Amir-Abbas Fakhravar showed up outside the UN headquarters in New York to show his solidarity with Iranian political prisoners. He met with Akbar Ganji there as can be seen on the above photo. Amir-Abbas Fakhravar says that he befriended Ganji during his imprisonment.Well on Friday (14th July 2006) a 3 day global hungerstrike began with aims to highlight the plight of the thousands of Iranian political prisoners languishing in the Islamic Republic's prisons across the country. A founder for this call was Akbar Ganji, a former regime affiliate who served the terrorist Islamic Republic in their elite military unite named "the Revolutionary Guards".
Ganji served the Islamic Republic at a time when its security apparatus, which he was deeply involved in, was executing thousands of Iranians who opposed the terrorist regime. The massacre of tens of thousands of political prisoners in the late 1980's happened during a time when Ganji was a member of the Islamic Republic's Revolutionary Guards. It's funny how it took Akbar Ganji, who the western press have presented to us as a dissident human rights activist, over 15 years to raise his objection about individuals in the regime and now the regime itself.
It's funny how tens of thousands of Iranian political prisoners were brutally executed in the period between 1979-1989 but Ganji did not object to that? Today he is presented as a human rights advocate. Now I do not have any proof that Ganji's hands are stained with blood, but then again I have a hard time giving previous affiliates of such a barbaric regime the benefit of the doubt. Isn't it so that silence in the face of atrocities, as barbaric as those commited by the Islamic Republic in the past, is a crime in itself? How come Akbar Ganji has become so "concerned" all of a sudden about the plight of political prisoners in Iran? Has he genuinely repented? What are we to believe? What are we supposed to believe?...
Akbar Ganji exposed some regime affiliates who were involved in chain murders (within the regime apparatus itself) and for that he was imprisoned. He served his prison sentence and went on hungerstike as well - is that enough for us to embrace him as a genuine opposition member? Not for me. If I see that Ganji can be used for the good of Iran I will support any such action. This recent hungerstrike might have very well gotten well deserved media coverage of the plight of political prisoners in Iran BUT - when Akbar Ganji makes outrageous lies that work against the interests of the Iranian nation such as "there are only 50 political prisoners in Iran" (as quoted in the Belfast Telegraph) how will this affect us : THE OPPOSITION? The opposition that wants to see Iran FREE from this tyrannical regime! The opposition who knows that there is no place for reform in the Islamic Republic and that it has to go in its entirety and for an internationally supervised referendum to take place, in which the Iranian nation itself can determine the future of their country. Will the media pick up on this outrageous lie (50 political prisoners) and portray thousands of poltical prisoners that exist in Iran as by Ganji's quote of 50 individuals!? Will the world community even care if there are only 50 poltical prisoners in Iran!? Can you see where i'm getting? Is Ganji trying to neutralize the opposition to the Islamic Republic in a deceitful manner not unlike the Mullah's occupying Iran?
The Islamic Republic has done a terrific job in presenting CHARLATANS to the Iranian Nation and the Iranian Nation has fallen for them in the past such as Mullah Khatami - the smiling mullah - who they thought had their interests at heart but which couldn't have been anymore further from the truth and cold reality. Mullah Khatami was part of the regime, he made it very clear on numerous occasions as President of the Islamic Republic that he is loyal to the Islamist takeover or the "Islamic Revolution of 1979" as they call it and he also made it clear that he is loyal to the Supreme Butcher or Supreme Leader as they refer to the old crippled terrorist. We saw how Mullah Khatami betrayed the students in the 1999 uprisings and labeled the tens of thousands of students who had started anti-regime demonstrations across the country as "hooligans", and we saw how these demonstrations were brutally suppressed and led to several deaths. We saw that the Islamic Republic cannot be "reformed" but still we have people like Ganji who insist on "reform"!!!
Today the Iranian Nation has seen through the Islamic Republic's charade of the game between "Conservatives & Reformists", we know today that this was all a game that was meant to keep the regime alive for a few more years. As their game has been exposed they now have to present the masses with another alternative to fall for, another game of deception. Is Ganji their new actor? All I want from my fellow Iranians is to be aware of Ganji's past, and be cautious of who you decide to support FULL-HEARTEDLY. If you want to use Ganji to promote freedom and democracy in Iran make sure you do it in a right way! If you see him making lies or statements that run against the interest of the Iranian Nation confront him! When he says that he is a proponent of democracy but at the same time he has made it crystal clear that he will under no circumstances sit down and hold talks with Iranian Constitutionalists there is something very very wrong with the whole picture!
I do not want my fellow compatriots to be disappointed one more time. A shady character like Ganji is not one who you decide to support FULL-HEARTEDLY because you "feel sorry for him"! A democrat is a person who sits down and holds talks with all parties, at least all democratic parties and forces which Iranian Constitutionalists are definately part of and who make up a significant base of support!
Here is an excellent thread that is related to the topic i'm writing on here which will shed much light on why I think the way I think!
Yesterday's terrorists today's human rights advocates!
What about ("Ayatollah") Shirin Ebadi - the Nobel Peace Prize winner? Has she not been the best tool the Islamic Republic could have hired for PR? Hasn't her fierce speeches on "American Imperialism", "Freedom for Guantanamo Bay terrorists", "The Zionist Regime" speeches been just in line with the Regime's policies? Hasn't her speeches on how "beautiful" and "peaceful" the religion of Islam is and how Islam works perfectly well with democracy (oxymoron statement!) been to the benefit of the terrorist Islamic Republic? Isn't outrageous lies that Ebadi has made such as "Iranian women are much better off today [under the terrorist Islamic Republic that has demoted the status of Iranian women to 2nd class citizens who are to be told how to behave in society] than they were pre-1979" - to me this sounds like statements that would be released by the regime's propaganda ministry!? This woman who amusingly sits down and says before cameras that she will respect the law enforced by the terrorist Islamic Republic, who sees her as a "sub-human", and work within the confines of it - and nobody thinks this is "funny"?!?! "odd"?!?! "strange"!?!?! Excuse me but she has done "shiite" for the plight of political prisoners! The son of the murdered Canadian journalist killed in Iran by the Islamic Republic rejected any help from this woman because he knows that this woman cannot do anything to help him or bring justice to the murderers of his slain mother! How many times has she talked STRAIGHTLY on the situation in Iran!? How many times has she condemned the human rights abuses in Iran instead of trying to paint a rosy picture of it all and down play the severity of the situation in Iran!?
When will we stop falling for what inevitably looks like puppets of the Islamic Republic? The mullah's know the art of deception to perfection! Haven't we seen enough of their tricks? When will we start to support genuine people? When will we decide that enough is enough?
I leave you with some comments by Amir-Abbas Fakhravar, who to me is a GENUINE Iranian that wants to see his country FREE! FREE from this terrorist regime that is occupying it and he is not afraid to say it! His words do not need any kind of interpretation as they are crystal clear. Amir Abbas has no trackrecord that would work against him - he is of the generation that had to grow up under tyranny, who know tyranny, recognizes tyranny, has endured tyranny, and who will fight tyranny to the end. Mr Fakhravar has said it clearly that the Islamic Republic cannot be reformed unlike what the likes of Ganji, Ebadi and anyone else for that matter that is of great SUPPORT to the Islamic Republic. Again I ask of my compatriots to know of the individuals they support, not to be afraid to question them and confront them when they see them working in the favour of the Islamic Republic. Too many charlatans have been presented to us by the Islamic Republic, we cannot afford to fall for one more which would lead to many more years of suffering for our people and for future generations to come.
Amir Abbas Fakhravar on Ganji (persian):
Videoclip 1
Videoclip 2
Videoclip 3
You will see that Mr Fakhravar also raises his suspicions and worries about how a man (Ganji) who says he supports democracy but yet refuses to sit down with other democratic forces because his "ideology" or "political ideology" doesn't allow him to.
Let us think for ourselves rather than letting others do the thinking for us.
I'm afraid that for Ganji, Ebadi and the likes, things just don't add up correctly! Let us not be fooled once again! Never again!
For more coverage about this recent hungerstrike please see:
Winston's blog "The Spirit of Man"
Potkin Azarmehr's blog
Posts
15 comments:
On the topic of charlatans and people who work in the interests of the Islamic Republic please see these two threads that I happened to come across today:
http://www.iranpoliticsclub.net/club/viewtopic.php?t=780
http://www.iranpoliticsclub.net/club/viewtopic.php?t=1002
I'm not pleased about some of the quotes attributed to Ganji since he's been out of Iran. He does seem like another reformer.
I really don't know what to think about him. I realize his wife and family are still in Iran, so he may have to be cautious about what he says.
What bothers me is that not only is Ganji's sincerity in doubt, (and I understand that it's words coming from his own mouth that are making him seem suspicious) but there is a movement to discredit Fakhravar too. What good does it do to have dissidents leave Iran, if they're all going to be doubted and accused of being regime agents?
The problem with U.S. support of opposition in Iran, is that they don't know who to trust. If Iranains don't know themselves, what are we to do?
BTW - I'm all in favor of backing Reza Pahlavi. I like him, I trust him and to me, he's the obvious choice. But I understand that not all Iranians feel the same, and the numbers are important. The more people involved, the better. That's why I have hope for Pahlavi's efforts to unify the opposition.
Maybe instead of badmouthing Ganji, it's better to just not support him, but support his cause for freeing political prisoners.
Dear Chester,
In regards to your comments:
- Even if he has family in Iran this does not excuse the comments that he has made which have been against the interests of the Iranian Nation; as I pointed out...
- As for those who are trying to discredit Amir-Abbas Fakhravar we have all seen it has either been western leftist newspapers or people who state lies such as "Fakhravar wants to see Iran bombed by foreigners" when he has clearly stated that he does not at all support any such action. Have you read any criticism by these people that has sounded convincing to you?
-My comments regarding Ganji are not meant to be insulting but are meant to question his activities and statements as I have done and stating some of his history. We should not sit quiet as that could be the worst thing we might do! If one supports Ganji I would very much like to hear what they have to say regarding my statements or better yet how they defend some of the statements Ganji has issued and why he had kept quiet for 15 years whilst serving this regime?
There's nothing wrong with stating Ganji's history. People should know the facts and the truth.
I think that Ganji's attitude is devisive toward the oppposition. Whether he understands the consequences of that, I don't know.
I do give him a bit of leeway in his statements, because of his family in Iran.
Who knows....he may be re-arrested when he gets back.
Aryamehr, while your opinions make complete sense but I think, we should stop doing what Ganjis do.
I mean we should show our strength through unity with any one who wants regime change in Iran.
I dont like Ganji either but lets stay with the crowd. lets absorb Ganjis to the movement and make them understand what we want.
Thnx
Dear Chester,
Why do you give him leeway? Amir-Abbas Fakhravar too has family in Iran but he will not sit quiet when facing tyranny nor will he hold back his views and issue some water-downed version of it. The difference between Fakhravar and Ganji is that the former is a TRUE freedom fighter whilst Ganji is a charlatan that the Islamic Republic hopes can pave the way for IRI 3.0! I won't fall for this new actor that the Islamic Republic has presented to us. Ganji has stated he does not support a revolution and that he is 100% for reform - need I say more?
Dear Winston,
I think that what we are doing is exactly what you are saying though!
We are showing our unity and strength in light of these charlatans! We are questioning their past and we are confronting them about their actions and statements.
Sitting quiet when presented with these type of charlatans does not lead to unity or our empowerment.
Dear friend, ofcourse we should support anyone who supports regime change but as we can see Ganji is not one of them.
Stay with what crowd? There were around 40 people according to a compatriot of ours who visited Ganji outside the UN headquarters. At least 5 where Constitutional Monarchist who had showed up so see what it was all about; the same group that Ganji has said he will not hold any talks with under any circumstances! The rest were leftists, republicans (misled), and a former Islamis parliamentarian Elahe Kolaei (sp?). This tells me that people have seen through Ganji and are not willing to tarnish the opposition by supporting him. Yes the idea of the hungerstrike was a noble one which could have been used to stage a great demonstration but people didn't want to risk associating with this shady individual.
If Ganji could be absorbed or as I have said used in the interests of the Iranian Nation then of course but so far we have seen that he is not interested in that. By confronting Ganji on his past and especially on his recent actions/statements which we have PROOF for unlike his past which still remains shady to us, we can better understand this man. The thing is though that his responses to our concerns have all been counter-productive and un-democratic such as the un-willingness to sit down with a signifcant portion of the democratic opposition to the Islamic Republic.
Anyhow I think my stance on Ganji is clear, it's up to you to make up your minds what you think of him, his past, and his recent (contradictory) statements.
I do not want to build on rotten foundations (former Islamist collaborators who are deceitful and make contradictory statements) but I rather build on new and solid foundations (the young generation of Iran that do not have any blood on their hands and who are for the complete uprootal of the Islamic Republic) if you know what I mean.
In hope that a genuine and powerful front is soon formed to attack the pillars of this regime and bring it down. The time for charlatans is over.
Let us not forget that Constitutionalists played a significan part in raising awareness of Ganji's imprisonement and pressured the Islamic Republic to release him.
Yes he had a lot of support and compassion by Iranians during his imprisonment - ask yourselves this though now that he is out and now that he has issued the statements he has do you believe that he still has retained that support? If you ask me I would say absolutely not.
There are several differences between the 2: For one thing, Fakhravar escaped; Gangi was permitted to leave. Maybe Ganji had to make promises in order to keep his wife safe? Who knows?
And Fakhravar is younger and still has that "young lion" attitude.
"Ganji has stated he does not support a revolution and that he is 100% for reform "
Did he say that before he left Iran?
Is Fakhravar actively joing with Pahlavi to unite the opposition?
If so, they should be seen together as a united front. Not each going off on their own.
You have a lot of trust and faith in Fakhravar. I trust Pahlavi more. Though they'd make a good team.
Dear Chester,
Ganji has said that he does not support any revolution against the Islamic Republic both when he was inside the country and again when he was abroad making his speeches. He is an IRI Reformist or as Winston refers to them "Reformollahis"...
I have faith in Fakhravar because all his actions and statements so far have been benefiting the plight of the Iranian Nation and raising awareness of the true situation in Iran unlike charlatans like Ganji with their tactics of deceit and creating division amongst the opposition which will no longer work.
The Islamic Republic is on its deathbed and we need to make sure this evil is uprooted as soon as possible.
There's no room for reformers in this revolution.
The Islamic Republic will be uprooted sooner, if the true anti-regime people join forces. There's strength in numbers and unification of the opposition and its resulting strength is what scares the regime.
Dear Chester,
Couldn't have said it better myself!
Though I dont condone Ganji but in his recent interview with Newsweek, he said he wants regime change through civil disobedience
Well doesn't that just go to prove my accusation of him being a deceitful charlatan????
If changes his attitude and becomes a democrat, supports regime change, and takes back his absurd claim that there are only 50 political prisoners in Iran I wouldn't bother him and might even decide to USE him in favour of the Iranian Nation.
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