Monday, July 31, 2006

I just received the news of Akbar Mohammadi's death in prison. I can't stop crying. My condolences to his family and the grieving nation.

Saturday, July 29, 2006


Student Committee of Human Right Reporters: Ahmad Batebi has been arrested. He was beaten savagely and taken to an unknown location.

کمیته دانشجویی گزارشگران حقوق بشر:احمد باطبی متهم کوی دانشگاه تهران، که از حدود 1 سال پیش با گذراندن نیمی از دوران حبس 15 ساله ی خود به مرخصی آمده بود، ساعتی پیش در منزلش در تهران بازداشت و به مکان نامعلومی منتقل شد.

مامورین اطلاعاتی با یورش به منزل احمد باطبی ضمن ضرب و شتم شدید وی و تفتیش منزل، او را بازداشت کرده وکلیه لوازم و مدارک شخصی او را نیز با خود بردند. مشخص نیست افراد مزبور متعلق به کدام یک از نهادهای امنیتی بوده اند.

Friday, July 28, 2006

اسرار ازل را نه تو دانی و نه من
وین حرف معما نه تو دانی و نه من
هست از پس پرده گفتگوی من و تو
چون پرده برافتد نه تو مانی و نه من
Iqbal Latif: "In every Middle Eastern war the so-called triumph is achieved through tremendous loss of life with a ratio of 1 to 1000 against the Arabs and 1 to 1 billion in terms of economic losses, what kind of success is this, what breed of loser mentality is this? Lets not spill innocent blood in Palestine and Lebanon in name of Jihad! Enough is enough; this lunacy has to stop somewhere."

Thursday, July 27, 2006


The little girl: Maani Sheema I have a surprise for you.
Sheema: Let me see.
The little girl: here.
Sheema: Kiss. Kiss. I love you. What a wonderful surprise.
The little girl: It's a drawing of you. I love you.
Sheema is engaged in Chellondan (squeezing and hugging Iranian style... if you aren't Iranian... don't mind the word.)
The Radical Imam's flight from Beirut To Denmark!



Gatewaypundit: "The Danish Embassy that was burned down during the cartoon riots saves the lying Imam who was behind the Danish Embassy burning!"

Monday, July 24, 2006


The International Committee against Stoning announces Six Women are in the verge of stoning in Iran. As a member of the Committee against Stoning I condemn the act as well as the Iranian regime for its crimes against humanity.

کمیته بین المللی علیه سنگسار، از سنگسار قریب الوقوع پنج زن در شهرهای اهواز، شیراز و تهران خبر داده است. بنابر اطلاعیه این کمیته، حکومت قصد دارد این احکام را در خفا اجرا کند. همچنین حکم سنگسار یک زن به نام ملکه قربانی نیز قرار است به زودی اجرا شود. به عنوان یکی از اعضای پشتیبان این کمیته به حکم سنگسار این زنان اعتراض می کنم.
Sam Kinison: "I don't worry about terrorism. I was married for two years."
I don't see why the Iranian regime needs to go to such extremes when they can recruit for their hate army here in the U.S. or in Europe. After all there are so many Hezbollah sympathizers and Iranian regime supporters who have chosen to be members of “hate Israel, love Arab regimes, regardless of the reason" camp.

Suicide armies launched

Nick Parker: "Teams of Iranian suicide bombers were heading for Lebanon’s war zone last night in a terrifying bid to spark meltdown in the Middle East. Twenty-seven martyrdom-seekers have been sent to Syria on their way to front line positions. The mad fanatics, belonging to the Iranian Martyrs of Islam World Movement, have been training for months to wreak maximum havoc on military and soft civilian targets. Their aim is to spark terror which will detonate all-out war and suck Western nations into a final bloody showdown."

اولين گروه از استشهادیون چهارشنبه عازم لبنان می شوند

به گزارش خبرگزاری حکومتی ایلنا، اولین گروه از استشهادیون تحت عنوان "دانشجویان عدالت خواه" روز چهارشنبه آینده رهسپار لبنان می شوند.

Sunday, July 23, 2006

Turkey will be doing Iran's dirty work?


رادیو فردا: نیروهای نظامی ترکیه با همکاری نیروهای مسلح جمهوری اسلامی در مناطقی در 12 کیلومتری عمق خاک ایران مستقر شده‌اند، از جمله در خوی، و قصد دارند از طریق خاک ایران پایگاه‌های پ ک ک در ارتفاع‌های مرز پیرانشهر در استان آذربایجان غربی با کردستان عراق را مورد حمله قرار دهند.

Saturday, July 22, 2006


شیما: دختر جون یک بوس بده به مانی.
دختر کوچولو: فقط می تونی اینجا رو ( اشاره به پیشانیش) بوس کنی مانی.
شیما: من می خوام لپت رو بوس کنم.
دختر کوچولو: نه مانی! بوس لپ بسته است.
شیما: ولی من بوس لپی می خوام.
دختر کوچولو: ولی بوس بابا اونوقت پاک می شه.
Violence in the name of Islam

Akbar Ganji: I am your living testimony to the fact that the plague of violence continues to infest minds and thoughts. It has sent rodents on a rampage in one corner of the globe today, only to dispatch them to another corner before long. We should be vigilant and look out for the hatching of this resilient plague. It recognizes no boundaries. One day, incarnated as Stalin, it ran over the vast territories of Russia, one day as Hitler it tormented the people of Germany, the Jews and other people of the world. One day as Mussolini it wreaked devastation on the beautiful landscape of Italy, and another day as Bin Laden it wrought havoc in the United States.

Thursday, July 20, 2006


چقدر یک فرد ایرانی می تواند فلاکت اخلاقی داشته باشد که چشمانش را به روی جنایات رژیم ایران در داخل و خارج ببندد و فقط و فقط دم از کشتار مردم در لبنان و فلسطین بزند.
Eli Lake: One of Saudi Arabia's leading Wahhabi sheiks, Abdullah bin Jabreen has issued a strongly worded religious edict, or fatwa, declaring it unlawful to support, join or pray for Hezbollah, the Shiite militias lobbing missiles into northern Israel.

The profound division between the most violent Muslim enemies of America and Israel may be one reason Arab capitals have not yet exploded in rage about Israel's bombardment of Lebanon.

Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood, however, has not rejected Hezbollah. In the last three days the organization has sent condemning the shelling of Lebanon in Egypt's parliament and pledged solidarity. One member who deals with the press yesterday said, "Of course we are supporting the resistance. We have no choice."
Iran against the Arabs

Michael Rubin: "An old Arab proverb goes, "Me against my brother; me and my brother against our cousin; and me, my brother and my cousin against the stranger." Forced to make a choice, Sunni Arabs are deciding: The Jews are cousins; the Shiites, strangers. U.S. diplomats may applaud the new pragmatism, but the reason behind it is nothing to celebrate."

Wednesday, July 19, 2006

The Opening Round of Iran's War Against the West

Dore Gold: "Defeating Iran's opening shot in this Middle Eastern war is not just Israel's interest, but the collective interest of the entire civilized world. Israel's strategy depends upon isolating the Hizballah insurgency in Lebanon from any reinforcement from Iran and its allies by air, land, or sea."
تندروهای اسلامی چیزی برای از دست دادن ندارند! دین، ایدولوژی و ملی گرایی برای این گروهها بازیچه هایی هستند تا موجودیت فلاکت بار خود را حفظ کنند
The Iranian regime is the main source for Global Terror and... I guess it goes back to Khomeini's famous slogan "America cannot do a damn thing"

ynetnews: "Both Syria and Iran thoroughly understand that the measure of Hizbullah's strength against Israel gives precedent to strategic changes in the whole region."
Regime Change Iran: Iran says Hezbollah won't disarm, but of course they don't control them.

Tuesday, July 18, 2006


Sheema: You know that you can't have sugar cubes. They are not good for your teeth.
The little girl: I don't eat those. I lick.
Fayrouz In Beaumont blogs: "An eye-for-eye system generates violence, which generates more violence. As always, the civilians from both sides are paying the highest price for this dialogue of the deaf."
Lets say... I am just observing Akbar Ganji... right now he seems to be riding Alavitabar's theory horse... from... some five years ago...

Monday, July 17, 2006


Khatami... who is portrayed by his fans and followers as a Peace loving man... enlightens us by saying... Hezbollah is a light that nurtures the life and lives of Muslims around the world with dignity... and he goes on saying... today Lebanon is the future of Freedom, Democracy, and Human Right!
(not exact translations)

رييس جمهور سابق كشورمان همچنين خطاب به دبيركل جنبش مقاومت اسلامي لبنان، «حزب الله» را خورشيد تاباني دانست كه جان همه مسلمانان و آزادگان مظلوم جهان،از جمله ملّت مظلوم، مقاوم و قهرمان فلسطين را روشني و گرما مي بخشد.او ابراز اطمينان كرد كه داستان امروز لبنان، نويد بخش پيروزي نهايي عدالت بر بيداد، آزادگي و رهايي بر سركوب و اشغال و حرمت انسان بر تحقير او است و آنچه مي ماند افتخار و سربلندي ملت مظلوم لبنان و پشتوانه عزّت اين ملت، حزب الله عزيز است
Youssef Ibrahim: "Yes, world, there is a silent Arab majority that believes that seventh-century Islam is not fit for 21st-century challenges. That women do not have to look like walking black tents. That men do not have to wear beards and robes, act like lunatics, and run around blowing themselves up in order to enjoy 72 virgins in paradise. And that secular laws, not Islamic Shariah, should rule our day-to-day lives. Nor do we believe that little men with head wraps and disheveled beards can run amok in Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Iran, and Iraq making decisions on our behalf, dragging us to war whenever they please, confiscating our rights to be adults, and flogging us for not praying five times a day or even for not believing in God. More important, we are not silent any longer."

Sunday, July 16, 2006

An Iranian friend: "I am tired of listening to the Arabs complaining about Israel. Lebanon has been occupied by Syria and Hezbollah for years and we hear no outcry from the Arab streets or governments. They seem to be able to see the crimes done by Jews to Arabs but are blind to see the crimes done by Arabs to Arabs or Muslims to Muslims."

Dr. V a Lebanese colleague of my husband whose wife and children live in Beirut: "Maybe this time we will be able to get rid of Hezbollah once and for all."

and In Iran, the supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, called Hezbollah "a genuine Islamic movement whose progress should become an example for the Muslim world."
Mark Styn: "Israel withdrew from Gaza and, instead of getting on with a prototypical Palestinian state, Hamas turned the territory into an Islamist camp. Israel withdrew from Lebanon entirely in 2000, yet Hezbollah is now lobbing rockets at Haifa. Why? Because in both cases these territories are now in effect Iran's land borders with the Zionist Entity. They're "occupied territories" but it's not the Jews doing the occupying. So you've got a choice between talking with proxies or going to the source: Tehran. And, as the unending talks with the EU have demonstrated, the ayatollahs use negotiations with the civilized world as comedy relief."

Saturday, July 15, 2006

Were these tourists or terrorists?

Judith Apter Klinghoffer: "According to Islamic Republic News Agency some 60,888 Iranian tourists visited Lebanon in the first half of 2006, said Lebanese Tourism Ministry's Research Center on Wednesday. In April alone, 20,986 Iranians visited Lebanon. I wonder if Iran has been thinking about this war for a long time and they have successfully exported "tourists" to Lebanon while the Lebanese government was just happy to have more "tourists" from Iran."

Friday, July 14, 2006


Welcome To Destination Lebanon

It is hot out here... the weather is tragic and so is the News. The spirits do not soar... the lips stiff from the thirst... and eyes whisk a flatten last breath. Wasted again by the shocking Hezbollah. Rocks bully, guns fire, and bombs engrave. Children fall and under the feet... shades flayed, and Mullahs trade... dollars. Leashed black eyes and a country... burns in blood. Refugee camps relocate and George Clooney*, in his latest Armani suit... flies. A country is in fashion! Again! Hollywood sparkles... plastic is in demand. Cutter, cries, not once, not twice. Caved sculpts, dull stories, prose poetry, feed them hotdogs! Where are the rotten sweets hidden? The ketchup? The falafel? ... The clock is ticking... immediately stomach... before the smell arrives... that of a burning bride! Why the young ages drop? HeaVy, heaVy... into my heart... Fists beat against the chests... mothers curse.

It never stops!


*Mar 13, 2006 George Clooney faulted Democrats for their timidity in the months before the start of the Iraq war.

Thursday, July 13, 2006


سه روزه داری منو تعقیب می کنی. توی خونه! توی خیابون! همه جا حتا توی حموم به این کوچیکی دنبال من می یای و وایمیسی و منو نیگا می کنی. چرا این بارونی قهوه ای رو پوشیدی؟ اون روسری پشمی رو چرا بستی؟ داریم از گرما می پزیم... حالا چرا حرف نمی زنی؟ چی می خوای بگی؟


چشمان بیدار
In my opinion Iran is behind every terrorist act. Ever since the Islamic revolution happened and the regime came to power, we hear Iran's name in the news. Khomeini, Khamenei, Rafsanjani, Khatami, Ahmadinejad, ... Iran became a state-sponsoring terrorism since the inception of the Islamic republic. Otherwise why does the regime have meetings with the Syrian President and Mugniyah?
Bill Roggio: "Mugniyah has extensive links with the Iranian intelligence services, and has been directly linked to al-Qaeda and Osama bin Laden, and recently deceased al-Qaeda in Iraq commander Abu Musab al-Zarqawi. Mugniyah is on FBI's list of 22 most wanted terrorists, with a $5 million dollar reward for information leading to his capture. U.S. Special Forces aborted a raid to capture Mugniyah in the Persian Gulf in 1996. He was believed to have visited Syria in January of 2006, attending a meeting with Iranian President Ahmadinejad and Syrian President Assad."
بیانیهزندانیان گوهردشت در حمایت از کیوان رفیعی: ما زندانیان محبوس در زندان رجایی شهر ضمن اعلام نگرانی نسبت به وضعیت آقای کیوان رفیعی خواستار آزادی فوری ایشان هستیم.


So mighty are the stories

So mighty are the stories: Distant... by the sea a ship knifes through... a woman under the moon dances by the wind... leap leap... sensing the songs...feeling it... the border star lines... flesh dribbled on the stones. Stony eyes, stony ears, stony head, stony mouth, haul layers of cities, a heiress, or kings, and queens... Mile in mile, bowls, trays, wolves with human bodies... Sucking bear out of breasts, frosting caramel camels... And lifting the masks, pallid underneath... tragic trails of practicing salt on injuries... Ink and print far and beyond the stone monuments. On those are singers whose voices picture beyond the mud... The bones, flesh, stones imprint. Head, ears, lips, eyes, nothing of the temper... Tongue, and everything else...

Wednesday, July 12, 2006


Mehraneh sent these today. Her latest is called inner anger.

این کارهای جدید مهرانه هست اگه اهل عکاسی هستید به سایتش سر بزنین.
Andre Gide: Better to be hated for what you are than to be loved for what you are not.
And here is Craig's latest comment: "What's stopping the IRI from paying the monetary damages, anyway? That's the easiest way to prevent these artifacts (and virtually any other IRI assets that can be seized) from being liquidated."

Tuesday, July 11, 2006

!فاصله‌اي ميان ايران و اعراب نيست

اینجا

Sitting Buddha...When life turns to soil, and the soil turns to stone and trees become the logs, the curse of winter and broken doorknobs... sitting Buddha... you know... at the core, the earth is made of gold and why fire luster through... bronzes and barrel seats... and... yes... Jesus walks on the sea of thoughts... Mohammad prophets feminism and Muses speaks to the burning bush... But you want to remain unteachable and nourish on dreams. Creaming your bread. Drinking the wine out of a weighty crystal glass... And your bones beat the wooden floors... flip flop… Craving to rest, to find the edge of the world... Shadows cover your palms, shadows cover your eyes... plants grow... and trees leave on fresh... you jungle the path in green... to bread the next... navel...

You are not unreachable.

Monday, July 10, 2006

U.N. Nuclear Chief Pulled Inspector at Iran's Request

Eli Lake: Mr. Charlier told the German newspaper that he believes Iran is hiding elements of its nuclear program. In comments that echoed U.N. inspectors' during the 1990s looking at Saddam Hussein's arsenal of weapons of mass destruction, he said, "Wherever we went, whatever we did, they always followed us, monitoring us with video cameras and capturing every single one of our conversations. Never letting us out of their sight for a second, watching everything over our shoulder. ... How the devil were we supposed to rationally do our work?"


...at the Mall I amble between the coastal isles, an empty jar, a sheep, a caw, a hen, and not the collectors' crystals... she toddles next to me, the little girl is matching a silk scarf... life... lives wearing legend words... drumming for a combat are the knights... priced and sitting on a shelf, a season full of dazzled eyes, she is an inch taller today. Stylish she asks if her skirt is tropical enough, spotless, and bright. Rich... girly... she is eyeing the clay birds... I want that, Please maani (Mama) that one I want. It needs my room, my shrine... The goldfish is in the tank, a rose in the vase, the garments...... and shadows pass us by... revolving around us, pearls, feathers, gloves, and glamour headwears. The little girl tries a vintage styled ladies hat on, an embroidered, bright and shiny hand bag under her arm, a pair of women shoes ... on her little feet... and off she walks to the mirror... patchworks and the landscapes are on the surrounding walls, and the tall mirror reflects back at us: a little girl playing dress up and... her mother drunk by the wine of love, and the pleasure from the sight...

thank you... my sublime divine.

Sunday, July 09, 2006

Enough is enough.



Amir Taheri: "It is a measure of our national tragedy that almost anybody who is somebody has spent some time as political prisoner in the past quarter of a century," says Maleki. "We must make it clear that we cannot take any more of this. Enough is enough. No civilized society would put people in jail because of disagreement with the rulers."

Pickled Eggs!

Solve a problem without defining it first? In a recent interview I had said: My hope is for someone from within Iran to begin a popular uprising... as usual I am too optimistic! With Khamenei's decision on privatization of major industries and state companies... I guess even a sanction won't work... let alone the on screen action heroes. In my little girl's words: Never mind! Let us blow the candles and cheer up for the World Cup. Who cares about the student uprising and the dead or the Iranian political prisoners!
بیانیه اعلام موجودیت کمیسیون دفاع از حقوق اقلیت های جنسی ایرانی

برخی از مهمترین اهداف این کمسیون بدین شرح است:

الف) تلاش در جهت کسب برابری حقوق، و رفع تبعیض از اقلیت های جنسی ایرانی

ب) تلاش برای بهبود شرایط زندگی اقلیت های جنسی در ایران

لازم به گفتن است که فعالیت این کمسیون به صورت غیر حزبی و تشکیلاتی می باشد؛ این کمسیون فارغ از هرگونه جهت گیری مذهبی یا قومی است.

اینجا
Amir Taheri: "A number of prominent figures inside Iran have already echoed Ganji's call. These include Dr. Muhammad Maleki, a former chancellor of Tehran University under the Khomeinist regime, Mrs. Simin Behbahani, possibly the most popular Persian poet alive, and prominent Iranian-Kurdish writer Jalal Qavami. Mrs. Shirin Ebadi, the Iranian winner of the Nobel Peace Prize, is also expected to join, although she has been reluctant to challenge the regime openly. A number of prominent theologians in Qom and Mash'had, including Ayatollah Hassan San'ei, have also been contacted, to endorse the campaign."

Friday, July 07, 2006

The Tip Toe Traveler

I drive you back from the airport, in cold and snow and the little girl is already asleep behind her imaginary wheel. At every stop sign I make sure the doors are locked, windows are up, and this being in the middle of nowhere rings fears. 

But you stand there outside the airport, all cheerful and light, calling me yours with laughter and tears and your reason to live. Yes, for those simple sweet reasons, I am ready to drive in the cold night, through the snow and pick you up before your fingers tip toe to call.


a friend sent this last night...

Only as high as I reach can I grow,
Only as far as I seek can I go,
Only as deep as I look can I see,
Only as much as I dream can I be!

Thursday, July 06, 2006

Free Political Prisoners in Iran

Hunger Strike: July 14th to 16th, in front of the UN with Akbar Ganji

Sign the Petition; Support the Campaign
Johann von Goethe said that there were nine requisites for contented living:

Health enough to make work a pleasure.
Wealth enough to support our needs.
Strength to battle with difficulties and overcome them.
Grace enough to confess your sins and forsake them.
Patience enough to toil until some good is accomplished.
Charity enough to see some good in your neighbor.
Love enough to move you to be useful and helpful to others.
Faith enough to make real the things of God.
Hope enough to remove all anxious fears of the future.