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?
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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
