Tag Archives: Democracy

P2E: “My Bitter Memories” | A Letter by Majid Tavakoli on the Occasion of 18 Tir

Persian2English | July 8, 2010 HRANA – Majid Tavakoli, imprisoned Amirkabir University (AUT) student writes a letter on the occasion of the anniversary of attacks on the student dormitories that took place on July 9, 1999 (18 Tir).  According to HRANA, the full content of the letter is as follows: My Bitter Memories By MAJID [...]

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Around the world, freedom is in peril

So at decade’s end, the correlation of forces, as the Communists used to say, looks bleak. Three assertive powers — China, Russia and Iran — not only resist democratization but actively seek to disseminate their model of authoritarian rule in their spheres of influence. Europe, the engine of democratization of the 1990s, looks inward, more interested in appeasing Russia than reforming it. Newer or less wealthy democracies such as South Africa, Turkey, Brazil and India seem stuck in anti-colonial mind-sets that discourage cooperation to promote democracy. And the Obama administration remains skittish about adopting a “freedom agenda” that its predecessor had tarnished in the minds of many Democrats.

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Time to bust the myth of the slumdog Islamists

(Globe and Mail) Doug Saunders It’s always been a dangerous fallacy to believe that the main boosters of Islamic fundamentalism are the Muslim poor. Now, movements in impoverished parts of Cairo, Tehran and elsewhere are demanding more from their rulers than pious rhetoric If you take an evening stroll around the southern fringes of Tehran, [...]

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Live-blogging Iran August 5th, Ahmadinejad Inauguration Day News and Events

[2:12 AM (August 6) Tehran Time] On the night of Ahmadinejads inauguration as President-Select, the people of Iran protest against the regime by chanting “Allah-o-Akbar!” and “Down with the dictator!” from their rooftops and balconies. One cannot help but feel awe-inspired by their bravery: [youtube:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_H8EGyzd8o0] [1:52 AM (August 6) Tehran Time] A full-page ad has [...]

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Dawn of the Age of Justice

The people have not sat idly by, and in the past month a clear distinction has been made between the people on one-side, and the regime on the other. The world has seen the people’s aspirations for freedom, and their bravery in the face of terror and the tyranny of a false theocracy. The world has also seen the last shred of legitimacy that the government of Iran may have held disappear to reveal what can be safely described as a government structured like a mafia that sees itself as God’s representative on earth with the right to butcher its own people. It can’t be more clear than that.

The price has been paid in blood by the Iranian people. And blood has been spilled across every facet of Iranian society.

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Feature: Instagrams from Iran (picture compilation)

A few pictures from Iran, taken by ordinary people and posted to Instagram

Iran Feature: Former Detainee Sarah Shourd “The Plight of Iranians and 3 Decades of US Foreign Policy”

The incredible thing for me was that so many Iranians worldwide took the time to care about us despite the thousands of other political prisoners they have to worry about. “I’m an Iranian boy ashamed for what our government did to three American hikers,” another message on Facebook says. “I want you to know Iranian people are with you and against their own government. Iran’s regime is not chosen by Iranian people. They kill and torture us and we are all in a very big prison named Iran.”

Iran Feature: The Supreme Leader Is Worried — Three Developments You Probably Don’t Know

Our partner, EAWorldView, has published a ground-breaking piece on Iran’s Supreme Leader. This is a must-read.

Live-blog: Russia, what’s next?

Live-blog: Egypt Elections, Day 1

A historic day: The first post-Mubarak elections in Egypt

Journalist Mona Eltahawy’s harrowing ordeal – beating, sexual assault and arrest in Egypt – in her own words and tweets

“The past 12 hrs were painful and surreal but I know I got off much much easier than so many other Egyptians.”