Letter from a Tehran Jail
In the New York Times today, Flynt and Hillary Mann Leverett–both of whom I deeply respect–argue that the protesters in Iran make up a small, demographically isolated minority of Iranian society, and their activities therefore have very little chance of enacting real, substantive change in Iran’s political system. For evidence of the protest movement’s weakness, […]
Trita Parsi on CNN: Why the US should care
Trita went on CNN yesterday to discuss why Americans should care about the roiling demonstrations in Iran. He was also asked about the IRGC’s role in an increasingly militarized Iran, and what that might mean for the days and weeks to come. [vodpod id=Groupvideo.4301404&w=425&h=350&fv=] more about “Trita Parsi on CNN: Why the US should…“, posted […]
To Twitter or Not to Twitter
“It was Sullivan who famously proclaimed ‘The Revolution Will Be Twittered’ and called Twitter ‘the critical tool for organizing the resistance in Iran,’” writes Evgeny Morozov a Foreign Policy blogger and Georgetown University Fellow. “It is easy to see why so many pundits accepted this narrative: they had seen something similar before,” he continues, referring […]
“It’s not easy being Green”
(h/t Andrew Sullivan) In honor of the Iranian protesters, Minnesota Public Radio and Kermit the Frog update a classic Muppets song: [youtube=”http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k_Iwq7HPLfM”]
Violence Spills into Day 2
Payvand via Radio Zamaneh is reporting that members of the Basij and Revolutionary Guard (Sepah; IRGC; Pasdaran) have stormed Tehran University and Shahid Beheshti University. According to Amir Kabir Newsletter, Revolutionary Guards and Basij forces have entered the campuses… and engaged in beating the students with the assistance of university security. Amir Kabir reports that […]
Turning Iran’s paper money green
Via Payvand, an ingenious new strategy from the Iranian protesters: scribbling opposition messages on bank notes. Anti-government activists are not allowed to express themselves in Iranian media, so theses activists have taken their expressions to another high circulation mass-medium, banknotes. The Central Bank of Iran has tried to take these banknotes out of circulation, but […]
PBS: A Death in Tehran
[vodpod id=Groupvideo.3938522&w=425&h=350&fv=pap_localbrandid%3D2%26pap_buttoncolor%3Dff0000%26pap_buttonroll%3Dfa04da%26pap_segmentlisten%3Dsegchange%26pap_url%3Dhttp%3A%2F%2Fwww.pbs.org%2Fwgbh%2Fpages%2Ffrontline%2Ftehranbureau%2Fdeathintehran%2F%26pap_hash%3Dfrol02s33d4q477%26pap_ffw%3D514%26pap_ffh%3D320] Check your local listings. At the height of the protests following Iran’s controversial presidential election this summer, a young woman named Neda Agha Soltan was shot and killed on the streets of Tehran. Her death — filmed on a cameraphone, then uploaded to the web — quickly became an international outrage, and Agha […]
Reporter Arrested by Security Forces
The Associated Press is reporting that a reporter working for the Agence France Presse was arrested on November 4th. The Agence France Presse has said it has not heard from reporter Farhad Pouladi since Wednesday. The AFP’s acting bureau chief in Tehran said Iranian reporter Farhad Pouladi was taken into custody Wednesday as he headed […]
Tear Gas Shot at Karroubi
According to Norooz, Karroubi once again became a target when security forces shot tear gas at him and his guards. One of the shots reportedly hit the head of one the guards who was taken to the hospital. Karroubi himself fell to the ground after the tear gas attacks. Karroubi’s car was also attacked and […]
Videos from Today
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ioZFLG4_l8Y&feature=player_embedded#] Seven Tir Street: [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Zcj_dvvAOY&feature=player_embedded] Woman being attacked by security forces: [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PW4y93fwX-8] Tehran University: [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y2U9ALI4XN0&feature=player_embedded]
November 4th Update
According to Parleman News, scattered clashes have taken place between the security forces and protestors in Seven Tir Square in Tehran. The security forces have reportedly used tear gas several times while the number of protesters is increasing. Mowj Camp reports that Tehran University students have left the university to join the demonstrations. According to […]
Karroubi Attacked Once Again
Mehdi Karroubi was attacked by baton-wielding plainclothes militia at a press fair in Tehran on Friday. Karroubi’s turban fell to the ground in the process. He was attacked before at one of the Friday prayers in Tehran during the summer. According to Amir Kabir newsletter, Karroubi’s supporters at the fair started chanting slogans in his […]