Wednesday, February 15, 2012

Iran

Iran Says U.S. Mideast Democracy Push Failing

(AFP)

19 February 2006 -- Iran says Washington's push for democracy in the Middle East is in fact resulting in victories for Islamic movements.

TEXT SIZE - +

February 19, 2006

In an interview to the official news agency IRNA, President Mahmud Ahmadinejad said the "American slogan" of democracy has had the reverse effect in the Palestinian territories, Iran, Iraq, and Lebanon.

In elections in the Palestinian areas, the radical Hamas organization has just won a majority.

Ahmadinejad also predicted the defeat of the "myth of an invincible and eternal Zionism" and its ideal of a greater Israel.

The comments came ahead of U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice's tour to the Middle East, where she is expected to push efforts to spread democracy in the region and counter what Washington views as a destabilizing Iranian policy.

(AFP)

Iran has stepped up its pressure on activists using the Internet

Iranian Activists, Journalists Receive Threatening E-mails

A number of Iranian activists and journalists based inside and outside the country have told RFE/RL’s Radio Farda they have been threatened in anonymous e-mails. More

A vendor in the central Bosnian town of Zenica sells heart-shaped cushions with proclamations of love for 1 euro each.

Love It (Or Hate It), It's Valentine's Day

Valentine's Day, the Western holiday celebrating love, has become a global phenomenon over the past two decades. The fall of communism and the emergence of the Internet have helped February 14 become something of an unofficial international day of romance. However, not all the passions the holiday stirs are related to love. While some countries have openly embraced the holiday, others are attempting to ban it or replace it with local customs. More

Many Iranians have been claiming that their access to social networks and Internet-based e-mail sites has been blocked in recent days.

Iran Tightens Internet Control

Iranians are reporting that their access to Facebook and Internet-based e-mail sites like Gmail has been blocked, without any explanation from the government. Not even the strongest antifiltering programs have penetrated the firewall, they say. Some speculate the move is related to Iran's plan to launch a national internet, which might sever Iranians' ability to access the World Wide Web. More