Iranian Alert -- DAY 40 -- LIVE THREAD PING LIST

The Iranian Student Movement Up To The Minute Reports ^ | 7.19.2003 | DoctorZin

[DoctorZIn]

The regime is working hard to keep the news about the protest movment in Iran from being reported.

From jamming satellite broadcasts, to prohibiting news reporters from covering any demonstrations to shutting down all cell phones and even hiring foreign security to control the population, the regime is doing everything in its power to keep the popular movement from expressing its demand for an end of the regime.

These efforts by the regime, while successful in the short term, do not resolve the fundamental reasons why this regime is crumbling from within.

Iran is a country ready for a regime change. If you follow this thread you will witness, I believe, the transformation of a nation. This daily thread provides a central place where those interested in the events in Iran can find the best news and commentary.

Please continue to join us here, post your news stories and comments to this thread.

Thanks for all the help.

DoctorZin

[dixiechick2000]

Oops! I see you posted the link.

I should have read the thread! Sorry!;o)

[F14 Pilot]

It is Okay.
Please send this to every one you know.

Thank you

[DoctorZIn]

Executions increase in Iran

SMCCDI (Information Service)
Jul 19, 2003

The Islamic republic regime has increased the executions of Iranians involved in activities against the "Islamic State". This policy of terror and fear has taken four more lives based on a report published by the official "Iran" daily.

The names of these four new victims have not been revealed but the way the report has been edited along with confirmed reports, about the decision of the regime to destroy any opposition will among Iranians, let beleive that most of these four executed individuals were among those who prefered to stand against the Islamic system.

The Islamic regime kills its unknown opponents under false labels, such as Murder, Spying, Armed Roberry, Drug Trafficking, Rape and other labels which help its European and Japanese collaborators to justify, for their public opinions, the continuation of their business relations with the clerical leadership.

http://www.daneshjoo.org/generalnews/article/publish/article_1244.shtml

"If you want on or off this Iran ping list, Freepmail me”

[Grampa Dave]

I wonder how much of the Yellow Cake Scam was financed by the murdering mullahs of Iran to distract attention from Iran during this critical time?

While the mediots in the States and around the World were trying to Electronically Lynch President Bush, the attention of the world was focus on the Yellow Cake Scam. This allowed the Murdering Mullahs in charge of Iran to get by with more murders.

[DoctorZIn]

Bush Slams Iran

July 18, 2003
AFP
Yahoo News

DALLAS, Texas -- President George W. Bush hit out six regimes on a US blacklist he said were guilty of oppression and human rights abuses in Myanmar and Iran, Cuba, North Korea, Zimbabwe and Belarus.

In a proclamation issued to mark "captive nations week" first observed in 1959 as a statement against communism, Bush hit out at a familiar gallery of US foes.

"Millions of people still live under regimes that violate their citizens' rights daily," Bush said in a statement issued as he made a day-trip to Dallas from his Texas ranch.

"In countries such as Burma and Iran, citizens lack the right to choose their government, speak out against oppression, and practice their religion freely," Bush said.

"The despot who rules Cuba imprisons political opponents and crushes peaceful opposition," he said, in barbed remarks aimed at Fidel Castro.

There were also harsh words for North Korea, with which Washington has been locked in a nuclear showdown since October.

"Hundreds of thousands languish in prison camps and citizens suffer from malnutrition as the regime pursues weapons of mass destruction," Bush said.

"Violence, corruption, and mismanagement reign in Zimbabwe and an authoritarian government in Belarus smothers political dissent."

But Bush lauded his ouster of the "brutal regime of Saddam Hussein in Iraq," during a US-led war earlier this year.

"The Iraqi people are no longer captives in their own country," Bush said.

"Their freedom is evidence of the fall of one of the most oppressive dictators in history," he said, claiming that Iraqis were now meeting "openly and freely" to discuss the future of their country.

http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story2&cid=1521&u=/afp/20030718/pl_afp/us_bush_dictators_030718232441&printer=1

[Peach]

This is bad news indeed. A bump for freedom and bravery.

[DoctorZIn]

Five more Iranians to be hanged

World News
Jul 19, 2003

TEHRAN - Five Iranian men sentenced to death for murder are to be hanged Saturday and Sunday in the central city of Isfahan, the Javan newspaper reported Saturday.

The men, only identified by their first names and aged between 26 and 34, were all convicted of murder and armed robbery, a local judge was quoted as saying.

Islamic Iran also imposes the death penalty for rape, blasphemy and serious drug trafficking.

http://www.daneshjoo.org/generalnews/article/publish/article_1240.shtml

[dixiechick2000]

"Executions increase in Iran"

"Five more Iranians to be hanged"

"The Islamic regime kills its unknown opponents under false labels, such as Murder, Spying, Armed Roberry, Drug Trafficking, Rape and other labels which help its European and Japanese collaborators to justify, for their public opinions, the continuation of their business relations with the clerical leadership."

Boy, the mullahs are just begging for it!

" President George W. Bush hit out six regimes on a US blacklist he said were guilty of oppression and human rights abuses in Myanmar and Iran, Cuba, North Korea, Zimbabwe and Belarus."

Excellent posts this morning, Dr.ZIn. Thank you very much.

[dixiechick2000]

"Please send this to every one you know."

I will do so. Thank you!

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Excellent point!

[DoctorZIn]

The Iranian-Canadians in Toronto are using an interesting method of creating public awareness of which properties in the Toronto area are owned by such Iranian mullahs as the notorious Rafsanjani.

I met last night a leader of the Iranian community from Toronto. He said they organize groups of seventy or more cars, drive to one of these properties and slowly drive around the perimeter of the property, displaying the old Iranian flag, honking, and using loudspeakers let the public know that the property they are encircling is owned by the mullahs of the oppressive Iranian regime and asking people cease doing business with the hotel or whatever enterprise they are exposing.

These same mullahs own expensive properties here in the US even in conservative Orange County, California. Perhaps we need to organize similar activities here.

[nuconvert]

This is terrible.

[nuconvert]

How would we find out which businesses are owned by the regime or mullahs? Does anyone have a list of major businesses in larger cities across the country?

[DoctorZIn]

I will work on it, but if anyone has such a list, please post it here.

[McGavin999]

That's exactly what needs to be done. This morning I watched a documentary on the 1979 revolution and the hostage taking. It was sad to watch them and even sadder to watch the US led by Carter (such a weak man) who sealed their fate. They were talking about the brutality of the Shah, but didn't realize that the worst day of the Shah would be a mere warm up to the mullahs who took his place.

If the people of Iran want their freedom, if they want democracy, they must do it while Bush is still in office. Watching Carter made me sick.

[nuconvert]

"Watching Carter made me sick."

The feeling's mutual. Still makes me sick.

[Valin]

By 1996 it began taking government funds to cover welfare disbursements; soon it plans to spin off its social responsibilities altogether, leaving behind a purely commercial conglomerate owned by--whom? That is not clear.

How much Am I bet that he doesn't wear a robe and turban?

[nuconvert]

Message in Iran window on FOXNEWS site:
"FOXNEWS.com does not endorse content on external sites"

Do you think maybe they know we're posting their articles?
; )

[DoctorZIn]

Eating burgers beneath the veil

By Frances Harrison
BBC correspondent in Tehran

Some wear black from head-to-toe even in searing heat
When you talk about going to Iran people have images of hanging out in leafy gardens and traditional tea houses or encountering crowds of angry men shouting "Death to America".

But I spent many of my evenings with my three-year-old child in burger joints like Mac Mashallas - an Iranian imitation of McDonald's - the fast-food icon of the "Great Satan".

American-style restaurants have rapidly spread throughout Tehran in the past year or two.

They are popular haunts for young people who now have access to western culture in a way that is unprecedented since the Islamic Revolution.

The ketchup may not be Heinz and the Coca-Cola is certainly not the real thing but these are places where you can feel you might be anywhere in the world - almost.

That is if it was not for the neon sign saying respect Islamic moral values, the head-scarved waitresses and the portraits of Iran's spiritual leaders that seem strangely out of place in the world of Happy Meals and Ronald McDonald.

Cutting edge

The differences are shrinking in a country that once talked about building a Chinese-style wall around itself to protect its values from outside corruption.

Disney has penetrated this market like every other - at amusement arcades they sell Mr Potato Head and Buzz Lightyear from the Toy Story films.

[Teenage girls wear] short white trousers to mid-calf with no socks, pointy, fashion-victim, high-heeled shoes and skin-tight overcoats that only reach to the knees

While children play on flight simulator video games which say US State Department, I wonder who they think the enemy is being bombed out of existence on the screen.

It is only the mothers who look a bit like something from another planet - some in diaphanous headscarves and chic coats - others shrouded in seemingly endless layers of black clothing despite the searing summer heat.

But the teenage girls in outdoor cafes and fast food restaurants are pushing the boundaries like never before.

Short white trousers to mid-calf with no socks, pointy, fashion-victim, high-heeled shoes and skin-tight overcoats that only reach to the knees.

That is with long dyed blonde hair that is only nominally covered with a half see-through white or pink headscarf.

The effect is fairly electric - especially when combined with huge quantities of make-up. It certainly has nothing to do with being modest and demure and everything to do with being a rebel.

These girls are among 45 million people who are today under the age of 30 - the massive force responsible for the winds of change currently blowing over Iran - a country of 65 million.

And it is these young Iranians who have been taking to the streets recently to protest against what they see as the lack of freedom.

Open to outside influences, they now have a taste of what they are missing and they are hungry for more.

Pushing for change

The frustration is huge - one young mother told me she was thinking of taking her two children out to anti-government protests and just leaving a note for her husband to find when he came back from work.

He had warned her not to go - asking who would look after the kids if something happened to her. She was propelled not by recklessness but by a desire for a better future for her daughters.

For the slightly older generation in their 30s who remember the pre-reform years, there is an attitude of awe and envy.


There were a string of anti-government protests in June
They talk about having had to go to weddings in ankle-length black cloaks with no make-up or nail polish in case they were stopped at a checkpoint and scrutinised.

One woman who grew up during the first years of the revolution described going to England and not knowing who the Hollywood star Richard Gere was - to the shock and horror of her new friends.

Those were the days of isolation - now satellite television, smuggled videos and the internet mean that young Iranians can watch the latest films and keep up with western fashions.

In a country where - if you are a woman - you have to cover even your ankles to enter a government office, you can still watch Fashion TV or sex channels among many hundreds of stations you can receive if you have an illegal satellite dish - something that is now common.

Explaining the paradox

There are so many contradictions that make life in Iran difficult to explain - especially to a three-year-old whose favourite word is why.

"Mummy, you look ugilee," said my son when I wore the obligatory headscarf and overcoat.

But being at a phase where he mimics everything I do he of course wanted to wear a headscarf too and be equally "ugilee".

There were tears if he did not have a cloth tied on his head too when we went out.

He attracted such extraordinary looks of either amusement or horror being a boy wearing a scarf that I finally coaxed him into removing it on the grounds that he would seriously offend people.

"Why?" was a question I found hard to answer in simple terms - not wishing to introduce ideas about men lusting after women's ankles to my toddler.

I just said it was the rule and then my child complained Iran had too many rules.

I could not help but wonder if he had accidentally strayed into the realm of political comment.

Young Iranians are now trying to change the rules, and the question is whether the system will bend to accommodate them.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/from_our_own_correspondent/3077935.stm

[dixiechick2000]

I'm not taking THAT bet.;o)