Iran in Crisis -- An Iranian Student's Live Thread (from inside Iran)

Freerepublic ^ | Jan 12, 04 | khashayar

[Khashayar]

The upcoming election will be an important point for both Iranians and their regime.

Most Iranians are against their suppressive regime. In the past few hours, around 80% of the so-called reformists have been banned from taking part in these elections as candidates.

These reformists are children of the Islamic Revolution and the people of Iran no longer support them. I would like to say that I believe this crisis is a fake. It is just to get the Iranian people involved in their phony elections. Trust me, I fear that the hard-liners are planning on letting these banned MPs to take part in election.

Once the reformers get people rally around them and they get people to once again vote for them, they will have gained legitimacy for the whole regime.

Remember that our one and only choice is a big NO to the Mullahs. That is why many want to boycotte this election here.

If you have questions about this, I will try to answer all honest questions.

[goldstategop]

Welcome. I haven't really though your country is the heir of a great civilization and a religion that predated Islam. How many people in Iran know Iranian history did not begin with the Arab Conquest in the 7th century? Iran was the only Middle Eastern country never colonized by Western powers and it fought off the Romans at Carrhae. There is no reason Iran can't integrate the best of its past and the present faith of the Iranians to make a constructive contribution to world civilization. Iran bought us Zoroastrianism and Bahaiism. Who knows what will come out of your country in the next millenium.

[Khashayar]

Unfortunately, we have been forced to be located in Middle East.
And I have a question: How many people in the USA do know that Iranians are not Arabs? OR Iranians speak Persian?

[Pro-Bush]

well, I wish you the best of luck. Maybe you should rise to the occasion? You seem fit for the part!

[Khashayar]

Thank You!

[AdmSmith]

from http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/afp_world/view/65837/1/.html
This time the Guardians Council had systematically rejected reformists. In some areas, notably the northeastern city of Mashhad, all reformists had been struck off the voting lists and only conservatives were left.

Left contesting Tehran's 30 seats, for example, are just 10 reformists.

According to reports, the number of disqualified candidates numbered up to half of the 8,149 people who registered with the interior ministry last month to stand in the elections.

And of the 210 reformists currently in the 290-seat Majlis, 85 have seen their candidacies rejected, including Behzad Nabavi, who along with the president's brother is a deputy Majlis speaker.

Also believed to have been rejected were outspoken leftist Mohsen Armin and female MP Elaheh Koulaiee, who is close to Nobel Peace laureate Shirin Ebadi's campaign for women's rights.

Jafar Kambouzia, a reformist MP from the southeastern city of Zahedan who was also on the blacklist, said the Guardians' Council had simply "rejected all those candidates who could win votes", including the "quasi-total of IIPF candidates across the country".

Question: I think that it is time for a confrontation. Is this list of 8,149 candidates published? If it is in the public domain why not spread it on the internet together with comments at each name if it was rejected by the Guardian Council.

Then at the election pick your own candidate, either the election commission will publish the actual result of this election, or say that of the x million votes y % was disqualified as they voted for candidates that not was approved by the GC. This will do for the next step in the revolution.

[Pro-Bush]

1:00 AM my time. Good night my friend!

[Khashayar]

As far as EU supports Iranian Mullahs, you can't expect much from the movements inside or outside Iran.

[Khashayar]

Khatami asks EU to fulfil obligations towards Iran

DeepikaGlobal, India
12 Jan 2004

Teheran, Jan 12 (DPA) President Mohammad Khatami has asked the European Union to fulfil its obligations towards Iran in the context of the additional protocol of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the news network Khabar reported today.

''We have fulfilled our promises, now we expect the EU to reciprocate,'' Khatami told visiting Spanish Foreign Minister Ana Palacio yesterday night.

In return for signing the additional IAEA protocol, Teheran expects not only EU acknowledgement of its right to have nuclear activities but also cooperation in expanding atomic projects.

Palacio said that both Spain and the EU welcomed Iran's cooperation with the IAEA and also expected that Teheran would have a positive role in the reconstruction of Iraq.

At the end of talks with her Iranian counterpart Kamal Kharrazi today, Palacio described her visit to Teheran as positive and said that contacts with Iran would continue.

http://www.deepikaglobal.com/ENG4_sub.asp?ccode=ENG4&newscode=37256

[Khashayar]

Iranian opposition figures call for EU support

09 January 2004
EU Business

Opponents of the Iranian government meeting in Germany called Friday on the European Union to offer support to democratic opposition parties ahead of parliamentary elections in Iran on February 20.

"All of Europe's institutions and political parties should meet and support Iran's democratic opposition parties," said one of their spokesmen, Nosratollah Barati-Novbari.

He also called on the UN Security Council to get involved.

"The question of freedom and human rights concern all humanity, and all humanity has the right to fight for Iran," Barati said.

More than 8,000 candidates are competing in the vote for 290 seats in parliament, which is dominated by reformists who support embattled President Mohammad Khatami.

But most face being weeded out by the interior ministry in consultation with the police, judiciary, intelligence services and registry office.

Candidates must also be approved by the Guardians Council, an unelected body controlled by conservatives which has the power to vet all prospective lawmakers.

Barati is among some 500 opposition figures taking part in a three-day conference in Berlin aimed at promoting democracy and installing a "true republic" in Iran.

The participants include politicians, researchers and artists from around the world, including from Europe, Australia and the United States, and delelgates span from far-right nationalists to left-wingers, he said.

They are calling notably for fair and free elections, constitutional change, greater government accountability and equal rights for women.

http://www.eubusiness.com/afp/040109152409.puccanol
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Comment: EU doesnt will to support Iranian dissidents.

[Khashayar]

And an Iranian comment on the above article:

Expecting the authorities of the Islamic Regime to respect any democratically elcted members of the parliament is a dream beyound any imaginations.

The participants of the conference in Berlin would be shooting at stars with second world war's rifles if they have any impression of the least liniency towards any change of mind by the present regime.

The authorities of the present regime have become masters of deceit after 26 years of ruling in the most despotic style with the least competency in modern history.

They are murderers, rubbers and theifs, the most cruel and reactionary of all present leaders in the region.

Khatami was a relief valve in order to avoid any forthcomming large scale public dissent.

Khatami is not of any intellectual /leadership values despite his poetic slogans.

THE WAY FORWARD IS TO DENOUNCE, BYCOT,AND INVITE THE ENTIRE IRANIAN POPULATION TO AVOID PARTICIPATING IN THE SO CALLED ELECTIONS.

ANY ONE WHO PARTICIPATES IN THE FEB ELECTION WILL BE AIDING/APPROVING THIS DESPOTIC ANTI HUMAN BARBARIANS.

http://www.eubusiness.com/afp/040109152409.puccanol/talkback/msg_1073687893/view

[F14 Pilot]

Thought you might be interested in this kind of debate.

[AdmSmith]

In the election do you have pre-printed lists of candidates on the ballot paper and you make a mark by a pencil on the candidate you vote for, or how is it done?

[Khashayar]

In the election do you have pre-printed lists of candidates on the ballot paper and you make a mark by a pencil on the candidate you vote for, or how is it done?

Here is one pre-printed list of the names, on the walls of the poll centers which is written in alphabetical order and it enables us to choose and write their names and electional codes on the ballots. There is not a pre-printed list on the ballots.

[AdmSmith]

Fine, then it is possible to do what was written in 25 or even 13.

[Khashayar]

Another point I would like to mention is that the Mullahs want to stay in power and open a dialogue with the US government after election. If it happens they will be saved for a long long time.

[Khashayar]

I must say that our main problem is the regime not parts of it. The regime has already lost its legitimacy among its own people, and by boycotting the next election they will lose their remaining legitimacy in the world too.

[Khashayar]

Top 55 IRI's Most Wanted

http://www.pcpages.com/ani/polgr/inani/ax/cards/clubs.htm

[Heatseeker]

And I have a question: How many people in the USA do know that Iranians are not Arabs? OR Iranians speak Persian?

I wasn't the person you asked but I don't see anyone answering on the thread, so I will try to. I think it depends on where in the USA you are. I expect most educated people, particularly in larger cities where there are a lot of Iranians, or people who have educated themselves on the subject, will know that most Iranians are not Arabs and do not speak Arabic.

Some people don't know this, unfortunately, but they are decreasing in numbers. For example, in 1979 and through the early 1980's there was a popular "villain" in Professional Wrestling (very popular here) who called himself "The Iron Sheik" and dressed as an Arab but pretended to be Iranian and a follower of the mullahs. He did it because even though people hated the character he played (because of the hostage crisis) he knew they would pay to see him get beat by Americans.

In fact he was a real wrestler who won an Olympic medal for Iran before the revolution, and had to flee after the revolution.

Few people understood then that Iranians (Persians) are not "sheiks", dress as Arabs or lead camels around. But most people understand now.

[AdmSmith]

The demography is against the mullahs, and most of them knows that. The problem is that the clerics that have highjacked Iran is stealing money from the Iranians and they will not step down if they risk loosing their money.

However, if the transformation will be violent they will for 100 % be without money and put their lives at risk, if there is a gradual transformation only the most obvious thugs will get that fate.

If Rafsanjani understands that there is an imminent danger of a revolution he will back down and escape with some of his billion USD. He is the man behind the regime and the sooner he leaves the better.


It is like an earthqake if the pressure and strain is not released now it will be a higher mark on the Richter scale later. The question of the Iranian transformation is only a matter of when, not if.

Khashayar, do not count out the government, I know that many Iranian officials, maybe the majority is waiting for the transformation. Naturally, they hope that it will be a peaceful transformation. It is about their salaries as well.

[Khashayar]

Thank You!
Were you an AIM-9 Missile technician? LOL!
Btw, Could you please let me know the real name of that Iron Sheik?