2009: Ayatollah Montazeri’s Message for the New Year

Source:
Date: March 2009

[New Year prayer]

O saviour of hearts and sights, guide of night and day, you who can transform our being, transform me to be the very best.

This prayer is read when we welcome the New Year. It is a fact that I have mentioned many times before. The word eid (in Persian, the anniversary of a celebratory event) is, in fact, Arabic. Its root is the Arabic word evd. Those gentlemen here who study linguistics are aware of this. It is in the same family of words as eoud, which means ‘to return,’ or ‘to refer back’ because it is something that is repeated every year and creates a transformation. Eid-al-Ghadir applies here as well, because every year the memory of Ghadir returns to us, and people talk about it. … Continue Reading

Statement from Ayatollah Montazeri’s Office Regarding the Death of Hajieh Khanoum Rabbani

Source: Official Website of Grand Ayatollah Montazeri
Date: Sunday, March 28, 2010

In the name of God,

A lady passed a way today; a lady who was known to the world through her husband, and through her son. The respectable Ms. Rabbani, spouse of Grand Ayatollah Montazeri, was someone who had fought [in the resistance against the Shah] anonymously and without any expectations [of fame]. She had waited [for long periods] at the doors of the Shah’s prisons for a few minutes’ conversation with her son or her husband. She was a loyal companion and friend to her husband during his exile. Most importantly of all, she was a source of support and spirit to those families involved in the resistance; [families who had loved ones detained or martyred]. However, the victory for the Islamic Revolution did not put an end to her pains and misfortunes. … Continue Reading

New Year Statement of the Mojahedin of the Islamic Revolution Organization

Source: Jaras
Date: Sunday, March 14, 2010

In the name of God, the Compassionate and the Merciful,

Noble people of Iran,

We approach the final days of the year 1388 when our nation’s determination and wisdom of our great nation to pursue all legal matters and rights is a source of great pride in our struggle against tyranny, humbling the world with its glory and dignity. This was a year in which the epic Green Movement stood for freedom and democracy, and in opposition to cruelty and violence; a year in which the clear-sightedness shown by you and your children and the despotic behavior of the blind and the power-hungry has played out in the form of a national tragedy – a tragedy that has left the unforgettable imprint of obscenities and wrong-doings in our national consciousness, alongside our most respected civil and religious rights. … Continue Reading

Karoubi’s message on the New Year

Source: Saham News
Date: Friday, March 19, 2010

In the Name of God, the Compassionate and the Merciful,

I extend a happy new year to all Iranians both inside and outside Iran. I offer my good wishes to other Farsi-speaking nations, and anyone else who celebrates Nawruz. I pray to God for greatness, independence, freedom justice and prosperity.

Unfortunately, the previous year was not a good one. People felt the economic pressure in their daily lives via inflation. We also witnessed an enthusiastic voter turnout in the millions, [yet when this crowd] voiced peaceful criticism, officials responded violently instead of listening to the demands expressed. [Many were] tortured and others were martyred on the streets. Journalists were detained in unprecedented numbers. Media and newspapers were restricted, and demands [for rights] were not met. These bitter incidents were a result of the misbehavior of those who did not follow the rule of law, and who did not consider what was best for the establishment. … Continue Reading

Mir-Hossein Mousavi’s Norouz Message

Source: Kaleme
Date:  Thursday, March 18, 2010

Kalemeh reports the complete transcripts of this message as follows:

In the name of God, the Compassionate and the Merciful,

The unified caravan of martyrs

I wish all of our people a Happy New Year, as we approach the green spring and this national holiday. I will especially make note of the families of those who lost their lives while defending our independence during the [Iran-Iraq] war, the veterans, the injured, and those who suffered in any way. I should also mention the martyrs and those injured in 1388, [1][the year that is coming to an end], since I see their fate as connected to that of the war-time martyrs; they are all a apart of the caravan of martyrs that our country has produced over the … Continue Reading

Zahra Rahnavard’s Norouz Message

Source: Kaleme
Date:  Thursday, March 18,  2010

Kalemeh reports the complete transcripts of this message as follows:

In the name of God, the Compassionate and the Merciful,

We wish our countrymen, inside and outside the country, no matter where they may be, a happy Norouz. Norouz, this ancient, eternal holiday.

[new year prayer] O savior of hearts and sights, guide of night and day, you who can transform our being, transform me to the very best.

How strange that this ancient ceremony has been so elegantly woven with an Islamic narrative, and not only with a beautiful Islamic narrative, but with the modern society we live in today, and at a time when the green movement has engraved its own beautiful signature on it.

Transform me to the very best is the very wish of the green movement. The green movement wants to work for the betterment of its own condition, and the circumstances of its nation. And evolution in any effort is a beautiful symmetry. The green movement is not a movement that works to overthrow. It is a movement that seeks evolution, an evolution from the status quo to a better circumstance. But allow Hafez to light the way, and let us use the trust we have in him every day of our lives: … Continue Reading

Mousavi’s Speech to Members of the Islamic Participation Front

Source: Norooznews
Date: Monday, March 15, 2010

In the name of God, the Compassionate and the Merciful,

I would like to thank you for being present here. We are currently facing an extraordinary situation. It would have made me happy to see our other friends among you as well – friends who are currently in prison, such as Mr. Mirdamadi.

As a political party, you are better informed of the situation that we are currently in. You are [also well] aware of the restrictions and limitations that the Islamic Participation Front faces. In many countries, the activities of [opposition] parties and other groups are welcomed and encouraged since they provides a means for diagnosing national problems and solving them based on collective reasoning. … Continue Reading

Alireza Rajayi: Suggested Course for Continuity of Reform Movement

Source: Etemaad
Date : Thursday, February 18, 2010

Dr. Alireza Rajayi is a well-known political analyst in Iran. He is a member of The Nationalist-Religious Movement of Iran

The reform movement is currently in such a position that adopting [new] strategies and guidelines is essential for its political continuity. The first point to mention is that after the events of recent months, one cannot talk of a rapid solution. By examining the political atmosphere in the country, [one] can conclude that restrictions imposed on various reformist parties and figures inhibit the attainment of a quick solution. Presently, the reform movement has lost the ability to participate in the power arena within the the current political environment. … Continue Reading

Zahra Rahnavard’s Interview with Kaleme

Source: Kaleme
Date:  Thursday, March 11,  2010

Dr. Zahra Rahnavard, painter, sculptor and a professor at the University of Tehran, begins her talk by wishing the release of all political prisoners, especially the woman. She says: “I hope that all female prisoners will be released before the new year. Everybody, from women’s rights activists, child’s rights activists and journalists to the nameless women who were arrested while protesting in the street, and the female students who have done nothing but to demand their rights.

Rahnavard did not forget the mourning mothers. “our hearts and prayers are with those mourning mothers whose flowers have withered. The mothers of Neda, Sohrab, Seyed Ali, Ashkan, Kianoush, Ramin Ramezani, Alireza Eftekhari, Mahram Cheghini and the mothers of innocent martyrs like Naser Amirnejad, Iman Namzai, Kaveh Sabzalipour and those whose names we don’t even know. And those mothers and families whose loved ones have endured great injuries after the election, some have been injured in the protests, some have been tortured while in custody, and some have been in prison for months now. … Continue Reading

Khatami’s Address to University Students: Radical Groups Hamper the Transition from Violence to Calm

Source: Khatami.ir
Date: Monday, March 1, 2010

The public relations division of former president Mohammad Khatami’s office reports of his meeting with a group from the youth and student association of the Imam’s Line, in commemoration of the beloved prophet [Mohammad]’s birthday (peace be upon him).

Seyyed Mohammad Khatami praised those who attended the ceremony  for the prophet (peace be upon him) and the sixth [Shi’a Imam], Ja’far Sadegh. He made the following statement: … Continue Reading