According to Iranian news website Mashregh, Hossein Derakhshan, known as Iran’s “blogfather” has been released on a bail of $1.5 million after 26 months in prison. Derakhshan had received a 19-and-a-half year prison sentence, with charges including “implementation and management of obscene websites” and “cooperation with hostile states”. He is expected to return to prison shortly.
Iranian authorities have sentenced a web designer to death for allegedly creating a pornographic website. Canadian resident Saeed Malekpour, 35, was convicted of “designing and moderating adult content websites,” “agitation against the regime” in Tehran, and “insulting the sanctity of Islam”. Malekpour was detained in Iran in 2008 when he returned to visit his father.
Reading The Economist’s Bagehot blog, earlier this week its writer’s dismissal of Britain’s student protests with “The revolution will be along later” was resonant of the final analysis many made of Iran’s “Green” movement: despite the unforgettable mass post-election uprising — in which Iran’s students were central to the movement, upholding the historic role of Iran’s universities as the hub of political thought and activity— there has been little change in Iran, let alone a revolution.
Bagehot’s commentary also called to my mind that Iran’s Student Day is nearly here. Naturally 16 Azar (7 December) presents a platform for the students’ voices. Last year the day exuded added fervour as students used 16 Azar to resume their previously silenced protest at the “stolen” election. One year on, Iranian students at universities in Iran and worldwide prepare in solidarity with the movement, with slogans of “Ma Amadeim”, “We are Ready” and “The University is Alive”.
16 Azar was named after the killing of three Tehran University students on that day in 1953. The police opened fire on students demonstrating against US vice president Richard Nixon’s visit following a US-sponsored coup earlier that year. A good synopsis of this day’s history can be read here.
The last 12 months have seen a mass exodus of Iran’s intelligentsia and student leaders to safer lands, and many others languish in Iran’s prisons. “Revolution” it may not be, but expect to hear Iran’s students reciting Yar-e Dabestani(My Soul/Classmate) the freedom poem written by Mansour Tehrani
Ma Zendeh Be Aaneem Ke Aaraam Nageereem We are alive by virtue of our restlessness Mojeem Ke Asoodegi-y-e-Ma Adam-e-Maast We are like waves that die through calm Yar-e-Dabestani-y-e-man My old school mate Ba Man-o-Hamrah-e-Manee You are with me and by my side Choob-e-Alefe Barsar-e-Ma When the cane is wielded over our heads Boghz-e-Man-o-Aah-e-Manee You share my pain and anguish Hak Shodeh Esm’e Man-o-To Engraved are the names of you and I Rooy-e-Een Takhte Siyah On this blackboard Tark-e-y-e-Beedaad-e-Setam Scars of the lashes of tyranny Maandeh Hanooz Roo Tan-e-Ma Have stayed on our bodies
Dasht-e-Bi-Farhang-e-Ma Our culturally desolate wilderness Harz-e Tamaam-e-Alafhaayash All but weeds. Khoob Age Khoob Bad Age Bad Be it good or bad Dast-e-Man-o To Baayad Een Pardeh Raa Paareh Konad My hands and your hands have to tear down this curtain Kee Be Joz Man-o-To Dard-e-Maaro Chaare Konad Who other than you or I will find the cure to our ills Yar-e-Dabestani-y-e-Man.
An arrest warrant has been issued for the son of Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani. Mehdi Hashemi, whose father is an influential cleric and former president known for his opposition to President Mahmound Ahmadinejad, has been living in Britain since last year’s election. Although no specific reason for the warrant has been given, hardliners have accused him of encouraging anti-government demonstrations. During last year’s protests, authorities briefly detained the cleric’s daughter.
