Selected Headlines
07 Oct 2009 06:523 Comments
Cartoon by Nikahang Kowsar/Roozonline
US funds dry up for Iran rights watchdog
Boston Globe | Oct. 7, 2009
Just as the Iran Human Rights Documentation Center was ramping up to investigate abuses of protesters after this summer's disputed presidential election, the group received word that - for the first time since it was formed - its federal funding request had been denied.
"If there is one time that I expected to get funding, this was it,'' said Rene Redman, the group's executive director, who had asked for $2.7 million in funding for the next two years. "I was sur prised, because the world was watching human rights violations right there on television.''
Michael Rubin, a scholar at the American Enterprise Institute, a conservative Washington-based think tank, said, "It is a shock that they did not get funding.'' A reason, he asserted, may be that "the Obama administration is so focused on engaging Iran that they don't want this information to get in the way.''
The State Department said it is keenly focused on human rights in Iran.
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3 Comments
That political cartoon of a bloody handed Mahmoud shaking the hand of a clean Obama is misleading.
I'm sure there are plenty of Afghani civilians, victims of American drone attacks, for example, that would claim Obama's hand deserves just as much blood on it.
It's also inaccurate to depict an Iranian leader trying to take advantage of an American leader. What about the economic war being waged against Iran by the US? What about active US programs of providing support to armed groups waging violent campaigns against the people of Iran?
Come on, Tehran Bureau. Don't be just another cog in the wheel in the effort to demonize Iran. Realize the intention of that effort, and how it harms the people living in Iran.
Pirouz / October 9, 2009 1:59 AM“Those Who Distort the Truth are Responsible Before God and Humanity”
During the disputed Iranian protest in summer of 2009 gross human rights violations took place in Iran.
Mr. Ahmadinejad’s government is directly responsible for these horrible crimes and violations, which include deliberately shooting unarmed protesters and raping young female and male protesters in prisons. Neither God nor humanity will forgive those responsible.
Mr. Ahmadinejad and his government should realize that ends -- can never ever-- justify the means. This is why Hitler and Stalin failed both God and humanity.
Is Mr. Ahmadinejad the leader that Iranians deserve? I don’t think so. If Mr. Ahmadinejad loves God and Iran then I suggest that he should approach the opposition leaders especially Mr. Mousavi, Mr. Karroubi, and Mr. Khatami and reconciles with their positions.
This means that Mr. Ahmadinejad should resign and let Mr. Mousavi to form the next government of Iran. If this is not acceptable to Mr. Ahmadinejad then the only democratic alternative is to rerun the elections and monitor the process with international observers.
President Obama is the US President who has been elected to the office in order to protect the so-called US interests and not Iranian interests.
However, if limitless and unconditional respect for humanity is upheld with President Obama then he should refrain from meeting those who are responsible for crimes against humanity and especially crimes against their own people.
Mr. Ahmadinejad has much more in common with Mr. al-Bashir and Mr. Mugabe rather than anything resembling President Obama.
However, sadly, President Obama’s unconditional approval for talking to Mr. Ahmadinejad’s government proves that President Obama’s respect for the Human Rights and humanity has a limit that is supposedly set with the so-called interests of the US and its allies especially Israel and undemocratic Arab states.
Now, whether President Obama will change course by putting humanity before politics or sticks to his presently adopted course of making politics by using humanity is to be seen!
Dr. Kazem Zarrabi,
Dr. Kazem Zarrabi / October 11, 2009 5:55 PMCopenhagen, Denmark.
October 2009
While I also hope that outside governments, especially, perhaps, the U.S., can persuade the Iranian government to lift the bans on basic freedoms (assembly, press, speech), free the unjustly jailed and investigate the rapes and other crimes committed against those detained after the elections, and to again engage in meaningful interchanges with other nations, including steps to ensure that Iran does not develop nuclear weapons, my hopes are fading that the present U.S. administration has the capacity to do so.
Roger / October 13, 2009 9:15 PMI fear that the only means able to bring about the necessary changes are violent ones, by both internal and external forces.
I pray that I am mistaken.