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Iran. Today, my work has just begun,’ mother of executed political prisoner, Farzad Kamangar
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In the early hours of Sunday 9 May 2010, the Islamic regime of Iran executed political prisoners Farzad Kamangar, Ali Heydarian, Farhad Vakili, Shirin Alam-Houli and Mehdi Eslamian. The four young men and one woman were executed for their political opposition to the regime.
Farzad Kamangar was a teacher and human rights activist who was arrested in 2006 and charged with ‘enmity against God’ in a ‘trial’ that lasted seven minutes. Mehdi Islamian was arrested on May 4, 2009 and spent six months in solitary confinement; his brother has also been executed. Shirin Alam Hooli was arrested in May 2008 in Tehran and sentenced to death in November 2009. Ali Heydarian and Farhad Vakili were imprisoned since 2006/2007.
The sentences were carried out in secret, without their families or lawyers being informed, and despite the fact that three of the cases were under review. The Islamic regime has refused to hand over the bodies of the dead unless their families guarantee that there will be no protests in Iran and abroad.
Since yesterday, thousands have gathered in protests at the Islamic Republic’s embassies and consulates in various cities across the globe. In London, Paris and Frankfurt angry demonstrators pelted the buildings with eggs, red paint and stones. The families of the five had called for a demonstration outside Tehran University in Iran on Monday 10 May, which was attacked by the regime’s security forces. On May 13 a general strike has been called in Iranian Kurdistan and elsewhere. Many are expected to join this day of protest.
Iran Solidarity is outraged at the executions of the five political prisoners as well as the recent execution of 45 Afghan immigrants in Iran and calls on people everywhere to stand in protest against executions in Iran and everywhere by joining the May 13 general strike and ongoing protests at the regime’s embassies or consulates or by carrying out acts of solidarity against executions wherever they are. Another 27 political prisoners are at imminent risk of execution and need public support.
Farzad Kamangar’s mother recently said: ‘If anyone can do anything, please do. Do not let them execute youngsters en masse. You and the world shall be my defence. Please let the world hear my plea.’
‘If we stay silent, these executions will continue,’ said Mohammad Amin Kamangar, brother of executed political prisoner Farzad Kamangar
Notes:
1. You can find out about protests in various cities on the Iran Solidarity blog. You can also add your protests here: http://iransolidarity.blogspot.com/.
2. Join us on 20 June 2010 in London and across the world to break that silence and take a stand against Sharia law and Islamism and in defence of universal rights and secularism. June 20 is particularly poignant because it is the first anniversary of Neda Agha-Soltan’s extra-judicial execution in broad daylight by the Islamic regime of Iran at a protest there. Like Neda, all Farzad Kamangar and the others wanted was freedom. You can find out more about the rally in Trafalgar Square here:
http://iransolidarity.org.uk/events.html
3. Support Iran Solidarity and its demands by signing up to our petition: http://iransolidarity.org.uk/iscommit/iscom186.php?nr=97158834&lang=en.
4. Join our daily acts of solidarity with the people of Iran. Since Monday July 27, we have organised acts of solidarity EVERY SINGLE DAY. It is easy to join in – just videotape or photograph yourself doing something and send it to us to upload to our blog. You can see other acts here: http://iransolidarity.blogspot.com/.
5. Set up Iran Solidarity groups in your neighbourhoods, workplaces, universities and cities. So far we have groups in Australia, Austria, Canada, Germany, Norway, Sweden and the UK. Like the solidarity committees during the anti-apartheid era, these committees can be instrumental but we need many more in every city in the world for that to happen.
6. For more information or to send in your daily acts of solidarity, contact:
Maryam Namazie
Iran Solidarity
BM Box 2387
London WC1N 3XX, UK
Tel: +44 (0) 7719166731
iransolidaritynow@gmail.com
www.iransolidarity.org.uk
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| I am so tired... | | By the last pagan warrior on May 15,2010
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I am tired...
so very tired...
I can not go on...
I will go on.
In 1968, I attended the Democratic convention. I lived in Chicago, and was off to school in the fall; the first stop in becoming a Vet. A sea changed me. I was angry. So angry. I attended journlisem school at N. Y. U. (Despite being Dyslexic). Village Voice, U. P. I. A. P. Asia, heck, the world. I also wrote a novel which sold poorly, but convinced me to alter my course in 88. Tho I was in Budapest for the fall of C. (A velvet fall in Hungry).
10 novel later.
& so tired. Just so tired.
In Bangkok in early 80's a seasoned reporter told me to go home. Not because I was not good enough, but as he said: Nobody likes us. Do not throw ur life away.
I AM SO TIRED.
I AM 61.
I AM
I WILL NEVER WRITE ANOTHER NOVEL AGAIN.
I AM, AS ROYKO ONCE STATED, A REPORTER.
IT IS TIME TO RETURN.
I AM NOBODY.
WHO SEES, FEELS, HEARS...
I AM TIRED.
IT IS TIME TO GO ON.
THANK U.
all u
who sacrifice so much for so little...
so g*&^%$%^* little.
Note: As I said. I am nobody. Actually penned a novel using that nom de guerre. I, ah, well (smile) am returning to grass roots journalism. I do not know what good if any this old lion can do, but I can always sharpen pencils. See u around. I am in Lima now, probably stop in Cuba to see a friend on the way to wherever. See u around.
Below is my first dispatch or op. ed. (Since I am heading for Cuba. If u wonder why I am posting this here & not Cuba; as i said, I am going to Cuba, not Iran. This allows me to be in two places at once. Also being 'Nobody' allows me to slip through cracks. I leaned that in S. E. Asia).
i will not trade my conscience for fashion, nor will i trade my fashion to fit a government who imprisons the best of its people: those who are willing to be imprisoned, murdered, tortured...to report the truth.
The best of Cuba is the best of the world...the Cuban government should allow freedom to flow; at first it may hurt but in the end: the best of Cuba will meet the best of Cuba and the world will see: A grand experiment that worked.
Viva la journalista
Viva la Cuba.
M. S. C.
Viva la Iran!
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