Tag Archives: Tehran Friday Prayers

Opinion: The Shrewd Calculus Behind Khamenei’s Release of 81 Political Prisoners

By Dave Siavashi: I’m guessing not many people expected this move (Associated Press article) today by Iran’s unelected leader, Khamenei: Iran’s supreme leader pardoned 81 jailed opposition supporters who had been found guilty of having a role in the unrest triggered by last June’s disputed presidential election. Wednesday’s pardons were seen as a gesture of [...]

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Iranian hardline cleric claims protesters “dared not show up”

(RadioZamaneh) | February 19, 2010 Hardline cleric, Ahmad Khatami who has repeatedly derided the post-election protests and the opposition leaders from Tehran’s Friday Mass Prayers podium, was hard at his efforts today claiming protesters, which he has dubbed as “rioters”, did not dare appear in February 11 demonstrations. Despite Ahmad Khatami’s claims, reports indicate that [...]

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Iran’s Protesters: Phase 2 of Their Feisty Campaign

The tactics are unorganized, largely leaderless and only just beginning. They spread by e-mail, websites and word of mouth. But their variety and scope indicate that Iran’s uprising is not a passing phenomenon like the student protests of 1999, which were quickly quashed. This time, Iranians are rising above their fears. Although embryonic, today’s public resolve is reminiscent of civil disobedience in colonial India before independence or in the American Deep South in the 1960s.

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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.”