Selected Headlines

29 Sep 2009 20:09No Comments

Tehran University students told to behave

Asr Iran | Sept. 29, 2009

Officials at Tehran University warned students living in its dormitories of the consequences of taking part in gatherings that could turn violent.

"Radical provocations stemming from outside the university will have consequences for Tehran University students and dorm residents and will be damaging to them," a communiqué stated.

The statement said the communiqué was issued "because recent illegal gatherings have been the cause of concern for students and the residents of the TU dormitory."

The culture and student deputy of Tehran University said that the communiqué had been issued upon the request of the families of students and TU dormitory residents who feared the outcome of 'outside provocations.' He also said 'individuals who help organize or participate in gatherings that turn violent' will be dealt with according to the law.

The communiqué closed by saying, "Any gathering without a permit is illegal. Organizers can request permits for gatherings from the culture and student deputy of Tehran University."

Video of Sharif University protests

Iranian Students Protest for Second Day

NYT | Sept. 29, 2009

Over 1,000 students demonstrated at Sharif University in Tehran on Tuesday morning to protest a visit by the Minister of Science and Higher education, Kamran Daneshjoo, Advarnews, a student Web site reported.

Protesters carried green balloons and ribbons, a symbol of the protest movement since the disputed June 12 elections, and banners that read "the University is still alive," according to the Web site.

The Web site also reported that the university security guards were not able to disperse the crowed as it kept growing.

Students at Tehran University demonstrated Monday, forcing President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to cancel his visit there. On Sunday, students held a smaller protest outside the philosophy faculty of Tehran University where a member of Parliament, Gholam Ali Hadad Adel, gave a speech.

The student protests were the first of the new school year, which began last week, and took place despite the fact that authorities have arrested dozens of student leaders around the country and applied increasing pressure on others not to demonstrate.

Click here for photos.

MP: truth-finding committee must tell truth

Parlemann News | Sept. 29, 2009

Reformist lawmaker Masoud Pezeshkian urged a panel charged with investigating post-election crimes committed by officials to give a truthful account of findings to parliament.

Doubts have been raised about the impartiality of the truth-finding committee.

"I will not judge, but it is expected that they tell the truth no matter how bitter it is because in the end honesty will prevail," he said.

"If the truth is told, solutions can be found to remedy the situation and repetition of the mistakes can be prevented," said Pezeshkian.

If the truth is not revealed, he said, "those who are aware of it will say they are liars and it will cause the people to lose their trust in the establishment."

In response to a question about student protests and its impact on the universities, the Reformist lawmaker said, "We will without a doubt face many challenges."

"Disciplining students must be well-thought out ... and eliminations and other illogical measures will only be damaging to the country, the revolution and the future [of the country]."

Former minister's 15 minutes with Ahmadinejad

Parleman News | Sept. 29, 2009

Former Iranian energy minister Parviz Fattah said Mahmoud Ahmadinejad called him on his way to New York to invite him to join his new government.

According to Fatah, Ahmadinejad called him from the presidential plane and they talked for 15 minutes.

"After I left my ministerial position, I had many offers. I said no to all of them because I wanted to continue the same path [be a minister again]."

"Ahmadinejad told me, 'Mr. Fattah, you know how much I love you,' and I said that I knew that. Then he told me that he wanted me to stay with the government, to which I replied, 'This path is my destiny, so please allow me to continue [down] this path.'"

"This conversation ended, and about one hour later I had a message from the president, a message he had given to the captain, and he had passed it on to the control tower, and the control tower had passed it on to the presidential office, and they informed me that the president had asked me to stay with the government and I reiterated again that I would like to stay on the scene and be resurrected with the Basijis."

[Note: To be resurrected with the Basijis means he wants to stay a minister until he dies and is sent to heaven to be with the Basijis who lost their lives during the eight-year war with Iraq. Basically he wants to retain the position forever.]

Swift justice for any fouls during Friday match

Tabnak | Sept. 28, 2009

A judiciary official said two judges will be dispatched to the Esteghlal-Persepolis match on Friday to promptly rule on any felony committed at Azadi stadium.

According to the unnamed judiciary official, if anyone commits a crime during the 90-minute game, the two judges will immediately decide on a suitable punishment.

He further stated that the central and fifth branches of the public prosecutors' office were on standby to deal with felonies committed outside the Stadium, adding that both branches would also hear complaints lodged by citizens as well.

Tehran Governor denies summoning drivers for supporting protesters

Asr Iran | Sept. 29, 2009

Tehran Governor Morteza Tamadon denied reports that drivers who honked their horns in support of post-election protesters were summoned by his office.

A number of news websites had claimed that the governor of Tehran ordered these citizens to be summoned and reprimanded.

"I strongly reject making such an order, or making a decision on this issue. No such decision has ever been made [by the governor's office]," said Tamadon.

The governor went on to express his dissatisfaction with the circulation of such rumors, saying that it only added to current tensions in the country and served enemy objectives.

"In the course of the unrest that followed the election there might have been a small group of people who deprived people of a peace of mind with their actions and civil forces and traffic police dealt with them in line with their legal responsibilities.

"However, claiming that a few months after the unrest the governor's office has issued an order in this regard and decided to summon the citizens who honked their horns [at that time] sounds more like political satire and has no basis in reality."

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