VOA's Vafa Mostaghim asks Ahmadinejad about human rights

[abrahamlincon27]

Khobeh ke to ham taid mikoni ke ghiyafeye Antarinejad be kire babaye in ham vatan shabihe ke porsideh bood in kojash mese rais jomhoor mimone. Hatman kire babaye on ham vaghti didi ke to kose madare to va Arab zadeh haye zenazadeye akhonaye mese to miraft!

[abrahamlincon27]

Shahid Bakiri jon, hameye mardome iran mirinand be oon ghiafeye kiriye to va Antari nejad. Shahide rahe kir beshi elahi, hamon jor ke khahar o madare to va amsale to to Dubai va Syria darand mishand va be ghasde ziarat ro kire Arab ha gymnastic mirand.

[SpeedOverStrength]

@ShahidBakeri LOL..

[carvalholucie]

Ele e lindo de todo jeito!!! Eu adoro o jeitinho meigo dele!!!

[TheCarolinnya]

@carvalholucie E tu é um Bucho, Canhão, Dragão mesmo, tu sim tinha que usar Burca! Tem coragem de sair com essa cara horrorosa na rua? É por isso que tem que procurar homem fora do Brasil? Ninguém te quer por aí de tão feia que é? Com tanta vagabunda LINDA se oferecendo para ele acha que vai comer um bagulho como tu?

[eskelet1]

خوب پینوکیو تو همه آدم ها رو قبل از اینکه برسند به زندان اعدام میکنی به تعداد زندانیهای امریکا تواعدام کردی. باز هم ۱۳۰۰۰۰به قول خودت زندانی دارید پینوکیو

۹۰% زندانیهای ایران سیاسی هستند نه قاچاقچی پینوکیو

[sportmaniravote]

riidam dahanet heivooneh paset fetrat

[democracy4people]

SAND NIGGERS

[tarashti]

Madar jendeye haroomzade,akhe gooz che

rabti ba jende boodane ajdadet dare.

namous gayide porsesh in bood ke to

setamgari mikoni,vali Javabe toye bivatan

ineke;amrica zendoonihash bishtare?

ey ridam to pestoon bande naneye to

va tarafdaranet,bevige basijiane arab sefat.

[CandlesOfUnity]

Good news !

Wednesday, 02 December 2009

Washington DC The Senate passed a resolution yesterday condemning the persecution of Bahais by the government of Iran. Senate Resolution 71 (S. Res. 71) was sponsored by Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR), and passed by unanimous consent. The resolution condemns the Iranian government for violating the rights of members of the Bahai minority, and also calls on Iran to release seven leaders of the Bahai community who were arrested in the spring of 2008.

[insideoutbeegees]

Usa may be a shity country but Iran shit smelles more and this makes the difference!

[insideoutbeegees]

yes in Iran we can bring the president to court! My cute hairy Iranain ass!

[Raketgruppen]

Ahmadenajad is president of:

Klu Klux Iran

[keyboard11111]

madar jende

[DarachteAsadi]

Heil Ahmadinejad!!!

[roobahak]

mr ahmaghinejad! that was not exactly the answer to the religious supprssions matters the guy asked you! dumbass!!

[Islamwillgetyou]

shireeeee javab kamelan manteghi bod/ amrica in hame harf az freedom mizane khodesh in hame zendan dare in hame adam to zendanan shekanjehash to donia marofe go'antanamo va...

[abshar20]

in kojash be rais jommhooor mikhore

[Lutchenka]

LUTCHENKA

Pelo visto ele estava com muita pressa!

[arash27]

shireeeee javab kamelan manteghi bod/ amrica in hame harf az freedom mizane khodesh in hame zendan dare in hame adam to zendanan shekanjehash to donia marofe go'antanamo va...

[kourosh12]

kosenanat

[encrypttie]

damn, this guy cant even talk proper Farsi!

[fishabc1]

Part 4: The examples I have given are few but many exist. There are hundreds of other journalists that wait trial and just as harsh of a punishment. The powerful Islamic leadership and law shows its muscle in each case. Here's a question... If a Nazi swastika can be symbolically thrown in a garbage can why should it not be the same for the "holy" figures of political Iran's Islam? Each journalist had the RIGHT to speak their mind yet they were all silenced. Stop patronizing yourself.

[sillas09]

Journalists in Iran are allowed to speak their mind, and those arrested were so for endangering national security by working with groups bent on destabilizing the country.

Examples of similar procedures from secular liberal democracies: "Al-Jazeera Correspondent, Tayseer Alouni, was arrested by police in the southern Spanish city of Grenada, under anti-terrorist laws that allow him to be held for three days, without access to a lawyer, while he's questioned and evidence is analysed."

[sillas09]

According to the NGO Reporters Without Borders (lookup their website), currently 7 journalists appear to be imprisoned in Iran. So I don't know where you are getting your figure of "hundreds" from.

[fishabc1]

This is an NGO that gathers their information from whom? Do we truly know how many and for what prisoners are being held for in Iran? Why don't the Iranians disclose this information? Why is that a Non-Governmental Agency has to provide you assumptions?

[sillas09]

RWB does not directly engage in party politics, which means it is less biased than some Iranian opposition group, plus it did provide more details. In the present age of information, and given the immense scrutiny Iran is being subjected to, we would know if "hundreds" of other journalists were held. If the information wasn't disclosed by Iran's judiciary, how would RWB know?

By your logic, I could put the number of those who disappeared in the CIA's secret prisons at ten million.

[fishabc1]

Part 3: In another example Mr. Adnan Hassanpour and Mr. Abdolvahed (Hiva) Boutimar were sentenced to death by an Islamic tribunal in Marivan, a Kurdish city in the north-west Iran". The two journalists considered "mohareb," (fighter against Islam). This shows the deep conflict between the brutal and strict Islamic laws and freedom of speech or press. These two folks, mind you, were citizens of Iran even though were of Kurdish blood and should have been allowed to speak their mind.

[sillas09]

As long as your sources provide no details as to why the sentence was pronounced, you have in fact no proof that they were sentenced for expressing their opinion (as opposed to participating in armed actions against Iranian citizens, for instance).

[fishabc1]

There isn't any proof that they were trying to overthrow or take up armed actions against Iran. What about the Canadian journalist? This was an attempt at armed resistance? You sound very much like the Nazis in charge of your country. It's all about oppression and who's right and who's wrong. Of course all of these trials took place in front of an Islamic court behind closed doors for no one else to see.

[sillas09]

The Canadian journalist was arrested for illegally photographing a sensitive area and thus breaking the law; she was not trialed, but died in custody... However you should know that the number of those who died in US or British custody in Iraq or Afghanistan is severalfold greater, while police violence in the US causes many deaths each year. If you really need to resort to false historic analogies, don't look further than the US when looking for "nazis" in charge.

[fishabc1]

The details provided are vague at the least. I think if this were a member of your family your attitude would change. Until then, you're stuck with your petty patriotism. I would bet if you sought out the true facts on these prosecutions you would be lead to a dead end.

[sillas09]

At least I quoted a source which cites very precisely worded accusations, and not necessarily unrealistic ones at that (since the US and Israel are known for their attempts to employ Iranian citizens - be they journalists - as spies, and to support anti-Iranian separatism, albeit largely in vain).

You're free to cultivate the demonized image of Iran that the hostile media and exiled opposition grouplets flood the public with, but facts can be researched by those willing to see beyond rhetorics.

[sillas09]

Again based on information available at the French language version of the Reporters Without Borders website, it appears that Mr Hassanpour was sentenced for "espionage", "subversive activities against national security", "separatist propaganda". Now these accusations are not exactly based on religious considerations, nonetheless your source seeks to suggest contradictions between Islamic laws and freedom of speech.

[fishabc1]

Hmmmmm... It's a bit odd that you may say that. Doesn't the Islamic religion have a stronghold on your politics? It certainly isn't your traffic engineer Ahmadinejad. After all he speaks the voice of the Religious Islamic Leaders of Iran doesn't he? He's almost like the emperor of Japan and simply a figure head.

[sillas09]

The point is not that Iran's political system or laws are based on Islam, but whether the sentenced journalist you cited was accused of offense against the religion, which is not the case. Yet, your source tends to suggest so, and this clearly shows its bias towards Islamic law, whereas in secular systems, too, espionage or separatist propaganda can be subject to prosecution.

[fishabc1]

Part 2: CORRECTION my sillas friend... The Iranian regime DID allow for more open relations with media and the ability to make fun of or allow for criticism of the government of Iran however a choke hold has been placed on many existing media outlets as well as the stoppage of any new or up and coming media outlets.

[DarachteAsadi]

Walie Motasfam az in Pasokhie ke in Adame Bisawad dade.chaye sharm hast ke Rise Jomhure Irane.

[DarachteAsadi]

Merci az Soale khobat.

[Mehranrokh]

Maghlateh

[Hasmanizadmani]

MARG BAR DICTATOR!!!!

[hessamaj]

moteasefam vase khodam ke hamchin adami raes jomhoorame

[1PersianLizard]

is it me or did he totaly didn't answer that question?

madar jendeye arabzade, javabe soalo bede!

[shamalbaba]

الاغ ** ز چه ربطی داره به شقیقه، جواب سؤال را بده. چون نمیتونست مثل همیشه سؤال را با سؤا ل جواب بده مثل خر تو گل گیر کرد و زد به صحرای کربلا.

[sillas09]

Very nice reply by Dr Ahmadinejad indeed. It is significant that in the US, the government is spending more and more on police and prisons, while it constantly cuts welfare programs; in short, the poor are simply criminalized and thrown into jail. This is very much part of the liberal-fascist system which rules the US. Therefore the US and its state-owned media like the VOA are not in a position to lecture others about human rights.

[fishabc1]

Sillas: Your comments are baseless and full of holes. You make accusations without fact or knowledge to back them up. "State-owned media". Are you a moron? The American media is very much free enterprise with PRIVATE owners. You fools actually believe that we agree with all of our media and believe in each and everything they say. They are geared on profit, plain and simple. You sir have no idea what you are talking about. It appears there are three other morons that have joined you.

[sillas09]

You appear to be the one deprived of knowledge. Instead of insulting me, you should perhaps lookup what "Voice of America" actually is: owned and funded by the US government, it serves no purpose other than to spread propaganda in support of the USA's expansionnist and imperialist foreign policy aims in a variety of languages. When have I ever said all media in the US would be state-owned? VOA is a particular case, and this video clip is taken from the VOA's program. Get your facts straight.

[fishabc1]

There is absolute freedom with the American media unlike your country whom may send in the special police if the government of Iran feels overly threatened. You are nothing but a pathetic goat. Dr of what? Dr of evil and oppression. Ahmadinejad is a reflection of Iran and no one likes him. Shame on you for supporting such a tyrant.

[sillas09]

Again, your comment smacks of lacking information. In Iran, the media do criticize government policies, there are even videos here on YouTube proving this. As for the much vaunted "freedom of speech" in the US, it is a mere smokescreen to hide the ways in which total social and political control is exerted in that country: media are conglomerated in the hands of a few groups, and their system of financing, along with lobby politics, makes sure that they follow the line desired by those in power.

[sillas09]

fishabc1 (cont'd): President Ahmadinejad holds a PhD in traffic management from Tehran's University for Science and Industry (Elm-o San'at). He was admitted to said university before the Islamic Revolution. So his doctor title is very real indeed.

You are qualifiying him as a "tyrant", yet in Iran the president's powers are checked by a variety of other institutions.

[fishabc1]

PART 1: June 2007 General prosecutor of Tehran, Mr. Saeed Mortazavi, the killer of Iranian-Canadian journalist Zahra Hashemi, with the Islamic tribunals ordered the closure of Ham Mihan (compatriot). Nearly the same time, ILNA (Iranian Labor News Agency), was also closed due to the FORCED resignation of Mr. Mas'oud Heydari because he defended workers rights.

[sillas09]

And? Fact of the matter remains, the government can and is being criticized in Iran, included in newspapers as we speak. Furthermore, you are copy pasting from western backed Iranian "opposition" websites which are known to twist events.

[fishabc1]

Oh, they twist events? Why is it that Iran, as good as it is, keeps forcing people to leave for a better life. I have a Christian friend whom I worked with in a previous job that told me of many actions taken against them and how they were religiously persecuted and singled out as a second class citizen. Why would someone like that leave the paradise of Iran? You really don't have any strength in your argument.

[sillas09]

You are not the only one to have Christian Iranian friends, those I know would not subscribe to this viewpoint, as they live happily in Iran and do not feel discriminated against, let alone persecuted.

People who leave do so out of free will, and do you actually know a single developing country untouched by economically motivated emigration?

I'd suggest you focus on your own government's human rights abuses and war crimes before lecturing others.

[fishabc1]

These folks are Iranian at blood and are willing to speak out against a known dictatorial government and to fight for freedoms of all Iranians. Why is it there aren't any Pro-Iranian Americans living in Iran opposing the American way of life?????????????????????

[sillas09]

Actually some Americans do live in Iran. And emigration is mainly about living standards. Why are there so many Indians living abroad, isn't India a "known democracy"? The fact of the matter is, if some 330,000 Iranians live in the US (according to the 2003 census), 70 million happen to live in Iran - which shows were the Iranian peoples preferences lie. And among those living in the US, there are plenty who oppose the US regime's policies towards Iran or the West Asian region to begin with.

[fishabc1]

He should consider a job in Iran's highway department because he has no idea how to direct a country and its people.

[sillas09]

... at least better than Bush, who is widely considered as the worst president in USA history.

[fishabc1]

The creator of this youtube site practices exactly what Ahmadinejad does daily. He dodges the questions and is in complete denial. Quite frankly I don't think this man could answer any of the questions properly. I don't believe he has the capacity. Does anyone have a clue whether this man passed high school level education?

[jmacphee2]

Maybe he just didn't say what you wanted to hear?

[fishabc1]

Humans are intrinsically humane and kind even though they are driven to evil and catastrophe's. This man, in all of his thinking, doesn't have the humane or kind side. No one deserves to be wiped off the planet. Even the criminal has a right to live and retraining is possible. This man is a leader of a country claiming things and making statements beyond the HUMAN scope. I am fully capable of listening to reason. This is not reason.

[fishabc1]

Down with the Islamist President of Iran! Let the people be free! There are no homosexuals in my country because I hung them. All the rest are in such deep fear they have either left my country or are in hiding. Let's kill all the Jews on the planet and destabilize the Middle East. PSYCHO! PSYCHO! PSYCHO!

[kamran9821]

KOs nanae javabesho bede ??

[workercommunism]

Down with islamic regime down with Ahamadi nejad

[skirbyr]

we will get you ha ha alla all acbar!

[skirbyr]

fuck you

[Nasser90santour]

Ahmadinejad greting from Sweden I LOVE YOU .. YOU RULE MAN I JUST WANT TO BE LIKE YOU ... MAN SHUT THE FUCK UP YOU ARE A DISGRACE TO OUR BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY IF I SEE YOU I WILL ASSFUCK YOU ... YOU FUCKING SCHIMPANz :@

[nnneginnn]

He's Always Like That... He Never Answers The Questions That He Doesn't Have The Answer For...

[imanmot]

He is not answering question, he is just turning around the question and answering to other question

actually he is he is making sophistical statement

he is not answering actuall question !!

this is how Mullah idea answering questions ! actually theyrn't answering qeustion

[hsuae]

he's a lier !

[Shahab1490]

ahahahahahahhahahahhahahahahah­ahhahahahahahhahahahahhahhahah­ahahahahahahahahahahahahahahah­ahahahahahahahahahahahahahahah­ahahahahahahahahahahahhahahaha­hahahahahaha

[bhatam]

For those of you who do not understand Farsi, basically what this new age hitler is saying is that he is comparing the free-population:imprisoned-pop­ulation in the US versus Iran.

[1979TURLOCK]

LMAO at new age hitler

[Sangesar1919]

I watched it again!!!!!I really can not imagine! that how a president of a country LIES like this??????? Good on you the VOA reporter! Wnderful job!!!

[mohtasham1983]

yaru chi porsid in chi javab dad

[manajooni]

zer nazan baba

[shahrooz66]

dooorooooooooooogh goyte pasttttttttttttt

[SORKHI]

fucking shame on u ... how the fuck he can lie like that???

[ehsanshokoohy]

He is a asshole lier. There is no freedom and justice in Iran.What a stupid compartion he made.

[atsignyahoodotcom]

Keep on creating lie and bullshits Ahmadi Nejad. You are the right hand of Seyd Ali geda (beggar).hehehe

[inamra114]

very clever answer you asshole!

[naeim27]

good luck Mr.hamadi nejad

[Sangesar1919]

Wonderful question by the VOA reporter, but the answer was too stupid!!!!!!!!!!Shame on you Ahmadi-Nejad.

[vahidmehdi]

ahmadinejad you are the best president of the world and all this bad comments their fucking people they are not iranian ahmadinejad ist the best mannnnn

[nariman2007]

it is so stupid, what is relate with question and his answer?/ stupid Ahmadi nejad

[vahidmehdi]

ey vallah ahmadinejad behtari reis jomoure donya

[Life21female]

Can someone translate what he is saying?

[joonijoon]

How many American's have decided to leave their country, or seek refuge in Iran??? None How many Iranians have decided to leave Iran and live in the U.S as refugees and immigrants??? ~1 million.

[waeilpepsi]

so wats ur point? for that reason Iran has to be bombed? in that case Somalia, Libya, Egypt, Algeria, China, Morocco, and the list goes on.. etc etc etc. so they hav to get bombed too?

[ardashir1]

My point is that these regimes understand their position of influence and power, staying in line with the world's norm of things. None of these states declare the destruction of Israel and extra.

[sepandee]

Hey, neat perspective!

[kasra75]

in javab che rabti be soaal dasht? injuri dari vari goftan ham ,honar mikhad.a pack of stupids!!

[delaraZarin]

Kasra75, I am sorry you do not understand what he says, in time you will. What he means is

;Iran is a new democracy after 2500 years of monarchy and many years of dictatorship, it is work in progress. It took France 200 years after their revolution to stabilize. We have gone from Shah to Ayatollah to common person as a head of state in span of 28 years.1st time in our history a commoner , intelligent bright citizen is our president.

[kasra75]

delarazarin, thanks for your useless historical reveiw,but i wish you had a better understanding of what you say,& that's DEMOCRACY!!!!???

[delaraZarin]

Hay lets be honest, it is 200% more democracy then what we had 29 years ago. Vafa asks about political prisoners????????? did any one dare to ask Shah how people's nails were pulled while in Evin jail. Dahhhh get a clue dude.I do not believe every thing IRI claims but it is better then before.WORK IN PROGRESS

[Alanadoredor]

Eyval benazare manam hamintore

motasefane avalin kasayee ke bayad be ino befahman mardome khodemoonan ke nemifahman.

[manajooni]

khosh be hale to ke mifahmi.

[kasra75]

what's your criteria here? the clue,you dont get is ,you cannot compare a regime(with democratic claims!)with a deceased dictatorship!!find a match Duude!! & 2nd clue just FUA is:this is a THEOCRACY!! not Demo.this comparison wont hold water.and U think there is no torture anymore? come to your senses!

[delaraZarin]

You are neither clear or coherent.

[4khora76fatbas]

Aziz man, Irani delaraZarin, I hope u wil c wat I'm typing 1 day, b-cuz it's only ment 4 my lov 4 Iran and Iranians. Maybe u b-leev in political-evolution, from darkness to light to greatness, fine. If this IR Iran is the light, in ur theory, let's not get angry or edgy, let's look at the facts, next comment.

[4khora76fatbas]

I come from a background(family) who completely support the Islamic Republic, but guess what they r only 2 people, and u know how large extended families r in Iran, the other 70 or more close relatives r completely against it, yet IRI(their party) has power, don't deny it, all Iranian families r this way. Dictatorship element #1, minority of public opinion rules majority, read on.

[4khora76fatbas]

coming to power, Islamic Republic all but totally eliminated, social "western(which r human not only western)" rights[ choices in clothing, choices in music, choices in reading, choices in sports, choices in games(chess, a great mind builder was nearly prohibited), choices in arts&entertainment, all, Islamic influence, dictatorship/element #2 Theocratic 1 dimensional rule, the worst

[4khora76fatbas]

revolution begins: elimination, murder, beating,etc., etc. of nearly all Shah regime government officials, workers, educators, officers, and even others, inside Iran and outside, killings of dissidents & other political groups who once supported khomeini until he turned on them, estimated today maybe up to 100,000 or more, dictatorship element #4 crushing all opposition for fear of revolt, read on

[4khora76fatbas]

woman studying can't afford school so marries from cultural and financial pressure but her husband a hardworking man stressd from overwork, for a room, becoms violent, she pregnant finaly asks for divorc, first mullah says man rules the house, but i'll help u divorce, if u become my siqeh (temporary wife) she leaves/next judge sees she's beaten says khomeini says man leads the house, u must've don somthin wrong, this goes on, so she sets herself on fire aziz, dictatorship aziz read on

[4khora76fatbas]

in democracy 1 can wear hijab or not, 1 can drink or not, 1 can be religious or not and not have to dress like it, 1 can read playboy or read Qur'an, 1 can marry or not, 1 can speak or not. aziz, notice that ahmadinejad didn't compare Irans prisons to Europe or Asia, etc., he went straight for Uncle Sam, dictatorship aziz, and no Iranian should have to sell drugs or body 4 money read on

[4khora76fatbas]

true, the ? was from VOA, but the answer didn't have to be about America and so defensively, he looked like Bush was attacking him with a stealth bomber, at that moment, clearly for them, it's only about being against the USA, 4 they hav nothing else, they will b gone soon azizan, but remember, this is not about statistics, or America, it's about our Iran, act, don't react.

[4khora76fatbas]

they hav islamic olympics with irans help, and who competes, the best, or the best among Muslims? once again Islamic rule limits iranians to mediocrity, and if a young woman wants her family and friends to watch, if she wants to compete against the best, not just muslims, if she just wants to be free? then what. So delara, u still think revolution was a forward step, or should we have skipped this step?

[4khora76fatbas]

Azizan we Iranians, though I was born in the USA I love Iran, cannot afford to be casual in our jokes, statements, as many of us as possible need to study the issues intelligently, without racist remarks about Arabs, or others. The Shah paved the way for us to advance, though he made many mistakes, the infrastructure of Iran was begun, and we can continue that, but don't expect good answers from Isl Rep. their system isn't made for reasonable answers.

[delaraZarin]

I am sorry I do not have time to write long answers for you , i will as soon as I get a chance. But don't dismiss the monarchy atrocities through out our history by calling it MISTAKE.I can chronicle the lack of freedom in Iran at any period you wish, by the same margin as today if not more.Although I agree with you on lack of personal freedom, and I called Mr AhmadiNejad on that , which he had no answer(UN meeting), yet our freedom has to be won by us only not foreign elements.

[iranirastgoo2010]

Finally, after so long I found the time to

answer, and thanks for your comment. I wonder how old you are, not that age always brings wisdom. Something tells me that you care deeply about Iran, as many Iranians do. Yet you are in a dillema. On one hand you agree that in Iran personal freedom doesn't exist, on the other you believe it's a, "Democracy in progress", ok. aziz. hahahaha, nazaret moh-taram, but read my next comment.

[iranirastgoo2010]

Iran advanced economically rapidly after WWII prior to 1979/entire country was becoming more and more modern/women rapidly closing gender gaps/our military: top in Middle East, with world's finest equipment. Iran, if no revolution, would be economic giant with monstrous amounts of Iranian youth, brains, talent. Political/cultural reform was a heartbeat away, Democracy in progress, sweety was that, the world moves even faster now, you r in denial.breaks my heart for U and Iran.