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Published online 24 June 2009 |
Nature
| doi:10.1038/news.2009.597
Updated online: 25 June 2009
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Iran diaspora responds to protests
Iranian researchers abroad help keep information flowing from home.
As more reports come in of a crackdown in Tehran on Iranians protesting against the regime, the vast diaspora of Iranian researchers has mobilized to help the Iranian people get information out to the outside world.
Amidst the continuing violence, many academics are lobbying for international condemnation of Iran's violations of human rights.
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Nice and informative article. I think as Mr Butler mentioned international scientific communities should support Iranian scholar freedom movements by their comments in scientific and public media. Again thanks Mr Butler for his important article.
I think there is a significant risk if the Iranian people get the impression that the US is attempting to influence the outcome of this conflict or interfering in the domestic affairs of the country. Therefore I agree to let Iranian decided by themselves and just support them verbally.
I am wondering why Palestinian protestors and their brutal respression by Israel does not get same space and sympathy by nature. Such articles (specially by Mr Butler) show nature as tabloid rather than a scientific magazine. I have not seen nature reporting on human rights violations and staged election results in Egypt and Jordan. Is it that nature also, like US and Israeli adiministration, approves election of its agents but discards election of its detractors.
@Ishtiyaque Ahmad: Nature has written extensively about Palestinian human rights in the past. http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v445/n7124/full/445136b.html http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v434/n7035/full/434813a.html http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v425/n6957/full/425444a.html Incidentally, we also have a special collection exploring 'Islam and Science': http://www.nature.com/news/specials/islamandscience/index.html which includes a detailed Commentary on human rights in Arab countries: http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v444/n7115/full/444033a.html More broadly, we have consistently covered human rights issues as they affect researchers: http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v459/n7245/full/459300a.html http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v456/n7218/full/456002b.html http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v452/n7183/full/452001b.html http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v441/n7097/full/4411036a.html http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v447/n7147/full/447886a.html http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v443/n7112/full/443605b.html http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v445/n7123/full/445002a.html
I agree with this article and I hope the iranian people and researchers live in the peace and democracy. I want from world community help to iran verbally and dont intervene by policians because iranian government crackdown protests for cooperation with other countries for miscarring government.
I think Iranian people are pioneer than their government so they can resolve their problems. I wish peaceful life for powerful Iranian peoples.
As a collegue and more importantly, a friend, of Dr. Rahni, I have been privy to a unique perspective of the events unfolding in Iran. The country is entering an exciting, albeit dangerous time in its recent history. My wish is that the Persian people will finally be recognized as 66 million peaceful people with the resolve to determine their own political future.
I agree that condemnation of violence by other universities help them for further freedom movements.
Eradication of violence is not possible without involvement of scholars and universities
I think the following needs to happen in order to have a permanent change for better in IRAN: Cleric need to respect: 1) Basic human rights. 2)Right to assembly, 3) Right to protest 4) Right to due-process (no one should be sent to prison without trial by a just court) 5)Right to vote under strick monitoring by an international body. It is best cleric get out of politics and focus on tending to their seminaries and running charitable activities which we need so badly in IRAN and elsewhere. Iranian do not need another violent revolution. I do not beleive a violent revolution will have the outcome Iranian people want or need. This regime need to change on its own. It will be slow. The pressure that will make it change is peaceful protest "sit-in" by Bazaar and Oil workers and all the cleric who stand for peace and justice. I do not beleive another violent revolution will lead IRAN to democracy. Ron Najafi
I feel it?s a good article that focuses on human rights. All Iranians should make a move against this without any political influence.
The crisis should be settled through democratic dialogue and peaceful means and this is not possible without meddling Iranian Scholars. Therfore, the world should support them strongly.
Peaceful democratic dialogue is urgently needed.
As one who was quoted in this article, I must confess, I found it much more balanced than most articles of such kind, and so, the credit goes to Dr. Butler its writer. The plights of Iranians is a quest for integration from within, both self and inter-ethnic and inter-socio-economic and political integrations. what is at stake is Sovereignty of Iran and the Nation, freedom of expression and assembly, due process and transparency and accountability before the law for ALL, justice and equality. Irrespective of what path Iranians take, External intervention of any kinds is strongly deplored by ALL Iranians, both the 70 millions inside and their 4 millions brethren in diaspora. and why Nature writes on Iran? well, since 1907, Iranian scientific and engineering professionals and academics have played a vital role in shaping and fighting for the ultimate realization of the national ideals. That's why Iranian tradition and laws considers universities to be as sacred as mosques and as such OFF limit to intrusions by Police. Shah never dared ordering his troop enter universities as they were places of refuge. The current government has overtly ordered its troop enter universities to arrest and beat innocent people and kill many too. Such illegal act is un-Islamic, Un-Iranian, inhuman, and barbaric, and must be stooped at once.
The governments when become proud that companion in the way of scientists and educated peoples and use thought of them. Iranian people can not be quiet when they see retro gradation of their country. I think intervention of other governments causes the worse outcome.
Solidarity of all international organisation and universities ia very important to help Iranian students and scholars to move forward with thier efforts.
I think the problem of Nature is that it has made itself restricted only to the news of American-Zionism orinted international media. Therefore it is not able to see the 85% contribution of Iranian people in recent election (24 millions: Dr Ahmadinejad), and it can not compare this with the situation in America, and it can not see the situations in American supported countries like Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Jordan. Dr Kazem Poustini
Dr Poustini! This article is about attacking universities by governmental forces, has nothing to do with election fraud. Are you agree with such an attack or not? In addition relation between nature and American-Zionism media is only a paranoid idea.
Completely agree with Kazem Poustini. Nature is beccoming like corporate zionist controlled media. In Egypt, Jordan and many US ally countries, opposition candiadtes die mysteriously or killed in accidents. American agents are elected with 99% votes. Dissents are labeled as terrorist organization with active support of zionist infested state department, capitol hill and white house. Nature is deaf, blind and insensitive to such protests. By the way zionist- america nexus is not paranoid idea but truth which zionists want to deny.
I think condemnation of violence by other universities encourage the Iranian scholar in their struggle for freedom.
Dr Poustini, Mr. Ahmad, it is regrettable that you fail to recognize that the space provided by Nature for your comments does precisely contradict influence by any "zionist controlled" source, or other ulterior motives!! Which one of the Iranian media is free to reflect the opinions of the readers, editors and authors without the government harassment and risk of imprisonment? Being a scientist and the tradition of scholarship are precisely the reasons why we must express our support for freedom of expression, and demand governments' respect for basic human rights. Mr. Ahmad's rhetoric regarding "corporate controlled zionist media" is particularly unfortunate, and even offensive to the rest of us scientists who have Jewish collaborators and friends who support the rights of the Jewish people alongside the legitimate rights of the Palestinians. Mr. Ahmad belittles (or implicitly justifies) the violent and repressive reaction of the security and paramilitary forces of Islamic Republic of Iran by mentioning other deplorable actions in other countries. Dr. Poustini and Mr. Ahmad are invited to take the time, to invest some effort, and write an objective and factual article about the causes that they promote. It is very likely that they would receive support from the scientific community (e.g. from me and other readers of Nature), and contribute to their cause.
Dr. Poustini and Mr. Ahmad's opinions are regrettable. I support the naure on its way to express unity with Iranian scholars and students and supprot them in their movements for freedom.
Iranian scientists are very important and creative members of universities all over the world. Scientists should stand together and support Iranian universties by signing petitions.
As a solidarity with Iranian scholars and student the following petition launch last week, anyboda interested to sigh up, please contact me on; gorjia@uni-muenster.de We the signatories herein do hereby condemn most strongly any form of violence and intrusion against Iranian universities. Furthermore, we support the Iranian students, professors and scholars in their continued quest to achieve their own home-grown justice, equity, freedom of expression and democracy. We all appeal to international organisations for supporting Iranian universities by demanding the upholding of human rights and security and safety of all Iranian students, professors and scholars. 1. Prof. Ali Gorji, Munster University, Germany 2. Prof. George G. Somjen, Duke University, Durham, USA 3. Prof. Jaideep Kapur, University of Virginia, USA 4. Prof. Martin Lauritzen, Copenhagen University, Denmark 5. Prof. Mohsen Mohadjer, Freiburg University, Germany 6. Prof. Jens Dreier, Berlin University, Germany 7. Prof. Jerome Engel, Jr., David Geffin School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, USA 8. Prof. Ingrid Tuxhorn, Cleveland University, USA 9. Dr. Gabriel Moddel, Munster University, Germany 10. Prof. Rubem C. A. Guedes, Univ. Federal de Pernambuco, Brazil 11. Dr Thomas Seidenbecher, Munster University, Germany 12. Prof. Michael Madeja, Frankfürt Hertie Foundation, Germany 13. Dr Johannes Wölfer, Munster University, Germany 14. Professor David N. Rahni, New York Pace University, USA 15. PD. Dr. Christian Stock, Munster University, Germany 16. Prof. Nader Sohrabi, Columbia University, USA 17. Dr. Rodrigo Iturriaga, Universidad Catolica de Chile Santiago, Chile 18. Dr. Jed Hartings, University of Cincinnati, USA 19. Dr. F. Simyar, Dean, College of Business, Chicago State University, USA 20. Prof. Dr. Michael Mueller, Goettingen University, Germany 21. Prof. Thomas-Nicolas Lehmann, HELIOS Klinikum Bad Saarow, Berlin, Germany 22. Dr. Markus Dahlem, Technical University Berlin, Germany 23. Prof. Abolghasem Sepehrnia, Münster, Germany 24. Prof. Reza Soleymani, Concordia University, Canada 25. Prof. Alexandra Hrycak, Reed College, Portland, Oregon, USA 26. Dr. Yahya Aghakhani, Winnipeg, MB, Canada 27. Prof. Erwin-Josef Speckmann, Münster, Germany 28. Dr. Behzad Mansouri, MCGill University, Montreal, Canada 29. Prof. Thomas Budde, Münster University, Germany 30. Prof. Dr. Eberhard A. Deisenhammer, Medical University Innsbruck, Austria 31. Prof. Heidrun Straub, Münster University, Germany 32. Ass. Professor Dr. Hossein Kashani, Uddevalla Specialistkliniken för ÖNH/käkkirurgi, Trollhättan, Sweden 33. Dr. Ullrich Wruck, Helios-Klinikum Bad Saarow, Berlin, Germany 34. Ass. Prof. Tobias Loddenkemper, Harvard Medical University, Boston, USA 35. Prof. Dr. Diethelm W. Richter, Goettingen University, Germany 36. Prof. Dr. Detlev Schild, Goettingen University, Germany 37. Dr. Cenk Ayata, Harvard Medical University, USA 38. Prof. Tavakoli, Freiburg University, Germany 39. Dr. Assad Yavari, Grevenbroich , Germany 40. Prof. Gabriele Flugge, German Primate Center, Göttingen Universität, Germany 41. PD Dr Swen Hülsmann, Goettingen University, Germany 42. Dr. Mary E. Gilbert, US Environmental Protection Agency, Durham, USA 43. Prof. Hans Wassmann, Munster University, Germany 44. Prof. Pier Cosimo Magherini, Univ.of Modena & R.Emilia, Modena, Italy 45. Dr. Anja Urbach, Friedrich Schiller University, Jena, Germany 46. Prof. Reza Shadmehr, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine Baltimore, USA 47. Dr. Stéphanie Graebenitz, Muenster University, Germany 48. Prof. Leopoldo Bon, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Italy 49. Dr. Jörg Lesting, Münster University, Germany 50. Dr. Christian Schmeer, Friedrich-Schiller University, Jena, Germany 51. Dr. Johannes Brockhaus, Münster University, Germany 52. Dr.Rajeevan, T. Narayanan, Munster University, Germany 53. Dr. Alexander Wolff, TU Eindhoven, The Netherlands 54. Dr. Hector Romo-Parra, Muenster University, Germany 55. Dr Frédéric CHAUVEAU, Munster University, Germany 56. Prof. Dr. Reza Asghari, Fachhochschule Braunschweig/Wolfenbüttel Brunswick European Law School, Wolfenbüttel, Germany 57. Dr. Jaroslav Turanek, Veterinary Research Institute, Brno, Czech Republic 58. Prof. Dr. Volker Gerke , University of Muenster, Germany 59. Prof. Erez Raz, Munster University, Germany 60. Prof. Dr. med. Christoph Redecker, Universitätsklinikum Jena, Germany 61. Dr. Marc van Kreveld, Utrecht University, The Netherlands 62. Prof. Dr. Alexander Schmidt, Muenster University, Germany 63. Prof. Dr. Dr. Dr. h. c. Ulrich Joos, University Münster, Germany 64. Egill Rostrup, MSc. DMSC, Chief Physician, Glostrup University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark 65. Dr. Regine Schuon-Joos, IMC Münster, Germany 66. Prof. Said Arjomand, University of New York Stony Brook, USA 67. Dr. Ute Wegmann, University Münster, Germany 68. Prof. Dr. Karl Zilles, Duesseldorf University, Germany 69. Dr. Stjepana Kovac, Institute of Neurology, Queen Square, London, England 70. Dr. Christian Dohmen, Cologne University, Germany 71. Emeritus Prof. Anthony Strong, London, England 72. Dr. Kamil Uludag, Tuebingen University, Germany 73. Dr. Christian Albertus, Værløse, Denmark 74. Prof. Dr. Franz Pera, Münster University, Germany 75. Prof. Nasrin RahimiehUniversity of California, Irvine, USA 76. Prof. Bettina Speckmann, TU Eindhoven, The Netherlands 77. Prof. Dr. Peter Martus, Charité University Medicine, Berlin, Germany 78. PD Dr. Christoph Greiner, MVZ Marienhospital Osnabrück, Germany
Mr. Riemann and Rufski; Regrettable are events I mentioned and not my comments. Bombing of Universities, hospitals, UN institutions and ambulances in Gaza few moths ago by Israeli army did not find a mention in Nature. Global protests on those attacks were ignored by nature like other corporate media. Karzai will be elected in staged election in Afghanistan and protests will be ignored by nature. This is a pattern and I have followed nature for two decades to pronounce my Judgment.
Readers of this comment thread may also be interested in Nature's Editorial in its 2 July issue -- "We are all Iranians." Here's the link to the pdf: http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v460/n7251/pdf/460011a.pdf
Dr Poustini's comment is regrettable. Yes, people attended in election to to stop more country isolation by Ahmadinejad, even some people voted for first time over their life and never like this. They could not believe that fraud will change everything and 24 millione votes for Ahmadinejad will be appeared. We will wait for next election for parliment and see people contribution! I hope you have still 24 millions contribution.
this is a really important article and so encouraging to see the world sympathising with their situation. As an addict of the iranian election, (and iran in general) i am struck by the character of the people, their humour and humility, it seems to me your good nature is being taken advantage of-how would the rest of the world cope with the amount of fear that you are living with on a second by second basis? Such a civilised people with a bunch of backward ungrateful bastards -supreme? I think not!i support your struggle all the way. Anyone who supports progression, knowledge and learning would.
1-We learn in science and in research works not to accept or reject unless a clear document is available or obtained. Fraud is a baseless accusation in Iranian election, as no document has been submitted to the authorities. If some people accept a baseless accusation, how could they be considered as researchers? 2-Why the news of so many researchers and academic members, for example from the university of Tehran who recently gave support to the Iran Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khameneei do not appear in Nature website? This is because, as I said, Nature and its news are completely American- Zionism oriented. 3-This is not the first time that the results of a lawful and democratic election become unacceptable. The election in Palistain, and earlier in Algeria was not accepted by US in the past. Now, the same story occurred by the US backed candidate in Iran election. This is because they can not give an explanation to their supporters about their policies. Despite the huge propaganda by the west against Dr Ahaminejad, 62% (24 million) of our people in Iran voted to his presidency. 4-Regrettable is that no response, and no petition is appeared on US-Zionism oriented websites against killing people in Afghanistan and Iraq by US army, and US supported massacre in Gaza. Instead, the petitions are appeared for a false that is reported by the US oriented international media. Dr Kazem Poustini
Dear Dr Poustini, i really doubt that you have learned science of any kind anywhere, specially when I look at your homepage :D But, please read the article again and see what it is about ... It's not about Gazza or so, it is about Iran and how world can help in developing the science in it ...
Dear Dr. Poustini, Even if we would accept that Nature´s political publications are biased it will not change the nature of the current movements in Iran. All allegations of election fraud (before, during and after)have been reasonable but they have been never addressed nor analyzed by the current government. It is impossible to prove an election fraud when severe political and military oppression is practiced over our nation. If our people could speak freely in our country and if we had justice then such an article could be read in Persian in our daily paper "Keyhan" and not in Nature!!!!!!! With all respect for palestinians, at this moment our concerns should focus on our domestic problems. I am sure that you are very familiar with "Imam Ali´s (Imam of justice and science) saying that a good muslim should take care of his home and family first before helping others. To be fair and objective especially towards the demands of our young people is your obligation as well.
Dr. Poustini,1- we are researcher and should do research and do not accept any fake documents. May I ask where are your clear documents about 24 M votes? Your refrence is a lier government with fake documents. Please watch this clip it is just one of lies in the government, torturing people to admit that they have been conected to west and confessing that they have broken people properties, cars...... But at the end you see police is breaking people properties,http://neweshtar-ha.blogspot.com/2009/07/blog-post_6330.html This is on of the mass of lies, the government has been established based on lies. Your documents may be are just Keyhan and Iranian TV, you are a researcher go and read other media. Technology will disclose their lies one by one, god bless mobile, internet and computer.I am really wondring how you are talking about 24 million votes while students are being killed by your favourite president you do not see them? If he has 24 million votes, why they are worried, why all reformists are in the jail, why internet speed is low, sms is disconnected, news are being censored, reformists news papers are blocked and They let just Iranian TV as an individual news source keeps lying. Even some clergies believe fraud, you are saying not? How they counted whole votes in 3 houres but when they saw people protest for recounting just 10% of votes they needed 16 days! Why some vote papers are unfolded with the same manuscript and more and more, the documents were submited but they were ignored, have a look at internet I am sure you will find enough docs. Where is your clear document saying USA has not accepted the election? they just condemned violation, go and study more. Here is not Keyhan and people here are not uneducated people. I believe that you are like Iran leader and need an imaginary enemy (which USA and Zionist are the best) to refer all problems in the country to them and kill opposition easily by connecting them to these imaginary enemies.
Ali Mohammadi; well put, and I hope Kazem Poustini will be able to see the sense in your arguments. I would just like to add that, of course, attacks on universities are more newsworthy than academics giving quiet support to a politician. This is a news site, not a collection of essays, and therefore more sensational events will receive more attention. Finally, I would also like to say that if Nature is biased, it is far more likely to be towards an atheist or agnostic view than to any particular religion.
I believe that the break of Aura of powerful men and the observation by people of a clear divergence among top clerics is a huge product of post-election events. Concerning the scientific development issue: We know that the collaboration between scientists is one of the building blocks of the science progress. This concept for a vast majority of Iranian researchers has been the last priority. We have heard that European parliament is considering making sever measures for Iranian diplomats visa. Well, ok, what will happen with scientists? The scientific community should pursue a serious discussion about this issue for researchers. If foreigners or diaspora wants to act in some much more positive way, I believe that this is one of the most important points. The virtual communications between diaspora and people inside Iran is a very good strategy but certainly not enough.
As an American and a scientist who has strong affection for the Muslim world from my undergraduate travels to Egypt and Jordan, I'm saddened by Dr. Poustini's use of the phrase "American-Zionist axis" because it denotes little understanding of the politics of my country. There is undeniably a strong thread of support for the state of Israel in our government based on a historically close relationship, but I think Dr. Poustini underestimates how much sympathy for the Palestinian cause has grown in the past 3 decades, particularly among the generation that has just taken the reins of government. It is not an accident that this is the first time a man who is NOT a white Anglo-Saxon has been elected to the presidency; it is a marker of sea changes in American attitudes toward Islam and toward the rest of the world that Barack Obama has been so successful. The Bush administration (which I personally regard as an illegitimate pretendership) may have obscured these changes with its narrow-minded warmongering rhetoric, and its inexcusable refusal to engage in diplomacy and non-violent measures on either Palestine or Iraq, but one should never take a government's actions as a direct indicator of the unified will of its people--particularly when that government was "elected" by such a close margin under questionable circumstances. I believe that the Ahmadinejad government now falls under that description. So I beg of Dr. Poustini and others who think as he does to take a broader view of our nation. I think you'll find that there is a very large segment of the American populace that doesn't support Israel and that actively works toward promoting Palestinian autonomy.