Lots coming in today from people in country, and others here in the U.S. of A. I will keep this page popping with letters from friends, video, news stories, whatever seems right.
All best to everyone and your struggle, whatever it may be.
JACK Continue reading “September 18, 2009: UPDATES FROM IRAN”
From August 13th: Iran inmates ‘tortured to death’
From August 11th: Iran admits 4,000 June detentions
From August 10th: Probe urged into Iran jail ‘rape’
From August 6th: Iranian prisoner abuse punished
TEXT OF STORIES republished below Continue reading “Recent news from the BBC on Iranian prisoners”
On the John
What they will do.
Originally completed August 10, 2009
The rally begins with hugs. They all do. Hugs between old friends, between new friends who are now old friends, between Iranians and non-Iranians. Hugs, kisses on each cheek, hearty handshakes and Great-to-see-you!’s and smiles and kindness and tender eyes. They all begin that way.
Come to an Iranian protest, and you will see strength, yes. You will see determination and vision and patriotism. But before those: friendship, camaraderie, a celebration of life. A true and joyous spirit! They greet as family, while outsiders are treated as invited guests. During my nearly two months of involvement covering the Chicago Iranian movement, I have always felt fully welcome by these people. Continue reading “On the John: What they will do. [An essay on the Iranian approach]”
A good column here from Jason Rezaian of tehranbureau.com, about the reality behind the Iranian trial currently in progress. Enjoy. Continue reading “From Jason Rezaian, on the Iran show trials”
The following is the proclamation made by Chicago Iranians on August 5th, 2009. It is a response to the Inauguration that day in Tehran for the disputed re-election of president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. The rally was held at 6:30 pm in Daley Plaza, and lasted until 8:30.
The paragraphs were read by a speaker, while the “FREE IRAN” refrains were chanted by the crowd.
JACK Continue reading “Proclamation of Iranians at Chicago’s anti-Ahmadinejad rally, August 5th 2009”
It was been two days since I have been outside the tall barred walls. Two days ago at this time I was in a long narrow hallway on the second floor of 209 (Evin Prison), wearing a prison chador and blindfolds, sitting and waiting for someone to come take me outside and after 12 days tell me: take off your blindfolds!
And this is the meaning of freedom, which in all those days did not reveal its azure face; on all those days, which I paced back and forth in my cell with thoughts of Darya; a girl, who like all the children in the world, had not chosen her mother. On all those days, in the morning, noon and night I would tell myself, you have chosen your own career but she has not chosen to have a mother who is active in the women’s movement, a mother who runs from day until night and at night falls asleep while still in front of the computer. She has not chosen for her mother, for the second time, to end up in 209, a place that you neither have control over going to nor control over leaving, a purgatorial place filled with the crippling sense of paralysis. Continue reading “Shadi Sadr’s first note following her release”
August 1st, 2009, a letter to my non-Iranian Iran-supporting friends:
“What led to your initial involvement with the Iran conflict? How has your experience with the Iranian conflict evolved during your time participating?” Continue reading “‘Why did you get involved?’”
July 28th, 2009, a letter to my new Iranian friends: “When the rallying began, the focus was on the election. Now, that focus has shifted to the brutality, violence, and jailings. In light of that, what is victory? What will victory be? What is the goal?” Continue reading “‘What is victory? What is the goal?’”
During Chicago’s portion of the Global Day of Action for Iran, on Saturday, July 25th, 2009, U.S. journalist and former Iranian prisoner Roxana Saberi delivered a moving speech about the realities of free speech in the U.S. vs. in Iran, and the ongoing struggle in Iran for basic, human rights. I have decided to transcribe this speech so that people may read her words along with the audio posted below. More to come from me tomorrow on Saturday’s event.—Jack
ROXANA SABERI:
Thank you all so much. I met a few of you when I was waiting here for my time to talk, and I’ve been very, very touched—first of all, that all of you turned out here on this very important day, and that you’re speaking out for those Iranians whose voices can’t be heard as well, and also for those of you who supported me as some of you said. Thank you so much. Continue reading “Transcript of Roxana Saberi’s speech, July 25th 2009, Chicago”
After the vigil at Water Tower, June 24th, I bumped into a man with whom I had first spoken on Saturday the 20th at the rally at Daley Plaza. The following is our conversation…
[ALSO, for more on the subject of ‘victory,’ click here. And for the non-Iranian perspective, click here. -JACK]
People are fighting for democracy and freedom. And when they get it, that’s victory. The victory is a free Iran. It’s been going on for the past 70 or 80 years. People want democracy, the only country in that region that wants democracy. And they’ve been doing it for 70, 80 years. The only reason they couldn’t be successful is because there’s a lot of oil over there. Continue reading “Words from Iran: June 24, 2009, a conversation”
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