The War of the Ayatollahs – Tehran Bureau

image By HANA H. in Tehran | 25 June 2009

A very interesting update and perspective on the struggle between opposing ayatollahs over the current  ongoing protests:

[TEHRAN BUREAU] “The fact that there is a war going on between “two senior revolutionary clerics” is not a big secret. The cat was out of the bag when right after one of the election debates one of the two bunched up his robes and headed to Qom to lobby the ayatollahs there.While no one really knows what happened in Qom, there has been speculation that cleric #2 has tried to unseat cleric #1 and for this, he desperately needs the support of the god squad.Rumor has it that #2 has approached one of the top sources of emulation in the Shia world to allegedly garner support for his cause, which does not seem all that clear as he has not officially taken a stance on it.One privilege of being in the same profession is that one usually knows all there is to know about others moving in the same circles and when at war, this information can be used as leverage as this is what appeared to have happened last Friday.Cleric #1 addressed the nation, issued threats and offered incentives. Mysteriously hinted at the things he knew and would tell all if things did not quiet down. Dangled the good old carrot and brought down the stick. His words however appear to have fallen on deaf ears.This Friday cleric #2, who has so far kept silent in appearance and not flinched even after his family members were arrested to perhaps get a reaction out of him, was the person who was supposed to take the pulpit…”more

Jailed Iran reformists ‘tortured to confess foreign plot’:guardian.co.uk

Yet more distressing news from Iran as the repression tightens and the regime’s torturers get busy on the imprisoned protesters. One day these perpetrators of torture will be brought to justice just as the former Shah’s torturers were dealt with.

Robert Tait in THE GUARDIAN: “Jailed Iranian reformists are believed to have been tortured in an attempt to force them into TV “confessions” of a foreign-led plot against the Islamic regime.

According to Iranian websites, the “confessions” are aimed at implicating Mir Hossein Mousavi and Mehdi Karroubi, the defeated reformist candidates in this month’s presidential poll, in an alleged conspiracy.

Mostafa Tajzadeh, Abdollah Ramezanzadeh and Mohsen Aminzadeh, all Mousavi supporters, are reported to have undergone “intensive interrogation” sessions in Tehran’s notorious Evin prison since being arrested in a mass round-up of opposition figures following Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s disputed re-election.

The three, who all served in the government of the former reformist president, Mohammad Khatami, are among several hundred activists, academics, journalists and students detained in a crackdown coinciding with the brutal suppression of street protesters who believe the election was stolen.

Fellow prisoners are reported to have heard screams of pain from Tajzadeh, a former deputy interior minister, and Ramezanzadeh, who was Khatami’s government spokesman, during interrogations at Evin’s section 209, which is reserved for political prisoners and run by the hardline intelligence ministry…”more

Jailed Iran reformists ‘tortured to confess foreign plot’ World newsguardian.co.uk.

Iranian cleric: ‘Rioters’ should be executed – Iran- msnbc.com

Image by Getty Images via Daylife

The news from Iran gets grimmer, as a cleric has called for the execution of protesters, the theocracy reaches new levels of barbarity. This evil regime must come to an end, the democratic countries cannot have diplomatic relations with such a tyrannical regime!

MSNBC NEWS TEHRAN – “Editor’s note: Iranian authorities have barred journalists for international news organizations from reporting on the streets and ordered them to stay in their offices. This report is based on the accounts of witnesses reached in Iran and official statements carried on Iranian media.

A hardline Iranian cleric on Friday called for the execution of “rioters,” in a sign of the authorities’ determination to stamp out opposition to the June 12 presidential election result.

Iran’s top legislative body, the Guardian Council, said it had found no major violations in the election, which it called the “healthiest” vote since the 1979 Islamic Revolution…”

…Ayatollah Ahmed Khatami, a senior cleric, said in a Friday prayer sermon that the government should punish “leaders of protests, who were supported by the United States and Israel, strongly and with cruelty so it will be a lesson for everyone….”
more

via Iranian cleric: ‘Rioters’ should be executed – Iran- msnbc.com.

Brian Coleman AM (GLA) runs up another giant taxi bill

Image via Wikipedia

Tory Greater London Assembly member for Barnet and Camden, Brian Coleman, apparently likes taxis to the extent that he apparently enjoys sending, it is alleged, a large expense bill to a cash strapped London Fire Brigade.

Dave Hill in THE GUARDIAN: “The chairman of the London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority, Tory Councillor Brian Coleman, claimed nearly £400 from brigade funds to make a taxi journey across town to attend a glittering banquet hosted by the Lord Mayor. The revelation – which will outrage firefighters and taxpayers alike – comes as brigade managers seek to make savings across the board, claiming the organisation is entering a period of severe financial austerity…”

via Brian Coleman AM runs up another giant taxi bill: UK news: guardian.co.uk
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MPs ’snub’ Ahmadinejad poll party

It appears that Ahmadinejad, the brutal ruler of Iran, we can call him that due to the fixed election results, must have been disappointed that not all Iranian MPs attended his party.

The regime has nothing in common with islam, it is a regime of gangsters and it is rotting in corruption.

BBC NEWS: “More than 180 Iranian MPs appear to have snubbed an invitation to celebrate President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s election win, local press reports say.
All 290 MPs were invited to the victory party on Wednesday night, but only 105 turned up, the reports say.
A BBC correspondent says the move is a sign of the deep split at the top of Iran after disputed presidential polls…”more

BBC NEWS | World | Middle East | MPs ’snub’ Ahmadinejad poll party.

Gilad Shalit – Free Him Now

Gilad Shalit

ADL: “An Israeli soldier is being held hostage by the terrorist organization Hamas since his capture in the summer of 2006. The continued captivity of this young man with little word as to his fate is unacceptable and a clear violation of international protocol. Cpt. Gilad Shalit, 21, was kidnapped on June 25, 2006 during a cross-border attack by the Palestinian terrorist group Hamas on a military installation near Kibbutz Kerem Shalom in southern Israel.  Two soldiers were killed and three wounded during the raid.  Shalit is still being held by Hamas at an undisclosed location in the Gaza Strip. On July 16, 2008, the bodies of Ehud Goldwasser and Eldad Regev, the two Israeli soldiers kidnapped by Hezbollah from Israeli soil on July 12, 2006, were returned to Israel as part of a prisoner exchange.  Their kidnapping sparked the 2006 Lebanon War.  Over the two years the soldiers were held captive, Hezbollah never provided information as to the soldiers condition or fate.  The return of their bodies was the first acknowledgement by Hezbollah that the soldiers were dead.

The international community must do all it can to free Gilad Shalit now

Iran: doctor tells of Neda’s death

Neda Soltan’s family apparently has been evicted from their home The terror regime in Iran known for cruelty, having already denied a funeral for their beloved daughter.

The Iranian Theocracy has little to do with islam but more to do with gangsterism and corruption.

The video below features Dr. Arash Herjazi who tried hard to save Neda’s life. His is a very moving story and having told it now cannot return to Iran. I have also included another video tribute of the tragic and very sad death of Neda.

BBC NEWS: “The doctor who tried to save an Iranian protester as she bled to death on a street in Tehran has told the BBC of her final moments.

Dr Arash Hejazi, who is studying at a university in the south of England, said he ran to Neda Agha-Soltan’s aid after seeing she had been shot in the chest.

Despite his attempts to stop the bleeding she died in less than a minute, he said.
Video of Ms Soltan’s death was posted on the internet and images of her have become a rallying point for Iranian opposition supporters around the world…”more

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The sad and tragic video tribute of Neda’s last moments.

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Michael Jackson 1958 – 2009

Michael Jackson controversial always, had an anti-Semitic streak, foolish, weird, naive, energetic and pioneering in the world of pop music, no doubt popular has died. I was not a fan, I generally have a dismal view of what passes for western pulp, pop music but I recognize his achievements and the work he did for the less fortunate. Perhaps well meaning except for his anti-Semitism, he also strangely wanted to deny his African heritage by paying a fortune to change his skin complexion, he generated a fortune and knew how to lose it, others knew how to grab it. Below is a tribute from the Sony CEO, Sir Howard Stringer:

Sony Chairman & CEO Commenting on his passing, Sir Howard Stringer, Chairman, CEO and President, Sony Corporation, said: “Michael Jackson was a brilliant troubadour for his generation, a genius whose music reflected the passion and creativity of an era. His artistry and magnetism changed the music landscape forever. We have been profoundly affected by his originality, creativity and amazing body of work. The entire Sony family extends our deepest condolences to his family and to the millions of fans around the world who loved him.”
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