RSS MAD

8/23/2008

AMNESTY INTERNATIONAl



Public Statement



AI Index: MDE 13/118/2008

19 August 2008



Iran: The 20th anniversary of 1988 "prison massacre"



Twenty years after the then Iranian authorities began a wave of largely secret, summary and mass executions in September 1988, Amnesty International renews its call for those responsible for the “prison massacre” to be held accountable. There should be no impunity for such gross human rights violations, regardless of when they were committed.



The organisation is also calling on the present Iranian government not to prevent relatives of the dead from visiting Khavaran Cemetary in south Tehran , on or about 29 August to mark the anniversary and demand justice for their loved ones. Hundreds of those summarily executed are buried in the cemetery, many of them in unmarked mass graves.



Amnesty International fears that the Iranian authorities may seek to impede or disperse any protests and reminds the Iranian government of its obligations under international law to allow for those who gather peacefully to express their views without fear of arrest.



International human rights law requires that the Iranian authorities carry out thorough and impartial investigations into violations of the right to life such as those which were committed during the “prison massacre”, which began in 1988 and continued into the following year, and to identify and bring to justice those responsible. The failure to do so to date and the time that has elapsed since the killings do not in any way reduce this responsibility.



Those responsible for the killings – one of the worst abuses to be committed in Iran – should be prosecuted and tried before a regularly and legally constituted court and with all necessary procedural guarantees, in accordance with international fair trial standards. If found guilty, they should be punished with appropriate penalties which take into account the grave nature of the crimes but which do not include the death penalty or corporal punishments.



Background

Starting in August 1988 and continuing until shortly before the tenth anniversary of the Islamic revolution in February 1989, the Iranian authorities carried out massive wave of executions of political prisoners – the largest since those carried out in the first and second year after the Iranian revolution in 1979. In all between 4,500 and 5,000 prisoners are believed to have been killed, including women.

For further information, see Amnesty International’s report, Iran: Violations of human rights 1987-1990 (AI Index MDE 13/21/90).

END/

Public Document

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For more information please call Amnesty International's press office in London , UK , on +44 20 7413 5566 or email: press@amnesty.org

International Secretariat, Amnesty International, 1 Easton St., London WC1X 0DW , UK

8/17/2008

More than Just another Overthrow: Let’s Not Forget Mossadeq in Iran

By: Faramarz Farbod
August 15, 2008
--------------------------------------------


Fifty-five years ago this week, in mid-August of 1953, Dr. Mohammad Mossadeq, the prime minister of Iran, was toppled in a royalist coup code-named Operation AJAX by its US and British backers. The coup delivered a severe blow to the cause of constitutionalism, democracy, and the rule of law in Iran, and ultimately altered the path of politics there, in the region, and globally in ways that ought to be familiar to discerning readers today.

Recently, fully a third of my students in a class of thirty on the politics of the Middle East identified Dr. Mossadeq as the founder of the religion of Islam! And no, I don’t think Mossadeq’s name will resonate any better with the North American public at large. For the political managers and the mainstream media in the US have not shown any sustained inclination to inform the public of the crimes of the state they serve. They fear that an informed citizenry aroused by its sense of moral outrage may act as an unstoppable agent of humanizing change. But ignorance about Mossadeq and his fate renders a proper understanding of how and why global politics has come to its present disastrous course in the Middle East and beyond rather unlikely. So let’s break the silence on this epochal event and remind ourselves of what had taken place, why, and what it has meant for us all.

Mossadeq’s cardinal sin was that he had the audacity to nationalize British imperial property in Iran in 1951 in the form of the British-owned Anglo-Iranian Oil Company, which had a monopoly over this most important Iranian asset for more than four decades. To punish Iran the west imposed an embargo on her sale of oil. The ensuing economic hardship created a climate of disaffection and subversion, which set the stage for the US/UK-backed Operation AJAX and the removal of Mossadeq from office by force. Mossadeq was charged with treason in a military court, sentenced to three years in jail, banned from the history books, and later exiled and kept under house arrest in a remote village of his birth until his death in 1967.

August 1953 marks the end of Iran’s only significant experiment with parliamentary democracy, which had been accompanied by great popular mobilization and struggle. The coup restored unrestrained royalist rule. The shah established martial law until 1957, meted out harsh treatment to those who had defied him and his Western masters, settled the oil question in 1954 in favor of a western consortium of oil interests, embarked on an uneven economic modernization program, introduced social reforms, built a vast army, but never allowed any degree of political development to take effect in the country. The US meanwhile dramatically increased its aid to the coup regime from $33 million between 1946 and 1952 to $501 million between 1953 and 1957. In 1957 the shah, aided by the US and Israeli intelligence agencies, established Savak, a dreaded secret state police, to ensure that no other Mossadeqs would ever arise in Iran again.

As a New York Times editorial makes abundantly clear, the Anglo-US imperial planners shared the shah’s latter objective. The editorialists, articulating the interests of the ruling elite a year after the infamous coup, write:
…the affair may yet be proved worthwhile if lessons are learned from it. Underdeveloped countries with rich resources now have an object lesson in the heavy cost that must be paid by one of their number which goes berserk with fanatical nationalism. It is perhaps too much to hope that Iran's experience will prevent the rise of Mossadeghs in other countries, but that experience may at least strengthen the hands of more reasonable and more far-reaching leaders.

Unlike the shah’s parochial interests, the US planners were concerned with making an example out of Mossadeq’s insubordination to western capitalist interests in order to check forces of independent resource nationalism not just in Iran but elsewhere in western controlled domains. That is what to “prevent the rise of Mossadeghs in other countries” means. Thus regardless of its impeccable democratic credentials, and its promise, Mossadeqism had to be crushed.

The US elite opinion makers also display their own form of parochialism associated with their imperial consciousness. They offer shortsighted analysis that fails to understand and account for the potential long-term consequences of imperialism for peoples at home and abroad. For an instance of this, note how the Times editorialists only warn of “the heavy cost” the “fanatical” nationalists must pay for their insubordination to colonial dictates. Arrogance of power prevents them from seeing a fuller range of the consequences flowing from nefarious interventions in the affairs of others.

It did not occur to the imperial mindset of the editorialists that the US had managed with a single act in 1953 to severely diminish its moral capital in Iran and the region. The sympathy the US had once shown the Iranian constitutionalists during the Constitutional Revolution of 1905-11 had now become a thing of the past. It did not occur to them that in due course the anger of Iranians might turn into a rage against both the increasingly authoritarian shah and his consistent western backers. It did not occur to them that undermining secular, liberal nationalism may lead to mobilization and consolidation of opposition forces by the obscurantist Islamist opponents of the regime who would alone have access to sufficient institutional resources (network of mosques) to mount a challenge against the shah and enjoy a strategic position from which to dictate the postrevolutionary agenda and conquer political power. It did not occur to them that undermining liberal constitutionalism through a foreign-backed coup would help poison the political culture of Iran by freezing the development of foundational republican virtues such as trust, honesty, courage, civility, citizenship, and respect and cultivating instead cynicism, mistrust, suspicion, servility and pretentiousness.

Further obliviousness is evident when after the victory of militant Islamists in Iran, and the boost it gave to politics of Islamic identity in the region and beyond, Washington set out, astonishingly, to mobilize an army of fanatical Sunni Jihadists from across the Arab world in order to bloody the former USSR’s nose in Afghanistan. Washington’s Jihadi wars did defeat the Soviets by the end of the eighties, with help from Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, thereby handing militant Islamists yet another significant victory. Soon after, in the late nineties, the Taliban took control of the ruins of the destroyed state of Afghanistan and made its famous alliance with Bin Laden. The rest is history, or rather is the present as history, with even greater displays of unawareness or indifference by the state officials to the plight of victims, peoples, and regions, and the rule of law at home and abroad, as Bush II has used the cover of “war on terror” to pursue maddening dreams of empire that have produced as yet another destroyed state this time in the heart of the Arab world with consequences that are hard to imagine today.

Silence about state atrocities abroad is another hallmark of the imperial consciousness. It is instructive that despite official claims that 9-11 has changed everything, and more specifically that Washington has since 9-11 rejected the pre-9-11 foreign policy of privileging stability over liberty and democracy, in particular as it relates to the Middle East region, and at a time of a tense US/Iran standoff, no one that matters in the US notices the anniversary of the 1953 overthrow of democracy in Iran, which is arguably the first act in the narrative that leads to 9-11 and beyond. Such a silence at a time like this speaks volumes about the nature of things among us that are far more durable than is readily admitted, acknowledged, or wished away by propagandists of all stripes for the imperial state.

8/13/2008

Recently a few people have contacted US media specialty VOA, and intoduced themselves as INF(inside Iran) represntatives abroad. INF and the Leadership Council in Iran have announced numerous times that there is no organic relationship with activists abroad, and INF has no represetatives outside of Iran.
INF-US was established in Washington D.C.in 1996. Admiral Ahmad Madani was the secretary general of INF-Abroad. He passed away in Feb. 2006, but more than 100 members of INF_US remain active, and a seven member executive committee carries INF -US affairs. These affairs are mostly a reflection of the activities of INF inside Iran (defending political prisoners rights and promoting the women movement in Iran, as well as the students and workers movement). INF-US has offices in Boston, L.A., Northern California, and Washington D.C.Despite the fact that INF-US is the largest organization among the many INF groups abroad, we do not interfere with INF rules and regulations inside Iran. Furthermore, we have always respected their wishes.
Abroad, there are smaller factions of INF. However, these factions sometimes work against each other. Furthermore, personal problems have diverted the focus of the INF message established by our beloved leader, Dr.Mossadegh, who founded INF in 1948. He established INF for the purpose of nationalizing the oil Industry In Iran. His message stated the principles of independence, freedom, and social justice for Iran.

Bijan Mehr
INF-US
Public Relation Office

7/27/2008

Q&A;: Iran's Islamic Revolution Had Western Blessing
Interview with Iranian journalist and author Roozbeh Mirebrahimi

Roozbeh Mirebrahimi (left) and Abbas Amir-Entezam.



NEW YORK, Jul 26 (IPS) - In his new book on the covert history of Iran's 1979 Islamic Revolution, award-winning journalist Roozbeh Mirebrahimi says that Western powers, including the United States, accelerated events by recognising and supporting religious revolutionary forces, forcing the shah to leave the country and averting a coup by Iran's army.

In 1953, the United States had deposed the popular government of Prime Minister Mohammed Mosaddeq and his cabinet via a CIA-backed coup d'état. Anti-communist civilians and army officers supported the coup.

Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi's second departure from Iran, almost a month before the victory of the revolution in February 1979, had dramatically raised concerns among the leaders of the revolution that Washington would try to stage another coup to bring back the shah, who had fled to the United States. However, diplomats who were at the centre of events say that an accommodation was reached between Western countries and Iran's Islamic clergy.

In an interview with IPS correspondent Omid Memarian, Mirebrahimi said that the role of the West in facilitating the revolution has been largely ignored, particularly by the Iranian government itself. His Farsi-language book, "Untold Aspects of the Iranian Revolution" (Khazaran, 2008) is based on an extensive interview with Abbas Amir-Entezam, the spokesman and deputy prime minister in the interim cabinet of Mehdi Bazargan in 1979.

Amir-Entezam, now Iran's longest-serving political prisoner, was an ambassador to Scandinavian countries during the hostage crisis at the U.S. Embassy. He was accused of spying for the U.S., arrested and sentenced to death in 1981. This was later reduced to life in prison without possibility of parole. Critics suggest the charges were retaliation against his early opposition to theocratic government in Iran.

IPS: There are rumours of a meeting between the French president's representative and Ayatollah Khomeini in Paris, prior to the revolution. What was the significance of this meeting?

RM: While Khomeini was in exile in Neauphle-le-Chateau near Paris and leading the revolution, he was asked by the current world powers to meet and to have a dialogue. He raised some demands, including the shah's removal from Iran and help in avoiding a coup d'état by the Iranian Army. On the other side of the table, the western powers had certain demands too. They were worried about the Soviet Union's empowerment and penetration and a disruption in Iran's oil supply to the west. Khomeini gave the necessary guarantees. These meetings and contacts were taking place in January of 1979, just a few days before the Islamic Revolution in February 1979.

IPS: What made these same western countries turn against Khomeini and others just months after 1979 Revolution?

RM: Western powers had been monitoring the political and social changes inside Iran for a long time. They had been trying to understand the internal changes in Iran through the forces they had in Iran or the people they would send to Iran, such as [former U.S. attorney general] Ramsey Clark. They had realised that Iranian society was on the verge of a fundamental change. They chose to accommodate this change. After recognising the opposition groups, they facilitated them with opportunities such as media coverage. Through this action, changes accelerated with an unexpected speed. In the next stage, in order to prevent the Soviet Union from taking advantage of these changes, amongst all existing opposition groups they chose the religious forces to stand against communism, which was anti-religion by nature.

IPS: But why after the revolution did they turn against them?

RM: I would say because of the revolutionary atmosphere inside Iran and actions of the empowered radicals, this relationship faced challenges.

IPS: Why did U.S. officials trust Ayatollah Khomeini enough to negotiate with him?

RM: [William H.] Sullivan, the U.S. ambassador to Iran, was keeping a very close watch over Iran's internal affairs and analysing all the developments. All the army and military affairs, all the macro-level decisions and reactions by the Shah's regime, all the activities of the religious forces, activities of the communists, and all other revolutionary forces were monitored by him. According to documents and books published in the United States and other western countries, around September 1978, four months before the revolution, it was clear that the shah could no longer stay, and that they should be looking for a way to reach an agreement with the opposition. All the contacts and dialogues picked up pace during this time. The religious forces that were surrounding Khomeini at the time were people like Yazdi, Bazargan, Bani sadr, Ghotbzadeh or among the clergy, people like Beheshti and Motahhari... They were educated and relatively technocratic and the west felt that they could rely on them. After the revolution, this trust and relationship remained intact until the invasion of the U.S. Embassy.

IPS: Why did the hostage-taking occur at a time when the new government under Ayatollah Khomeini had a normal relationship with the U.S.?

RM: Ayatollah Khomeini was opposed to radical actions such as invading the U.S. Embassy. For example, this was not the first time the U.S. Embassy was occupied. Right around those early days of the revolution, during the first 10 days, the U.S. Embassy was occupied for the first time by the leftist forces such as Khalgh and other parallel forces, but this received a very strong reaction from Ayatollah Khomeini who sent Ebrahim Yazdi to the embassy to get the revolutionary occupiers out of there. During the second incident, Khomeini was caught off-guard after the incident had already taken place. Pressure by the radicals at that time caused Khomeini to react by standing behind it. That incident caused Prime Minister Bazargan to resign. Prior to this incident, the relationship of the new government with the west was still quite normal. We should not forget that exactly one day after the revolution, the United States officially recognised the new government.

IPS: So what kind of an impact did all this have on the Islamic Revolution?

RM: This book has several features. First, it reexamines the Islamic Republic's portrayal of the history of the revolution, which is a red line in today's Iran. Secondly, Amir Entezam himself has always been a red line for the regime, which has tried so hard to erase his name from all official records. Thirdly, a person from the new generation, born in the year of the revolution, has done all of this research. And I'm very happy that after five years of all kinds of bans and obstacles, this book is getting published.

7/20/2008

UnitedNations High Commissioner for Human Rights Palais des Nations CH-1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland

Subject: Nomination of Women’s Liberation Movement of Iran for the United Nations Prize in the Field of Human Rights

Your Excellency,

Since the Islamic Republic took power in Iran nearly three decades ago, women of Iran have been treated as second-class citizens, and laws have been instituted in order to deprive Iranian women officially of their basic civil and human rights. The new laws not only stripped Iranian women of their traditional and historical equality with men, but prescribed the most inhumane punishments for any violations of these newly instituted restrictions. A woman is considered half a man in courts, civil disputes, and material comparatives, although in punishments women must take even part of what man must endure. They are forced to dress and behave according to official guidelines and continually harassed, insulted or arrested in the streets, at gatherings, and at places of employment.

During the past three years, suppression of Iranian women has escalated to alarmingly violent levels. There isn’t a day when a number of protestors and women’s rights activists are not beaten, arrested, jailed without cause, sexually mistreated or suspiciously killed, all without any accountability. Woman is treated as a means of providing for man’s needs, rather than as an individual with individual rights.

Women of Iran, from mothers of mature age to young college students, have been protesting their treatment by the regime. During the past three years the protests have gradually grown to a nationwide and international-scale liberation movement. The more the movement has become widespread and outspoken, echoing in the farthest reaches of world public opinion and conscience, the more violently the regime of the Islamic Republic has responded against its leaders and activists. These activists, however, have stood their ground and have not budged under the harassment, threats and violence.

Women’s Liberation Movement of Iran, much like the African-American civil rights movement of the 1960s in the United States, is for liberation from modern day slavery.

What makes the Iranian liberation movement of women different from similar movements in the history of all nations is that Iranian women come from a background and cultural heritage of equality with men, and used to have freedom of movement throughout the levels of civil society—without limitation.

Whereas other women’s movements have been to achieve the civil and human rights they rightly deserved but never had, the Iranian women’s liberation movement is to gain back the rights recently had been taken away from them by the Islamic Republic, through official sanctions and brutality. While the yearning for equal rights is shared by every person, understandably the pain Iranian women have been enduring is higher and the loss of rights more devastating than those who had never experienced equality before in their lives. We must recognize the gravity and the implications of so drastic and so recent a backward slide in the world’s progress toward the realization of universal rights.

Therefore, since we consider Women’s Liberation Movement of Iran within Iran and around the world a symbol of perseverance, a sustained defiance against official violence and brutality, all while keeping their movement civil and peaceful, they deserve to receive the United Nations Human Rights Prize for 2008. Let the legacy of these brave women live long in the history of human rights movements around the world.

Respectfully submitted,

Kourosh Zaim, on behalf of

The leadership council of Iran National Front

Tehran, July 17, 2008

7/17/2008

5/22/2008

Why the Women’s Movement is (more) Successful?

A Sociological Reflection on the Women’s Movement in Iran.

by Aseman Moghadam

A review of the activities and achievements of the women’s movement in Iran, makes clear that for some time this movement has – in many ways and forms - moved ahead of other movements and political efforts. Among others, the freedom of Nazanin 1, pardon of Makrameh 2, the noticeable increase of international solidarity with the “ Change For Equality Campaign”3, the presence of men and youth in this campaign side by side with the women, the questioning of the absolute nature of patriarchal regime, debates on gender taboos as well as the bestowing of the Olaf Palme Prize to Parvin Ardalan, are some of the achievements of the this movement in the past solar (Iranian) year.

Therefore, it is appropriate , that when speaking of the battles fought by the Iranian women, instead of noting and repeating a sense of solidarity with this movement, we earnestly study this movement first within its active structures such as the “ Change For Equality Campaign” and second in its equality seeking aspirations, and view it as a role model in our endeavour to recognize new and effective modes of struggle and action.

Here the questions arise , of what makes the women’s movement in Iran different , and what are the values based on which this movement develops and grows?

The South Korean sociologist Kim Dong-Chun, , has in his research presented a comparative study of the social movements in Korea and Western European countries , and assessed the Korean social movements based on the special conditions and specifications of the developing countries 4. He is of the belief that in the developing countries , social movements further contact between the less well off classes and the intellectual layers of society and grow with reliance on the joint movement of these two. In the opinion of Kim Dong, this is rooted in the fact that the goal of these movements is to bring about radical change in society 5. Kim Dong-chun also is against the dominant Marxist theory in the sociology of social movements which consider class differences as the main force of social action in the developing countries 6 . Supporters of the idea of mobilization of resources, such as Jenkins and McAdam , who pay specific attention to the strategies of social movements , and see these as the representatives and agents of social transformation, stress the fact that in social movements those actors reach their goals who are capable of mobilizing and activating social and human resources to a great and considerable degree. What those who support this theory mean as constituting social resources, is especially the actions and efforts of various social groups and individuals 7. Furthermore, some of those backing the theory of a mobilization of resources, who affiliate themselves with the theory of Political Process, believe that the sources and origination of social movements is a form of reaction and collective response of a layer or layers of society to the given structures- or certain given and yet positive conditions of a society 8. Here positive conditions, however, do not refer to a clear and given possibility for legal , formal and long term change. Rather, special and positive conditions refer to accidental and specific moments which allow the activists of and participants in a social movement to gain courage and momentum.

This article seeks to study and explain the developments in the Iranian Women’s movement, based on these noted three theories.

The Iranian women’s movement flourished once in the aftermath of the Iranian Constitutional Revolution and again during the “reform” period of the seventies and eighties of the current solar calendar Century 9. The origin and cause of this manifestation , was both times in the direct correlation of the existing political currents and ongoing dialogues. Matching the theory of political process with the grounds for the coming into existence of the women’s movement, it is made clear that this movement was in its formation a reaction to the given appropriate political and historical conditions. Here it is necessary to explain that these appropriate conditions do not refer to the suitability of political and historical conditions to the demands of the given movement. It is clear that neither under the tyranny of the Qajar period, nor while Islamic fundamentalists rule, no basic changes had or have taken place, which could allow the women’s movement to lean on and grow. But the social dialogues of these two periods , which themselves came about and grew out of the common bonds with social movements following their political activities and created short term currents as well the existence of suitable conditions for the development of such movements, gave them room for growth.

Leaning on the Political process theory, one can explain the social conditions which surrounded the Iranian women’s movement from the time after the Constitutional Revolution until today and its natural development. And this in the essence that each time, the women’s movement has come about naturally and in reaction to the existing limitations and political as also historical cause and effects. The measure and flow of historical and political phenomena while increasing the common causes of women, encouraged them towards group action.

The Iranian women’s movement, due to its critical and sensitive role, has during its current growth - as in the time after the Constitutional Revolution and in the process of the struggles of the national movement - presented us with a new and tangible model. The model of struggle of the woman’s movement crystallizes itself in the ways and means it chooses to face the restrictions, laws and social phenomena , which Mr. Masoud Behnoud has noted thus, in his article “For March 8th, handcuffs of gold and silver” : “in the male annals of history , they wrote unwillingly of the women’s demonstrations in front of the Shamsolemareh building, when women brought out their pots and pans from under their full veils, and beat on these with their spoons , meaning we are hungry, as the first form of civil protest.” Also he refers to women standing before tanks during the 1953 Coup , at the Amin hozor crossing. If we take these two examples referred to by Mr. Behnoud , as two instances of the struggles of the women’s movement within the last 100 years, it will be made absolutely clear that that Iranian women have entered upon their battles with specific, planned and effective actions.

The unprecedented International solidarity with the Iranian movement within the last years and their success in networking among the various layers of society, throughout the country as well as with organs abroad, can be viewed with the support of those backing the idea of the “mobilization of resources”, as the convincing success of this movement in mobilizing resources and human capital. Although the women’s movement has so far not been able to push back the ruling forces, it has been successful in bringing a large sector of the population - which had in the last decade in their silence and inactivity turned into passive enablers of the regime - to its own side and encouraging them into action and expression of opinion. Although the women’s movement has (yet) to bring forward a reevaluation of the Koran and has not achieved a change in the laws, it has by questioning Shariah (the body of Islamic religious law), broken the taboo of absolute adherence to these. It is fitting to say that the slogan of civil disobedience that has for many years been advertised by the different sections of the opposition, and yet due to the lack of the adequate political and activist structures been reduced to the pushing back of the veil or wearing a modified version of the mandatory female “uniform”, was under the influence of the formation and demands of the women’s movement not only made operative , but went further than the limitations of dress and veil, to cover a disobedience of the Shariah laws. Although, it is far too early for us to consider these developments as a form of social transformation in its classical sense

as viewed by the supporters of the theory of mobilization of resources. However it is clear that according to this theory , the women’s movement as the representative and agent of social change , especially through its success in activating human resources and in gaining the support and backing of various social groups, has taken a constructive step in the process of the transformation of society.

The pliant and fluid soul of the women’s movement on the one hand, and its effective activities on the other , have furthered its reach among the various layers of the society and allowed greater harmony with the mode, culture and atmosphere which exists in this society; so that the sum of these specifics creates a suitable condition for the growth , and meaningful as well as attractive influence of this movement within the society. The promotion and realization of the real steps and demands among the various layers of society, especially within the last several years for example via the“ Change For Equality Campaign”, is in verification of the view of the Korean sociologist, Kim Dong-chun, noting that in developing countries, social movements create a relationship between intellectuals and various social classes and grow in turn via the joint activities of these. A very important and noteworthy point here lies not only in the success of the women’s movements among the various layers of the society which have been encouraged into becoming active, but also in laying before all the large field of actions which are possible. Although, certainly discussion about the wide spectrum of the mobilized resources requires more research.

Another specific mark of the Iranian women’s movement is its lack of ideological positioning. Even while this movement has arisen against the ruling and state ideology, it does not fit its own justice and equality seeking aspirations within any form of ideology. And thus the women’s movement exactly because of its non-ideological and self-made structure has not become an organization. Also, this movement from one side due to its concrete demands and from the other based on its social makeup and consequently its honesty in the selection of its aspirations , does not involve itself in the struggle for power, neither within its own structures nor in relation with the given ruling and state forces. Of course this does not mean that there is an absolute lack of inner structural competition for power, but indicates that this structure reduces concentration on competition for power, and gives priority to active options for the realization of common goals. Contrary to the mistaken notion that among the ranks of women, based on gender solidarity and the common experience of “common injustice”, no hierarchy ensues, we must note that the lack or relative weakness of such a hierarchy and power seeking rivalry is one of the specific features of the women’s movement and not of sisterly solidarity. Thus, the named structure contrary to the usual and common organizational ones, which concentrate the energy and efforts of individuals towards within the organization and the own given group, leads the sight of women activists to the outer world and to coming into contact herewith.

In this connection, women, by opening the doors of dialogue regarding the movement’s internal as well as latent conflicts , and honestly and openly noting the existence of power rivalry, came to consciously face this phenomena and to seek to protect their movement against the dangers and negative aspects of a centralized power-seeking.

Although the women’s movement has in giving natural and yet constant rise to its demands, been faced with limitations and serious barriers such as the denial of voting rights to women in the period after the Constitutional Revolution, the dissolution of the women’s society during the rule of Reza Shah and execution of the anti-women Shariah Laws under the rule of the Supreme Leader, in looking back at the last hundred years we can note that the women’s movement has - due to its inner structure - been always proceeding forward, so that it has even attracted the potential of other forces to itself. Also, by laying its fingers on important and specific themes and subjects and in working to achieve concrete and tangible demands, it has taken the understanding of struggle from an ideal, slogan-filled and constrained sense and has given it a practical and realizable form and framework. As the result of this , the dialogue given rise to by women has gone from an intellectual one to a daily, tangible and people- involving form. Therefore, it would not be unrealistic to say that the Iranian women’s movement from among the wide spectrum of those belonging to the opposition, from progressives to those against the regime and the opposition abroad, is more successful than others.

If we consider the given realities in the women’s movement under the terms of the above made statement, the result is that the women’s movement in Iran by carrying through its current strategy and methods, can in the long term give channel to social change and aid in bringing this about. Because this movement, has until now, played an important and exceptional role in the formation of social and political opinion, which is the source of the progress and developing process for any social transformation.


1 Nazanin Mahabad Fatehi, was previously sentenced to death by hanging, for killing a man who ambushed and tried to rape her at the age of 17.

2 Makrameh Ebrahimi was sentenced to death by stoning and granted a pardon only after much effort by her lawyer and a national as well as international campaign. (Her partner Jafar Kiani was stoned to death in July 2007, before his name and whereabouts were available to local activists.)

3 The Change for Equality or One Million Signatures Campaign http://www.change4equality.net/english

4 Kim Dong-chun, 1997

5 Hee- Young Yi, 2005

6 Jenkins, 1983

7 McAdam, 1988

8 Miethe, 1999

9 Tarrow, 1991

5/9/2008

English translation of Kourosh Zaim letter to Iran Foreign Minister

April 29, 2008

Mr. Manouchehr Mottaki, Foreign Minister

Islamic Republic of Iran

Dear Sir,

Unwise and damaging policies, including useless and unintelligent combative behavior of the Islamic Republic on the international scene, of which you have been the symbol and executor, have put us in such an humiliatingly weak and isolated situation that even the little neighboring countries who must depend on us for their own security are now threatening ours.

Iran, owing to its impressive history and civilization, and the unequalled strategic importance, is rightfully the cultural, economic and political gravity center of the region, and must have been by now the most powerful and influential country in this part of the world; not so helplessly weak, isolated and ignored to the point that its people in defense of their sovereignty have to gather before embassies of those new little countries that owe their very existence and prosperity to us.

Your performance as the representative of the country’s external relations, not only has caused disgrace for our nation, your words ridiculed by foreign diplomats, your incompetence barred you from meetings on Iran issues, little countries, who’ve always been dependents of others, developed such impudicity as to treat you as their junior; but some of your own inappropriate and undiplomatic public statements concerning matters of our national security and interests too have been totally unacceptable and some can only be interpreted as treason.

Your statements concerning our sovereign and ownership rights in Caspian Sea, our sovereign, cultural and strategic interests in Persian Gulf, our strategic interests and legal rights in Arvand Rud, your positions on the UN Security Council resolutions and UN powers all stem from your lack of knowledge of international law and the responsibilities and powers of the international organizations, and even our own history, failures which cannot be easily forgiven.

Some three years ago, in a round table discussion with Richard Murphy and me, in a 180 degree difference with my opinion, you expressed surprise at EU human rights resolution against the Islamic Republic and stated decisively that Americans can never take the Iranian nuclear issue to the Security Council. This lack of knowledge and erroneous analysis, caused issuance of the first ever UNSC sanctions against Iran during your tenure as foreign minister; and, as if you have not woken up, further two tougher and more destructive resolutions were issued rendering our economy ruins, bringing us to the verge of military attack, reviving land grab greed in some of our neighbors and raising evil hopes of social chaos and anarchy in the mind of separatists. As the result of poor performance of your foreign ministry, a family click, Caspian Sea littoral states do not pay least attention to our interests, Persian Gulf states humiliate us as region’s second rate citizens, little sheikhdoms try to change Persian Gulf name, invest in production of insulting films and literature, and claim sovereignty over three of our strategic islands. Arab countries continue to vote against us and have now become united against Iranian interests and security and, on the other hand, clever countries such as Venezuela, Bolivia, North Korea and the like, in return for worthless lip service, milk us of our oil income while our own people sink daily deeper and deeper in poverty. As if these are not enough, Iranians as a whole have lost total respect around the world and are treated as if they carry the plague.

Today, on this National Day of Persian Gulf, thousands of Iranians in Tehran and other cities demonstrated their dissatisfaction with your foreign policies and have, in effect, relieved you of your duties. Therefore, in order to prevent further destruction of our national prestige, interests and international position, I, in the name of an Iranian citizen, demand your immediate resignation and your formal apology to the Iranian people and begging of forgiveness. Although your resignation is no guarantee of a better replacement, it may somewhat compensate for the incredibly low quality of the Islamic Republic’s foreign policies and declare to the world that you do not represent the wants and wishes of the Iranian nation and that you do not symbolize Iranian wisdom.

Respectfully,

Kourosh Zaim

4/17/2008

یادداشت اعتراض جبهه ملی ایران (آمریکا) به موسسه گوگل

نبود حاکمیت ملی و ضعف حاکمیت اسلامی در دفاع از منافع ملی ایران ٬ سبب آن شده است که میهن عزیزمان از هر سو مورد تهدید و تعرض قرار گیرد . امروز بازهم موسسه دیگری ٬ تاریخ سرزمین ما را تحریف میکند.بر خلاف صدها نقشه و سند در موزه های دنیا و هزاران نوشته و مدرک در کتابخانه های جهان ٬موسسه گوگل بر اثر فشار دلارهای عربی و یا جهالت محض ٬ از نام مجعول خلیج عربی استفاده کرده است .جبهه ملی ایران در آمریکا به این گستاخی به تاریخ جهان و میراث فرهنگی کشور بزرگ ایران اعتراض میکند و خواستار تصحیح فوری این اشتباه بزرگ و استفاده از نام و اقعی و همیشگی "خلیج فارس" میباشد.
جبهه ملی ایران (آمریکا)
29 فروردین 1387
############################################################
INF protest letter to Googel
4/16/2008
It is astonishing to note the ignorance of Google Site Administrators with regard to the facts and history of our civilizations on the planet Earth! Throughout the history of mankind, as recorded in all authentic documents in different world libraries, museums and archives, the gulf which is separating Iran from the Arabian Peninsula is called Persian Gulf, and nothing else.

It is not the political choice or taste of a superpower, depending on the mood of the day or time, to distort or rename the facts of history. Iran National Frontّ Organization(INF), which is struggling for peace, implementation of human rights and democracy in Iran , strongly condemns the misrepresentation of Iranian people, or their cultural heritage in any manner.

Iran National Front-Abroad
www.jebhe.org

3/31/2008

March 26, 2008

The Honorable Director-General

United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Org.

Paris, France



Subj.: Request for Intervention for Saving Hormoz-Ardeshir

Site of Iranian Ancient Historical and Cultural Heritage



Dear Sir,



We, the undersigned, Iranian citizens living in the southwestern provinces of Iran, hereby attract your attention to another major case of deliberate destruction of ancient Iranian historical and cultural heritage site with international stature.



The site being destroyed by the Islamic Republic is the ancient city of “Hormoz Ardeshir” dating back to the period of 2000 to 4000 years ago, which was registered as an Iranian National Heritage site in 1931 under docket Number 43. This site, due to its international value, must be registered as a world heritage site with the UNESCO as well. A deed we shall demand be done, if it survives the Islamic Republic.



The government of the Islamic Republic is digging a tunnel through this invaluable site in order to run a city commuter train; whereas, there exists a more technically suitable and less costly route for this project. Many ancient structures and untold quantity of buried treasures and artifacts have been destroyed by bulldozers and pilferage. We fear that if the construction project is not stopped in time, there will be nothing left of this ancient city. There are so many underground structures and buried artifacts and treasures in this area, that it will take teams of archeologists, years to uncover and study the findings. Much of the historical secrets and unknowns about Iranian history and culture will then become knowledge.



Tens of letters of protest have been sent by the people of the area to the local and central government authorities and many meeting have been held, all to no avail. The project is proceeding with increased speed and the level of destruction is mounting. Since the people of Iran have been witness to unprecedented willful destruction of invaluable Iranian historical and cultural heritage all over the country by the Islamic Republic during the past three decades, we, the people of southwest Iran, determined to rescue and protect our national heritage, can no longer depend on the officials of the Islamic Republic. We are reaching out to UNESCO and request that international inspectors be sent to Iran in order to study the magnitude of the catastrophe. We also request that UNESCO demand of the Islamic Republic to stop immediately this project and reroute same to a more economicly feasible and technically suitable location.



Respectfully submitted,

Kourosh Zaim

On behalf of the residents of southwest Iran

(Tens of signatures attached)

3/31/2008

The Election Game of the 8th Parliament is Over; Our New Day Begins

The most noteworthy aspect of the “election game” of the 8th parliament of the Islamic Republic of Iran, was the endeavor of those persons and groups who were active players , to appear as if each possessed an optimal plan. Among those laying claim to power, each faction sought to use any means, including character assassination, in order to present their choices as the most effective. But in fact neither the option of participation, nor that of boycott could be considered intelligent and true options for the Iranian society, and the promoters of none of these options, even should those backing participation win some of the coveted seats , had an effective program for the day after the elections.

The Iranian people were - again - faced with choosing between bad and worse.

Twenty nine years after a revolution which carried the slogans and goals of independence and freedom, the 8th parliamentary elections once more made clear, that these ideals lie shattered and have given their place to adventurism and factional fighting of the various forces within the regime. Yet, that the various factions of the regime turned upon each other, was not a surprise; they have always been at war with one another over the division of power, a bigger share of the nation’s wealth and Iran’s natural resources. What was most surprising, was that those opposing forces who have no vested interest in the existing power, entered the yes or no games of these elections with such zeal. A group of those in the opposition were active to bring about a boycott, another group considered a legitimate form of participation and still a third envisioned entering the race, using the support of international courts and instances, should they be disqualified. And a large fourth group, was left undecided and unsure of the choice the should make.

When after twenty nine years, instead of independence and freedom, hanging and stoning are still our daily realities and the only “social security plan” is one which beats , jails and humiliates citizens, the involvement with and much discussion of the political moves of forces standing for other values and options, aided and abetted the illusion of choice. Thus, the 8th parliamentary elections once again proved that any force that considers itself as belonging to an opposition, or as backing change , should instead of becoming entangled in the inner regime war, grasp at real opportunities and take the initiative , spending its time and energy to suggest a people’s alternative. The introduction and encouraged discussion of an effective alternative program can - instead of guesswork concerning the rise and fall of this or that faction - be the best option for the Iranian nation.

We, as part of those forces opposed to the regime and seeking constructive alternatives, should instead of short term tactics, have thought of the realities within our grasp and considered the fate of our people, struggling still more with a life of constant and multi-sourced hardship and poverty, in the aftermath of these “elections”, regardless of the division of seats between those hand picked to run as candidates.

If regime-intern-reformists played the election game right to the end, it is because they have always been part and parcel of the bazaar and broker games of the Islamic Republic, and shared the fruits of belonging to the inner circles, even if now they have been forced into a corner as far as the power to govern is concerned.

Today, it has been made clear that even the “reform from within-the-ruling-circle and from-above” project , has in its endeavor to achieve some changes via election participation and within the exiting “legal” guidelines , reached a dead-end. The power is in the hands of the conservative factions of the regime, and all forces except these factions led by “the supreme leader”, are faced with the question of : where to? Thus, the elections of 8th parliament have made it necessary once more for us all to review our role and effectiveness. For when regime-intern-reformists have no sphere to act within except the free market in which they can still make their personal fortunes, and are clearly held back, where may those of us who opted for a boycott and seek true change stand? Within such a framework - where except for the conservative faction working under the approving eye of “the supreme leader” any faction that thinks differently or at all independently is considered as belonging to the opposition - it is imperative that in order for us continue our efforts, we pin-point a clear political plan and re-evaluate the various forces that can aid the realization of this plan.

The election game of the 8th parliament made it clear once more, that the regime is hungry for power, and longing to further prolong this power.

The people of Iran , however, are hungry for bread and freedom. The real alternative for the people of Iran whose national treasury, natural resources and ancient heritage is being plundered, and whose civil rights are daily stomped upon, can be only reached via a clear and concise economic and political program. Discussion pertaining to participation in or boycott of elections and political posturing can not be an answer to the enormous current socio–political difficulties and the bottomless pit of the bankrupt and haphazard economy of Iran.

With the end of the election game, it is fitting that we begin our New Day (starting this Noruz) , by taking steps towards proposing a constructive and applicable plan.


Women’s Section of The National Front of Iran – Europe


Aseman Moghadam

Shiva Nasr-ramzi

Shiva Nojo

3/31/2008

فرا رسیدن نوروز ۱۳۸۷ و ۲۹ اسفند سالروز ملی شدن صنعت نفت را به ملت ایران تهنیت میگوییم.
Hassan Lebaschi/Bijan Mehr/Hadi Zamani/A.H.Aryanpour/Hormoz Chamanara/manochere ghanbari/Farzin Bostajani/Morteza Anvari/Hassan Sharyatmadari/Mehran Barati/Mahmood Jafari/Kamal Aras/Reza Siavoshi ................................
*آمریکا :حسن لباسچی.بیژن مهر.علی غضنفری..دریادار امیر هوشنگ آریانپور.دکتر بهرام بهرامیان .یحیی آل آقا.سیامک یزدی زاده.اسد ثابت پور.دکتر محمد علی مهر آسا.دکتر اردشیر لطفعلیان.دکترحسین آیتی.هرمز چمن آرا.دکترحسن بوشهری.فروزان فرنوش.دکتررساعبدالله زاده.مهدی میر مظفری.دکترمرتضی انواری.عباس صیرفی.رضاقاسمیان.دکترامیر آزادی.علی تهرانی.حسین معبودیان.کوروش رزاقی.دکتر احمد طباطبایی.بهجت مهر آسا .ونوس طباطبایی.یوسف عبدالله زاده..دکتر امیر هوشمند ممتاز.دکترعطاعبدالله زاده. فرزین بستجانی,.غفور میرزایی .مهدی ذوالفقاری. پریچهر پروهان.تقی سنمار.مهین آذر.سخاوت علی زاده. دکترساراعبدالله زاده..منوچهر قنبری.رامین صفی زاده..رضا قاسميان .رضا سياوشی .محمدفاطمی.دکتر مهرداد مشایخی.ناصر رستگار نژاد.بهمن فرقانی .فیروزه فاطمی.منوچهر.امیرکیایی .منیژه ثریا .جمشید انصاری.دکتر کمال آذری. دکتر امیرحسین گنج بخش

*اروپا:دکتر هادی زمانی .حسن شریعتمداری.دکتر مهران براتی.کمال ارس.عباس شیرازی.دکتر مسعود عمرانی.محمود جعفری.آرسن نظریان.کورش استکی.حسین زربخش.فرزاد محمودی.هوشنگ هوشمند.احمد زاغیان.محمد رضا براتی.میلاد کیایی .فریدون امیر ابراهیمی .فرزاد وحید .آسمان مقدم.نیما ناصر آبادی.رضا عزیزی نژاد .کاووس ارجمند .مجید ستاری .ناهید صالحی .عباس آهوچشم .دکترداریوش احمدی .مسعود ادیب .دکتر فرهنگ قاسمی .بيژن دادگري .صادق محمودي .فرشيد ياسائي .فرهاد ياسائي .ابراهيم مرادی .نادر تقی زاده .آمنه رمزی .کامیار نصرتی

1/1/2008

Indictment of Mr. Esfandiar Rahim-Mosha'i, head of Islamic Republic of Iran Cultural Heritage Organization, for Crimes against Humanity

Date: December 24, 2007

For the attention of: Honorable Judge Philippe Kirsch, President International Criminal Court (ICC)

Subject: Indictment of Mr. Esfandiar Rahim-Mosha'i, head of Islamic Republic of Iran Cultural Heritage Organization, for Crimes against Humanity

WITNESSETH,
Whereas, a proposal has been made by me to your good office on June 5, 2007, Kourosh Zaim to amend Articles 5 and 7 of the Rome Statute by adding crimes against world cultural heritage as crimes against humanity punishable by international law through the International Criminal Court;
AND WHEREAS, said proposal was confirmed and recommended at the Tehran International Law Conference of June 2007, and which said proposal has been duly submitted to the office of the President of the International Criminal Court for consideration and further action,
AND, WHEREAS, the people of Iran feel the urgency of timely normative action for the purpose of deterring systematic destruction of ancient Iranian cultural and historical heritage by state officials,
NOW, THEREFORE, with presumption that sometime soon said proposed amendments or some variations of it will be included in the Rome Constitution and made into law; and that any delay in prosecution of violators will result in further diminishing of humanity's cultural and historical heritage,
The Pasargad Heritage Foundation, HEREBY, accuses the following individual and his organization of crimes against humanity under the proposed Section E of Article 5, and Sections J and L of Article 7 of ICC Constitution (yet to be adopted and made into law).
We accuse Mr. Esfandiar Rahim-Mosha'i, Chief of the Iranian Cultural Heritage Organization, along with his team, of crimes against humanity, for deliberate and systematic state-sanctioned destruction of ancient Iranian world cultural and historical heritage. The crimes committed by Mr. Mosha'i and his team are listed and attached.

We plea to the International Criminal Court that, once the proposed amendments to the ICC constitution or variations thereof are adopted, due process be acted on with urgency. The destruction of historical and cultural heritage in Iran is moving forward with mind-boggling speed and must be stopped before it is too late.

Respectfully submitted,

Pasargad Heritage Foundation
Kourosh Zaïm, Research Director


Attachments:

1. The original proposal to the ICC for constitutional amendments.
2. List of a few Examples of violations symbolizing Iran Cultural Heritage Organization's deliberate and systematic destruction of Iranian cultural and historical heritage in attached. A partial listing of more than 300 violations is also attached in Persian language.
http://www.pasargadfoundation.com/

1/1/2008

جبهه ملی ایران سال ۲۰۰۸ را به شما شادباش میگوید و آرزوی سالی سرشار از صلح و دوستی برای تمام ملل جهان دارد

Happy New Year 2008
To all Christian Fellow-Countrypersons Round the World

I wish a happy year 2008 for all Christian fellow countrypersons all over the world. And hope that the New Year will herald changes toward freedom and deliverance of the Iranian nation from tyranny. We, the Iranians, can consider this New Year as a new beginning.
The trend of cleansing the world of tyrannical and colonial governments during the past four decades shows that the world community is preparing for a new civilization. Globalization will never be achieved unless all countries in the world democratize and human rights become institutionalized.
During the decades of 1960 and 70 more than sixty countries changed from dictatorships and colonial rule to democracies, and this trend in continuing by choice or force. This is the will of human society in order to achieve a world order of political unity, an ideal Cyrus the great established some 26 centuries ago when he declares all humans are free and have freedom of choice.
Tyrannical, corrupt and unpopular governments which governed majority of the countries of the world some hundred years ago are now but a few. And those still remaining must take a hint from what happened to Taliban, Pinochet, Milosevic and Saddam Hussein and answer the call of their people and accept the inevitable today, for tomorrow will be very late.
In Iran, we will soon hear the answer, and this for us tired of ignorance, violence and corruption will make 2008 indeed happy.

Kourosh Zaim
(December 31, 2007)

12/17/2007

2 Members of INF_Abroad have been in immigaration jail for last 7 months.Nader Maghsoudlou and Aliakbar Jamshidi had organized and participated in "Student Day" demonstrations for freedom of political prisoners in Iran , in front of Islamic Republic Embassy in Nicozia .They were also very active in collecting signitures in support of AmirEntezam's National Congeres proposal for unity of Iranian opposision.
INF public relation office has written a letter to UNCHR regarding their situation.

Iran National Front _USA
256 Washington St.Pembroke.Ma.02359
Tel: 781-826-0075
Fax;781-826-9995
www.jebhe.org
Dec/15/2007
From:INF
To: UNCHR & To whom it may concern
Sub: Mr.Nader Maghsoudlou&Mr.Aliakbar; Jamshidi

Dear Sirs

Please be advised that Mr.Nader Maghsoudlou&Mr.Aliakbar; Jamshidi , 2 political activists, have been very active in the process of democracy and establishment of human rights in Iran. They are facing serious consequences if return to Iran. They have been in prison unjustly past seven months.
Thanks for your attention to this matter. Please let us know if we can help you regarding their applications.
Best Regards
Bijan Mehr
INF
Public Relation Committee

11/25/2007

Cyrus, you never died!
Speech by Kourosh Zaim at the tomb of Cyrus the Great
October 29, 2007
Cyrus! You have never died, for your spirit is alive within us.
Cyrus! We are ashamed before you, for we have many times in the past have let aliens in thought and heart and those without cultural identity to rule your land and to destroy our prominent cultural heritage and identity. We let the ignorant to rule us, so that untruth, deceit and corruption take the place of traditional truthfulness, honesty and brotherhood. And, that the traditional Iranian motto of good thought, good word and good deed be sacrificed in the struggle for survival.
We, who were the most loved in the world, became the most hated. We, who were the more advanced in the world of thought, knowledge and technology, became one of the most backward. We, who were one of the strongest, became the most downtrodden; and, we, who were one of the most affluent, became one of the poorest.
But, Cyrus! The shame we have brought on you will soon end. We will rid your God-blessed land of the dominance of anti Iranian non-culture. We will again, as you did, remove all religious discrimination so that all religions, sects and beliefs are free and respected all over the country. We will again make your land the cradle of thought, knowledge and technology, so that once again the light of Iranian wisdom shine all over the world.
We have gathered here today in order to declare this day of October 29, the National Day of Iran. The National Day of Iran, for on this day, Cyrus the Great, representing the Iranian wisdom and cultural identity, established a world order based on the ever-lasting Iranian wisdom. This was the day on which the first International Bill of Human Rights, 2000 years before Magna Karta of England, 2300 years before the Bill of Rights of France and 2500 years before the United Nations Universal Bill of Human Rights, was issued and brought hope of freedom, brotherhood and happiness to all people the world over.
We will celebrate this day of 29th October, every year, and we shall make it an international event as we have done with Nowrooz.
Cyrus taught us democracy, and we shall establish democracy in Iran.
Cyrus established the first bill of human rights and taught us equality and liberty, and we shall establish the Universal Bill of Human Rights in Iran.
Cyrus built the first order for world civilization, and we shall make Iran an indivisible part of the world community.
Cyrus established an order based on honesty and justice, and we shall cleanse our land of deceit, corruption and violence.
Do not fret the darkness of today, for the future of Iran is bright. And this brightness will soon shine over all Iranians and all over this God's country.
We must stay together, so no longer could the aliens and maniacs rule over us and lead us astray from being true Iranians

10/23/2007

www.savepasargad.com

October 29, the “Cyrus the Great Day”
And the anniversary of his issuing the first declaration
of human rights

Twenty five centuries ago, when savagery was the dominant factor in human societies, a civilized and compassionate declaration was written on clay and issued to the “four corners of the world” that dealt with important issues relevant to the rights of humans, the same issues that not only in those days but even today can inspire those who believe in human dignity and rights.

This document, known as “The Declaration of Cyrus the Great,” emphasized on the removal of all racial, national discrimination and slavery, bestowing to the people, freedom to choose their places of residence, faith and religion and giving prominence to the perpetual peace amongst the nations. This Declaration could actually be considered as a present from the Iranian people, expressed through the words of Cyrus, their political leader and the founder of the first empire in the world, to the whole humanity. In 1971, the general assembly of the United Nations recognized it as the first Declaration of Human Rights, thus, registering such an honor to the name of Iran as the cradle of this first historical attempt to establish the recognition of human rights.

Unfortunately, today, Iran is considered a country whose people are deprived of the very rights that were discovered, articulated and expressed by themselves. The body that holds the state apparatus in Iran not only does not recognize such “rights,” but has done much (intentional and/or unintentional) harm to the mausoleum of Cyrus the Great in Pasargad plains – the very monument that has been registered by UNESCO as a human heritage and a “shrine,” causing its immanent destruction in the future.

The International Committee to Save Pasargad that was shaped three years ago by a large number of people who appreciate national and world heritages, would like to use the opportunity of Cyrus’s Day to extend its best and warmest greetings for the occasion and repeat its plea to all those who appreciate the importance of Human Rights and its historical symbol in the shape of Cyrus’s mausoleum, to put maximum pressure on United Nations, and especially UNESCO, to use their utmost effective endeavors to save this invaluable treasure of human civilization.

With regard and best wishes,
The International Committee to Save Pasargad
October 2007
www.savepasargad.com

8/26/2007

August 23, 2007

His Excellency Victor Yushchenko

The President of the Republic of Ukraine

c/o Ukrainian Embassy in Tehran

Dear Mr. President,

Today, a number of thugs attacked and severely injured two Iranian students on campus of a Ukrainian university in Kiev. The attacks have evidently been racially motivated. The fact that both incidences involve Iranian students and such violations have been repeatedly reported before, the trend and frequency of occurrences of this nature is of grave concern to the student families and to the people of Iran.

We understand that the behavior of our government of Islamic Republic on the international stage has generated such negative reactions that the Ukrainian public opinion too cannot help but be affected by its anti-human rights and anti-democratic connotations. However, the general attitude of the Ukrainian police and government officials, especially in Ministries involved in foreign student affairs, must not be allowed to reflect pre- judgment of the Iranian people. Much like the Ukrainian public resented being judged by the Soviet Unions' misbehavior, Iranian public like to be regarded only as a people rich in cultural background and respectful of, as well as historical contributor to, international norms and rules.

What I would like to respectfully ask of your good office is to undertake a policy of distinguishing between the Iranian people and the Islamic Republic when addressing Iranian matters in public and to direct information channels and media available to your government to educate Ukrainian public opinion of the difference. Major Western governments have already done so.

Siding with the people of Iran will assure continued and betterment of relationship, and on a strategic level, once a democratic government is elected and installed in Iran.

Respectfully,

Kourosh Zaïm

An Iranian Parent & Political Activist

Cell: +98-912-113 8108

kourosh_zaim@yahoo.com

8/20/2007

اعلام موجوديت بنياد جهانی ميراث پاسارگاد



www.pasargadfoundationcom


Announcing the Inauguration of
Pasargad Heritage Foundation(PHF)

Considering that the scientific experiences and studies confirm that the historical and cultural achievements of a nation are the main source of their self-confidence and spiritual pride,
Considering that such treasures do not only belong to a particular nation and a land but are also recognized as undeniable parts of human civilization,
Considering that the Iranian historical treasures are in very drastic conditions due to the malicious actions of relevant authorizes in Iran and we are witnessing, on a daily basis, how these authorities are ignoring the threats against them and at the same time, are intentionally destroying them,
Considering that we are certainly able to expose the atrocities that are taking place against the history and culture of Iranians to the attention of the culture-appreciating and caring people of the world,
Considering that spreading the documented news of these hidden destructive agenda is within our capabilities,
Considering the fact that we can organize unbiased investigations that could open a fresh window to the history and culture of Iran,
Considering our capability to act as a whistle-blower that informs the rest of the world about this unfortunate and ongoing saga,
A new cultural foundation has legally been created and registered under the name, Pasargad Heritage Foundation (PHF). This foundation has been created as homage to Cyrus the Great, the author of the first human rights declaration in the history of mankind.
PHF is a not-for-profit, non-political and non-religious organization managed and run by unpaid volunteers from all over the world. They are only motivated by their love of the Iranian cultural treasures and their belief in the necessity of their preservation.
As members of FHP’s Board of Trustees, we would like to announce the commencement of this international organization’s activities, with a solemn promise to utilize all of our capabilities to guard and preserve the cultural and historical treasures of Iranian people that undoubtedly are considered as parts of mankind’s heritage.
The first general meeting of the Board to select the officers of the Foundation will take place in September 2007 and its various committees and departments will be able to welcome their new members and supporters from then on.
If you too believe in the importance of Iranian heritage and their role in enhancement of cultural developments and the civilized inter-connection of human societies, please do not hesitate to contact us and become a colleague of ours in this honorable endeavor. The doors of this Foundation are and will be always wide open to welcome you.

Pasargad Heritage Foundation
August 2007