Mahmoud Ahmadinejad

Raheem

Answer to a Question

Question: After two weeks of protests and demonstrations in Iran, is it envisaged that these protests would continue? What is the purpose of these persistent protests now that Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has been elected for a second term? Is a coup against the systems of the mullahs and Wilayat al-Faqih expected in Iran, thus stripping the spiritual guide of his religious authorities? In other words, is Iran about to undergo radical changes?

Answer:

Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has defended his June re-election as the world's "most free" despite ongoing opposition claims that it was rigged.

In a televised address, Mr Ahmadinejad blamed foreign powers for trying to sabotage the vote.

He said "significant" changes would be made to his government, in the fields of employment, housing and culture.

Earlier, opposition leaders criticised the heavy security response to mass protests after the disputed election.

Runner-up Mir Hossein Mousavi's website published what it said was a joint statement backed by fellow defeated candidate Mehdi Karoubi and former President Mohammad Khatami, calling for the release of people detained during the post-election protests.

IRAN UNREST

From yesterdays GDN paper...

" TEHRAN:
A hardline Iranian cleric called yesterday for the execution of leading "rioters" to teach a lesson to the tens of thousands who have protested against the result of the presidential election two weeks ago.

"I want the judiciary to ... punish leading rioters firmly and without showing any mercy to teach everyone a lesson," Ayatollah Ahmad Khatami, a member of the Assembly of Experts, told worshippers at Tehran University.

Iran's top legislative body, the Guardian Council, said it had found no major violations in the election, which it described as the "healthiest" since the 1979 Islamic Revolution, but said 10 per cent of ballot boxes would be recounted.

The rise of Hate 2.0

By Daniel Emery
Technology reporter, BBC News

The number of hate and terrorist websites has increased by a third in the past year, according to the Simon Wiesenthal Center.

The Los Angeles-based Jewish human rights organisation put the figure at more than 8,000 in its 2008 report Hate 2.0. It said the presence of such sites "demeans and threatens African Americans, Jews, immigrants, gays and virtually every religious denomination".

And the number of so-called hate sites is growing fast, while the use of social networks to push controversial messages is also on the rise.

Excerpts:

"WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. State Department said on Tuesday it had contacted the social networking service Twitter to urge it to delay a planned upgrade that would have cut daytime service to Iranians who are disputing their election."

"The State Department declined to give immediate details of the contact with Twitter, which has been used particularly by young urban Iranians who are disputing President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's re-election last Friday."

"State Department spokesman Ian Kelly strongly rejected that contacts to Twitter amounted to meddling in Iranian internal affairs."

Full article at:
http://www.reuters.c...
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Personally, I want to know, what people think about the both candidates of Iran Election 2009????

Please consider yourself as an Iranian just for a short while (if you're not, like me), and cast your vote, by selecting one of the following options.

1 - Mahmoud Ahmadinejad
2 - Mir-Hossein Mousavi
3 - Other Candidate (Plz mention)
4 - No Vote; don’t know about Iran & their Politics

You can get more information by browsing the following link.

http://en.wikipedia....

I hope for your interest and feedback, your warm comments and arguments are expected.....

Thanks in advance…….

According to Press TV:

At least 13 people were killed and 20 wounded in post-election violence in the Iranian capital Tehran on Saturday, officials have said.

The casualties occurred after some 'terrorist elements' infiltrated the rallies. The armed terrorists set fire on a mosque and two gas stations and attacked a military post.

Despite a ban put by the Interior Ministry for any gatherings and warnings by Iranian police, protesters staged another rally in Tehran to protest to the June 12 election results, in which incumbent Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was re-elected by almost two-thirds of votes.

The Pirate Bay helps Iran critics dodge censorship

By LOUISE NORDSTROM, Associated Press Writer Louise Nordstrom, Associated Press Writer – 1 hr 58 mins ago

STOCKHOLM – Popular file-sharing site The Pirate Bay said Wednesday it has helped launch an Internet network in support of Iranian election critics allowing users to dodge the regime's censorship rules by surfing anonymously.

The Pirate Bay, whose operators were convicted in April of helping others commit copyright violations, temporarily changed its logo to "The Persian Bay" early Wednesday with a link to a protest forum.

Arabs largely silent on Iran election and unrest

By HADEEL AL-SHALCHI, Associated Press Writer Hadeel Al-shalchi, Associated Press Writer – 2 hrs 35 mins ago

excerpt:

Jordanian political analyst Labib Kamhawi said Arabs want "somebody else to fight their battles on their behalf."

CAIRO – Key Arab nations have kept silent about Iran's political upheaval, possibly reluctant to antagonize the powerful nation that sponsors such militant groups as Hezbollah and Hamas.

But there are signs the young and reform-minded have been inspired by the mass protests that followed the disputed election.

"It makes me feel so jealous," said Abdelmonem Ibrahim, a young pro-reform Brotherhood activist in Egypt.

While the hearing is still not open to the public, Ms Saberi's appeal is being heard before a panel of three judges, and representatives of the Iranian Bar Association are being allowed to attend.

Her lawyer has also been given plenty of notice.

Mr Khorramshahi said he had submitted 15 pages of documents in support of the appeal for Roxana Saberi .

"I am optimistic she will be acquitted," he said.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has urged the court to give Ms Saberi her full legal rights.

Details of the evidence against her have still not been made public, but some legal officials have said they hope the appeal court will reconsider Ms Saberi's eight-year sentence, which even for the crime of spying is considered very severe.