Iran’s Security Ministry to Safeguard Shariah Rule During Sham Parliamentary Elections

Posted on 06/09/2011 by terrortrends

Many people around the world are under the mistaken impression that elections in Iran are free and legitimate. Nothing could be further from the truth. Candidates have to be approved by the supreme leader and his council ahead of time, thus ensuring that true opposition is stifled.

Moreover, the ruling ayatollahs send their thug Pasdaran into the streets to ensure that no one disrupts the rubber stamp elections that perpetuate the illusion of pluralistic governance.

A prime example comes to us today. In March, Iran will hold elections for its parliament, known as the Majlis. Readers should understand that the Majlis has no real power. The real power, of course, resides with the Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who is the Supreme Leader. Nevertheless, the Iranians like to make a big show of their parliamentary elections.

Just to make sure that everything goes smoothly and that here aren’t any “deviations” from the “Islamic system,” Iran’s Security Ministry will be out in force during the elections to make sure that opposition movements cannot “occupy the presidential and parliamentary chairs” and thus try to “win people over.”

http://en.trend.az/regions/iran/1927622.html?

 

Filed under: Elections, human rights, Iranian Opposition, Khamenei, Oppression, Pasdaran, Protests | Leave a comment »

Michael Ledeen: The Blind Who Will Not See: The President, the Secretary of Defense, and the Iranian Death Spiral

Posted on 18/11/2010 by terrortrends

The latest wisdom from Iran expert Michael Ledeen of the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies focuses on the curious and frustrating public views of the Obama administration with regard to Iran and the lack of support the U.S. is giving to opposition to the Ayatollahs in Tehran…

http://pajamasmedia.com/michaelledeen/2010/11/17/the-blind-who-will-not-see-the-president-the-secretary-of-defense-and-the-iranian-death-spiral/?singlepage=true

Filed under: Iranian Opposition, nuclear program, Obama, Oppression, Protests, sanctions, US State Department | Leave a comment »

Iran Uses Red China’s High-Tech Trucks to Put Down Protests

Posted on 12/02/2010 by terrortrends

The folks over at Wired.com’s Danger Room have posted an interesting article about advanced riot control trucks the Red Chinese have sold to the regime in Tehran to help them put down the opposition protesters there.

The idea that we’re ever going to secure the cooperation of the Chicoms in bringing economic pressure on the Ayatollahs is pure fantasy.

http://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2010/02/tehran-uses-chinas-high-tech-trucks-to-squash-protests/#more-22493

The name of the company that manufactures this vehicle is Dalian Eagle Sky Industries, Ltd., a company that has been around since 1952–in other words almost as long as Communist China has been around. In this case, communists embracing capitalism did not make them warm and fuzzy at all…

It appears that Dalian Eagle Sky is not publicly traded, which means that they almost certainly are a subsidiary of the Peoples Liberation Army (PLA).

The Red Chinese are profiting from the Iranian regime’s brutality and oppression, not just with these trucks, but with all sorts of weapons contracts and oil and gas projects. Trying to get meaningful economic sanctions against Iran through the UN Security Council is a complete non-starter.

Filed under: China, Iranian Opposition, Oppression, Protests | Leave a comment »

Iranian Mourners Swarm Qom for Montazeri’s Funeral

Posted on 21/12/2009 by terrortrends

Tens of thousands of Iranians descended upon the holy city of Qom Monday morning for the funeral of revered dissident cleric Grand Ayatollah Hossein Ali Montazeri, with crowds erupting in anti-regime slogans amid tight security, according to opposition Web sites.

Opposition leaders vowed to use Monday’s funeral ceremonies to push their anti-government protests. Former presidential candidates Mir Hossein Moussavi and Mehdi Karroubi attended Mr. Montazeri’s morning burial, according to Mr. Moussavi’s official website.

Large crowds of supporters, many dressed in the opposition’s trademark green, shouted anti-regime chants, along with slogans in support of Mr. Montazeri.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB126139458023500039.html?mod=WSJ_newsreel_world

Filed under: Iranian Opposition, Protests | Leave a comment »

Cleric’s Death, Torture Case Jolt Iran

Posted on 21/12/2009 by terrortrends

Iran’s opposition seized upon the death of one of the Islamic republic’s founding fathers — a revered ayatollah who was also a fierce critic of the nation’s leadership — to take to the streets in mourning.

Tens of thousands of Iranian mourners–many chanting protest slogans–joined the funeral procession Monday for Grand Ayatollah Hossein Ali Montazeri, who had described government crackdowns as the work of power-hungry despots.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB126138884439499959.html?mod=WSJ_newsreel_world

Filed under: Iranian Opposition, Oppression, Protests | Leave a comment »

Iran detains filmmaker: report

Posted on 20/12/2009 by terrortrends

Iran on Sunday detained a documentary filmmaker for “insulting officials” of the Islamic republic, the ISNA news agency reported.

Mohammad Nurizad “was summoned and after arraignment … bail was set for him but since he couldn’t afford it, he was sent to prison,” the Tehran public and revolutionary prosecutor’s office said, quoted by ISNA.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5hsc2UAqU1qXzrFVKGkfRP4pSgtaA

Filed under: Censorship, Iranian Opposition, Oppression, Protests | Leave a comment »

Iran admits 3 prisoners were beaten to death

Posted on 19/12/2009 by terrortrends

Iran’s hard-line judiciary acknowledged for the first time Saturday that at least three prisoners detained after June’s disputed presidential election were beaten to death by their jailers, confirming a key claim by the country’s opposition movement.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/34489641/ns/world_news-mideastn_africa/

Filed under: Elections, Iranian Opposition, Protests | Leave a comment »