Gathering the news about Iran's 2009 National election in one place.

Mohsen Kadivar

Iranian Regime Critic Mohsen Kadivar: 'This Iranian Form of Theocracy Has Failed' (Spiegel)

Iranian Regime Critic Mohsen Kadivar: 'This Iranian Form of Theocracy Has Failed': Via SPIEGEL ONLINE - News - International.

In a SPIEGEL interview, Iranian theologian and philosopher Mohsen Kadivar discusses Tehran's path towards a military dictatorship, how the country's religious leaders abuse Islam and opportunities for reform.

SPIEGEL: Ayatollah Kadivar, we are meeting you here at Duke University in the US State of North Carolina, 7,500 miles away from your home. Are you not needed more urgently in Iran now?

Kadivar: Believe me, in these dramatic hours I would much rather be in my homeland. Within the next two weeks, the future of Iran will be decided. Almost all my friends, 95 percent of them, are now in prison; and I am barely able to contact my family, the phones are almost dead.

SPIEGEL: You are said to be the co-author of the most recent declarations of opposition leader Mir Hossein Mousavi.

Kadivar: That is not right. Although I enjoyed his statements, they are not mine.
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Parvez Sharma: There Will Be Blood -- Exclusive Interview With an Iranian Journalist in Tehran

Parvez Sharma: There Will Be Blood - Exclusive Interview With an Iranian Journalist in Tehran: Via .

IMPORTANT UPDATE: I HAVE JUST RETURNED FROM A FRIDAY SERMON OUTSIDE THE UN IRANIAN MISSION IN NYC LEAD BY RENOWNED ULEMA (MUSLIM SCHOLAR) MOHSEN KADIVAR. KADIVAR IS IN EXILE. HE CHALLENGED THE CONCEPT OF VELAYET-E-FAQIH (RULE BY THE CLERICS). IN HIS SERMON HE CALLED THE BASIJ (THE RELIGIOUS MILITIA'S) "MURDERERS". WILL TRY AND GET MY INTERVIEW WITH KADIVAR UP SOON.

Also please read this amazing account I have put on the Daily Beast from Arash Aryan-his second in two days. It will break your hearts. He is a powerful voice coming out of there.

Through the night, primarily through intermittent internet connection, I have been able to talk with Iranian photo-journalist NS (she does not want her name used, for obvious reasons). NS has been in the middle of the protests. While the interview text below was compiled before the sermon, a later communication tells me this: Like many others, she is enraged by the "khutba" (Friday sermon) of the Ayatollah Khamenei which will now open the doors for a Tiananmen in Tehran. Saturday will likely be the bloodiest day so far, if the brave crowds decide to come out. Another friend from Tehran cried on the phone, after he had been to Tehran University to pray and hear the Ayatollah's sermon. His last words to me before the mobile phone connection was cut off were: "Tomorrow there will be blood."

These are the exact words written by NS. No editing or filtering, necessary.

Q: What has Thursday been like? What is the mood at the mourning rallies? What have you seen/experienced/photographed?

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