Iran: Authorities confirm over 100 arrests during November 4 protests - Tehran’s Commander of Security Forces announced that 109 people were arrested during November 4 ceremonies. Security and police forces once more confronted peaceful protesters with violence and used batons, tear gas and plastic bullets to disperse them. In addition to Tehran numerous major cities such as Zahedan, Esfahan, Mashad, Tabriz, and Rasht staged similar demonstrations which met with the violent attacks of government forces. 11/7/09
Photos: Iran's sitting volleyball team wins World Championship - Iran finished first on Saturday in the 3rd edition of the Junior World Sitting Volleyball Championships for the third time consecutively. In the match held in Mashhad's Shahid Beheshti Gym, Iran beat Russia 3-0 (25-22, 25-15, 25-14) and claimed the title. 11/7/09
Iran's Khatami: Accept there is a national crisis! - Mohammad Khatami, Iran's former president and one of the leaders of recent protests against the alleged fraudulent victory of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, addressing the "leaders" of Islamic Republic maintained that accepting that there is "a problem and a crisis" is the first step toward actualizing "national unity and understanding." 11/7/09
Iran's futsal team claims title in Asian Indoor Games - Iran's futsal team defeated Thailand and won the championship of the 3rd Asian Indoor Games on Saturday. Iranians had also won gold medals in the last two editions. 11/7/09
Conference at Columbia University: (Iran) After The Election - The recent elections in Iran, and subsequent challenges to their legitimacy, have been a matter of enormous internal conflict in Iran, and of seemingly endless debate in the rest of the world. As protesters continue to take to the Iranian street to voice their opposition to the elections, fault-lines are emerging amongst the ruling elite. 11/7/09
Iranian Publishers Hit by Government Curbs - Even the Tehran International Book Fair, one of the country’s most important cultural events, was not impervious to the election buzz. The fair, which took place about a month before the elections, became a venue for criticism of Ahmadinejad’s cultural policies. Renowned writers and publishers complained in interviews about the difficulty of obtaining publishing permits. They said that permission had been revoked for many books that had previously been allowed. -Pedram Fathi, Tehran 11/7/09
Iran Lawmakers Say Tehran Will Reject UN-Backed Nuclear Deal - Israel's deputy foreign minister says Israel will attack Iran if it continues on a path of nuclear defiance. Danny Ayalon told Britain's Sky News that Iran has expressed no desire to halt its nuclear program. 11/7/09
Health officials want to cancel hajj for Iranians due to swine flu - The Health Ministry and the Majlis Health Committee are seriously opposed to allowing Iranians to go on hajj this year due to the swine flu epidemic, MP Mohammad-Reza Rezaii-Kouchi said on Saturday. 11/7/09
Iran rejects Israel's claim on weapon shipment - As the UN Fact-Finding committee's report on Gaza issue led by Richard Goldstone was being examined in the UN General Assembly meeting, Israeli representative at the UN pointed out to seizure of the ship and said anti-tank missiles were seen among the weapons and claimed that the weapons were heading for Hezbollah in Lebanon. 11/7/09
Iran To Give UN Watchdog More Details On Nuclear Fuel Plan - Iranian Foreign Minister Manuchehr Mottaki says Iran is preparing to give the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) more details of its response to proposals from the major powers for the supply of nuclear fuel. 11/7/09
Lebanon Opposition Agrees to Unity Government - The new 30-minister Cabinet will include 15 ministers from Mr. Hariri's coalition, 10 from the opposition, and five to be appointed by President Michel Suleiman. 11/7/09
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Protesting by Amirkabir University Students in Tehran
Photos: Earthquake injures 700 in southern Iran - Iran’s state news agency says an earthquake has injured at least 700 people in the country’s south. The 4.9-magnitude quake struck the southern port city of Bandar Abbas at 2:56 a.m. local time, cutting power and telephone lines and sending residents streaming into the streets. 11/6/09
What Does Iran's Green Movement Want From Obama? - Members of the Green movement opposed to Iranian President Mahmud Ahmadinejad voiced a clear demand to U.S. President Barack Obama this week. Thousands protesting in Tehran streets on the 30th anniversary of the U.S. Embassy takeover on November 4 called on Obama to choose sides with either the Iranian government, or their struggle against that government, which they don't consider legitimate. 11/6/09
Iranian Enlightenment Week - New York City - Nov 6-14; Asia Society: Women of Iran Film Series: Border Cafe; Leila Taghinia-Milani Heller Gallery: Roya Akhavan: Nexus; Open Center: Lecture, An Evening of Persian Mystical Poetry and Wisdom' New York University: Hafez Nazeri, Meet the Artist; Asia Society: A Conversation/Demonstration, Shahram and Hafez Nazeri; Carnegie Hall: Rumi Symphony Project: Cycle 1 performance 11/6/09
The future of Iranian-American relations - despite concerted efforts by the Israeli right wing and its allies in the US Senate to escalate the situation and manufacture the next war in western Asia, there has been movement toward a "cold peace" between Iran and the United States. The changed rhetoric of Obama has been seen as an opening by the foreign policy establishment in Iran, which has, in recent months, increased its independence from the fractious domestic politics of the country. -Arshin Adib-Moghaddam 11/6/09
Iran Khodro unveils nanotech car - Iran's first car equipped with nano technology built by Iran Khodro Industrial Group (IKCO) was showcased at nano festival from November 4 to 8. The new Samand Soren is equipped with nano technology, adding that nano composites are used in the dash board, engine parts, filters and lubrications. 11/6/09
France Withdraws From Tehran-Caspian Freeway Project - The idea to construct the Tehran-Shomal Freeway was for the first time proposed in 1965, but was never put to action until 1996. The giant plan includes construction of more than 30 twin tunnels. The Alborz tunnel situated at an altitude of 2,450 meters will be the longest with a length of 6,300 meters. 11/6/09
Danish student 'arrested in Iran' - A Danish journalism student has been arrested in Iran after covering anti-government protests, unions say. A Canadian, a Japanese and an Iranian journalist are also being held for covering the protests without permits, the semi-official Fars agency reports. -BBC 11/6/09
Iran's Nuclear Diversion - As the Obama administration grapples with the conundrum of Iran, it must balance its proliferation concerns with its moral responsibilities. Iran's post-election tremors have hardly subsided; in fact, the regime is systematically eviscerating its democratic opposition. -Ray Takeyh, CFR 11/6/09
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Persian National Music Ensemble Concert: A Night with Omar Khayyam - A night of Persian Traditional/Folk Music and Omar Khayyam’s poetry. A combination of dynamic rhythms coming from different ethnic groups in Iran. Saturday November 7,2009- 7:00 PM, Recital Hall Center for the Arts, Towson University, Maryland 11/6/09
Tehran police clashes with families of detainees - Reports from Tehran tell of clashes between families of yesterday’s detainees and security forces in Tehran in front of Vozara detention centre. Radio Zamaneh has been told that over 50 people, all families of the detainees who were arrested yesterday in the Novemeber 4th ceremonies, had gathered since this morning in front of the detention centre to follow up on the situation of their loved ones. 11/5/09
Iran: Leaders of Advar Tahkim Student Group Arrested - At about 7pm on Tuesday night security agents in Tehran arrested three leadership members of the student alumni opposition group known as Advar Tahkim Vahdat. The three members of the organization’s central council, Hassan Assadi Zeidabadi, Mohammad Sadeghi and Ali Malihi were taken to prison on Tuesday night. 11/5/09
US calls for end to violence in Iran - The international community reacted to clashes between Iranian people and security forces today on the anniversary of the occupation of the US embassy 30 years ago. White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said: "We obviously have seen and are following the reports of this, and hope greatly that violence will not spread," according to Associated Press. 11/5/09
Iranian Americans in November 3rd Elections: Farokhi Set for December Runoff - Three Iranian American candidates were on the ballot on Election Day, November 3rd. Amir Farokhi ran for the Post 2 At-Large seat while Bahareh Azizi ran for the District 6 seat, both on Atlanta’s City Council. Nina Mohadjer ran for the Board of Education in Ridgefield, Connecticut. 11/5/09
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Father of Modern Laparoscopy, Dr. Camran Nezhat, Revolutionizes Modern Surgery - Camran Nezhat, M.D. is an internationally renowned Laparoscopic Surgeon, Scientist and Innovator at Stanford University Medical Center. He has been practicing medicine and surgery at Stanford University Medical Center in Palo Alto since 1993. 11/5/09
Iran: Peaceful Demonstrators Faced Disproportionate Use of Force - Security forces and militia used brutal force to disperse thousands of protesters on the streets of Tehran and other cities today, resulting in a number of injuries and arrests, in violation of international standards regarding the proportionate use of force against peaceful demonstrations, according to the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran. 11/5/09
IAEA Chief: Iran's Nuclear Program About Winning Recognition, Prestige - As he prepares to step down as head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) at the end of this month, Muhammad el-Baradei has been speaking a lot about Iran and its nuclear program and the challenges that will face the international community. 11/5/09
Unmasking The Truth About Swine Flu - Just about everybody knows the H1N1 virus -- popularly known as swine flu -- has spread around the globe since it was first identified in Mexico in April. But few people realize that the spread has been so thorough that doctors now consider the H1N1 virus to be the dominant flu strain in the world today. That means that doctors will assume that you have swine flu if you fall ill with influenza this season. -Charles Recknagel 11/5/09
With whom to engage? - Last week, I had the opportunity to address over forty members of the United States Congress with the goal to encourage their recognition of the importance of engaging the Iranian people and their ongoing struggle for human rights and democracy. -Reza Pahlavi 11/5/09
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Support the Iranian people’s struggle for rights - Congresswoman Kay Granger (R-TX) has introduced a resolution expressing continued support for the Iranian people as they stand up for freedom, human rights, and fundamental elements of democracy. -NIAC 11/5/09
Tension and Hope in the Streets of Tehran - This morning the sun was shining and mountains were covered by white beautiful snow; and the deep sense of tension was strongly at large. From every corner of town, but specially from central parts, people called to say that the spirit of opposition to demand change, to struggle for air of some kind of a civil society in 21st century, was high. -Citizen Journalist, Tehran 11/4/09
Photos and Vidoes of November 4 Anti-Government Protests in Iran - Despite threats by police and revolutionary guards that any protests will be severely crushed, people today (the 30th anniversary of the takeover of the U.S. Embassy in Tehran) took to the streets of Tehran and other Iranian cities to continue their post-election protests against the government. Security forces clashed in the capital with opposition supporters. Videos show indiscriminate beating of defenseless protesters and bystanders. 11/4/09
Protesters, Police Clash In Tehran On Anniversary Of U.S. Embassy Takeover - As Iran held anti-U.S. rallies to mark the 30th anniversary of the takeover of the U.S. Embassy in Tehran, security forces clashed in the capital with opposition supporters who renewed their protest against the reelection of President Mahmud Ahmadinejad. The opposition demonstrators were defying Iranian officials' orders not to use the day to stage antigovernment protests. 11/4/09
Iranians Rally on Anniversary of American Embassy Takeover - On the eve of the anniversary of the embassy takeover, President Obama said, "We have heard for 30 years what the Iranian government is against; the question, now, is what kind of future is it for." 11/4/09
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Ayatollah Montazeri: Occupying US embassy was a mistake! - On the occasion of the anniversary of the occupation of the US embassy in Tehran, moderate cleric, Ayatollah Hoseinali Montazeri, revisited the event which he had approved of at the time, and claimed "considering the negative effects and heightened sensitivity" it produced amongst Americans, he believes it was a "mistaken" act. 11/4/09
On the Iranian Diaspora - Iran is a riddle, wrapped in a mystery, inside an enigma. But what of the over three million Iranians outside Iran? -Sam Sasan Shoamanesh 11/4/09
MTV-U's Poet Laureate: Simin Behbahani - MTV (Music Television) "University" has selected Simin Behbahani, "the poet who never sold her soul or her pen," to be its second poet laureate. For a visually challenged 82-years-young Iranian, how cool is that? Beginning Monday, Nov. 2nd Behbahani's poems will be featured on MTV-U in a series of 19 short films. -Scott Harrop 11/4/09
Opposition Leader Mehdi Karroubi Attacked During Protests In Tehran - During today’s November 4th ceremonies in Tehran, Mehdi Karroubi, disputing candidate of Iran’s presidential elections was target of a direct attack by government forces which injured two of his bodyguards. 11/4/09
Interview: Former U.S. Hostage Calls For Iran To Change - Thirty years ago, a group of Iranian students stormed into the U.S. Embassy in Tehran and took more than 50 U.S. diplomats and embassy staff hostage. They were held in Tehran for 444 days. Bruce Laingen, who was the U.S. charge d'affaires at the time, was among them. But despite his painful experience, he says that the United States and the Islamic Republic of Iran should find a basis for a new relationship. 11/4/09
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Strengthening of the IRGC’s Intelligence Arm - Two weeks after Ayatollah Khamenei approved sweeping changes to the structure of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) and remarks by Mohammad Ali Jafari about the necessity of the IRGC’s engagement in intelligence and security affairs, the website “Basirat,” run by the IRGC’s political affairs division, announced the imminent appointment of Gholamhossein Ramezani as the IRGC’s counter-intelligence and security director. 11/4/09
Revolutionary Guards Extend Reach to Iran's Media - Iran's elite Revolutionary Guard Corps, already an economic, political and military power, is quietly pushing into a new domain: the media. By March, the Revolutionary Guards plan to launch Atlas, a news agency modeled on services such as the Associated Press and the British Broadcasting Corp., according to semiofficial Iranian news sites. -Farnaz Fassihi, WSJ 11/4/09
Face To Face With Iran' Supreme Leader: Khamenei Criticized by University Student - Mahmoud Vahidnia, a distinguished mathematics whiz from the Sharif Technical University, frankly criticized the supreme leader during his meeting with students, as state-run media outlets were unable to censor the remarks. -Nazanin Kamdar 11/3/09
Photos: Ahmadinejad Gets Cold Reception in Mashhad - Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s "first provincial" tour since he was appointed president for the second time this year ended on Friday as administration efforts to demonstrate that he enjoyed popular support ended in failure while a quarter of the space in the eight Shiite Imam mausoleum in Mashhad remained empty as he delivered his public speech. -Shirin Karimi 11/3/09
Photos: National Electric Cars Competition of Iranian Universities - The finals of the national auto design competition among Iranian university students were held in Tehran in mid-October. This year the competition's subject was two-passengers electric cars. 89 students teams from 19 provinces registered in the competitions. 72 teams completed the design phase, and 52 teams made it to the production phase. -Photos by Alireza Sotakbar, ISNA 11/3/09
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Hunger-Striking Iranian Journalist Released, A Second Remains In Prison - Journalist Fariba Pejoh is still being held in section 209 of the same prison. Her family, who visited her yesterday, said that she had ended her hunger strike, begun on 26 October, because of very serious health problems. One worried family member told Reporters Without Borders, “She is very weak and can no longer bear her prison conditions”. 11/3/09
Exhibition: A Diasporic offering to the Ancestors - Join Priya Assal and many other SF BayArea artists at Oakland’s Gallery 550 from Nov 6th to 28th 2009. This is a group show by 30 edgy artists and is NOT TO BE MISSED! 11/3/09
Iran's Opposition Leader Mousavi: Prisoners Have Challenged Their Keepers - Opposition leader, MirHosein Mousavi in a visit with the family of Feizollah Arabsorkhi, one of the post-election detainees, claimed the political prisoners have truly “challenged” their keepers. Feizollah Arabsorkhi is one of the prominent members of the reform group, Mojahedin of the Islamic Revolution and has been in prison for over four months. 11/3/09
Iranian Researchers Create Green Mice - Iranian scientists have created green-glowing mice to demonstrate their expertise in sophisticated genetic-engineering techniques. 11/3/09
Ignored Realities and Unpleasant Truths: How will it all play out for Iran? - Let's start with the vignette of a brief televised ceremony at a military base honoring a young soldier who had lost his life recently in Afghanistan. We were told he had lost his life fighting to preserve our freedom. What are we really fighting for in Afghanistan? If it is truly fighting for our freedom, wouldn't it make sense to define the concept of freedom for which we are fighting: freedom to be what and to do what? -Kam Zarrabi 11/2/09
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Iran's Economic Daily Sarmayeh banned - Another Iranian newspaper was shut down by the order of Iran’s ministry of culture. ILNA reports that Sarmayeh (Capital) daily has lost its publishing privileges after “repeated violations” of specific media regulations. 11/2/09
Dream the Impossible Dream - October has been a strange month like the rest of this year and we have been wondering, worrying about little big things or big little things and friends and the pain and worry that their loved ones endure and what kills me most is the fact that there is very little we can do, yet in my heart I am optimistic although I feel totally exhausted. -Syma Sayyah, Tehran 11/2/09
Iran: Some Journalists Freed, Many Still In Prison - Maziar Bahari and Mohammad Ghouchani were released on bail on 17 and 29 October respectively. At least three other journalists are still detained in Evin prison, Tehran, where they are at risk of ill-treatment. They are prisoners of conscience. 11/2/09
Iran's Poor Face a Logjam in the Labyrinths of Work - When you get lost in the commotion of the city, it is only the workers who can show you extreme pain and expose you to the unsavory smell of life. Believe me, this is true. Given the current Iranian economy, being a worker is very difficult. It permanently exposes you to the bitter taste of life. -ILNA 11/2/09
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Photos: H1N1 in Tehran Streets - Media activist Farvartish Rezvanieh protested the inactivity of the Iranian officials in fighting the spread of Swine Flu. In a symbolic gesture, Farvartish wore an H1N1 bunny suite and walked in the streets of Tehran in order to bring public awareness about this deadly virus. In response, one of the officials of the Health Ministry called Farvartish's move useless and said he should be sent to a mental hospital! 11/1/09
Open Letter to UN Secretary General by Group of Writers, Artists, Journalists, and Academicians about the Situation of Iranian Political Prisoners - Over the past months you have witnessed the Iranian people’s immense and awe-inspiring non-violent demonstrations, rejecting the results of a widely organized fraudulent presidential election. Iranian people expressed their demand for free elections deliberately and peacefully. However, the Islamic Republic responded to their legitimate demand for civil liberty and justice with the bloody attacks committed by its military and paramilitary forces. 11/1/09
Iran's Opposition Leader Karroubi Renews Allegations Of Vote Fraud - Mehdi Karroubi, who spoke in a meeting with the Central Council of University Alumni today, maintained that in the tenth presidential election in Iran votes were “rationed.” Mr. Karroubi claimed Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was allotted 25 million of the votes and his own allotment was 330 thousand. 11/1/09
Iran: Sentences issued for 50 political detainees - The first deputy of the judiciary mentioned that Ayatollah Khamenei has announced that questioning the veracity of the elections is a “great crime;” therefore, “those who have proposed the elections were fraudulent and created doubt in the public’s mind have undoubtedly committed a grave crime and naturally will have to answer for the crime they have committed.” 11/1/09
Iran's Culture Ministry pursues cineastes' recent concern - Deputy Culture Minister for Cinematic Affairs Javad Shamaqdari is pursuing the recent statement released by cineastes warning against the marginalization of Iran's independent cinema. 11/1/09
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Project: One Day - A Collective Narrative of Tehran - Featuring the work of eight artists living in Tehran, Iran; Nima Alizadeh, Saba Alizadeh, Mohammad Ghazali, Ghazaleh Hedayat, Abbas Kowsari, Mehran Mohajer, Neda Razavipour, and Homayoun Sirizi – alongside new work by San Francisco-based artist Taraneh Hemami. 11/1/09
Photos: The Beautiful Nature - Manjil Heights, Gilan - The photos by Sina Shiri presented here are from the beautiful nature in the heights of Manjil, a historical town in Iran's northern province of Gilan. Manjil is known as the windy city of Iran; a reputation caused by its geographical position in the Alborz mountains i.e., at a small cleft in Alborz that funnels the wind through Manjil to the Qazvin plateau. Throughout the history Manjil has been a gate to the Southern Caspian area. 10/31/09
NBA's Iranian Heritage Nights - November 4, 2009 – Memphis Grizzlies vs. Golden State Warriors; November 29, 2009 – Memphis Grizzlies vs. L.A. Clippers - Golden State Warriors game: Farshid Amin will sing the National Anthem and Niosha dance academy will perform during halftime. L.A. Clippers game: Andy will sing the National Anthem and the Luna RAQS Dance Academy will perform during halftime. 10/31/09
Iran’s Rajabi wins gold in Asian Indoor Games - Iranian woman athlete Leila Rajabi won the gold medal in the shot put event of the third Asian Indoor Games in Vietnam on Saturday. Rajabi claimed the championship with a 17.07 meter throw. Athletes from Thailand and China finished second and third respectively. 10/31/09
Photos: Catching Fish By Hand in Isfahan - Some people in Isfahan catch fish by hand for fun! And ISNA's photographer Hossein Baharloo has captured the action for us to enjoy. Since Zayandeh Roud is going through tough times and unfortunately it dried up this year, will we be seeing more of these fishing holes popping up? 10/31/09
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Families Of Iranian Political Prisoners To Go On Hunger Strike - Families of political detainees of the post-election events in Iran, in their thirteenth public statement announced that they will start a “political hunger strike” tomorrow, October 30, to protest the imprisonment of their loved ones. 10/30/09
Cineastes warn against marginalization of Iran's independent cinema - A significant number of cineastes have warned against the marginalization of Iran’s independent cinema. A group of 46 cinematic figures has announced their concern in a third statement recently released by the Filmmaking Society of Iranian cinema. 10/30/09
Prison Sentence For Hossein Ressam, British Embassy Employee In Tehran - Hossein Rassam, the 44-year-old employee of British Embassy who was arrested in the post-election events has been sentenced to four years in prison by Iranian judiciary. The Iranian national who worked at the embassy as a political analyst has been convicted of espionage and inciting unrest. 10/30/09
Photos: Families of Political Prisoners Rally in Tehran - Families of a number of post election detainees in Iran along with a group of social activists rallied in front of the judiciary building in Tehran holding placards demanding the release of their loved ones. Reports from Tehran say that security forces and plain clothes elements surrounded the group and impeded the public from joining the rally. 10/29/09
Photos: The Underprivileged in Shahr-e Rey, Iran - Shahr-e Rey is the oldest existing city in the province of Tehran, Iran. The city is estimated to be more than five thousand years old, and was built during the Median Empire. It was known in Classical times as Rhagae. Ray is richer than many other ancient cities in the number of its historical monuments -Photos by Arash Khamooshi, ISNA 10/26/09
Excessive Thinking and Brain Stroke (CVA) - According to the prevalent medical belief, the main cause of brain stroke (cerebrovascular infarction) is obstruction of blood vessels by blood clots (embolism) or bleeding (hemorrhage).Overwork and hyperactivity of this organ is never considered as a major causing factor in these injuries. -Dr. Mohammad Hossein Najmabadi 10/23/09
Report of PFAP 2009 Event in Palo Alto: The Story of the Persepolis Fortification Archive - Friends of Persepolis Fortification Archive Project (PFAP) extend heartfelt thanks to the 100 guests and all who helped make the PFAP '09 Event not just a wonderfully informative experience, but one which raised both awareness and contributions for this important cause. 10/22/09
Photos: A Mount Tochal Wedding - Two members of koohsar mountain climbing group held a symbolic wedding ceremony on top of Mount Tochal north of the capital city Tehran. Mount Tochal is a mountain in the Alborz range and adjacent to metropolitan Tehran, Iran. The mountain has a 12 km long ridgeline. -Photos by Rooholla Vahdati ISNA 10/17/09
The Mother Of Sohrab: In Iran, A Grieving Mother Who Refuses To Be Silent - Parvin Fahimi, a tiny woman with a strong personality, has emerged as one of the heroes of Iran's Green movement, which opposes the legitimacy of Mahmud Ahmadinejad's presidency.The grieving mother has refused to remain silent over the fate of her son, Sohrab Arabi, who was shot dead under unclear circumstances during Iran's postelection crackdown. In publicly expressing her outrage, she has become the voice of other mothers mourning loved ones lost during the unrest that followed the disputed June 12 presidential vote. 10/14/09
Photos: A walk in the mountains around Tehran - At about 7 in the morning, we set off from the sleepy village of Ahar, which is off the Lavasan to Fashun road, and walked along an easy and clear path northwards � the way was very green and peaceful, with hardly any other walkers. We went through a wooded valley, past cherry orchards and passing apple trees and pear trees, before getting to a steep slope which was heavier going. -Syma Sayyah and Paul Sanford, Tehran 10/7/09
