iranian voices being shut

Although this blog is supposed to be focused on light issues such as travels, photos, and food, I can’t refrain myself from reporting what’s happening in Iran.

I apologise for those who come here for entertainment, but this is a serious issue that must be somehow reported (a very good summary of the reality by the Guardian).

See also an interview that Azar Nafisi, visiting professor and executive director of Cultural Conversations at the Foreign Policy Institute of Johns Hopkins University’s School of Advanced International Studies in Washington DC, gave to Al Jazeera.

Valiasr Ave., Tehran, 13 June 2009

My Iranian friends are contacting me on a frequent basis, saying that after yesterday’s elections “nothing is working properly, Internet, phone, satellite… it takes 2-3 minutes for the Google homepage to load. We can’t open Facebook [which is largely used today in Iran to express their political views]. And we are far from news, and so angry!!!”

Valiasr Ave., Tehran, 13 June 2009

Furthermore, they say, “It’s getting worse here. I still can hear voices and alerts in streets from my room.

Today, people were attacked by armed police force. They beat you no matter who you are, what’s your age, gender, nationality, whether you are involved or not… you should be punished because you demand your right!

Two reformist candidates [Mousavi and Mehdi Karubi] declared their disapproval and rejected the results [of the elections]; so if they [the current government] want to show their supporters [that the current regime has control of the situation], they meant what they said, this is the time [that they will shut up people’s voices].

Well, I tried to upload on Facebook some pictures and videos [of the demonstrations on the streets today] and it’s blocked too”, they told me.

So, that’s what’s exactly happening in Iran at this very moment.

Their voices are being shut.

.

Valiasr Ave., Tehran, 13 June 2009

All the three photos were taken by an Iranian friend — for privacy reasons the person’s identity is not mentioned.