Kamangir (Archer)

An Interview with a “Zionist” “Neo-Con” Muslim Blogger

Kamangir | August 31, 2007 | Category International Bloggers, Islam

It is no mystery that blogging is the new phenomenon of the Middle East, in particular, and the whole world, in general. In a place where other means of discussion are majorly controlled and even censored, blogs bring about easy discussion and convenient communication. One of the players of the Middle Eastern blogosphere is Esra’a.Esra’a runs the Mideast Youth as well as numerous other websites and campaigns, all aimed at defending and protesting against the violation of the rights of all citizens of the greater Middle East. Her work for defending Bahai’is rights was recently featured on Persian BBC [Persian].

This is the introduction of an interview with Esra’a Al Shafei, the Bahraini Muslim blogger and activist, whom I have talked about in this blog quite frequently.

In the interview she talks about some Muslims calling her a Zionist, because she defends Bahai’is. The title Neo-Con was recently given to her by Hossein Derakhshan (Hoder). The irony is, Hoder requested twice to be accepted in the Mideast Youth and to write in there (copies of his emails are available). He was rejected both times. Neo-Con or Zionist, or anything else, I know no other blog in which too many people from too many different backgrounds discuss such hot issues of mutual interest.

For the Persian copy of the interview please refer to Persian Kamangir.

 

 Interview with Esra'a [8:12m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Any Intelligence Service Reading This?

Kamangir | August 30, 2007 | Category Humour, Iran, Islamic Republic

The Islamic Republic and the IAEA have apparently taken a big step regarding the Iranian nuclear crisis. I don’t have any expertise in this field, so I’d better leave it to others. What, however, got my attention was an email address the Islamic Republic delegate had provided in their report.

I searched the Information Circulars’ Section in the IAEA publication site. From the 711 communications listed there, I looked up the word “Communication” in items 651 to 711 (about 10% of the whole). In what I found, I looked for those which on top of phone number and fax, had provided an email address. I found a pile of communications, except for two all where submitted by the Islamic Republic delegate. The two were sent by the Irish and Kazakh missions.

Now, what really attracted my attention was the actual email address provided. While the Irish mission’s email has the extension .gov.uk and the Kazakhs have been using an email address at Kazakhstan dot something I couldn’t read, the Islamic Republic mission is using an email address at chello.at. Using whois database, we know that this website has been registered by a company called Elvedin Music. Using a translator, I was able read Chello’s about page. Apparently, Chello is an internet service provider in Austria, where the headquarters of the IAEA is located.

Thus, it seems that the Islamic Republic delegate is using a highly insecure email address for communicating classified document, in spite of using a .ir email address with a server inside Iran. This is as silly as using an email address at yahoo for a formal communication.

Fully Loaded Donkey

Kamangir | August 30, 2007 | Category Humour, Iran

Viva Iranian Ladies

Kamangir | August 30, 2007 | Category Human Rights, Iran, Islam, Islamic Republic, Women

Amid all the limitations, Iranian ladies always find the way to do what they love the most. More pictures in the photoblog. I wish they don’t delete these images, like what they did before.

Related:

• Too Sexy for Fars News
• Definitely Too Sexy for Shia News

In Iran, don’t mess with the Police!

Kamangir | August 29, 2007 | Category Human Rights, Iran, Islamic Republic

A month ago, Farzad Hasani (Persian: فرزاد حسنی), a famous TV showman, broke the taboo of media asking the real questions from the administration figures. In a frank discussion with the head of Tehran Police, Commander Radan (Persian: رادان), he asked him, if he had seen the mobile video which circulated the web a while ago, in which Police kicks a screaming girl into a Police patrol. He added “You have to stop such behaviors in the Police force”. That was enough for Hasani to be suspended and then moved to a less important show.

At the time, conservative forces got mad at Hasani and asked for all sorts of punishments for him. According to the right-wing website Rajanews, they have found the reason now. Reportedly, Hasani was arrested in a “pervert night party” and was to be “dealt with according to the Sharia” [Persian]. Good news is, he was able to pay a fine. Bad news is, journalists will think twice before asking their questions.

Related:

Video of Police Brutality against an Iranian Woman

Sugar, Tea and Police Violence in Iran

There are lots of types of door interiors. You can give your home entrance an absolute royal appearance by fixing metal door knobs. But keep in mind your family set up when deciding for which door hardware to choose. With kids at home, it’s advisable to go for a dark colored material. And door hinges should be placed in such a manner as to avoid any hindrance when opening or closing the doors with a soft touch.

Islamic Republic Delegate in Iraq Arrested by the US (Updated II)

Kamangir | August 28, 2007 | Category Iran, Islamic Republic, US

Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) reports that American soldiers have arrested members of a group sent by the Iranian Ministry of Power, in Sheraton Hotel, Iraq. The group is claimed to have been in Iraq following an invitation by the Minister of Electricity of Iraq, in an attempt to get Iran involved in dispatching electricity to Iraqi citizens. The American soldiers have reportedly raid into the rooms in the third floor of the hotel, where the Iranian delegates have been staying. after searching their belongings, the Iranians have been transferred to an undisclosed location using four “Hummers” [Persian].

Update: BBC CNN.

Update II: They were released.

Is Iran going to fight America with American Weapons? (Updated)

Kamangir | August 28, 2007 | Category Iran, Islam, Islamic Republic

Compare the two missiles here, top American, bottom “Iranian”

The Islamic Republic just announced the mass production of a guided missile, called “Qassed”, meaning Messenger in Persian/Arabic (see the pictures taken from the bomb). It is suggested that this is only a repainted version of the obsolete American bomb Rockwell GBU-15(V)/B. Well, they have a long history of making up “achievements”, don’t they?

Update: Brando is cautious, because this is not his field of expertise, but at the end he says, “As a layman I can say that those two bombs look precisely the same.”

Related: Have The Thunderbirds Defected?

The “Righteous” Guys

Kamangir | August 28, 2007 | Category Humour, Iran, Islam, Islamic Republic

So, one of the events of the recent days was Ahmadinejad’s interview with the media. Frankly, I did not even bother reading what he had to say. It was enough to read the verse they had picked from the Quran,

We [Allah] have written in the Psalms, after the remembrance: ‘the righteous among my worshipers shall inherit the earth.’

The verse, interestingly, refers to Psalms, sounds Jewish?, and, to my fascination, it makes it obvious who is going to win the upcoming battle, “the righteous…worshipers”. I am fed up with this man.

Gunfire in the Name of Mahdi

Kamangir | August 28, 2007 | Category Humour, Iran, Islam, Islamic Republic

What’s the best way to celebrate the birthday of a massively politicized Messiah? Well, throw a party for gun-lovers and fanatics. That would be the Basij drill in Qom, a few kilometers away from Imam Mahdi’s supposed rising point. See more pictures in the photoblog.

Imam in the Holy Well

Kamangir | August 28, 2007 | Category Humour, Iran, Islam, Islamic Republic

In Iran Shias are celebrating the birthday of Imam Mahdi, the hidden Islamic Messiah. The focal point of the celebrations is the controversial mosque close to the holy city of Qom, called the Jamkaran Mosque. Jamkaran is a not-very-old mosque assumed to be one of the possible places where Imam Mahdi will rise.

There are wells in Jamkaran which supposedly the Imam takes a look at from time to time.That’s why many Muslims will throw in letters to Imam in those wells. The picture shows one of the wells. Reportedly, Ahmadinejad threw in a pledge with Imam at his early days in the office. There are Shias, even inside Iran, who call all this politicized Islam or even idolatery.

See more pictures in the photoblog.

Related:Gunfire in the name of the Imam

“Messenger”, the name of a new missile (Updated)

Kamangir | August 27, 2007 | Category Iran, Islamic Republic

The banner in the back reads “Mahdi, the superman who will save the world”.

The Minister of Defense attended the ceremony for the start of industrial-scale production of a two-thousand-pound intelligent bomb titled Qassed, means messenger in Persian/Arabic. Reportedly, Qassed is a ground-to-air missile, which is both intelligent and remotely controllable. The far-reaching missile is claimed to have been designed using the most advanced technologies in the world, solely by Iranian experts. The minister stated in the ceremony, “We will not oppress anyone and will not accept oppression. We will not attack and will not stand an attack.” The ceremony was also the start of manufacturing new types of penetrating bullets [Persian]. See more pictures in the photoblog.

Update:Iran very proud of its copy of an obsolete U.S. guided bomb

Ahmadinejad vs. Allah

Kamangir | August 26, 2007 | Category Humour, Iran, Islam, Islamic Republic

Q) Were you recommended by anyone to Ahmadinejad?

A) I don’t know. I never asked him. A mutual friend had asked him who had recommended me to him and he had said “Allah recommended him”. That’s all I know.

This is a part of an interview with Vaziri Hamaneh, the former Petroleum Minister, published in the now-banned newspaper, Shargh, on December 2005 [Persian]. After Ahmadinejad fired Hamaneh, a short while ago, the Iranian blogger Mullah asks how he is going to explain that to Allah [Persian].

More Public Execution to happen

Kamangir | August 25, 2007 | Category Human Rights, Iran, Islamic Republic

According to the official newspapers of the Islamic Republic, a group of local [low-level] gang members are to be executed soon in public, in Kermanshah Province [Persian].

Crackdown on Professors

Kamangir | August 25, 2007 | Category Human Rights, Iran, Islamic Republic

According to a new law, all state-run universities are obliged to report any trip their faculty members go to outside the country. The trips have to be reported whether or not they are sabbatical or personal and for pleasure [Persian].

For Sale: Rocket Science and How to Recite Quran

Kamangir | August 25, 2007 | Category Humour, Iran, Islamic Republic

In a meeting with the elite youth, Ahmadinejad stated “We can teach the world newer methods in different fields, from how to recite Quran to rocket science” [Persian]. Any bid?

Ahmadinejad can be Cool too

Kamangir | August 25, 2007 | Category Humour, Iran, Islamic Republic

Who says Ahmadinejad does not like fun? See a man dancing in his presence. The image is taken in the International Conference on Investing in Tourism in Iran.

The “Science” of Islamic Messiah

Kamangir | August 24, 2007 | Category Iran, Islam

Fars News Agency has published a very long piece about the Islamic Messiah, Mehdi, “through the eyes of science and logic”. According to Shia belief, Mehdi is 1500 years old. To show that this could happen, Fars clamis that “recently, newspapers and journals have reported cases of people having lived for 150 years and even 250 years”. Fars admits that doubt about the living Messiah started when 120 years passed from birthday. After giving a list of mystic figures who have lived for thousands of years, according to Quran or other non-scientific sources, the author claims that “scientists have been able to increase the lifespan of some insects up to even nine hundred times more than the usual”. Apparently, the prophet once has mentioned “Allah has banned the earth from eating the prophets’ flesh”. The author uses this to argue that as Imam Mehdi is also a holy figure, his body will endure longer. Then, the author reviews a list of old beliefs about “staying young”, including the effects of “proper eating habits” [Persian].

Pictures of Whipping Sentence

Kamangir | August 23, 2007 | Category Human Rights, Iran, Islam, Islamic Republic

Whipping sentence carried out in Qazvin. As always, kids are watching. See the pictures in the photoblog.

Source: Mystery.

Khameneii, the Poet

Kamangir | August 22, 2007 | Category Humour, Iran, Islamic Republic

Listen to Khameneii reciting one of his own poems, as broadcast from the national television [Persian]. The poem starts with

I am happy with my hidden sadness, I am busy thinking about my confusion

 

 Khameneii [1:40m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

“Zionist Thieves”

Kamangir | August 22, 2007 | Category Humour, Iran, Islamic Republic, Israel

Apparently, Israelis have liked the Iranian movie Cafe Transit. That is enough for the ultra-right state-run newspaper Kayhan to complain, “The full support of the Zionists, whose hostility towards Iranians and Iran is well-known to everyone showed that … [this movie should have never been sent to the 2006 Oscars]“. Then, the newspaper asks how the “Zionists” have been able to acquire the copyright of the movie [Persian]. This is from a newspaper whose head is assigned by the Supreme Leader. Another person he directly assigns is the head of the national television. I wonder if they are that much concerned about Hollywood movies in there.

When you wish you were executed successfully

Kamangir | August 22, 2007 | Category Human Rights, Iran, Islamic Republic

Right after the stool was pushed aside, from beneath the man, the rope tore apart and he fell off, resulting is injury in the head and the waist and leading to a coma.

This happened in Abhar, Zanjan Province, during an execution [Persian].

Haleh Esfandiari Leaves Evin Prison (Updated)

Kamangir | August 22, 2007 | Category Human Rights, Iran, Islamic Republic, US

Haleh Esfandiari’s daughter stated “my mother is not under house arrest, she is even allowed to leave the country”. Haleh Esfandiari left the infamous Evin Prison on a $400,000 bail [Persian].

If she looks pale to you, try reading these,

• “Torture? We have not even started it yet!”
• Have you stayed in the Evin Prison-Hotel?
• A Riddle about Haleh Esfandiari

Update: The national television interviewed her right after she was released. She said “If I needed to buy something, they would ask me for the list”.

A Great Gift for my Birthday

Kamangir | August 22, 2007 | Category Personal

I am turning almost thirty in a few days. While that is not very good news, Azadeh got me a Canon Rebel XT digital camera. Now, that is what kept me awake last night setting up a new Photography Blog. The pictures in there are still what I have taken with our old Canon A60. I’ll be adding more pictures as I learn how to use my new toy.

By the way, this has nothing to do with the the Canon Ad which featured Ahmadinejad.

Police Brutality

Kamangir | August 22, 2007 | Category Human Rights, Iran, Islamic Republic

Another Police raid in Iran, targeting low-level criminals. More picture in the photoblog.

Sexy Sexy Sexy

Kamangir | August 21, 2007 | Category Humour, Iran, Islam, Islamic Republic

No shame at all! Dancing on Ice!

Don’t be surprised. These images have been taken at the opening of the first ice-skating court…right before the twenty-fifth anniversary of the revolution…Yesterday, girls started cycling, today, they are dancing on ice, what will happen tomorrow?

These are the words of a conservative newspapers. What the author finds so disturbing is the pictures of head-to-toe-covered women doing ice-skating. See more pictures in the photoblog.

Related:

• Definitely Too Sexy for Shia News
• Too Sexy for Fars News
• Too Sexy for Fars News (Photoblog)