The Gaza Holocaust !

Israel has started a new chapter of its bullying policies and tactics toward its opponent Palestine. Today is the third consecutive day of the brutal F-16 air strikes on Gaza Strip just at the time when the world is celebrating Christmas and New Year. This has been the bloodiest attack on Palestine since 1948. The latest reports indicate that 310 people have been killed and 1,400 injured in the aerial strikes across the Gaza Strip since Saturday morning. Israel ’s Defense Minister Ehud Barak announced today that Israel is in an “all-out war with Hamas and its proxies” in Gaza. Fears of a ground invasion is stronger that ever after Israel declared a military buffer zone around Gaza , closing off the strip and its 1.5 million residents to journalists and civilians. All this happens despite the official UN call for “Immediate Halt to All Violence”. The Israeli government picked the best time of year for their attacks. Since the international community is celebrating the Christmas and the New Year, then there will be a very little attention to the crimes and “Military Terrorism” held by Israel. When protests against the Israeli attacks have been held throughout the world, there are some groups of people in Iran who do not identify with the bloodshed and oppression brought to Palestine nation by Israel in the past 60 years of conflict. And that is because the Iranian regime is claiming to support Palestine and being against Israel , therefore many people in and outside the country who do not like and support the Iranian government, do not share the same sympathy for the peoples of Palestine. In other words they follow the infamous saying that “The friend of our enemy is our enemy”. It is sad that separating the issues of the Middle East form the problems inside the country sometimes become a very difficult task to do. We as a nation of reason and deep culture of intellect, should not let our feelings of dislike about one thing led us to dislike another. We can not and should not stay silent nor neutral toward the public massacres and crimes happening around the globe against the humanity. + Gaza

+ Should Obama defer to Bush on Gaza?

+ Israel's Endgame+ Gaza ground invasion feared

+ Gaza: the logic of colonial power

+ Obama on the Siege of Gaza: No Comment

+ The Juicebox Mafia on Gaza

+ End unlawful attacks and meet Gaza's emergency needs

+ Egypt takes in first wounded from Gaza

+ Gaza: Why Israel and Hamas are trading rocket fire

+ Douglas Davis: High stakes in Gaza+ Gaza madness

+ Israeli Navy pull in towards Gaza Port

+ Free Gaza boat will try to reach Strip

+ Gaza Operation Places Israel At Odds With Int’l Community

+ Gaza Crisis+ Israeli Attacks Kill Over 310 in Gaza in One of Israel’s Bloodiest Attacks on Palestinians Since 1948

+ Gaza: We’ve Heard from Barak, But Not Barack

+ Israel Pushes Gaza Offensive as Death Toll Tops 300

+ GAZA VIGIL HEBDEN BRIDGE

+ In pictures: Gaza attack aftermath

+ Israeli troops withdraw from Gaza after sweep

+ In pictures: Israel's retaliatory attacks

+ Israeli Ground Forces Position Outside Gaza-- Jordanians Burn Israeli Flag In Parliament (Video)

+ GAZA UPDATE

+ Richard Boudreaux of the LA Times writes that Israel's goals in the Gaza Strip are vanishingly limited

+ White House Says Violence in Gaza Will Stop When Hamas Ends Rocket Fire

+ Gaza Strip Bombings 2008

+ Israeli troops mobilize as Gaza assault widens

+ Friendless In Gaza

Protest ! Iranian president to deliver Channel 4's alternative Christmas message

Dear Mr. Johnson and the Board of Channel 4, Re: Alternate Christmas address by Ahmadinejad on Channel 4 News, UK As an Iranian and human rights activist, I am highly offended by Channel 4 News' invitation to Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to give an alternative message to the Queen's Christmas address. Channel 4 is demonstrating a commitment to free speech which is to be honoured; but it should be aware that it is giving a voice to the person who robs many millions of people of theirs. Just in the last few days officials of the Islamic Republic of Iran shut down Nobel Peace Laureate Shirin Ebadi’s human rights centre and executed 10 people this morning. Iran has the highest number of executions in the world after China and holds the number one spot for child executions. One of the 140 children on death row in Iran, Behnood Shojaee, was supposed to be executed earlier today but his name was pulled at the last minute. These are hardly symbols of “seasonal goodwill”. Why is Channel 4 giving a platform to a President who was not democratically elected and does not represent the majority of Iranians? Next year, should we expect Kim Jung Il address a message of goodwill and cheer on Christmas, or how about Robert Mugabe? How can Channel 4 host a man that supports the execution of children, gender apartheid, stoning for adultery, the persecution of religious minorities, the death penalty for homosexuals and apostates, dismembering of limbs for stealing, discrimination of ethnic minorities, and the detainment and torture of students, journalists, webloggers and human rights defenders as political prisoners? How can Channel 4 broadcast a man that humiliates Iranian citizens and the world community with his anti-Semitic remarks and denying the existence of the holocaust? If Channel 4 is more concerned about ratings than the human rights of the Iranian people, may I suggest an “alternative” to the “alternative Christmas address”? Ahmadinejad is warping religious values, using Jesus’ name to ostensibly spread peace and love, yet back home in Iran Christians are persecuted for being Christian. I suggest Channel 4 interview people like Azita and Ahmad Reza Shafaghat, an Iranian-Christian couple, who were imprisoned and tortured, and then fled Iran to practice their religion in peace. A few years ago, they lived in hiding in Iran until they escaped via mountains in Kurdistan, Iraq and Turkey to get to Greece. The Greek police caught them and sent them back to Turkey where they spent over 9 months in prison. Before they obtained refugee status from UNHCR, I remember the fear in their voice at the prospect of being deported back to Iran. I helped this couple for a year and a half with UK citizen Reza Pardisan to try and get them asylum. Thanks to the gracious support of the Canadian government, they will soon settle in this free country. When they turn on the news, how will Channel 4 respond to why a platform is being given to one of the men responsible for having them, and hundreds of thousands of Iranians, uprooted from their homeland to escape oppression? This story is not unique. If it is more convenient, an interview can be conducted with an Iranian-Christian family that is being held at Yals Wood Detention Center in the UK and will be sent back to Iran on December 28th unless people living in the free world, like the directors at Chanel 4, take Iran’s violations of human rights seriously. The family fears for their life due to the new apostasy law in Iran that calls for the execution of converts from Islam to another religion. This alternative Christmas message by Ahmadinejad is in poor taste and a slap to the face of billions of Christians and others who are celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ. Under Ahmadinejad’s so-called “presidency”, dozens of Christians have been arrested and face possible execution, including Ramtin Soodmand, the son of a Christian pastor who was executed in 1990 for the same reason. I get many emails and phone calls from frightened family’s worshipping from basements in Iran including the Sunni minority and Baha’is who are forbidden to attend university. By giving Ahmadinejad the honour of a Christmas address, an alternative to the Queen, conceals the cruel reality taking place in Iran. Please consider cancelling Ahmadinejad’s “Christmas address”. Otherwise, please have an Iranian human rights activist speak alongside of him, or at the very least provide a platform to respond to his address. Merry Christmas and happy holidays.

Boy to be executed in 48 hours !

Behnood Shojaee, a juvenile on death row is in imminent danger of execution and is to be executed in less than 48 hours! Despite the fact that his execution was postponed three times, a formal statement from the European Union was released condemning his execution, a joint letter and press conference by 24 human rights groups was written, help from celebrities, and a reduction in blood money, Behnood Shojaee faces execution on Christmas eve. Two and a half years ago, 17-year-old Behnood Shojaee was convicted of killing a 19 year old boy named Omid during a street fight involving over a dozen boys. Shojaee says that he tried to stop the fight and used a chard of glass from a broken soda bottle in self defence. He said he hit an attacker once only with the piece of glass. Shojaee's lawyer Mohammad Mostafaei argues that the coroner found several wounds by various objects making it unable to assess who was responsible for the fatal blow causing death. At first the family of the victim wanted over 2 million dollars US in “blood money” compensation. After months of negotiation, and his execution being postponed three times, the “diyeh” was reduced to approximately $625,000 USD. Shojaee who grew up with his grandparents since the death of his mother at age 10 from diabetes and a father living with depression from his tragic loss, he could not afford the required “diyeh”. Three of Iran’s most prominent movie directors and actors ( Entezami, Parviz Parastooyi and Kiymars PoorAhmad) opened a joint account to help raise money for his “diyeh”. In an unprecedented measure, the Iranian judiciary froze the bank account, summoned the artists and threatened that “they shall be investigated and it shall be assumed that they are not aware of the special laws that were passed in 1997 by the State Expediency Council which have strengthened the punishments against corruption, embezzlement, and misappropriation and which carry punishments ranging from one to seven years of prison”. On May 23rd 2008, in a joint statement, 40 European countries condemned the execution of Behnood Shojaee. In August 2008 in a press conference in Geneva and one put on by Stop Child Executions in London, 24 human rights organizations demanded Iran to Stop the execution of Behnood Shojaee and Mohammad Fadaee as well as the 132 children on death row at the time. Despite the international pressure, Shojaei could be executed in less than two days. This is our last chance to save Behnood Shojaee’s life. Stop Child Executions has informed the office of the High Commissioner on Human Rights at the United Nations, members of the Canadian Government and members of the EU. We need you to bombard the phones, faxes and email of the head of Judiciary in Iran Ayatollah Shahroudi

For full story and pictures click here

Head of the JudiciaryHis Excellency Ayatollah Mahmoud Hashemi Shahroudi :

Howzeh Riyasat-e Qoveh Qazaiyeh

Office of the Head of the Judiciary

Pasteur St., Vali Asr Ave., south of Serah-e Jomhouri, Tehran 1316814737,

Islamic Republic of Iran Phone: [00 98 21] 391 1109

Fax: [00 98 21] 390 4986

Email: info@dadgostary-tehran.ir

(In the subject line write: FAO Ayatollah Shahroudi) Salutation: Your Excellency

COPIES TO: Director, Human Rights Headquarters of Iran

His Excellency Mohammad Javad Larijani

Howzeh Riyasat-e Qoveh Qazaiyeh

(Office of the Head of the Judiciary) Pasteur St, Vali Asr Ave., south of Serah-e omhouri,

Tehran 1316814737

Islamic Republic of Iran

Fax: +98 21 3390 4986 (there are problems with this line, please try three times)

Email: int_aff@judiciary.ir

(In the subject line: FAO Mohammad Javad Larijani)

Leader of the Islamic Republic

His Excellency Ayatollah Sayed Ali Khamenei

The Office of the Supreme Leader

Islamic Republic Street - Shahid Keshvar Doust Street Tehran,

Islamic Republic of Iran

Email: mailto:info@leader.irSalutation

Shoes thrown at Bush on Iraq trip

A surprise visit by US President George Bush to Iraq has been overshadowed by an incident in which two shoes were thrown at him during a news conference.

An Iraqi journalist was wrestled to the floor by security guards after he called Mr Bush "a dog" and threw his footwear, just missing the president.

The US president has now continued to Afghanistan to inspect troops there.

He arrived before dawn at Bagram air force base, and is due to hold talks with President Hamid Karzai.

Earlier in Baghdad, Mr Bush and Iraqi PM Nouri Maliki signed the new security agreement between their countries.

The pact calls for US troops to leave Iraq in 2011 - eight years after the 2003 invasion that has in part defined the Bush presidency.

Speaking just over five weeks before he hands over power to Barack Obama, Mr Bush also said the war in Iraq was not over and more work remained to be done.

His previously unannounced visit came a day after Defence Secretary Robert Gates told US troops the Iraq mission was in its "endgame".

'Size 10'

In the middle of the news conference with Mr Maliki, Iraqi television journalist Muntadar al-Zaidi stood up and shouted "this is a goodbye kiss from the Iraqi people, dog," before hurling a shoe at Mr Bush which narrowly missed him.

Showing the soles of shoes to someone is a sign of contempt in Arab culture.

With his second shoe, which the president also managed to dodge, Mr Zaidi said: "This is for the widows and orphans and all those killed in Iraq."

Mr Zaidi, a correspondent for Cairo-based al-Baghdadiya TV, was then wrestled to the ground by security personnel and hauled away.

"If you want the facts, it's a size 10 shoe that he threw," Mr Bush joked afterwards.

Al-Baghdadiya's bureau chief told the Associated Press that he had no idea what prompted Mr Zaidi to attack President Bush, although reports say he was once kidnapped by a militia and beaten up.

"I am trying to reach Muntadar since the incident, but in vain," said Fityan Mohammed. "His phone is switched off."

Correspondents said the attack was symbolic. Iraqis threw shoes and used them to beat Saddam Hussein's statue after his overthrow.

'American security'

Mr Bush's first stop upon arriving in Baghdad was the Iraqi presidential palace in the heavily-fortified Green Zone, where he held talks with President Jalal Talabani.

"The work hasn't been easy but it's been necessary for American security, Iraqi hope and world peace," Mr Bush said during his talks with Mr Talabani.

The Iraqi president called Mr Bush "a great friend for the Iraqi people, who helped us liberate our country".

The BBC's Humphrey Hawksley, in Baghdad, says the key issue at present is exactly how American troops will withdraw within the next three years and what sort of Iraq they will leave behind.

The US media has just published details of a US government report saying that post invasion reconstruction of Iraq was crippled by bureaucratic turf wars and an ignorance of the basic elements of Iraqi society.

The report is circulating among US officials in draft form, says the New York Times.

It reveals details of a reconstruction effort that cost more than $100bn (£67bn) and only succeeded in restoring what was destroyed in the invasion and the widespread looting that followed it, the newspaper said.

Troop promises

Mr Bush's visit, unannounced in advance and conducted under tight security, follows the approval last month of a security pact between Washington and Baghdad that calls for US troops to be withdrawn from Iraq by the end of 2011.

US troops are first to withdraw from Iraqi cities, including Baghdad, by June next year.

Defence Secretary Gates said on Saturday that "the process of the drawdown" had begun.

"We are, I believe, in terms of the American commitment, in the endgame here in Iraq," he told US troops at an airbase near Baghdad.

Mr Gates has been picked to stay on as defence secretary by President-elect Barack Obama.

President Bush leaves the White House in less than six weeks. He said in a recent interview with ABC News that the biggest regret of his presidency was the false intelligence that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction.

Finding these was one of the key justifications for the invasion. None were ever found.

Mr Obama has promised to bring home US combat troops from Iraq in a little over a year from when he takes office in January.

More than 4,200 US troops and tens of thousands of Iraqi civilians and security personnel have been killed since the invasion in 2003.

There are currently about 149,000 US soldiers in Iraq, down from last year's peak of 170,000 after extra troops were poured in to deal with a worsening security situation.

As Mr Bush arrived in Baghdad, Gen David Petraeus, the head of the US Central Command, which includes Iraq, said attacks in the country had dropped from 180 a day in June 2007 to 10 a day now.

In a sign of modest security gains in Iraq, Mr Bush was welcomed with a formal arrival ceremony - a flourish that was not part of his previous three visits.

He arrived in the country on Air Force One, which landed at Baghdad International Airport in the afternoon, after a secretive Saturday night departure from Washington on an 11-hour flight. 

Ayatollah Boroujerdi's letter to public opinions, before his exile

In the name of the great God who is the creator and guard of peaceGreeting to world peacemakers, I respect to the persons who devoted their valuable life for reforms and also I esteem and reverence the victims of violence and crime, I kiss the lips which express human rights, inside of my cell.Accept my greeting from my painful cell in Evin prison located in north of Tehran, the capital of Iran. I am spending hard days. Helping peace and cooperation with liberals and Human Rights defenders are all my delights. Only my God is informed on what hardships I have suffered and how I have spent my life during 14 years servicing peace and liberalism. I have hated oppression since I was child, combating against despotism has always been my aim. I could never be silent against oppression of governors and close my eyes against discrimination and freedom violation, I could never ignore complaints of helpless and homeless humans. I have always been eager for justice and always combated dictators .I worship the God has not sent prophets for fury and harshness and doesn't issue an order which causes fear and horror. I accept the religion which is gracious and doesn't let religious authorities act despotically .I believe justice is the spirit of society, when human spirit becomes disturbed; insecurity covers and surrounds entire the earth. I call freedom body of society, in the case of one's freedom deprival, his body will be ruined .I believe attention to human rights is the most important vital services. Human needs freedom for releasing from every kind of bondage. One who tries to annihilate or restrict freedom by planning every kind of laws, in fact has committed treason against humanity and must be discharged from his seat. I believe peace is more essential than rain for people of the earth; because we can cure life which has no water by being kind to others. I believe common injustices in countries are more indecent than starvation for human kind because in anger of nature humans help each other and reduce the results of the disaster in this way, but in violation of nature and certain rights of human, there is no power and no permission for collective protests and the ability of people for demanding their rights become suppressed .I call the past history disgraceful in respect to human rights violation, because governors spend nations life and disturb the relief of people for their(governors') expansionism, they kill oppressed people for their ambitions, they annihilate generations to reach their animal and inhuman instincts. I call the world wars which occurred during current century oppression to selected creature of God and the black results of these crimes as a blot on conscienceless and the away from God politicians' escutcheon. I never believe the religion which calls oppression, belief inquiring and deprival of thought freedom legal for its progress. I call human the superior of the creatures and the divine selected in the world of being and believe every kinds of violation to his identity, existence and ownership are against God will. People are the real owners of the governments and the states and governments are their servants. Every governor has intention to exploit human is astray and doesn’t have governmental incumbencies right. Colonialist in every position and seat who has intention to plunder the humanity, in fact has announced the war against all humans, there is no difference in races, colors and nations in the world and humans are partners and sharer in all are reached from the earth .Existence of hungry in the world disgraces the wealthy persons in history and is registered as their cruelty and lacking of conscience. All people in the world must enjoy the natural sources and products. Expansionism and avarice is the sign of lacking of the contentment, prudence and balance and causes enmities and aversions and threaten poor and innocent people to bloodshed so we must abstain from every tool and instrument provides situation for wars and conflicts. Conflict and enmity are the first step of war, so we must establish kindness and friendliness communication among nations and religions and establish international relations base on favorable opinion, increasing the fraternization and refusal of geographical, human and minorities prejudice.I am a peace preacher and offered my youth age to God because of peace. As a liberal who has paid heavy penalty and devoted his family and life for a long years because of reverence for freedom, I 'm asking for democracy in all over the world. In my opinion there is no difference among different holy and divine religions; every religion which takes us to God brings happiness. I believe massacre weapons are contradictory with human interests and nuclear bombs are the factor of human annihilation and also I believe competition for producing, increasing and selling the weapon is opposition to environmental cleanness and health and I condemn every things disturb human relief .The culture must be established as there is no need to prison. The governments must not establish the law which gives people trouble. Taxes, tolls and penalties must be moderated and people ability to pay must be considered .I respect all Human Rights servers, from Iran and I embrace peace propagandists warmly. How can the state of oppressed and miserable human be ignored while there are councils and institutes which protect animals' life and consider and control the way of human treat to them?I had been invited and recommend to going out of my country many years ago, but I didn't accept to leave people and I accepted all risks and dangers with all my heart and soul just because of sympathizing with my countrymen and their need to defense of their legal and rational rights and now I am in the worst security, family and psychological situation and International societies are informed on my state. Notwithstanding these hardships, I tolerate prison, exile, torture and pressure to prove my aims in defense and support of human rights and greatness and importance of peacefulness. I call God and history to witness that I have abstained from oppressing since the beginning of my life, I have loved to help poor and deprived people and I never abuse my popularity and important and high social positions. When armed governmental forces raided my house, I invited everyone to capitulate and refused to confront with invasion caused to bloodshed. Now I call my self a peace devotee, freedom preacher and a Human Rights defender and ask decision centers on this matter to help me to further my sacred aims and give me immunity is proportionate to this responsibility.Thank youSeyyed Hosein Kazemeini Boroujerdi , Tehran