Ahmad Zeidabadi: Difference between revisions

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'''Ahmad Zeidabadi''' is an Iranian journalist, political analyst, who also has taught political science at Tehran University. His articles have appeared in many newspapers and other media such as [[Rooz]] and BBC Persian.  
'''Ahmad Zeidabadi''' is an Iranian journalist, political analyst, who also has taught political science at Tehran University. His articles have appeared in newspapers and media including [[Rooz Online]] and BBC Persian.  
==Research and teaching==
==Research and teaching==
The Iranian Studies Group of the [[Massachusetts Institute of Technology]] recorded a lecture by him on "Ethnic Conflicts in Iran".<ref name=MIT>{{citation
The Iranian Studies Group of the [[Massachusetts Institute of Technology]] published a recorded lecture by him on "Ethnic Conflicts in Iran".<ref name=MIT>{{citation
  | url = http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-8601688919886130672#
  | url = http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-8601688919886130672#
  | title = Ethnic Conflicts in Iran
  | title = Ethnic Conflicts in Iran
Line 8: Line 9:
  | publisher = Iran Studies Group, [[Massachusetts Institute of Technology]]
  | publisher = Iran Studies Group, [[Massachusetts Institute of Technology]]
}}</ref>
}}</ref>
==The "wiped off the map" controversy==
==Dissent and imprisonment==
In a ''New York Times'' interview over the "wiped off the map" phrase in [[Mahmoud Ahmadinejad]]'s 2005 speech, he said  "It seems that in the early days of the revolution the word 'map' was used because it appeared to be the best meaningful translation for what he said. The words 'sahneh roozgar' are metaphorical and do not refer to anything specific. Maybe it was interpreted as 'book of countries,' and the closest thing to that was a map. Since then, we have often heard ''Israel bayad az naghshe jographya mahv gardad'' — Israel must be wiped off the geographical map. Hard-liners have used it in their speeches."<ref name=NYT2006-06-11>{{citation
He was imprisoned for protests in 2001, under charges of insulting and defaming the authorities (''toheen va ahanet be masoul'an''), "spreading lies" (''nashr-e akazi'b''), "disturbing public opinion" (''tashvish-e azhan-e 'omumi'') and "attacking national security" (''bar ham zadan-e amniyat-e milli'') <ref name=AI2001-03-12>{{citation
  | date = 11 June 2006
  | url=http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/asset/MDE13/009/2001/en/5aa5d3aa-6656-4ecc-9d2f-1964f5c5d62b/mde130092001en.pdf
| title = The World: Just How Far Did They Go, Those Words Against Israel?
  | publisher = [[Amnesty International]]
  | author = Ethan Brommer | journal = New York Times
  | title = Further information on UA 236/00 (MDE 13/22/00, 9 August 2000) and followup (MDE 13/29/00, 17 October 2000) Prisoners of Conscience/Medical Concern and new concern: fear of ill-treatment/incommunicado detention
  | url = http://www.nytimes.com/2006/06/11/weekinreview/11bronner.html?pagewanted=print
| date = 12 March 2001}}</ref>
}}</ref>


His comments need to be read closely; he agrees that some Iranian politicans have said Israel should be wiped off the map, but that Ahmadinejad did not use those words in the speech in question.
An director of the alumni association of the Advar Takhim student organization, he commented on its political activism in 2007, explaining activists were becoming timid for more reasons than the direct threat from government authorities. "The fact is that the domestic and international conditions of Iran have become so complex that it is not possible to present an accurate picture or analysis of the situation. Situations that are not easy to analyze and where predictions are not easy to make, normally lead to conservatism."  <ref name=Rooz>{{citation
==Dissent and imprisonment==
An outside director of the Advar Takhim student organization, he commented on its political activism in 2007, explaining activists were becoming timid for more reasons than the direct threat from government authorities. "The fact is that the domestic and international conditions of Iran have become so complex that it is not possible to present an accurate picture or analysis of the situation. Situations that are not easy to analyze and where predictions are not easy to make, normally lead to conservatism."  <ref name=Rooz>{{citation
  | date = 23 July2007
  | date = 23 July2007
  | title=The “Crime” of Advar Tahkim Student Organization
  | title=The “Crime” of Advar Tahkim Student Organization
Line 30: Line 28:
  | publisher = International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran}}</ref> "the director of Advar Tahkim Organization and a prominent journalist, was detained on 13 June at his home. A person posing as a delivery man lured him out of his house and unidentified agents kidnapped and took him away. In protest against the illegal manner of his detention, lack of charges against him, and the conditions of his detention, Zaidabadi was on a hunger strike during the first 17 days of his detention.
  | publisher = International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran}}</ref> "the director of Advar Tahkim Organization and a prominent journalist, was detained on 13 June at his home. A person posing as a delivery man lured him out of his house and unidentified agents kidnapped and took him away. In protest against the illegal manner of his detention, lack of charges against him, and the conditions of his detention, Zaidabadi was on a hunger strike during the first 17 days of his detention.


"His wife, Mahdieh Mohammadi, was able to visit him only after 65 days of having no access to him. During their visit, Zaidabadi told her that he had spent 35 days in solitary confinement, in total isolation, where there was no sound, no light, and no human contact. He told her he felt like he was in a grave, developing serious mental disorientation, and becoming suicidal. Since he could not find any means for committing suicide, he started to scream nonstop. The prison guards eventually realized that he is on the verge of insanity and transferred him to a different solitary cell.
His wife said she first was allowed to visit after 65 days; he said he had been kept in solitary confinement and sensory deprivation for 35 days, becoming suicidal. He told her that "interrogators had asked him to give guarantees that he would never engage in political activism." Since that visit, she has had no contact, and his lawyer, Mohammad Sharif, also has had no access."
==The "wiped off the map" controversy==
In a ''New York Times'' interview over the "wiped off the map" phrase in [[Mahmoud Ahmadinejad]]'s 2005 speech, he said  "It seems that in the early days of the revolution the word 'map' was used because it appeared to be the best meaningful translation for what he said. The words 'sahneh roozgar' are metaphorical and do not refer to anything specific. Maybe it was interpreted as 'book of countries,' and the closest thing to that was a map. Since then, we have often heard ''Israel bayad az naghshe jographya mahv gardad'' — Israel must be wiped off the geographical map. Hard-liners have used it in their speeches."<ref name=NYT2006-06-11>{{citation
| date = 11 June 2006
| title = The World: Just How Far Did They Go, Those Words Against Israel?
| author = Ethan Brommer | journal = New York Times
| url = http://www.nytimes.com/2006/06/11/weekinreview/11bronner.html?pagewanted=print
}}</ref>


"During the visit, Zaidabadi told his wife that interrogators had asked him to give guarantees that he would never engage in political activism, although they had not formally charged him. Mohammadi told the Campaign that since that visit, she has had no contacts from Zaidabadi and she had received no other information about him or his case.
His comments need to be read closely; he agrees that some Iranian politicans have said Israel should be wiped off the map, but that Ahmadinejad did not use those words in the speech in question.
 
"Mohammad Sharif, Zaidabadi’s lawyer, has been pursuing his case with Judiciary officials on a daily basis, but they have refused to inform him about any details. Sharif does not even know what court branch Zaidabadi’s case is being reviewed in and he has not been able to access his client to sign papers appointing him as his lawyer.


==Education==
==Education==
He is an alumnus of Tehran University.
He is an alumnus of Tehran University.
==References==
==References==
{{reflist|2}}
{{reflist|2}}[[Category:Suggestion Bot Tag]]

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Ahmad Zeidabadi is an Iranian journalist, political analyst, who also has taught political science at Tehran University. His articles have appeared in newspapers and media including Rooz Online and BBC Persian.

Research and teaching

The Iranian Studies Group of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology published a recorded lecture by him on "Ethnic Conflicts in Iran".[1]

Dissent and imprisonment

He was imprisoned for protests in 2001, under charges of insulting and defaming the authorities (toheen va ahanet be masoul'an), "spreading lies" (nashr-e akazi'b), "disturbing public opinion" (tashvish-e azhan-e 'omumi) and "attacking national security" (bar ham zadan-e amniyat-e milli) [2]

An director of the alumni association of the Advar Takhim student organization, he commented on its political activism in 2007, explaining activists were becoming timid for more reasons than the direct threat from government authorities. "The fact is that the domestic and international conditions of Iran have become so complex that it is not possible to present an accurate picture or analysis of the situation. Situations that are not easy to analyze and where predictions are not easy to make, normally lead to conservatism." [3]He has been imprisoned for political dissent.[4] "the director of Advar Tahkim Organization and a prominent journalist, was detained on 13 June at his home. A person posing as a delivery man lured him out of his house and unidentified agents kidnapped and took him away. In protest against the illegal manner of his detention, lack of charges against him, and the conditions of his detention, Zaidabadi was on a hunger strike during the first 17 days of his detention.

His wife said she first was allowed to visit after 65 days; he said he had been kept in solitary confinement and sensory deprivation for 35 days, becoming suicidal. He told her that "interrogators had asked him to give guarantees that he would never engage in political activism." Since that visit, she has had no contact, and his lawyer, Mohammad Sharif, also has had no access."

The "wiped off the map" controversy

In a New York Times interview over the "wiped off the map" phrase in Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's 2005 speech, he said "It seems that in the early days of the revolution the word 'map' was used because it appeared to be the best meaningful translation for what he said. The words 'sahneh roozgar' are metaphorical and do not refer to anything specific. Maybe it was interpreted as 'book of countries,' and the closest thing to that was a map. Since then, we have often heard Israel bayad az naghshe jographya mahv gardad — Israel must be wiped off the geographical map. Hard-liners have used it in their speeches."[5]

His comments need to be read closely; he agrees that some Iranian politicans have said Israel should be wiped off the map, but that Ahmadinejad did not use those words in the speech in question.

Education

He is an alumnus of Tehran University.

References