IranComparing human rights, education and infrastructure in Afghanistan and Iran
Jerica Arents and Mary Dean are with Voices for Creative Non-violence. Jerica recently spent time in Afghanistan and Mary was in Iran. And they’re here to tell us about what they saw and to compare notes between the two countries on issues like health and education, human rights, and infrastructure. We’re Better Than ThisBitta Mostofi I refuse to be an apologist for any government’s moral bankruptcy—including my own. As a lawyer, I speak out for immigrant rights and attacks on civil liberties and I do not believe that we have any chance at a real and lasting dialogue if we see our struggle through the prism of any state. We need to find a better way to speak truth to power, whether that power is here at home or just in town for the week. Death to No One: 30 Years after the Iran Hostage CrisisNovember 4, 2009 Today marks the 30th year since the 444 day Iran Hostage Crisis began in 1979. On this day the media traditionally offers us images of Iranians burning American flags and effigies of Uncle Sam. We are reminded of the great chasm of mistrust and misunderstanding that has marked the last three decades of US-Iranian relations. But, in the past year both Americans and Iranians have asked for something new. Americans have elected a president that promises to pursue diplomacy and Iranians have given birth to a popular democratic movement. So, we should not use this 30th anniversary of the hostage crisis to simply re-live tragedy and tension. Rather, today Americans have an opportunity to honestly reflect on our relationship with Iran and think about how to move forward. Time for Solidarity With Iranby Bitta Mostofi and Bill Quigley June 25, 2009 In Isfahan, Iran, an 80-year-old woman stood defiantly in her doorway. Twenty baton-wielding Basij men arrived on motorcycles and threatened to enter her house in pursuit of a group of young demonstrators. Instead of running with fear or turning her back on the demonstrators, this woman looked the pursuers straight in the eye and said, “You will not get past me.” The Iranian Uprising is Home Grown, and Must Stay That Wayby Stephen Zunes The growing nonviolent insurrection in Iran against the efforts by the ruling clerics to return the ultra-conservative and increasingly autocratic incumbent president Mahmoud Ahmadinjead to power is growing. Whatever the outcome, it represents an exciting and massive outpouring of Iranian civil society for a more open and pluralistic society. Ironically, defenders of Ahmadinejad’s repression are trying to blame everyone from the U.S. government, to nonviolent theorist Gene Sharp, to various small NGOs engaged in educational efforts on strategic nonviolent action as somehow being responsible for the popular uprising in Iran. It appears to be based upon the rather bizarre assumption that millions of Iranians would somehow be willing to pour out onto the streets in the face of violent repression by state security forces only because they have been directed to do so by people from an imperialist power which overthrew their last democratic government and subsequently propped up the tyrannical regime they installed in its place for the next quarter century. Visiting IranMay 1, 2007 The Islamic Republic of Iran is really, really, really and again really very different from what you hear in the West. A few weeks ago (February 28 to March 13) I had the rare opportunity of visiting Iran. I say “rare” because few US activists - and few policymakers - know that controversial and fascinating nation firsthand. Despite being urged to do so by key Republicans, Mr. Bush refuses even diplomatic relations with Iran. Not Iran: Big Lies and Double StandardsBush and Company deny that their interest in Iran, like that in Iraq, is all about its vast oil reserves. No, they would have us believe they might attack Iran because that nation is part of the “axis of evil” — because Iran is a “terrorist state” and a “nuclear threat.” Such constantly repeated accusations are part of a grotesque double standard, and an exercise in the Big Lie. Who is really on any axis of evil? Iraq/Iran Interview with Milan RaiMarch 9, 2007 By Milan Rai Exclusively to ukwatch.net an interview with Milan Rai, activist and author on the continuing disaster in Iraq and the likelihood of an anglo/american assault on Iran. IED LIES by Milan RaiA Justice Not Vengeance Note The US claims that Iran supplies Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDS) to Iraqi insurgents.
No serious evidence has been provided. 12 February 2007 SUMMARY On Sunday 11 February, anonymous US officials presented roadside bombs, and components and fragments of bombs, and other weapons used by Iraqi insurgents, claiming that they had been manufactured in Iran and smuggled into Iraq on the orders of the highest levels of the Iranian Government. The language used by US d Secretary Robert Gates, and by the briefers themselves, however, was tentative rather than conclusive. Dramatic ‘evidence’ that had been promised failed to materialize. Claims that the serial numbers and quality of machining of weapons and components could only have originated in Iran were not substantiated with any detail. No evidence was produced that the weapons and components had come via government channels rather than through criminal markets or informal and irregular contacts with Iranian military units. The Iraqi party and militia closest to Iran has actually been recognized for its support for the US occupation. One previous claims as to the Iranian provenance of insurgent technology actually traces back to the IRA, who apparently acquired the bomb-triggering capability with the knowledge and facilitation of the British Government. Curiously, none of the British national ‘quality’ dailies reports the admission of one of the US briefers that there was ‘no “smoking gun” linking Tehran and Iraqi militants’. Nine Windows on IranJanuary 24, 2007 Will the US attack Iran? The question is obscene. But when the U.S. government is so bellicose and when its target sits on one of the world’s larger oil reserves, we need to prepare ourselves for the unthinkable. One way to do that is to be much better informed. Bush, Inc. may know its weapon systems. But it seems oblivious to the history, culture and people of Iran (formerly Persia). It’s oblivious to the human factors that will likely upset its grandiose schemes. Aware of my own vast ignorance, I’ve been reading up on Iran. In the following I want to mention some books that other Voices folks might also find fascinating. Each provides a unique window on Iran.  |
