There Will Be Blood -- Exclusive Interview With an Iranian Journalist in Tehran
Please read this amazing account I have put on the Daily Beast from Arash Aryan-his second in two days. It will break your hearts. He is a powerful voice coming out of there.
On Friday, through the night, primarily through intermittent internet connection, I have been able to talk with Iranian photo-journalist NS (she does not want her name used, for obvious reasons). NS has been in the middle of the protests. While the interview text below was compiled before the sermon, a later communication tells me this: Like many others, she is enraged by the "khutba" (Friday sermon) of the Ayatollah Khamenei which will now open the doors for a Tiananmen in Tehran. Saturday will likely be the bloodiest day so far, if the brave crowds decide to come out. Another friend from Tehran cried on the phone, after he had been to Tehran University to pray and hear the Ayatollah's sermon. His last words to me before the mobile phone connection was cut off were: "Tomorrow there will be blood."
These are the exact words written by NS. No editing or filtering, necessary.
Q: What has Thursday been like? What is the mood at the mourning rallies? What have you seen/experienced/photographed?
A: Thursday was a gain another silent march, very busy very crowded, I could see more middle-aged people especially female. Also a group from Society of Lecturers of Qom Seminary including some of the Molahs. The location was very important, TOUPKHANEH Square, the heart of old Tehran, 2 minutes from the entrance of Tehran's big Bazaar and also right in front of Iran's central Telecommunication center. Mousavi came and spoked with people although I couldn't hear him as I was trying to shoot and not get smashed. I photographed almost everything, people, Mousavi, some friends and families of the Monday's Martyrs were lighting candles and seating in silence and some crying. The mood was sad and happy a very strange mix and weird feeling. People were angry and proud at the same time.
Q: What do you know about attacks at Tehran University? Do you have any idea of how many people have been killed?
A:I don't know much, as I was not there, only things I've heard and photos I've seen. I was told 5 were killed in Tehran's university, but not sure.
Q: How easy is it to get on the internet? Can you please describe how you get on and which sites are blocked?
A: It's easy enough for me as we set up and OK connection here but even that sometimes goes dead, or too too slow and it takes like 20 min to open yahoo's home page and sometimes it's back to normal. But in general as they don't allow people to have super high speed Internet connection even in a normal situation the connection is slow. For blocked sites, we get programs, hacker style and then we pass trough the filters. Some work and some don't, so when one does and it's good then people tend to pass that around so everyone can use it.
The downside of those programs is that the speed is even lower when we try to open the blocked page but the upside is in the end you manage to access.
Q: How are people communicating with each other? Are text messages still blocked? What about phones and Twitter?
A: SMS [short messaging service, or text] is still cut and mobile lines also are dead everyday especially around the rally areas and times that people need to reach other to pass the info or just to check if they are ok or... Landline to landline is still ok, but when people are out in the street then is usles. I can say the most effective way of communication at the moment is "word of mouth", people keep talking in the streets, they pass the messages and the info to each other and then one person tell 10 friends and then it goes on and on. The amazing part is even if there are changes happening last minute people still manage to pass the info!! Internet also plays and important role, with all the issues involved.
Q: Here people are attaching a lot of importance to Twitter and to YouTube as primary means of communication. Is that true?
A: Yes it is, YouTube, Twitter and Facebook are really helping and effective. Although they are all blocked here, but we access them as you know and as all these sites are easy to work on and anyone can upload anything they want themselves so it's great to pass the info. Also friends and supporters outside the country can continue the process and pass the information on the same sites.
Q: Are people able to see the extent of the coverage around the world and the U.S.?
A: They were not in the beginning, let's say the first 2 days or so, they were all worried that no one knows what's happening here, but then they realized that the whole world knows and the coverage is bigger than expected. They also realized that part of this coverage and they can pass on information and they can play a big role in it.
Q: Are people still shouting Allah-o-akbar from rooftops at night? What is that like?
A: Yes they are every night and it's getting stronger and longer and louder every night. They also added new slogans like "Dead to Dictator" or "Ya Hussein, Mir Hussein" and... It's very moving and powerful, the ones who were here 30 years ago during the revolution they say that it reminds them of those days
Q: It seems like the Guardian Council is trying to buy time. Are people cynical? Or is there still hope?
A: Very true, they are buying time, but people are well aware of that. But from the moment they announced that, everyone was saying " they want to buy time" "they think we are stupid" " even if they do that they can easily cheat again" "who knows where are the votes by now" "we need re election not re counts."
Q: In your opinion is Mousavi really the only hope? He was never really a reformer before -- so how is it that he became the hope for people to such a degree?
A: I don't think he is the only hope and the best option but I do think that's what these people want and need right now. They can't aim for a huge change and started marching against the Islamic Republic of Iran, but they can get to the point they like with these changes and these small changes. Plus, I think right now the issue is more how they've been treated and lied to and.. so they want there rights back more than anything and in this process Mousavi has suddenly become the face and the leader. They voted for him and now they want their vote to be realized. I also think he is a bit different now, not that his way of thinking or ideas has totally changed and his super open minded person but he has changed, and I strongly believe his wife is the power behind all that.
Q: What is planned tomorrow? (please remember this interview was done before the Friday sermon)
A: Today, Friday, June 19, 2009, all oppositions decided to cancel their rallies, next march is tomorrow 4pm same location as last Monday. Instead we have the "Friday Prayer" show, everyone is waiting to see and hear what "RAHBAR" the leader, Khamenei will say today. It seems it's very busy down there at the moment, they always make sure they go and collect people even from small towns around Tehran and some other cities, strange to believe but they do. Photographers were not allowed inside today.
Follow Parvez Sharma on Twitter: www.twitter.com/parvezsharma
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The lady was right. See pix & video posted on HP. Avoid the pix & video if blood & violence offends you. It will be interesting to see if Pres Obama & the USA do anything save talk. Giving Iranians who get out of Iran visas to enter the USA asap is the least (& all) the USA can do.
Our troops are tied up in Iraq & Afghanistan. The situation in N & S Korea + Pakistan &/or Iran could require massive infusions of US troops at once. The USA doesn't have the troops to do that.
Taking troops from Afghanistan & Iraq to go to Korea, Pakistan or Iran would take a lot of time. We don't have the jet transports to do that. Using C 130's to supplement jet transports would be a Hail Mary pass. C 130's are old, slow & in poor repair. Where would we get the fuel to ferry the troops to any where? We could charter a massive fleet of ships to transport troops to Korea or combat zones in Pakistan or Iran.
BTW, WTF, would we get the troops?
It looks like the USA is going to be taking a trip down the Alamentary Canal to $hit City via @$$ hole junction before Pres Obama leaves office on 1/20/13.
My heart is with the protesters. I hope you are unhurt. Know that you are out there for a worthwhile cause.
I've been trying to catch up on this news story after being away during the elections. So far, what I've seen reminds me much of what happened at Tiananmen Square. I find my reaction is much the same as well: tense hope, fear, nervousness for the lives of the people poised on the brink of violence or great change--possibly both. And my reaction surprises me. I bite my fingernails, remain glued to the tube... and do nothing. On my blog, Everyday Ethics, we've been discussing what our (average folks') moral obligations might be at times like these. Does caring oblige us to take action? What do you think? http://blo
LET IRAN BURN! THE WORLD BE DAMNED!
Khamenie's message of defiance was crystal clear: 'We are ruled by God, world opinion be damned! If we must kill thousands to save God's ultimate revolutionary regime, the light and salvation of Islam, then so be it! "LET IRAN BURN SO THAT ISLAM PREVAILS!" said Imam Khomeine of blessed memory.'
No concessions to the democratic opposition in Iran means no concessions to Obama and the democratic West on nuclear proliferation and support of radical Islam throughout the region and world. It's onwards and upwards to a nuclear armed state as the mullahs add to their arsenal of terror and blood the ultimate weapon of murder and death.
No it doesn't mean that at all.
You are being hysterical.
Let the Iranians decide what is meant by the Ayatollah's comments.
P.S. there is no evidence they are embarked on a nuclear armed Iran.
And if you think Iran supports al Qaida you are simply delusional.
P.S. there is no evidence they are embarked on a nuclear armed Iran.
Appears you are the delusional one. Iran supports terrorism. Glad to see them experience terror.
A terrorist regime that wants to be feared has zero interest in acquiring the most terrifying of all weapons? First rule of war: know thy enemy. You my friend haven't got a clue.
Khomeini is protecting his own power and his own hide. I hope there are major splits in the clergy, the army and the politicians.
My heart is with the protesters.
This had me gripped, to hear it from the ground there. Sounded, so, authentic, the atmospherics of the bazaar, rooftops and all.
On the word-of-mouth point, the insta-cynicism (as is refined in a place like the IRI), hacking software I've heard about, and this:
"I also think he is a bit different now, not that his way of thinking or ideas has totally changed and his super open minded person but he has changed, and I strongly believe his wife is the power behind all that."
I've sort of gotten the same feeling. Small changes and all of that, he had the Revolutionary cred and the connections, but, I dunno, architect, Mohsen Makhmalbaf, his wife a professor and artist... I'm not transposing Western values to Iran, but one would hope he really does identify more with artists -- whether or not he could have ever passed reforms through majles and Guardian Council. None of that matters, this is about more. Fundamental reform... or more.
Thanks so much Mr. Sharma, for this.
My thoughts are with the Iranian people. May your efforts be fruitful, and peace be upon you all.
hear hear.
Gays, atheists, secularists, feminists all waging JIHAD on the Muslim world. LOL.
Shills for IRI shake in your boots, your beloved theocracy totters as 100,000's take to the streets to assert their freedom.
Always one a$$ like you in a crowd.
It's useful as a fossil record of the mindset of IRI- where gays, atheists, secularists, are jailed tort,ured and han.ged.
I wish success to the Iranian citizens in overthrowing the religious dictatorship. Their absolute focus and determination will be required.
me too.
I am not Iranian, But I feel for these people and want to lend my support, if only in spirit.
thank you for sharing this with us. i hope the persian people succeed in finding a government that deserves them.
Haven't wanted to do more harm than good regarding Twitter when relaying information, i.e., accurate versus inaccurate, so have been very select in my tweets/retweets.
These courageous people are in my thoughts round the clock.
I've been wondering if those with FTP sites would prove useful in this situation.
we know all about corrupt consertatives stealing elections plus the machines and the supremes that help them.. It woke us up to what had probably been going on for years.Bet it does the same to iran..
Yep. LOL
Co-sign.
Thanks to you and your brave reporters. If the protesters stay peaceful, the military will find it hard to stomach attacking their own friends, neighbors and relatives. The rest of the world is pulling for you and we hope for a peaceful outcome.
i am hoping the military turns against the theocrats and supports the protesters.
Co-sign that.
Check out this video about the communications getting out despite government crackdowns
http://www
We should all thank NS for her bravery in getting the real news out to the world. It is wonderful to see Iranians fight for their freedom. I sincerly hope the military sides with the people, not the dictator regime. I would hate to see any lives lost. Again, thank you NS.
I would not call what they are doing "fighting",I wish them the best and hope they overthrow their crazy leaders.Th
I am not using the word "fight" as an actual fight but rather as "an argument or struggle."
Revolutions occur in many different forms.
And this one just might proceed from the ballot box. That has yet to be ruled out.
What the demonstrators are demanding is a fair election after all. Not (necessarily or at least not yet) the overthrow of the Islamic Republic.
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