Rewarded for obedience

The post election events in Iran and the ensuing “selection” of Mr. Ahmadinejad and the subsequent brutal suppression of the popular furor is puzzling for any Iran observer. The Ayatollahs in Iran have hitherto prided themselves for ruling by consensus and having the masses behind them. The recent events are a turning point as for the first time in the post revolution history of Iran the schism in the ruling clerical establishment was on display for the world to see, and for the savage suppression of the largely peaceful rallies by the “children of the revolution”. The true intentions behind stealing the people’s votes and anointing President Ahmadinejad for a second term may be opaque, but we get some hints from the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei’s Friday sermon>>>

Not too late

The recent presidential elections turmoil in Iran, regardless of the ‘truth’ behind the events, will undoubtedly have serious ramifications for the Islamic Republic on several fronts. Chief among these is an inevitable blow to the Islamic Regime’s legitimacy, and its regional and global standing in the eyes of Iranians, the region’s population, and that of the world at large. Within Iran, it is clear that a major rift among the population has manifested itself both on the streets and within the political and religious elite. On the one hand, millions of Iranian women and men have confirmed their frustration with the Regime and Mr. Ahmadinejad’s presidency through street demonstrations and direct action>>>

Middle ground

Dr. Aslan’s rigorous examination of the key factors that transform young men into zealous Muslims willing to sacrifice their lives, determined to challenge the existing world order, and serving as the conduit for horrific attacks against innocent human beings helps us to better understand Jihadism and why it should be considered a social movement. The author argues that it is the demonization of Muslims in many Western countries like the UK that changed otherwise peaceful Muslims like Hasib Mir Hussain - one of the four terrorists who carried out a suicide attack by detonating a bomb on a bus that exploded inTavistock Square in London killing 13 including himself - into violent Jihadists.>>>

چشم اسفندیار!

تا اینجا که من نشسته ام، هیچ اتفاق غیر قابل پیش بینی رخ نداده است. سوسمارها به اعتبار "رهبری"، همان کردند و همان را گفتند که انتظارش می رفت. با موضع گیری های آقای خامنه ای در همان ساعات اول، اگر آن تبریک و آن گفتار پس گرفته می شد، و یا شورای نگهبان با این همه تاخیر که برای مقدمه چینی و به قول حضرات، "مهندسی تقلب" بزرگ، به عنوان امتیاز به معترضین ارائه کرد، چیزی جز این می گفت، که گفت؛ باعث شگفتی بود، به ویژه با آن جملات مضحک حضرت رهبری که "جمهوری اسلامی در آراء مردم تقلب نمی کند"!(آخر سی سال است رژیم، صادقانه و "بی تقلب" آراء مردم را به نفع خود مصادره می کند!) یا "جمهوری اسلامی زیر بار زور نمی رود"! این دیگر عین حقیقت است! رژیمی که همه ی رفتار و گفتارش، در داخل و خارج بر مبنای گردن کلفتی و زور است، باید هم خواست طبیعی و مسالمت آمیز مردم را با چوب و چماق پاسخ بدهد و آن را "زور" بنامد و ادعا کند؛ زیر بار "زور" نمی رود!>>>

خسته بر سنگ سرخ

بیرون زدم. به اندوه این خرداد پشت کردم و جاده را در جستجوی ناکجایی در کویر، سلام گفتم. ناله ساز بلند بود؛ در تلاشی ناتوان که فریاد‌ها و تصاویر جهان جنون را بشویم. حالا، خسته و کمر شکسته، بر این سنگ سرخ زل زده ام؛ بر این محراب پرستشی نو که به مهر خورشید کویر، آتش گرفته است. گوشم از ناله‌های زیر و بم پر میشود، از صدای پر التهاب آوازی که بند بندم را به خویش میخواند و مو بر تنم راست می‌کند. حرارت خشم و حس گناه با ضعف تنهایی‌ همدست شده، بر قلبم میکوبند. چشمم میشکند؛ قطره قطره بارش غمناکش از چهره به دست، از دست به قلم. آغاز تابستان گرم، فصل شور، به کابوس مینشیند. من برین گوشه ساکن به پناه آمده ام. من فراری هستم؛ >>>

ترنه اى براى دخترم

واپسين درس موسيقى ات
                 دخترم
با درس انقلاب سبزمان
هم زمان شد
سينه ات گشودند
                 اى عروس ايران
تا که ضحاک
                 اين ديو خامنه
با خون تو مست شود >>>

Where is my democracy?

What strikes one as profoundly important is the participation of ordinary Iranians en masse in what is nothing less than a demand for authentic democracy. “Where is my vote” is the question that Iranians are asking. If we deconstruct this question into its constituent parts, we have before us some of the critical components of liberal democracy, a la “the West.” The “my” represents the individual citizen who, after actioning her/his faith in the power of the vote, now demands to reap the benefits. The “where” represents that streak of unrelenting, yet reasoned skepticism that is the patrimony of open societies that are not averse to questions and questioning>>>

مبارزه بي خشونت

مبارزه ء بی خشونت بر اصل ساده ای استوار می شود و آن نافرمانی است. اصلی که به ما می گويد مردم هميشه اوامر حاکمانشان را اجرا نمی کنند و گاه قادرند به کارهايی دست بزنند که بر ايشان ممنوع کرده اند. زيردستان از قوانين زبردستان تخطی می کنند. کارگران با اعتصاب خود اقتصاد را فلج می کنند. بورکراتها از انجام دستورات ساده سرباز می زنند. دانشجويان از خطوط قرمزی که برايشان معين شده عبور می کنند. نيروهای انتظامی از سرکوب خودداری می ورزند و حتی دست به شورش می زنند. وقتی همه ء اين اقدامات با هم رخ می دهند مردی که تا مدتی پيش از آن شاه يا ولی فقيه بوده در اندک زمانی تبديل به شهروندی عادی می شود. قدرت سياسی وقتی مردم حمايت خود را از آن دريغ کنند به سرعت از همان می پاشد>>>

Meeting Mahbod

Last Friday, I visited the “Book Soup” on Sunset Blvd in Los Angeles to attend a book reading by Mahbod Seraji, the author of Rooftops of Tehran. Given the recent events in Iran, the atmosphere at this gathering started off somber. However, the heaviness melted just as soon as Mahbod took to the podium to tell us about his journey from a young reader on the rooftops of Tehran, poring over Jack London, to a writer of his first novel which promises to become a bestseller. Mahbod’s positive energy and impeccable delivery put me at ease immediately. Together with Sepi Seraji, his better half, the couple managed to inject just enough genuine camaraderie to the atmosphere in order make it an enjoyable evening for all>>>

Simplistic and shallow

During this highly emotional and volatile period in our history “Stoning of Soraya M” is released and what a timely arrival as if Hollywood had possessed a looking glass into the future. At the first glance, a movie that exposes the brutality of theocratic regime and its repressive laws and customs must be welcomed by all freedom loving Iranians, but the whole project reeks of an odious distortion. Presumably, in pursuit of freedom and justice we must embrace any document that exposes the brutality of evil and dark forces that extinguishes life and liberty. But the film makes rather spurious presumptions, and that is precisely the problem with the film; Iran is an arid land dominated by forces of darkness and evil doers>>>

Facts and Beyond

The disputed Iranian election of June 12th returned Ahmadinejad to office with a huge margin of votes over his main rival, Mousavi. Given Ahmadinejad’s track record for the past four years, there is a fear that he may interpret his official victory as an unconditional mandate to continue business as usual contrary to the demands of the opposition: an opening up to the West, more freedom, cutting back on handouts, and more. There is no hard evidence to either support or dismiss the official results. Recounting the votes will not resolve the dispute as a suspicion will always remain as to whether some of Mousavi’s votes were discarded. Rerunning the ballot vote has been ruled out by the ones holding the power>>>