein Dilemma geraten, vor allem durch das Vorgehen des Obersten Führers Ali Khamenei. Ein Politiker wie Ahmadinejad, der in eine Kamera blickt und Lügen über die Inflation und die Arbeitslosigkeit erzählt, ist eine Sache - was aber sollten sie über Khameneis dann folgende Bestätigung dieses Präsidenten denken? Was sollten sie ihren Schülern sagen, wenn sie im Herbst wieder in die Schulen kommen würden?
Einer der Direktoren sagte mir, er und seine Kollegen würden versuchen, diesen Kindern beizubringen, gerecht und ehrlich zu sein. Indem er einen Mann unterstützte, der keins von beidem ist, war Khamenei seiner Verantwortung nicht gerecht geworden. "Dieser Mann kann nicht länger Führer sein". Ein anderer Direktor, mit dem ich sprach, war sich weniger sicher über das weitere Vorgehen. "Wenn unsere Väter "Tod dem Schah" riefen", sagte er, "dann geschah das, weil sie dessen Regime als islamfeindlich ansahen. Aber meinen eigenen Sohn "Tod Khamenei" rufen zu hören - das ist zu viel. Ich finde es schwierig zu akzeptieren, weil er gegen eine Regierung der Religion, eine Regierung des Islam protestiert."
Konflikte wie diese haben sehr viele meiner Interviewpartner veranlasst, zu überdenken, ob die Islamische Republic an sich noch realisierbar sei. Vor allem betonten sie, dass der Islam bewahrt werden müsse. Wenn das System verändert werden müsse, so solle dies geschehen. Vielleicht war nur Ayatollah Khomeini zum Obersten Führer befähigt, wie der "Charismatische Führer" des Soziologen Max Weber, der keinen ebenbürtigen Nachfolger hat. Einer der Lehrer drückte es so aus: "Vielleicht ist diese Position [des faqih, oder des Obersten Führers], diese Verantwortung, wie eine reife Frucht. Köstlich, süß, dem Auge schmeichelnd, lockt sie irgendwann Fliegen an."
Veränderung ist das Thema dieses Jahres, eifrig aufgenommen von den Massen im Iran und in den Vereinigten Staaten. Veränderungen erfordern es, dass wir den anhaltenden und schädlichen Vermutungen über den Iran ein Ende setzen - der Wahrnehmung, dass die Religiösen reflexartig von Ahmadinejads Art der Politik angezogen werden, oder dass es einen "authentischen" Iran gibt, der irgendwo südlich des Vanak Square angesiedelt ist. Wenn wir verstehen wollen, wohin sich die noch im Aufbau begriffene gesellschaftliche Bewegung im Iran bewegen könnte, würden wir gut daran tun, unser Augenmerk auf unerwartete Orte zu richten, auf Menschen wie Omid zu achten. Die Tiefe der iranischen Oppositionsbewegung sollte an den Protesten und Aufschreien dieser Menschen gemessen werden und nicht nur denen der jugendlichen Abtrünnigen der Nation, diesen nicht Gläubigen, die die Idee einer Islamischen Republik niemals überhaupt je akzeptiert haben.
Omid und seine Gefährten marschieren nicht deshalb auf den Straßen, weil sie weltlich sind oder ein Interesse daran haben, Iran den USA ähnlicher zu machen. Nein, sie stellen sich der gegenwärtigen Regierung in deren eigener Sache entgegen, im Namen des Islam.
Von Shane M. - Salon.com
Anmerkung der Redaktion: Aus Gründen der persönlichen Sicherheit hat der Autor seinen Namen geändert. In früheren Artikeln hat er sowohl "Anonymous" als auch das oben genannte Pseudonym verwendet.
NEWS --BBC: The second trial session to examine charges of those arrested after the tenth presidential elections in Iran was held today. News sources have confirmed presence of Ahmad Zeidabadi (journalist and the secretary general of Dafatar-e Tahkim Vahdat Alumni Organization) , Ali Tajernia (member of the Islamic Iran Participation Front central council and Mashhad’s representative in the sixth Parliament), Shahabeddin Tabatabaei (member of the Islamic Iran Participation Front central council), Hedayat Aghaei (member of the Executives of Construction Party central council), Mohammad Javad Emam (member of t he Islamic Republic Mojahedin Organization) in the trial. The French national Clotilde Reiss and two local employees of French and British embassies were other attendees of the trial today. The indictment presented at the second trial session mostly contained accusation of western countries of their attempts to provide conditions to overthrow [the regime], and in addition to some countries, names of a few credible international companies were also declared in this indictment. Britain has been named individually in several sections of this indictment. This country has been accused that, through its embassy in Tehran, it has tried to get close to the political parties and has “extensively” used its local employees to collect information all through the city. The Deputy Prosecutor has accused “all the British Embassy diplomats” of attending the “illegal post-election assemblies” and has named the first and second political secretary general of this embassy and two other British diplomats under this accusation. This indictment also has named meeting with “one of the prominent political reformists during his visa process and discussion about the elections candidates, post-election events and the Friday Prayer’s sermons after the elections” as charges against the first political consul general of the British Embassy. The British Council (UK's international organization for cultural relations) has been also accused that by “granting scholarships and holding language examinations (including IELTS)”, this council has identified “informed” and “effective” people to “facilitate their exploitation in critical circumstances”.
The indictment has accused the Nokia-Siemens company for “providing false information” about the communication monitoring systems. Twitter, Facebook and Google are other companies being accused of supporting the riots.
--BBC: Great Britain Foreign Ministry in response to the presence of Hossein Rassam, the Britain Embassy employee in Tehran, in the second trial session of the post-election detainees in Tehran, detainees after the presidential elections in Iran, called Iran’s action an “outrage”. The Britain Foreign Office statement was released at the same time that Iranian news sources quoting Mr Rassam in the trial session claimed that he “on the order of Embassy officials” has attempted to “contact influential people and figures in the political groups and organizations”. This Office in a statement announced that Iran’s action in putting Mr Rassam in trial “is completely unacceptable” and added that this action “directly contradicts assurances we have repeatedly been given by Iranian officials.” This statement continues: “We deplore these trials and the so-called confessions of prisoners who have been denied their basic human rights.” --Tabnak-Mowj Sabz: Regarding the trial of political activists and post-election detainees, three relatives of Ali Tajernia have been arrested. Some officials had told the family of Ali Tajernia, a representative in the sixth Parliament and one of the activists in Mir Hossein Mousavi’s campaign that in order to see him they could attend today’s trials. Ali Tajernia’s family including his wife, brother and sister-in-law were not allowed to enter the court therefore they have been waiting outside hoping they would meet Dr Tajernia for a few moments after the trial. After the trial ended, some plain clothed officers approached Zahra Miryounsei, Tajernia’s wife and asked her to show her ID and declare her Iranian or foreignnational identity, but she was arrested for not having her ID with her. Tajernia’s brother and sisterin-law objected the officers’ action which resulted in their detention. According to Mowj Sabz, they were released after a few hours of detention. --Radio Farda: The personal website of Ayatollah Akbar Hashemi Rasfsanjani has removed the article about next Tehran’s Friday Prayers to be performed by him. This website had previously written that Friday Prayers of August 14 will be led by Ayatollah Hashemi Rafsanjani, head of the Assembly of Experts and the Expediency Council of the System. At the same time, Khabar newspaper quoting Hojjatol Islam Reza Naghavi, the senior chief of Tehran Friday Prayers, said called the presence and leading the next Friday Prayers by Ayatoolah Hashemi Rafsanjani uncertain and dependent upon the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamanei’s comment. --Radio Farda: Saturday morning while the second trial session of protesters to the presidential election results was being held, dozens of their relatives gathered in front of the court building in Khayyam St, Tehran. According to an eyewitness, several security forces prevented them from approaching the court building and visiting their detained family members. --Mowje Sabz: Following the dismissal of Haj Habibollah and Khazaei, two Minister of Intelligence deputies, the farewell ceremony of Dr Firouzabadi, the IT deputy of this department was held today and soon this ceremony will be held for the parliament deputy of this Ministry. According to “Alef”, Firouzabadi had 25 years experience of technical responsibility in the Ministry of Information and has been accredited as one of the prominent IT specialists. According to latest news, the parliament deputy Mansourizadeh’s farewell will be held tomorrow and it has been said that the protection deputy will soon be changed. These changes take place while currently there is no Minister of Intelligence in office and the president supervises this Ministry. --Mowje Sabz: Islamic Iran Participation Front in a statement while condemning continuation of detention and repression of independent and reformist journalists and unprecedented censorship by the ruling power-oriented authority, has congratulated the Journalist Day to all the honored owners of this title, journalists, reporters and other independent activists of this field. This statement says: “This year on the eve of the Journalist Day, the Iranian Association of journalists as the house and safe resort of these noble people has been locked two days ago by those who have issued the closure sentences of over 100 newspapers, magazines and publications and thousands of arrest sentences for journalists and reporters, therefore media and press people have been deprived of their only independent support. --Mowj Sabz: A group of political activists in Golestan province have sent an open letter to Ayattollah-Noormofidi, this province's representative in the Assembly of Experts and have asked him to protest against the crack down in this province and the country. They have warned that upon separation of the clergy and regime from people, the clergy will be removed from the political scene of Iran's society for ever. --Deutche Welle: Forty Iranian and German philosophers in a statement while expressing solidarity with Iran’s civil society, objected the violent oppression of protesters to election results in Iran. They demanded the release of those detained in recent weeks. Among the statement signatories are notable names such as Angelika Beer (chair of the delegation for relations with Iran in the EU), Rainer Brown (a politician in the Social Democratic Party of Germany), Hamid Debashi (University of Columbia professor), Mohsen Masserat (German-resident Iranian elite and peace researcher). NEWS OF THE ARRESTED, MISSING, AND DECEASED --BBC: Following concerns expressed by Saeed Hajjarian’s family about his health condition, Ghorbanali Dorri NajafAbadi, the attorney-general of the Islamic Republic, said the special Judiciary board has recommended that Mr Hajjarian should be released. According to Mr Dorri Najafabadi, Saeed Hajjarian is provided good facilities and conditions in the detention, but “our suggestion was that Hajjarian be released and taken under control in his house.”
--BBC: Arash Naeimian, the son of Nazak Afshar, the employee of the French Embassy cultural section says security officers have arrested and tried his mother all in two days. Mrs Afshar’s son says that during the interrogations in late June, his mother was threatened to be accused of acting against national security, but now from what the Iranian officials have named Nazak Afshar’s confessions, it seems that she has been charged with “Rioting, creating a network and sheltering the riots in the cultural section of the French embassy”. Mr Naeimian called these charges ridiculous. Mrs Afshar hired a lawyer after being arrested on Thursday but has not been able to meet with him.
ANALYSIS --Norooz: Dr Hashem Aghajari called the political activists detained after June 12 elections hostages of the coup d'etat against nation’s will and vote and said: The arresting and behaving ways with the detained political activists has extended beyond a wilfull or illegal move and is a political hostage-taking. Aghajari said the main purpose of detention of the political activists is to take hostages to influence the main idea of coup, and said: The logic of hostage taking is like a “tit for tat”. Hostage-takers turn the life of the hostage individual or group the key point for bargaining and solving the main problem so that so that the original issue will be forgotten; this is what we witnessed in the sailors detention case and also in detention of foreign businessmen and citizens. This member of the Islamic Mojahedin central council continued: The post-election hostage-taking of political activists is in fact a way to deviate the public opinion, media and people from the main issue of June 12 coup d'and to the current arrests and alter the main demand from returning nation’s vote to asking for release of the detainees. In this way, release of the reformist political activists will be the price paid instead of resolving the main issue which was the elections fraud. Hashem Aghajari said: Our fundamental problem is that on June 12, 2009 a will inside the sovereignty performed a coup against will of the people and that is why people ask to take back their vote. However, [the officials] want us to leave the main issue behind and forget about the fraud in nation’s vote with release of the detainees.
RECOMMENDATIONS AND WARNINGS Mohsen Sazegara released his video for Friday to Sunday. He stated that when there is not the possibility of forming initial cores for major demonstrations, the method of scattered protests should be undertaken. But he emphasized in locations which are assumed to witness a large number of crowd (such as Ahya (mourning) nights, stadiums, etc), it is possible to protest with advanced notice. He said it is appropriate to turn the stadiums green and create a political atmosphere there, but stressed that because of their confined feature and the possibility of being identified, activists should pay their maximum attention and care not to be arrested. Sazegara also pointed out that having flash mobs is a daily plan of this movement and does not require public call. However, if there is a call for a major demonstration in any location, preparing in advance is very important and crucial. He said one of the most effective ways to paralyze the country is by boycotting goods but warned to be aware of abused. In order to regulate the sanctions, he suggested to boycott governmental goods while givin priority to items manufactures or imported by the Guard Corps. He said a list of these items is being written and will soon be distributed. The audio files of Sazegara's speech are attached to this newsletter.
I remember when the night before the presidental election I suddenly felt a spark inside me. There was hope, confidence, relief in advance to the event that - as we believed - would finally bring change to the Iranians living in- and outside of Iran. A small change, maybe just a faint difference, but a step towards a more bearable perspective. It seemed set.
I also remember another spark, following the first one. This spark sent three almost unconscious fragments of thoughts through my brain: "electoral fraud" - "protest, blood" - "revolution". I told myself not to be stupid - I knew almost nothing about this country, and my ideas certainly lacked any reasonable foundation.
I remember Saturday, June 13. I was getting myself some coffee in a coffee shop, when I saw it on the news screen: Ahmadinejad had gained 62,3%. Tears of rage came into my eyes, I could hardly prevent myself from cursing aloud in the middle of the street.
Part one of the sparks had come true. From that moment on, my heart was with Iran.
The following days allowed me to witness something incredible: Masses of people coming to the streets in unity, in peaceful manner, in great strength and justice, in modesty, but with unyielding comittment. I saw them being beaten, killed, arrested, I saw them dying in the streets, I saw them protecting security forces from the rage of other protesters. I saw them moving forward in incredible strength, focus, and sincerity. What I witnessed was the essence of being human.
I could feel that this would not stop soon. Those people were driven forward by something I believed I had in me as well. I could suddenly feel Iran. At some point during those days, I became Iranian. I suddenly was proud of my Iranian passport, that until then had just been a formality to me due to marriage. I started dreaming of a time when I would go to Iran, take out that passport and say "I am proud of this".
From that time on I have been looking for ways to support the movement. I posted articles on Facebook like crazy, translated newspaper articles for noone ever to read, just to have them ready when needed, I went to protests for about the fist time in my life, I hustled about like crazy to do, do, do... just because I had to. Most of it hasn't been of much use, as a matter of fact, but I just had to keep digging.
And all of a sudden, I realized something, and with the realization came my fear.
I had never before experienced big crowds of people, highly emotionalized, being able to stay focused and unified for longer than, let's say, one month. The time span does not matter. What I am saying is, I never before saw such a unity, such an integrity, such an imperturbably focused common mind in crowds driven by pure emotion. Daily I expected this monolithic (in a positive sense) creature to fall apart into factions and groups arguing and weakening themselves and each other, I expected self-elected "leaders" (no, I am NOT referring to Ahmadinejad here) appearing out of nowhere, using the opportunity to seize some power, influence, importance, or what else entraps people who need attention, and distract the focus of the movement, mislead the people into violence, revengeful thinking and aggression.
Nothing of that kind happened.
The people of Iran have shown me something I did not believe it existed. And it made it very, very easy, almost enjoyable, to take sides with them, identify myself with them to the bone. People all over the world must have felt the same way, since an unseen wave of international solidarity was born and is alive until now (at this point, I inevitably remember the contribution of Ougadougou/Burkina Faso to the internation day of solidarity on July 25). This is nothing the Iranian people should feel grateful for, because they alone invoked this feeling in the people around the world. We, the others, should be grateful to the Iranians for inspiring us.
Yet, the fear has not quite left me, and it keeps coming back. I, as a German, have a very ambiguous notion of mass movements. A mass movement, on the background of recent German history, to me is a brainless object that can be brainwashed, manipulated, moved around and utilized - especially when emotionalized and being presented with a collective enemy through which it can reach a treacherous sense of identity and integrity. To me, emotionalized mass movements are always highly vulnerable to manipulation and destructive influence from individuals who act on their own behalf rather than on behalf of the people they claim to be leading. But this brainless object, of course, has not always been there. It has formed, and been formed, from former individuals, human beings with a brain, a conscience, and a moral concept. The transformation of individuals into a brainless object is a very slow, subtle process, usually we only realize it when it is almost too late.
Will this happen to the Green Movement?
What will the movement do when all options of peaceful protest are exhausted, when the leading figures, who at the moment are still able to serve as focal points (such as Mousavi, Karroubi, even, to some extent, Rafsanjani) will no longer have the capacity to be respected authorities to the people? I believe this moment will come, since the people in their concerns and goals seem to have already moved beyond what Mousavi and other parts of the political establishment are able to offer them.
What will happen if the movement starts fighting back not just with reason and common sense, but with weapons? Is there a possibility that hatred will take over and turn the peaceful attitude of the protesters into a violent one?
Which are the political options for the movement? Do the existing reformist factions offer sufficient possibilities for reforms, and will the people be satisfied with reforms within the existing system?
And if not, are there any persons other than the leading figures like Khatami, Moussavi, Karroubi who could take over and bring fundamental reforms to the country?
Which status will religion have in the political system of a reformed Iran?
---
Strange as it is - but the question that used to worry me most some weeks ago (will there still be unity among the people once the movement has succeed in achieving an overthrow of the regime?) is not worrying me so much anymore. My trust has gained ground.
But it's still a long way to go, and I am still afraid of the movement falling apart and/or changing into something I could not side with any longer - something brutal, revengeful, "brainless" - which would be a human thing to happen - but no longer humane.
It would force me to sadly and disappointedly turn my back on it. It would deprive the whole world of an example for what culture and humanity is capable of.
There still is a long way to go, and the options seem to become more restricted. Soon it will be time to chose a direction for the movement to proceed.
I pray that you will stay as dignified, compassionate, focused and wise as you have started. A part of me knows that you will. Another part is afraid you might not - and noone could blame you for that. But if you do, you will make the world proud.
I am interested in your views. Comments are welcome.
Amir Javadi Langeroodi's funeral (posted Oct.4 2009)
September 3, 2009 I lost track regarding fresh news of the day, since I am absorbed in translating whatever I find, which naturally is at least one day behind. This photo is remarkable (I don't know when it was taken). Allegedly, they kiss the ground where Khamenei had walked by.
September 2, 2009 Iftar at Evin. Ahmadinejad, Khamenei and all their followers - may they look into those faces and be haunted by the look in their eyes.
August 31, 2009 Apparently, the Human Rights Tribunal in Den Haag has been provided with audio-, video- and text material documenting torture and human rights violation in Iranian prisons. Thanks to all who contributed to this. http://www.londonfreelance.org/Iran/videos.html#video
August 30, 2009 (Ramadan) It has become slightly more difficult for me to follow up on developments in Iran, mainly because I am very busy in my life while trying to do as many translations as possible. This explains the break in my chronic. Many interesting fragments of news arrive every day, but I am simply not able to read them all. The main point, for me, seems to be a noticeable growing confusion in the government and its authorities. Statements of Khamenei that a western involvement into the unrests could not be proven, while Ahmadinejad keeps on singing the same song about "the enemy" is just one example for this impression. We will see. It is a very strange phase, I just cling to translating everything I manage and that makes sense to me to German without really knowing if anyone needs to have it. There is a new group on facebook translating stuff from Farsi to English, I think that's just great. We depend on them. If you want to organize a revolution - ask Iranians. They are so professional about it!
"We’ll take advantage of the pause to feature the “hot” story on the Internet about the broadcast, noting the President’s remarks about his outgoing Minister of Health, Kamran Lankarani: “In his TV appearance last night, Ahmadinejad praised him as one of the most able administrators of his previous cabinet and said: ‘I have a special personal interest in him, a pious and faithful young man. Once I said he is like a peach, one wants to eat him!”
I leave further interpretation and analysis up to EA readers."
August 19 2009 Another day of translating from morning to night, interrupted by my job and my kid. I want to post this article on Mousavi's past, since I posted the Khatami-press-conference-video earlier wondering what kind of people the reformists are when I stop looking at them through the prism of my projections from my western democracy background. http://iranquest.com/?p=10029
August 18, 2009 Apart from Ayatollah Sanei's speech at Gorgan, where he at the end of his very sophisticated speech implied that Ahmadinejad was a bastard (http://iran.whyweprotest.net/green-brief/33324-green-brief-56-august-16-mordad-25-a.html) ... besides I think it is time to finally mention Mousavi's new social organization (NOT political party) "Green Path of Hope" http://iranquest.com/?p=9911 I am just so busy translating Briefs, Newsletters, and Articles besides my work and my family that ironically I don't find time to actually read the news.
August 17, 2009 I heard today there were quite big protests in Tehran, and some clashes, maybe even shooting. I admit I was so busy translating texts on Iran's prisons that I simply didn't have time to pay attention to the news. For today I am posting an article (in German) providing interesting analysis of the structures of the political establishment in Iran (with special thanks to Sona, who usually searches - and finds - the German press for really valuable analysis) http://www.taz.de/1/politik/nahost/artikel/1/der-durchmarsch-der-gardisten/
August 14, 2009 Hardliners used the Friday Prayer as an opportunity to spread flyers calling for a gathering at the office of Karroubi's Etemade Melli newspaper on Saturday.
Karroubi welcomed them to discuss issues in a calm atmosphere, whereupon they did not show up.
August 13, 2009 Very strange, there seems to be no confirmed news from yesterday's bazaar protest, no video, just quite contradictive reports. Apparently it was neither big nor spectacular, maybe it didnt happen at all. I spent the day translating, first the SIC newsletter, then Green Brief (which has started coming out again yesterday). My favourite quote from the GB of today: "20. Ayatollah Mesbah Yazdi today said that obeying Ahmadinejad was obeying God. Speaking to a group of Basiji artists in Qom, he also praised Khamenei and said the Supreme Leader was a light of the last Imam and that the unrest had been targeted at him."
August 12, 2009 Today, for the first time the bazaar in Tehran was closed down due to protests. Security forces and basij were present in Naser Khosro, Bouzar Jomehori other streets leading to the bazaar, beating, clashes and arrests are being reported on twitter. People were chanting "Down with the dictator" & "This poor government is illegitimate" (iranbaan). IRIB apparently sent a filming team to the bazaar to show how calm it was there. (?) Bazar protests are reported also from Tabriz, Mashhad, Isfahan, Ahvaz & Shiraz.
And another piece of news is that M. Shahroudi is going to be replaced as Head of the Judiciary - by Sadeq Larijani, brohter of parliamentary speaker Ali Larijani. ehemmm.
August 9 A weird feeling catches me today. Something seems to change profoundly. I can not name it. Green Briefs have stopped coming out, I feel cut off from journalistic information and resorted to translating the daily newsletter of the Student Information Center. Still, the feeling is weird. I received masses of fragmented information today, mostly from Twitter, and I don't really know what to write today. Maybe this is a good opportunity to pay my respect to the Mourning Mothers.
Without date, for the records. Don't watch it, if you feel not strong enough to face hell.
This was the night after the endorsement ceremony. A night after a day of heavy clashes, overwhelming presence of people in the streets. We have to expect news of more arrests, maybe even of more dead. But listen to this:
Look who attended Ahmadi's endorsement ceremony (red circle):
August 3, 2009. Stop smiling, Ahmadi - you will not last long, neither will the rest of your inhumane, criminal, cruel regime
Eine nachdenkliche Stunde am 1. August. Wer sind die Heiligen der momentanen Opposition eigentlich? Was machen wir aus ihnen? Was vergessen wir? http://video.google.de/videoplay?docid=309483525485342043&hl=de Nachtrag am 13. August: Das Video geht mir nicht aus dem Kopf. Vielleicht ist meine Irritation gar nicht so sehr in Khatamis Person begründet als vielmehr in der Erkenntnis, dass "Opposition" und "Streben nach Reformen" und "Wunsch nach Demokratie" im Iran anderen Zwängen, kulturellen Zusammenhängen und Mentalitäten unterworfen und deshalb vielleicht meinen Vorstellungen ganz fern ist. Vielleicht war dieses Video ein Vorgriff auf künftige Enttäuschungen, wenn ich meine Projektionen in die Grüne Bewegung werde korrigieren müssen.
August 1, 2009 Mock trials on prominent figures of the opposition. We were shocked to see them there - had not expected prominent names in that place at that time. We were also shocked by the appearance and physical state of Muhammad Ali Abtahi, and of what he was forced to say. http://iranquest.com/blog/?p=8741
July 31 This made me really angry. Iran officials arrest an Iranian-German staff member of the German Knauf Company and release him under the precondition that Knauf strictly prohibits its staff to participate in protests AGAINST the government. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124900417227095813.html
July 30: Memorial of Neda's 40th death day. Originally it was planned to hold the memorial at Tehran's Mosala mosque. But the officials denied approval last-minute. So the event was relocated on short notice to Beheshte Zahra cemetry, which is situated approx. 50 km outside Tehran. Kia predicted that the metro would probably be closed in order to prevent people from going there. And so it was. Nevertheless, about 40.000 people gathered at Behesthe Zahra, including Mir Hossein Mousavi, who was not allowed to even get out of his car, and Mahdi Karroubi, who held a speech. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W3d1KAbtm98 http://www.enotesunderground.com/
July 30 Neda Agha Soltan's mother had withdrawn her promise to attend the protests at Beheshte Zahra for "undisclosed reasons". She was reported to have mourned in a parkby herself. http://news.gooya.com/politics/archives/2009/07/091508.php
Part of democracy is to listen to people you don't agree with. To set an example, I post the viewpoint of Fars News about conditions in Iranian prisons. I don't think they deserve the attention, though. This is not a viewpoint, it is cynicism. http://english.farsnews.net/newstext.php?nn=8805061361
Monday July 27 2009 - Amir Javadi Langeroodi has died in detention
Ein deutscher Popsong, der zum Motto der Protestbewegung in Deutschland geworden ist: "Was wir allein nicht schaffen, das schaffen wir dann zusammen... wir müssen geduldig sein, dann dauert es nicht mehr lang" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=39yp_hi9_q8
July 24 - another vivid discussion on Facebook about USA's possibilities of influence and support to the protest movement. At the end of the day Farid posted an article that miraculously answered most of the questions for me: http://www.carnegieendowment.org/publications/index.cfm?fa=view&id=23419
Today, July 23, everyone was making fun of Mojtaba Zounnour, rep. of Khamenei to the Revolutionary Guards, claiming the protests were organized prior to the election by a group of 300.000 people who in advance to the election had armed themselves with tear gas, all of which occurred with the help of BBC. A lot of joking was taking place in the Green Brief forum. This is the other sad reality: http://enduringamerica.com/2009/07/22/iran-a-list-of-those-killed-and-detained-21-july/
Green Scroll Petition to be hung on Saturday July 25 in Paris... today we were told it is almost 2000 m long - enough to wrap the Eiffel Tower?
Whoever still believes this is about "student protests", listen to this 66 year old lady calling from Tehran. Hear what she has to say: (July 21, 2009)
July 21. Green briefs in the morning, Allahu-akbars in the night - this has become my daily routine. Here is the rooftop diary with daily signals saying "it is not over, we have just begun" http://www.mightierthan.com/2009/07/rooftop/
On July 19, the day Mohammad Kamrani's death under torture was reported in the Green Brief I had to translate, I thought I could not bear it any longer. A kind soul on twitter posted this ancient Swiss protest song for NiteOwl. Right on time to restore me. In gratitude to @topastro: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A7uHWQEHcp0&feature=player_embedded
"Sueddeutsche Zeitung" still talks about "Studentendemos" (July 9, 2009) - unbelievable, and it made me really angry. I regret the comment I posted, though - should have said more. http://www.sueddeutsche.de/politik/556/480041/text/
The photoshopped rioter - one of my favorites. Mind his outfit, the reading glasses, and the way he holds the gun. This was meant to prove violence of protesters (implying security forces restoring calm). http://iranngirl.blogspot.com/2009/06/5.html
Who cares, said Ahmadinejad - I became president again, not my business what goes on in the streets of my country. I wanna go to Russia and do world politics with Mr Medvedev! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EjtjIIG7gHE
Offener Brief an die Bundeskanzlerin Angela Merkel und den Bundesaußenminister Frank-Walter Steinmeier zum Iran
Sehr geehrte Frau Bundeskanzlerin, verehrte Frau Merkel,
Sehr geehrter Herr Bundesaußenminister, verehrter Frank WalterSteinmeier,
Ich darf Sie in Sachen Iran kurz um Ihre Aufmerksamkeit bitten. Ich bitte Sie, in Ihrem Bemühen um Kritik und die öffentliche Aufmerksamkeit gegenüber den anhaltenden Menschenrechtsverletzungen im Iran auch und geradejetzt nicht nachzulassen.
I. Das Netzwerk junger Iraner protestiert heute anlässlich der Amtseinführung gegen die Politik dieses Präsidenten. Aus im wesentlichen dreiGründen:
(1)Dieser Präsident hat nach allen Indizien das Volk um seine Wahlbetrogen. Selbst der Wächterrat hat Wahlbetrug festgestellt - allerdings nurfür einige Stunden, ehe er von anderen zurück gepfiffen worden ist. Erhat nicht systematisch nachzählen lassen. Und es waren ohnehin viele mobile Wahlurnen ohne jede Kontrolle und Beobachtung. Es gab daher nicht die Ahnung vonfreien, geheimen und fairen Wahlen. Damit ist mit der Wahlfälschungdie iranische Verfassung gebrochen worden.
(2)Sie protestieren als Netzwerk junger Iraner gegen die schwersten Menschenrechtsverletzungen seit über 10 Jahren, und zwar Menschenrechtsverletzungen gegenüber den eigenen Söhnen und Müttern. Sie protestieren gegen die Folter an Taraneh Mussawi, die zunächst brutal vergewaltigt wurde, ehe sie ermordet wurde. Sie protestieren gegen grausamste Sexualverbrechen in iranischen Gefängnissen, die anverhafteten Demonstranten begangen wurden. Sie protestieren gegen die gezielten Schüsse aufs wehrlose Demonstranten, gegen die Sniper aus dem Hinterhalt aufden Straßen von Teheran oder Isfahan. Sie protestieren gegen die lebensgefährdenden Haftbedingungen des Reformers Saed Hajarian.
Die Zahl der Ermordeten kennen wir nicht genau. Aber sie liegt um das vielfache höher als die offiziell eingestandenen. Nach den Zählungender jungen Iraner sind es 80, deren Namen wir inzwischen kennen. Nehmen wir allerdings die elektronischen Informationen hinzu, die uns perTwitter und anderswie aus dem Land erreichen, dann ist es wie mit den Gerüchten während des Nationalsozialismus. Sie muss man, wie Adorno einmal sagte, ernstnehmen, und das heißt, wir müssen nach unseren Schätzungen davon ausgehen, dass hunderte ermordet worden sind und tausende heute unter Folter undTodesdrohungen in Gefängnissen leiden. Das ist Tianmen auf inzwischenknapp acht Wochen verteilt.
Sie tun dies in Solidarität mit denen, die am 1. August trotz rabiat durchgesetzten Verbots in Erinnerung an den tödlichen Schuss auf Neda Soltan zu 40.000 allein in Teheran demonstriert haben.
(3)Sie protestieren gegen eine Herrschaft, die inzwischen in eine Militärdiktatur verwandelt worden ist, die ihre Herrschaft auf nichts als auf Gewaltstützt und gegen ihr eigenes Volk zu verteidigen sucht; die ihr Landzerstört; deren Chef den Holocaust noch während des Wahlkampfs Anfang Junileugnet und der zu einer kooperativen Sicherheit in der Region weder fähig nochwillens ist. (Inzwischen sind Persönlichkeiten wie Mir Hossein Mussawi, AliAkbar Hashemi Rafsanjani und Mohammad Resa Chatami in Gefahr, jederzeitverhaftet zu werden.)
Statt gegen die Mitglieder der Revolutionsgarden und der Milizen undihre Befehlshaber Anklage zu erheben und alle politischen Gefangenenfreizulassen, hat sich das Regime entschlossen, in der Tradition desstalinistischen und nationalsozialistischen TotalitarismusSchauprozesse zu inszenieren. Sie haben den anerkannten Reformer undMitarbeiter Chatamis, Mohammed Ali Abtahi gefoltert und - wie glaubwürdig von einemMitglied der Familie Abtahi berichtet wird - unter schwersten Drogen dazugezwungen, angebliche Fehler einzugestehen. Nicht einmal im Volksgerichtshof derNationalsozialisten hat man Leute gefoltert und zu falschenGeständnissen gezwungen. Dies kennen wir aus dem Stalinismus. Ein Teil der Medienist dumm genug, ohne Prüfung der Herstellung dieser Aussagen Eins zu Einsabzudrucken. Die abgründige Dreistigkeit dieses Schauprozesses mit derDrohung, gegen die 100 vorgeführten die Todesstrafe zu verhängen,zeigt in unüberbietbaren Zynismus nur, dass dieses Regime nicht nur nach innen,sondern auch nach außen auf die prekäre Macht physischer undpsychischer Gewalt setzt, nicht auf Kommunikation und nicht auf Kompromiss, schon gar nicht auf eine Perspektive des Friedens nach innen und nach außen.
Wie die Kette an Morden in den Tagen nach der Wahl vom 12. Juni istes nun zusätzlich dieser Schauprozess, der das totalitäre Potenzial derHerrschaft des bisherigen Präsidenten zusammen mit wesentlichen Teilen derRevolutionsgarden und mit Unterstützung des geistlichen Führersentfesselt. Es handelt sich inzwischen unter dieser besonderen Führung um einRegime, das Hannah Arendt am Beispiel des Nationalsozialismus in Elementen undUrsprüngen totaler Herrschaft bis heute gültig analysiert hat und inder die Menschen in Eigene und Nicht-Eigene, in Bürger erster und zweiterKlasse, in die einen, die für das Heil der Welt und die anderen, die für die Vernichtung stehen und deswegen vernichtet gehören, apokalyptisch unterschieden werden. Und wie Sie wissen gehört der bisherige Präsident zujener apokalyptisch paranoiden Sekte, die mit Ayatollah Mesbah Yazdisich aktiv, revolutionär und mit den Mitteln der Vernichtung der anderenauf die alsbaldige Wiederkunft des Mahdi vorbereitet.
II. Diesem Schauprozess wird - ob Sie es wollen oder nicht - mitgratuliert, wenn Vertreter der Botschaften zur sogenannten Amtseinführung des bisherigen Präsidenten teilnehmen. Selbst die zweithöchste Persönlichkeit des Staates im Iran, Rafsanjani hat der Vereidigung des bisherigen Präsidenten nicht beigewohnt. Wie sollen es die Menschen im Iran und in der Welt verstehen, dass die noch entscheidendere Zeremonie im Schatten des Schauprozesses nun von Botschaftern aus Europa beglaubigt wird? Dies wird zurecht von den Freiheit suchenden Iranern als Vertrauensbruch interpretiert, wie wir Emails entnehmen müssen. Mehr noch: wir wissen aus den bitteren Erfahrungen unserer Geschichte, dass totalitäre Persönlichkeiten an der Macht jeden, der auch nur den Eindruck erweckt, er habe sich erpressen lassen, mit Verachtung und einem noch brutaleren Verhalten straft. Das wissen wir aus Adornos Analyse des autoritären Charakters.
III.
Die Bewegung der Mehrheit des iranischen Volkes für mehr Freiheitbraucht unsere öffentliche Aufmerksamkeit, auch und gerade acht Wochendanach. Sie braucht internationale Solidarität. Sie braucht unser Insistieren aufder Einhaltung der Menschenrechte, wie sie die iranische Verfassung unddie internationalen Konventionen, die Iran unterschrieben hat, vorsieht.Der Iran des bisherigen Präsidenten hat sich nicht an die Grundsätze derVereinten Nationen gehalten. Er hat die Konventionen, die er selbst zuFragen der Information und Pressefreiheit unterzeichnet hat, gebrochen.
Beantragen Sie, auch wenn Russland oder China jetzt noch nicht weiß, was es dazu sagen will, eine Dringlichkeitssitzung des Sicherheitsrates.Bringen Sie die brutalen Menschenrechtsverletzungen, die auch heute anhaltenund seit über 10 Jahren die schwersten sind, vor die Vereinten Nationen.
Mit herzlichen Grüßen,
Ihr Hajo Funke
Wer sich diesem Aufruf anschließen möchte, der schickt bitte eine Mail/Fax an folgende Adressen -(mit Name/Wohnort/Beruf):
I e-mailed this letter to the speaker of the White House in response to his statement published on the link given in the letter below.
August 5, 2009
Dear Mr. Gibbs,
yesterday it was reported on media like twitter that you had made a remark during a press conference, naming Mr. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad the "elected leader" of Iran, answering a question on whether the United States of America would recognize him as Iran's president.
I could not believe you had said such a thing, and was relieved to not find any confirmation of your statement in the Briefing Room.
I sincerely hope that your statement was a mistake and does not represent the U.S. Government's view on the issue.
Mr. Ahmadinejad was elected, but not by the people. He was selected by the regime to remain president at any cost. The price the Iranian people are paying right now is beyond anything the government of a western democracy, let alone the world's leading democracy, can approve of.
Every day peaceful protesters risk their lives in the streets of Tehran and other Iranian cities. They are beaten severely, sometimes beaten to death. They are arrested indiscriminately to face long detentions and incredibly cruel tortures, many of them never return from the prisons alive. Families of killed detainees are not allowed to mourn or to speak to media.
You can not be serious in calling Mr Ahmadinejad (and with him, the regime apparatus that is responsible for the criminal actions imposed on the people of Iran), an "elected" president.
Many Iranians and non-Iranians are extremely upset and worried about your statement. I urge you to clarify the approach of the U.S. government. I urge the U.S. Government, in the name of all peaceful protesters and supporters of the Green Movement worldwide, to not recognize Mr Ahmadinejad as Iran's president, and to use all means of diplomatic and political pressure it is capable of to make it clear to Iran that a criminal dictatorship is not welcome in the international community. In the name of democracy , freedom, and human rights.
