The Iranian Dictature's Stalinian Farce: Clotilde Reiss

[Big Pacha]

As a French Citizen I am particularly shocked & angered by the Stalinian farce towards Clotilde Reiss, a french student in Tehran whose crime is to love persian people & culture. The tyrant Khamenei (may he rot in hell for his crimes) call that spying.


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This is becoming a matter of real anger in France (maybe in Europe) and that we won't "take down our pants" for too long despite having Sarko as a lame duck prez. Khamenei should release her ASAP for his own security. Enough said.

Now you insights on that monstrous farce. For the record:
- public "trials" to hear forced "confessions"
- No defense lawyers appointed - no defense at all
- Prisoners have been tortured and/or harrassed before

Go ahead as long as It isn't another pretext to bash & hate any groups

[Farnan]

Well the EU should form a united front and demand her release or fact total sanctions from the EU. The Iranian government knows its weak enough that the economic hit would cause its fall...

[Tiberios]

Yeah they should do that.

[Darsh]

EU slams Tehran trial as an act against entire 27-nation bloc
AFP - Britain and the EU presidency condemned Iran Saturday for putting on trial a French lecturer and Iranian workers at the British and French embassies over unrest following the disputed election.

British Foreign Secretary David Miliband said the trial in Tehran was the "latest Iranian provocation", while Sweden, which currently holds the European Union presidency, said it was an act against the entire 27-nation bloc.

France called on Iran to release the French woman, 24-year-old lecturer Clotilde Reiss, and Franco-Iranian Nazak Afshar, who works for the cultural section of the French embassy in Tehran.

Miliband said he was "deeply concerned by the unjustified charges" laid against Hossein Rassam, who is the British embassy's chief political analyst.

"Hossein is a member of our embassy staff going about his legitimate duties. Iranian action against him, and those against Clotilde Reiss and a member of the staff of the French embassy in Tehran only brings further discredit on the Iranian regime," he said.

Iranian news agencies reported that Rassam was accused of spying.

He was one of nine locally employed staff at the British embassy arrested soon after the election. Eight were freed, while he was released on bail.

Rassam, Afshar and Reiss appeared in a group trial with opposition supporters who challenged the re-election of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on June 12 which triggered massive street protests.

Iranian state television said Reiss and Afshar had fuelled the unrest by supplying information to foreign embassies.

Miliband said Europe was united in opposition to the trial.

He said he had spoken to his counterparts in France and Sweden, and "we have reaffirmed our solidarity in the face of this latest Iranian provocation."

The Swedish EU presidency said in a statement: "Actions against one EU country, citizen or embassy staff is considered an action against all of the EU, and will be treated accordingly.

"The EU will closely follow the trial and demand that the persons will be released promptly."

France called for Reiss to be freed, its foreign ministry saying the charges against her were "devoid of any foundation" and the accusations against Nazak Afshar were "non-existent" and she should also be released immediately.

France also objected to the fact that Iran had failed to inform the French embassy in advance that either woman would be appearing in court, which it said flaunted international rules and consular protection.

Iran has strongly accused Britain of stoking the post-election demonstrations of supporters of defeated opposition challenger Mir Hossein Mousavi. Britain vehemently denies the claims.

http://www.france24.com/en/20090809-...urer-diplomacy

We should send them our super Sarkozy and the problem will be solved.

[justicar5]

Iran has really screwed up with this, hopefully we will get off our collective arses (we the EU) economic sanctions and trade embargos sound like a good place to start, then if that doesn't work, lets see if they like us really stirring the pot, giving covert, reall support to the opposition

[Justice and Mercy]

The key to foreign policy is to appear completely psychotic. It works just as well as it does in middle school when you're trying to get bullies to stop harassing you.

So, Frenchies, fire some nukes in the Iranian desert. That should do the trick.

[Big Pacha]

If you know that the Iranian government has a totalitarian streak and constantly disregards human rights, probably going there during a period of political instability and taking part in the protests isn't probably the very brightest of ideas.

It's her fault now? Come on, she was with her Iranian student friends + has been living ther for YEARS + was there because prior to the fraud, the Iranian reigime allowed some civil liberties. She never saw it coming, just like millions of Iranians who truly believed they lived in a Republic.

The key to foreign policy is to appear completely psychotic. It works just as well as it does in middle school when you're trying to get bullies to stop harassing you.

So, Frenchies, fire some nukes in the Iranian desert. That should do the trick.

We're not Israelis
I don't expect any action from a french govt. who received a psychotic terrorist like Kadhafi with such honors. We were humiliated by our own prez. Again.

Anyway,
- She's a EUROPEAN citizen too, not only french
- These "trials" are exactly like the Stalinian purges of 1931-1933
- justicar5 is right, in fact Iran's dictature vitally needs the EU to survive. Iranian economy is deep down thanks to Ahmadinejad and It would crumble without the EU. But we've got so greedy & "morally adaptative" CEO's...

[Visna]

In foreign policy the EU as a bloc is a paper tiger at best. I mean, the EU couldn't even agree to gang up and help bring about an end to the wars in the Balkans.
As sad as it is for both the French woman and the EU in general, I don't think much will come from this.
It'll be some French government envoy, sent to Iran to negotiate her release after her assured conviction. Heck, she may even have to serve some token time in a French prison.

[Big Pacha]

In foreign policy the EU as a bloc is a paper tiger at best. I mean, the EU couldn't even agree to gang up and help bring about an end to the wars in the Balkans.
As sad as it is for both the French woman and the EU in general, I don't think much will come from this.
It'll be some French government envoy, sent to Iran to negotiate her release after her assured conviction. Heck, she may even have to serve some token time in a French prison.

Impossible, as this is an obvious scam. She's not guilty of anything, don't buy Khamenei's BS please.

Immediate, unconditional release NOW, that's all.

As for the EU you're unfortunalety right. I hope public opinion will make them move. I also hope that the French public opinion will not move its actual anger (despite summer break) from the Regime to the Iranian people, and Muslims (like me) in general.

We'll see, but I'm currently lobbying for her on the Net. Join us!

[Visna]

Impossible, as this is an obvious scam. She's not guilty of anything, don't buy Khamenei's BS please.

Oh I don't buy Khamanei's crap, but don't think it should be ruled out that she'll be forced to serve a bit of time in France.
For better and for worse, Iran is an important country in the Middle East, and I suspect the French will be willing to go pretty far to keep the leadership at least mildly pleased.

[Amry]

If you know that the Iranian government has a totalitarian streak and constantly disregards human rights, probably going there during a period of political instability and taking part in the protests isn't probably the very brightest of ideas.

[boofhead]

Yeah, well, maybe she was silly to put herself in that predicament. It's never an intelligent thing to do to vocally side with the opposition in such a place while you're a foreigner.

Maybe she should have just gone home.....or even smarter.....just studied.

[Big Pacha]

Yeah, well, maybe she was silly to put herself in that predicament. It's never an intelligent thing to do to vocally side with the opposition in such a place while you're a foreigner.

Maybe she should have just gone home.....or even smarter.....just studied.

Well that's what she was doing for years. She was on the street like all other students nothing special at all.

I understand your point boofhead but that's also promoting cowardice + of course she's been overly naive!
Like all young people everywhere Iran wasn't Burma or Sudan, people were allowed to have civil liberties. + she wasn't active at all, just a witness.

Don't buy the "confessions" It's just a scam. They're just rounding up all foreigners they can to "prove" to the Iranian masses that all that was a foreign plot, and by any means necessary. Next move would be to explain that Shaitan is behind it too, or maybe the Aliens.

Heh, it's not like I personally think the trial or the regime itself have any legitimacy, I think you must have misunderstood me.
It's simply my attempt at being realistic. Cynic, if you will.(...)

No no absolutely not sista' I just think that this won't be that kind of cynism, not in this specific case. I'd rather think of $$$.

EDIT: oops I'm sorry I've "cut" brother Rome's comments and as they're excellent and IMO very just I repost them:

The FCO isn't what it used to be. Times of old, they could have got their man out through sheer diplomatic skill. On the topic however, the only reason Iran acts like this is because they take their strength from international isolation. Their entire power comes through the image that they stand alone against all evil foreigners, that everyone is an enemy. The ironic way to combat them is to NOT isolate them internationally. The ENTIRE Mousavi campaign was built on the idea of anti-Isolationism with Iran. The question though is HOW do we seek to split the country up and create a pro-Integrationist rapprochement.

Well if Clinton could free these 2 US journalists in NK (same kinda case btw, even worse situation) maybe he should stop by in Tehran

[boofhead]

that's also promoting cowardice

It wasn't her fight. And why on earth would a European go to Tehran to study?

+ of course she's been overly naive!

Yes. She was probably hoping something like this would happen so she could become a martyr for the downtrodden of the world who don't seem to be able to stand up for themselves without the assistance of some French chickie in a hijab.

[Visna]

No no absolutely not sista' I just think that this won't be that kind of cynism, not in this specific case. I'd rather think of $$$.

I hope it won't. But knowing how lame the French current government is, I won't put it past them to agree to something like this.

Well if Clinton could free these 2 US journalists in NK (same kinda case btw, even worse situation) maybe he should stop by in Tehran

Bill Clinton would be an excellent choice. I don't think he'd do that sort of stuff for France for free, though.

It wasn't her fight. And why on earth would a European go to Tehran to study?

IIRC she was/is studying Persian, what better place to do that than in Iran?

Yes. She was probably hoping something like this would happen so she could become a martyr for the downtrodden of the world who don't seem to be able to stand up for themselves without the assistance of some French chickie in a hijab.

I agree, if she had the interests of her friends and contacts in Iran at heart she would have left the country and kept communication with them at a minimum. But that's the beauty of hindsight.
She was simply being idealistic (a bit naive perhaps), and got sucked into it by the whole atmosphere. Not an unheard of phenomena.

[Big Pacha]

It wasn't her fight. And why on earth would a European go to Tehran to study?

Err... because It's her Major
She studies Persian contemporary history. Her thesis is (was I guess) about the Iranian Educational System. Hardly an activist, just a young woman in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Yes. She was probably hoping something like this would happen so she could become a martyr for the downtrodden of the world who don't seem to be able to stand up for themselves without the assistance of some French chickie in a hijab.

That's unfair cynicism but if a victim of a Stalinian play makes you laugh... why not, this is a free forum.

Hey why not laugh about that fool Mandela? Or Sakharov the clown? (well at least they were real activists). Let's all be cowards and stay warm in our beds. OK, I'll stop the sarcasms I know It's not cool.

to everybody, I was expecting support but then you blame her. Is It because she's french, or because she liked Iran? Or both?
What if she was an American sent on "spying trial" in NK?

EDIT @ Visna: completely agree with all you stated, even the shameful part for frenchies.

[Каие]

The FCO isn't what it used to be. Times of old, they could have got their man out through sheer diplomatic skill. On the topic however, the only reason Iran acts like this is because they take their strength from international isolation. Their entire power comes through the image that they stand alone against all evil foreigners, that everyone is an enemy. The ironic way to combat them is to NOT isolate them internationally. The ENTIRE Mousavi campaign was built on the idea of anti-Isolationism with Iran. The question though is HOW do we seek to split the country up and create a pro-Integrationist rapprochement.

[A pimp named Slickback]

I'm in love with her.

[Big Pacha]

EDIT - FLASH INFO at 4PM GMT

Clotilde Reiss has been placed on House Arrest (meaning she's out of prison today) as a sign of appeasement from the Iranian dictature.

I told you she was an hostage for negociation, just like these US journalists in NK.

EDIT: well It appears that there's anot so small condition: she must reside in the french embassy. That's not innocent IMO, as she would appear as an "agent" to the Iranian opinion by doing so, and then Khamenei makes his point = "this is all a foreign plot and we are besieged by Evil forces!" Educated city people won't buy it but in the country that will do fine.

She's probably going to be released soon, at the expense of an internal victory for the current Regime.

[DashSia]

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

These were the situation before the elections, so it's not strange that the French girl thought nothing would happen at the streets. Till the day before the election, thousands of people gather in public places such as stadiums and sometimes even in streets and no time police and plainclothes had attacked them. Actually I myself believed that Iran is going to be a republic at last! But all the dreams lied down after the election.

And I'm glad to see that I don't see any more comments about nuking Iran these days. at least for now.....