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Saturday, March 20, 2010

Saturday March 20th, 2010 Newsletter

Message from student.information.center@gmail.com:

Student Information Center (SIC)

Newsletter Issue 186 - Saturday March 20th, 2010

FUTURE PLANS
-- Efforts focused at increasing non-violent civil disobedience in the society.
-- Allah o Akbar during the nights
-- Writing slogans on the walls and bills
-- Being out in the streets on Thursdays

NEWS
-- Norouz: Mir Hossein Moussavi has released a video for the new year. The complete text of this clip is attached.

-- Norouz: Zahra Rahnavard, also released a video for the upcoming year. The complete text of this clip is also attached.

-- Radio Zamaneh: Mehdi Karoubi in his Norouz address criticized the Islamic Republic government and stated that he does not believe in a regime in which a small group of clergies and military officers hold the power.

-- Radio Farda: John Kerry, chief of international affairs committee has issued an statement congratulating the Iranians for Nowrouz.

-- JARAS: The human rights activists in Iran have counted the human rights violation of the Iranian regime to 59040 cases.

-- DW: Barack Obama has issued a video statement congratulating the Iranians. He has also pledged his support for free access of information for Iranians.

NEWS OF THE ARRESTED
-- Rahana: After a week of imprisonment, Abdollah Yousefzadeh has not been permitted to contact his family and his release date is not clear.

-- Norouz: Mir Hossein Moussavi and Zahra Rahnavard visited Dr. Mohsen Mirdamadi who was released yesterday.

RECOMMENDATIONS AND WARNINGS

In his video broadcast on Thursday- which was shorter than usual-, Mohsen Sazegara mentioned the following points:

1- Further insight onto the events of Chaharshanbeh soori reveals that such processions were carried out in most towns of Kurdistan, Zanjan, Hamedan, Arak, Qom, Khorram-Abad, Shahr-e-Kord, Kermanshah, Ahvaz and Tehran and heated slogans were chanted. However the most important aspect of this day is the geographic extension of the Green Movement.

2- About 500 people, including some families of the arrested as well as some ordinary people, gathered in front of the Evin prison last night.

3- It is very important to go to cemeteries and salute the martyrs of the Green Movement on the last Thursday of the [Iranian] year.

4- Three important lessons can be learnt from the Chaharshanbeh-soori events; First of all, it becomes extremely difficult for the regime to crack down the protests when they are scattered at different neighborhoods. Secondly. it is much better to use 'national' holidays and festivities rather than the days endorsed by the Regime. Thirdly, the most effective form of civil disobedience against a regime which tries to make everybody depressed and disappointed is to emphasize on happiness, life and hope [like what was done in Chaharshanbeh soori]

On his video broadcast on Friday, Mohsen Sazegara mentioned the following points:

1- There points deserve more attention in the New Year addresses of Mir-Hossein Mousavi and his spouse Zahra Rahnavard; First of all, the [importance of the] unity between domestic and out-of-country activists; secondly the need for geographic expansion of the green movement. Thirdly, as Ms. Rahnavard emphasized in her address, the importance of pluralism and the unity of all civil movements within Iran under the umbrella of the green movement.

2- Hossein Marashie, who used to be the chief of staff for Ali-Akbar Hashemi-Rafsanjani for several years, was arrested. His arrest clearly shows a severe struggle within the ranks of the regime between the coup wing and Mr. Rafsanjani.

3- A military atmosphere was established by security forces in Behesht-Zahra [Tehran's main cemetery] last Thursday. An indefinite need for establishing such an atmosphere will exhaust the coup government at the end.

4- A number of political activists out of Iran have pledged to go on hunger strike from Thursday March 18- Saturday March 20 to show their support for political prisoners in Iran.

After congratulating the [Iranian] New Year, Mohsen Sazegara mentioned the following points in his video broadcast on Saturday:

1- Today is the 59th anniversary of the nationalization of the oil industry. Dr. Mosaddeq is an excellent role modl for struggle and steadfastness.

2- It has been proposed to write slogans on the paper money we present to others as gifts [during new years visits etc].

3- Circulate and propagate information and news about the green movement when making trips during the new year holidays.

4- Issa Saharkhiz [a well-known political prisoner and journalist] who had started his hunger strike yesterday, has been accompanied by some more prisoners from Section 350 of the Evin prison. Some political activists outside Iran have also gone on hunger strike in solidarity with him and other political prisoners.

5- Foreign ministers of EU members have complained from Iran for sending noisy signals targeting satellite channels.

6- The upcoming holidays [in Iran] is a good opportunity to read more [about the Green Movement etc]. In coming days, we will discuss this issue in more details.

Email: student.information.center@gmail.com

Tel: +1 (253) 234-IRAN , +1 (253) 234-4726

Website: www.IranSIC.com

Join the mailing list:http://groups.google.com/group/student-information-center

Twitter: IranSIC

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Posted by مرکز اطلاع رسانی دانشجویی‌ at 3:05 PM 0 comments

Monday, March 15, 2010

Monday March 15th, 2010 Newsletter

Student Information Center (SIC)

Newsletter Issue 185 - Monday March 15th, 2010

FUTURE PLANS
-- Efforts focused at increasing non-violent civil disobedience in the society.
-- Allah o Akbar during the nights
-- Writing slogans on the walls and bills
-- Visiting resting place of the green movement martyrs in Beheshte Zahra (the cemetery) on the last Thursday of the year
-- Being out in the streets on Thursdays
-- Attending "4shanbe-souri" events

NEWS
-- Jrs: This Tuesday will mark the traditional new years celebration called "Chaharshanbeh soori". The reformist leaders had asked the people to come to the streets on this occasion to express their dissatisfaction with the current situation. In a response the supreme leader has issued a fatwa saying that coming out on this traditional day would be sacrilegious. The Basij and the Revolutionary guard have reportedly also joined forces to prevent gathering of people on streets. The head of Tehran police also announced that police forces would "confront those who can't hold their excitement during the holidays" and that they would arrest anyone who causes disturbance.

--Radio Farda: The Oil Ministry of Iran has given a oil pipeline manufacturing contract worth 850 million dollars to the Revolutionary Guard.

--Sahamnews website: About 50 people surrounded the appartment of Mr. Karroubi (leading reformist) and proceeded to yell obscenities, break glass and damage and lute his apartment complex. Mme. Karroubi who described the situation also explained that the police force in the area was coordinating the attack with the thugs. She added that nothing would deter her and her husband from defending people's rights and that these "primitive" methods were futile.

--Radio Zamaneh: Tehran's prosecutor announced the sentence of execution for six protesters arrested on Ashura day. He said: "Today the regime has in full strength and authority, silenced the opposition and the "people" will never allow these events to repeat themselves".

--Radio Zamaneh: Human Rights Associations denied allegations by offficial Iranian news agency Fars that they were receiving funding from U.S.A. They also stated that they would issue a formal complaint against Fars.

--RAdio Farda: Ayatollah Dastghein, member of council and reformist stated that defenseless people are not agitators, it is those who attack legal gatherings who are the source of violence and agitation.

--Jrs: A pro-government Iranian journalist was arrested in Rome based on allegations that he was involved in illegal arms smuggling. The Iranian Secretary of Defense responded to this by saying that "we will ourselves produce the weapons that he was accused of smuggling".

--Jrs: In a response to comments by Political Deputy Minister that the political party the Participation Front will be shut down, the central committee member of this party, Ali Shakouri Rad stated that he has not heard such news and that only a judicial verdict could close a political party.

--Jrs: Sheikh Khaled bin Osama bin Laden son of al-Qaida organization leader Osama bin Laden, wrote a letter to the supreme leader asking fo rthe release of some of his family who are under house arrest in Iran. He stated that his family has asked for freedom several time but they were met with "violence and torture".

--Jrs: A number of contractor employees who worked on Milad Tower in Tehran have staged a rally in front of the tower demanded their wages which have not been payed for 4 months, It is reported that a similar situation is ongoing with Imam Tunnel workers who have not been payed for 5-6 months.

--Radio Zamaneh: Several politicians from France, Finland announced that they would support unilateral sanctions against Iran if the EU cannot agree to increase sanctions against Iran.

--Radio Zamaneh: Mr. Hashemi Rafsanjani, criticized IRIB for working for "a gang" and said that the people are losing confidence in the national media agency.

--BBC: an Iranian ship that apparently illegally entered the coastal waters of Yemen was arrested by Yemeni Coast Guard. This ship is suspected of drug trafficking.

--BBC: The American Parliament has recognized the Iranian new years as a valuable historic tradition and has congratulated the positive presence of Iranians in the American community. They mentioned that 539 years BC, Cyrus the Great was the first to found the charter of human rights, that abolished slavery and allowed religious freedom. "

NEWS OF THE ARRESTED
--Jrs: MOhamad Olayifard was released from prison. He was sentenced to 1 year in jail because of interviewing with foreign media.
--Jrs: Saeed Lilaaz who was previously sentenced to 6 years in prison had success in his appeal court and is freed after paying 500000$.

--Rooz Online: Kian Tajbakhsh who was under arrest since last summer, was granted 15 days of freedom after paying 800000 bail. This is while Mehdi Bootraby, member of Mousavi's reformist campaign and pioneer in reformist blogging was arrested yesterday.

RECOMMENDATIONS AND WARNINGS
Sazegara's Sunday video mentioned 5 points:

1. It is reported that slogan writing on walls against the supreme leader has increased across Tehran.
2. The government has told stores to stay closed on Chahrshanbeh Soori. They will also most likely close down main streets and boulevards but the advantage is with the people since they traditionally come out on to the streets all over the city on this day and this is much harder to control.
3. Mr. Hassan Rohani highlights that currently all of the regime's energy is spent on security and this is impossible to maintain in the long run.
4. The regime is stepping up its crack down on human rights activists by either summoning them or arresting them.
5. The regime has decided on three methods of attacking the green movement. First is the arrest of human rights, women's rights, and student activists, second is the arrest of political and reformist activists and third is the control of media and the internet. In this way they aim to suffocate the movement. However, what they don't understand is that one of the strongest homes for the movement is within homes, between families and friends and within the community and they have no power over these areas. And this is where the people have the upper hand.

Sazegara's Monday video mentioned the following points:

1. It reported that some navy officials have been detained for quitting their posts. Some changes have also been noticed amongst Revolutionary guard ranks.
2. Since the supreme leader falsely announced that Chaharshanbeh Soori celebrations are sacrilegious, this offers another opportunity to defy him and show our stand.
3. In response to the question "when will the Green movement reach victory", Sazegara states that a specific time cannot be said. The movement gets close to victory as the power balance shifts from the regime, to the people. To help this, non-violent strategies such as resistance must be employed by the people.

Email: student.information.center@gmail.com

Tel: +1 (253) 234-IRAN , +1 (253) 234-4726

Website: www.IranSIC.com

Join the mailing list:http://groups.google.com/group/student-information-center

Twitter: IranSIC

Posted by مرکز اطلاع رسانی دانشجویی‌ at 8:56 PM 0 comments

Saturday, March 13, 2010

Saturday March 13th, 2010 Newsletter

Student Information Center (SIC)

Newsletter Issue 184 - Saturday March 13th, 2010

FUTURE PLANS
-- Efforts focused at increasing non-violent civil disobedience in the society.
-- Allah o Akbar during the nights
-- Writing slogans on the walls and bills
-- Visiting resting place of the green movement martyrs in Beheshte Zahra (the cemetery) on the last Thursday of the year
-- Being out in the streets on Thursdays
-- Attending "4shanbe-souri" events

NEWS
-- Radio Farda: MirHossein Mousavi, one of the opposition leaders in Iran, in his meeting with Mostafa Tajzadeh emphasized on resistance until victory. Mohammad Khatami, the ex-president of Iran, said he is hoping for the release of all political prisoners till the end of the year.

-- JARAS: Reporters Without Borders marks issued its latest list of "Enemies of the Internet." This list points the finger at countries such as Iran, China, Saudi Arabia, Vietnam and Tunisia that restrict online access and harass their netizens. A list of countries that have been placed "under surveillance" for displaying a disturbing attitude towards the Internet is also released. Turkey and Russia are added to this list of countries "under surveillance".

-- DW: Reporters Without Borders awarded on 11 March the first "Netizen Prize", with Google's support, to the Iranian women's rights activists of the Change for Equality (www.we-change.org) website. Journalist, blogger and activist Parvin Ardalan, one of the site's founders, received the prize from French journalist Jean-Marie Colombani in a ceremony at the Paris headquarters of Google France. The prize recognizes an Internet user, blogger or cyber-dissident who has made a notable contribution to the defence of online freedom of expression.

-- BBC: Hassan Roushani, member of the expediency council, says: a group wants to act against the recommendation of the supreme leader for "maximum attraction and minimum repulsion" by planning to govern Iran by giving freedom only to one political band and group.

-- BBC: 2000 Sharif University students signed a letter to support their imprisoned friends and asked the dean of the university to help release Mahdi Clary, Kouhyar Goodarzi and Tara SepehriFar, three Sharif University students who were arrested in the demonstrations after the June election.

-- SIC: United States' Annual report on human rights in 2009 is soon to be published. Parts of this report that is on Iran is attached.

-- Kaleme: In an unexpected statement, Jafar Shojuni, a member of the Central Committee of the Combatant Clerics of Tehran [an old renowned Conservative party in Iran] said that he is ready to debate the opposition leaders. As reported by AsrIran, Shojuni is one of the most radical elements in the conservative movement; he had once stated that there better be a Navvab who would assassinate the opposition leaders. [Navvab Safavi was a member of Fadaaiyaan-e-eslaam, a prominent Islamist terrorist organization; he assassinated Hassan-Ali Mansour, the then Prime Minister in 1964. He was then arrested and sentenced to death for assassinating the Prime Minister]

-- BBC Persian: "These issues are beyond our authorities and duties; however if they are referred to us in a documented way, we will undertake appropriate actions" said the Spokesman of the Guardian Council in reaction to recent changes in the colors of the national flag in some formal ceremonies by Ahmadinejad Administration. [In numerous instances within the last two months, the green part of the Iranian flag had been modified to blue or black in formal ceremonies.]

NEWS OF THE ARRESTED
-- Kaleme: The Healthcare Minister said that they are pursuing the cases of some Medicine students who are in jail at the moment.

-- Radiofarda: Azar Mansouri, the political Deputy of the Participation Front [a major progressive reformist party] was sentenced to three years in prison.

-- Kalemeh: Seyyed Alireza Beheshti Shirazi, the senior advisor to to Mir Hossein Mousavi, has met with his family after 70 days in solitary confinement. "my father, who is always very energetic and happy, had turned grey and old, yet resistant and strong", his son, Sadra, said.

-- JARAS: The families of Jafar Panahi and Mohammad Rassulof have reported that these two movie directors are deprived of any contact with the outside world.

-- Kalemeh: The new blog of Fatemeh Shams and, the wife of Mohammad Reza Jalai Poor, was filter after three weeks of operation. This happened after she had reported tat Jalai-poor has been banned from leaving the country.

-- RadioFarda: The family of Issa Saharkhiz, the detained newspaper say that his situation is still unclear.

RECOMMENDATIONS AND WARNINGS

On his video broadcast on Friday, Mohsen Sazegara mentioned the following points:

1- There are several highlights in Zahra Rahnavard's interview with Kaleme among which three points deserve to be underscored; First of all, Ms. Rahnavard has, once again, emphasized that the Ahmadinejad Administration is illegitimate. Secondly, she stated that the Green Movement is a plural movement spanning different classes and ranks of the [Iranian] society; however woman activists [in addition to being included under the wider umbrella of the Green Movement] should continue their struggle for the recognition of women's rights. Third of all, she emphasized that Chaharshanbeh soori is supposed to be a fun and peaceful festival during which Iranian people will show their discontent [to the Regime] peacefully while observing an ancient national tradition; in case of any violence, the government will be responsible for that.

2- In a visit to Mostafa Tajzadeh [the Deputy Interior Minister in Khatami Administration who was released after spending nine months in prison], Mir Hossein Mousavi emphasized that he will stand firm until achieving the objectives of the Green Movement.

3- A successful two-hour strike was carried out in Isfahan's Steel Processing Facilities.

4- National Development Fund (NDF) is going to replace Currency Reserve Fund (CRF). Unlike CRF which was under the control of the Central Bank, NDF will be chaired by Mahmoud Ahmadinejad; this move will make it easier for Ahmadinejad and his Administration to rob the country out of its currency resources.

5- One of Ahmadinejad's deputies faced protests in his trip to Berlin. Some green movement advocates gathered in protest in front of the Iranian Embassy in Ottawa.

On his video broadcast on Saturday, Mohsen Sazegara mentioned the following points:

1- In some cities such as Tehran and Ahvaz, some people welcomed Chaharshanbeh Soori [which is supposed to be on Tuesday March 16, 2010 this year]. This is a day when we will show our protest with our joy in a nonviolent way.

2- A successful strike was organized by students of the Mazandaran University after which the university officials conceded the demands of the protestors.

3- Ahmadinejad's trip to Hormozgan province [in the south] was another PR blunder for him. Despite severe attempts of Ahmadinejad supporters, very few people showed up in welcoming him.

4- Emami-Kashani, the Friday Imam of Tehran, said that "When the existence of Islam [meaning the Islamic Regime] is in danger, criticizing the government becomes a prohibited act." This statement shows how horrified the leading members of the Regime are at this moment.

5- US Department of State's special report on Human RIghts describes the human rights situation in Iran deteriorating.

6- How can the Green Movement be successful? Upon improved recruiting and geographic expansion of the Green Movement, we will be able to organize more effective actions. On the other hand, the government is trying to terrorize the people and contain the Green Movement by attacking and arresting known networks. In future I will discuss why this will not work. They are also trying to interfere with the communication abilities of the movement by slowing down the internet and knocking down satellite news channels by sending noisy signals. They also hope that they could weaken the Green Movement by making divisions within its ranks.

Email: student.information.center@gmail.com

Tel: +1 (253) 234-IRAN , +1 (253) 234-4726

Website: www.IranSIC.com

Join the mailing list:http://groups.google.com/group/student-information-center

Twitter: IranSIC

Posted by مرکز اطلاع رسانی دانشجویی‌ at 5:10 PM 0 comments

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