Kamangir (Archer)

Student killed under Torture

Kamangir | January 17, 2008 | Category Human Rights, Iran, Islamic Republic, Regular Posts

Ebrahim Latif Allahi (Persian: ابراهیم لطف اللهی) was killed under torture. He studied law in Paiam Noor University in Sanandaj and was arrested about two weeks ago by the Intelligence. Reportedly, his family has been informed that “he has committed suicide in the prison” but that “his body is already buried”. His family is under pressure to not spread the news [Persian].

This is the leaflet for announcing a service for him, published by his family. It reads “This is to announce the death of Ebrahim Latif Allahi caused by ….”. The cause of death is apparently a taboo.

Reportedly, no information about his whereabouts and the reason for his arrest was given to his family. Tense situation has been reported in the city of Sanandaj and in his university after the news of his “suicide” came out.

Sanandaj is populated by Kurds, a minority group discriminated against by the central government. Separatist groups are very active in the region.

Flirting with the Islamic Republic, Salvation for Hossein Derakhshan (Updated)

Kamangir | January 17, 2008 | Category Iran, Islamic Republic

Hossein Deakhshan’s repeated attempts to be given the green light to go back to the country seem to have been accepted.

In August 2007 he wrote,

I wish the Islamic Republic.. would be tolerant enough to give financial support to any Iranian who was willing to get back to the country, whether or not they said their prayers, supported the veil, ate alcohol and pork, and supported the ideology of the Islamic Republic [Persian].

That was when he was in urgent need for financial support to pay off his tuitions. His appeals were followed by the state-run newspaper Kayhan citing his defamatory comments against figures in the Iranian opposition [Persian].

Today, the state-run national television recited one of his recent posts [Persian], in which he apologized for an article he wrote in the New Scientist back in 2006 and argued against the passion of the Islamic Republic for “nuclear energy”. “I apologize from the people of Iran for being stupid”, he was quoted by IRIB (direct link to video).

Update: Response from Hossein Derakhshan, received on February 6th, 2008,

Dear Arash,

Your recent post about me, titled ‘Flirting with the Islamic Republic, Salvation for Hossein Derakhshan’ is untruthful and unfair.

The Iranian state TV has decided on its own, without even with my knowledge or consent, to quote part of from my blog about a new rebirth of nuclear energy around the world which apparently they had liked. I have written that post exlusively in my blog, without having had any contact with anyone, or having recieved any money for it, as you imply. This could happen to anyone who publishes online, including yourself. Using it like this against me is very unfair.

I also see that you have twisted and selected my words in your translation of a post I had written a while ago about my tuition fee. This is the correct translation of that paragraph:

“To be honest, I wish the Islmaic Republic that controls the oil revenue which belong to all of us was tolerant enough, as shah was to students even critical of him with generously sponsorships, to financialy support the education in abroad of any Iranian student who would plan to go back to Iran, no matter what their atiitude toward praying, hejab, alcohol, pork or Velayat-e Faqih [as signs a devotee Muslim].”

Original:
http://sarkhod.blogspot.com/2007/08/blog-post_4190.html
http://i.hoder.com/archives/2007/08/070811_016359.shtml

I have never recieved any funding from any state, or state-related organization or individual and my Masters degree’s tution fee was funded by both my family and my own savings from my freelance web design work n the past few years.

I understand that we have major political differences, but that does not mean we can cross the lines of accuracy and fairness.

Thank you,

- Hossein Derakhshan