[Transcript]  Mosaic News - 6/24/09: World News From The Middle East

Presenter, Man #1
According to Iranian websites, clashes are taking place outside Iranian parliament between protestors and security forces. In an interview with the British newspaper The Independent, Mohsen Makhmalbaf, the Iranian filmmaker said that Mir Hossein Musawi has been placed under constant surveillance in his home and that it is no longer easy for him to communicate with his constituency. Iran Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said that the regime will not back down despite opposition protest. Iranian Interior Ministry accused those who have carrying out acts of disturbances of receiving money from the CIA. Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Muttaqi said that his county is studying the possibility of decreasing its diplomatic presence in Britain which is an indication that Iran’s relations with the West has been deteriorating. A short a while ago the Iranian government said that the expediency council, headed by the former president Ali Akbar Rafsanjani, has no role in the election process. Yesterday night, there were protests which were published on internet sites. There were “car protests” and people chanting “God is the greatest” from their roof tops. Also internet sites showed Iranian security forces trying to terrify one of the protestors after detaining him in what seems to be a police station. The crisis in Iran is now affecting everything, The British Guardian cited a newspaper that is closely associated the regime, reported that a number of Iranian national soccer team players were arrested because they put green ribbons around their fists. The soccer players were stopped when they arrived to Tehran including Ali Karemi, Wahed Hshimian, and Mahdi Meda Bika and Hussein Al Kabi. Their passports were confiscated upon their arrival. Meanwhile Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei reiterated that the government will not change its position despite opposition protests.

Guest, Man #2
Concerning the latest developments, I insist and will continue to insist that the law must be applied and I will not take any step that violates the law: the law of the Islamic republic. Therefore, neither the regime nor the people will be coerced by these pressures.

Presenter, Man #1
These are some of the images that were published on the internet today.

[Summary]

A number of people who gathered in front of Iran’s parliament to protest the results of the elections have been dispersed by security forces. 200 protestors gathered in small groups at a nearby subway station, while another group of about 50 people gathered at another square north of the neighborhood. The gathering was planned in advance and the heavy presence of the police prevented violence in the area. Traffic was light and the police patrolled the area around the Parliament.

Presenter, Female #1
U.S. media outlets, especially television stations, are dedicating extensive coverage of the post-election developments in Iran. While opinions may vary regarding the depth and insight of such coverage, each media outlet is trying to cover the Iranian news from its narrow political perspective.

Presenter, Male #1
Our correspondent in Washington, Abed-Raheem Fikara, has the details in the following report.

Reporter, Male #2
U.S. Media, both conventional and electronic, was caught off guard as post-election protests broke out in Iran. This, however, has not stopped the U.S. media from covering the Iranian events continuously and extensively. While some believe that the U.S. media was able to stir the interests of certain classes of the U.S. society, others believe that the coverage was superficial and doesn’t cover all sides of the story or its implications.

Guest, Male #3
Of course, the US media coverage is “celebratory.” They are glorifying the opposition. They are trying to show that the Iranian government has forged the election results, and that Ahmadinejad has lost the elections.

Reporter, Male #2
Ali Yunis added that the Iranian plight has become a domestic issue, and it’s being covered by U.S. television stations from the political perspective of each channel. While some leftist channel, such as MSNBC, has supported US president Barack Obama’s position on the Iranian issue, conservative channels, such as FOX news, condemned it.

Guest, Male #4
Obama’s statement, in which he expressed resentment over the Iranian government’s action, is good. However, his policy regarding opening dialogue with Iran has not changed.

Reporter, Male #2
The US media is trying to cover the events in Iran in the form of a political story. Amidst this, some political analysts expressed dismay over the issue of how Twitter and other networks, which are being used by Iranian protestors to send videos and messages to world, have become the center of coverage as opposed to the political events unfolding in Iran.

Guest, Male #5
While the usage of Twitter is a new development, we mustn’t forget that the main issue is what happening in Iran. Twitter must be a secondary issue, and it shouldn’t be taking over.

Reporter, Male #2
Regardless whether the source covering the Iranian news is conventional or electronic, the current U.S. administration, just like its predecessors, is seeking diligently through media outlets to rally public support for its policy regarding the Iranian issue. The coverage of U.S. media outlets of Iranian affairs and other foreign affairs may not always meet viewers’ expectations. While U.S. media’s main responsibility is to open American eyes on world’s affairs, it is being controlled by other factors, such as political interests, financial gains, and the size of viewers. Abed-Raheem Fikara, Aljazeera, in front of the Newseum, in the nation’s capital, Washington.

Presenter, Female #1
Since Israel is committed to expanding settlements, the Paris meeting is no longer on the agenda of the US envoy to the Middle East, George Mitchell, who was supposed to meet with the Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The reason was Israel’s refusal to freeze settlements and not upholding the demands of the American president to stop settlement activity. Netanyahu is currently visiting Italy, followed by a visit to France. The Israeli government denied a report issued by the Israeli army radio yesterday about its approval to build 300 new homes in a Jewish settlement in the West Bank. However, Netanyahu’s government was not reluctant to return to its old policies: a policy of ending the possibility of the right of return by putting the homes of Palestinian refugees inside and abroad, up for sale in blatant defiance of international agreements which prohibit handling properties owned by people abroad during a time of struggle. Shuruk Asad in Occupied Jerusalem.

Reporter, Female #2
Thousands of old Palestinian homes are still waiting for their owners to return. However, Israel considers their owners absentee and have taken control of their property which according to international agreement cannot be tampered with until the refugee issue is solved. However, this has not happened. Sadly, the property of Palestinian refugees are for sale.

Guest, Female #3
Israel’s land administration is issuing bids for the sale of the property of Palestinian refugees in cities such as Haifa, Yaffa, Aka, Lid, Ramleh and Bisan.

Reporter, Female #2
This is nothing new. Israel began with the process of selling and transforming the property of Palestinian refugees to government offices since 1948. However, the biggest sales took place during the period of Netanyahu’s former government in 1997 and today the issue repeats but it is not just limited to the property of refugees living abroad but also those who remain within Israel like Huda Al-Imam’s family.

Guest, Female #4
I see this as a way to erase the right of return so that they can prevent me and any Palestinian, whether they be in Nazareth or Haifa or Aka or Yaffa, from demanding our legitimate right.

Reporter, Female #2
Her family was displaced from the West Jerusalem to East Jerusalem, as they are called today. Within a few meters, the families home was turned into absente owner property which was sold by Israel to wealthy Jewish families.

Guest, Female #4
This Jewish man added to the house and sold it for 3.5 million dollars to four different Jewish families from Switzerland and France. This is my father, Farid Al-Imam’s home that he built in 1947 and this is my uncles house Fuad Al-Imam.

Reporter, Female #2
She knew every detail of the home and named each lemon and Kumquat tree.

Guest, Female #4
I have flashbacks about how my father was living with his mother; how they would drink coffee on the veranda; he tells us stories about how it used to be.

Reporter, Female #2
The wealthy Jewish family who came from Switzerland was nearby and took pictures of us to report to the Israeli police. Huda got close and told him to tremble and to be scared of us because “you will know well that the home is not yours and you don’t even know the names of trees planted in it”. In brief, Israel does not want a witness nor do they want a return of those who were forcefully displaced from their homes. They only hope to displace those who remain. Shurk Asad. Dubai TV. From the Baqa neighborhood in occupied West Jerusalem.

Presenter, FEMALE #1:
In the besieged Gaza Strip, dozens of families of Palestinian prisoners in occupation jails held a strike (demonstration), calling for the release of the prisoners and lifting of the siege. Meanwhile, the children of Gaza sent out messages of freedom that crossed over the borders since they are unable to. Our correspondent, Mahmoud Alyan has this report.

Reporter, MALE #1:
Calling for the release of Palestinian prisoners and considering their suffering inside occupation jails, dozens of families of Palestinian detainees in the Gaza Strip participated in a march that ended at the Israeli Erez crossing in the northern strip. The prisoner families raised banners that called for the release of their sons and for the permission to visit them after having been banned for doing so for many years.

Guest, FEMALE #2:
It has been 8 years since I have seen him. They prohibited me for security reasons. I am an old woman, 60 years old. Why did they prohibit me? What am I going to do? Why is someone, who is 60 years old prohibited for security reasons?

Guest, MALE #2:
They suffer from a lot of things. From having few visitors. And from unhealthy food and lack of health care. They suffer from everything.

Reporter, MALE #1:
The demonstrators also called on the International Red Cross Committee to stop monitoring the deteriorating health conditions of the dozens of the prisoners. The Israeli prison authorities have imposed an information blackout on them. They also use various means of physical and psychological torture against them.

Guest, FEMALE #3:
They are wrong. We want to say that we want to be happy with our family. Let them be with us.

Guest, FEMALE #4:
We go out and have fun and they remain in prison. We don’t have anything. We want the children of the world to know how we live.

Reporter, MALE #1:
The Palestinian prisoners inside the occupation prisons have many stories of never ending daily sufferings. Their families on the outside demand their quick release and prevention of torture. Here, near the borders of the Gaza Strip, dozens of Palestinian children gathered. They carried with them messages about freedom for the Gaza Strip. They flew kites in the air to carry their messages across the borders since they are unable to do so. Their dreams flew over occupied Palestine; their heroes are the children of Gaza. Mohmoud Alyan. Syrian Arabic Television. The Gaza Strip.

Presenter, Man #1
The killing of 11 French engineers in Karachi in 2002 was then blamed on Al Qaeda. At the time the French were helping Pakistan build nuclear submarines. Now the French investigation has revealed that there is a possibility that the Pakistani army may have been involved in the military operation against the French soldiers.

Reporter, Man #1
On May 8TH 2002, a booby trapped vehicle exploded in Karachi killing 14 people including 11 French engineers who were in Pakistan to help the build the nuclear submarine Agusta. At the time, the attack was blamed on Al Qaeda and France condemned the attacks.

Guest, Man #3
This morning I have called the Pakistani president and demanded that the perpetrators be brought to justice and punished for this horrible crime. I reiterate France is determined to fight international terrorism.

Reporter, Man #2
Seven years later, things have changed. It seems that the operation against the French engineers was not a terrorist operation. According to French investigators it may have been instigated by Pakistani soldiers in retaliation for France’s refusal to pay secret commission.

Guest, Woman # 1
This is despicable because the French engineers were young and they only wanted to improve their economic conditions, but they were killed there. The perpetrators must be held accountable.

Reporter, Male #2
The story started with weapons deal that was signed in 1994 between the Edouard Balladur’s government and Pakistan authorizing the purchase of four submarines, worth 825 million Euros.
However the negotiations went further and included a cover part in which there was an agreement to finance the Balladur’s government. In 1995, the new French President Jacques Chirac, halted payment to Pakistani officers. In this context, the attack was in retaliation for Chirac’s decision.

Guest, Male #4
I heard these story years ago. Agreements were made with the Pakistani government and I think these agreements were legal.

Reporter, Male #2
The families of the victims wait for clear answers from the government in order to put an end to seven years of confusion.

Presenter, Man #1
Joining us from Pakistan, France 24 television correspondent Fouad Ahamd. The French investigators say that the reason behind the death of the French engineers is failure to pay briberies and fees and accuse the Pakistani army of being involved. What was said in Pakistan about this incident?

Correspondent , Male #4
Shadi, at the time, the first statement was made the French ambassador to Islam Abbad in which he said that the French are the victims of war on terrorism. This may have been an indication that he felt that Al Qaeda may have carried the attack. At the time, Al Qaeda also released a statement declaring resistibility for the attack against the French engineers in Karachi because they were French and foreigners not because they were helping the Pakistani authorities in building a nuclear navel force. In addition they accused the French government of helping the US in invading Afghanistan and Pakistan. Sources that are closely associated with the Pakistani army and intelligence said at the time they accuse there major countries which were the US, Israel and India in order to derail the deal that was signed between France and the Pakistani government.

Presenter, Woman # 1
As the first veiled woman entered the Belgian Parliament, France is trying to pass laws banning full body Hijab. France already passed one of the strictest laws in Europe banning Hijab or headscarf in schools and government buildings. These laws have created fears among the Muslim community in France. Nur Al Deen Buzian reports about what French president said about the Burqa or full body Hijab.

Reporter, Man # 1
In this neighborhood in the suburbs of Paris, 99 different ethnic comminutes coexist and they are talking about President Sarkozy’s position pertaining to the Burqa. Sarkozy said that Burqas aren't welcome in France because it symbolizes servitude and humiliation. However, Fatema, doesn’t seem to agree with Sarkozy. This French Algerian woman believes that calls to ban the Burqa are unjustified.

Guest, Woman # 2
Supposedly we live in a democratic country and if they want to respect human rights, we must let people wear whatever they want. Otherwise we will have to go back to our original countries; however the problem is that we can’t do that because we are French.

Reporter, Man # 1
Despite the government’s intention to pass a law banning women from wearing Burqa, Ftema told us that she will not stop wearing it. She claims she is forced to wear it.

Guest, Woman # 3
No, no one is forcing us to wear these clothes. I studied my religion and came to the conclusion that I should wear religious clothes. It is impossible for people who arrive to these conclusions to give up wearing the clothes.

Reporter, Man #1
The fact that some are calling to ban these kind of clothes imply that the people who decided to wear them are extremists. This however has littlie effect onMerriam: a French woman who converted to Islam 8 years ago. She told us that she knows woman who wear the Burqa and does not agree with the campaign that has been launched against them.

Guest, Woman # 3
Since I wore the Hijab, everyone has been asking me to take it off. There is no problem or risks in woman’s decision to wear the Hijab, it is simply a matter of choice.

Reporter, Man #1
The Muslim community in France has mixed feelings towards President Sarkozy’s statement pertaining to women who wear Burqa. However, all of them seem to agree that passing a law banning the Burqa is unjustified.

Guest, Man # 2
We advise the French government not to go in this direction because then the government will have to make laws affecting personal matters. Woman who wear Burqa are very few. Probably they comprise no more than 1 or 2 % of the total number of French Muslim women who wear Islamic headscarves. Therefore, I think that these kinds of laws target specific segment of the French population which are the French Muslim woman.

Reporter, Man #1
Since President Nicolas Sarkozy announced that the Burqa is unwelcomed in France, the political elite seem to have reached a consensus that a law must be passed to ban the Burqa as well as the Burka. This consensus however has created fears among the Muslim community pertaining to the true intentions of those who have decided to inflame the controversy about religious symbols and secularism in Fance. Nur Al Deen Buzian, Al Jazeera, Paris.