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(CNN) -- A young blogger arrested in Iran for allegedly insulting supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in an Internet posting has died in prison, his attorney said Friday.
The blogger had been jailed for allegedly insulting Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in an internet posting.
Attorney Mohammad Ali Dadkhah said Omid Mir Sayafi, reported to be in his 20s, died in Evin prison, which is located in Tehran and known for its wing that holds political prisoners.
Dadkhah said a fellow inmate, Dr. Hessam Firouzi, called him Wednesday night with the news -- and said he believed Sayafi would have lived if he received proper medical care.
Dadkhah said Firouzi, an imprisoned human-rights activist, said that he carried a semi-conscious Sayafi to a prison doctor but that he didn't receive the care he needed.
"It was Dr. Firouzi's opinion that if he would've received proper medical attention, he would not have died," Dadkhah said.
He said Sayafi was buried on Thursday and that his calls to the prison asking for an explanation have not been returned.
The International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran, which advocates for activists in the country, quoted Firouzi on its Web site as saying Sayafi suffered from depression and had taken extra doses of medication on Wednesday.
The group blamed Iran's government for unsafe conditions in its prisons.
"Iranian leaders have relegated the administration of the prison system to a group of incompetent and cruel officials who are showing their utter disregard for human life," said Hadi Ghaemi, spokesman for the campaign. "If the authorities do not move quickly to hold negligent officials responsible, they are reinforcing impunity and the lack of accountability."
Friday, March 20, 2009
Click here for story: "Moral failure" in IDF?
JERUSALEM (CNN) -- The Israeli military plans to investigate claims by Israeli soldiers that Palestinian civilians were killed and Palestinian property intentionally destroyed during Israel's recent 22-day offensive in the Gaza Strip.
Many Palestinian civilians were killed after being caught up in the 22-day conflict in Gaza.
The claims were made by Israeli soldiers who were graduates of a pre-military course at an Israeli college. They were first reported in the Israeli newspaper Haaretz on Thursday.
At a gathering at the college following the Gaza operation, the newspaper reported, soldiers gave testimony that ran counter to persistent claims by the military that "Israeli troops observed a high level of moral behavior during the operation."
The testimony was taken down by the head of the college's pre-military program, Danny Zamir. He told Haaretz that he did not know what the soldiers were going to say and that what they heard "shocked us."
According to Haaretz, Zamir passed on the testimony to the Israel Defense Forces chief of staff, saying he "feared a serious moral failure in the IDF."
Contacted by CNN, Zamir said he would not comment to the foreign press on the matter and that the full testimony would be appearing in Haaretz newspaper.
In one account, a squad leader from a brigade serving in Gaza described an incident in which he said an elderly Palestinian woman was shot and killed at the orders of a company commander.
According to the testimony, the squad leader protested the rules of engagement, which he said allowed soldiers to fire on Palestinian homes without giving residents a warning. After the rules were changed, his soldiers complained that "we should kill everyone there [in the center of Gaza]. Everyone there is a terrorist."
According to Haaretz, the squad leader went on to testify that, "You do not get the impression from the officers that there is any logic to it, but they won't say anything. To write 'death to the Arabs' on the walls, to take family pictures and spit on them, just because you can. I think this is the main thing: To understand how much the IDF has fallen in the realm of ethics, really. It's what I'll remember the most."
Israeli Defense minister Ehud Barak told Army Radio Thursday that "Israel has the most moral army in the world" and that the testimonies will be checked carefully.
In addition, a coalition of nine Israeli human rights groups called on Israeli Attorney General Menachem Mazuz to reconsider his refusal to establish an independent investigative body to examine the military's actions during the Gaza campaign, known as "Operation Cast Lead."
The groups -- The Association for Civil Rights in Israel, Bimkom, B'tselem, Gisha, Hamoked, The Public Committee Against Torture, Yesh Din, Physicians for Human Rights, Rabbis for Human Rights, Adalah, and Itach - Women Lawyers for Social Justice -- said accounts by Palestinians raise the possibility that acts by the military were worse than previously suspected
Many Palestinian civilians were killed after being caught up in the 22-day conflict in Gaza.
The claims were made by Israeli soldiers who were graduates of a pre-military course at an Israeli college. They were first reported in the Israeli newspaper Haaretz on Thursday.
At a gathering at the college following the Gaza operation, the newspaper reported, soldiers gave testimony that ran counter to persistent claims by the military that "Israeli troops observed a high level of moral behavior during the operation."
The testimony was taken down by the head of the college's pre-military program, Danny Zamir. He told Haaretz that he did not know what the soldiers were going to say and that what they heard "shocked us."
According to Haaretz, Zamir passed on the testimony to the Israel Defense Forces chief of staff, saying he "feared a serious moral failure in the IDF."
Contacted by CNN, Zamir said he would not comment to the foreign press on the matter and that the full testimony would be appearing in Haaretz newspaper.
In one account, a squad leader from a brigade serving in Gaza described an incident in which he said an elderly Palestinian woman was shot and killed at the orders of a company commander.
According to the testimony, the squad leader protested the rules of engagement, which he said allowed soldiers to fire on Palestinian homes without giving residents a warning. After the rules were changed, his soldiers complained that "we should kill everyone there [in the center of Gaza]. Everyone there is a terrorist."
According to Haaretz, the squad leader went on to testify that, "You do not get the impression from the officers that there is any logic to it, but they won't say anything. To write 'death to the Arabs' on the walls, to take family pictures and spit on them, just because you can. I think this is the main thing: To understand how much the IDF has fallen in the realm of ethics, really. It's what I'll remember the most."
Israeli Defense minister Ehud Barak told Army Radio Thursday that "Israel has the most moral army in the world" and that the testimonies will be checked carefully.
In addition, a coalition of nine Israeli human rights groups called on Israeli Attorney General Menachem Mazuz to reconsider his refusal to establish an independent investigative body to examine the military's actions during the Gaza campaign, known as "Operation Cast Lead."
The groups -- The Association for Civil Rights in Israel, Bimkom, B'tselem, Gisha, Hamoked, The Public Committee Against Torture, Yesh Din, Physicians for Human Rights, Rabbis for Human Rights, Adalah, and Itach - Women Lawyers for Social Justice -- said accounts by Palestinians raise the possibility that acts by the military were worse than previously suspected
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Click here for full story on alleged Bin Laden tape
BBC-"Topple Somali leader" - Bin Laden
Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed has vowed to introduce Sharia
Osama Bin Laden has called for the overthrow of Somalia's moderate Islamist president in an audio recording published on the internet.
Bin Laden said President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed had "changed to partner up with the infidel".
Mr Ahmed was inaugurated in January after UN-brokered reconciliation talks and has promised to introduce Sharia law to the strongly Muslim country.
But al-Shabab insurgents allied to al-Qaeda have continued to fight him.
Correspondents say the voice on the recording could not be immediately verified but it resembles that of Bin Laden and was published on known militant websites.
'Enemies' pay'
The 12-minute tape - entitled "Fight on, champions of Somalia" - carried an often-seen image of Bin Laden with a map of Somalia in the background.
The Somali leader's election had been "induced by the American envoy in Kenya", the tape said.
Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed has vowed to introduce Sharia
Osama Bin Laden has called for the overthrow of Somalia's moderate Islamist president in an audio recording published on the internet.
Bin Laden said President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed had "changed to partner up with the infidel".
Mr Ahmed was inaugurated in January after UN-brokered reconciliation talks and has promised to introduce Sharia law to the strongly Muslim country.
But al-Shabab insurgents allied to al-Qaeda have continued to fight him.
Correspondents say the voice on the recording could not be immediately verified but it resembles that of Bin Laden and was published on known militant websites.
'Enemies' pay'
The 12-minute tape - entitled "Fight on, champions of Somalia" - carried an often-seen image of Bin Laden with a map of Somalia in the background.
The Somali leader's election had been "induced by the American envoy in Kenya", the tape said.
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Monday, March 16, 2009
Je ne suis pas optimiste
BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) -- U.S. fighter jets in Iraq have shot down an unmanned Iranian spy drone aircraft, the U.S. military said Monday.
The Iranian aircraft had been flying in Iraqi airspace for 70 minutes before being shot down 60 miles northeast of Baghdad last month, the military said.
"This was not an accident on the part of the Iranians," the U.S. military said in a statement. "The [drone] was in Iraqi airspace for nearly one hour and 10 minutes and well inside Iraqi territory before it was engaged."
Two F-16 fighter jets followed the drone for about an hour before shooting it down, a Pentagon official said.
The drone had no weapons and was strictly a spy aircraft, the official told CNN.
The U.S. military has taken ownership of the drone, which the Pentagon official said is in "pretty good shape."
Iraq's national security adviser, Mowaffak al-Rubaie, declined to comment on the allegation and most major state-run media outlets in Iran did not carry news of any incident involving an Iranian drone.
The Bush administration regularly accused Iran of meddling in Iraq and arming fighters, and in 2002 President George W. Bush put Iran in his "axis of evil."
Since President Barack Obama took office he has appeared more conciliatory towards Iran although the country continues to cause U.S. concern over its nuclear ambitions and its role in Iraq.
The Iranian aircraft had been flying in Iraqi airspace for 70 minutes before being shot down 60 miles northeast of Baghdad last month, the military said.
"This was not an accident on the part of the Iranians," the U.S. military said in a statement. "The [drone] was in Iraqi airspace for nearly one hour and 10 minutes and well inside Iraqi territory before it was engaged."
Two F-16 fighter jets followed the drone for about an hour before shooting it down, a Pentagon official said.
The drone had no weapons and was strictly a spy aircraft, the official told CNN.
The U.S. military has taken ownership of the drone, which the Pentagon official said is in "pretty good shape."
Iraq's national security adviser, Mowaffak al-Rubaie, declined to comment on the allegation and most major state-run media outlets in Iran did not carry news of any incident involving an Iranian drone.
The Bush administration regularly accused Iran of meddling in Iraq and arming fighters, and in 2002 President George W. Bush put Iran in his "axis of evil."
Since President Barack Obama took office he has appeared more conciliatory towards Iran although the country continues to cause U.S. concern over its nuclear ambitions and its role in Iraq.
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Hezbollah will not recognize Israel (click for the story)
I posted my thoughts a few weeks ago about the tenative steps made by Britain and, to a lesser degree, the US toward opening communication with Lebanon's Hezbollah. I think this is, generally speaking, a wise direction to take--however, the Hezbollah leader Nasrallah is being counter-productive.
My main complaint against western officials who refuse to dialogue with groups like Hezbollah and Hamas is that, from where I'm standing, they don't always strike a balance between their ideals and practical reality. When groups we don't like are in power and making decisions that affect entire regions, we can't always afford to 'ignore them to death'--we have to confront them. Thus, I was encouraged to hear of prospective communication between London, Washington, and Hezbollah.
However, now it appears that Nasrallah is playing a very old, very unproductive game--the "I-want-to-ignite-Arab-unity-by-reviving-and-sustaining-a-shared-hatred-of-Israel." We've seen this game before--it is one of the main reasons for Yassir Arafat's eventual failure (my father, a Gazan, can attest to that).
It is very disheartening to know that Nasrallah is going to decline the opportunity to dialogue with the United States of America because he can't acknowlege that Israel exists. This is more than simply obstinate--it's a sort of forced dillusion that will only stunt any fragile progress that is being made in the so-called "peace process."
Oh, and you gotta love Nasrallah's nod to Iran--don't think it's random.
My main complaint against western officials who refuse to dialogue with groups like Hezbollah and Hamas is that, from where I'm standing, they don't always strike a balance between their ideals and practical reality. When groups we don't like are in power and making decisions that affect entire regions, we can't always afford to 'ignore them to death'--we have to confront them. Thus, I was encouraged to hear of prospective communication between London, Washington, and Hezbollah.
However, now it appears that Nasrallah is playing a very old, very unproductive game--the "I-want-to-ignite-Arab-unity-by-reviving-and-sustaining-a-shared-hatred-of-Israel." We've seen this game before--it is one of the main reasons for Yassir Arafat's eventual failure (my father, a Gazan, can attest to that).
It is very disheartening to know that Nasrallah is going to decline the opportunity to dialogue with the United States of America because he can't acknowlege that Israel exists. This is more than simply obstinate--it's a sort of forced dillusion that will only stunt any fragile progress that is being made in the so-called "peace process."
Oh, and you gotta love Nasrallah's nod to Iran--don't think it's random.
Saturday, March 14, 2009
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Brief on US-Arab Economic Relations in the Obama Administration
Okay, I'm a huge nerd and FASCINATED by global economics. Thus, I found this 8-page report to be very intriguing. Click above for the link, or just read this summary, and enjoy!
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'While oil will continue to dominate the US strategic concerns about the Middle East the growing economic and financial power of some Middle Eastern countries also deserves some consideration. These countries are combining their large oil revenues with sound economic policy to achieve high economic growth rates and they are being actively courted by European and Asian countries who seek to expand their trade and investment relations with these nations. The US also has an interest in promoting economic growth and higher standards of living in lower-income Middle Eastern countries. Poverty and inequality in countries like Egypt and Yemen often leads to the rise of militant movements and political violence which spreads throughout the region and is frequently targeted towards US interest. Global competition for the Middle East export markets will be intense in the coming decade. The ability of the USS to succeed in this market will partially depend on the diplomatic and military dimensions of the US Middle East policy, particularly its perceived role in the Middle East conflict.'
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Translation: the US has managed, at least partially, to preserve it's oil and trade interests in the Middle East for several decades by bullying, bribing, and buying. However, America's ability to continue this semi-monopoly has been severly damaged by the economic crisis as well as the war in Iraq and the deteriorating condition in Palestine. In the mean time, China, India, and Europe are not hesitating to fill in this gap. Basically, Obama's administration has their work cut out for them.
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'While oil will continue to dominate the US strategic concerns about the Middle East the growing economic and financial power of some Middle Eastern countries also deserves some consideration. These countries are combining their large oil revenues with sound economic policy to achieve high economic growth rates and they are being actively courted by European and Asian countries who seek to expand their trade and investment relations with these nations. The US also has an interest in promoting economic growth and higher standards of living in lower-income Middle Eastern countries. Poverty and inequality in countries like Egypt and Yemen often leads to the rise of militant movements and political violence which spreads throughout the region and is frequently targeted towards US interest. Global competition for the Middle East export markets will be intense in the coming decade. The ability of the USS to succeed in this market will partially depend on the diplomatic and military dimensions of the US Middle East policy, particularly its perceived role in the Middle East conflict.'
-------------------------------------------
Translation: the US has managed, at least partially, to preserve it's oil and trade interests in the Middle East for several decades by bullying, bribing, and buying. However, America's ability to continue this semi-monopoly has been severly damaged by the economic crisis as well as the war in Iraq and the deteriorating condition in Palestine. In the mean time, China, India, and Europe are not hesitating to fill in this gap. Basically, Obama's administration has their work cut out for them.
Arab Mini-Summit! (Click here for story)
Just two comments,
1. As I said in a previous post, I am happy to see that Washington and Damascus are opening a tenative dialogue. I agree that this is "wisdom, not weakness."
2. Initiatives like this ought to remind Americans that, although they love to rant and rave about Saudi Arabia's "backwards" society, they owe MUCH to the Kingdom. Remember, I am not a Saudi, just a mere expat who has suffered her fair share of trials in the good old KSA.
It just seems to me that, if America is honest with itself, it would realize that the Saudi government has often been one of their most helpful allies in the Middle East. Corrupt and contigent, yes. But useful? No doubt.
1. As I said in a previous post, I am happy to see that Washington and Damascus are opening a tenative dialogue. I agree that this is "wisdom, not weakness."
2. Initiatives like this ought to remind Americans that, although they love to rant and rave about Saudi Arabia's "backwards" society, they owe MUCH to the Kingdom. Remember, I am not a Saudi, just a mere expat who has suffered her fair share of trials in the good old KSA.
It just seems to me that, if America is honest with itself, it would realize that the Saudi government has often been one of their most helpful allies in the Middle East. Corrupt and contigent, yes. But useful? No doubt.
Monday, March 9, 2009
Women in Islam Program
So, on Saturday evening I attended a program at the local Muslim Community Center, entitled "Women in Islam." It was sponsored by the Muslim women of the community center, and included an ethnic dinner, a short speech by the local imam, a guest speaker on the role of Mary in the Qur'an, and a cultural fashion show.
I thought it was a great idea and they did a good job. I could tell they were eager to dispell stereotypes, to display themselves as proud, dignified, independent women despite the stylish scarves wrapped daintily around their heads. It really isn't an oxymoron--to be modest and liberated--but conveying that is an uphill battle.
Anyway, I invited four of my friends to attend--'white people' as I call them (again, I'm white-skinned, very white, but I never really identify with my ultra-Western demographic). I think they had a good time--they said it was interesting and they especially loved the fashion show at the end, when different women and their daughters proudly displayed their traditional bridal wear from Pakistan, Palestine, Albania, Saudi Arabia, India, and Egypt. Very girly, but a great way to ease people into Muslim/Arab/SE Asian culture. I'm glad I brought friends.
They also did our henna! (This is a pretty simple, small design compared to what I've had in the past, but there was a long line so they kept it short.)
I thought it was a great idea and they did a good job. I could tell they were eager to dispell stereotypes, to display themselves as proud, dignified, independent women despite the stylish scarves wrapped daintily around their heads. It really isn't an oxymoron--to be modest and liberated--but conveying that is an uphill battle.
Anyway, I invited four of my friends to attend--'white people' as I call them (again, I'm white-skinned, very white, but I never really identify with my ultra-Western demographic). I think they had a good time--they said it was interesting and they especially loved the fashion show at the end, when different women and their daughters proudly displayed their traditional bridal wear from Pakistan, Palestine, Albania, Saudi Arabia, India, and Egypt. Very girly, but a great way to ease people into Muslim/Arab/SE Asian culture. I'm glad I brought friends.
They also did our henna! (This is a pretty simple, small design compared to what I've had in the past, but there was a long line so they kept it short.)
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