“How Soccer Explains the World”…except Iran?

Afshin Ghotbi
Full story at 'National Iranian American Council' here.

"Wednesday is the last qualifying game for the Iranian national soccer team for the World Cup. If they lose they don't qualify. This revolt is different from '99 and '04 in that it's not primarily student based. It's worth noting that if Iran loses to the good South Korea team, there is a whole another spark of frustration."
Tweet at Nico Pitney's 'Huffington Post' blog here.

"Some people say that football is a matter of life and death.
It's not, it is much more important than that!"
Bill Shankly

All tweeters everywhere

for all followers outside iran pls follow my next tweet - v\important

pls everyone change your location on tweeter to IRAN inc timezone GMT+3.30 hrs.

From NY Times blog The Lede

Iran's most senior Ayatollah, Grand Ayatollah Hossein Ali Montazeri says:

In the name of God

People of Iran

These last days, we have witnessed the lively efforts of you, brothers and sisters, old and young alike, from every social category, for the 10th presidential elections.

Our youth, hoping to see their rightful will fulfilled, came on the scene and waited patiently. This was the greatest occasion for the government’s officials to bond with their people.

However, unfortunately, they used it in the worst way possible. Declaring results that no one in their right mind can believe, and despite all the evidence of crafted results, and contrary to the people’s protestations, in front of the eyes of the same nation who carried the weight of a revolution and 8 years of war, in front of the eyes of local and foreign reporters, attacked the children of the people with astonishing violence. And now they are attempting a purge, arresting intellectuals, political opponents and Scientists.

Now, based on my religious duties, I will remind you:

1- A legitimate state must respect all points of view. It may not oppress critical views. I fear that this will lead to the loss of people’s faith in Islam.

2- Given the current circumstances, I expect the government to take all measures to restore people’s confidence. Otherwise, as I have already said, a government not respecting the people’s vote has no religious or political legitimacy.

3- I invite everyone, especially the youth, to continue reclaiming their dues calmly, and not to allow those who want to associate this movement with chaos succeed.

4- I ask the police and army personnel not to “sell their religion”, and be aware that receiving orders will not excuse them before God. Recognize the protesting youth as your children. Today, censorship and cutting telecommunication lines can not hide the truth.

I pray for the greatness of the Iranian people.

(Here)

Various tweets

twitter is making tehran look like a warzone. chill out people! report what's happening. not what you wish happened.

militia in streets of tehran all night trying to scare ppl

new (conflicting/replacement?) event at 4 pm 2day: peaceful march from inqilab to azadi circle.

5:15am, we're ready to go checking out university & Dorms. masood suggested karoubi's party HQ will be a good & safe place to get some news

conflicting reports from Rasht of many dead and all night street fighting

this near vanak, hotbed of much activity during past 4 days. would be 1st i've heard police arresting anti-mousavi thugs.

last night thousands stayed in streets between Parkway and Vanak sq until after 2am

unconfirmed - several Generals have been arested

Peace--protesters-male only baseej militia and Etellaat folowing orders - they cannot contain country without Army

in azadi sq the killing was by baseej ONLY - military did not react

situation in Ahwaz critical - many many dead in past 48 hrs - hundreds arrested and beaten

38 wounded by shotguns were admitted to Rasool hospital yesterday. among them 10 were killed.

more than 30 were killed in gunshots yesterday whose corpses were removed by Intelligent police from Imam hospital

I'm good and safe for now. just my leg wounded a little bit, I don't think I can run fast any time soon

i was debating an ahmadinejad supporter who said this was a velvet revolution attempt. funny i see it's dominant idea online.

State Tv just aired 2 election specialist(!) talking about it's impossible for election to be fraud cause we're talking about 10M difference

Iranians continue to receive pre-recorded messages from the gorvernment. They state that they are part of the protests.

DEATH TOLL IN IRAN 24!

students are fightng with basiji in..amir abad i believe

AFAIK students have evacuated U of Tehran dorms!

special forces burst in my friends home & arrested injured who sought shelter there says thre is blood on stairs

ignore all instructions from new twitters or twitters with no history of accurate posts

RT from Iran - our lives are in real danger now - we are the eyes - they need to stop usPeace--protesters-female

Lots of fake Mousavi sites created 4 counter intel. WARNING THESE ARE FAKE: www.mirhoseyn.ir www.mirhoseyn.com SPREAD

Lots of counter intelligence from Shahrzadmo & ppl seem to be working for intelligence min., be careful ppl dont trust all

In ans. to some q's, we're not confined to our hotel, but barred from working outside, filming

Do NOT publicise proxy IP’s over twitter, the moment you post iranian government will se it and block it. instead DM.

Kayhan News, the ultra right state-run newspaper, is taken down by a series of DDoS attacks.

large demo today outside tehran tv-radio headquerters - Karroubi attended

i'm glad #iranelection protests are getting more pointedly peaceful.

there was hope in parliament speaker's angry questioning of interior minister 2day.

From Andrew Sullivan's 'The Daily Dish'

The Church Of Latter Day Can - Book Two (Beyond Can 1977-1984)

Just discovered this amazing blog which has just posted this mix of Can member's early solo work.
Having a look around the rest of the blog has unearthed a veritable treasure chest of other interesting posts. A lot of post-punk mixes etc.
Excellent work and well worth book-marking.
Check it out:
MUSICOPHILIA

The Guardian Tehran live blog update

HERE

Gil Scott Heron - The Revolution Will Not Be Televised

الله أكبر

This Revolution Brought to You By Twitter and You Tube

The YoungTurks

(BIG thanx Fucoid!)

'Social Networks Spread Iranian Defiance Online'
(NY Times)

Live blog

8.45am:
Mousavi has written to the Iranian people encouraging them to carry on protesting, according to al-Jazeera.

"My repeated suggestion as your servant is that you continue your civil and legal opposition all around the country, in a calm manner and observing anti-conflict fundaments," its translation of the letter says.

'The Guardian' live blog.

Iran to hold election recount

Story at the 'BBC' here.

UPDATE - Poll result in Iran declared 'provisional' by the Guardian Council

"I certainly get the impression from the authorities that the wind is really changing here.The Guardian Council has now said it was only a provisional result and has called in all three losing candidates to speak to them this morning. Bizarrely, all the communications seem to be working - suddenly international phone calls are working. The BBC satellite is not being blocked.At the same time, Mr Ahmadinejad has gone off to a regional summit in Russia, apparently oblivious to everything..."

Jon Leyne 'BBC'

Full story here.

However "the demonstrations called by supporters of both President Ahmadinejad and Mr Mousavi are due to take place in Vali Asr Square in central Tehran" (later today.)

SUPPORT IRANIAN DEMOCRACY

BONUS:Audio
"Persian Love" by Holger Czukay

www.tehranlive.org

vatanam vatanam vatnam,,,, baraye azadi dar vatanam va nejate vatanam