Iranian Alert -- November 15, 2003 -- IRAN LIVE THREAD

The US media almost entirely ignores news regarding the Islamic Republic of Iran. As Tony Snow of the Fox News Network has put it, “this is probably the most under-reported news story of the year.” But most American’s are unaware that the Islamic Republic of Iran is NOT supported by the masses of Iranians today. Modern Iranians are among the most pro-American in the Middle East.

There is a popular revolt against the Iranian regime brewing in Iran today. Starting June 10th of this year, Iranians have begun taking to the streets to express their desire for a regime change. Most want to replace the regime with a secular democracy. Many even want the US to over throw their government.

The regime is working hard to keep the news about the protest movement in Iran from being reported. Unfortunately, the regime has successfully prohibited western news reporters from covering the demonstrations. The voices of discontent within Iran are sometime murdered, more often imprisoned. Still the people continue to take to the streets to demonstrate against the regime.

In support of this revolt, Iranians in America have been broadcasting news stories by satellite into Iran. This 21st century news link has greatly encouraged these protests. The regime has been attempting to jam the signals, and locate the satellite dishes. Still the people violate the law and listen to these broadcasts. Iranians also use the Internet and the regime attempts to block their access to news against the regime. In spite of this, many Iranians inside of Iran read these posts daily to keep informed of the events in their own country.

This daily thread contains nearly all of the English news reports on Iran. It is thorough. If you follow this thread you will witness, I believe, the transformation of a nation. This daily thread provides a central place where those interested in the events in Iran can find the best news and commentary. The news stories and commentary will from time to time include material from the regime itself. But if you read the post you will discover for yourself, the real story of what is occurring in Iran and its effects on the war on terror.

I am not of Iranian heritage. I am an American committed to supporting the efforts of those in Iran seeking to replace their government with a secular democracy. I am in contact with leaders of the Iranian community here in the United States and in Iran itself.

If you read the daily posts you will gain a better understanding of the US war on terrorism, the Middle East and why we need to support a change of regime in Iran. Feel free to ask your questions and post news stories you discover in the weeks to come.

If all goes well Iran will be free soon and I am convinced become a major ally in the war on terrorism. The regime will fall. Iran will be free. It is just a matter of time.

PS I have a daily ping list and a breaking news ping list. If you would like to receive alerts to these stories please let me know which list you would like to join.

October 30, 2003

Uranium enrichment or violation of Iranian rights on a daily basis?

Majid Mohamadi

Which issue is more important for Iranian people: uranium enrichment or violation of their rights on a daily basis?
Iran's government agreed, after months of resistance, to accept stricter international inspections of its nuclear sites and to suspend production of enriched uranium.

This is what the U.S and Europeans asked for in favor of their national interests. Now it is time for another pressure on Iranian government that “benefits” Iranian people, i.e. "human rights inspections". Iran's government has shown that only surrenders to the pressure of superior international actors. Khamene`i and authoritarian faction understand the language of power. If the U.S. and Europeans use their power in favor of improving human rights in Iran, the government will agree, again after months or years of resistance, to accept stricter international inspections of its prisons, courts and other judicial and security facilities, and to suspend use of torture of political activists and stoning the women or amputation. Iranian government must sign, ratify and carry out an additional agreement under the universal declaration of Human Rights that would allow surprise inspections of its judicial and security installations.

The international terms for compliance should include unfettered access by officials of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) — the United Nations body that monitors violations of human rights around the world and undertakes preventive human rights action — to interrogation sites and jails, as well as observing places where political activists and intellectuals are tortured.

Iran's government should also commit itself to answer probing questions posed by human rights organizations about the recent violations of human rights especially in the trials of journalists and political activists, killing of Zahra Kazemi, serial killings of intellectuals and attack of paramilitary forces to the dorms in Allaameh-e Tabaatabaa`i, Tehran and Tabriz universities.

As Europeans urged Iran to adopt a protocol to the nonproliferation treaty that provides for intrusive inspections on short notice, and to halt its uranium enrichment program, they must urge her to fully comply with international regulations and treaties regarding human rights, stop serious violations of human rights, promote ratification and implementation of international standards, and promote the establishment of national human rights infrastructures. I hope there will also be unusual visit by European foreign ministers, together, for the sake of human rights.

http://news.gooya.com/english/archives/001145.php

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