Feb 06
The Iranian opposition leader spars with SPIEGEL ONLINE . To wit:
SPIEGEL: Has the protest movement distanced itself from its leaders?
Karroubi: Mousavi and I have served the people in a number of positions of responsibility. As a result we have a certain amount of influence. But Mousavi does not have an organization behind him. I have a political party, but its work is restricted. The protest is a popular movement that is comprised of people from a wide variety of social classes and which acts independently …
SPIEGEL: … and which is now calling the entire system into question.
Karroubi: The Iranian people have a well-developed political consciousness. I place my trust in reason and people’s experience.
Tagged with: green movement • Iran • Karroubi • Mousavi
Feb 06
“…the underprivileged classes of the society who care for Islamic values potentially have the same demands as the Green Movement. Those who are after a national consensus for change should become more integrated with these classes and also pursue their concerns and demands. …”
Full Text from Enduring America.
Tagged with: green movement • Iran • Mousavi
Jan 14
Execution is possible says anti-government roozonline.com (Iran).
Plus: what they’re saying in Europe about the trial of the Bahai leaders.
The continued imprisonment of the leadership has already drawn international protest. But this pressure must be stepped up. The revolutionary court system is secretive; the only chance of justice being served is for the case to be held in open court so proceedings can be independently monitored. The Iranian government will be desperate to keep this abuse of justice quiet. They must be shamed into changing their mind.
–Cherie Blair in The Guardian
Tagged with: Bahai • Cherie Blair • Europe • Iran
Jan 14
With diplomacy over Iran’s nuclear program seemingly at a standstill, the idea of a U.S. attack on Iran, known as “all options on the table,” remains in play.
Petraeus’s Statement on Iran Confirms U.S. Readiness for All Possibilities–Asharq Alawsat (London)
Tagged with: David Petreus • Iran • military option • U.S. policy
Jan 14
Nobel prize winner Shirin Ebadi thinks so–Foreign Policy.
Ebadi says it’s nonsense to think this was ever merely about a small group of educated elites in northern Tehran. The democracy movement in other cities is active and growing, she says. By all accounts, fissures are beginning to emerge in the ruling class. There are signs that the secular and religious opposition have begun to cooperate. If this continues, it would be a dramatic development.
Tagged with: green movement • Iran • Shirin Ebadi • Tehran
Dec 22
Is the Iranian government losing control of the country’s spiritual capital?
“Qom has been under serious security over the past six months, but today they have effectively lost control of it.” — Times Online.
What they’re saying about the death of reformist ayatollah Montazeri in the Middle Eastern media.
Tagged with: Ayatollah • Iran • Montazeri • opposition • Qom
Dec 16
The state-run media in Iran has been making all kinds of accusations against us for years because we are feminists, while from our point of view feminist means “being a woman” and being proud of it, nothing more. Those who regard themselves as higher than their mothers simply because they are men must be ashamed and embarrassed.
Shirin Ebadi in roozonline.com.
Tagged with: feminism • Iran • media • Shirin Ebadi
Nov 18
“Netanyahu is preparing for war against Iran and Hezbollah in the coming spring, when the snows melt and the clouds clear. Evidence of this is the additional defense budget and the home front’s preparations for a confrontation. And even if in the end Netanyahu doesn’t strike, he must be ready. It is better for Israel to fight on fewer fronts and neutralize enemies through diplomacy.”
–Aluf Benn in Haaretz.
Tagged with: Hezbollah • Iran • Israel • Netanyahu • war
Nov 05
Iran’s Press TV reports an indignant confirmation/denial of Israel’s claims about a boatful of arms intercepted at sea.
Jersualem Post: Ship proves Goldstone Report encourages terror.
Asharq Alawsat: Israel’s fear of Goldstone.
Tagged with: Goldstone report • Hezbollah • Iran • Israel • Israeli Defense Forces
