Iran's Mousavi urges defiance
Mir Hossein Mousavi, the politician at the centre of Iran's opposition movement, has encouraged his followers to continue their protests over the presidential election.
In a statement on his website on Sunday, Mousavi said that people had the right to protest against "lies and fraud", but urged them to show restraint as they take to the streets.
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the conservative incumbent president, was declared the winner of the June 12 election with a landslide victory, but Mousavi and another reformist candidate have complained that it was rigged.
Mousavi's statement appeared on the website of his Kalameh newspaper as reports emerged of police attacking a vigil by about 100 people outside the offices of the United Nations in Tehran.
Dude is hanging his ass out to make a difference for the people. Yes, he is fighting for power in the Iranian govermental scheme of things, but there is no doubt that he is committed to bringing about change in a positive manner.
IRAN: At least 24 journalists arrested since disputed election
At least 24 journalists have been arrested in Iran since the start of protests last week against disputed election results, according to news organizations and a media watchdog.
The Paris-based Reporters Without Borders today released the names of 23 arrested journalists and bloggers, including the head of the Assn. of Iranian Journalists, Ali Mazroui.
Newsweek magazine later posted a statement saying that its correspondent, Maziar Bahari, a Canadian, was detained without charge this morning and has not been heard from since. Newsweek defended his coverage of Iran as "fair and nuanced" and called for his release.
BBC says its correspondent, Jon Leyne, has been ordered to leave within 24 hours. But the British broadcaster says its Tehran bureau will remain open.
The authorities in Iran are cracking down not only on the Iranian people, but anyone that will report on what is REALLY happening there. They are in FULL PANIC MODE!
From BBC:
The Iranian leadership is falling into the same trap that their arch-enemy the Shah of Iran fell into in the 1970s.
They are not listening to the people.
After a meeting with Shah Reza Pahlavi, the US ambassador William Sullivan complained: "The king will not listen."
Soon afterwards, the king had to leave the country, and Ayatollah Khomeini returned from exile in triumph.
Khomeini's successor as Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, claimed at Friday prayers at Tehran university that "foreign agents" were behind efforts to stage a velvet revolution.
Change
Having spent 10 days in Iran for the 12 June election, that accusation sounds to me like a classic case of blaming the messenger.
Mousavi Arrested?
Since the foreign media access to the events in Iran are extremely limited an many foreign journalists have apparently left the country, we are to rely on two main camps for news the official and the street social media. However, it seems both are fighting to win the hearts of the people. One camp is writes about Iranian opposition candidate leader Mousavi and his wife being arrested, the others are tweeting that it is not true and is done to break the morale.
For example, this twitter account writes that Mousavi and wife both are arrested (confirmed) http://tinyurl.com/... for strikes tomorrow!. However the URL is not working and I could verify it. I read other tweets that are calling not to believe Mousavi arrest. It's done to break the Morale.
Stevemahfouz tweets NO evidence from independent internet news sites that Mousavi has been arrested, STOP RT this ! #iranelection #gr88 #neda.
In the meanwhile a new tweek from 3fatcats RTed from Iran: "Confirmed. Mousavi has not been arrested. Disregard rumors for now."
Without independent voices from Iran, who knows what is really happening at this time. For sure, whatever is going down is important. We will find out soon just how important.
Send your good will and positive vibes to the people of Iran.