Comments on: Iranian scholar Kian Tajbakhsh faces execution?

By: Gilbert Sebastian

Gilbert Sebastian — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 11:06:28 +0000

For all the anti-imperialist credentials of the Iranian regime, targeting critical scholars and dissenting intellectuals is a matter of grave concern. Even earlier, dissenting intellectuals were jailed by the Iranian government. (My own class-mate in JNU, Masood Pedram who did a commendable Ph.D. work on democracy and the notion of the public sphere in Habermas was jailed after he returned to Iran.)

By: Prashant Trivedi

Prashant Trivedi — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 09:34:25 +0000

We all met Kian Tajbaksh during Hind Swaraj Seminar held this year February at IIC New Delhi. His talk at the seminar was really very interesting in which he focused on Islamic Revolution of Iran. I support the demand of his immediate release.

By: Nivedita Menon

Nivedita Menon — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 04:17:19 +0000

This post was put up because I am a friend of Kian Tajbakhsh, and this was all I could do to draw attention to his case at my level, to register my protest, and my solidarity with the pro-democracy movement in Iran.
In other words, this post was not meant for people to come in with general critiques of my politics, or with disengaged comments at a general level.
Please come in on this particular post only if you have something to say that might help the campaign for Kian’s release.

By: Dr. O. P. Sudrania

Dr. O. P. Sudrania — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 13:52:36 +0000

Manas,

I not only agree and endorse your observations, but attempt to take it a step further to analyse its origin. Ever since, Ayatollah Khomeini overthrew the Shah of Iran, it seems to have started it all in Iran too. Khomeini is the chap who proclaimed Fatwa on Salman Rushdie to kill him. I am glad that it miserably failed and evoked an anti-thesis against the hardline Islamic practices of Jehad and Fatwas. He also tried to establish the hardline ‘Islam’ in that state.

I am also glad that Salman Rushdie escaped because he was shielded by the bloc of powerful western armour. Compare the situation of India in the case of poor girl from Bangladesh – Tasleema Nasreen.

Do you not think that there is seriously somewhere down the line, something amiss with the current Islamic practices misguiding and fundamentalising the masses, in stead of preparing them to face the challenges of highly competitive world. They seem to first outnumber the population, then pursue the violent means subsequently. The trump card of religion is becoming more and more outdated and obsolete. In my opinion, there is no single religion in the light of current global turmoil that can match its diverse problems. Islam appears to be worst on this scale.

I very strongly feel that any religion that is trying to pursue its aggressive agendas is only because of it being on its weak pedestal. The olden days of such virulent policies and advancements are long over but the present leadership still wants to bask in those very old dreams, styles and glories.

It is time for a wake up call to all concerned, irrespectively:

Dr. O. P. Sudrania

By: update on Kian « verbal privilege

update on Kian « verbal privilege — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 23:53:59 +0000

[...] Update: More from Nivedita Menon at Kafila here. [...]

By: SDavood

SDavood — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 17:02:21 +0000

Dear all! I`m an Iranian ,living past 3 years in India. I know Kian and many other scholars as well as students who are in danger or arrested and some of them sentence to death by government to death! unfortunately this Ahmadinejad government is against everything related to humanity,science, social science and international relationship! for them anyone whom have any kind of connection with this institute is a spy n must be killed!
its open society!!

By: Manash

Manash — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 12:35:06 +0000

“Today’s Iran is the victim of one of the ugliest, most anti-human, most anti-culture, most anti-woman, most anti-beauty, most anti-smiling, most anti-happiness, most anti-everything systems of government in its entire history.”

Esmail Kho’i (Iran’s pre-eminent poet & philosopher)

By: Dr. O. P. Sudrania

Dr. O. P. Sudrania — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 11:45:23 +0000

As I do not know much about the case and affair, which is of far reaching national and international importance, I feel unable to put much comment on.
However I always and everywhere respect the Human Values and Basic Human Rights, hence any such violation of human principles are against my basic tenets.

At the same time, may I take this opportunity to high light an important and equally serious issue of our own national concern with international remifications. I hope it is quite in place.

We have just crossed the anniversary of 26/11 attack on Taj, Mumbai. I am pained to learn that this solemn occasion passed silently in the Kashmir Valley without attracting even single comment from top to bottom. I think this should have been taken up by the media seriously. It is a matter of National dignity and pride, not just a small matter to let it pass quitely. I also feel that this wicked thesis should be given as wide publicity as possible, specially to international concerned dignitaries to draw their attention for needful and information.

It is sad and shameful but true. Please visit the following URL for more information:

http://www.prokerala.com/news/articles/a96121.html

With my regards to you all,

Dr. O. P. Sudrania

By: Bina Sarkar Ellias

Bina Sarkar Ellias — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 05:21:23 +0000

Kian is a scholar and musician. I spoke to him just a few days post-elections to check if all was okay as there were random arrests. He assured me there was nothing to worry about. That he had not participated in the protest. That his baby took much of his time. He was calm and cheerful.
Within the next week, he was arrested. What the Iran Government is doing is barbaric. It is to be unilaterally condemned. Kian and those like him deserve justice and a right to live with dignity and truth.

By: Manoranjan Mohanty

Manoranjan Mohanty — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 11:31:31 +0000

I join democratic forces all over the world protesting against prosecution of Kian Tajbakhsh a leading humanist, democratic and anti-imperialist voice of our time. He is a member of the Editorial Board of Social Change published by Sage on behalf of Council for Social Development , New Delhi of which I am the Editor. We pledge our solidarity in this campaign and demand his release.