Nik's Kicks

قربانی بزرگی به نام اصلاحات

2009-04-25T14:39:00.000-07:00

من باورم نمی‌شود که کسی مثل موسوی نماد اصلاحات یا لیدر آن بشود.

برای من این سوال وجود دارد که فردی که هنوز در برابر دستگیری‌‌های سیاسی، اعدام‌های سیاسی، از بین بردن حقوق شهروندی اقلیت‌ها، بیکار شدن هزاران نفر در پروژه پاکسازی و ... در دهه شصت سکوت کرده و حالا مدعی شود و بگوید که معترض به دستگیری‌های سیاسی است و دانشجویان نباید در زندان باشند و ...

من می‌دانم که هر کسی چیزی را بباور می‌کند که دوست دارد باور کند. و می‌دانم که مخالف هم نمی‌خواهد زیر بار تبلیغ طرف برود. اما برایم این سوال وجود دارد که آیا میرحسین موسوی می‌داند بیست سال است در برابر همه وقایع سکوت کرده؟ می‌داند که بسیاری از هنرمندان کشور جایی برای نمایش آثارشان ندارند؟ فرهنگستان هنر اما رئیسی داشته که هیچ منعی بر به نمایش گداشتن آثارش وجود نداشته...

الان میرحسین که ناگهان بعد از بیست سال بیدار شده و سخنانی جذاب و انتخاباتی به زبان می آورد تا رایی به کف آرد، می‌تواند اندکی تقویم را بهه عقب ببرد و سوال کند در محدوده‌ای که "مسوول" بوده و باید پاسخگو هم می‌بوده، چرا یک اتفاقاتی افتاد که نباید می افتاد؟

اگر میرحسین شفاف باشد و بگوید موضعش در برابر اعدام‌های گسترده سال‌های ۶۰، تصمیم‌های دولت در اخراج کارکنان در رده‌های مختلف، تصمیم وزارتخانه‌های آموزش و پرورش و آموزش عالی به محدود کردن بهایی‌ها و عملا ایجاد مانع برای ورود اینها به دانشگاه و ... چیست، ممنونش خواهم بود.

من با احترام به طرفداران کاندیداها، معتقدم که تا زمانی که یک پرسش و پاسخ سخت از طرف خبرنگاران غیر خودی با ایشان صورت نگیرد، خبرنگاران و روزنامه‌نگاران محترم به ایشان کارت سبز نشان داده‌اند برای عدم پاسخگویی در آینده.

میرحسین موسوی زمانی می‌تواند مدعی اصلاحات یا فراتر از آن باشد که ثابت کند اصلاح شده. گام اول، پاسخگویی است.. میرحسین پاسخگوی عملکرد دولتش در دهه شصت باشد، و خبرنگارانی که زمانی نانخور و مدیر دولتش بودند هم بگویند در آن دولت چه اتفاق‌هایی افتاد که نمی‌خواهند عیان شود.

پنهان کاری و بعد تبلیغ غیر واقعی، کار روزنامه‌نگاران نیست. چنین آفتی باعث بی اعتباری رسانه می‌شود.

اصلاحات قربانی مدیرانش شد و روزنامه‌نگارانی که به جای حفظ حریم اصلاحات، فقط حرمت مدیرانش را نگاه داشتند.

اصلاحات قربانی شد و باز هم می‌شود...

"Freedom of Speech" or "Freedom After Speech"

2008-05-12T07:10:00.000-07:00

The path to cultural Evolution of Iranian journalism

Nikahang Kowsar*

Self-censorship is the core value practiced in day to day journalism in Iran. Foreign observers would love to point fingers at the Islamic regime, for oppressing the thinkers that could have been the shakers as well. But there are some things beyond the wider image.

Going back to the history of Persian literature, there have been times where writers and poets have tried to challenge the kings, but through symbolism, not direct criticism. Many were forced to rewrite their poems and make revisions, and some were kicked out of the courts of kings and rulers for lack of obedience.

Before the Islamic revolution in 1979, most of the critics of the late Shah of Iran were either sent to exile or imprisoned. A number of them died under unknown circumstances. Of course, there were periods that the regime wanted to create a nice and clear image and brought down the walls for a while.

After Ayatollah Khomeini gained power, the first liberal cabinet tried to regulate the media, by passing the first press law of the Islamic regime. Later, in the summer of 1979, tens of magazines and papers were banned or just went out of business after being attacked by the angry mobs who were widely supported by the fundamentalist leaders.

During the Iran-Iraq war, censorship was embraced by the leaders and critics were usually marked as the "Fifth Column" of the enemy. Many editors and writers and cartoonists were laid-off, imprisoned, tortured and in a few cases, executed for treason.

After 8 years of war, the new government wanted to reconstruct the nation, and under the new rules, a lot of new magazines and newspapers were born. It took the joyful writers and editors and other members of the media 3 years to push the limits. Although things got better but censorship was imposed by the power through different means. Dailies, weeklies and monthlies who did not want to play by the unwritten rules were denied their share of cheap and subsidized paper.

The minister of culture was Mohammad Khatami, and he thought that a little bit of freedom would be enough for the thirsty journalists. Though, Khomeni's successor, Ayatollah Khamanei attacked those individuals who are letting western cultural values penetrate the minds and souls of Iranians through their books and articles. He branded them as soldiers of the "Cultural Invasion".

Between 1992 and 1997, many thinkers and writers were arrested and silenced. A few were killed by the rogue members of the Ministry of Intelligence, such as Saeedi Sirjani and Mir Allaei.

After Khatami's landslide victory in 1997, things got better. The nation witnessed the birth of hundreds of new dailies and weeklies. After former intelligence commanders killed 6 writers and activists in November and December of 1998, the press was so powerful that it could question the state for its silence and ask why the powerful conservatives had not denounced the murders of innocent thinkers.

But this comparative freedom only lasted three years. Many allies of Khatami were running the reformist media and did not want to see any reports or articles talking about the reformist government's shortcomings.

In Iran, worse comes to worst. The fifth parliament passed amendments to the 1983 Press Law and by that means and under the order of the supreme leader, more than 80 newspapers and magazine was banned in the spring of 2000. Many of these papers were labeled as "Dens of the enemy". A few prominent journalists were arrested and imprisoned.

Today under president Ahmadinejad, things are getting worse. Many prominent journalists have left the country and many younger reporters have lost their jobs. Papers have been banned and the government and judiciary sometimes dictate the headlines to publishers and enforce corrections and revisions to articles and reports.

I would not only blame this government for oppressing the press and trying to limit freedom of speech, but also blame the self-censorship that has been imposed by fathers, generation after generation. The "Patriarch" cannot let you go easily after being humiliated by your criticism. There is a price to pay. Yes, you have had the freedom to speak, but later, you will be denied the freedom to make a speech on the values you believe in.

Governments will come and go, this regime will not last as long as it wants, but freedom of speech is not something that would be cuddled and loved. Even under a democratic government, I could bet on the censorship imposed on writers and cartoonists by editors who have always supported freedom of speech in the country. It's a culture. Probably the DNA of our journalists should be examined!

I believe freedom of speech will not come over night. It would take generations of journalists to push the limits and educate themselves and their colleagues and newcomers.

Blogging has created a forum for public criticism and compromise; what we needed to see in the print media in Iran. Journalists turned bloggers have tried to provide the means and links to a modern school of thought in journalism. Today, a great deal of Iranian reporters and writers are searching blog-posts of their colleagues to find more and learn what's going on beyond the walls of oppression.

I would say that we are evolving. Evolution takes time and courage, but it is taking place.

The TehranTonian Journalist

2008-03-11T14:40:00.000-07:00

Nik, an Iranian journalist living in the GTA, has a miserable life. He works, he works and he works.

He's a workaholic.

He dies if doesn't work, and working too hard is killing him.

His day starts at 10:45 PM, where he goes to work as the midnight editor of a news agency.

In the morning, he has his radio stuff and has to record his own show for a radio station based in Europe. His show is political comentary, and once a week, he has to produce a one hour show about the Iranians living in Canada.

He goes to sleep at 11:00 AM and doesn't know how to name the nightmares he sees during the day. Probably "Daymare" is good choice. He is the best example of a day-dreamer. He can't turn his phone off, because his daughter might call him from Iran, and he doesn't want to miss that call.

He wakes up at 4:00 PM to draw his daily cartoon for a news website, also based in Europe. It takes him a long time to figure out what to draw before facing the deadline at 6:00 PM. His editor has stay awake for the daily, or actually the "nightly" cartoon. Its already 11:00 PM in London, and the editor has had to drink his 5th coffee by now!

And at the end of the day, he goes to school. He's studying journalism in Canada. He studied Geology back home in Iran, but was drawig editorial cartoons for the papers there. He never thought of studying again, but it just happened.

Will he last long? Who knows!

The Danish Cartoons; Episode 2

2008-02-15T07:17:00.000-08:00

I believe that there is a distinction between insulting and making fun of an idea.

I believe, freedom of speech is not about creating hatred, but is to give an understanding of tolerance and knowledge.

I believe, because having a problem with a group of Christians, it is of bad taste to insult Jesus.

Journalism and free speech is not about insulting ideas and people's faith. What I see is being done in the name of freedom, is creating an atmosphere for minorities to be the "other", again and again.

The worst reaction to this immorality, is choosing violence over logic. The cartoonist just wanted to create a funny content to challenge a radical view, the editor believes that freedom of speech is the same concept of equal to insult. But, if this is a war, let's make it a war of ideas and words, nothing else!

Because of the high temper of a group of violent Muslims, would it be wise to insult the prophet?

I don't think what was done in 2006 was right an moral, and what is being done today in reaction to the failed attempt of 3 hardliners against one of the cartoonists acceptable.

I think people are trying to create a greater clash, and call it a war for freedom of speech. I don't get it!

Shuttle test

2007-11-08T18:06:00.000-08:00

Voice test

2007-11-08T17:24:00.001-08:00

To hear my voice, please click here

Shakira

2007-11-08T17:13:00.001-08:00

Nik Oil

2007-11-08T17:09:00.001-08:00

Nik's Photos

2007-11-08T17:07:00.000-08:00

2007-07-31T02:01:00.000-07:00

Anti-Heroes and Heroes of “Death of a Salesman” and “Othello”

Nik Kowsar

Anti Heroes are motivated by lower and primordial nature. Although they might look like heroes, but what they commit is not noble enough to the majority.

Unlike the courageous hero, the anti hero’s weaknesses turns him to a villain, in contrast with other honest and kind people living next to him.

James Bonnet (1) believes that heroes have a temptation to struggle for good, and the anti hero is ready to fall down the slope for bad; “On the upside of the passage, the hero resists temptation and goes up the ladder. On the downside, the anti-hero gives in to temptation and goes down the ladder.

We all see our positive side and nature in the hero, whereas the anti-hero has all the negativities we might find in ourselves. Our negative side wants to possess everything it desires, without limit, and control everything it needs.

We sympathize both, but sometimes feel closer to the anti-hero, without knowing why! We admire the hero, but feel to weak to follow his footsteps.

A - The Death of a Salesman

In The Death of a Salesman, Arthur Miller is trying to demonstrate the dark side of the “American Dream”. Willy Loman has tried his best to get what he desires, but falls in the trap of his own deception. He not only fools himself, but also based on his beliefs, forces his whole family to debt and at the end, tries to solve the problems by keeping his un-working dream alive.

He falls into the loophole to satisfy himself rather than telling the truth to his wife, Linda, who could be considered the real hero of the story. She has fought all her life to keep the family together and supported Willy regardless of his untruthful manner.

Biff is also an anti Hero who turns out to be the hero of the story, realizing the dark side will also suck him in. He decides to wake up from the alluring dream of salesmanship. The awakening has caused a gap between his mind and Happy, his brother who is totally conceived by Willy’s will.

“Biff feels obliged to seek the truth about himself. While his father and brother are unable to accept the miserable reality of their respective lives, Biff acknowledges his failure and eventually manages to confront it.”(2)

Miller has shown us how the post Depression generation has tried to keep its chin up without realizing who its soul and spirit has been consumed by the nature of its consumerism. Miller depicts achieving wealth and success without regard for principle. Willy has tried for 35 years to satisfy his ego by practicing the skills that made him a salesman, even when his son, Biff learns that Willy is having an affair with a lady in another city, we understand that its just the matter of fulfilling the “dream” while Willy is trying to satisfy his ego and prove himself that he is liked by everyone in New England.

At the end of the story, Willy goes down the ladder. He decides to commit suicide: “After all the highways, and the trains, and the appointments, and the years, you end up worth more dead than alive.”

B-Othello

Othello is the story of “otherness”. William Shakespeare brings us a noble Moor and a Venetian general who has gained the trust of Venetians.

While he has been charged with witchcraft for seducing Desdemona, the beautiful daughter of Brabantio, a Venetian Senator, Othello defends himself successfully before an assembled Senate and portrays a real hero.

When sent to Cyprus by the order of the Duke of Venice, Othello gradualy shows his weaknesses. He portrays a tragic hero.

The jealousy of his ensign, who wanted the position of Othello’s lieutenant Cassio, created the whole tragic story that led to the death of the main characters of the story.

Iago, Othello's second lieutenant and closest confidant, spends most of the play attempting to bring about Othello's downfall by leading him to believe his wife, Desdemona, is being unfaithful to him with Cassio, his chief lieutenant.

Iago, wreaks havoc on the other characters' lives for no ulterior purpose. (3)
He portrays a soldier that may have been an honest man, but after being passed promotion to the top post to become Othello’s chief lieutenant, he becomes the mean evil character who turns out to be racist and jealous as well.

Iago’s negetivity turns him against his own wife, Emilia, and uses her in his plot against Othello and Cassio and Desdemona. When he forces Emilia to misplace Desdemona's famous handkerchief to Cassio’s position, we learn that the death of all would probably satisfy his evil soul.

Iago is the villain and negative character of the story, but Othello who has once been the real hero, turns to the dark side under the influence of Iago and through his blind jealoussy attempts to kill his own wife. While the weaknesses of Othello arise, his brighter side is lost, and at the end he feels sorry for his mistakes and falling into Iago’s trap. Othello, the noble warrior turns into a ruthless killer who cannot distinguish right fron wrong.

Shakespear demonstrates the path from heroism to anti-heroism under the influence of jealosy and rivalry. Cassio remains the noble officer he has always been, but Othello loses his mind, and Iago’s plot turns to work successfully until the moment that everyone notices the truth and Iago is being tortured to reveal the conspiracy that led to this tragic story.

(1) Member of the Board of Directors of the Writer's Guild of America
(2) http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/salesman/
(3) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iago

2007-07-16T01:45:00.001-07:00

Months ago, Conrad Black wrote a book on Nixon's experiences in the White House, and somehow tried to glorify Mr. Nixon.

For Black, Nixon's Legacy could have been "blacked-out" by the Watergate scandal. And a reader could also feel that Conrad Black himself fears a downfall after his recent trial.

Black would like to convince everyone that he didn't do anything wrong, just as Nixon emphasized on his actions during the 1972-74 period that forced him to resign.

Is Conrad Black trying to follow Richard Nixon's footsteps? The future will let us know.

When a successful journalist sucks

2007-07-09T06:08:00.001-07:00

Under repressive regimes, journalists should practice "Ignorance", if not, they'll be under surveilance and burn.

As a successful journalist, you'll always have to keep the balance. In Iran, a thriving journalist will be imprisoned and has to keep the balance in a different way.

You have the rights to remains silent, hear no evil and see no evil.

And at the end, you are free not to compete, and stand still.

Dionne Brand's Mapping of The Door of No Return-Part1

2007-03-07T17:36:00.000-08:00

"I find myself – like another writer said – born into a subject," says Brand.

The title of her book, A Map To The Door Of No Return is taken from the name of that place at which so many slaves were held – West Africa, at the edge of a continent – prior to departing on the Middle Passage physically and culturally toward the diaspora. That door to which there could be no return, Brand suggests, represents both a physical space bound by a common history more definitive than "border" or "nation" – as well as a psychic space.

"[Nations], I think, are artificial, which is not to say that they don’t exist ... What nations do is they include and exclude. That’s the thing that makes them," Brand explains.

At the beginning she explains that she asks here grandfather where they came from, he never remembered. She explains it was a rupture in the quality of being, also a physical rupture, in geography.

There is a mutual disappointment in the family. Her grandfather, her uncle, the father she just met once, and everything… Having no name of the origin means having no history, no past, no connections between the past and present. This is the door of No Return, where the ancestors departed one world for another; the old world for the new. The place where all names were forgotten and all belongings recast.

She describes it as the creation place of Blacks in the New World Diaspora at the same time that it signifies the end of traceable begginings.

Dionne tries to trace a map, while she is in an Island far away from Africa, and even close to South America, to the North is Trinidad…she listens to BBC, she knows the outer world, and even London through the radio.

The sea, as the Babylonian map says, is the bitter river that desolates her from the world and her origins.

She says living in the Black Diaspora is to live in a fiction, she describes the door of no return as where the Africans were captured, loaded onto ships heading for the new world. They didn’t want to leave.

When she goes back, feels the dark shadow of racism, from the slavers, the masters. She tries to see if it could have been called migration, it can’t! There was no choice here.

She describes the black experience in any modern city in North America as haunting, because the history follows and haunts you.

She talks of a documentary by Gates, that he took several African Americans to the door of no return, a slave castle in Ghana, where they notice that their ancestors were actually sold by Africans. It creates sadness.

She then talks about the”Black Body”. How it is known to the world, a dancing, powerful body, it is domesticated and wild (the sign of opposition, transgression, resistance and desire).

Talks about Ben Johnson, when Canada felt it was in that black body for 9.79 seconds, and when it pulled out itself...

The Black body is being brutalized by the police, by the officials, to make it domesticated, not wild.

There is a sense of Nationalism, and having it as a void. No nationalism.

The blacks in the Diaspora feel held captive, although a few hundred years away from the door of no return.

The black Diaspora wants to go back, when it is powerful, but when?

Brand goes through literature to pass through the door, but by reading Naipul’s The overcrowded Barracoon, she learns that he talks about moving as soon as you get used to one point… she sees him sorrowful, like Morrison’s character beloved…

She goes through other people’s works. Books and documentaries, and thinks that going back, the possibility that one might be unwanted, perhaps hated, even forgotten back home.

There is a crushing dislocation of self which landscape does not solve. The tendency to escape, for the black Diaspora and even the 19^th century Indians…

Brand talks of Origins, she pinpoints the new Torontonians, and how people of different backgrounds are disappeared.

She wanders through the history of natives of North America, and even Australia that are in way the “others” in the post colonial world.

She recalls her will from the beginning to go to a new home, top marry a fisherman and go to Venezuela and even misled and mishandled by a bad man and run off to Brazil with him, even to live in NY or London… When she goes to London in her journey, she somehow knows the place, possibly through BBC…

In Australia she sees Multiculturalism is relative to the state of white fear. The native becomes the “other”.

She sees slavery as another fact of becoming the other in another way.

In her journey to draw the map, she recalls the Rihlas, the book of travel, like Iranian Nasser Khosrow’s book, the way to pilgrimage…When going to Africa for the first time through Europe, she can’t even sleep.

She talks about history, how even Columbus was funded to find the new land, what a pity…

Conjugations in Disgrace and Paradise

Morrison talks about the blacks among the “Founding Fathers” “Pilgrims” the “West”, in a society so invested in “inherent goodness” she talks of things that people do not like!

In Paradise, blacks can never live peacefully because of racism, and in Coetzee's Disgrace, whites can never peacefully live without racism.

In her book she uses symbols, metaphors, like the harassed dog in chains, that even if she sets it free, might attack her, is she describing herself like that confused dog? To her, a good dog is aggressive and unfriendly…

She sometimes goes back to her Caribbean Origin, like in 1999 to Granada, the coup and her bad experiences of how black people turn against each other and Americans get in… is it all about Morrison’s and Coetzee’s books?

She goes through the history of her region, the Black Napoleon, the revolution in Haiti, 1791, the uprising led by Toussaint L’Ouverture against the French on St. Dominique.

At the end she even goes through Museums to find her past. To Amsterdam to find out about the west Indies, Surinam…

Back in Canada in her survey, she talks about her loneliness, her confusion and the door.

My cartoons on Saddam, from 2003

2007-01-03T21:08:00.000-08:00

The End?

2007-01-02T14:04:00.000-08:00

Dave

2006-11-29T19:10:00.000-08:00

Ahmadinejad's letter to the Americans

2006-11-29T19:09:00.000-08:00

Cartoonists Rights Network, International: Exiled Iranian Cartoonist Seeks Safe Haven

2006-11-28T20:30:00.000-08:00

FAIRFAX, VIRGINIA -- (MARKET WIRE) -- 11/27/06 -- Cartoonist Mana Neyestani left Dubai where he had lived in exile since one of his cartoons led to death threats. He is now in Europe where he notified UNHCR, the refugee agency of the United Nations, that he is seeking asylum.

Neyestani left Iran in early September, just days before he was to be imprisoned for a second time because of his cartooning. Iranian authorities arrested Neyestani and his editor, Mehrdad Qasemfar, May 23 on charges that they incited ethnic violence and undermined national security when the newspaper Iran published a cartoon with a cockroach speaking the Azeri language to a boy who was speaking Persian, the language used by about 75 percent of Iranians. Students rioted in the northwestern city of Tabriz to protest the cartoon. Iran, a state-owned newspaper, was closed for months. It resumed publishing September 11 with a new staff.

Neyestani's months-long search for an appropriate visa has been followed by his cartooning colleagues and they are alarmed that UNHCR seems to be his last resort. "Western countries who claim to have enlightened policies in support of freedom of expression like to have their cake and eat it, too," said Nik Kowsar, a cartoonist who encountered Iranian protesters in 2000 due to one of his cartoons. He, too, fled Iran and now lives in Canada. "They position themselves as supporting freedom of expression, but now make achieving asylum almost impossible for the individual who is at risk for exercising it." Kowsar serves on the board of directors of Cartoonists Rights Network, International.

CRNI monitors and supports the well-being of political cartoonists who find themselves in trouble because of the power and influence of their professional work.

The Paradox

2006-11-22T05:16:00.000-08:00

Hossein Derakhshan has been recently insisting on publishing articles that reveal the similarities of his views with some of those in the Iranian regime. In addition to his repeated defense of Iran’s need to acquire nuclear weapons, he consistently writes appalling articles against Iranian human rights activists which include individuals whose lives are in serious danger and under pressure from Iran’s intelligence and judiciary agencies.

Without adding any comments, here are some of his recent writings posted on his weblog.

I will begin with the time when Akbar Ganji was finally released from prison half dead, after his 2 month hunger strike and when the Iranian government was under an unprecedented international pressure to free this political prisoner. At the time, Mr. Derakhshan tried to remind everyone that had Ganji done what he did in any of the regional countries, except Iran, he would have been sentenced to death or at the least 20 to 30 years of prison. Iranian officials were very generous in letting this journalist out of prison after 6 years. In which part of the misfortuned region of the Middle East do you see someone attack the king in the harshest possible ways, reject the foundations of a regime through the publication of a manifesto, incite the public to open resistance and disobedience, and still be freed from prison at the conclusion of his term, and thus continue a normal life outside? We have to be fair that neither the king of Jordan nor the president of Egypt, the Saudi king, the government of Turkey (which is nailing a writer for simply mentioning the Armenian genocide), or even the Pakistani government would have done to someone like Ganji, what Khamenei has done to him. The person would be eliminated, or at the least put behind bars for 20 to 30 years.”

Pursuing the line of thinking about why is nobody thanking the Iranian leaders for their generosity regarding Ganji, Derakhshan writes, “Khamenei has really demonstrated benevolence and yet nobody has expressed gratitude for it.”

Sometime later Derakhshan wrote, “If Ganji is sincerely interested to help democracy in Iran he should take a look at the nonsensical stuff that he had said during his one week leave from prison prior to the elections.” He later warned Ganji not to fall into the traps of monarchists such as Shahriyar Ahi, “I hope he does not stupidly fall into the traps of Ali Afshari, Akbar Atri and Mohsen Sazgara.” (It is not clear to me why Derakhshan chose to associate Ganji indirectly to these people. Derakhshan probably says that he never had anything to do with Ganji.)

On another occasion, when Issa Saharkhiz, a well-know critic of the Islamic regime who resides in Iran, criticized the leader of the Islamic Republic, Derakhshan got furious and, without taking into account that Saharkhiz lives in Iran and is under serious life-threatening conditions, wrote, “I have almost no doubt that Issa Saharkhiz wishes to join Sazgara and Ganji. What is clear from the remarks he made against Khamenei today that he either wishes to be arrested or be forced to leave the country. Or still better, he may already be in Turkey or Dubai, waiting to be picked up by Ahi or Ahmadi and taken to the rest of those who have been driven from Khamenei to Bush such as Afshari, Atri and Sazgara.”

I would like to point out that while Saharkhiz was sentenced immediately to 4 years imprisonment after his criticism, Derakhshan wanted more and so continued to expose him, creating a life-threatening situation for him. Derakhshan wrote that he had read in the Financial Times that an organization called Freedom House had received funds from the US Department of State for “covert operations in Iran,” which Saharkhiz had used to create a website called Gozar and launch a monthly magazine under the guise of promoting democracy and human rights in Iran. Derakhshan continued his fabrications and accused Saharkhiz of being among those who knowingly or ignorantly were helping US president Bush to topple Khamenei, while asking, “Is this a thought-through plan or have they been simply duped into this?”

In a separate piece, Derakhshan writes, “There are two distinct policies about Iran in the United States, and every once a while one has the upper hand over the other. One is the policy of “regime change,” which can be carried out by either a military invasion or instigating a ‘velvet revolution’ through civil disobedience or social breakdown – which Ganji supports in utter ignorance. The other is a policy of changing the Iranian regime’s behavior through negotiations and economic incentives.” Derakhshan continues by criticizing members of Daftar-e Tahkim-e Vahdat, the main student opposition group inside the country: “The old Tahkim leaders, such as Afshari and Atri, among others, that include the more recent members, have all joined the Iran Human Rights Documentation Center that was run by Ramin Ahmadi, whose hidden aim is to overthrow the regime.” (In another part of this piece Derakhshan continues to attack and insult Akbar Ganji: “Ganji is ignorant. On the one hand he acts as if he is anti-Bush while on the other he supports Bush’s favorite strategy for regime change, Eastern European style civil disobedience.”)

Derakhshan goes a long way to attack those who oppose the Iranian regime. When the security apparatus in Iran arrested, tortured the head of the Advar-e Tahkim-e Vahdat (an affiliate of Daftar-e Tahkim-e Vahdat) student organization, shut down the organization’s website and central office, and even prevented dissident students from continuing their university education, Derakhshan declared that, “Iran’s treatment of Tahkime Vahdat is completely legitimate.”

In particular, Derakhshan noted, “The whole issue of barring students from university registration, arresting Mousavi Khoeini and Keyvan Ansari, the filtering of Advar News website and the confiscation of the organization’s property has only one reason: the Islamic Republic’s security apparatus has simply concluded that Daftare Tahkim-e Vahdat is connected to foreign sources and is officially pursuing the regime’s overthrow.” Derakhshan himself concluded, “Iran’s treatment of Tahkim-e Vahdat is completely legitimate. Even if it were illegitimate, the United States and Britain have treated the groups that were acting to overthrow their governments far worse.”

In another piece, written in English, Derakhshan lays some serious accusations against Iranian student activists: “Ali Afshari, Akbar Atri, Reza Delbari, Abdollah Momeni were among the organizers of the referendum movement, which is supported by Reza Pahlavi and established by Mohsen Sazgara, a former member of the Tahkime Vahdat organization who has still preserved his close ties to the group. These are all evidence proving that Tahkime Vahdat is part of the United States’ plan for changing the regime in Iran.” Apparently, it was not important for Derakhshan how such accusations are life-threatening to people like Reza Delbari and Abdollah Momeni, who, unlike Mr. Derakhshan, actually live in Iran.

Even when the Islamic Republic’s security apparatus arrests someone like Ramin Jahanbegloo, a scholar who is not interested in political activism, imprisons him for months without charges and access to a lawyer, and forces him to speak to a news agency upon his release (on a hefty bail equivalent to the price of two houses) and confess that he cooperated with the American government against his country, Derakhshan uses all of his energy to legitimize this process: “Undoubtedly the violations of Iranian citizens’ human rights in the Islamic Republic’s prisons must be investigated and punished, regardless of who it is done by; but whoever aids the semi-democratic and imperialist U.S. regime to overthrow the semi-democratic Iranian regime must also be punished.”

In another part Derakhshan writes, “If the Ministry of Intelligence has tortured dozens of people before, it did not commit a huge mistake in the case of Jahanbegloo.” He adds, “The help that Jahanbegloo and many others, whose names we do not even know, provide to the right-wing elements of the United States government in the name of academicians, human rights and NGO activists, is by no means justified.”

Amazingly enough, Derakhshan attempts really hard to show that the methods used by the Iranian security apparatus to extract confessions out of Jahanbegloo are legitimate: “Jahanbegloo, in his own and his wife’s words, was never tortured either physically or psychologically – which is not necessarily acceptable unless proven by independent sources. He had contacts with his family, more or less, and according to his own statements, and did not sufficiently trust any lawyer to request their representation. And now that he is released, he claims that he was tricked by the United States to pursue certain ends because of his academic and business activities. Despite what many lazy minds like to think, Jahanbegloo was not arrested for his intellectual activities.”

In Derakhshan’s view, Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence should actually be praised for its treatment of Jahanbegloo: “Ramin Jahanbegloo was lucky that he lived in Iran where the Ministry of Intelligence was available to assist him in redeeming his reputation for future.”

The aforementioned passages outline some of Mr. Derakhshan’s views, which he has published himself. In a recent piece I called Hossein Derakhshan “the gray ministry’s godson.” He has claimed everywhere that I have accused him of being an agent of the Ministry of Intelligence. It is necessary to emphasize that this is another manifestation of Mr. Derakhshan’s egotism. He is not at a level that qualifies him for being an agent of the Islamic Republic or any other place, because intelligence organizations look for “professional,” “devoted” people; whereas Derakhshan has never been devoted to anything and no intelligence organization can trust such a person. There is no assurance, for instance, that he would not “take hostage” an organization’s secrets for money. I emphasize that my expression, “the grey ministry’s godson,” is meant to capture Derakhshan’s tiring attempts to endear himself to Iran’s rulers and to legitimize the regime’s treatment of dissidents. Otherwise I, Nikahang Kowsar, believe that Hossein Derakhshan has never been and will never be an agent of Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence.

In any case, Mr. Derakhshan (who always introduces himself as a defender of human rights and democracy in Iran) probably has some explanation for the pieces he writes in which he attacks Iran’s human rights activists (who face serious security threats). I just wish that Derakhshan could clearly answer this question: Is he not concerned that the accusations he makes against human rights activists in Iran can be used against them by the Iranian intelligence-security apparatus?

The find the links regarding this post, please click!

On Rooz Online's latest issues

2006-11-19T00:35:00.000-08:00

Mr.Derakhshan has recently sent emails to different organizations such as Hivos, blackmailing them instead of offering a profound translation of what I had written.

In his letters, he has accused me of calling Rooz Online a "corrupt" News Website. The following is the translation of my open letter to Rooz Online's management:

I have decided to address my protest to Rooz Online so that its management decides itself what needs to be done.

Dear Mr. Hossein Bastani

I suffer from lack of transparency!

You have been succumbing to Hossein Derakhshan’s threats for one year now with the goal that he would not harm his hostage, which is none other than Rooz Online’s website. For one year as the technical supervisor of the site, Derakhshan has not been fulfilling his responsibilities. For one full year Rooz subscribers have been cursing us for not receiving their email news on time. For one year many of our subscribers inside Iran have been complaining about not receiving the site cartoons through email. They complain that the archived files are not easily accessible and that nothing can be found in them due to their volume. Our advertisements department has been suffering for one year too. Derakhshan has been aware of all these problems but has seemingly intentionally not addressed or resolved them. Despite all this, Rooz Online still asks for patience lest Derakhshan release the hostages that he holds, such as email lists and addresses. From now on, I see no reason to remain silent over Derakhshan’s behavior.

Mr. Derakhshan claims many things. We must examine each and every one of them. Today I wish to examine the emails that he has been sending in which he claims that he has not received payment from Rooz Online for the past year. Apparently he does not know that “Iran Gooya” is a registered company in France and therefore has an accounting department which is obliged to have transparent documents about all its payments. According to these documents, since the beginning of 2006, Mr. Derakhshan has received 4,200 Euros for services that he may not have even performed as the site has been updated every night by someone else. According to these documents, Iran Gooya gave him a check for 2,500 Euros, deposited 500 Euros into his account in Canada less than three weeks later, and then sent another 1,200 Euros to him four months ago. The latter has not been returned to the bank, while Mr. Derakhshan makes a claim that he has not received it. Is it possible that the money that was sent to him four months ago, is simply “lost”, because he claims he has not received it while the money has not been returned to Iran Gooya either? Had he claimed that he had not received the earlier 2,500 Euros that was sent to him in March, and the 500 Euros that was sent in February, then perhaps one could suspect that he had not received the 1,200 Euros as well. But the fact is that he has acknowledged receiving the first two payments. So how can one believe his latter claim?

Mr. Bastani! You have been cautious in your communications not to hurt Hossein Derakhshan’s feelings for a full year now for fearing that he could act on his threats and de-activate the Rooz Online website. It seems that reformist Mr. Bastani, very much like reformist former president Khatami is accustomed to succumb to pressures and blackmail, and thus resort to unlimited yields.

The result of your giving in to Derakhshan is that he finally de-activated the website, did not release the hostages he had held (i.e. shut the servers, taken the email addresses of the subscribers and other Rooz Online addresses, etc). This has forced Iran Gooya to replace the website and thus spend large sums of money, while Derakhshan has become even more demanding. And you seem to be still “negotiating” with this man. How much more must we be hurt before we learn how to deal with a blackmailer?

There is plenty more to say about what Hossein Derakhshan has done to Rooz Online and the demands that he has made through extortions and threats, which I hope you yourself, rather than me, will reveal. I await that time.

Regards,
Nikahang Kowsar
Member,
Board of Directors,
Iran Gooya
November 2006

Hey! Stop it!

2006-11-14T03:54:00.000-08:00

This is my friend and landlord, Farid, and I've been always nagging and comlpaining because he doesn't stop smoking! Although he smokes out of the house and I admire him for that, but ...

I'm here again!

2006-11-10T15:58:00.000-08:00

At last, I decided to write again, instead of just posting photos or cartoons here.

It has a simple reason; protest!

Have you ever heard of theBOBs - the Deutsche Welle Weblog Awards? My main blog that's in Persian was nominated, but from day one, I asked the managers of the contest to pull me out! Why? The DogFather* is the Persian Judge! And worse, he was the juror who chose the ten nominees, and it wasn't the the readers' choice that counted. And the worst, his blog has acted as the "Propaganda Machine" for the theBOBs 2006 contest.

How could just one Iranian individual nominate 10 blogs, and after all, promote a few of them and then encourage his readers to vote, and at the end, be the jury member? Can the DA, Juror and the Judge simultaneously be the same guy? Is it George Orwell's 1984?

It's totally stupid!

I wrote M.Salehi one of the guys in charge of the BOBs, several times to remove me from the list, and wrote against the contest and asked my friends and readers not to vote for me. Sounds crazy, eh?

It's funny, many Iranians who criticize the pseudo-Democratic and Hypocritical political system in Iran, and have been against the guardian council that promotes "Selection" instead of "Election", cannot see the corrupt web that the dirty spider has woven?

2 days ago, Gabriel González the project manager of the BOBs – Weblog Awards contacted me, asking my reasons to quit or boycott the contest. I wrote him:

"The main reason is that a lot of Iranian Bloggers have no respect for your Iranian jury member! We believe that he has used and abused the Iranian "Bloggistan" for his own profits and fame. The important question is how could he be the one to nominate the blogs for the competition, be the juror for the Persian blog contest, write against the candidates and encourage his audience against a few? And on the other hand try to get more votes for others? Is this a clean competition?" ..." That's why I wanted my name out!
I don't believe in such a hypocritical system, and from day one, I asked everyone not to vote for me, and later asked Mr.Salehi to pull me out, but he thought I was joking!"

As Hafez says in one of his poems:" Those who fail to see the truth, shall be embarrassed in the future." It takes times, but I’ll wait for it!

* He was first named the "Godfather", but a few called him the "DogFather". I don't know why, probably it had to do something with his former dog, "Caramel".

Toronto; this morning

2006-10-27T15:40:00.000-07:00

Oval path of light!

2006-10-27T02:56:00.000-07:00

Staring my New Year!

2006-10-27T02:55:00.000-07:00

37 at last!

2006-10-26T21:11:00.000-07:00

Iranian dissident says oil more important for the West than human rights

2006-10-25T00:46:00.000-07:00

STRASBOURG, France A leading Iranian dissident on Tuesday accused the West of ignoring human rights questions in exchange for stronger trade relations with Tehran, a strategy he said has harmed democratic forces in the country.

Nik in his Studio

2006-10-24T20:18:00.000-07:00

2006-10-24T20:17:00.000-07:00

2006-09-26T08:39:00.000-07:00

Letter to America

By Akbar Ganji

Thursday, September 21, 2006; Page A25

...

It is both possible and desirable to solve the problems between the United States and Iran through direct talks. Such diplomacy will best serve the interests of the American and Iranian people if it is conducted in a transparent fashion. This transparency would not only make it impossible for advocates of war to increase tensions but also would help isolate them. Iranian democrats are opposed to secret diplomacy

...

How Iranian Intelligence will be dealing with the Press

2006-09-26T01:08:00.000-07:00

Last week, Mohseni Ezhei, Ahmadinejad's Minister of Intelligence, announced that they are going to find out more about the relations of Iranian scholars, journalists and students with the United States.

The sad factor is that in Iran, they first get rid of you, and later, announce your innocence(in many cases they don’t bother themselves to talk about that as well!).

In the mind of the hardliners, all Iranian critics are working for the CIA, and therefore should be imprisoned and punished.

The truth is that many Iranian critics dislike George Bush and his policies, and never would do anything in his favor, but, on the contrary, Iranian Intelligence agents are collecting evidence against Ahmadinejad's opponents to frame and brand them as CIA's stooges.

The Clash

2006-09-21T04:17:00.000-07:00

Newsweek and Bullshitism

2006-08-18T00:30:00.000-07:00

Check out this article of Newsweek on Ahmadinejad's Blog. Regardless of the Iranian president, you'll find out about a wonderful Iranian blogger:

...When the Iranian returned to his native country last year to blog on the presidential election that led to Ahmadinejad’s victory, Derakhshan was detained and interrogated by the Ministry of Intelligence, forced to publicly recant entries and expelled from the country...

The only thing that bothers me is the total Bullshitism in this paragraph. Does Benjamin Sutherland, have an oppinion on what he's writing?

Either he has enough evidence or he loves to be used by our beloved friend.

It's really funny how foreign journalists fall in the hands of jokers like Amir Abbas Fakhravar on one hand and Hossein Derakhshan on the other.

CNN & New Yorker - Bush Planned Lebanon War Months Before

2006-08-16T10:25:00.000-07:00

August 22

2006-08-13T18:28:00.000-07:00

Does Iran have something in store?
BY BERNARD LEWIS Tuesday, August 8, 2006

During the Cold War, both sides possessed weapons of mass destruction, but neither side used them, deterred by what was known as MAD, mutual assured destruction. Similar constraints have no doubt prevented their use in the confrontation between India and Pakistan. In our own day a new such confrontation seems to be looming between a nuclear-armed Iran and its favorite enemies, named by the late Ayatollah Khomeini as the Great Satan and the Little Satan, i.e., the United States and Israel. Against the U.S. the bombs might be delivered by terrorists, a method having the advantage of bearing no return address. Against Israel, the target is small enough to attempt obliteration by direct bombardment...conitinued

George Galloway Savages SKY NEWS!

2006-08-11T01:44:00.000-07:00

Independent Press in Iran

2006-08-08T21:39:00.000-07:00

Akbar Mohammadi; another victim of Evin prison

2006-08-02T02:59:00.000-07:00

On my third day in prison, I heard a voice; it was Akbar Mohammadi, behind the cell's window. He told me what was going on out of the prison...

Yesterday, I got the news...Mohammadi is dead...

AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL
PRESS RELEASE

The Carrot in Amsterdam

2006-07-31T03:23:00.000-07:00

Nik in Amsterdam

2006-07-31T00:16:00.000-07:00

see the rest -1 - 2 - 3

How Iran supports Hizballah

2006-07-30T22:39:00.000-07:00

The dark Side

2006-07-14T10:51:00.000-07:00

NY: Reality

2006-07-14T10:50:00.000-07:00

Sunset on Capitol Hill

2006-07-11T05:27:00.000-07:00

In Baltimore

2006-07-09T20:10:00.000-07:00

I'm in Baltimore

2006-07-08T14:45:00.000-07:00

It's so beautiful here!

Tomorrow, we are having a panel on "Cartooning: A Global Perspective". Kal will be the moderator.

Check this out:

"Cartooning: A Global Perspective"

Sunday, July 9 at 2 p.m.

KAL will moderate a panel with Iranian-born cartoonist Nikahang Kowsar, Cuban-born cartoonist Gustavo Rodriquez, and Robert Russell, executive director of Cartoonists Rights Network, International on the topic of the challenges political cartoonists face.

Walters Art Museum
600 N. Charles St.
Baltimore [MAP]

VENUE PHONE: 410-547-9000

Web Site

On-street metered parking. Walters pay parking lot at a reduced fee if ticket validated at the museum.

free with admission, members totally free

An old interview with Brian Gable; this year's NNA winner

2006-07-07T01:43:00.000-07:00

Who had the most technical influence on you?

The first time I saw Mad Magazine I was a ten year old living in western Canada. I knew immediately this was the most important art form in the history of human civilization. I loved Mort Drucker’s caricature and the mad genius in the whole enterprise. I especially loved their biting attack on consumer society and the advertising ‘culture’ that surrounded us but was largely accepted without criticism at that time. As I grew older and entered university I came into contact with the work of American editorial cartoonists like Jeff MacNelly, Pat Oliphant , Don Wright and Mike Peters. Once again the experience was like a religious revelation. So much talent and hilarious satire. I thought this was a rare discovery until I attended my first Association of American Editorial Cartoonists convention in 1983 and found out every single living breathing North American of my age demographic had the same passion for their work. So much for unique background inspiration.

How do you compare American & Canadian editorial cartooning?

There was a time, perhaps twenty years ago, when Canadian cartoonists felt their professional standards were consistently higher than their fellow artists to the south. The work of Canadians Roy Peterson, Duncan MacPherson and Terry Mosher made it easy to defend this view . Today I think there is less of a divide in terms of work quality. This is largely due to an infusion of very talented young artists like Matt Davies and Ann Telnaes in the US American cartoonists seem to be widely separated by political ideologies ( liberal VS conservative ) much more than Canadians who are largely clustered around the political middle ground. A joke comes to mind of a set of faucets …on the left ‘ cold’ on the right ‘ hot’ and in the middle ‘ Canadian’. I think this common political ground lowers the kind of tension that in the States contributes to a more aggressive satireThe fact that Canada currently has such a low international profile makes it easy for its artists to comment on other peoples’ travails but doesn’t guarantee that the work always has passion or powerful convictions.

The exception to this is in the regional animosities continually festering in Canada…east VS west…Quebec VS everybody…etc. etc. This has proven to be a reliable source of biting sarcasm and intense emotion since confederation in 1867.

What's your idea about Iranian cartoons?

Given that Canada has under thirty fulltime editorial cartoonists the
first thing that impressed me when viewing the web sites Nik recommended was the large number of working Iranian artists. Not only large in numbers but consistently visually sophisticated with a strong sense of design and color.

The work frequently has a European sensibility more than North American. The spare backgrounds and powerful graphic compositions remind me of the work coming from the former Yugoslavia, Romania and Poland. It possesses excellent use of symbolism and biting wit and is less reliant on dialogue and labels than we are in North America.

I was quite taken with a number of artists and their work…too many to mention but several come to mind. Kambiz Derambakhsh has a great web site ( love his five year old portrait contrasted with the contemporary pic ) and his mature confidence of line, form and color. Massoud Shojai’s instinct for experiment and his mastery of watercolor impressed. Touka Neyestani is masterful. There are so many other excellent artists that I’m not comfortable singling out only a few.

It was fascinating going through the various sites and I’m left with the powerful feeling that there is a large and thriving community of excellent Iranian satirical art being produced today.

Cartoons as a Measure of FreedomBy Daryl Cagle

2006-07-04T02:11:00.000-07:00

We all know that cartoonists can get into big trouble for drawing the Prophet Muhammad, but cartoonists around the world regularly get in big trouble for drawing all kinds of things. One cartoonist in Iran is in prison for drawing a cockroach.

Mana Neyestani drew a child talking to a cockroach; in the cartoon, a boy says the word "cockroach" in different ways, and the cockroach replies, "What?" in the Azeri language of Northern Iran. (That's the cartoon to the right, click here to see the whole newspaper page containing the cartoon.) Mana has a lot of Azeri friends and colleagues, a minority group that constitutes about 25 percent of Iran's population and which is often the butt of local ethnic jokes.

LINK

2006-07-04T02:08:00.000-07:00

Journalist Threatens Mass Hunger Strike To Free Political Prisoners

Dissident Iranian journalist Akbar Ganji has threatened to organize a hunger-strike "movement" in several Western cities if the government does not release three Iranian political prisoners as soon as possible and unconditionally. The most prominent of the three is noted scholar and author Ramin Jahanbegloo, who is accused of working with the United States to bring down Iran's Islamic regime through a nonviolent revolution. Former reformist legislator and the head of the alumni association of Iran's main reformist student group, Ali Akbar Moussavi Khoeini, and bus-driver union leader Mansoor Osanloo are the others.

Pride

2006-06-25T20:38:00.000-07:00

Cartoonists Rights Network Canada: Iranian Cartoonist will be Tried in the Islamic Revolutionary Court

2006-06-21T06:59:00.000-07:00

JUNE 21, 2006 - 09:00 ET

Cartoonists Rights Network Canada: Iranian Cartoonist will be Tried in the Islamic Revolutionary Court

TORONTO, ONTARIO--(CCNMatthews - June 21, 2006) - The Prosecutor's Office in Charge of Investigating Government Employees' Offenses on June 13th, referred Tehran daily "Iran's" cartoonist and its editor-in-chief to the Islamic Revolutionary Court.

Cartoonist Mana Neyestani and his editor-in-chief Mehrdad Qassemfar will be tried in the Islamic Revolutionary Court for inciting ethnic unrest. A Neyestani cartoon triggered protests and violence among the Turkish-speaking population in northwestern parts of Iran after appearing in a weekly supplement "Iran Jomeh."

The Islamic Revolutionary Court usually doesn't deal with cases of this nature, and normally deals with major crimes such as disrupting the national economy, jeopardizing national security and large-scale drug and human trafficking.

On June 12th, 2006, the Iranian minister of Justice announced that the judiciary had asked the court to punish the accused with the "highest penalty" available. He said that the criminal action taken by Neyetsani is not related to the press laws and only the Revolutionary Court is authorized to try the case.

The hearings are usually not open to the public and are held behind closed doors. There will not be a jury. A single judge alone will rule in the case.

Mana Neyastani has been held in custody from May 23rd in the Evin prison and has been interrogated several times. The Neystani family has also faced death threats from the Azeri Minority.

Cartoonists Rights Network Canada
(416) 838-4433
crncanada@cartoonistrights.com
www.deadder.net/CRNC/index.html

Hey! Not bad at all!

2006-06-18T20:20:00.000-07:00

The Globe and Mail
Sat. June 17

Hey, June 16th is not June 19th

2006-06-16T05:53:00.000-07:00

How do you feel when you make such a mistake?
Stupid? Irresponsible? Careless? Sleepy? In deep #*@t?
I think more than that!

Khomeini's grandson slams Tehran regime

2006-06-14T22:40:00.000-07:00

TEHRAN, June 14 (UPI) -- The grandson of Iran's revolutionary Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini says the republic has devolved into a dictatorship that should be toppled by other countries.

link

Nik Kowsar on Arrested Iranian Cartoonist Mana Neyestani-The Comics Reporter

2006-06-12T01:04:00.000-07:00

Tom Spurgeon: Can you describe your friend both personally and as a cartoonist? Is he the kind of cartoonist that pushes at boundaries? Were you surprised that Mana would be the target of this kind of thing?

Nikahang Kowsar: He is a skillful artist , a very nice and shy person, and cares for his colleagues. He is has tried to avoid controversy, but has pushed the lines several times. As soon as I saw the cartoon, I was sure that a mistake had been made and asked Mana to write an apology letter. And the paper published a public apology letter but it seems that the ones offended wanted something more...

link

Iran in the 2006 World Cup

2006-06-10T00:53:00.000-07:00

I know the Iranian squad is hopeless, but right now we're having our best soccer team in our history.

A few of Iranian stars are playing for prestigious German clubs, as well as HSV Hamburg and Bayern Munchen, so I love to see the Iranian soccer players beat the hell out of Mexico on Sunday, although it looks impossible!

Oh God! Have merci on crazy Iranian soccer fans and make it happen!
I'm going to an old friend's house tomorrow to join the family at 11:30 AM ET! Probably our crazy unity could assist our players! Who knows...

BCE Place

2006-06-10T00:52:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday Mana

2006-06-06T23:50:00.000-07:00

(From Cagle's Blog)

Iranian expatriot, Nik Kowsar, wrote this piece and drew this cartoon for our blog on May 30th, while I was away at the National Cartoonists Society convention, so I'm a few days late in posting. Mana is in prison in Iran for drawing a cartoon of a cockroach that offended the Azeri minority group. Happy belated birthday, Mana.

Happy Birthday Mana

Mana is turning 33 today. Far and away from his wife and family, in a solitary 7ft. X 5 ft. cell.

Who could have thought of Mana's absence today? It's not funny to have a few cockroaches at your birthday party, but I'm sure a few have joined him by now. What a weird celebration!

Being imprisoned and interrogated on your birthday is the worst possible present you could be waiting for, but who knows, his jailers might be kind enough to let him take a break. From now on, Mana's crosshatches will be different, looking like the day-marks on the wall of his tiny cell.

I know it's hard for Mana to learn that several Azeris have been killed in the protests, hundreds have been arrested; and I bet most of them haven't even seen the paper, just heard of an offensive cartoon

He knows that today, imprisonment is safer than freedom, because a few angry Azeris have threatened his family.

Today, his elder brother Touka announced that he'll quit cartooning from now on, because he feels cartoons are just causing more trouble due to lack of tolerance and misunderstanding. He wanted to make people happy, but how could he ever cause laughter when he's sad, hopeless and the Azeri demonstrators are showing no merci?

I hope Mana could feel the support of cartoon fans and cartoonists all around the world...

Happy Birthday Mana.

Golden Pen Winner Seeks 'Global Citizens'

2006-06-06T03:52:00.000-07:00

Iranian journalist Akbar Ganji, accepting the Golden Pen of Freedom award Tuesday, called for a world of "global citizens" who honored the human rights of all.

Invoking the German philosopher Immanuel Kant, famous for arguing for a "perpetual peace" based on universal freedom, Ganji said equality and governmental transparency would allow people to lead "an authentic life."

Link

The Bush administration's bad Iran move

2006-06-02T05:19:00.000-07:00

Damage Is Done

by Michael Rubin
National Review Online
June 1, 2006

It did not take long for Iranian President Mahmud Ahmadinejad to slap down Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice's offer of direct talks. "Rice's comments can be considered a propaganda move," Ahmadinejad told the Islamic Republic News Agency.

Rice's announcement that U.S. officials were prepared to both offer the Iranian regime new incentives and sit down with it was a strategic fumble. Not only did Rice provide Ahmadinejad with an opportunity to humiliate the "arrogant power" to his domestic audience, but she also undercut what little international credibility the U.S. retains.

link

We Won't Deal with Iran the Way the Previous Government Did

2006-06-01T19:06:00.000-07:00

Interview with Parliamentary Secretary for the Prime Minister of Canada

"Prime Minster Harper doesn't want Ramin Jahanbegloo to be the next Zahra Kazemi", says Jason Kenney, parliamentary secretary for the prime minister of Canada. Kenney has an impressive record of defending Canadians in detention or under harassment abroad. The most recent success story is when he intervened in the case of Mr. Cecil, a Canadian arrested in Uzbekistan. Read on for his views.

Rooz (R ): Many Iranian intellectuals have serious concerns about Professor Jahanbegloo's situation, a harsh reminder of Zahra Kazemi case [the Iranian-Canadian photojournalist who was found dead in prison in July 11, 200].

Jason Kenney (JK): This government will use everything at its disposal, and even those of its allies to protect the lives of all Canadians abroad. We will work with the European Union more vigorously on this. Right now, we are doing our best to provide complete consular assistance to Dr. Jahanbegloo in a reasonable way.

R: One wonders whether the detention of Dr. Jahanbegloo, a Canadian citizen is because of the weak reaction of the Canadian government in the past, especially in the case relating to the murder of Zahra Kazemi. What is your view on this?

JK: In those years, we (i.e. the Conservative Party) were in the opposition, and what we saw was the absence of a backbone in dealing with the Iranian government. This is not the situation with Prime Minister Harper. We need to address this issue with discretion. We are working to utilize all diplomatic channels to support Mr. Jahanbegloo if the Iranian government refuses consular access. Mr. Harper is very concerned about this case. I can assure the public that I myself have a record of defending the rights of Canadians who have been detained in other countries although any access to Mr. Jahanbegloo has been very hard to get.

R: Whenever there has been a clash between the Iranian and Canadian governments, Iranian citizens have had to pay the price. In the past few months, a great number of Iranians requesting visas to see their loved ones here in Canada have been rejected by the Canadian embassy in Tehran. What's your position on this?

JK: This is really disturbing news. That's new to me! And if true, it's regretful. I didn't know that there has been a reduction in visa approvals, and I would certainly look into this and raise it with the proper officials.

Interview by Nik Kowsar

Mana's Birthday

2006-05-29T06:45:00.000-07:00

My cousin's photo-blog

2006-05-27T20:12:00.000-07:00

My cousin Chris started blogging tonight!
Check out his first shots.

And the other thing is that he has started taking pictures recently, and I think he'll be a good photographer if he does his best!

I'm sure after he get's his own digital camera, he will have enough time to show his art and talent.

Political manoeuvre seen in newspaper's closure, arrest of editor and cartoonist

2006-05-26T07:59:00.000-07:00

Reporters Without Borders today condemned the closure of the governmental daily Iran yesterday for "inciting ethnic divisions" and called for the release of Mehrdad Qassemfar, the editor of its Friday supplement, and Mana Neyestani, one of his cartoonists, who are being held in Evin prison on the orders of Tehran prosecutor Said Mortazavi.

The moves against the newspaper follow a series of angry demonstrations by members of Iran's ethnic Azeri minority in Tabriz and other towns in the northwestern province of East Azerbaijan, which were set off by a cartoon in the newspaper's supplement on 12 May.

"These two journalists are convenient scapegoats for a government that has been scared by large-scale protests," Reporters Without Borders said. "The cartoons published by the newspaper Iran may have lit the initial fuse, but the protests of the past few days in Tabriz were directed at the government's policies towards the population of this multi-ethnic province. Qassemfar and Neyestani have been thrown in prison simply because it suits the authorities."

The children's section of the 12 May supplement included a cartoon of a cockroach asking "What?" in the Azeri language. After several street protests, the newspaper (which is owned by the official news agency Irna) said it apologised to all those who took offence and announced that Neyestani had been fired.

More than 50 people were arrested during an anti-government demonstration by thousands of Azeris on 22 May in Tabriz outside the headquarters of the governor of East Azerbaijan province.

Iran is the Middle East's biggest prison for the press, with a total of eight journalists and webloggers currently detained. President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and Ayatollah Ali Khamenei are on a list of 38 leading predators of press freedom worldwide which Reporters Without Borders compiles each year.

Chapo

Reporters Without Borders calls for the release of newspaper editor Mehrdad Qassemfar and cartoonist Mana Neyestani, who were jailed yesterday. "These two journalists are convenient scapegoats for a government that has been scared by large-scale protests," the organisation said.

My poor bike

2006-05-25T02:55:00.000-07:00

I've had two locked bikes stolen here in down town Toronto.

Last week, my bike was banned from entering my work place; so, I decided to leave it out.

I’ve had a wonderful week so far, I made a booboo, my best friend was arrested, I lost another bike and who knows the rest!

By the way, I’m becoming a “PILosopher”! Ask Dave why!

63.4 million votes!

2006-05-24T19:00:00.000-07:00

And the winner is...
Taylor!
Soul Patrol!
I knew it!

TD imprisoned!

2006-05-24T18:56:00.000-07:00

And the American Idol is...

2006-05-24T18:54:00.000-07:00

Hey, just wait a few more minutes!
Bet its the Grey Fox!

Mana, under arrest

2006-05-23T18:18:00.000-07:00

2006-05-23T15:15:00.000-07:00

MAY 23, 2006

ANOTHER CARTOONIST JAILED IN IRAN CARTOON FUROR

In another cartoon furor, the government of Iran has closed down the "Iran" newspaper and jailed its editor along with cartoonist, Mana Neyestani. The cartoon (see it here) is written in the Azeri language, the boy asks the cockroach a question and the cockroach replies "Namana" or "I don't get it."

The cartoon was "deemed an insult to Iran's Azeri minority," according to Teheran's chief prosecutor. The Azeri make up about a quarter of Iran's population; they live in Northern Iran and speak a language that is related to Turkish. The "Iran" newspaper is state run and is one of Iran's top three newspapers.

Members of Iran's Azeri minority rioted in response to the cartoon, pelting government buildings and banks in Tabriz with stones. It is apparently a common practice in Iran to mock the Azeri in jokes and it seems that the Azeri have little sense of humor.

Iran's conservative judiciary has closed more than 100 newspapers, but this is the first newspaper closed by Iran's "Press Supervisory Body" and is the first newspaper closed during the term of president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

Thanks to Nik Kowsar for alerting me to this story about his friend, Mana Neyestani. We share Nik's concern for Neyestani who is being held in Iran's Evin Prison.

Iran closes newspaper over cartoon furor

2006-05-23T06:37:00.000-07:00

Iran closes newspaper over cartoon furor

By ALI AKBAR DAREINI
ASSOCIATED PRESS WRITER

TEHRAN, Iran -- The government closed one of the country's top three newspapers Tuesday, detaining its editor and cartoonist for publishing a caricature that caused members of Iran's Azeri minority to riot in protest.

State television reported that the Press Supervisory Body had closed the state-owned newspaper Iran "due to its publication of divisive and provocative materials."

The closure was indefinite, the television reported. It was the first time a newspaper had been banned since President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad took office last year.

On Friday, the Farsi-language newspaper published a cartoon showing a cockroach speaking Azeri, the language of an ethnic group in northwestern Iran.

The cartoon provoked riots Monday in Tabriz, the capital of Eastern Azerbaijan province. Police fired tear gas as rioters smashed windows of the local governor's office.

Tehran Prosecutor Saeed Mortazavi said the paper's cartoonist and editor-in-chief had been detained.

"Those responsible, the cartoonist and the chief editor, were summoned and the charges were read to them. The two were taken to Evin prison," Mortazavi said on state-run television.

Culture Minister Saffar Harrandi appeared on state television Monday and apologized for the cartoon. He promised to punish the paper's editor and cartoonist.

But Azeri legislator Eshrat Shayegh said the apology came "at least one week" too late.

Azeris make up about a quarter of Iran's 70 million people.

Iran's conservative judiciary has closed more than 100 newspapers, mostly pro-reform, since 2000. Tuesday's closure, however, came from the Press Supervisory Body, not the judges.

Les Misérables - Toronto

2006-05-23T01:43:00.000-07:00

My latest cartoon - NY Times Syndicate

2006-05-19T21:31:00.000-07:00

Politics, Politics and Politics

2006-05-19T20:56:00.000-07:00

Yesterday the story about the Dress Code in Iran brought a lot of headache!

First, National Post(1) had a cover story that Iran had passed a law requiring the country’s Jews and other religious minorities to wear coloured badges identifying them as non-Muslims.

But around noon, I couldn't believe my ears and eyes when I was watching PM Harper's live press conference; he compared Iran's act on dress code with what the Nazis did in the 1930s.

I checked with my friends in Iran and googled the whole story. I couldn't find a single bill passed by the Iranian parliament supporting the news.

The big problem is that National Post's publishers love to attack anything about Islam, and unfortunately the stupid politics in the Middle East brings enough headlines for the Islamophobic editorial.

I have been a critic of Iran's policies and Human Rights abuses, but there is a difference between attacking the crazy hardliners and spreading lies based on false statements. I'd like to know if these stupid mistakes conducted by well trained journalsists help the fundamentalists in Iran or weakens them?

Thank God, the follow up was helpful(2)! They had to double check everything! Couldn't they have used the services of a few non-biased translators to check the bill?

links:

(1)A colour code for Iran's 'infidels'

(2)Experts say report of badges for Jews in Iran is untrue

Did you like The Davinci Code?

2006-05-19T20:50:00.000-07:00

Honestly, I thought it was a good movie, not a breath-taking one that I had expected for months.

After reading the novel, my expectations were high, so I was following the news surrounding the movie.

It's true that there is a controversial idea behind it and the producers have had to announce it's not a true story, but the movie didn't bring up as much controversy as I had imagined!

Of course there is something wrong with me! I know! I wanted another shock, but I just got small quake.

Blogging is the new revolution -Toronto Star

2006-05-18T14:21:00.000-07:00

By NICHOLAS KEUNG

...However, exiled journalist and cartoonist Kowsar warns that a blog could also be abused to mislead and misinform."You can't really count on all the information on the blogs being accurate. We all have to be our own inspectors to filter out the truth," says Kowsar, 36, who has a cartoon blog (nikahang2.blogspot.com) and a Persian blog (http://www.nikahang.blogspot.com) and recently ventured into blogging in English (nikick.blogspot.com).

"The bottom line is, everyone has the right to express his or her views on their blogs and we can always have all sides of the story." ...

link

This is my Father! I'm so proud!

2006-05-17T20:43:00.000-07:00

link

Free Expression and the Sacred: Should There Be Limits?

2006-05-17T02:52:00.000-07:00

With the ongoing worldwide discussions that were triggered by the recent publications of cartoons that ridiculed Prophet Muhammad in the Danish newspaper Jyllands-Posten, and with IslamOnline.net's continued commitment to dialogue as a stepping stone for understanding, the Muslim Affairs section introduces this heated debate between British journalist Felicity Arbuthnot and American cartoonist Signe Wilkinson over whether there should be limits on freedom of expression when it comes to the sacred in religions.

link

Iran's Response

2006-05-16T20:03:00.000-07:00

Crunch Time for Iran

2006-05-14T00:52:00.000-07:00

Why negotiations are the only way to go.

By Dariush Zahedi and Omid Memarian

TheTyee.ca

Today is the deadline requiring the IAEA to report on Iran's compliance with the UN Security Council decision requiring it to abandon enrichment efforts. Given what is at stake, most analysts are puzzled by Iran's continual insistence on its inalienable right to enrich uranium on its territory.

link

Paul Simon - Mrs. Robinson

2006-05-13T23:13:00.000-07:00

And here's to you, Mrs. Robinson,
Jesus loves you more than you will know (Wo wo wo).
God bless you, please, Mrs. Robinson,
Heaven holds a place for those who pray (Hey hey hey, hey hey hey).

Vigil for the imprisoned Canadian-Iranian Scholar Ramin Jahanbegloo

2006-05-13T21:47:00.000-07:00

The ad-hoc committee for the freedom of Ramin Jahanbegloo asks all Canadians to gather on Sunday, May 14, 2006 at 4:00pm in front of OISE, 252 Bloor St. West (right next to St. George subway station), to demand the immediate release of this Canadian-Iranian academic currently held in Iran’s Evin prison.

Iranian-Canadian academic, Ramin Jahanbegloo, was arrested on 27 April at Tehran's Mehrabad Airport. He is now believed to be held incommunicado in Evin Prison, in Tehran, where he is at risk of torture or ill-treatment.

The Canadian government is believed to be making representations on his behalf. However, Zahra Kazemi, another Canadian-Iranian national, died in custody in hospital in June 2003 allegedly as a result of torture after being detained in Evin Prison. To date, no one has been brought to justice in connection with her death.

Amnesty International, PEN Canada, and his colleagues in Canadian and European universities are extremely concerned over the arrest and detention of Ramin Jahanbegloo and demands that he be released immediately and unconditionally. Please visit the following web page for updates on his recent arrest and current situation:

http://raminj.iranianstudies.ca/

Violations of Right of Free Press In Iran

2006-05-11T20:06:00.000-07:00

In celebration of World Press Freedom Day Violations of Right of Free Press In Iran

link

My Latest- NY Times Syndicate

2006-05-11T00:39:00.000-07:00

12 terrorists hunt Danish cartoonists

2006-05-09T23:16:00.000-07:00

WASHINGTON – A dozen young terrorists have departed Afghanistan, bound first for Iran and then Europe, where their mission will be to hunt down the Danish cartoonists responsible for drawing anti-Muhammad sketches, according to a report in Joseph Farah's G2 Bulletin.

link

Nik on CBC

2006-05-09T19:06:00.000-07:00

It wasn't a bad experience at all, esp. I had enough time to talk about the crazy politicians that are ruining the world!

Something I had forgotten

2006-05-08T02:30:00.000-07:00

I was surfing IFEX, and searched for my own name; this came out:

(CRN/IFEX) - On 26 October 2003, editorial cartoonist Nikahang Kowsar's name was reported to have appeared just below that of recently named Nobel Peace Prize laureate Shirin Ebadi on an assassination list issued by one of Iran's militant Islamic groups.

link

The Washington connection: Did Bush stick the knife into Jack Straw?

2006-05-08T02:13:00.000-07:00

Jack Straw's fate was sealed in a phone call from the White House to Tony Blair last month, according to the former foreign secretary's friends.

link

Iran president will send letter to Bush -spokesman

2006-05-08T02:11:00.000-07:00

TEHRAN (Reuters) - Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad will send a letter to U.S. President George W. Bush proposing new ways to resolve "the current vulnerable situation in the world", an Iranian official said on Monday.

Link

Cartoonist “Nikahang Kowsar” has been sentenced to four months imprisonment

2006-05-07T11:44:00.000-07:00

According to ILNA reporter, court branch no. 1083 of Tehran headed by Judge Husseinian, after hearing complaints of suers and lawyer defending Iranian Cartoonist Nikahang Kowsar, has issued its ruling. Mr. Kowsar was cartoonist of banned newspapers of Iran in recent years.

link

Hey! I'm in Montreal

2006-05-05T20:02:00.000-07:00

Have you seen the Tulips in Ottawa? Wow! So beautiful!

I was in Ottawa today and had a few great meetings about a very important case. I hope we could get to a successful ending on Ramin's issue.

I hope Harper's assistant would help.

What a lovely morning

2006-05-05T04:28:00.000-07:00

I'm in Ottawa right now.

Something wrong went with our bus last night and we had to switch buses three times!
I've been walking all around in the past 100 minutes and I should say the weather here is much better than Toronto!

See ya!

World Press Freedom Day-U of T

2006-05-03T19:18:00.000-07:00

Iranian Journalism

2006-05-03T19:12:00.000-07:00

Is he really "The Worst"?

2006-05-02T05:40:00.000-07:00

Is this average Joe, the worst president of the United States of America? I'm sure his supporters have enough reasons to bash Rolling Stone's editors for his choice of this issue's cover story.

By the way, I loved the cover! It's Robert Grossman's and it shows how smart this incredible Texan is!

Take your time and read this article. I liked it, although I'm sure it will hurt his lovers!

A Great Blog

2006-05-01T16:49:00.000-07:00

I'm not sure if you have ever gone to Daryl Cagle's blog. He's not only a good cartoonist, but a very active blogger as well.

Daryl's website has been one of the most popular editorial cartooning sites in the past 6 years, with millions of visitors, and as soon as he started blogging, he got a lot of responses from cartoonists as well as their audiences.

Recently he started getting the opinions of cartoonists on the infamous Danish Cartoons that caused a lot of controversy. I believe it helped a lot of us see the different sides of the story.

You can also read the sad story of what's happening to very experienced cartoonists who are being laid off one by one. We are going through one of the worst periods of time in the business' history, and Daryl is somehow documenting anything related to this downfall.

Why am I writing more than enough? Go and check out yourself!

Steven Colbert on George Bush

2006-05-01T00:35:00.000-07:00

This is a part of Stephen Colbert's presidential mockery:

... Now, I know there's some polls out there saying this man has a 32% approval rating. But guys like us, we don't pay attention to the polls. We know that polls are just a collection of statistics that reflect what people are thinking in "reality." And reality has a well-known liberal bias.

So, Mr. President, pay no attention to the people that say the glass is half full. 32% means the glass -- it's important to set up your jokes properly, sir. Sir pay no attention to the people who say the glass is half empty, because 32% means it's 2/3 empty. There's still some liquid in that glass is my point, but I wouldn't drink it.

The last third is usually backwash. Folks, my point is that I don't believe this is a low point in this presidency. I believe it is just a lull, before a comeback. I mean, it's like the movie "Rocky." The president is Rocky and Apollo Creed is everything else in the world. It's the 10th round. He's bloodied, his corner man, Mick, who in this case would be the Vice President, and he's yelling cut me, dick, cut me, and every time he falls she say stay down! Does he stay down? No. Like Rocky he gets back up and in the end he -- actually loses in the first movie. Ok. It doesn't matter. The point is the heart-warming story of a man who was repeatedly punched in the face.

So don't pay attention to the approval ratings that say 68% of Americans disapprove of the job this man is doing. I ask you this, does that not also logically mean that 68% approve of the job he's not doing? Think about it. I haven’t. I stand by this man. I stand by this man because he stands for things. Not only for things, he stands on things. Things like aircraft carriers and rubble and recently flooded city squares. And that sends a strong message, that no matter what happens to America, she will always rebound with the most powerfully staged photo ops in the world. Now, there may be an energy crisis. This president has a very forward-thinking energy policy. Why do you think he's down on the ranch cutting that brush all the time? He's trying to create an alternative energy source. By 2008 we will have a mesquite powered car. And I just like the guy. He's a good joe. Obviously loves his wife, calls her his better half...

Link

No Sweats for Berkeley; UC Students Protest - Naked!

2006-04-30T20:59:00.000-07:00

Omid Memarian, a very good friend and colleague sent this link tonight, and it's a lovely report on the"Berkeley Forum".

Don't forget to check out this video!

World Press Freedom Day-Toronto

2006-04-30T15:27:00.000-07:00

Join us to commemorate World Press Freedom Day on May 3. Three months after the Danish cartoon controversy flared up, tempers have calmed down, the protests have ended, and the story has fallen out of the headlines. But do we have any better understanding of what happened, what it means for a multi-cultural, 'tolerant' country such as Canada, and how this has affected free expression around the world. CJFE presents a panel discussion on free expression, cartoons, cultural sensitivity and the media.

Panelists include: Anver Emon, Professor of Islamic law and torts, University of Toronto, Nikahang Kowsar, Iranian cartoonist, Josh Paterson, Acting Director of the Freedom of Expression at the Canadian Civil Liberties Association and Haroon Siddiqui, Editor Emeritus of the Toronto Star.

Date/Time: Wednesday, May 3rd Evening. 7:00 P.M.
Venue: The Debate Room, Hart House, the University of Toronto
Admission: Free, but seating is limited.
For more information call (416) 515-9622 x.226

Link

For my beloved Crook

2006-04-28T02:44:00.000-07:00