US slams Iran for jamming foreign media

(AFP) – 7 hours ago

WASHINGTON — The United States on Friday slammed Tehran's "hypocrisy" in blocking international media, after the BBC said its Persian television service coverage of the protests in Egypt was being jammed in Iran.

"The recent arrests and effort to block international media outlets underscores the hypocrisy of the Iranian leadership," National Security Council spokesman Tommy Vietor said.

"For all of its empty talk about Egypt, the government of Iran should allow the Iranian people the same universal right to peacefully assemble, demonstrate and communicate in Tehran that the people are exercising in Cairo."

BBC Persian, which is based in London, has been working with the BBC's Arabic TV service to broadcast rolling news from Egypt, and the broadcaster believes it is this coverage which has prompted the jamming which began on Thursday....

http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5iN64PN_Bq2dlB01hnWiPE...

 

Iran jams BBC's Persian TV service

Guardian.co.uk,

The BBC's Persian TV service is being jammed from within Iran due to its coverage of the unrest in Egypt.

It appears that the trigger point was a joint broadcast on Wednesday by the corporation's Persian and Arabic services in which Iranian and Egyptian callers exchanged views....

http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/greenslade/2011/feb/11/bbc-iran

 

Cyberactiviists "Anonymous" are planning something in support of the Greens in Iran tomorrow.

via Al Jazeera "Iran's opposition planning protests" by D. Parvaz, Feb. 13

(see illustration at right with "V for Vendetta mask"):

Cyberactivist Anonymous posted a Youtube video telling anti-government groups to 'expect' their support

Also the Al-Jazeera piece has links to  a pro-government message online says that the Green Movement is supported by Zionist forces (an example, mho, of how much savvier the Iranian regime is than Mubarak's was.)

and from the related Facebook page, "Iran's Freedom Valentine--Don't Forget Our Date".

There is also this warning about not expecting too much:

Kelly Niknejad, founder and editor in chief of news site Tehranbureau.com, told Al Jazeera that it is hard to tell what, if anything, may unfold on Iran's streets on Monday.

"The Iranian government did a very effective job of keeping the protest down," said Niknejad, referring to the absence of protests in Iran since 2009.

"They've made it such a high-stakes game to go out and protest."

As a result, Niknejad says she is surprised that Karroubi and Mousavi have called for the protests.

"Perhaps they know Iranians in away that those of us who live on the sidelines don't ... perhaps they know something that we don't," she said.

Niknejad, who has been in touch with people in Iran, said that while some have said they will go out and protest, many are "are scared to death".

She also says there may be a case of "Arab envy" among some anti-government Iranians.

With events in Egypt and Tunisia in mind, it seems that there has been a renewed interest in the opposition movement in Iran - at least in the expatriate community - but while interest outside the country might be a reflection of the mood within Iran's borders, it will not necessarily translate to action there.

"It's easy to raise your fist from behind the veil of the laptop," said Niknejad.

Vested interests

While deposed leaders such as Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, the Tunisian president who fled to Saudi Arabia on January 14, have often fled abroad, Niknejad says she cannot see the same happening to Iran's leadership should any uprising be successful.

"I can't imagine Mr Khamenei (Iran's supreme leader) going to a Swiss cottage to live out the rest of his days," she said.

Niknejad said the establishment in Iran will "fight tooth and nail" to remain in power and that it seems unlikely that they would have safe havens outside the country.

The powerful Revolutionary Guard in Iran has a major financial stake in Iran, one far greater than even the Egyptian military.

It is heavily invested in Iran's economy, including petroleum development, construction, weapons manufacturing, communication system, and as a result it has been specifically targeted by international sanctions on Iran.

Niknejad also points out that compared to Iranian security forces, who "beat Iranians to a pulp" in the 2009 protests, the military in Egypt - where journalists were still able to enter and talk to people at the height of the unrest - was relatively benign.

"Egypt on a bad day is better than Iran is on a good day," she said.

PBS's "Frontline" has updates @ "Tehran Bureau" by an expat in LA. It's helpful to get input from someone reading the reports in Farsi and putting it into English:

The Call to Rally / Latest Updates: Marches Planned in 35 Cities
by MUHAMMAD SAHIMI in Los Angeles
13 Feb 2011 03:4

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/tehranbureau/2011/02/wave-of-sup...