MP’s Website attacks Kamangir
Alef, a web site which represents a major group of conservatives in the Parliament, mentioned to be run by a top-ranking MP, published a piece about Kamangir yesterday [Persian]. In the report, the author writes,
A blogger claims that Fars News and Press TV have assigned false sentences to the Norwegian Foreign Minister [referring to: Did IRNA change Norwegian Foreign Minister’s Words?]. He [the website mentions my real name] claimed that the sentence “West must be more concerned with their own arsenal, rather than pointing at Iran and North Korea” is made up. The blogger mentions that he will follow the story with the Foreign Ministry of Norway. Fars News and Press TV have not reacted to these accusations yet. This is not the first time this blogger makes similar claims.
Then, Alef publishes a pictures of the author of this blog, accompanied by my real name, and follows,
Who is he [real name]? He [real name] is a resident of Canada whose blog is frequently referred to by the media and warmonger neo-con blogs (including Pajamas Media and Gateway Pundit). His blog is the number one source for anti-Iran news from the Iranian blogosphere, for the neo-con media. The content translated by him, regarding President’s speeches, Iranian missiles, stonings, executions, the social security project [Police raid against “immodesty” and alike], and so on, have been enthusiastically followed by the neo-con blogging networks. During last few months, he has increased his presence in the Persian blogging atmosphere, and also Iranian social networks, in order to direct anti-Iran content.
Shortly after this report, an Iranian blogger who first disclosed my real name started attacking me in a Persian social network, Balatarin [Persian]. He accused me of being a part of a “big filthy plot” against Iran. This coincidence has made some people making guesses about the source of the accusations made in Alef.
The matter of fact is, among the people who read this blog, and refer to it, there are certain people whom like, or adore, the current American administration. Nevertheless, I have always tried to be objective and not take parts. The mission of this blog is to give an accurate account of the events which happen in Iran. Having said that, I happen to agree with Alef on parts of their report and I am actually very satisfied if I have been able to help the news about stonings and executions escape the borders of Iran.
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That’s really awful. There is nothing about your blog that is anti-Iran, when will people understand that it’s out of love that people like you report the truth of what’s happening in their countries.
I know it’s bad news and it’s libelous material that can seriously damage your reputation but it really just empowers you as an active writer and highlights the influence you have. You really are by far one of the best Iranian bloggers I know and one who cares about the accuracy of his own blog.
You’ve been through this before from the likes of Hoder. You were strong enough to continue despite him maliciously revealing your identity at a very dangerous time. So please continue and don’t let anything like this threaten you into self-censorship.
Keep up the great work, you’re an incredible blogger!
By the way, I wrote for Pajamas Media twice. I wasn’t aware this made me a warmonging neo-con (I don’t even know what the hell that is!)
The Iranian press should think twice before accusing and pointing the finger at “biased” sources. To the best of my knowledge they routinely shut down news papers and imprison journalist. They even killed on and are about to kill a few more.
I have faith that any reader of average intelligence will be able to tell who is the real villain.
Esra’a your warmonging neo-con–as a warmonging neo-con I wanted to let you know that it is a rare honor in the neo-con world to be called as such. :-p
Clearly, Kamangir, a lot of the problems we face in the Middle East come from a lack of appreciating and respecting differences. We are quick to label people with different political opinions as traitors to the nation, rather than fellow citizens with different opinions. I am sorry this had to happen to you. I am glad that you find it in yourself to keep on the struggle and your writing
the real identity of Arash was clear to the fans of Iranian blogosphere since the event he pointed out in this post. then, Esra’a probably didnt get the point; I think Arash is not opposing that site publishing his alredy disclosed identity, but is emphasizing on the effective role he has played these years; Effective to the point that a site close to a conservative PM (Dr. Tavakkoli) is not able to neglect it.
I disagree. The article itself is very provocative and is not just merely reporting what happened. Read this, and sense the tone of the reporter:
Similar claims were made by Hoder, making this particular case just as grave.
I am aware of his identity being disclosed in the past. He wrote about it here when it happened and Hoder applied to be a part of this site days after it was revealed as well, I also revisited the event in my first comment for this post. It doesn’t change the tone of the article and the reaction it’s trying to provoke.
If he’s not opposing the site’s publication, why did he write that the source “attacks Kamangir” in the headline?
Esra’a, Omid, Idein, Mohammad and Murad,
Your support means a lot to me. Thank you guys.
This conservative site (alef1.com) adds nothing to previous ones which mentioned Arash’s identity. then, when reference to his real identity is available also in many other sites and blogs, why should he be so scared by another site just doing the same thing?
probably he should elaborate it himself.
Mohammad, I am not scared. They implicitly call me an advocate of war, which is a wrong accusation. I expect them to publish my defense on the same page.
Mohammad — printing someone’s name is one thing, but why the need to put Kamangir’s photo on there? It looks to me like an implied threat, “we know who you are”. Thankfully, Kamangir is in Canada.
Surely top-ranking MPs in Iran have better things to do than read Kamangir’s blog? Unless of course Hoder is doing an internship there…
In many countries people sue news agencies for using people’s personal pictures without written permission for publication, especially in an article which contains libelous material such as this one. Definitely an unthoughtful and unprofessional thing to do.
I know Arash’s patriotism and his love to Iran mainly through his long and enthusistic comments in a popular Iranian site,Iranian.com.
He is a bloggist with a sense of candour and
pragmatically focusing on the cause of his country(Iran).
Jahanshah, the Kamangir on Iranian.com is not me.