Category Archives: Iran
Things not to do in Muslim countries, # 2
Don’t climb the pulpit in a mosque and pretend to be an imam! Luckily, not many people were listening to me and my sermon at Vakil Mosque in Shiraz, Iran. Another rule: if you pretend to be an imam, at … Continue reading
Things not to do in Muslim countries, # 1
Don’t go to a mosque to steal the Quran! Obviously, I didn’t steal any books. But ever the bibliophile, I needed to take a closer look. (I did however take a prayer stone with me from Hakim Mosque.)
Primary elections in Iran
Always eager to improve its “democracy”, the Islamic Republic of Iran has introduced primary elections to sift the pool of candidates. Not unlike the current Republican primaries in the US, candidates will have a hard time if they are not … Continue reading
A secret look into Iranian Intelligence training
The somewhat botched assassination attempt in Bangkok yesterday in which an Iranian assassin blew his own legs off instead of even getting close to any target provides more circumstantial evidence that Iran is also behind the attacks on Israeli embassy … Continue reading
Two years ago: Birthday Vigil for Neda Agha-Soltan
Exactly two years ago, on 23 January 2010, a vigil was held for Neda Agha-Soltan who had been shot and killed on 20 June 2009 by an Iranian government militia when they cracked down on protests in Tehran. Because Neda’s death … Continue reading
Censors don’t like this Blog
Who would have thought that access to my blog is blocked if you are trying to read it from Iran, after I have published so many articles about Iran? The censors of the Islamic Republic don’t seem to like what I … Continue reading
US hikers sentenced to 8 years in Iranian prison
Two young Americans who had been arrested by an Iranian border patrol while hiking in Iraqi Kurdistan and who have been held in prison in Iran for more than two years have now been sentenced to eight years in prison for … Continue reading
Iran chickening out of 2012 Olympics?
Iran has threatened to boycott the 2012 Summer Olympics in London because the logo of the games resembles the world “Zion”. Iran has now complained to the International Olympic Committee – 4 years after the logo was launched. But see for … Continue reading
Why can Tunisians achieve what Iranians couldn’t?
Ever since Tunisians successfully ousted their dictatorial and kleptocratic President Ben Ali after 23 years of his oppressive rule after just one month of protests in December 2010 and January 2011, people have been asking: “Why can Tunisians achieve what … Continue reading
Iran determined to set new record in 2011
Unfortunately a record of the abhorrent kind: In the first 2 weeks of this year alone, Iran has already executed 47 people. And that is the official number. As the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran points out, this … Continue reading
The Happy Hermit 