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Posted on 12/31/2009 10:06:46 AM PST by Velveeta
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- Nigeria: MEND on 30 Jan. ends 25 Oct. truce, threatens new wave of attacks against oil facilities
- Somalia: British hostages Paul and Rachel Chandler seen in new video filmed on 28 Jan. by AFP in which they say they are not being treated well and beg British government to secure their release
- Kenya: US Embassy on 15 Jan.: has been threat to kidnap Westerners in Dadaab refugee camp... Reports state al-Shabaab agents plan to enter Dadaab refugee camp feigning to visit relatives/friends and then kidnap any Westerner in vicinity. US citizens should exercise extreme caution when traveling in northeastern Kenya in light of this current threat and recent kidnappings of Westerners (including US citizens) near Somali border.
(RFE/RL) -- The deputy head of Iran's judiciary says nine more protesters are to be executed soon over the unrest that erupted following the controversial June presidential elections.
Iran's Fars news agency quoted Ebrahim Raisi as saying that the nine were linked to counterrevolutionary groups and planned to topple the Islamic regime.
The death sentences were issued on January 28, but the defendants' lawyers appealed the initial verdict. The same day, Iran hanged two opposition protesters, reportedly linked to monarchist groups.
Paris-based political analyst Ali Keshtgar tells RFE/RL's Radio Farda that those executions were aimed at testing the opposition ahead of protests planned to coincide with the anniversary of the 1979 Islamic Revolution on February 11.
Keshtgar says that the government will see then "to what extent the executions have been effective in weakening the national will for protesting."
Warning To Opposition
The two who were executed, 37-year-old Mohammad Reza Ali Zamani and 19-year-old Arash Rahmanipour, were among a group of 11 people sentenced to death on charges including "waging war against God" and being members of armed groups.
It was unclear, however, whether the nine protesters now facing execution were part of this same group of 11.
Ebrahim Raisi said the nine were linked to counterrevolutionary groups.More than 100 detainees were put on trial following street protests that erupted in Iran following last year's reelection of President Mahmud Ahmadinejad, which the opposition says was rigged in favor of the incumbent.
The protests triggered Iran's worst civil unrest since the 1979 revolution that saw the overthrow of the U.S.-backed shah and the establishment of the Islamic republic.
Some hard-liners have urged the judiciary to execute more opposition supporters to end the demonstrations.
But on February 1, Iran's top judge, Sadeq Larijani, said such demands were "political in nature and are against the law and Shari'a."
Quoted on the judiciary's official website, "Dadsara," Larijani said, however, that he did not rule out further executions against those who violate the law.
'Roots Of Tyranny And Dictatorship'
Meanwhile, opposition leader Mir Hossein Musavi said such repression showed that the 1979 Islamic Revolution had failed to achieve its goals.
In an interview posted on his website, Musavi said that "the roots of tyranny and dictatorship" that marked the shah's era still existed in Iran.
He also said he would continue his fight for people's rights despite pressure by hard-liners to end antigovernment protests.
In his interview, Musavi condemned the violent methods used against protesters and said that "peaceful protests are Iranians' right."
Musavi's comments came as Iran marks the 31st anniversary of the 1979 revolution.
The 10 days of ceremonies and events are to culminate with pro-government rallies on February 11 -- the day marking the collapse of the regime of Iran's U.S.-backed shah.
Members of Iran's political opposition have also called for antigovernment demonstrations on that day.
Oh my gosh Piper! I need to get a life! ;)
Abolfazl Eslami served in Irans Foreign Ministry for 25 years. That came to an end four years ago, when he learned that the authorities had become sensitive" about him.
The 50-year-old Eslami says it was his criticism of Tehrans handling of the death of Zahra Kazemi, an Iranian-Canadian journalist, that first got him into trouble.
Kazemi was arrested while taking pictures outside of Iran's notorious Evin Prison in 2003. She later died in a Tehran hospital amid allegations that she was severely beaten and tortured in prison. Prison officials, however, said Kazemi had a stroke.
Eslami, who was the Canada desk officer from 2004 to 2006 at the Foreign Ministry in Tehran, says he had on several occasions stood up for Kazemi and publicly said that the case had hurt Iran and its ties with Canada.
The trouble began for Eslami following the 2005 election of hard-line President Mahmud Ahmadinejad, who replaced the reformist Mohammad Khatami. That's when the atmosphere in the Foreign Ministry changed, the former diplomat says.
Under Khatami, we could voice our opinions at the Foreign Ministry, the [suppression] was not so bad, Eslami says. As an expert, I used to express my views, but after Khatamis term ended and Mahmud Ahmadinejad came to power and Manuchehr Mottaki became foreign minister, my friends in the security [department] told me: They have become sensitive about you and you could get into trouble.
Diplomat Abolfazl Eslami Eslami decided he had to leave Iran, and within just a few days, he flew to Japan, where he had served from 2001 to 2004 as a consul at the Iranian Embassy.
He says a delegation traveled to Tokyo to try to get him to return to Tehran. He refused. He was then threatened and warned that his family and friends could end up in jail because of him, he says.
Eslami told RFE/RL in a telephone interview that he decided to remain silent and not to go public about his case. But he says he tried to encourage his former colleagues to follow his example and break ranks with the Iranian establishment.
Back In The Public Eye
One of his letters was recently posted on opposition websites that claimed Eslami resigned over the postelection crackdown.
He says he was surprised to read about his letter, which he says was incomplete and misquoted. Yet the publicizing of the letter and the postelection crackdown in Iran that has left some 70 dead made him break his silence.
I have many things to say to the people on the anniversary of the 1979 revolution. I want to explain to the people how this [establishment] has become paralyzed from the inside; even their own security forces are not with them, he says.
He added that people should know that the crackdown has been carried out by a minority which, according to Eslami, will be defeated through more popular resistance.
Eslami believes many of those employed by Irans Foreign Ministry disapprove of the domestic and international policies of the clerical establishment.
He says that some remain silent, despite their disapproval, because of the fear of reprisal, while others decide to stay in government because they believe they can reform the system.
He says in the past four years he has received many e-mails and messages from his friends and former colleagues who have praised him and said that theyd like to follow his example, but theyre afraid that the Iranian regime could hurt them and their families.
I used to work in the non-proliferation department of the Foreign Ministry, Eslami says. All my colleagues there were upset and angry about the nuclear issue and the dealings between Iran and Russia. But theres nothing they can do.
Loss Of Trust
The former Iranian diplomat says that because of pressure from security elements, Foreign Ministry employees have to somehow conform and adapt to the existing conditions.
He claims that even many of Irans senior diplomats have lost their trust in the Iranian regime and are waiting to see whether it is to their benefit to resign from their posts.
None of our ambassadors bring back the salaries which they receive in dollars to Tehran, he says. They keep it in their bank accounts outside the country.
Asked whether hes concerned about Tehrans reprisal over his interview with RFE/RL, he replies: I dont care anymore."
I see they have spilled so much blood that in order to create fear among people, Eslami says, citing the execution last week of 19-year-old Arash Rahmanipour on charges of attempting to overthrow the Islamic establishment. My son is 23, what does he know about political issues?
I am one of the Iranian people, Eslami continued. They can come here and do anything to me. It would discredit them even more.
The more blood the Islamic Republic spills, Eslami says, the closer it comes to collapse.
Hi!! Missed being here...
JD does have a site up now. http://www.jd2010.com/
McCain has a lot of name recognition in AZ and to the uninformed that’s all it takes. JD will have his work cut out for him BUT there are lots of us that will help get the word out.
He’ll keep his eye on the ball and while he’s at it he’ll knock it out of McCain’s hands!!
Pssst ‘07, we discussed Joel last nite here. Me thinks you’ll like my first passion thread here at TM, want me to ping you? You could not believe what we find out here :)
Read from this ping on, you likey I promise ‘07!!!
TM’ers must read this:
I wonder if Glenns going to touch on the 12th imam thing tomorrow?
http://www.ashbrook.org/publicat/guest/05/vonheyking/twelfthimam.html
337 posted on Wednesday, February 03, 2010 5:22:13 PM by GlennBeck08
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2437390/posts?page=337#337
BTW Commies are my 2nd passion, Blackie is my 3rd & you are now my 4th -g-
Good news, indeed!!
Well, I truly question if these current events evidences we are now moving toward the “Apocalypse”....there are too many things not in place yet...However just like both gulf wars and now what’s happening, these likely are similiar to what it will look like when nations begin to position themselves on the world stage.
Interesting not much coming out of Britain or Europe at this time....pretty quiet as far as any statements.
Obama’s on Drudge...he’s totaly disassociated from the crowd!!! There but not there and it’s obvious. What a glare over his admirers, wonder how much longer this man is going to handle what he’s not handling, and he knows it.
Look at all the allusions to Muslim terrorism without actually saying 'Muslim terrorism'. And why did the cops raid a property?
Seven of 19 people injured in the deliberate petrol explosion in a Darwin shopping centre remain in hospital with one doctor describing it as a mini-Bali bombing on "our doorstep".
He said that while this was an explosion on a smaller scale to the 2002 Bali bombings, the fact it had happened in Darwin had "brought the horror to our doorstep".
"We are very familiar with these situations internationally," he said.
"But this is one of those situations where it is on our doorstep and were people from a small community who we are closely associated with.
"It's an event that reminds us of how vigilant we must be in normal circumstances, no matter where we are."
Must See Video:
“Rarely in the history of rock ‘n’ roll does a cover version come along that actually dares to exist at the right reactionary time.
Another Brick In The Wall (Hey Ayatollah, Leave Those Kids Alone!)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OIP38eq-ywc&feature=player_embedded#
What a site this photo is!
Well, I’m not surprised the leadership is failing...it’s been along time coming. How long Homobendi hangs on with his groupies remains to be seen. I do understand if they get taken out there is a new leadership, outside the country, ready to step in.
It would be great if their own military would turn on them,...won’t be the first time as you know.
Even though Eslami is speaking out.. I honestly don’t trust any of them.
I came in to Penn Station this morning and the security is extreme like it was after 9/11. There were soldiers, robo cops and DHS agents with big guns everywhere. Dogs everywhere. They are expecting something because they appeared to be on ultra high alert. Cops were boarding and departing with Amtrak trains. Stay safe everyone and put yourself on high alert.
You’re all heart, Soulmate!! :):)
Ahmadinejad’s 2/11 “telling blow?”
Did a nearby mosque jihadi report a suspicious straight, American-born White male?
Were three disabled WW II vets (likely terrorists per DHS, Manet Napolitano, and eric holder) seen together?
Did a jihadi leave his dirty bomb at the station and DHS is guarding it for him so no infidels walk off with it - a clear case of RACISM & ISLAMOPHOBIA and the heavy weaponry might be needed to 'apprehend' any ISLAMOPHOBES?
Yes, I would like these pings too. Holy crap. Top 4 in the passions? I’ll take it :)
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