Monday's Daily Briefing on Iran

DoctorZin reports, 5.30.2005:

Join the "Blogosphere Supports Real Democracy in Iran" Campaign

Why should the Blogosphere support Real Democracy in Iran?

The next few weeks in Iran may prove critical to the efforts of the pro-democracy forces there.

On June 17th, Iran has scheduled its Presidential elections and as the LA Times said recently:

It was already one of the most important elections in the world this year. It now also promises to be one of the most watched.

This time the world will see for itself that the elections in Iran are a fraud. The regime permits only those candidates that support the present regime to run. As Amir Taheri says, the outcome of the election is certain. The Supreme Leader of Iran will remain in complete control, the Presidency is meaningless. But the regime needs a high voter turnout to fool the world community that they are the legitimate representatives of the people.

This is why the people of Iran are boycotting the election as they did in the last Parliamentary election. They want a real democracy. But this time the world media will be watching. We need to make sure the world is watching.

Those of us in the blogosphere need to publish the news on Iran in order to help Iranians searching for news know that we support their efforts to replace the existing regime with a real democracy. This is why we ask you to publish our campaign logo on your blog.

Why republish the news? Because the regime is blocking access to most major news sites and the blogosphere is a means to frustrate their efforts. It is also important for the people of Iran to know that people around the world are standing with them in their struggle. This support has proved invaluable to others that successfully overthrew their oppressive regimes in other places around the world, such as Georgia, the Ukraine, Lebanon and elsewhere. READ MORE

Join us now! Blogger click here, blog reader click here.

Here are a few other news items you may have missed.

• OpenDemocracy.com reports that Rafsanjani says he has spent all the money he had as a student and does not even own a house or land in the capital now.
• Adnkronos International reports that Rafsanjani thinks the Islamic practice of temporary marriages (which can last from hours to years) are the answer to premarital sex.
• Answers.com provides a useful briefing on "who's who" in the Iranian Presidential elections, set for June 17.
• Ekbatan Observer Blog reports a strong consensus is emerging amongst Iranian political activists that boycotting this electoral travesty, a political weapon, is the only honorable option left to the citizens.
• SMCCDI reports that the row over the murder of an Iranian residing in France is increasing and many are seeing the foot print of the Islamic regime's notorious hit squads.
• SMCCDI reports that the body of a young man who was hanged from a tree has been found in the rebellious City of Eslamshahr. A MUST READ!
• SMCCDI reports that tens of Seyed Vali Bazar's shops burned, early this morning, by another mysterious fire.
• People's Daily (China) reports that Iranian President Mohammad Khatami has proposed that all Muslims take what he calls the "Great Islamic Middle East" initiative to counter the US "Great Middle East" plan.
• Adnkronos International reports that Richard Perle, is pessimistic about the on-going negotiations between Iran and European countries over Iran's nuclear activities.
• And finally, The Jerusalem Post reports that the Bush administration is revising its counter-terrorism strategy.