Free Lantern » Iran

We’re going Green

admin — Thu, 10 Jun 2010 10:41:38 +0000

12th of June will mark the first anniversary of the rigged Iranian election. Some activists in Iran have made a beautiful English song entitles Going Green. I haven’t had a good chance to update here regularly but I have to share this with you and will try to keep here updated with the news during this time:
Listen and read the beautiful lyrics, If you want you can also watch the video here in YouTube (attention the video contains grafic images)

Through all those fears and dreads, that let me down
Is there still a road for me to stay on…to go on…

I thought I would be lone tonight, But I’m not
Voices out there calling me “Here’s the fight”…

Things have changed, hope’s growing in veins
Hands in hands will stand to the end…

The time has come to break the chains
Send love and peace to the world again
Getting our pride back, once we lost
We’re gonna win, We’re going green

Maybe they could choke a cry, burn, deny…
But the choir rises up, roaring “Not giving up”…

Things have changed, hope’s growing in veins
Hands in hands will stand to the end…

The time has come to break the chains
Send love and peace to the world again
Getting our pride back, once we lost
We’re gonna win, We’re going green

We’re going green… We’re going green…We’ll be free again… We’re going green

World Day Against Cyber Censorship

admin — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 22:31:10 +0000

March 12th is the world day against cyber censorship and is celebrated by Reporters without borders. As Iran has one of the highest internet censorships in thee world, I wanted to honor this day in my blog, even if in just a few words…

A few days ago I wrote about Poster4Tomorrow in my Persian blog, this poster is one of the best posters in their last year’s competition entitled, “The pencil is mightier than sword”. The poster is a work by Andrea Castelletti, Italian artist with the title: “Limit the freedom of Speech”.
More about this competition and the recent competition of Poster4Tomorrow in their website. I think this poster is the best way to describe freedom of speech in Iran today…

Iran hit new Record: 52 Journalists in prison

admin — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 20:11:47 +0000

Committee to protect Journalists in its latest monthly survey announced that after the recent crackdown on media in February Iran has hit a new record in the world with 52 journalists in prison, a third of all those in jail around the world. After Iran China with 24 journalists in prison and Cuba with 22 have the second and biggest prison for journalists. Read the complete report here.

Caricature by Nikahang Kowsar

Video exposes Iran crackdown

admin — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 12:01:08 +0000

A video shot by a security personnel (or basiji member) has been released after 8 months showing security forces crackdown on the University of Tehran campus (15th of June 2009, 3 days after the disputed election). The video shows how violent the security forces attack, beat up and arrest the students. In almost all the video you can hear swear words from the “Police” at students and you can hear that someone is constantly showting “dont’ hit” which seems to be between the few people in these forces that has a sign of humanity. Watch CNN report on this video in the rest of this post and for a complete video on YouTube click here (18 min) (contains graphic images).

Now if you want to see what was left from the student hostels after this attack, you can watch these two videos which were taken by students (1, 2).

Maziar Bahari’s letter to Khamenei

admin — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 08:39:17 +0000

Maziar Bahari’s letter to Khamenei (NYT):

Your government issued me a press card. But I was coerced to make a false televised confession admitting that I was acting as an agent of evil Western media. I was forced to say the media are trying to overthrow the Islamic government. I was beaten and threatened with execution to make that confession. I was beaten again after the show because I did not perform as well as my interrogator would have liked. Yes, Ayatollah Khamenei, I had to apologize to you on television to stop my torturer from punching me in the head.

Basij member describes election abuse

admin — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 12:03:19 +0000

A former Basij member -the Iranian religious militia- in an interview with Channel 4 has revealed part of the abuse and killing they’ve been ordered to do. It is a short video worth watching (Might contain graphic images).
You can also hear to the whole interview in Persian and read the article here.

Human rights worst in the last 20 years

admin — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 15:16:31 +0000

Human rights violations in Iran are now as bad as at any time in the past 20 years, Amnesty International has said in a new report on the aftermath of last June’s presidential election. (Read the whole article here)
Bellow you can watch the interview of Dr. Arash Hejazi who was the witness of Neda’s death with Amnesty International:

Maziar Bahari Free after 118 days

admin — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 20:38:07 +0000

Maziar Bahari, Newsweeks journalist who has been arrested and in the notorius Evin prison since june 12th has been released. Read his story in News week and watch Fareed Zakaria’s interview with him.

Iranian demonstrations 4th of July

admin — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 09:13:43 +0000

Yesterday’s demonstrations showed the world that the Green movement is alive and despite all the suppression, imprisonments and killings that the regime did to people they’re still out there fighting the dictatorship. Instead of writing too much I share some links where you can read and see more about these demonstrations:

- CNN’s report showing the people bringing down Khamenei’s picture and wipping their foot on his face.
- A collection of videos from the demonstrations showing police brutality towards thee green people.
- The green movment lives (in German), German news paper Die Zeit report on the new demonstrations.
- CNN’s interview with Neda’s mother, She was an Angel. (at the moment it is on the first page of CNN)

Come on (Bia) by Abjeez

admin — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 13:58:45 +0000

Like Naj, I’m also tired of hearing the news of torture, rape and “trials” of my people. Music sometimes is the only way to calm down. Listen and read the English version of Come on (Bia) by Abjeez, to watch and listen to the Persian version click here.

(Free Download- click here)

Come and join us once and for all, let’s be honest, let’s be true
Join the force of love and see, what’s in there waiting for you!

Even in the wrestling rings our men tend to tolerate
Barefooted, with a waist-cloth, wrestling men of the same weight

You walk with your kneeguards; carrying chains and clubs, wearing a mask
Well done brother, what a champ! Is that what you call bravery I ask?

It’s easy to strike and brake, kill and burn, destroy and chase
I guess God can’t recognize, a properly hidden face!

Go on hit and kill, let’s see how long it takes,
Before your betrayed heart, melts down and brakes!

Let’s see when your hands will feel ashamed of your own zeal
Let’s see when your betrayed soul will wake up and start to heal

Don’t worry, you too are the “dust and mote” of this land
Unmask your face, see the light, see the truth and take my hand

Feel the compassion, unity calls at this hour
The power of love is higher than the love of power!

Come and join us once and for all, let’s be honest, let’s be true
Join the force of love and see what greatness is waiting for you!