“Obama, either with us or with them”?

I do not think so that the chant “Obama, either with us or with them” mean is that the Green movement “would like more Western support”. I think it mean is do not support “coup de’etat” government in Iran. This two have to much different.

Life Inside an Iranian Prison

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Life Inside an Iranian Prison

 The New York Times / Room for Debate/ Link

Roozbeh Mirebrahimi is an Iranian journalist who lives in New York City.

 

I was arrested in fall 2004 because of my work as a political editor for several reformist newspapers in Iran, as well as my critical comments about the regime on my blog and on other Web sites.

I spent 60 days in solitary confinement, where I was released only three times a day to use a bathroom for two to three minutes under camera surveillance. I was interrogated and tortured for days on end. Security agents blindfolded me and beat me repeatedly, pushing my head into the wall and onto a desk. They asked me questions about my relations with other journalists, particularly women, and with Westerners, and they constantly insulted my family.

 

I felt alone and was afraid for my life. I had no contact with the outside world — not even a newspaper. The interrogators told me — convinced me — that my friends and colleagues had forgotten about me. While in prison, I was charged with eight different counts of “participation in societies,” “propagating against the state,” publication of lies, “insulting the leader” and public disturbance. I was given no opportunity to defend myself.

After 60 days, I was released on bail because of international pressure and help from government reformists. In November 2006, I secured a lectureship at Princeton University and left Iran. In February 2009, the court sentenced me to two years’ imprisonment and 84 lashes. Two other charges are still under review.

The most important thing for Roxana Saberi is continued international pressure. President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s letter urging Ayatollah Mahmoud Hashemi Shahroudi, the chief prosecutor, to re-examine the case is a good sign, as is Mr. Shahroudi’s order for a review (note that this is not the same as an appeal). With Mr. Shahroudi’s order, I am very hopeful about Ms. Saberi’s case.

Iran is a country

A few weeks ago i went to the bank for some banking works. By the time when the customer service understood that I am an Iranian asked me ” Are you thinking that the president of America has to negotiate with the president of your country?”

 

I said why not? negotiation is not a bad thing but if you want the talks will reach a conclusion I must say that the President in my country is not exact position for the final decision about foreign policy and you should go to the right person.He said “you mean’s Supreme leader?”I said “Yes you know well…”!!!!

 

After the general political discussion with him i came out of the bank and i was thinking about that. It was interesting that Iran’s issue is the case for so many American citizens .

 

I remember just a few years ago that when i was saying to people “I am an Iranian”. They were saying “Oh you are from Iraq”!!! okay so it is a positive point that apparently the result of Ahmadinezhad speeches and American media attention to him that at least more people knows Iran as country now!!

Position of Elected Institutions in Iran

Roozbeh Mirebrahimi -Roozonline-  2008.05.13

We read in the news that the head of the Expediency Council, Ali Akbar Hashemi ‎Rafsanjani, said in a speech that “moving forward, the Expediency Council will ‎implement more supervision on the administration’s policies.” ‎

The economically-oriented “Sarmaye” newspaper quoted Rafsanjani on Tuesday, “In ‎implementing Article 44 of the Constitution and the 20-year development plan, a great ‎deal of emphasis has been placed on human capital and expert management, the meaning ‎of which is that the era of trial and error has ended and we must be professional and move ‎according to plans.” ‎

Like always, Ahmadinejad’s opponents, including many reformists, welcomes the news ‎and, most likely, were overcome with joy because, “after all, this administration must be ‎controlled somehow.” ‎

The main point, however, is whether such welcomes are based on consistent analytical ‎foundations, meaning that, because Rafsanjani is now opposed to the administration, this ‎development is acceptable; or vice versa, because we are opposed to Ahmadinejad, we ‎must accept with open arms anything that curtails him. ‎

First of all, I believe that reformists who welcomed the Expediency Council’s supervision ‎have forgotten how loudly they screamed that unelected institutions are curtailing the ‎power of elected institution when similar developments were about to take place during ‎the previous administration’s reign. It does not matter who heads these institutions. ‎What is important is that we should not welcome any development that weakens semi-‎democratic institutions. Rather, we should continually empower such institutions against ‎unelected institutions. ‎

There is much criticism to be made about the undemocratic essence of institutions like ‎the presidency and the Majlis in the Islamic Republic system. Nevertheless, one should ‎never welcome the weakening of elected positions, such as presidency, by unelected ‎institutions headed by the supreme leader. ‎

photos and New year

I was not here(My English blog) for a long time.

Laura Secor and i hade panel about Iran at CUNY G.School of Journalist yesterday.

I think it was good.

We were in Iranian new year which named Norows.

On last Sunday we went to the Iranian day parade in New York City.It was great.

You can see my photo of this progeram here and here.

A Big Liar!

I,m so sorry. he is really a big liar.

Do you think it is dream?

By Roozbeh Mirebrahimi

In New York City everybody is focusing on Mahmud Ahmadinejad travel to NY next week. They don’t have good feelings about him and I heard much about Ahmadinejad  from people here.

They are angry at Ahmadinejad. Here you can find many people always remembering 9/11. I’m sure that place (ground zero) is very important for American people and specially for  New Yorkers.

When I came to New York, on the first day I went there and visited “ground zero”. It was a very sad scene.

When you are visiting there, you understand why the American people became sad after 9/11.

I’m thinking about that time in this city. And also I’m thinking about all victims in the world.

Why somebody should kill other humans for any reason?

When will the world always opt for peace?

Do you think it is a dream?

But I know this man cannot understand what “ground zero” for American is. Maybe he should visit many place like this place in Iran, specially “Khavaran”. The place where many executed Iranian political prisoner are buried.

 

Did Ransanjani go to black list?

Today I heard and read news from Iran that it was very interest for me.

I read the ministry of Iranian government which is named “Ershad” banned Hashemi Rafsanjani’s memorial book by issue an order.After a few hours an official of this ministry denial this order but he said one organization which publisher for the Khomeini’s books and lectures should allow after that Rafsanjani’s memorial can publish.

This is so strange during the Islamic revolution period.But when Rafsanjani was Iranian president his government banned many books in iran.and his second “Ershad” minister was radical Muslim who was senior membership of a radical Islamic group (Moutalefeh islamy).

I think the Rafsanjani has never thought one time in Islamic Republic banned his book!