Remember Your Summer Vacation? Doesn’t Every Kid Deserve One?
Rev. Danny Fisher
Just a Buddhist Minister Trying to Benefit Beings
February 11, 2010
“Nelson Mandela’s Captive Audience”
Image by Jordin Isip for the New York Times.
This from the New York Times:
On Feb. 11, 1990 — 20 years ago [today] — Nelson Mandela walked through the gates of a South African prison after 27 years of confinement. His release was celebrated the world over. But it had a particular effect on those who were being held as political prisoners by other repressive regimes. The Op-Ed editors asked seven of these former captives to describe what it was like when they heard the news of Mr. Mandela’s liberation.
Freedom’s Dominoes
By JACK MAPANJE
Mr. Mandela’s release heralded the eventual freedom of political prisoners in Malawi.Silly Men, Sharp Knives
By WEI JINGSHENG
In China’s Hebei Prison, the news called to mind an old Chinese maxim: a knife must be ground to be sharpened.Path of Most Resistance
By NGUYEN DAN QUE
A humanitarian under house arrest was inspired to issue a manifesto for the basic rights of the Vietnamese people.The Radio’s Song of Liberation
By FADJROEL RACHMAN
A prisoner in Indonesia believed that at last justice and freedom had won.My Hero, Page by Page
By KO BO KYI
Smuggled pages of an article describing Mr. Mandela’s autobiography inspired Burmese political prisoners.Ray of Light
By SOULEYMANE GUENGUENG
A prisoner in Chad swore that if he got out alive, he would fight for freedom.A Smile to Remember
By WANG DAN
In the pursuit of freedom, there are times when we must pay the price of losing our freedom, learned a Chinese student leader.
February 11, 2010
Nine People are at Imminent Risk of Execution for their Alleged Involvement in Post-Election Protests in Iran
This from Amnesty International:
Nine people are at imminent risk of being executed for their alleged involvement in the post-June 12 election protests in Iran. The nine were convicted of “Moharebeh” (enmity with God) after unfair trials that did not adhere to international standards; it is believed the nine were coerced into making confessions. The names of two of the people are known: Naser Abdolhasani and Reza Kazemi.
Judging from reports that have appeared in Iranian media, the “evidence” against the convicted individuals is very tenuous. They have been accused of vague crimes such as assembly and conspiracy to commit crimes against national security, insulting top government officials, and propaganda against the state
The fear of their execution is heightened since two men, Mohammad Reza Ali-Zamani and Arash Rahmanipour were hanged in public on January 28 after being convicted in unfair trials of “Moharebeh” and being members of Anjoman-e Padeshahi-e Iran (API), a banned group which advocates the restoration of the Iranian monarchy. They were in detention prior to June 12.
Hardline cleric and member of the Guardian Council, Ayatollah Ali Jonati welcomed these executions. Given his prominent position amongst the ruling elite’s “hardliner” faction, his statement is interpreted as a green light for further political executions. He explicitly stated that if widespread executions had taken place following the post- election unrest, the protests would not have lasted so long.
Send letters to Ayatollah Sayed Ali Khamenei and Ayatollah Sadeqh Larijani here.
