Or did I understand something wrong here?

From the Green-supporting Democratic Republic of Iran website, which has been scooping some hot news stories lately:

Karroubi: Protests to be held on anniversary of 12 June election « Democratic Republic of Iran جمهوری دموکراتیک ایران

You can follow this, the Jafar Panahi story and MANY other events in Iran on my Facebook page. Frequent updates. All Iran, all the time!

Welcome to Facebook | Facebook

To All Concerned, a link was just posted on the official Jafar Panahi Facebook page for the Iranian Student Alliance of America’s upcoming screening of Mr. Panahi’s Camera d’Or-winning Crimson Gold. It will be shown at the UC-Berkeley Campus next Tuesday night in solidarity with Mr. Panahi. Here are all the details from the ISAA blog, including place and time:

ISAA: In Solidarity with Jafar Panahi, ISAA presents: The Crimson Gold

If you can make it to the screening, and even if you can’t get in, show up and rally outside. Get some other student groups involved, too. And bring your cameras! A huge show of force would be great, and very inspiring for the many Iranians present deeply concerned for Mr. Panai’s well-being. Be there or be square!

Mr. Panahi also took a moment on that post to thank all of his American supporters. I have been longing to see that for awhile now. Has been all thanks only to Germans, Brits, Swedes, Brazilians, Italians, everyone but the Americans!…

From the Democracy4Iran website:

French Foreign Minister: “We expect to see Jafar Panahi in Cannes!” | Only Democracy For Iran

The article also mentions a rumor that Jafar Panahi is now out of Evin prison and under house arrest. That would be very good news and a great improvement on the situation. Will update as news breaks on this story that either confirms or denies that rumor.

I have heard that the good citizens of Tehran have been resisting by refusing to pay their water bills. I gather that the supply control is generally inside the house, so cannot be turned off for lack of payment. And that SL has announced that the prayers of those who do not pay are invalid. Ha!

I kid you not, this actually is On-Topic!

Not unlike a certain Gentleman in the US now an Iranian cleric blames natural disasters on the fall of morals… oO

Britain has dropped to 25th place on a list of the best places in the world to live - behind countries such as the Czech Republic, Lithuania and Uruguay.

While France tops the poll for the fifth year running, the UK’s climate, crime rate, cost of living, congested roads and overcrowded cities have pushed it even further down from last year’s ranking at 20.

The Quality of Life Index, published by International Living magazine for the 30th year, says the French live life to the full, while Britons are over-worked.

In all, 194 countries are surveyed on nine criteria, including the cost of living, culture and leisure, environment, safety, culture and weather.

Australia is placed second after France, followed by Switzerland, Germany and New Zealand.

Even former communist countries where unemployment is still rife are considered better places to settle down in than Britain, with Lithuania and the Czech Republic coming in at 22nd and 24th place respectively.

Cars near high-rise…

From the Digital Journal news blog, with updates, links and background:

Tehran University Students Protest Famed Filmmakers’ Imprisonment

Petitions for Jafar Panahi’s freedom at Twitter, Facebook and Petitions Online:

FreeJafarPanahi (freejafarpanahi) on Twitter

Free JAFAR PANAHI! | Facebook

Free Jafar Panahi Petition

No petitions for Mr. Nourizad I can yet find. He has been sentenced to 50 lashes as well as 3-1/2 years in prison, but he now has nineteen days to appeal his sentence. Mr. Nourizad is an older man, and the flogging alone could kill him. It has killed many others in Iran. Check this Google search page over time:

Google

To All Concerned, A great new post from the Democratic Republic of Iran website, in which Mir Hussein Mousavi speaks at length on the Green Revolution and what we all can do:

Mousavi: We all must be media � Democratic Republic of Iran جمهوری دموکراتیک ایران

Also, filmmaker Mohammad Nourizad has just been sentenced to 3-1/2 years in prison and fifty lashes for speaking out against the regime. He has twenty days to appeal:

Mohammad Nourizad Sentenced to three and a half year imprisonment and 50 lashes | Street Journalist

Lastly, as in all my posts everywhere now, I am linking the petitions for famed New Wave director Jafar Panahi’s release from the notorious Section 209 in Evin prison. His situation is precarious and his health is deteriorating. Twitter link also included:

Free JAFAR PANAHI! | Facebook

Free Jafar Panahi Petition

FreeJafarPanahi (freejafarpanahi) on Twitter

Please take a…

Malaysia suspends gasoline supplies to Iran

Malaysia suspends gasoline supplies to Iran
by Staff Writers
Washington (AFP) April 15, 2010

Malaysia’s state oil company has suspended gasoline supplies to Iran, Prime Minister Najib Razak said here Thursday, calling on Tehran to review its controversial nuclear program.

The announcement of the suspension by Petronas came after Najib held talks with US President Barack Obama, who called for the world to move "boldly and quickly" on new Iran sanctions on the sidelines of a 47-nation nuclear security summit this week.

"It is a decision made by Petronas. They did consult with the government but they took the decision to suspend the sales," predominantly-Muslim Malaysia’s leader Najib told reporters in Washington as he wound up a four-day visit.

He did not say when Petronas stopped supplying gasoline to Iran but some reports said it was done in the middle of March.

Petronas is among a small group of non-Chinese oil…