lördag, juni 30, 2007
lördag, juni 23, 2007
fredag, juni 22, 2007
Farsad and Farnam Story, a gay couple who have been tortured for being gay
Farsad and Farnam Story, a gay couple who have been tortured for being gay
by Arsham Parsi
"Pinglish Text": Dostan'e Aziz, Tarjome'ye in matlab dar Cheraq Shomare'ye 30
be Farsi montasher khahad shod.
June 20, 2007
Pictures: http://www.irqo.net/IRQO/English/pages/059.htm
I have always wondered if keeping silent about the status quo can lead to
peace of mind, or whether a scream in protesting the misery caused by certain
events is a more logical response. Despite the heterogeneity of Iranian
society in general and Iranian queer community in particular, sometimes the
oppressive events of the day force us to action. Though a small number of
sexual minorities in Iran do not have any problem with police, security and
their families, they are the exception. There are still many in the Iranian
LGBT community who are struggling with huge hardships due to family
interference and government oppression. The almost daily news of the arrest,
humiliation, and torture of Iranian LGBT community members enrages me, and I
am concerned by the reaction of our community as it deals with horrifying
murders and savage executions committed in the name of "the law".
Generally speaking, the reaction from the Iranian community at large falls
into two camps: those who feel that organizational activity and resistance by
the Iranian LGBT community would provoke a strong government reaction, which
in turn could lead to an international reaction against Iran as a whole, and
those who seek a return of their full civil rights. The difference between the
first and second group is that the second is not under pressure from the
government due to their sexual orientation. I believe they can be asked to
demonstrate for our full civil rights, as well. This crucial point could
inspire us to express ourselves and demand what we want, instead of keeping
silent.
During the last few months, Iran has seen the brutal arrest and prosecution of
women's rights activists. Concurrently, IRQO has encouraged the queer
community and its supporters to begin petitions and seek popular support.
Interestingly, these people were not anxious about an international military
action against the Iranian regime due to human rights violations. I signed all
their petitions, because I believe human rights are for everybody, not for one
particular group. In spite of this, my name and those of other activists were
erased from those lists due to concerns about the general situation in Iran.
There is no comment on the following pictures. The two are homosexual and they
have been prosecuted because of their sexual orientation. There is no
disputing this as we possess copies of their tribunal documents regarding
their verdicts and sentences. I ask you, should we keep silent? Should we
paint a false picture of their daily life situation? Certainly silence is not
an option. Probably we should even be laouder. They received eighty lashes; I
doubt that I would be able to endure one. I admire their courage. After
getting his punishment, one of the men asked the person who executed this
barbaric sentence, whether he felt closer to the god by this savagery or not.
These pictures are taken almost one month ago, and a month after they’ve
lashed. When I called them by phone of the first day, they were not able to
talk. Because of the pain they could not even sleep. Farsad is 26 years old
and Farnam is 24, (their names have been changed to protect their identities,
as they have long been in contact with IROQ). Their lives, like many, if not
all the other LGBTs in Iran, is miserable. Farsad lost his father at fifteen
and his mother re-married a revolutionary guard member (a military organism
developed by the Iranian regime), which itself is a bitter story. “Since
childhood I could not find any attraction to the opposite sex; yes of course I
am a homosexual.” Farsad says. At 21, in order to meet other people like
himself, he set up a successful weblog. The secret police found his address
through his IP and arrested him. He spent three weeks in solitary confinement,
and then he was accused of obscenity, advocating decadent values and
homosexuality. They sentenced him to six month in prison. After completing his
sentence he suffered from depression and phobia about revealing his identity
and going back to prison, with symptoms so debilitating he was hospitalized.
Then his diary was found by his stepfather, who demanded Farsad denounce his
homosexuality. When Farsad resisted, his step-father took him to Qom (a holly
city in Iran, and a center of Ayatollahs) to be seen by the grand ayatollahs;
He spent a few nights in custody, was humiliated by the security forces there.
They threatened him with stoning unless he denounced his homosexuality.
Traumatized by the threats, he was then taken to see a grand ayatollah, where
he signed his confession and forgiveness plea. He was then returned to Tehran,
where he received 95 lashes before being released. Almost as an afterthought,
he was questioned by the supreme leader’s office in the university where he
was studying … and was expelled from school, as well.
Last winter, he met Farnam in a gay chat room. After corresponding they moved
in together to start life as a couple, in disguise but together. They invited
a small group of their friends to celebrate this union. Just fifteen minutes
after the party began, the police broke into their house and arrested
everyone. They were brutally beaten, says Farsad, and then transported to a
police detention center. They spent the entire Persian new year holidays in a
prison cell. “We were beaten to the point that my spine hurt permanently; I
still feel the pain caused by the fists pounding my face”, Farsad says.
They were accused of advocating decadency, homosexuality and prostitution.
Because they were arrested together, the authorities insisted on more details
about their relationship. During the police interrogation, they were asked,
"Did you have sexual intercourse with each other?” They did not admit to this
question, and eventually they were sentenced for having an improper
relationship, for which they received 80 lashes. All other guests were
released conditionally and they were ordered to remain in the city and not get
in-touch wiht each other. Two weeks before the execution of their sentence,
the party attendees were arrested again and were sentenced to 60 lashes each,
which all received in the same day. Farsad and Farnam were told that 80 lashes
was just for holding the party , and that their sentence for the improper
relationship would be executed later.
Under increasing pressure from their families, and the government’s threat of
reopening their older files, which could lead to a possible death sentence,
they decided to escape the country, and now are waiting to be transferred to a
safe, gay friendly country. IRQO has been actively following their case and is
pursuing it in the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. We hope one
day full civil rights are granted to the LGBT community all over the world.
"please feel free to publish this story on your medis"
--------------------------
Arsham Parsi
Executive Director
IRanian Queer Organization – IRQO
Formerly Persian Gay & Lesbian Organization – PGLO
www.irqo.net
arsham@irqo.net
tel: 001-416-548-4171
fax: 001-416-352-7459
----------------------------------------------------------------
To subscribe, send a blank message to irqo-on@irqo.net
by Arsham Parsi
"Pinglish Text": Dostan'e Aziz, Tarjome'ye in matlab dar Cheraq Shomare'ye 30
be Farsi montasher khahad shod.
June 20, 2007
Pictures: http://www.irqo.net/IRQO/English/pages/059.htm
I have always wondered if keeping silent about the status quo can lead to
peace of mind, or whether a scream in protesting the misery caused by certain
events is a more logical response. Despite the heterogeneity of Iranian
society in general and Iranian queer community in particular, sometimes the
oppressive events of the day force us to action. Though a small number of
sexual minorities in Iran do not have any problem with police, security and
their families, they are the exception. There are still many in the Iranian
LGBT community who are struggling with huge hardships due to family
interference and government oppression. The almost daily news of the arrest,
humiliation, and torture of Iranian LGBT community members enrages me, and I
am concerned by the reaction of our community as it deals with horrifying
murders and savage executions committed in the name of "the law".
Generally speaking, the reaction from the Iranian community at large falls
into two camps: those who feel that organizational activity and resistance by
the Iranian LGBT community would provoke a strong government reaction, which
in turn could lead to an international reaction against Iran as a whole, and
those who seek a return of their full civil rights. The difference between the
first and second group is that the second is not under pressure from the
government due to their sexual orientation. I believe they can be asked to
demonstrate for our full civil rights, as well. This crucial point could
inspire us to express ourselves and demand what we want, instead of keeping
silent.
During the last few months, Iran has seen the brutal arrest and prosecution of
women's rights activists. Concurrently, IRQO has encouraged the queer
community and its supporters to begin petitions and seek popular support.
Interestingly, these people were not anxious about an international military
action against the Iranian regime due to human rights violations. I signed all
their petitions, because I believe human rights are for everybody, not for one
particular group. In spite of this, my name and those of other activists were
erased from those lists due to concerns about the general situation in Iran.
There is no comment on the following pictures. The two are homosexual and they
have been prosecuted because of their sexual orientation. There is no
disputing this as we possess copies of their tribunal documents regarding
their verdicts and sentences. I ask you, should we keep silent? Should we
paint a false picture of their daily life situation? Certainly silence is not
an option. Probably we should even be laouder. They received eighty lashes; I
doubt that I would be able to endure one. I admire their courage. After
getting his punishment, one of the men asked the person who executed this
barbaric sentence, whether he felt closer to the god by this savagery or not.
These pictures are taken almost one month ago, and a month after they’ve
lashed. When I called them by phone of the first day, they were not able to
talk. Because of the pain they could not even sleep. Farsad is 26 years old
and Farnam is 24, (their names have been changed to protect their identities,
as they have long been in contact with IROQ). Their lives, like many, if not
all the other LGBTs in Iran, is miserable. Farsad lost his father at fifteen
and his mother re-married a revolutionary guard member (a military organism
developed by the Iranian regime), which itself is a bitter story. “Since
childhood I could not find any attraction to the opposite sex; yes of course I
am a homosexual.” Farsad says. At 21, in order to meet other people like
himself, he set up a successful weblog. The secret police found his address
through his IP and arrested him. He spent three weeks in solitary confinement,
and then he was accused of obscenity, advocating decadent values and
homosexuality. They sentenced him to six month in prison. After completing his
sentence he suffered from depression and phobia about revealing his identity
and going back to prison, with symptoms so debilitating he was hospitalized.
Then his diary was found by his stepfather, who demanded Farsad denounce his
homosexuality. When Farsad resisted, his step-father took him to Qom (a holly
city in Iran, and a center of Ayatollahs) to be seen by the grand ayatollahs;
He spent a few nights in custody, was humiliated by the security forces there.
They threatened him with stoning unless he denounced his homosexuality.
Traumatized by the threats, he was then taken to see a grand ayatollah, where
he signed his confession and forgiveness plea. He was then returned to Tehran,
where he received 95 lashes before being released. Almost as an afterthought,
he was questioned by the supreme leader’s office in the university where he
was studying … and was expelled from school, as well.
Last winter, he met Farnam in a gay chat room. After corresponding they moved
in together to start life as a couple, in disguise but together. They invited
a small group of their friends to celebrate this union. Just fifteen minutes
after the party began, the police broke into their house and arrested
everyone. They were brutally beaten, says Farsad, and then transported to a
police detention center. They spent the entire Persian new year holidays in a
prison cell. “We were beaten to the point that my spine hurt permanently; I
still feel the pain caused by the fists pounding my face”, Farsad says.
They were accused of advocating decadency, homosexuality and prostitution.
Because they were arrested together, the authorities insisted on more details
about their relationship. During the police interrogation, they were asked,
"Did you have sexual intercourse with each other?” They did not admit to this
question, and eventually they were sentenced for having an improper
relationship, for which they received 80 lashes. All other guests were
released conditionally and they were ordered to remain in the city and not get
in-touch wiht each other. Two weeks before the execution of their sentence,
the party attendees were arrested again and were sentenced to 60 lashes each,
which all received in the same day. Farsad and Farnam were told that 80 lashes
was just for holding the party , and that their sentence for the improper
relationship would be executed later.
Under increasing pressure from their families, and the government’s threat of
reopening their older files, which could lead to a possible death sentence,
they decided to escape the country, and now are waiting to be transferred to a
safe, gay friendly country. IRQO has been actively following their case and is
pursuing it in the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. We hope one
day full civil rights are granted to the LGBT community all over the world.
"please feel free to publish this story on your medis"
--------------------------
Arsham Parsi
Executive Director
IRanian Queer Organization – IRQO
Formerly Persian Gay & Lesbian Organization – PGLO
www.irqo.net
arsham@irqo.net
tel: 001-416-548-4171
fax: 001-416-352-7459
----------------------------------------------------------------
To subscribe, send a blank message to irqo-on@irqo.net
torsdag, juni 21, 2007
onsdag, juni 20, 2007
Missed a joke on Family Guy? Check the wiki
WAY more than you ever wanted to know about family guy 
|
Robbie
In Germany, a fan pushed Robbie Williams off the stage.
|
music from sweetwarrior
|
tisdag, juni 19, 2007
Vad mycket skräp står det i våra dagstidningar!
Kära medborgare...
Hur kan Aftonbladet, och andra tidningar av tvivelaktig
sanningshalt, skriva så mycket om pseudokändisar som Paris
Hilton, Linda Rosig, Lohan och andra som de flesta av oss gott
och väl kan leva utan? Att de bara orkar...
Idag stod det i Aftonplasket del 2137 i Hiltons fängelsesåpa
att hon hade en farsdags-fest i fängelset och att hon hade
ritat ett vykort till sin far. Vem fan bryr sig?!? Har de på
redaktionen inte mer förstånd att skriva om något betydligt mer
intressantare, viktigare och/eller lärorikare? Att de bara
lägger energi på det förstår jag inte. Att jag bara lägger
energi på att reta upp mig på detta förstår jag inte...
Men jag har faktiskt en teori, även om jag inte är ensam om
den. De som köper dessa tidningar och faktiskt gillar att läsa
om varje steg plastmääniskorna tar - är så himla rädda att ta
egna steg i livet. Den som roar sig åt andras privatliv kan
inte ha ett eget kul att roa sig i...
Det står mig verkligen upp i halsen och jag känner att jag
orkar snart inte läsa mer om dem. Inte för att jag läser om dem
överhuvudtaget, men rubrikerna bläddras ju förbi när man söker
efter sport eller annat som faktiskt kan vara viktigt. Och de
sticker mig i ögonen. Den enda gång det faktiskt roar mig är
när någon av dessa gör något så pantat och dumt att det
faktiskt vänder och blir komiskt. Då skrattar jag och på deras
bekostnad...
Hade jag haft en dotter som Paris eller Linda, hade jag valt
att adoptera bort dem - hur gamla de än var...
Nu är det inte jag som skivit detta utan "stulit"det från
Tramsmail.se
måndag, juni 11, 2007
lördag, juni 09, 2007
SVERIGE Mediadrevet är igång. Den här gången handlar det om en 32-årig man med brittisk ursprung som misstänks för att ha smittat ett stort antal kvinnor med hiv.
Många hivpositiva kvinnor och män i Sverige känner sig oroliga. Och det har man anledning att vara. Medias sätt att rapportera om de här männen och kvinnorna ökar utsattheten och stigmatiseringen av en redan utsatt grupp människor – nämligen hivpositiva barn, ungdomar med hiv och vuxna kvinnor och män som lever med hiv.
I spåren av stigmatiseringen följer också självstigmat, en negativ uppfattning av det egna jaget: Ett självstigma som om den inte motverkas kan få katastrofala följder. Man skulle kunna hårdra det hela och säga att media är med och skapar de kvinnor och män som man hänger ut på braskande löpsedlar.
Medias bild är inte sällan endimisionell och enkelriktad. Grundläggande för stigmatisering är att peka ut och särskilja en grupp från samhällets rådande norm av vad som är önskvärt och inte önskvärt. Media är ett bra exempel på hur man på ett effektivt och skoningslöst sätt kan stigmatisera en grupp av människor, nämligen hivpositiva kvinnor och män. Den hivpositive demoniseras och utmålas som en brottsling, gärna moraliskt förkastlig och man lyfter också fram karaktärsdefekter som ska förstärka bilden av den moraliskt förfallne individen. De som sedan blivit utsatta för denne person fråntas i media allt eget tänkande och ansvar och görs till viljelösa offer, styrda av en person som beskrivs som en manipulativ och sexgalen person.
Det är viktigt att poängtera – personer som lever med hiv har ett sexliv, precis som vilken annan Svensson som helst. Och det allra största flertalet är ansvarsfulla och ansvarstagande. Man använder alltså kondom vid anala och vaginala samlag.
Sen finns det naturligtvis undantag. Och dessa få undantag är i de allra flesta fall personer som har problem av något slag. Några lever i förnekelse på grund av samhällets stigma och diskriminering av personer med hiv. Det kan röra sig om att man är inne i ett missbruk eller har psykisk sjukdom. En annan anledning är känslan av utanförskap som förstärks bland annat av medias sätt att rapportera om sådana här fall. Till sist kan det också handla om att samhällets och närståendes stöd misslyckats kapitalt.
Rapporteringen och historierna genom åren kring personer som överfört hiv visar entydigt att rådande smitskyddslagstiftning motverkar sitt syfte, nämligen att skydda medborgarna från smitta. Genom att ålägga personer med hiv att alltid berätta om sin hiv, inleds man i en falsk trygghet. De flesta tror att alla som har hiv berättar om det innan man har sex. Somliga gör det alltid, somliga gör det aldrig, somliga gör det ibland.
De flesta tror att alla som har hiv vet om att de är bärare av viruset Så är det inte. Det finns många, hur många vet ingen, som är smittade utan att veta om det.
Kondom är det bästa skyddet mot hiv. Inte vad som sägs eller inte sägs!
Till sist ett upprop till samtliga organisationer, föreningar med flera som på ett eller anat sätt arbetar med hivfrågor. Förena er i ett gemensamt upprop och ta avstånd från medias rapportering och allt som bidrar till att stigmatisera, diskriminera och kriminalisera personer med hiv.
Det är viktigt att personer som lever med hiv känner att de har stöd i tider som dessa.
Walter Heidkampf
9/6 2007, 12.00
onsdag, juni 06, 2007
Info from IRAK
PUBLIC AI Index: MDE 13/065/2007 06 June 2007Further Information on UA 120/07 (MDE 13/057/2007, 18 May 2007) Possibleprisoners of conscience/ Fear of torture or ill-treatmentIRAN Up to 17 menAt least 16 of the 17 men arrested on 10 May at a private party in the centralIranian province of Esfahan are known to have been released.Twelve were reportedly released in the weeks following their arrest while fourof the remaining five were released on 29 May. All of these men were requiredto post bail and will reportedly face a trial scheduled to take place in June.There are conflicting reports as to whether the fifth man has been released.They were among 87 people reportedly arrested at the party. Of these, 60 havebeen released unconditionally, while 26, including those referred to above,were released on bail.The 17 men are believed to have been wearing clothes generally associated withwomen at the time they were arrested. They are not believed to have had accessto lawyers or their families, and a judge has reportedly said that thosedetained following the private party will be charged with consumption ofalcohol and “homosexual conduct� (hamjensgarai). Amnesty International isnot aware of any evidence that the men attending the party identify themselvesas gay or were engaging in same-sex sexual relations. The arrests took placeat a time when the authorities were mounting a security operation to enforcedress codes in Iran.During the arrests, those attending the party were said to have been draggedinto the street by police and members of the Basij force (volunteerparamilitary units attached to the Revolutionary Guards Corps), who beat themseverely, causing bruising and, in some cases, broken bones. It remainsunclear if those detained were allowed access to medical treatment.Amnesty International will continue to monitor the situation closely and takefurther action if necessary.No further action is requested from the UA network. Many thanks to all whosent appeals.Working to protect human rights worldwideDISCLAIMERInternet communications are not secure and therefore Amnesty International Ltddoes not accept legal responsibility for the contents of this message. If youare not the intended recipient you must not disclose or rely on theinformation in this e-mail. Any views or opinions presented are solely thoseof the author and do not necessarily represent those of Amnesty InternationalLtd unless specifically stated. Electronic communications including emailmight be monitored by Amnesty International Ltd. for operational or businessreasons.This message has been scanned for viruses by BlackSpider MailControl----------------------------------------------------------------To subscribe, send a blank message to irqo-on@irqo.netTo unsubscribe, send a blank message to irqo-off@irqo.netTo change your email address, send a message to irqo-change@irqo.net with your old address in the Subject: lineTo contact the list owner, send your message to irqo-list-owner@irqo.netNumber of Subscribers: 5,137
Today is my contry´s day
Is OK for me.But why celebrate?I like to have a world out lines and contry!Hope you can understand my bad english and what I mean!
Like to know more go to:
http://hem.passagen.se/farila/nat-dag.htm
tisdag, juni 05, 2007
Whitney Houston CeCe Winans and Shirley Caesar Gospel Medley
CeCe Winans, Whitney Houston and Shirley Caesar bring down the house with this gospel medley at the 1996 Grammy Awards .Den första sången heter:jag nu lämnar allt
Och det vill jag göra varje ny dag till Jesus!
måndag, juni 04, 2007
söndag, juni 03, 2007
lördag, juni 02, 2007
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