Event Announcement: Sifting Fact from Fiction; The Role of Social Media in Conflict
The United States Institute of Peace is an American institution that works to prevent or end violent conflicts around the world. USIP study conflicts, then find ways to end or prevent violence through analysis and on-the-ground training. One of USIP initiatives is “Blogs and Bullets” . Blogs and Bullets explores ways to utilize quantitative and analytical tools to map online discourse and content in conflict areas. As part of this initiative, the Center has put on major conferences that have brought together a wide range of leading academic and industry experts. These conferences have significantly advanced a broad effort to develop policy-relevant and academically rigorous approaches to urgent questions about the impact of new media on conflict and peace.
This Friday, September 16, USIP’s Blogs & Bullets is hosting an event that might be of interest to anyone who is interested in resolving violent conflicts:
Program Title: Sifting Fact from Fiction: The Role of Social Media in Conflict
The event organizers describe this event as a meeting that will bring together the companies and experts who sift through the data with activists that create it and policy-makers who use it. We assume that this event would be appealing for Balatarin community. Since December 2010 when the revolutionary wave of demonstrations and protests occurred in the Arab world, Balatarin community shows interest in the effects of social media on liberation movements. There were lots of discussions and speculation among balatarin users about the ability of Iranian media to bring about the same social changes.
This event is being webcast and is thus open for participation either in person or by watching the webcast at 9:00am EDT on September 16, 2011. Online viewers will additionally be able to engage panelists and each other through live chat and Twitter discussions (hashtag: #usipblogs)
more about event and RSVP
Time: September 16, 2011 – 8:30am-12:30pm
Location:
U.S. Institute of Peace Headquarters
2301 Constitution Avenue NW
Washington, D.C. 20037
Inquiries
please contact Anand Varghese at avarghese1@usip.org or 202-429-7179 with any questions about this event
Debating A War In An Unlikely Place
After a bit of research on the Internet, I found out that Emmanuel Kelly and his brother, Ahmed, who both suffer from limb deficiencies as a result of exposure to chemical warfare, were adopted from Iraq by an Australian woman. They must have been abandoned at an orphanage somewhere in Northern Iraq, where Saddam Hussein’s army gassed Kurdish people near the end of the bloody eight-year war with Iran. Emmanuel Kelly is now pursuing a singing career, and hence his appearance on “The X Factor.”Balatarin users’ reactions to this video were quite possibly very different from anywhere else in the world, however, as those opening words of the link description evoked their own emotional and unexpected reactions among some Iranians.”Based on UN Security Council Resolution 598, Iraq is recognized as the aggressor, so your comments are absolutely wrong and you have used MKO’s language which is against Iran and its interests,” said one commentator.
“This video was really impressive and breathtaking, but the war wasn’t Khomeini and his Islamic regime’s dirty war, as you mentioned in your description. Have you forgotten who started the war? What were we supposed to have done at the time? Iranian casualties were much higher, you know. My father was one of those who got wounded in the war,” said another.
“Who sold weapons to both countries to help them go on with their war? Think about it!”
“Yes, it is true that Khomeini didn’t start the war; however, he is to blame for his wrong policies– asking Iraqi Shiites to rebel against Saddam’s regime–which provoked Saddam to invade Iran.”
“Guys! This is the power of the unjust western media that can easily distort the facts to mislead the public and make you come up with incorrect conclusions. Have you ever seen any footage of a victim of the Hiroshima nuclear attack by Americans? How about the casualties of wars in Iraq or Afghanistan? I promise you guys have never seen any such victims on any shows in the Western media, never ever.”
“How come nobody has yet mentioned anything about the mother who adopted him? She is an angel. She is a wonderful and kind-hearted woman and mother. The point of this show is humanity, and not the things some of you conspiracy theorists mention. Why do you think the world is always plotting against Iran? Why do you think you are the center of the world?”
“There are two main reasons why Iraq invaded Iran and the west either supported or turned a blind eye on it. First of all, I have to explain that the term “imposed war” is a wrong term used by many Iranians, especially the younger ones who are mostly influenced by the regime’s propaganda. Secondly, we should never forget the provocative actions and crazy speeches by Ayatollah Khomeini in the days leading up to the war. For example, the speeches Khomeini made as a Grand Ayatollah–the highest ranking religious leader among Shiite Muslims–to ask (give fatwas to) Shiite Iraqis to fight against the Sunnis and Saddam, who were a minority group In Iraq. Or Khomeini called Saudi Arabia “Hejaz,” a very old name of that region. Iran became Israel’s worst enemy overnight, threatening the west and their interests in the region. Thirdly, Saddam was very sure Iran could not fight well and he could achieve his goals quickly, because Khomeini executed or dismissed the best and most experienced army generals. As a result, it is terribly unfair and naive to think that Saddam Hussein was the only one to blame for the blood spilt during the war.”
As you can see, the discussion became an interesting one about the Iran-Iraq War! You never know what our users may say next on Balatarin!
About A Lake And More
New street protests have erupted in big cities of Iran’s Azarbaijan region. This time, the protests pertain to a critical environmental issue which many citizens believe has been caused by irresponsible decisions on the part of the government to construct irregular dam projects, allow uncontrolled digging of underground wells, and build a motorway bridge over the lake. The sight of a dying Lake Orumiyeh, Iran’s largest lake, and the Iranian Parliament’s refusal last month for an emergency review of the catastrophe, have led to angry reactions from Iranians nationwide, but particularly from residents of Azarbaijan provinces.
After last week’s protests in Orumiyeh, today the protests in Tabriz and Orumiyeh turned violent and resulted in many injuries and arrests. In the absence of reliable news sources covering the unrest, Balatarin users posted blogs and information provided on Facebook pages of eyewitnesses of the events, in addition to links from local websites that tried to provide information about the developing news.
With 238 links in its own hot topic and nine out of ten of “Today’s Best Links,” the lake and its supporters were the most important thing Balatarin users talked about today. There is no doubt that this issue is important to many Iranians; but perhaps the most important lesson of the Lake Orumiyeh developments is how the Iranian government has chosen to make protests about an environmental concern into a risk against its own security, acting against Article 27 of the Iranian Constitution, which states: “Public gatherings and marches may be freely held, provided arms are not carried and that they are not detrimental to the fundamental principles of Islam.”
Even with another brutal crackdown, it is highly doubtful that the Iranian government has heard the last of the public outcry about one of the worst environmental disasters during the Islamic Republic’s life.
Until next time, stay with us on Balatarin!
Fazl-ur-Rahman The Truthful on IRIB
Those who are familiar with the programming on IRIB, the Islamic Republic of Iran’s state broadcasting network, know that for the past three decades only censored or closely monitored programs have been aired on the network’s many TV and radio channels. Each program, each series, each interview, and even every cartoon or children’s program is carefully planned to pitch state -selected news, pre-planned and targeted analysis, and ideological propaganda to IRIB’s audiences. The state’s monopoly over radio and television programming is only challenged by satellite television programming, which is routinely disrupted by Iranian government’s efforts to jam the satellite signals.
The Iranian government spends millions of dollars annually on this monopoly and on censorship in order to ensure that its narrative of news and world events is the only one that reaches the Iranian nation. It is, therefore, an expected occurrence to see people who are interviewed on the street repeat the government’s narrative, or to see university professors and “experts” deliver “analysis” that is consistent with slogans offered by government officials.
It was, therefore, a thrilling surprise for those who were able to catch an interesting departure from the routine this week, when Fazl-ur-Rahman Oria, an Afghani analyst, spoke his mind against the Iranian and Pakistani governments’ interference into Afghanistan’s affairs, causing its instability. “Iran has not had friendly relations with any of its neighbors,” he told the news anchor who had tried unsuccessfully to steer him away from this topic. “Iran is the only country in the world that is in a state of complete isolation and faces a deep crisis,” added Oria, just before he was unceremoniously cut off and moved off the air.
A video clip of this interview has so far received close to 700 votes and near 300 comments from Balatarin users. Let’s take a look at some of the reactions from our users:
naamvar said: “He embarrassed the IRIB News Network in the best way possible! ‘I don’t agree with you,’ the news anchor says shamelessly. Dude, you are not there to express your own opinion!! You are there to ask questions! That guy’s opinions about the Islamic Republic were 100% on the mark. They had to cut it off in the end. It shows clearly what a professional and objective network they are!”
zabanesabz said: “What kind of regime is threatened with just one interview? See the Supreme Leader of Muslims Worldwide [Ali Khamenei] who is overthrown with just one interview! See their international management in this video! Watch the export of the Islamic Revolution!”
mohsen110 said: “The stupid anchor says: ‘Of course, this is your opinion.’ Someone should tell him ‘Dude, an analyst must express his own opinion, not the opinion you dictate!’”
argument questioned the patriotism of people cheering the analyst, saying: “Nowhere else would you see a group embracing a country at war with their own country. It is impossible to find any websites or blogs whose users would be so happy to cheer on a foreign analyst who is insulting their country like this. For example, on this thread, only Green [Movement] and MEK supporters are dancing with joy…” and strong responded by questioning the first poster’s loyalty to the Iranian government, “…a government that has committed every savagery and violence on its people…a government that has murdered Iran’s youth under torture and rape inside its prisons, and hits its old men and women with sticks on the streets. [A government that] responds to the legitimate objections to its incompetence which led to Lake Orumiyeh’s drying by beating and arresting people. A government that has destroyed the country’s economy and has taken all its resources under the claws of a few smelly, deadbeat, and illiterate IRGC commanders. A government that is helping Bashar Assad to kill more Syrian children en masse everyday. A government that has equaled the name of Iran and Iranians with terrorism, shaming Iranians. If I want to say it all, it would make several book volumes…”
Finally, faryad 22 said what many users on that thread repeated: “He spoke from the hearts of the Iranian people.”
Until next time, stay with Balatarin and let the dialogue grow!
Kahrizak,The Wound That Would Not Heal
Among the bad news that kept mounting and shaping Iran’s contemporary history in the aftermath of the disputed 2009 presidential election, news about the atrocities committed inside the Kahrizak Detention Center particularly hurt the Iranian nation. Reports of brutalities unleashed on a group of young, peaceful protesters who had been arrested at different gatherings in Tehran and taken to the ill-equipped facility, where prison guards systematically mistreated, starved, beat, and injured the young inmates soon reached Iranians who were already outraged with street violence and murders of several protesters.
When deaths of several inmates inside the facility, Amir Javadifar, Mohammad Kamrani, and Mohsen Rouholamini were reported, there was a public outcry for justice (deaths of at least two more Kahrizak detainees, Ramin Aghazadeh Ghahremani and Ahmad Nejati Kargar, shortly after their release from the facility have never been acknowledged by the authorities). Opposition leaders Karroubi and Mousavi formed a committee to review the allegations, but members of the commission and staff members who were gathering testimonies and evidence were soon all arrested, sentenced to long prison terms. After two years of indifference, when what was widely believed to be a show trial of the Kahrizak operatives was held, those responsible for the transfer of protesters to Kahrizak, including the then Tehran Prosecutor Saeed Mortazavi, were never punished.
Reports of prison rape and the senseless loss of life inside Kahrizak has left a gaping wound on the nation’s psyche and many believe that this wound will not heal until the day when all those reponsible are brought to justice. Aside from the several people who died as a direct result of mistreatment and torture inside the prison, there are now at least two other suspicious deaths associated with the facility’s medical personnel. In November 2009, Ramin Pourandarjani, a young doctor who was serving his compulsory military service inside Kahrizak Detention Center’s infirmary, died a suspicious death inside a hotel room and his cause of death was eventually announced as “poisoning.” It was said later that Pourandarjani had refused to sign the death certificates of inmates, listing the cause of death as “meningitis.”
In an interview with Rooz Online, a physician’s son claimed this week that his father, Abdolreza Soudbakhsh, was assassinated by Islamic Republic authorities who wished to silence him for what he knew about the brutal torture and rape of inmates inside Kahrizak, and for his earlier refusal to sign death certificates that deliberately listed their cause of death as meningitis, instead of injuries sustained as a result of torture and horrific hygienic conditions at the detention center. Behrang Soudbakhsh told Rooz Online that his father had examined Kahrizak detainees who were raped and tortured and that he had been told to keep quiet about them. He further told Rooz that his father’s assassination was an inside job by people who had a lot of power to know details about his father’s life and to conceal facts and evidence about his murder.
Reactions to this news on Balatarin mostly came in silence and in the form of high votes for several item posted about it, an indication that the gaping wound of Kahrizak remains raw with Balatarin.
Stay with us on Balatarin until next time!
Is The Green Movement Reformist?
Recent statements by a moderate cleric have generated a huge debate on Balatarin. Answering a question on his own website, Mohammad Mousavi Khoeini, Secretary General of the Association of Combatant Clerics, said recently that “reformists not only oppose slogans against the Supreme Leader,” they are politically active within the framework of the regime and accept its entire Constitution, including “articles related to the Supreme Leader…We oppose the ‘Iranian Republic’ slogan, and will never retreat from our ‘Islamic Republic,’ side by side of [our slogans about] ‘independence’ and ‘freedom,’” wrote Khoeini.
Passionate reactions to Khoeini’s statements continue to come in. Here are some. This may be the beginning of a public debate about the nature and future of the Green Movement, but it won’t be the end of it, to be sure.
Strong said: “Are there still those for whom this is something new? We have been saying from the beginning that the reformists are no different from the Islamic Republic leadership. I don’t know why some wish to pretend like the reformists are against the regime or as liberty seekers. Reformists are just a faction of the Islamic Republic…”
“I was a left winger, but now I consider the Leader-worshipping-reformists filthier than the Principalists,” said Apathetic.
“Aren’t you content with this transparency? Some of my sadness dissipated, as I had some doubts in my heart. These words, at a time when Qaddafi is gone and Beshar [Asad] will also hopefully get lost soon, has a special and deep meaning,” said Mazar.
“Our path is separate from the reformists (compromisers). We do not want reforms, because we are in a war and we have a problem with the entire regime…and then we say why Egypt and Tunisia could and we couldn’t! We must not pay any attention to these people. We do not believe in the government of these retards, and in fact we see all our misery caused by the Supreme Leader. The likes of this man should get lost. They know themselves that they have no place in Iran’s future, and that’s why they are stuttering,” said elpersiano.
“I believe that the day people chanted the “Iranian Republic” and the “Dawn with Khamenei” slogans on the streets, the very nature of the Green movement assumed an opposite position vis a vis reformists. It surpassed the reformists and turned into a movement that wished to overthrow [the regime], meaning something that if fruitful, it would have dealt the same blow to reformists as it would have to the Principalists. It would be simplistic to presume the Green Movement a reformist movement because its creators were the reformists. Starting some time after the election, the movement only carried the name of reformists. When different opposition political groups such as the MEK or Komala and the Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan support the movement, it is clear that it is not a reformist movement. Maybe if we look at it optimistically, the reformists are a small part of the movement, just like the other groups,” said merlin-1.
ahmad1984 responded: “So long as the ‘Ya-Hossein, Mir Hossein’ slogan is chanted, you cannot deny the fundamental role of the reformists in the movement. Have you seen any major moves by the movement which have not been planned by the reformists?”
merlin-1 replied: “The ‘Ya-Hossein, Mir Hossein’ slogan was not for Mousavi’s being a reformist, but for his standing his grounds and for not making a deal with the regime over people’s rights. Imagine if someone like Kadivar or Mohajerani or any one of the other reformists other than Mousavi and Karroubi were to ask people to pour into the streets, what percentage would you think are willing to come out on these guys’ words? Well, if people came out because Mousavi and Karroubi were reformists, they should come out on the other reformists’ call, too. But I think such a thing would be too far-fetched.”
“Against what some friends have said, in my opinion the opposition cannot reach any results without the help of true reformists who were once inside the regime…But the reformists should be refined and their unproductive and opportunist forces should be dismissed and the remaining ones should be exposed to constant thought challenges. We must be careful not to go into extremes. We must pay attention that the Libyan, Egyptian, and Syrian experiences are not necessarily applicable to our situation, or at least there are no clear, hopeful indications that those experiences may happen here in the short run,” said a_r_sahand.
“Reformism is nothing but pouring cement at the shaky foundation of the Islamic Republic, a foundation that has been erected with blood, terror, threats, intimidation, and thuggery. I have respect for Karroubi and Mousavi, but is Ahmadinejad our country’s only problem? Will our country be fixed through reforms? I doubt it very much personally,” said aklilsoranj.
Until next time, stay with us on Balatarin and let the dialogue grow!
“Help Him First, Rob Him Next!”
Riots that erupted in London over the weekend and the Islamic Republic’s stance have caused some reactions among users on Balatarin.
This video–which has gone viral on the internet– shows a seemingly innocent young Asian looking man first being helped, and then robbed by some rioters. Here are some Balatarin users’ reactions to this disturbing video clip.
“I always thought things like that only happen in Iran…now look at Europe.”
“We’ve never had things like that in Iran….”
“This is the real picture of England. That’s how they fight…even if you are one to 10, all ten of them beat the hell out of you…”
“What are you talking about dude?! It’s even worse in Iran…up and down any street, you are able to see several street fights, and you may just be able to see a murder scene, too, while a thousand spectators are recording it.”
“These people are abusing their freedom, while people in Syria are losing their lives to get freedom.”
On the other hand, the Iranian government’s stance has mostly been regarded as outrageous and also the subject of ridicule on Balatarin.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast has asked the British Government to order the police to stop their violent confrontation with the protesters, and to begin a dialogue to calm the situation. This has really made many users, memories of the 2009 crackdown still fresh in their minds, angry enough to create a hot topic right away. Many links about this topic have already been posted to Balatarin. Here are just a few submitted post titles:
2012 Elections: And Where Are Our Rights? (2)
But does it even matter if people do participate in the upcoming elections?
Conservative Member of the Parliament, Mohammad Reza Bahonar, seems to think so. During a press conference this week, he pleaded to the embattled reformists to run for Parliament seats during the upcoming election. “The reformists comprise a wide array and include different ways of thinking. Some of them believe that the election should be boycotted, and some say that they would participate in the election in whatever way possible…My suggestion to the reformists is for them to present a comprehensive definition of their reformist thinking, like the Principalists have done…They can and should participate in the election, and as a matter of fact, we ask these reformists to take part in the election..,” said Bahonar.
But so far, reactions to such talk have been defiant.
One user said: “This is just the beginning…in time, they will resort to begging, too.”
Another said: “It will be no use, even if you beg! When you were trotting ahead at the Parliament, chanting slogans of ‘Mousavi-Karroubi should be executed!’ you should have anticipated these days…”
“Real reformists are either in prison or are sitting in isolation, dismissed from the regime!” said another.
“Attention dear reformists!” said one user. “If you had stepped forward to participate in the election, they would have cussed you out by now, calling you traitors and foreign agents! Now that you have stayed with the people, they are begging you.”
“…your sweet dreams have ended, Mr. Bahonar,” reacted someone to Bahonar’s statement “People wish for reforms.”
The discussion regarding the upcoming election continues on Balatarin. As members share their thoughts and ideas, we will continue to share them here, for, just like the last election, the Islamic Republic of Iran has a lot at stake with the results of this election. Judging from their actions and reactions to the last election, so do the Iranian people.
Until next time, stay with us on Balatarin and learn what our users are thinking about right now!
“What if Syria were in Europe?”
Would it all be the same if Syria were located in Europe? Why do you think the so-called free world is turning a blind eye to atrocities in Syria and does not care about the civilian casualties? would you think the world be as silent if Syria were a European country? Of course not. What is this deafening silence for? How come they won’t stop such barbaric crackdown against civilians in Syria like what they did in Kosovo? Just a few empty words after 5 months of bloodshed?! I hate all their double standards and hypocrisies… Damn it .
Some Iranian users have expressed their opinions in Balatarin .
“I sometimes think Syrian dictators are as lucky as their Iranian friends. If the West hasn’t gotten stuck in Libya, Bashar Al- Asad wouldn’t have been able to commit such atrocities and get away with them easily. I hope Al- Assad as well as their dirty ally (Vali –faghigh’s regime) fall.”
“Syrians are responsible to fix their own problems and issues not Europe. Bahsar and his family are Syrians and also Muslims and that is the root cause of their problems.”
“Shame on all the countries in the world using such double standards e.g the US, England, Germany and above all the UN.”
“To answer your question I should say nothing. Europe didn’t do anything in Kosovo .It was the US that air attacked Belgrade.”
“You must be so naive to think the West has attacked Libya for a good cause. It would just take them a week if they really wanted to remove Gaddafi from power. They are just happy to see all this destruction and bloodshed in Libya because they can make money off the catastrophe there. So, I believe Syrians are better off without them.”
The general mood among Balatarin users is anger and frustration at the UN and the West as well as strong condemnation of the heinous crimes committed by the Syrian regime and their Iranian supporters. Many Balatarin users have re-shared videos from the protests, written numerous blog posts and left many comments on Balatarin ,Facebook ,twitter and …. to show solidarity with Syrian protestors .
A detailed look into the divide among Balatarin users over the recent MKO rally in France
There have been a lot of heated, angry arguments over MKO among users on Balatarin recently.
It all ignited after one of the users made a hot topic on the rally of Mujahidin in France on June 18, 2011 in which some very well-known US and European politicians also participated such as Former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani and John Bolton some of whom even made a speech in this rally . So, these Balatarin users were energized and started to send more and more links to the site covering this event.
On the other hand , we should remember that this group (MKO) has many sworn enemies inside and outside of the regime in Iran such as the core green movement supporters, a group claiming to fight for democracy and freedom formed after the rigged presidential election in Iran in 2009, believing that Mujahidin has made the regime along with people and their demands more radical and violent so that the regime has found a pretext to even more oppress the activists in Iran .
The next group is monarchists believing that Mujahidin was one of the main revolutionary forces involved in overthrowing Shah in the revolution in 1979 -when Ayatollah Khomeini came to power and established the new constitution based on Islam- so they believe MKO is also to blame for whatever misery that has happened to the nation since 1979.
The third group of users who are so against Mujahidin in Balatarin are those self -proclaimed atheists believing that the root cause of all the problems in Iran is religion and it must be the target and Mujahidin is a party that religion plays an important role in it and they publicly say they are devoted practicing Muslims. Atheists say they do not want to change this fundamentalist regime for another.
The next group of users in Balatarin, a small minority, are those users supporting the government and Velayate Faghih in Iran who are obviously the worst enemy of the organization believing all these Mujahidin members are Monafegh( Islamic term used for those who say they believe in Islam while they don’t ) and terrorists and should be hanged and wiped out wherever being found because they think this group is the biggest threat to them and their regime .
The main argument of those opposing Mujahidin users is the participation of Mujahidin in the war against Iran in 80s alongside Saddam Hussein in the last years of the war.
It’s interesting to state that we are not only limited to the groups mentioned above. Many users -not belonging to any of these groups – read all these comments from these different groups and surely make their own conclusions and sometimes there are some comments and e-mails from these types of visitors and users expressing their anger, frustrations or happiness and in some cases indifference about all these arguments in Balatarin because they use and visit Balatarin for reasons other than following all these serious political arguments.
Balatarin is proud to provide such a virtual place for all different points of views and will update you on what’s developing on this site in English for those who may not be able to read and write well in Farsi.
