A Second Guadalupe

Iranian blog, Roozonline:

Scotland's Gleneagles stands ready to host the G8 summit. Two main topics have been announced to the media: world poverty and Iran! The climate is ripe too for both these discussions. Millions around the world suffer from poverty. And Iran's unique situation after its election of Ahmadinejad who incidentally was elected based on promises of fighting both poverty and the arrogance of industrial nations, the very nations that will be meeting tomorrow.

Their agenda for Iran, which most likely includes a military approach to changing the country's political system, is reminiscent of a similar meeting the G8 held in the winter of 1979 during which they decided to abandon the Shah of Iran, their long standing ally, and send a peace offering to the aged cleric Ayatollah Khomeini's residence in France. READ MORE

There are many similarities, as well as differences, between tomorrow's meeting and the one that took place twenty-seven years ago. In the meeting held on the beautiful Island of Guadalupe, the former Soviet Union was not represented whereas Russia will be present at the Gleneagles meeting. At Guadalupe, the Western world had lost hope in the Shah's continued rule, while now they're fearful that Ahmadinejad will bring back echoes of a revolution they consented to themselves. Will the two day meeting tomorrow be another Guadalupe? The G8 nations must also grapple with predictions of oil prices soaring to eighty dollars a barrel, reportedly generating an additional ninety billion dollars in revenue for Iran.

This year appears to be one in which the international community will play a greater role in Iran's future than internal events, especially when viewed from a human rights perspective. Dissident journalist Ensafali Hedayat has reportedly fled the country and is seeking asylum in Turkey, a scenario that likely will be repeated with other champions of freedom under Ahmadinejad's rule. Akbar Ganji’s wife reports of her husband's ill-health and yet strong resolve to continue his hunger strike in prison. Prison officials want him to recant his earlier statements and have threatened to extend his six year prison term even if he serves the remaining one year.

Meanwhile twenty university students in the northwestern town of Oroumiyeh have been asked to appear before a disciplinary committee for allegedly violating Islamic moral codes.

Televised portions of President Khatami's tribute for his service were cancelled as they featured music that was deemed too lively. He had recently seen to the passing of a "freedom of the press" bill and stressed, "Censorship is no longer effective" though support for his program is lacking.

Finally, Mehdi Karrubi's party has found a name, "National Trust," and the popular Tehran weekly aligned with Ahmadinejad has reported a ten percent increase in dairy prices. These are the signs appearing on the horizon today and Mr. Ahmadinejad hasn't even taken office!