Reports of Prison Abuse and Deaths Anger Iranians

By ROBERT F. WORTH (Published in the New York Times on July 28, 2009)

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Some prisoners say they watched fellow detainees being beaten to death by guards in overcrowded, stinking holding pens. Others say they had their fingernails ripped off or were forced to lick filthy toilet bowls.

The accounts of prison abuse in Iran’s postelection crackdown — relayed by relatives and on opposition Web sites — have set off growing outrage among Iranians, including some prominent conservatives. More bruised corpses have been returned to families in recent days, and some hospital officials have told human rights workers that they have seen evidence that well over 100 protesters have died since the vote.

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Windows on Iran – 84 / Election Special

Dear All,

It is now believed that the Friday rally [w]as bigger than a million [people].

New developments are reported in Iran around the clock. While there is frustration, there is also hope that some positive changes will result.  Please see the PeaceWithIran.com posting for photos of recent demonstrations.

36 Army Officers Arrested

Quoting Persian websites, Mr. Mousavi’s Facebook [site] reported – hours ago – that on Friday (July 17) 36 army officers were arrested in Iran because they planned to attend Mr. Rafsanjani’s sermon wearing their uniforms as a sign of the opposition of the army to the way members of the Basij have treated peaceful protesters in Iran.  While these officers were arrested before taking their action, their plan may represent the feeling among a larger segment of the army which has not made its sentiments public yet.  For more on this, please see the July 19 article, “36 Army officers arrested over protest plan,” in the Guardian (UK). Read the rest of this entry »

The Friday July 17 Protests in Images

Protesters Gather in Large Numbers in Tehran on Friday, July 17, 2009

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Windows on Iran – 81 / Election Special

Dear All,

I send you a special window to let you know that this Friday will be an eventful day in Iran. Ayatollah Rafsanjani, the second most powerful politician in Iran, and a person viewed as supporting Mr. Mousavi, will lead the Friday prayer in Tehran and deliver the sermon. The reformists are asking their supporters to come out in large numbers. At the same time, there is an air of uncertainty about whether Mr. Mousavi himself will attend the event and whether Mr. Rafsanjani will make a decisive move against the system.

The general mood of the protesters in Iran is that of defiance. The fact that the official media does not acknowledge the crisis and acts as if everything is in perfect order leaves people frustrated and angry. Women continue to be most visible on the streets.

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Breaking News – Important Announcement on Mr. Mousavi’s Facebook Site

Dear All,

Earlier today, Mr. Mousavi’s facebook posted a call for a massive rally to be held next Friday, July 17 toward Tehran University where  Ayatollah Hashemi Rafsanjani will deliver the Friday prayer’s sermon  after a month of absence from public. Mr. Mousavi, and Mr. Khatami will  both be present at this important event. This appears to be the move (on  the part of Mr. Hashemi) that everyone was waiting for. Please find the flyer below.  Iranians can access e-mail. Please distribute widely.

Let us hope it will go ahead successfully and peacefully. Read the rest of this entry »

After a long absence, pro-Mousavi cleric Rafsanjani to lead prayers

Majid Ghaemi Heidari is welcomed at Tehran’s Mehrabad airport. He and four other Iranians were freed after 30 months in U.S. custody in Iraq. (Photo: Javad Moghimi / Fars News Agency)

After a long absence, pro-Mousavi cleric Rafsanjani to lead prayers.  Former President Mohammad Khatami reportedly will also attend Iran’s weekly keynote sermon Friday. The reformists’ return to the event can be seen as a challenge to hard-liners or a sign of a truce. Read the rest of this entry »

Hundreds protest in Iran, defying crackdown vow

By NASSER KARIMI – July 9, 2009 (3:45 AM EDT)

TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — Hundreds of young men and women chanted “death to the dictator” and fled baton-wielding police in the capital Thursday as opposition activists sought to revive street protests despite authorities’ vows to “smash” any new marches. Read the rest of this entry »

Key Iran cleric’s party dismisses vote results

The statement by Ayatollah Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani’s party heightens the confrontation between President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s camp and supporters of reformist challenger Mir-Hossein Mousavi.

By Borzou Daragahi in the Los Angeles Times on July 7, 2009

Reporting from Beirut — A day after commanders of the Revolutionary Guard warned there was no middle ground in the dispute over the reelection of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the political party of one of Iran’s most powerful clerics Monday defiantly issued a statement dismissing the vote. Read the rest of this entry »

Mousavi reportedly will launch political party in Iran

Opposition candidate’s supporters describe plans in a reformist newspaper. Iranian officials release a jailed European journalist and a lawyer says a British Embassy worker will be freed soon.

By Borzou Daragahi – Published July 6, 2009 for the Los Angeles Time

Reporting from Beirut — The top figure of Iran’s nascent political reform movement, opposition presidential candidate Mir-Hossein Mousavi, will launch a political party to pursue his goals, a reformist newspaper reported Sunday. Read the rest of this entry »