Leila Zand's blog

 It has been said that when in 1953 Dr. Mossadegh was in Lahha court, he took a seat which was designated for the British ambassador.  The Judge noted to him to change his seat many times.  Dr. Mosadegh didn’t pay attention.  At the end finally the British Ambassador came over and told Dr. Mosadeghh “ This seat is assigned to me”  Mosasegh looked at him and said, “ Don’t think I don’t know.

29 June is the anniversary of the gas attack on Sardasht* and also Iran’s National Day to Call for a Ban 

on Chemical Weapons. 

To commemorate the occasion and help prevent future wars, the Society for Chemical Weapons Victims 

Support (SCWVS), the Veterans and War Victims Organization, and the Tehran Peace Museum have 

Iran is experiencing a very important and delicate time in its modern history.  These days there are hot conversations among Iranians, both inside the country and in the diaspora as well as among many who are interested in the future of the Middle East.  There are many arguments in trying to figure out that among different groups and players within the Iranian political theater who is right and who is wrong?  Which one, the “Greens” or the government is betraying the most important elements of the Revolution of 1979?

The three parts slogans, which became three ideological pillars of the Revolution has been Independence, Freedom and Islamic Republic.  31 years ago these three slogans was repeated over and over from variety of groups within the Iranian political spectrums.

This morning following our Gaza Freedom March planning meeting, we headed to Tahrir Square in Cairo.

We waited for the sign of a flag waving to let us know that it was time to get together on the right side of the square. A big crowd was already there. Mark Johnson [executive director of the Fellowship of Reconciliation] and I joined the crowd. I took my sign of “Free Gaza” out and started to chant “Free, Free, Gaza.” Then suddenly I noticed that the Egyptian police were attacking us. This was my experience:

Mark Johnson and I arrived in Cairo late last night.  My first impression of Cairo: polluted!

This morning we got together with all the members of Gaza Freedom March in three different hotels. We decided to go to The Sun Hotel. Everyone was there; Father Louie Vitale, Rabbi Lynn Gottlieb, Medea Benjamin, and most of the people who took the Fellowship of Reconciliation's civilian diplomacy delegations to Iran in the past several years. It was very good to be with all these wonderful colleagues and passionate people. 

There are many different faces and accents, there are groups from Japan, Italy, Spain, the Philippines, Mali, Turkey, England, France, and many others: all together almost 1,400 people from 42 different countries, to show their solidarity with our brothers and sister in Gaza. 

Palestine is a world without color.  It is Christmas and I thought, at least during these happy days, in Bethlehem, Jesses’ birthplace, happiness must be in the air.  But no, I was mistaken.  

Why should they be happy at all?  How could they be happy?   Could a person be happy while passing through checkpoints every day?  Could one be happy while being insulted at every moment of his/her life?  Can they be happy looking out of their windows and seeing the wall of injustice?  Can they be happy looking at their land and seeing someone else, with American tax money, building his own dream home.   Is it possible to see color in such an atmosphere?  Is it possible to live like a prisoner and be happy?

For many years, peace activists engaged with Iran-U.S. relations worked hard to create an atmosphere for direct dialogue between the two counties. Their activities have had a wide range of aspects known as "track two" diplomacy; these people-to-people connections have led toward writing and talking to the U.S. Congress to encourage the members of the Senate and House to press for direct talks with Iran.

In this historical moment when Iran is under international pressure for its nuclear program, isn’t it best to be united as Iranians for Iran. 

Wouldn't be better, regardless of whom we support; Principlist or Reformist, agree on one thing and that is the fact that Iran needs to be united.  But what the Iranian authorities are doing these days does not show their desire for unity. 

The sham courts, “confessions”, and recently long sentences for the political prisoners, add to these putting on trial many ofthe well respected ideologues and even some of the most politically prominent people of Iran.  These are the people who are well known and are among thetop former officials of the country.  

"Burning Bush" is a beautiful poem by Hajj Muhammad Legenhausen the author of "Islam and Religious Pluralism" (al-Hoda, 1999) who teaches philosophy in Qom, Iran.