News, Events, and Analysis
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The Huffington Post
Refocusing Washington's Policy Lens on Iran
By Ali Safavi, Member of Iran's Parliament in Exile; President of the Near East
Policy Research
February 10, 2010
On a chilly October day in 1981, after returning home from the University of
Michigan campus, I answered a phone call. On the other side of the line was my
step mother from Iran. She rarely called those days because of the reign of terror
imposed by the regime some five months earlier. In tears, she gave me the
distressing news. My older brother, Hossein, had been executed a week earlier.
Read entire article...
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The Orange County Register
February 3, 2010
Iran: War, appeasement aren't only options
By NASSER SHARIF
President, Southern California Society for Democracy in Iran
http://www.ocregister.com/opinion/regime-232470-pmoi-iran.html
When Iranians poured into the streets of major cities to protest the fraudulent
June 2009 presidential elections, many thought the protests would subside in a
matter of days. Eight months later, not only were the protesters still out in force,
but the focus of the protests has shifted to regime change. Read full text of article.
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Justice for the Iranian opposition
Orange County Register
February 1st, 2010
Alan Bock, Register editorial writer
I talked Friday with a couple of representatives from the California Society for Democracy in Iran about
the ongoing injustice of listing the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI), also known as the
Mojahedin-e-Khalq (MEK) as a terrorist organization. Read Full Article...
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The to Dealing with Iran: Press Ties with Opposition
January 30, 2010
PRESIDENT OBAMA promised last year that if Iran did not respond to offers
of high-level "engagement" with the United States and negotiations on its nuclear
program, he would seek international support for "crippling" sanctions against
the regime. Tehran did not respond, and true to its word, the administration has
been engaged in a vigorous-looking diplomatic effort this month to win agreement
on a new resolution by the U.N. Security Council....
Read More...
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Amnesty International: Iranian opposition group supporters in Iraq must
not be forcibly evicted
11 December 2009
The Iraqi authorities must not forcibly relocate about 3,400 members of an
Iranian opposition group from a settlement north of Baghdad where they have
lived since the mid-1980's, Amnesty International said on Friday.
Sources have told Amnesty International that residents of Camp Ashraf, which is
60km north of Baghdad, have been given a deadline of 15 December 2009 to leave
or they will be forcibly removed and relocated elsewhere in Iraq. Some may also
be at risk of being forcibly returned to Iran.
Click to Read AI Statement
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CQ TODAY ONLINE NEWS – FOREIGN POLICY
Sept. 10, 2009 – 5:50 p.m.
Iraq Ambassador Warns Against Delaying U.S. Troop Pullout
By Caitlin Webber, CQ Staff
Despite a recent spate of violence, the United States needs to stick to its agreed-
upon dates for withdrawal from Iraq, Ambassador Christopher R. Hill told
lawmakers Thursday in his first appearance on Capitol Hill since his
confirmation in April....
Several House panel members urged U.S. forces to do more to protect Iranian
dissidents living in the Ashraf refugee camp near the Iran border. The Iranians,
members of the Mojahedin-e-Khalq Organization, which had been friendly with
Saddam Hussein’s regime, have complained of attacks and abuse by Iraqi forces.“
I would hope that you would take back to the Iraq government that there are
senior members of the United States Congress that are watching what they’re
doing and taking prisoners from that camp in order to do the Iranian mullahs a
favor is not acceptable,” California Republican Dana Rohrabacher said. Hill said
he would “continue to monitor the situation closely” and noted that the Iraqi
government has agreed to protect the dissidents’ human rights and not to forcibly
repatriate any of them.
Sheila Jackson Lee, R-Texas, wasn’t satisfied with that response. “Why are we
just monitoring the situation? ... There is no excuse for these individuals ... to be
condemned and attacked.”
Bob Filner, D-Calif., has introduced a resolution (H Res 704) condemning the
alleged violence. Read entire story...
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Pleasanton man hospitalized in hunger strike outside White
House
Contra Costa Times
Posted: 08/20/2009 05:17:21 PM PDT
PLEASANTON — A 52-year-old man from Pleasanton was hospitalized
Thursday on his 21st day of staging a hunger strike outside the White House on
behalf of Iranian refugees detained in Iraq. Click to Read Entire Story
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Los Angeles Times
August 19, 2009
U.S. offered assurances about Iranian exiles days before Iraqi
raid
A deadly clash after Iraqi forces stormed the camp has sparked
protests and calls for better protection for the 3,500 Iranian
dissidents living at Camp Ashraf. Click to Read Entire story
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San Jose Mercury News
August 5, 2009
Iranian-Americans in Bay Area worry about loved ones in
camp raided by Iraqis
Ken McLaughlin
When Iraqi police raided a remote refugee camp in the desert last week, hundreds
of Iranian-Americans in the Bay Area feared for the lives of loved ones in the
camp.
http://www.mercurynews.com/politics/ci_12993041?nclick_check=1
Read entire article...
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August 2009
Congressmen Brad Sherman, Dana Rohrabacher, and 30 other members of the
U.S. House of Representatives join Congressman Howard Berman and
Congresswoman I. Ros-Lehtienen in calling for U.S./Iraqi action to protect the
Iranian dissidents in Camp Ashraf, Iraq.
Read More on House Statement,
Read House Foreign Affairs Committee Leadership Statement
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Human Rights Watch
July 31, 2009
Iraq: Protect Camp Ashraf Residents
Government Should Investigate Possible Security Forces Abuse of Iranian
Dissidents
"Camp Ashraf's residents were isolated and, as far as we can determine, unarmed.
Seven dead and scores of wounded is a high price to pay just to make a point
about Iraqi government authority over this piece of land, which is why an
impartial investigation is needed."
Joe Stork, deputy director of the Middle East and North Africa division at
Human Rights Watch
Read entire statement...
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California Society for Democracy in Iran - Press Release
July 19, 2009
"Chairman Bob Filner (D-CA), a founding member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus and co-chair
of the Iran Human Rights and Democracy caucus (IHRDC) is a leading politician who has stood by our
community"....
http://www.free-press-release.com/news/200907/1248057458.html
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Capitol Hill-White House: Explosion of Dissent in Iran March
for Democratic Change & U.N. Action -
Read LA Times Article
On Saturday, July 11 2009, Iranian-Americans from across the U.S. as well as
concerned citizens marched from Capitol Hill to the White House in support of
the popular uprising in Iran.
Watch CNN Coverage... Clip - 1 Clip - 2 Clip - 3
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Protesters' vigil honors slain Iranian woman
By Phillip Zonkel, Staff Writer
Posted: 06/25/2009 08:38:10 PM PDT
LONG BEACH - Nasser Sharif fled his home country of Iran to save his life, he
says.
In 1982, the Long Beach resident was a first-year college student and member of
a student group demonstrating against the regime of Ayatollah Khomeini.
After a fellow student protester and friend of Sharif's was arrested and turned up
hanged in jail, Sharif went into hiding with friends, he says.
Read entire article and watch video of the vigil...
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Bock: Lost in the crowd
Alan Bock, Sr. Editorial writer
Sunday, June 21, 2009
With the eyes of the world turned to protests in Iran, seven
Iranian-Americans face prison in the U.S. for raising money for a
resistance group in their homeland.
I don't suppose anybody with a drop of red blood in his or her body has not
been inspired by the demonstrations in Iran. Read entire article...
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CSDI Press Release on Iran's Sham "presidential election" -
June 15, 2009
The graphic pictures of post June 12, 2009 “presidential election” in Iran vividly
illustrate the intensity of people’s anger at, and rejection of, the clerical regime in
Tehran. Iranian American community of California expresses its solidarity with
the people of Iran, especially its protesting women, youth, and students...
Read Press Release...
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Minnesota To Divest From Companies Working With Iran - Report
A new state law requires the Minnesota State Board of Investment to divest its
holdings in companies that do business in Iran, the Associated Press reported.
Gov. Tim Pawlenty signed the law on Saturday. It requires the investment board
to scrutinize its holdings for companies actively doing business in Iran and notify
the businesses they are subject to divestment. After a 90-day period, the law
requires the board to start getting rid of its stock in those companies. The law
does not apply to humanitarian groups or companies authorized to do business
in Iran by the federal government.
Full story at
http://wcco.com/local/minnesota.divest.iran.2.1011529.html
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Canyon News
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Santa Monica Man Pleads Guilty To Assisting Terrorist Organization
LaDale Anderson on May 9, 2009
SANTA MONICA—A total of seven people plead guilty in court on Tuesday,
April 28, as they appeared in court to face federal charges for providing material
assistance to a foreign terrorist organization Mujahedin-e Khalq, known as the
MEK. The group had been designated a terrorist organization by the United
States Secretary of State back in October 1997. Read More...
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Iranian American Refugees Will Continue Fight Over Contributions to
Opposition Group
Thu Apr 30, 2009
Iranian American Refugees Will Continue Fight Over Contributions to
Opposition Group... Read More...
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Local pleads guilty to funding terrorism
Santa Monica Daily Press
Friday, May 1, 2009
SANTA ANA — Seven individuals, including one Santa Monica resident,
pleaded guilty Wednesday to federal charges of providing material support to a
foreign terrorist organization.
The seven allegedly raised funds for the Mujahedin-e Khalq (MEK), an Iranian-
dissident group that was designated as a foreign terrorist organization by the
United States in 1997. Each is charged with one count of conspiracy to provide
material support and one count of actually providing support to the group.
The defendants signed a plea agreement to dismiss over 100 other charges against
them. Even so, they each face up to 20 years in prison.
The plea bargain will allow the defense to argue on appeal an additional issue
brought up during the discovery period, namely that since the defendants were
indicted, the United States government has given protection and aid to the MEK
despite its terrorist organization status...Read more...
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Upcoming presidential election in Iran is "a new farce"
Saturday, 07 March 2009
At a press conference in Paris on March 4, Maryam Rajavi spoke on the future
electoral show in Iran. She said, "It's a new farce." These elections are
meaningless. She said that Whatever the outcome, it is under the supervision of
the mullahs' Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, reported Agence France Press
(AFP).
"Khamenei has thrown his support behind Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Although,
he calls Mohammad Khatami [former mullahs' president from 1997 to 2005]
into the political game but we know that he is a burned card," she said.
Mrs. Rajavi reiterated that in her view Ahmadinejad wanted a "war". "The
third world war will occur because the mullahs' regime wants war to
consolidate its power in the world," AFP reported.
Asked about the possibility of an Israeli intervention to prevent Iran from
acquiring nuclear weapons, Mrs. Rajavi said that there was "a third option."
"We must stress on the need that the international community ceases its policy
of appeasement toward Tehran and implement a firm policy by supporting the
Iranian Resistance."
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EU Removes Iranian Opposition Group From Terror List
By Lisa Bryant
Paris
26 January 2009
http://www.voanews.com/english/2009-01-26-voa17.cfm
The European Union says it will remove an Iranian opposition group from its
terrorist list, thus freeing the group's frozen assets. The move, announced
Monday, is likely to increase tensions between Brussels and Tehran.
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Click here for NEWS AND ANALYSIS ARCHIVE
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CSDI Sponsored Events
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May 09, 2008
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California Society for Democracy in Iran hosted a panel discussion in the Van
Nuys, California on Friday, May 09, 008. Distinguished Iran experts, a former
political prisoner, and local religious and civic leaders discussed citizen's role in
supporting democracy, peace, and ways to avoid war in the Middle-East.
Honorable Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez send a video recorded message to the
event participants...View Video Message
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March 2008
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CSDI along with Iranian-American organizations from 39 different U.S. States to
host a Pan-American Parliamentary briefing on Iran and Iraq in the United States
Senate. Two members of the EU parliament, the representative from Senator Kay
Bailey Hutchinson discussed EU and U.S. Policy in Iran and Iraq.
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Archive
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California Leaders on Iran
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“No to War! But, we also must understand that the appeasement of a brutally
oppressive dictatorial expansionist government in Iran will never lead to
prosperity and freedom. It is short sighted to think that economic gains dished
out by the mullahs are strong enough reasons to justify ignoring the horrific
violations of human rights...” “The Iranian regime's aggressive policies are rooted
in the growing weakness of the mullahs,” Chairman Bob Filner, San Jose
Mercury, May 15, 2008)
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"Perhaps the most serious threat facing the world today is the nexus between
terrorism and weapons of mass destruction. Our most immediate challenge is to
dissuade Iran -- the world's most active state sponsor of terrorism -- from
developing nuclear weapons.."
Read the entire statement
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The options are clear: We can use all of the economic and diplomatic power of
the U.S. - including linkage - to stop Ahmadinejad's nuclear weapons program. Or
we can "bow down and surrender."
Congressman Brad Sherman, D-CA, Huffington Post, September 2006
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Governor Schwarzenegger Signs Bill Directing Divestment from Iran
(Exerpts)
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Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger today signed AB 221 by Assemblymember
Joel Anderson (R-El Cajon) which prohibits the state’s pension funds from
investing in companies with active business in Iran.
“I couldn’t be more proud to sign this bill,” said Governor Schwarzenegger. “Last
year I signed legislation to show our defiance against the inhumane murder and
genocide in Sudan. This year I am pleased to support additional efforts to further
prevent terrorism by doing what’s right with our investment portfolio and
signing this legislation to divest from Iran.”
“As we all know, money is the mother’s milk of terrorism. I was never more
proud of our Governor then when he announced at the United Nations that he
would sign this anti-terror bill. At a time when the world is desperate for
leadership, the Governor has proven that courageous leaders can make a
difference in fighting evil,” said Assemblymember Anderson.......
In September 2006, Gov. Schwarzenegger signed two bills, AB 2179 and AB
2941, prohibiting the state’s pension funds from investing in companies with
active business in Sudan and indemnified the University of California from
liability that might result from its divestments from Sudan. .."
Read the Entire Press Release
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