“Ahmadi, Israel, Congratulations on your Marriage!”
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tYhaBBzT6pY] While metro trains in the US are normally filled with the sound of music leaking from iPods, Iran’s are filled with political chants. Seen here in Tehran’s metro system, (yes, they have a metro system, a very advanced one I might add) are people chanting, “Ahmadi, Israel, congratulations on your marriage!” Followed by, “Basjis, […]
Interfering in Iran: Obama’s Dilemma
Here’s the latest op-ed from NIAC member Masoud Shafaee – as published in the World Politics Review. Last week saw the fourth round of Iran’s Stalinesque show trials, with the broadcast of yet another prominent reformist’s coerced “confession.” As with previous reformists paraded into court proceedings that are widely viewed as illegitimate, Saeed Hajjarian, one […]
Green Trio Forced to Cancel Iftar Ceremony
According to Zahra Rahnavard’s Facebook page, Mousavi, Khatami, and Karroubi were forced to call off their Iftar ceremony because of crowds gathering outside the Amir Almomenin Mosque in Tehran. Iftar refers to the evening meal when Muslims break their fast during the holy month of Ramadan. The video shows small crowds chanting “Ya Hossein! Mir […]
Madonna, “The Planet Needs You!”
From images of children starving in Africa, to new pictures of protesters in Iran, Neda and other “Where’s My Vote” images, Madonna turns her concerts into awareness events. She tells her fans that the “Time is Now” to “Get up!” and become aware of the problems surrounding us. [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XcBKv3WJfBs]
Iran wins the Asia Cup, not their people
Despite an embarrassing failure by the Iranian National Soccer Team to qualify for the World Cup, the Iranian National Basketball team won the Asia Cup yesterday. They defeated the host country, China by 18 points to land the Asian basketball title, becoming a small source of pride for Iranians. But, unlike soccer, wrestling, and volleyball, […]
Haute Couture goes Green
Green has never looked so good. Italian designer Guillermo Mariotto wore a Neda Alive shirt to honor Neda, who was killed during the Iranian election aftermath. Mariotto’s attention to detail is quite admirable as every model on the catwalk wore a green ribbon on their wrist.
The Danger of Hijacked Rallies
State-run TV in Iran is showing demonstrations in other countries such as the US, however with some serious editing. They are not broadcasting the majority of people standing and shouting in solidarity with people in Iran. Rather, they show images of demonstrators who shout, “Death to the Islamic Republic,” while they hold pre-1979 flags of […]
DC Iranians Americans Expand Frustration to Russians…then Chinese
DC Iranian Americans are not tiring as they become reenergized by seeing their fellow Iranians continue to protest despite the violence. Yesterday, more than 200 hundred people gathered outside of the Iranian Interest Section in Washington, DC. Black and green colored the crowd that came together to mourn the loss of lives in Iran, and […]
“How Soccer Explains the World”…except Iran?
Iran’s qualifying match for the World Cup is tomorrow. As Franklin Foer says in his book, “How Football Explains the World” when Iran qualified for the World Cup for the first time in the history of the Islamic Republic back in 1997, “Their joy led them to dispense with official morality…dancing, drinking, and western pop […]
More Protests in DC
For a second day in a row, about 150 people gathered in front of the Iranian Interest Section in Washington, DC at 6pm on June 15 to denounce the alleged election fraud and to stand in solidarity with the Iranian people. The crowd supporting the “Where is My Vote?” campaign explicitly separated themselves from those […]
“Where is My Vote?” chant Iranian Americans in DC
About 300 Iranian Americans rallied today in DC. Chants ranged from “What do we want? Democracy! When do we want it? Now!” to “Students of Iran: we support you!” About 30 attendees were from the Shah’s camp holding and waving flags with the “Shir-o-Khorshid” (the Lion and the Sun- the symbol of royalty). At first […]
Iranian Americans Rally in DC
“Moussavi! Moussavi! Give us back our votes!” chanted Iranian Americans as they marched from the Iranian Interest Section to the Washington Monument. [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U1LL8M6zTQM]