Did you know that Kamangir turns four tomorrow? See the classic "Hello World" dated October 17, 2008!

26 comments

“Godfather” seeks Financial Support from the Islamic Republic (Updated II)

Kamangir | August 13, 2007 | Category Iran

A few days ago, when Hossein Derakhshan’s (a.k.a. Hoder) problems with his hosting had just started, I wrote a post about an anti-semitic remark he had made in his blog, “nothing can stop him [Mehdi Khalaji] and his wealthy influential warmonger Jewish Supporters”. He then wrote another post in his Persian blog in which he also suggested that “Khalaji’s lawyer is also a Jew”. He continued, “I know that Kamangir is now going to write about this in his English blog to make Israelis not let me go in there ever” [Persian]. In fact, it might be to his benefit to be banned from going to Israel. Furthermore, he might even dream about being known as the Islamic Republic’s guy.

It is a well-known fact that Derakhshan lives off blogging. After his quarrels with roozonline.com, one of the last places he worked for as a web designer, it is understandable that he needs to find a source of income. Despite the public rumor that he is paid by the Islamic Republic, I think he is not. That is only what he seems to have started dreaming about lately. Two days ago, he wrote about his new plans to get back to school on September (according to public knowledge, he has not finished his bachelors yet). Mentioning the 16,000 Euros he needs for the tuitions every year, he writes,

I am starting to think that whoever is willing to pay me that money, I don’t care who they are. It can be a scholarship from the US, or the European Union, or the UK, or even the Islamic Republic. I have sent emails and have called everyone I knew in every places. There is no hope yet….I wish it was like the Shah’s time that the regime would support opposition students to go abroad and study. I wish the Islamic Republic, which is using our oil money, would be so tolerant to give financial support to any Iranian who was willing to get back to the country, whether or not they said their prayers, or supported the veil, or ate alcohol and pork, or supported the ideology of the Islamic Republic [Persian].

One of the last supporters of Derakhshan, Nazli Kamvari (a.k.a. Sibiltala), recently asked him about the rumors that he is in contact with the Iranian Embassy in France, the country he has been staying in recently [Persian]. Derakhshan responded angrily to that question and called it a big lie. The recent pace of events seems to indicate that the rumors might have not been so false. I, personally, think the only way for Derakhshan out of the current deadlock is to get back to Iran and to spare himself, obviously after he goes through the confession and self-condemnation ritual. It seems that he is thinking about the same thing.

Update: Bikhaanemoon translates another part of Nazli’s post in the comments,

In the same post, Nazli recalls:

Last year, I complained to Hossein: “Buddy, you went deep down into Israel but you didn’t write a single word about the Palestinians.” He replied: “My trip was sponsored by people who probably wouldn’t be too happy if I had […] encounters with the Palestinians; I wanted to return to Israel and didn’t want to write something to anger them.”

Lisa, who was Hoder’s host in his first trip to Israel, does not agree at all. She writes in the comments,

Did Hoder *really* tell Nazli that he avoided meeting Palestinians because he thought the people who sponsored his trip wouldn’t be pleased…The reason he did not meet any Palestinians is simply that he was pathologically lazy and was not interested in anything beyond going to clubs and cafes in Tel Aviv and being invited out for dinners at nice restaurants.

Update II: A reader finds more falsehood in Hoder’s claims.

After he is kicked out of his host he writes [Persian],

Even more ironic is that a blog I was editing to cover internet censorship in Iran has also been shut down.

The fact is, a short while ago he wrote about the same blog [Persian],

Therefore, although this website has not been updated for almost a year, I now officially shut it down.

Reader's Comments

  1. Kamangir (Archer) - کمانگیر » Blog Archive » Antisemitic Remark by the “Godfather” of the Iranian Blogosphere (Updated II+I) | August 13th, 2007 at 10:30 pm

    [...] Comments Kamangir (Archer) - کمانگیر » Blog Archive » “Godfather” seeks Suppor… on Antisemitic Remark by the “Godfather” of the Iranian Blogosphere (Updated II+I)ella on Too Sexy [...]

  2. RoxieAmerica | August 13th, 2007 at 11:19 pm

    I took the time to read the emails he posted between he and his website host. In my opinion, the web hosting service did everything possible to not terminate the account, and that Mr. Hoder did everything he could to not cooperate. As a result of my opinion, I feel no pity for Mr. Hoder. Mr. Hoder threatened to sue his website provider, a service caught in the crossfire of the war between Mr. Hoder and Mehdi Khalaji.

    While I do not approve of censorship, this appears to case where the writing was most likely actionable due to th content posted and the laws of the US and Canada. This appears to me, based on what I have read, that Mr. Hoder has posted, a blogger who does not deserve my pity and the “censorship” does not endanger free speech.

  3. حسین | August 14th, 2007 at 12:52 am

    You can remove this comment.
    This post may be refered to later, so it is worth re-editing:
    1. “After his quarrels with roozonline.com” -> “After his conflicts/disputes with roozonline.com”
    2. “that he needs to find a source of income” -> “he needs a new source of income”
    3. “asked him about the rumors” -> asked him regarding …”
    4. “rakhshan responded angrily to that question” -> “to that inquiry”
    5. “might have not been so false” -> “might have not been false”

  4. Roman Kalik | August 14th, 2007 at 2:42 am

    Hoder can stop worrying about never being let into Israel again. If he, as an Iranian, was here twice already, then our security forces don’t find him to be a risk. We don’t close our gates to people just because they’re idiots, or because of their political views. Unless of course, said political views entail our destruction, and even then only if incites others to put words to action.

    But hopefully, no one will invite him over as someone of import again. That would be a blessing to us all.

  5. Ali | August 14th, 2007 at 8:38 am

    He is lost!

  6. bikhaanemoon | August 14th, 2007 at 10:32 am

    In the same post, Nazli recalls:

    Last year, I complained to Hossein: “Buddy, you went deep down into Israel but you didn’t write a single word about the Palestinians.” He replied: “My trip was sponsored by people who probably wouldn’t be too happy if I had [...] encounters with the Palestinians; I wanted to return to Israel and didn’t want to write something to anger them.”

    Gee! Who was his scary sponsor? Maybe Lieberman himself? :) He just brings excuses. Nevertheless, I don’t know how he dares to call himself a journalist/activist.
    I wonder if the Washington Institute, the Freedom House, and Hivos setup a joint scholarship for him so he could enjoy a bit of what he once called “the dirty money” too. Of course, it won’t be as dirty if it gets his blessing.

    P.S. Roman, I think your comment about security forces not closing the gates b/c of political views was a bit “too general”. If I recall right, wasn’t it Chivvis Moore who was detained in Ben Gurion airport and almost deported back to the States; or other activists complaining about indifference of Israeli police to their harassments by the settlers? Of course, you are right if talking “relative” to rest of the region :)

  7. Roman Kalik | August 14th, 2007 at 11:59 am

    Gee! Who was his scary sponsor? Maybe Lieberman himself?

    Depends on which visit it was. In the second one he was most likely sponsored by my uni. My guess, dude was just afraid of losing a source of free money.

    I wonder if the Washington Institute, the Freedom House, and Hivos setup a joint scholarship for him so he could enjoy a bit of what he once called “the dirty money” too. Of course, it won’t be as dirty if it gets his blessing.

    Heheheh.

    P.S. Roman, I think your comment about security forces not closing the gates b/c of political views was a bit “too general”. If I recall right, wasn’t it Chivvis Moore who was detained in Ben Gurion airport and almost deported back to the States; or other activists complaining about indifference of Israeli police to their harassments by the settlers? Of course, you are right if talking “relative” to rest of the region

    Moore’s case was one of having no visa to stay here, or a permit to work here (she was working in the PA as a professor). This was at a time when Israel and the Palestinian Authority severed all ties, so no one working in the PA on a regular basis got favorable treatment from the Israeli immigration office. This was simply a matter of diplomatic relations, further complicated by the fact that Palestine does not yet exist as an independent state, and thus does not give its own visas. Well, unless you count the Islamic Republic of Gaza.

    As for complaints made by activists, the army escorts they get on so many occasions to make sure that they actually make it back home alive to say how bad Israel is speaks volumes to me. As for police, sentiments of individual policemen notwithstanding, everything gets investigated with the same degree of inefficiency. We had our house broken into three times so far, do you think anyone bothered to even check the crime scene? Meh.

  8. Lisa | August 14th, 2007 at 7:04 pm

    Did Hoder *really* tell Nazli that he avoided meeting Palestinians because he thought the people who sponsored his trip wouldn’t be pleased? Oh my God, what utter nonsense. I know *exactly* who sponsored Hoder’s trip, because I hosted him during his first visit, and I can assure everyone that the people who paid reimbursed him for the $400 he paid for his ticket from Germany would have been perfectly delighted if he had taken the time to visit some Palestinians.

    The reason he did not meet any Palestinians is simply that he was pathologically lazy and was not interested in anything beyond going to clubs and cafes in Tel Aviv and being invited out for dinners at nice restaurants. I personally introduced him to several Palestinians, including one who is a very good friend of mine, and I offered many times to take him to the West Bank, or to the Hebrew-Arabic theatre in Jaffa (Jewish and Arab actors working together), or to the Old City in Jerusalem, to see the Muslim holy sites. But each time he found an excuse not to go. He said he did not want to visit the Old City in Jerusalem, even though we were already in the city for his ridiculous interview with the Jerusalem Post, because he hated Jerusalem. That is what he said. He said Jerusalem reminded him of Qom.

    I’m really amazed at all the things he dares to write in Persian, but not in English. I wish someone could just translate all his Persian posts in English. It would be such a good deed. Maybe then the silly people who still think he’s a good guy would *finally* wake up.

  9. bikhaanemoon | August 14th, 2007 at 7:54 pm

    Lisa, I think Nazli talks about his second trip as she refers to last year.
    BTW, your piece on Beirut was great. I promised myself not to go beyond the first paragraph before finishing my project but ended up reading to the very end.
    Who knows, you might do the same with Tehran one day ;)

  10. serendip | August 14th, 2007 at 8:02 pm

    What a tragic character. He will self-destruct no matter where he goes. He needs extensive psychological help.

  11. serendip | August 14th, 2007 at 8:07 pm

    Why doesn’t he work to put himself through school? I had to work full time and go to school full time during my undergrad years…

  12. serendip | August 14th, 2007 at 8:27 pm

    OT: Raging iferno in Central Tehran (Hozour District)

    http://en.baztab.com/content/?cid=4188

  13. Roman Kalik | August 14th, 2007 at 9:23 pm

    Serendip, if Lisa’s description of his visit is any indication, Hoder may not even know what work *is*. He has a combination of chronic laziness, low moral standards, hedonism, and a habit of taking free rides.

  14. M | August 14th, 2007 at 10:12 pm

    Mr. Kamagir,
    Despite the problems between you and Mr. Darakhshan, as a prominent leftist writer that you pretend to be, it is a good idea that you also raise your voice against extreme right wing warmongers such as neo-cons and their slaves. With these personal attacks you may fool some but the informed ones may ask how these extreme rights and extreme lefts gel together!

  15. Roman Kalik | August 15th, 2007 at 1:33 am

    M, do you even know what a neocon *is*? My educated guess is that you don’t. Your mention of slaves is also telling. I smell demagogy.

  16. Jeanna | August 15th, 2007 at 6:17 am

    @M

    It’s not in the mindset and objectifs of this wouldbe “journalistic” blog and its apostels to speak out a different opinion. It’s a “journalist’s” blog you never ever would read even one single critical word about the problematic and partly criminal policies of the USA and Israel.
    If nevertheless you try so, you will be “taught” how clueless and non-educated you are … in short what an idiot. Qed and see Kalik’s characteristic “answer” to you.

  17. Rostam Farrokhzadeh | August 15th, 2007 at 7:42 am

    A harbinger of things to come. The Persian Lepoard is on the rise again. The mollah’s need to start thinking of larger second homes in Syria and Switzerland.

    http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070815/ap_on_sc/hungary_leopard_triplets

  18. Roman Kalik | August 15th, 2007 at 7:49 am

    Characteristic? So now I’m reduced to a crass stereotype? Oh well, I guess this one is better all the other stereotypes I have been reduced to so far. I could take this as a positive development, in a way.

  19. Jeanna | August 15th, 2007 at 8:27 am

    Mr. Kalik, feel free to feel “reduced” and if you are bound to “see things” through such, that is through your, glasses and always true to the proverb “Quod licet jovi, non licet bovi”. And of course it’s you considering yourself to be the “jovi”. Who else!

  20. Roman Kalik | August 15th, 2007 at 8:38 am

    You really have no understanding of humor, do you. Too focused on biting remarks.

    And apologies, my Latin is rusty. Or rather, non existent. I find Aramaic and Old Hebrew to be much more my forte.

  21. Rostam Farrokhzad | August 15th, 2007 at 12:38 pm

    I have seen it all now - In Jeanna we have a Latin quoting Roman Catholic, who inspite of her admonishments to the “uneducated” has only a the most basic grasp of the English language, supporting the dictatorship of the Islamic Republic. Well Jeanna before you waste our time with more unwanted undecipherable reflections, brush up on your English and learn to comment here after having donned a hejab.

  22. Frieda | August 16th, 2007 at 12:52 am

    the more we write about him, the more we give him a legitimacy that he does not deserve.
    He had many connection in the American and british media a couple years ago. Remember his “iran focus” project in Open Democracy. Now, everyone have abandoned him because they finally saw his true nature. it’s no accident that you don’t see any article from him in the Independent …they all saw for what he was.

  23. Global Voices Online » Hossein Derakhshan’s blog is suspended | August 16th, 2007 at 8:36 am

    [...] the political and ideological issues that can legally be addressed and discussed by those for and against Hossein Derakhshan’s rights to express himself on his blog, the most important questions [...]

  24. Hossein Derakhshan’s blog is suspended at Global Voices Advocacy | August 16th, 2007 at 8:41 am

    [...] the political and ideological issues that can legally be addressed and discussed by those for and against Hossein Derakhshan’s rights to express himself on his blog, the most important questions [...]

  25. Michael Pugliese | August 17th, 2007 at 11:05 am

    http://mrzine.monthlyreview.org/derakhshan130807.html
    Neo-Con Censorship: A Threat to All of Us
    by Hossein Derakhshan

  26. Michael Pugliese | August 17th, 2007 at 11:09 am

    An open letter from Iranian leftists to the US magazine Monthly Review
    http://www.workersliberty.org/node/6635
    http://mrzine.monthlyreview.org/letter070706.html

CommentComment




© 2007 Kamangir (Archer) | Design by Luka Cvrk. Wordpressed by Ego with the help of Gift Baskets. children and obesity