Bloggers Unite: Freedom for Iranians
As I view and read what’s happening in Iran my heart sinks to the bottom of my feet. Iran has around 21 million internet users from a population of 70 million people. Persian bloggers are frequent participants on online social media sites, and are well represented on sites such as FriendFeed.
Iran has blocked access to more than five million Internet sites, including Facebook and YouTube as part of a crackdown on content perceived to be immoral and anti-social.
Iran has blocked websites before, particularly political, human rights, women’s sites, dissident blogs and porn sites, although the decision to ban 5 million sites in unprecedented. Thank goodness for the blogosphere, brave Twitterers in Iran, YouTube, Flickr (see mousavi1388’s photostream), and the BBC.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel added her voice to a growing chorus of Western leaders demanding respect for civil liberties in Iran.
Human rights and citizens’ rights are inseparable, and that is why Germany stands behind the people, and peaceful demonstrations in Iran, who want to make use of their freedom of speech and who want to gather peacefully. I, therefore, demand that Iran’s leaders allow peaceful demonstrations, allow free reporting of events, stop the use of violence against demonstrators and free imprisoned people.
Ms. Merkel urged a full recount of Iran’s contested presidential vote. Official results showed President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad winning re-election in a landslide.
If Ahmadinejad was in fact the winner, then there is an attempted coup going on in Tehran right now. People are protesting and being slain. They are protesting a rigged election and demanding an new one, but given the circumstances what would that achieve?
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is standing on the fiction that the election was a fair one and it’s obvious that any democratic elements are just decorative. Although the main opposition candidate may look moderate in comparison, he is most assuredly is a conservative political insider who supports the current system, and his supporters simply want the system to live up to it’s billing.
With Khameni backing the old fraudulent election results, things might be getting more dangerous, not just for the protesters however. Why would the leaders of a people that has experienced revolution think that they are immune from the same possibility? — Mark Stoneman
Yesterday, President Barack Obama issued his strongest statement to date on the Iranian situation. He called on the Iranian government “to stop all violent and unjust actions against its own people” and said the United States “stands by all who seek to exercise” the universal rights to assemble and speak freely.
I stand with him and with them. I want to tell the oppressed Iranian people that I am sympathetic to their desire for freedom and a say in how their lives are governed. Bless you all.
Participate – Bloggers Unite for a Free Iran June 29, 2009
Bloggers and members of the media are asked to contribute to the Bloggers Unite for a Free Iran campaign by making it a dominant social media issue once again on June 29. Others are asked to participate by leaving supportive comments on participating blogs, sharing links to posts about this important effort, and/or by turning all avatars green in honor of the campaign. Bloggers who have already posted on the subject are asked to add their links to the BloggersUnite.org event page and post again on June 29. — Rich Becker
Thanks for writing such an informative post and well-written post. I appreciate your views and we at BC value your efforts and participation in support of the BloggersUnite event for a free Iran.
@Jason
It’s so difficult to just watch. I’m glad to be a part of this support campaign.
what!!!! no facebook? i really hope that this kind of impositions end soon.
@iritza
I know where you are coming from. Let’s hope all governments that use these barbaric kind of tactics ranging from killing citizens to blocking their internet access are soon a thing of the past.
Hi Timethief–I am glad to see you promote this. I am planning to do a post myself for this excellent cause. I am all for freedom for the Iranian people–they have been oppressed for far too long. I do hope the U.S. keeps its big, fat, nose out of this. No U.S. intervention!
Let the people of Iran create the uprising. I support that, completely.
Melinda
@melinda
I’ve done a preparatory post to encourage readers to join in on both blogs. I’ll do another tomorrow after I return for medical appointments.
Those of us blessed to live in free countries need to remember that not all share these freedoms. Freedom for Iran will not be possible without a fight and my prayers are with those willing to take up that fight.
Namaste’
@Roger
I know the struggle for freedom will be a lengthy one and I fervently hope the government will stop killing the protesters immediately.
Namaste’
I really enjoyed the piece about Iran and the people there on Jon Stewart. The truth was spoken through comedy.
I hope America stays out of it. Many of our own elections are unjust. So far we have failed to uprise over it.
The world is very complicated with more than one side to every story. I choose not to judge but to send love and hope. If only BE KIND could be the universal language.
Thanks for the post.
@Candika
I’m not judging either when it comes to the protesters. I do judge that the government does have a choice, and that the correct choice is not to kill citizens who protest peacefully. I’m sending compassion and hope to Iranians along with you.
This is outrageous. I am glad you shed light on this. i don’t really read the news so I didn’t know what’s the whole issue. Until now.
@celticmusicfan
I make it a practice to avoid listening to news any more frequently than once a day. Since I decided to do that I feel my mental set has improved. Hearing what’s going on in Iran grieves me. I empathize with the protesters.
Lets hope for safety to those who peacefully assembled or voiced their difference.
@Kevin
I join you in that hope that peaceful protesters will be safe. IMHO peaceful demonstrations of dissent ought to be a basic human right in every country on earth.
Great post TT.
Although I have a hard time reading what people have to say about “what others should do for Iran,” and to some extent how “others” need to support Iran in being free. I have been working on a post for my political blog that shows the inconsistencies of the US people’s position. Mostly framing it in light of Watts riots, Detroit riots, LA riots, and most notably the Kent State massacre.
People put too much emphasis on voting, which is important, and not enough on the function of society–local, national and international.
I do agree with your position, though.
Have a great day.
It’s sad that it has come to this. People can’t even have the internet. I don’t concur with Iran’s decision to block Iranian internet users.
The way I see it is, if anyone should be blocked, it should be the idiots that are scammers, murderers, identity theft people, and porn. But of course these would be almost impossible to find and block.
Internet, is like freedom of speech. Internet is a way of life; a way of communicating to people from all over the world.
It should be a choice to have or not have internet. (unless it is causing harm to someone)