February 11, 2010 Drive to Tehran
On our drive to Tehran for the long weekend I tried to SMS a friend who lives there. There was no texting capability. As we entered the city around 11:30 at night there was not a single sign of security anywhere to be seen. I guess they need to eat and rest before the big day.
Our hosts said that a few young people went out on the rooftops in the Yousef Abad area to yell “Marg bar Dictator” [down with dictator] earlier in the evening, but when they heard the motorcycles roar down their street they stopped.
February 12, 2010 The 22 of Bahman
No one wanted me to go out on the streets of Tehran today. My father instructed my husband not to let me go out. My mother-in-law made fun of my curiosity as a way to keep me from going. My husband dragged his feet – very frustrating really! But eventually at 11:30 (which was way too late as far as I was concerned) my husband’s curiosity got the best of him and we went out towards Keshavarz Blvd from the Yousef Abad area. On our way towards the gatherings we met up with an older lady who was walking in our general direction. We started talking. Boy was she a fireball! She told us that she had been walking up and down the streets all morning. She said that the show the government put on this year was nothing like it was last year. She said that last year they were giving cookies and milk to participants, but that this year they really went all out to feed and pamper their supporters. She also let us know that she was scared to go too far out into the crowds. She said she was alone and all her kids were overseas. She said, “Heechkas neest mano jam koneh agar bezananam.” (there is no one to gather me up if they beat me). She asked if se could come along with us and we said she was very welcome. At some point her age came up. She said she was 77 years old! It was an honor to walk with her towards the 100s of government troops stationed in our small area!
As we got closer to the main street we met people coming the opposite way. Some people said that it was quiet and that nothing as going on. One woman told us that in Sadeghiyeh Square many Green Movement supporters had been staging a silent protest when the government troops and Basijis surrounded them and herded them onto buses and took them away. One woman reported that Karroubi’s son had been arrested.
We passed by a black chadori woman (with maghnaeh) and the older lady with us stopped to speak with her. This chadori woman just berated the government. The lady with us looked at her in surprise and said, “I assumed you were Hezbollahi with your chador!” The chadori woman responded, “Mordeh shureh hameyeh Hezbollahiha ra bebarand!” (swearing at the Hezbollahis). As we were talking a number of motorcycles with Basijis passed by and looked intently at us. We agreed that it was dangerous to stand in a group and talk. So we all moved on. As we arrived at the main street it was just choked with security personnel of every stripe and ilk! At some places it was 3 and 4 people deep. Civilians were milling about, but everyone was tense. We would see young men, walking in 2s and 3s stopped randomly, searched and made to pull out their ID cards. Two young men called out to a buddy, “Natars!” as he walked by quickly. (Don’t be afraid.) It was truly frightening.
At this point we were discussing whether to go toward Sadeghiyeh street where people had been beaten and picked up, or whether to go the opposite way and walk through the 100s of security personnel and head towards home as it did not seem there was a group to cleave to. The older lady told us she was frightened and that she would walk back up the street and make her way home. I felt responsible for her so we walked with her until she parted up the street and away from the security personnel to relative safety. Then we continued on our way.
These people were well armed and well clothed in protective gear. Even their shins and shoe tops were protected! No one had green on, but it was obvious that the people around us were Green. I had on green shoe laces and regretted it immediately. So we eventually decided not to go towards Sadeghiyeh. We walked the other way, through 100s of armed security personnel and eventually turned towards our house. Our bodies were wracked by tension.
That afternoon I checked rahesabz.net for news on the days events in the country. I read that 20 people were arrested in Shiraz. I read about events in Ahvaz, Esphahan, the north and other cities. I read that Mousavi’s wife, Zahra Rahnavard, had been beaten. I read that Karroubi’s son had indeed been arrested. I read many things. Thank goodness I did, because the next morning when I went back to the site to read the updates, it had been hacked by the Iran Cyber Army, who had left a nasty little note for potential readers! Ugh! They also listed another 5 sites they have hacked. Check it out. It’s very educational! But it’s also infuriating! I don’t think Iran should be allowed to operate on the net or in the world of satellite programming if they want to play dirty and prevent us from getting real news vs. mere propaganda. . . .
We want to ski tomorrow on the 28th of Safar, a significant death day. So we called information to see if the ski slopes were open. They assured us the slopes would be open tomorrow.
February 13, 2010 Better Luck Next Time!
We woke up at 6:00 am, got dressed, ate breakfast and drove out 2 hours to the slopes just to be told that at the last minute the authorities had decided to close the slopes for the mourning holiday. Talk about a waste of gas and other resources. Such a responsible decision I must say!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
February 14, 2010 Ski Dizin!
Open today, finally!!! No Men and Womens’ ski slopes or rules like 19 years ago when I was there last. One fellow skier said, “So there’s hope for us then.”
February 16, 2010 Local Tehran Flavor
At a real estate office in Tehran a realtor called my dad Haji Agha. Another man sitting there exclaimed loudly, “Don’t call him Haji Agha! Haji Agha’s kill people; they do lots of other things. He’s a professor! Professors just teach people!”
Another man said, “I am willing to call myself a Christian these days, or a Zoroastrian. But I am no longer willing to call myself a Shi’ite Muslim.” He told us his son is a reporter as well as his son’s wife. They fled Iran for Sweden a few days before Ashura.
A cab driver drove us home and on the way told us that he belonged to a Heya’at (a religious group). The leader of their Heya’at announced to them that anyone believing even one word out of the mouths of the religious leaders of this country would be kicked out and barred from belonging to this particular Heya’at.
February 17, 2010 Returning Home
Stopped for a pee and snack break 30 km outside of Natanz. Anti-aircraft missiles started firing. We were caught in the middle of a live-fire exercise that lasted for 1/2 an hour at least! I sure hoped they wouldn’t over-shoot the range!
February 18, 2010 Shiraz News
I heard that there was not a big Green turnout on the 22d, however, a number of the protestors were chased down into Nemazi hospital and beaten very cruelly and ruthlessly before being carted off to who knows where!
People in my neighborhood shouted “Allah-u Akbar” on the 22d in support of the Greens!
February 21, 2010 Rounding up Everyone
Last night I read on rahesabz.net that the Intelligence Ministry was rounding up and interrogating people related to the 1000s excuted in 1367. I know two people whose husbands were among the murdered. I gave them each a copy of the article today. As I gave one woman the article I asked how her son was doing. She said he was fine, but she was not – she had just received a call that morning on her cell phone requiring her presence at the Shiraz Intelligence Ministry tomorrow. She was stressed and nervous. She thanked me for the article. Are they going to interrogate EVERYONE in the country before they are satisfied?
February 22, 2010 Thoughts
A friend had a horrible visit with her family in Isfahan. It seems they are very religious and do not believe what happened in the country this summer. As a result, my friend is having an almost impossible time being with them. Her university aged daughter no longer associates with the grandmother and aunts. They are so far apart in their thinking. It is wearing her down.
I have been thinking a lot about the past few months and the things I have seen and heard and read. Judgement Day, if you believe in that, is going to be hell.
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