Source: http://www.nrk.no/nyheter/verden/1.7991838
See the original link for Sidsel Wold’s own photos of daily life in Iran.
- Michael Jackson's death devastated the green spring
We are sitting at an undisclosed location in Tehran, three young Iranian men in their twenties and me.
- Michael Jackson's death devastated the green spring, Babak sighs. A quiet nodding goes around the table in the café's darkest corner.
ABOUT NAMING AND use of pictures
Fearing trouble with the regime the three men in this article only wanted to reveal their first names. They did not want to be photographed.
The owner of the cafe also would not risk trouble by openly allowing Western journalists to do interviews in his premises.
The atmosphere is strained.
All three have just told me that they would prefer to leave Iran. That they see no future here now.
Babak has visited the British Consulate for two years to ask for a residence permit, but in vain.
Want the neighbour to rebel
- I just want to leave this country. I am desperately trying to get away from here, says Babak, who hopes to take a PhD abroad.
Borna would prefer to go to Europe or Canada, but not forever. He hopes that Iran will undergo changes while he lives abroad.
The others laugh. For here we are at the core. Everyone seems to want the neighbour to rebel.
Are dissatisfied Iranians not ready to go out into the streets themselves, as the Syrians do? I ask.
This was how the uprising after the controversial counting after the presidential election in 2009 ended.
When the Basij militia began using sharp ammunition on people in the streets, the protesters stayed at home.
In Iran, I'm trying to figure out what had become of the green movement and where all the students who participated are now.
Some have travelled abroad. Others continue with their lives and hope for the best.
Several are sitting in cafes like these young men, being depressed.
Not enough to lose yet
All shake their heads over the blood bath in Syria. It is cruel.
- Assad cannot survive this. Eventually, all dictators will fall, Borna thinks.
- We Iranians are somewhere between Syria and Europe, says Sina.
- We do not have enough to lose yet, so we do not demonstrate with our lives on the stake, as the Syrians are doing. But we're not as civilized as the Europeans, he says.
- Do you dream of a good future in Iran? I ask.
- Maam, I am just hopeless just now, Babak repeats sorrowful.
- We all live in social depression, says the three.
- Have no Mandela
One of them is an accountant, the other a musician, the third an engineer.
They are in their prime of life and an example of the brain drain that has afflicted the Islamic Republic for decades, but that reached a new peak after the 2009 elections.
But change will come, they believe. The collective depression here cannot continue as it is now.
Sina does not want a revolution, just reforms. Babak believes it is appropriate to impose sanctions on Iran in order to put pressure on the mullah regime.
- But the sanctions also affect the people. It has become dangerous to fly now. Iranian aircrafts cannot find spare parts, and are often affected by technical errors.
- I wish Russia and China did not support us. It would be better to be completely isolated, and force a crisis that would lead to a change.
- If sanctions were imposed like in South Africa? Asks Sina as to vent the thought.
- No, we have no Mandela. Our hope for change and reform has no leader.
- A warning for the regime
What do the three think about the Arab spring?
- The Arab uprising is a warning to the Iranian regime. Sina says.
- The Arab spring does not help me, Babak interrupts.
- Why did the West not help us in 2009, when the uprising began here? We were at it, but then Michael Jackson destroyed everything. When he died the world press went out of its wits and broadcasted nothing else. The world forgot Iran altogether. Why did Michael Jackson die just when we finally stood up against the regime? Borna sighs.
They look down at the table. Sina lights another cigarette.
We have to go. It is clear that neither the guests in the cafe nor the owner feel comfortable with the presence of foreign journalists.
When we walked out it was like a sigh of relief closed the door behind us.
Showing posts with label Basij. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Basij. Show all posts
4 September 2010
Photo report showing damage to Mehdi Karroubi’s residence
Link to photos
Photo report showing the traces of bullet shots and severe damage to Mehdi Karroubi’s residence: Lat night for the fifth consecutive night the Basij and plain-clothes thugs while chanting slogans in support for the supreme leader attacked the residence of Mehdi Karroubi and wrote insulting slogans on his building walls such as “Death to Karroubi”. They opened fire and cut telephone lines, damaged water pipes, smashed the windows, put the entrance door on fire and severely vandalized the building while trying to terrorize Mehdi Karroubi, his family and neighbors. All this happened while the police and security forces did nothing to stop the pro-government thugs! According to SahamNews among the attackers there were notorious criminals who were intoxicated on the holy night of Qadr. These criminals were hired specifically to terrorize and destroy.
متهمان و مجرمان سابقه‌دار در میان مهاجمان به منزل کروبی: چند نفر از مهاجمان در شب قدر از مشروبات الکلي استفاده کرده بودند
”بسیاری از مهاجمان شب‌های گذشته به منزل کروبی، از میان متهمان و مجرمان سابقه‌دار اجیر شده بودند.”ا
به گزارش سحام نيوز : به گفته برخی کارکنان کلانتری فرمانیه و نیاوران بسیاری از مهاجمان افرادی بودند که پیشتر به دلایل مختلف مانند فساد اخلاقی،دزدي و مشروب‌خواری و دلایل مشابه بازداشت شده بودند.ا
به گزارش خبرنگار سحام نيوز چند نفر از مهاجمان در شب قدر از مشروبات الکلي استفاده کرده بودند که بعد از پرتاب کني سنگ به سمت شيشه هاي منزل آقاي کروبي و نثار دشنام هاي ناموسي به عزاداري مي پرداختند
اين افراد که به نظر می‌رسد صرفا برای انجام خراب‌کاری و حمله و بی‌حرمتی به منزل شیخ اصلاحات اجیر شده بودند، امروز ساعت سه بعدازظهر محل را ترک کردند، اما گفته‌اند که مجددا باز خواهند گشت.ا
حمله به منزل مهدی کروبی، پنج شب پیاپی صورت گرفت، که در آخرين شب با خشونت بسیاری همراه بود، به طوری که تیراندازی و جراحت شدید یکی از محافظان کروبی را در پی داشت.ا
در حمله شب گذشته این افراد که شعار “خونی که در رگ ماست، هدیه به رهبر ماست” را مدام تکرار می‌کردند، شیشه‌ها و در خانه کروبی شکسته و جای گلوله در راهرو خانه و پنجره‌ها به وضوح دیده می‌شود. همچنین این افراد با قطع کابل، تلفن‌های خانه را نیز از کار انداخته‌اند.ا
منبع: سحام نیوز
1 September 2010
Basijis Brutally Attack Karroubi's Residence for 4th Consecutive Night!
Source: Negar Irani’s blog
English translation by Negar Irani, from Saham News - Mehdi Karroubi’s official newspaper.
According to SahamNews, minutes ago, Mehdi Karroubi's residence was once again brutally attacked by Basiji thugs. Following Fatemeh Karroubi's open letter of protest to Ayatollah Khamenei last night and as a result of the government's fear of Karroubi's potential attendance at the Qhods Day demonstrations, a large number of organized Basiji thugs once again gathered outside the Karroubi residence from around 10pm Tehran time tonight.
On the anniversary of the martyrdom of Imam Ali and Qhadr night, and in the presence of security forces that supported them, these individuals were allowed to disturb the public order and create discomfort for people leaving in the neighborhood who were fasting during the sacred month of Ramadan. According to the SahamNews Reporter on site, the thugs chanted slogans against Mehdi Karroubi and in support of the Supreme Leader, threw rocks and sprayed paint on the walls of the residential complex creating substantial damage to the building. In addition to breaking the windows and spraying the walls with paint, the Basiji thugs also vandalized the building's security cameras. The Basiji thugs affiliated with a neighborhood martyrs group (Shahid Mahalati) chanted slogans such as "If only Khamenei would give us the order to fight..." and "We congratulate the union of the United States and Karroubi", wreaking havoc and disturbing people's peace and quiet.
These individuals carrying all sorts of weapons had also engaged in similar activities during the past three nights with the intention to create fear and disturb public order and in particular prevent Mehdi Karroubi from participating at the Qhods Day demonstrations. It looks as though the ruling government is intent on using Basiji thugs and the Sepah (IRGC), doing everything possible to prevent Mehdi Karroubi from participating at the Qhods Day demonstrations. It is worth mentioning that as a result of last night's attacks in an open letter written to Khamenei, Fatemeh Karroubi had stated: "What do my husband's differences of opinion with you (a fact apparent to everyone) have to do with the right of my family to exist?"
Source: SahamNews http://www.sahamnews.org/
خبر فوری:حمله وحشیانه اراذل بسیجی به منزل مهدی کروبی در چهارمین شب متوالی
شهریور ۱۱م, ۱۳۸۹ |
سحام نیوز:دقایقی قبل منزل مهدی کروبی مورد حمله وحشیانه اراذل و اوباش بسیجی قرار گرفت. به گزارش خبرنگار سحام نیوز در پی نامه اعتراض آمیز شب گذشته فاطمه کروبی به آیت الله خامنه ای و همچنین ترس حکومت از حضور مهدی کروبی در راهپیمایی روز قدس، از ساعت ۱۰ امشب تعداد کثیری از اراذل و اوباش بسیجی در اقدامی هماهنگ واز قبل برنامه ریزی شده اقدام به تجمع در جلوی ساختمان محل سکونت مهدی کروبی نمودند. این افراد به نوعی از حمایت نیروهای انتظامی نیز برخوردار شده اند، بطوریکه در شب قدر و شب شهادت امام علی(ع) این افراد بدون هیچ گونه ابایی اقدام به بر هم زدن نظم عمومی و آسایش مردم روزه دار در این شب مبارک نموده اند. گزارش خبرنگار ما حاکی از آن است که این افراد با سردادن شعارهایی بر علیه مهدی کروبی و در حمایت از رهبری اقدام به پرتاب سنگ و پاشیدن رنگ بر روی ساختمان محل سکونت مهدی کروبی نمودند. اقدام این افراد موجب وارد آمدن خسارت های به ساختمان شد. این افراد علاوه بر شکستن شیشه های ساختمان اقدام به پاشیدن رنگ و دزدیدن دوربین های امنیتی ساختمان نمودند. این افراد اراذل و اوباش نظامی که وابسته به قرارگاه شهید محلاتی هستند با سر دادن شعارهایی همچون”وای اگر خامنه ای حکم جهادم دهد و … ” ” امریکا- کروبی- پیوندتان مبارک” و پرتاب سنگ و اشیاء مختلف به سمت ساختمان مسکونی، موجب بر هم زدن آسایش مردم منطقه شدند.
این در حالیست که این افراد همچون۳ شب گذشته با به همراه داشتن سلاح های گرم و سرد قصد ترساندن و ایجاد رعب و وحشت در اذهان عمومی و علی الخصوص جلوگیری از حضور مهدی کروبی در راهپیمایی روز قدس را دارند. گویا جریان حاکم با توسل به گروه های اوباشگر بسیجی و استفاده از امکانات بسیج و سپاه قصد دارد تا از هر طریق ممکن از حضور مهدی کروبی در راهپیمایی روز قدس جلوگیری بعمل آورد. لازم به یادآوریست که در پی حمله شب گذشته این افراد، فاطمه کروبی در نامه ای به آیت الله خامنه ای گفته بودند: اختلاف همسرم با جنابعالی در مسائلی که همگان بر آن واقفند چه ارتباطی با حق زیستن خانواده ما دارد؟
22 May 2010
Brutal attack on students protesting at Azad University, Tehran, today
Also see the report in RAHANA
Plain Clothes Forces Brutally Attack Students at Azad Univ Tehran
حمله وحشیانه نیروهای لباس‌شخصی به تجمع دانشجویی در تهران مرکز
Complete report of brutal attacks by plain clothes agents on protesting students at Azad University Central.
Khordad 1st, 1389 (May 22nd, 2010)
Translated by Negar Irani on Facebook
Tahavol-e-Sabz: On the first day of Khordad (May 22nd), protests by Azad University Tehran Central students turned violent during altercations with Basiji and security forces.
A few hundred students of the Faculty of Engineering at Azad University Central gathered to protest the results of the coup elections, the continued arrests and the wide spread expulsion of students from the university.
As per Bamdad News, beginning early this morning there was a strong military atmosphere at Azad University Tehran Central and both intelligent and paramilitary forces had an extensive presence on campus. In addition, the entrance to the University and surrounding streets were heavily controlled by anti riot police who were preventing many students from entering the university. At the same time, in an effort to safeguard the premises, more than 50 known student activists were denied entry to the university grounds.
As the day progressed and classes came to an end, the crowd began to assemble, and chants including "Ya Hossein, Mir Hossein", "Death to Dictator", "We Support our brave students"and "All imprisoned students must be released" filled the air.
Students were attacked by Basiji and intelligence forces as they ended their protest with the famous song "Yareh Dabestanieh Man" (My Childhood School Mate) and a speech by one of their classmates.
As per reports received from the scene, it was at this time that security forces and intelligence officers from the Ministry of Intelligence inside the university premises began arresting a number of the students present.
It is worth mentioning that the afternoon classes at the Engineering Faculty at Tehran Central were canceled as a result of the conflicts and because so many students had been banned from entering the premises.
The exact number of students hurt and arrested is unclear as mobile phone access was cut off from one hour prior to the protests and at the time this report was published.
Currently, special security forces on motorcycles are circulating outside the Tehran Faculty of Engineering and it has been reported that in some cases they have attacked and beaten students.
This is not the first time that protests at the Engineering Faculty at Tehran University Azad have ended in violence, even though the head of the university Dr. Gozashti had promised to prevent such events from occurring again.
Students strongly believe that entry by plain clothes agents and interrogators from the Ministry of Intelligence would not be possible without cooperation by the head of the university. It is also their opinion that the heavy sentences, unprecedented student expulsions and the recent appointment of Dr. Eftekhari as the new head of the university is just another way to increase pressure on students and create a security filled atmosphere.
It is also worth mentioning that at the beginning of the school year the students at Azad University had already protested against the coup government. The third protest by the students at this university took place last year on Mehr 21st, 1388. It led to brutal attacks and the use of tear gas by Basiji and security forces in which many students were admitted to the hospital.
During the current academic year alone, more than 50 suspension and expulsion sentences have been issued to students at Azad University Tehran Central.
Complete report of brutal attacks by plain clothes agents on protesting students at Azad University Central.
Khordad 1st, 1389 (May 22nd, 2010)
Translated by Negar Irani on Facebook
Tahavol-e-Sabz: On the first day of Khordad (May 22nd), protests by Azad University Tehran Central students turned violent during altercations with Basiji and security forces.
A few hundred students of the Faculty of Engineering at Azad University Central gathered to protest the results of the coup elections, the continued arrests and the wide spread expulsion of students from the university.
As per Bamdad News, beginning early this morning there was a strong military atmosphere at Azad University Tehran Central and both intelligent and paramilitary forces had an extensive presence on campus. In addition, the entrance to the University and surrounding streets were heavily controlled by anti riot police who were preventing many students from entering the university. At the same time, in an effort to safeguard the premises, more than 50 known student activists were denied entry to the university grounds.
As the day progressed and classes came to an end, the crowd began to assemble, and chants including "Ya Hossein, Mir Hossein", "Death to Dictator", "We Support our brave students"and "All imprisoned students must be released" filled the air.
Students were attacked by Basiji and intelligence forces as they ended their protest with the famous song "Yareh Dabestanieh Man" (My Childhood School Mate) and a speech by one of their classmates.
As per reports received from the scene, it was at this time that security forces and intelligence officers from the Ministry of Intelligence inside the university premises began arresting a number of the students present.
It is worth mentioning that the afternoon classes at the Engineering Faculty at Tehran Central were canceled as a result of the conflicts and because so many students had been banned from entering the premises.
The exact number of students hurt and arrested is unclear as mobile phone access was cut off from one hour prior to the protests and at the time this report was published.
Currently, special security forces on motorcycles are circulating outside the Tehran Faculty of Engineering and it has been reported that in some cases they have attacked and beaten students.
This is not the first time that protests at the Engineering Faculty at Tehran University Azad have ended in violence, even though the head of the university Dr. Gozashti had promised to prevent such events from occurring again.
Students strongly believe that entry by plain clothes agents and interrogators from the Ministry of Intelligence would not be possible without cooperation by the head of the university. It is also their opinion that the heavy sentences, unprecedented student expulsions and the recent appointment of Dr. Eftekhari as the new head of the university is just another way to increase pressure on students and create a security filled atmosphere.
It is also worth mentioning that at the beginning of the school year the students at Azad University had already protested against the coup government. The third protest by the students at this university took place last year on Mehr 21st, 1388. It led to brutal attacks and the use of tear gas by Basiji and security forces in which many students were admitted to the hospital.
During the current academic year alone, more than 50 suspension and expulsion sentences have been issued to students at Azad University Tehran Central.
گزارش کامل از حمله وحشیانه نیروهای لباس‌شخصی به تجمع دانشجویی در تهران مرکز
۱ خرداد ۱۳۸۹
تحول سبز: در اولین روز از خرداد ماه سال جاری دانشجویان دانشگاه آزاد واحد تهران مرکز دست به تجمعی اعتراضی زدندکه از سوی عوامل امنیتی و نیروهای بسیجی به خشونت کشیده شد.
در پی فراخوان دانشجویان مبنی بر برگزاری تجمع در اعتراض به کودتای انتخاباتی صورت گرفته و نیز تداوم بازداشت دانشجویان، چند صد نفر از دانشجویان دانشکده فنی دانشگاه آزاد واحد تهران مرکز دست به تجمع زدند.
اعتراض به احکام گسترده ممنوعیت از تحصیل برای دانشجویان این واحد از محورهای دیگر این تجمع ذکر شده بود.
به گزارش بامداد خبر، از ابتدای صبح امروز فضای دانشگاه آزاد تهران-مرکز به شدت امنیتی بود و نیروهای اطلاعاتی و شبه‌نظامی در داخل دانشگاه حضور چشمگیر داشتند. در بیرون از دانشگاه نیز گارد ضد شورش خیابان‌های اطراف دانشکده را به محاصره در آورده بودند و نیرو های امنیتی مانع ورود بسیاری از دانشجویان می شدند.
هم‌زمان حراست دانشگاه نیز از صبح امروز بیش از پنجاه نفر از دانشجویان شناخته‌شده را ممنوع‌الورود کرده بود.
با پایان یافتن کلاس های نوبت صبح و نزدیک شدن به زمان تجمع، رفته رفته هسته‌ی اولیه آن شکل گرفته و تجمع با سر دادن شعار «یا حسین، میرحسین» آغاز می شود و با افزایش تعداد دانشجویان، فریاد «مرگ بر دیکتاتور»، «دانشجوی با غیرت حمایت»، «دانشجوی زندانی آزاد باید گردد» و … فضای دانشگاه را پر می کند.
پس از آنکه دانشجویان با خواندن سرود یار دبستانی و سخنرانی یکی از دانشجویان به تجمع خود پایان دادند، مورد حمله‌ی نیروهای بسیجی و اطلاعاتی قرار گرفتند.
بر اساس این گزارش، نیروهای امنیتی و بسیجی به همراه بازجویان وزارت اطلاعات که شخصا در داخل دانشکده فنی حضور داشتند دست به بازداشت تعدادی از دانشجویان زده‌اند.
تا لحظه تنظیم خبر چهار تن از دانشجویان در حالی‌که به شدت خونریزی داشتند و توسط نیروهای بسیجی مصدوم و مضروب شده بودند در داخل دفتر انتظامات بازداشت هستند و از انتقال آنها به بیمارستان جلوگیری می شود.
این درحالی است که کلاس‌های بعدازظهر دانشکده فنی تهران مرکز در اثر شدت درگیری‌ها و ممانعت از ورود دانشجویان به دانشگاه تعطیل شده است.
از حدود یک ساعت پیش از آغار تجمع تا لحظه تنظیم خبر موبایل ها قطع می باشد و به همین دلیل از تعداد بازداشتی ها و زخمی‌های بیشتر آمار دقیقی در دسترس نیست.
هم‌اکنون نیروهای یگان ویژه موتور سوار بیرون از دانشکده فنی تهران مرکز در حال تردد هستند و در بعضی از موارد دانشجویان را مورد ضرب و شتم قرار داده‌اند.
این چندمین باری است که تجمعات اعتراضی دانشجویان دانشکده فنی تهران-مرکز به خشونت کشیده می‌شود و این در حالی است که دکتر گذشتی رئیس دانشگاه آزاد واحد تهران مرکز پیش از این قول جلوگیری از تکرار چنین حوادثی را داده بود.
دانشجویان معتقدند ورود آزادانه لباس‌شخصی ها و بازجویان وزارت اطلاعات و ضرب و شتم دانشجویان بدون هماهنگی با رییس دانشگاه صورت نمی گیرد و صدور احکام سنگین و بی‌سابقه ممنوعیت از تحصیل و تبعید مکرر دانشجویان و گماردن دکتر افتخاری بر مسند ریاست دانشکده فنی را در راستای امنیتی‌تر کردن فضا می دانند.
گفتنی است دانشجویان دانشگاه آزاد پیش از این و در ابتدای سال تحصیلی هفت تجمع در اعتراض به دولت کودتا برگزار کرده بودند که تجمع سوم دانشجویان تهران مرکز در ۲۱ مهر ماه سال ۸۸ با ضرب و شتم دانشجویان و شلیک گاز اشک آور از سوی نیرو های امنیتی و بسیجی مواجه شد که منجر به بستری شدن تعدادی از دانشجویان در بیمارستان گردید.
در سال تحصیلی جاری نیز بیش از پنجاه ترم حکم تعلیق و تبعید از تحصیل برای دانشجویان واحد تهران مرکز صادر شده است.
17 December 2009
A Basij Witness Tells His Story
- of election fraud, the following crackdown and sexual abuse
First published on Channel 4 News (UK)
His story confirms reports from victims and human rights groups, who say rape has been used all over Iran in the brutal months since the June election. Some quotes:
“In truth the orders didn’t come after the election. The orders for all that you witnessed came before the election. From three or four months before the election we had attended classes on ideological and political thought and crowd control.”
“We had received orders a matter of months before that there is jurisprudence, that there is the jurisprudence of the Imam Zaman, (the 13th Imam, who is expected to return like a Messiah) whose incarnation is Ayatollah Khamenei, and that he had announced that for the advancement and development of Islam and the development of the revolution no-one could be more effective than Mr. Ahmadinejad. Therefore the order came that Mr Khamenei has him in mind, that Mr Khamenei has Mr Ahmadinejad in mind for the presidency and so he must be announced as the winner. “It’s he who is best suited to this revolution, order and Velayat Faqih (Iranian system of Islamic jurisdiction)”
“For us who were responsible for the ballot boxes the order was this: that Aqa’s [Khamenei's] wish is for Ahmadinejad to win. For illiterate people and those not able to complete their ballots, you must do so for them and complete them accordingly (for Ahmadinejad), no matter who their vote was intended for. Same with blank votes.”
“When the voting was over, the boxes were opened, but not all of them. A few were opened and counted, then we received another order to send the boxes to the main centre.”
“Because a reaction was expected, we had been ordered from before the election for all security forces to be ready for the following day.[…] The command was that we were to prevent any gathering of people to take shape.”
“Any hint of protest was to be firmly supressed. […] In our view, it was not a protest against the issue but a protest against Ayatollah Khamenei himself.”
We had orders “to attack everyone without restraint or mercy regardless of age. It was made clear, there was to be no difference between child or adult, men and women. Proper attack, without warning, or any discussion.”
“In the clashes, anyone who was wounded would be arrested. If they couldn’t catch them they’d get someone else. They would arrest anyone they could. It made no difference who it was. Wounded, not wounded. If they were activists, all the better. Young children, young adults. The treatment of them – the mode of attack and length of attack on them left me in shock.”
“The command was to arrest as many 12-18 year olds as possible and bring them back. This group caused the most trouble so the idea was not to give them any opportunity to congregate. Many were arrested. Again, several locations had been prepared to take them and keep them there.”
“They had some containers ready. They had arrested some youngsters and were asking them their age and were separating them accordingly. Over 18s went into to one container and the under 18s into the several other containers. The number of children under the age of 18 was greater. They filled three or four containers of some 25 people in each.
“Then we heard noise from the yard. […] The sound of screams and pleading and crying. We didn’t understand what was going on. […] I couldn’t believe that they would want to do such a thing: to rape.”
“It’s as if it’s replaying in front of me. The faces, the screams are with me every moment. […] They were pleading, they were crying, they wanted help, but my brother is a more senior authority than me. We went to see what was happening.”
“We asked what all the noise was about. They said “Nothing, this is Fath ol Moin (aid to victory). We said: ‘What do you mean, what are you doing? Who’s in there?’ […] ‘What’s happening, why are they crying?’
“My relative was furious and very frustrated. He was very angry. When we got there he said: ‘What is this? Sexual abuse is a serious crime. Who gave this order? Who authorised this? Haji calmly replied with a smile: ‘This is Fath Al Moin. It’s a worthy deed. There’s nothing wrong with it. Why are you complaining?’
“My relative said again: ‘Is there anything more filthy than this, more ugly than this? With children, these are children, they haven’t done anything. They’re from our own home town.’
“The pain and the shame in front of people and before God. […] We really saw ourselves as upstanding and separate from others. We really believed that what we did was correct, that we were serving the people, that we were serving God and that our mission was nothing but worshipping God.”
“Now I’m left with my conscience punishing me for what I did. I hope that God and people forgive me.”
Part 1:
Part 2:
Full English text on Channel 4 News
Also on the blog StreetJournalist
First published on Channel 4 News (UK)
His story confirms reports from victims and human rights groups, who say rape has been used all over Iran in the brutal months since the June election. Some quotes:
“In truth the orders didn’t come after the election. The orders for all that you witnessed came before the election. From three or four months before the election we had attended classes on ideological and political thought and crowd control.”
“We had received orders a matter of months before that there is jurisprudence, that there is the jurisprudence of the Imam Zaman, (the 13th Imam, who is expected to return like a Messiah) whose incarnation is Ayatollah Khamenei, and that he had announced that for the advancement and development of Islam and the development of the revolution no-one could be more effective than Mr. Ahmadinejad. Therefore the order came that Mr Khamenei has him in mind, that Mr Khamenei has Mr Ahmadinejad in mind for the presidency and so he must be announced as the winner. “It’s he who is best suited to this revolution, order and Velayat Faqih (Iranian system of Islamic jurisdiction)”
“For us who were responsible for the ballot boxes the order was this: that Aqa’s [Khamenei's] wish is for Ahmadinejad to win. For illiterate people and those not able to complete their ballots, you must do so for them and complete them accordingly (for Ahmadinejad), no matter who their vote was intended for. Same with blank votes.”
“When the voting was over, the boxes were opened, but not all of them. A few were opened and counted, then we received another order to send the boxes to the main centre.”
“Because a reaction was expected, we had been ordered from before the election for all security forces to be ready for the following day.[…] The command was that we were to prevent any gathering of people to take shape.”
“Any hint of protest was to be firmly supressed. […] In our view, it was not a protest against the issue but a protest against Ayatollah Khamenei himself.”
We had orders “to attack everyone without restraint or mercy regardless of age. It was made clear, there was to be no difference between child or adult, men and women. Proper attack, without warning, or any discussion.”
“In the clashes, anyone who was wounded would be arrested. If they couldn’t catch them they’d get someone else. They would arrest anyone they could. It made no difference who it was. Wounded, not wounded. If they were activists, all the better. Young children, young adults. The treatment of them – the mode of attack and length of attack on them left me in shock.”
“The command was to arrest as many 12-18 year olds as possible and bring them back. This group caused the most trouble so the idea was not to give them any opportunity to congregate. Many were arrested. Again, several locations had been prepared to take them and keep them there.”
“They had some containers ready. They had arrested some youngsters and were asking them their age and were separating them accordingly. Over 18s went into to one container and the under 18s into the several other containers. The number of children under the age of 18 was greater. They filled three or four containers of some 25 people in each.
“Then we heard noise from the yard. […] The sound of screams and pleading and crying. We didn’t understand what was going on. […] I couldn’t believe that they would want to do such a thing: to rape.”
“It’s as if it’s replaying in front of me. The faces, the screams are with me every moment. […] They were pleading, they were crying, they wanted help, but my brother is a more senior authority than me. We went to see what was happening.”
“We asked what all the noise was about. They said “Nothing, this is Fath ol Moin (aid to victory). We said: ‘What do you mean, what are you doing? Who’s in there?’ […] ‘What’s happening, why are they crying?’
“My relative was furious and very frustrated. He was very angry. When we got there he said: ‘What is this? Sexual abuse is a serious crime. Who gave this order? Who authorised this? Haji calmly replied with a smile: ‘This is Fath Al Moin. It’s a worthy deed. There’s nothing wrong with it. Why are you complaining?’
“My relative said again: ‘Is there anything more filthy than this, more ugly than this? With children, these are children, they haven’t done anything. They’re from our own home town.’
“The pain and the shame in front of people and before God. […] We really saw ourselves as upstanding and separate from others. We really believed that what we did was correct, that we were serving the people, that we were serving God and that our mission was nothing but worshipping God.”
“Now I’m left with my conscience punishing me for what I did. I hope that God and people forgive me.”
Part 1:
Part 2:
Full English text on Channel 4 News
Also on the blog StreetJournalist
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