By Abbas Djavadi — Will Iran’s uranium-enrichment work, which has provoked much alarm that Tehran could be seeking to build nuclear weapons, trigger a nuclear-arms race in the Middle East? So far, the answer is no. Since 2005, more than… به خواندن ادامه دهید ›
English
A Trial In Tehran: Their Only ‘Crime’ — Their Faith
By Abbas Djavadi — Of the hundreds of political prisoners in Iranian jails, there is one group, probably the only one, who have been tried and imprisoned not for attending demonstrations and not for writing and speaking publicly against the… به خواندن ادامه دهید ›
With Disappearing Subsidies, Iran’s Annual Inflation Rises To 50%
By Abbas Djavadi, Arash Hassan Nia — A recent pronouncement by Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, appears to have settled a long-standing row between President Mahmud Ahmadinejad’s government and parliament on how to reduce and gradually eliminate government subsidies… به خواندن ادامه دهید ›
Fundamentalist Calls To Ignore Norouz Go Unheard In Iran, Afghanistan
By Abbas Djavadi — Maryam had invited her two daughters and their husbands and grandchildren for Norouz, the New Year’s feast, to her home in western Tehran when I called her on Saturday. It was after 9:02 p.m. when «tahvil,»… به خواندن ادامه دهید ›
Whoever Is «Waging War Against God» In Iran
By Abbas Djavadi — How did Mohammad Amin Valian, a 20-year-old student from Damghan, land in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps› (IRGC) infamous Special Detention Center No. 209 of Tehran’s Evin Prison? Valian comes from a religious family and is… به خواندن ادامه دهید ›
After Elections, Iran Remains A Major Player In Iraq
By Abbas Djavadi – On March 7, millions of Iraqis «made their mark» and participated in the country’s second, generally fair and democratic post-Saddam Hussein parliamentary elections — an event that is exemplary for Iraq’s Arab and Iranian neighbors. Among… به خواندن ادامه دهید ›
Iran’s Fears And Hopes As Iraqis Vote
By Abbas Djavadi — Imagine the following: The de facto independent Kurdistan Regional Government in northern Iraq declares independence, secedes from Iraq, and inspires Kurds in Turkey and Iran to join a «Greater Kurdistan.» Shi’ite Arab parties in Iraq follow… به خواندن ادامه دهید ›
Shi’a Islam Vs. The Islamic Republic
By Abbas Djavadi — Recently, Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, Iraq’s highest Shi’ite authority, urged voters to turn out for that country’s March 7 parliamentary elections. He warned that that failure to do so would «allow some to achieve illegitimate goals.»… به خواندن ادامه دهید ›
Iran: No News Is Bad News On Mother Language Day
By Abbas Djavadi — After Tehran’s massive state show of power during the February 11 celebration of the anniversary of the Islamic revolution and the harsh crackdown on all protests since the disputed presidential election in June, it would require… به خواندن ادامه دهید ›
Zahra And Millions Like Her
By Abbas Djavadi — Zahra is a nurse working at the Beheshti Hospital in the central Iranian city of Isfahan. Both Zahra and her husband, Arash, a physiotherapist, work hard, with a lot of overtime, to provide for their two… به خواندن ادامه دهید ›
A New Radio for Pakistan’s Pashtuns
By Abbas Djavadi — In the last three months, I have attended job interviews with 40 Pashtun journalists from Pakistan to work for Radio Mashaal, a new service of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, RFE/RL, for Pakistan’s Pashtu-speaking people, especially in… به خواندن ادامه دهید ›
The Ashura of My Younger Years
By Abbas Djavadi — December 27 is Ashura, the 10th day of the month Muharram of the Islamic calendar. It is commemorated to mark the day of martyrdom of Imam Hussein, the Prophet Muhammad’s grandson, in the year 61 of… به خواندن ادامه دهید ›
The Iranian Regime Would Do Anything to Survive
(In Czech language) Pro své přežití udělá íránský režim cokoli. Nedá se mu věřit Pohřeb ajatolláha Alího Montazerího, na němž v pondělí protestovaly desetitisíce Íránců, byl poslední ukázkou, v jak vratké situaci se letos íránský režim ocitl. Sporné volby, radikalizace… به خواندن ادامه دهید ›
Iran Is Likely To See A Harsher Crackdown
By Abbas Djavadi – There are fears that the Iranian regime may intensify the crackdown on the opposition in the next few weeks. Six months after a rigged presidential election wherein Mahmud Ahmadinejad was hastily confirmed the winner, the resistance… به خواندن ادامه دهید ›
My Personal Experience With Blogging and Facebook
(In Persian) تجربه یک ساله من با وبلاگ و فیس بوک .حدودیک سال پیش من وب سایت — و یا طوریکه میگویند بلاگ و یا وبلاگ — شخصی خودم را باز کردم، همین که الان باز کرده و میخوانید …. به خواندن ادامه دهید ›
“Turkey’s Kissinger”
During a recent televized discussion on foreign policy, six former Turkish foreign ministers recently rated Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu’s performance with eight out of a maximum of 10 points. The six included some harsh Social Democrat critics of the current… به خواندن ادامه دهید ›
“Turkey’s Kissinger”
During a recent televized discussion on foreign policy, six former Turkish foreign ministers recently rated Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu’s performance with eight out of a maximum of 10 points. The six included some harsh Social Democrat critics of the current… به خواندن ادامه دهید ›
Iran: The Media Can Make It
Speaking at a conference of Islamic countries› national radio and TV networks, Iran’s President Mahmud Ahmadinejad recently said that the media are the main tool Western powers use to overthrow other governments. «Nuclear, chemical, or biological weapons are just a… به خواندن ادامه دهید ›
Rosa and Amir
از خون جوانان وطن لاله دمیده They were young and vibrant. Optimistic and hopeful. Open and lovely. Smiling and fun. Hard working and helpful. Educated and dedicated — to their families, friends, their country and to freedom. In the morning… به خواندن ادامه دهید ›
Iranians And Jerusalem
By Abbas Djavadi – This coming Friday, September 18, is the «Day of Jerusalem» in Iran. Ayatollah Rouhollah Khomeini, the founder of the Islamic Republic of Iran, in chorus with some other Islamic countries and organizations, declared the last Friday of… به خواندن ادامه دهید ›
Iran’s Khamenei On Crash Course
For the past couple of months, we thought some kind of spring was coming to our beloved Iran. We deserved it, we thought, finally, after so many years of un-freedom, state-ideological one-way-turbo-course, and international isolation and humiliation. But after the… به خواندن ادامه دهید ›
An Electoral Coup in Iran
By Abbas Djavadi – It was a night of fundamental change of the Islamic Republic of Iran. It was, however, not the change the overwhelming majority of the electorate indicated to be producing with their real votes yesterday, but a… به خواندن ادامه دهید ›
Ahmadinejad For Four More Years?
Abbas Djavadi – The uncertainty over whether or not conservative forces in Iran will throw their support behind incumbent Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s bid for a second presidential term is dissipating. On April 25, a coalition of 14 conservative and clerical parties… به خواندن ادامه دهید ›
Ahmadinejad — An Embarrassment for Iran
By Abbas Djavadi – In a first reaction to President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s speech at the UN conference in Geneva, Ahmad Moussavi from Iran wrote on Radio Farda’s Facebook page: «I am ashamed as an Iranian. And I don’t know what… به خواندن ادامه دهید ›
The Turkish-Armenian Thaw And Azerbaijan
President Obama’s recent visit to Turkey gave it a big boost. But a Turkish-Armenian rapprochement was in the works even before Obama was elected U.S. president. Now, Baku is upset that Ankara and Yerevan are about to make a deal sidelining… به خواندن ادامه دهید ›
The Turkish-Armenian Thaw And Azerbaijan
By Abbas Djavadi – President Obama’s recent visit to Turkey gave it a big boost. But a Turkish-Armenian rapprochement was in the works even before Obama was elected U.S. president. Now, Baku is upset that Ankara and Yerevan are about to… به خواندن ادامه دهید ›
Ergenekon, AKP, And Turkey’s Local Elections
By Abbas Djavadi – On August 13, 1994, a helicopter landed in the Kurdish village of Kirkagac, near the town of Cizre in southeastern Turkey. Men in camouflage fatigues stormed houses and took away six men, leaving behind their wives,… به خواندن ادامه دهید ›
Landing In Jail for Treating Political Prisoners
By Abbas Djavadi – Dr. Hessam Firoozi (photo, left), a physician who has treated dozens of political prisoners in Iran including Akbar Ganji, Ahmad Batebi (photo, right), and dissident Ayatollah Borujerdi, was sentenced to one year in prison and sent… به خواندن ادامه دهید ›
Roxana Saberi Still In Jail
By Abbas Djavadi – The Committe to Protect Journalists asked Iran to make public the charges against Roxana Saberi, an Iranian-American journalist who was arrested on January 31. Spokesmen of Iranian Foreign Ministry and Justice Authority had confirmed the arrest… به خواندن ادامه دهید ›
“Free Womens’ Rights Activists!”
By Abbas Djavadi – A month ago, Aliyeh Eqdam-Doost was arrested in her native town of Fooman and transferred to the infamous prison of Evin in Tehran. Why? Because she attended a peaceful demonstration two years ago in Tehran of… به خواندن ادامه دهید ›
In Today’s Iran, Anything Else Is “Blasphemy”
“By Abbas Djavadi – In Islamic law, there is a principle of respect for the human being and his or her life and property, irrespective of his or her religion, confession, race, and sex..” This is a quote from no… به خواندن ادامه دهید ›
Iranian Writers Protest Repression
By Abbas Djavadi – The Iranian Writers› Association has issued a statement protesting repression and persecution against «different groups of the Iranian society» in the recent months. The report, dated February 23, notes that «in the last few months, along… به خواندن ادامه دهید ›
World Concerned About Iranian Baha’i Leaders’ Fate
By Abbas Djavadi – In separate statements, German Chansellor Angela Merkel and European Union expressed deep concern about the fate of seven Baha’i leaders who were arrested months ago, facing charges of «acting against Iran’s national security» and «spying for… به خواندن ادامه دهید ›
Turkey: An Important Regional Player
By Abbas Djavadi – On February 16, U.S. President Barack Obama called his Turkish counterpart Abdullah Gul and Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan to affirm the new U.S. administration’s support for Turkey’s «leading role» in the Middle East, Afghanistan,… به خواندن ادامه دهید ›
Iranian Sufi Worship House Destroyed
By Abbas Djavadi – On February 18, Iranian authorities destroyed a house of worship of Gonabadi dervishes. The house was attached to the tomb of the mystic philosopher and poet Nasser Ali at the historical Takht-e Foulad cemetry near Isfahan. The… به خواندن ادامه دهید ›
Afghanistan: A Failed State, But Maybe Not Completely Hopeless
By Abbas Djavadi – At the recent Munich Security Conference, Afghan President Hamid Karzai demonstrated optimism about Afghanistan. Things are improving, he said, and the West should provide more support to crack down Al-Qa’eda and other terrorist groups. He categorically rejected the… به خواندن ادامه دهید ›
How the World May Look Like in 15 Years…
By Abbas Djavadi – The US will lose its single super power role, but remain the most powerful nation, though less dominant. A global multipolar system will emerge with the rise of China, India, and others. The power and influence of… به خواندن ادامه دهید ›
They Could Be Executed Next Week
By Abbas Djavadi – Yesterday, deputy Tehran prosecutor Hassan Haddad was quoted by semi-official news agency Isna, saying that Iran’s seven imprisoned Baha’i leaders (see photo) will be going on trial next week on charges of «acting against the Islamic Republic»… به خواندن ادامه دهید ›
Ahmadinejad vs. Khatami
By Abbas Djavadi – With former President Mohammad Khatami running for presidency on June 12, Iranians will have the choice between him and the incumbent president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Do we really need to argue why Ahmadinejad’s reelection would be a… به خواندن ادامه دهید ›
Thirty Years of Islamic Revolution
I wrote this three years ago, on the 30th anniversary of the Islamic Revolution. I’d not say that much has changed in the last three years. Things have maybe gone even worse. By Abbas Djavadi – Iran’s Islamic Revolution didn’t… به خواندن ادامه دهید ›
Distributing Iran’s Oil Wealth?
By Abbas Djavadi – In 2005, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was elected Iran’s president on the promise to distribute the country’s oil wealth among the poor. After his election, he approved grants and subsidies, disregarded advice by state budget office, and ordered the… به خواندن ادامه دهید ›
“We Are Ashamed!”
By Abbas Djavadi – A group of Iranian writers, academics, artists, journalists, and activists from around the world signed an open letter to the Baha’i community, apologizing for the persecution of the Baha’i faithful in Iran in the last century and… به خواندن ادامه دهید ›
Turkey Doesn’t Deserve This
By Abbas Djavadi – Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s fiery exchange with Israeli President Shimon Peres on January 29 at the World Economic Forum in Davos may earn him votes in Turkey’s next municipal elections in March this year… به خواندن ادامه دهید ›
Iraq, Turkey, Iran Vulnerable To Ethnic Conflict
Occasionally, I have heated discussions with my Turkish and Kurdish friends. Most of those from Iraq’s Kurdistan region, emboldened by the region’s semi-independence from Baghdad and its current relative stability, warn that it would declare independence if things fall apart… به خواندن ادامه دهید ›
Leave the Dead in Peace!
By Abbas Djavadi – South of Tehran, there is a cemetery called Khavaran with hundreds of individual and mass, unmarked graves. In the past, it was used as a graveyard for religious minorities such as Hindus, Christians, and recently Baha’is…. به خواندن ادامه دهید ›
“Banu, Our Lady…”
By Abbas Djavadi – Simin Behbahani, prominent Iranian poetess and women’s rights activist, received the «Simone de Beauvoir Prize for Women’s Freedom» in Paris on January 21. The prize recognizes the work and actions of individuals who contribute to the… به خواندن ادامه دهید ›
The Specter of “Soft Overthrow”
By Abbas Djavadi – A specter is haunting the Islamic Republic of Iran — the specter of “soft overthrow.” A week ago Iranian authorities announced that four individuals were soon to face a court process for plotting a “US-backed soft… به خواندن ادامه دهید ›
Thank You, America!
By Abbas Djavadi – Could you imagine a Saudi Arabia where you have a parliament with elected representatives of the people elected by the people who select a government to run the country… with a king who just represents the… به خواندن ادامه دهید ›
Past And Future And Our Region
By Abbas Djavadi – «The Gaza conflict is a fitting end to the Bush presidency,» said Francis Fukuyama, author of The End of History, to Financial Times. «Israel is applying the original Bush doctrine in Gaza, which says that politics… به خواندن ادامه دهید ›
Baha’is Persecuted in Iran
By Abbas Djavadi – This is actually «no news» for today’s Iran. Iranian human rights organizations report that last Wednesday security forces raided the homes of 10 Baha’i families in Tehran, confiscated religious books, documents, and computers; and arrested six… به خواندن ادامه دهید ›
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