Saturday March 13th, 2010 Newsletter
Student Information Center (SIC)
Newsletter Issue 184 - Saturday March 13th, 2010
-- 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.
