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Friday
Feb042011

The Latest from Iran (4 February): The Supreme Leader's Big Day?

2305 GMT: A Reply to the Supreme Leader. Looks like Ayatollah Khamenei's Friday Prayer has fallen flat with his target audience....

Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood has issued this response: "[We] regard the revolution as the Egyptian People's Revolution, not an Islamic Revolution....The Egyptian People's Revolution includes Muslims, Christians, from all sects and political [factions]."

2255 GMT: Political Prisoner Watch. Journalist Mehran Faraji has been released on bail after almost two months in detention.

Faraji had worked with the Presidential campaign of Mehdi Karroubi.

2245 GMT: Execution Watch. The body of Zahra Bahrami, the Dutch-Iranian woman who was executed a week ago, has not been released by the Iranian authorities. Bahrami’s daughter Banafshef Najebpour, said on Wednesday evening. that she wants to bury her mother in Iran, but requests for the release of her body have not been honoured.

1220 GMT: Political Prisoner Watch. Journalist Mehdi Hosseinzadeh has been summoned to serve his prison sentence.

1005 GMT: The Netherlands Reaches Out to Iran. In a statement, Radio Netherlands Worldwide says that, "prompted by the tense relations between Tehran and The Hague following the execution of Dutch-Iranian Zahra Bahrami", it is launching a new Persian-language website aimed at Iran.

The initial launch is for one month, with a review to decide whether it should continue.

0955 GMT: And that's it, at least for Press TV's live coverage.

0952 GMT: We're now on the 8th and promised final point of the letter: "Don't Trust the (Weakening) Americans."

Nice to hear the Supreme Leader give a shout-out to "News Corporation", presumably the one headed by Rupert Murdoch, for leading the efforts of the enemy. Apparently, such media outlets will spread the lies that Iran wants to take over the Egyptian Revolution.

0944 GMT: Supreme Leader on the Tunisian and Egyptian developments, "I feel proud for your awakening" and offers his experience from the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

0940 GMT: Apparently today's Egyptian revolution is a response to the 1967 and 1973 wars with Israel, the Israeli treatment of Palestine, and the 1979 Camp David Agreement between Egypt and Israel.

He adds, for contrast, the noble example of Syria, which stood "independent" before the US and Israeli pressure.

0936 GMT: Supreme Leader is now in the section of the letter, "Love Note to Egypt", as the "first country in the Arab world".

0932 GMT: Yeah, that's pretty much going to be the theme for the Supreme Leader, who is now reading a long letter to Muslims with his views of Tunisia, Egypt, and West (and after the crowd gave the obligatory "Death to America"). It's Iran linking up with a new Arab World to defeat the evil West.

If there is any diversion beyond this, I'll let you know.

0925 GMT: The Supreme Leader is now speaking at Tehran Friday Prayers:

It's not exactly the most dramatic start, as his office tweets: "Iran will not be in need of petrol import from 11th Februrary, Iran's leader said in today's Tehran Friday prayer."

However, he is now hitting his stride with a tour of the world: deposed Tunisian President Ben Ali was linked to the US Central Intelligence Agency and Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak is in servitude to the US and "a lackey of the Zionist regime", oppressing the people of Gaza.

His office, meanwhile, shows the way forward: "Islamic Revolution of Iran is example to other and inspiring. Islamic Republic Constitution exemplifies a modern state and a religious one for Muslims around world."

0846 GMT: You May Not Be Wanted Here. News is awaited whether Iranian Foreign Minister Salehi will be attending the Munich Security Conference this weekend, as he is technically barred from travel to the European Union.

Readers inform us that, if Salehi is invited, they are planning a special welcome for him.

0844 GMT: Parliament v. President. Amidst the possibility that Mahmoud Ahmadinejad might be summoned to the Majlis, Rah-e-Sabz summarises the growing attacks of pro-Government press on rival politicians and media.

0840 GMT: Cartoon of Day. Nikahang Kowsar comments on latest news via his paper-hatted journalist, "Wish Our Pharaoh Would Retreat Too":

0835 GMT: Political Prisoner Watch. Daneshjoo News reports that judicial authorities in Nawaz have ordered the cut-off of all communications with detained student activist Zia Nabavi.

Nabavi was arrested just after the June 2009 Presidential election and sentenced to 10 years in prison.

0810 GMT: The Supreme Leader will take the platform for Friday Prayers in Tehran today. The Islamic Republic News Agency is already whipping up enthusiasm with a description of worshipers, braving snow and wind, gathering at Tehran University. Fars uses the same script while kindly advising the congregation to wrap up warmly.

But not all state are putting Ayatollah Khamenei up front. Press TV have no mention of Friday Prayers so far, preferring to headline, "Mubarak's Day of Departure Begins".

And some Iranians are choosing different commentary, as in this picture of Speaker of Parliament Ali Larijani and Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak enjoying a lovely day together:

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