Tell HN: A hacker's life is in danger, your awareness may be life saving
118 comments
Also their name, among others is mentioned on this thread https://www.reddit.com/r/UnitedNations/comments/yebv7u/iran_...
EFF also has an article. https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2022/10/stop-persecution-irani...
EFF also has an article. https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2022/10/stop-persecution-irani...
I've had the privilege in the past of working with a small number of Irani technology professionals, and I found these particular individuals to be some of the most capable and well-rounded in the entirety of my experience with the global technology field.
The idea of any of those individuals sitting in prison for political reasons turns my stomach.
The idea of any of those individuals sitting in prison for political reasons turns my stomach.
Adversity breeds strength.
Imagine learning to program with no access (or highly disrupted access) to google, stack overflow and github.
Where you have to download web pages for later use in case your internet is cut off.
Where random power outages can suddenly interrupt you many times a day.
Where using a vpn can be used against you in a criminal case.
I can imagine that anyone who perseveres through those kinds of obstacles to become a programmer would have some pretty tremendous grit and would build them into a great developer.
Imagine learning to program with no access (or highly disrupted access) to google, stack overflow and github.
Where you have to download web pages for later use in case your internet is cut off.
Where random power outages can suddenly interrupt you many times a day.
Where using a vpn can be used against you in a criminal case.
I can imagine that anyone who perseveres through those kinds of obstacles to become a programmer would have some pretty tremendous grit and would build them into a great developer.
[deleted]
I'm a student in India and I discovered him 6-7 months ago and have watched many of his videos and learnt a lot, I still suggest his channel to friends when topic comes.
It feels weird, like a lot is going through my head but realistically I can't do anything.
If you will ever read this jadi, hope you're safe and thanks for your teachings. <3
It feels weird, like a lot is going through my head but realistically I can't do anything.
If you will ever read this jadi, hope you're safe and thanks for your teachings. <3
I'm following the protests. I'm not sure why a cruel and sadistic minority can run a country, but it happens. I'm inclined to wonder why the US military, pulling out, didn't arm every woman and intellectual in the country.
I won't forget his name.
> I'm inclined to wonder why the US military, pulling out, didn't arm every woman and intellectual in the country. I won't forget his name.
Because the US wants to back something it can control, not a popular movement. The US government backed Iran's prior cruel and sadistic minority.
Because the US wants to back something it can control, not a popular movement. The US government backed Iran's prior cruel and sadistic minority.
because it wasn't a minority. The Iranian revolution had wide backing, the Shah was an absolute monarch who came to power in a coup. Women and students featured pretty prominently as well. Lots of the tactics today like women opposing the military directly were used back then too.
The revolution had a wide backing, but - importantly! - it was a revolution against the Shah, not in favour of Islamic fundamentalism. The hard-liners were merely the most prepared to step into the power vacuum that followed.
Calling it the "Islamic Revolution", as state-sponsored history books do, is crass revisionism.
Calling it the "Islamic Revolution", as state-sponsored history books do, is crass revisionism.
When did the US pull out of Iran?
1979
The prior government was installed by the US because the government before that wanted to audit BP - the oil company - and cant have that!
The only citizens extreme enough to correct this happened to also be religious extremists and now they run the country ever since
The prior government was installed by the US because the government before that wanted to audit BP - the oil company - and cant have that!
The only citizens extreme enough to correct this happened to also be religious extremists and now they run the country ever since
> The only citizens extreme enough to correct this happened to also be religious extremists
That's not what happens; it's that in these neo-colonialist situations, all secular dissidents can be imprisoned and murdered (with US help), but religious dissidents can't safely be. So when the revolution succeeds, the religious take over. Same thing happened with Morsi in Egypt.
That's not what happens; it's that in these neo-colonialist situations, all secular dissidents can be imprisoned and murdered (with US help), but religious dissidents can't safely be. So when the revolution succeeds, the religious take over. Same thing happened with Morsi in Egypt.
It's not exactly that simple: Islamists (and religion in general) is also perceived to be an antidote to Marxism. At the height of the Cold War and bordering Soviet Union, the west resorted to creating and supporting religious groups "Mujahedin" in Afghanistan (Taliban v0.1) and Khomeini in Iran.
The Late Shah of Iran is on record constantly warning about "Red regression" (referring to Communists) and "Black regression" (referring to Islamic fundamentalists) as threats of the nation and the 1979 revolution succeeded by them joining forces (and the commies got the axe afterwards). Funny that in the western world, we are seeing the extreme left/woke anti-Americans and the Islamists join forces again too, despite being cut of very different clothes: the general American left narrative is silent on issues of Islam (particularly bad when it comes to women and LGBT) as it contradicts their own narrative of fighting "Islamophobia". I doubt this ends well.
The Late Shah of Iran is on record constantly warning about "Red regression" (referring to Communists) and "Black regression" (referring to Islamic fundamentalists) as threats of the nation and the 1979 revolution succeeded by them joining forces (and the commies got the axe afterwards). Funny that in the western world, we are seeing the extreme left/woke anti-Americans and the Islamists join forces again too, despite being cut of very different clothes: the general American left narrative is silent on issues of Islam (particularly bad when it comes to women and LGBT) as it contradicts their own narrative of fighting "Islamophobia". I doubt this ends well.
> Funny that in the western world, we are seeing the extreme left/woke anti-Americans and the Islamists join forces again too
Going to need a citation there good sir.
Going to need a citation there good sir.
Look no further than Ilhan Omar: Islam, anti-imperialism (BDS), LGBT-activism (mostly T-activism these days), and radical feminism have joined forces.
Or the extreme lack of coverage of Iran protests in the major US newspapers despite their unprecedented scale and spread across the world (dare it looks anti-Hijab and exposes Islam as a threat) as another example.
I'm surprised you see this as a controversial claim. Here's how an Iranian women's right activist discusses how she's alienated by the Feminist crowd because she is against forced Hijab in Iran, making Islam look bad: https://www.hbo.com/real-time-with-bill-maher/season-20/29-s...
This behavior is par for the course of the contemporary western left narrative. A western country behaving like France restricting Hijab to some degree gets many times more exposure than Taliban and Islamic Republic mandatory Hijab.
Or the extreme lack of coverage of Iran protests in the major US newspapers despite their unprecedented scale and spread across the world (dare it looks anti-Hijab and exposes Islam as a threat) as another example.
I'm surprised you see this as a controversial claim. Here's how an Iranian women's right activist discusses how she's alienated by the Feminist crowd because she is against forced Hijab in Iran, making Islam look bad: https://www.hbo.com/real-time-with-bill-maher/season-20/29-s...
This behavior is par for the course of the contemporary western left narrative. A western country behaving like France restricting Hijab to some degree gets many times more exposure than Taliban and Islamic Republic mandatory Hijab.
> Look no further than Ilhan Omar: Islam, anti-imperialism (BDS), LGBT-activism (mostly T-activism these days), and radical feminism have joined forces. . . . I’m surprised you see this as a controversial claim.
Looks like you’ve been taking in a lot of ideological media. Do you have a reality-based citation?
Looks like you’ve been taking in a lot of ideological media. Do you have a reality-based citation?
Which stance of hers that I listed do you dispute? Ad hominem much?
I attached a link to an interview describing concrete circumstances. Did you watch it before making your assertion, for example?
If you suggest that is not representative or whatever please make your claim specific. Otherwise it must be you that cannot see reality when faced with it; I cannot take your comment seriously.
I attached a link to an interview describing concrete circumstances. Did you watch it before making your assertion, for example?
If you suggest that is not representative or whatever please make your claim specific. Otherwise it must be you that cannot see reality when faced with it; I cannot take your comment seriously.
Yeah there an incident of Muslims protesting LGBTQ+ content in Dearborn schools/libraries just a week or two ago. The left protects groups like Muslims because it's the right thing to do, regardless if that group can be hateful towards certain groups. The majority of Muslims used to vote for Republicans until 9/11, because Republicans continued to generally be against them while the Democrats stopped after realized hating a whole group over the actions of less 0.1% of them was actually bad. The Muslims I know mostly vote Republican locally, and Democrat nationally.
This appears to be a good subreddit for following protests and other developments: https://www.reddit.com/r/NewIran/
Awesome. I was commenting to a friend yesterday that it seems the news attention on Iran has dropped in the last week. Of course, our news cycles only have so much attention span for far away places, though somehow they can continue to talk ad nauseum about a potential conflict with China, or a Jan 6th.
I have 0 context here. Could you explain the guys knocking the white hats off of older men?
Pretty sure it's a religious symbol
Yes, but why are they doing it? Are people wearing the hats perceived to be oppressors themselves or are they merely a symbol?
I am from Yemen, and we are suffering from the same religious ideology. The least I can do is upvote this and hope for his safe return and freedom for Iran and Iranian people.
Thanks for doing this.
How can we help?
1. If you know someone from mainstream media, let them know this
2. If you know someone influential from country that Iran trades with, let them know. It is bit difficult as no country in Western world trades with Iran. And China doesn't give two shits about human rights abuse, same with India. South Korea and Turkey are the largest importer after those.
3. Upvote so that chances of someone who could help with first two could see this thread.
2. If you know someone influential from country that Iran trades with, let them know. It is bit difficult as no country in Western world trades with Iran. And China doesn't give two shits about human rights abuse, same with India. South Korea and Turkey are the largest importer after those.
3. Upvote so that chances of someone who could help with first two could see this thread.
I would add:
4. Don't talk only to "influencers" — also talk to your co-workers, your neighbours, your internet community. Raise awareness.
5. Don't just "talk to". Ask. Ask (exiled) Iranians what they think about the situation.
I was traveling around in Iran for some months, and one big takeway for me was that there is a huge gap between the highly educated, incredibly friendly and open-minded population and their cruel medieval rulers. I still don't really understand the historical situation in which the mullahs were able to come to power.
4. Don't talk only to "influencers" — also talk to your co-workers, your neighbours, your internet community. Raise awareness.
5. Don't just "talk to". Ask. Ask (exiled) Iranians what they think about the situation.
I was traveling around in Iran for some months, and one big takeway for me was that there is a huge gap between the highly educated, incredibly friendly and open-minded population and their cruel medieval rulers. I still don't really understand the historical situation in which the mullahs were able to come to power.
> I still don't really understand the historical situation in which the mullahs were able to come to power.
Easy. There was US sponsored coup against democratically elected government. It strengthened monarchy which was then seen as illegitimate by large parts of population. It also made the same parts of population dislike and distrust Americans.
So when there was yet another coup, many people supported it. A lot of those people ended up on the bad side of mullahs (like politically or career oriented women). But original support was support "against" rather then pro.
Easy. There was US sponsored coup against democratically elected government. It strengthened monarchy which was then seen as illegitimate by large parts of population. It also made the same parts of population dislike and distrust Americans.
So when there was yet another coup, many people supported it. A lot of those people ended up on the bad side of mullahs (like politically or career oriented women). But original support was support "against" rather then pro.
The problem is that the majority of people in Iran seem to support the islamists, that was the case since and before 1979.
I'm not trying to justify the coup but there is no way most people would consider the elections in 1952 to be democratic by modern standards. Mossadegh ignored half of the votes (primarily in rural areas), all the MPs elected in Kurdish areas were barred from taking their seats. They actually simply stopped counting when the government got a favorable result. It wasn't that different from the elections in Poland in 1947 or in any Eastern European country where socialist/communist parties 'won' the elections
I'm not trying to justify the coup but there is no way most people would consider the elections in 1952 to be democratic by modern standards. Mossadegh ignored half of the votes (primarily in rural areas), all the MPs elected in Kurdish areas were barred from taking their seats. They actually simply stopped counting when the government got a favorable result. It wasn't that different from the elections in Poland in 1947 or in any Eastern European country where socialist/communist parties 'won' the elections
When you replace bad democracy by outright dictatorship on command of foreign country, because foreign country is loosing money ... they you don't get points for complaining about original democracy being bad. And what you empower will be radicals who will be supported by everyone who hates you.
This us destroyed our leadership and we hated their goverment more interpretation is something I had from Iranians who later run away. They were happy about government going down, not happy about replacement. But the original government being seen as foreign imposed and illegitimate was strong feeling.
Eastern European countries also distinguish between "this was crappy but our thing and even had some democratic tilt" from "Russia/Germany supported full coup or came to colonize".
This us destroyed our leadership and we hated their goverment more interpretation is something I had from Iranians who later run away. They were happy about government going down, not happy about replacement. But the original government being seen as foreign imposed and illegitimate was strong feeling.
Eastern European countries also distinguish between "this was crappy but our thing and even had some democratic tilt" from "Russia/Germany supported full coup or came to colonize".
Yeah, I agree I'm not justifying the coup in any way. However I fear that democracy in the region sometimes tends to produce somewhat undemocratic governments. Egypt was a pretty recent example (in some ways extremely similar to want happened in Iran ~60 years ago) they got rid of a somewhat secular dictator and immediately voted in an islamist wannabe-dictator into power. Was a western backed military coup the right answer to that? I don't think so, but I can't really think of any better (realistic) outcome.
The Mullahs in Iran didn't even fairly win the election in 1980 or 1984 making their regime less legitimate than that of Morsi's. But it's pretty clear that they were the most popular politic force in the country. They possibly still are. I wouldn't be particularly surprised if the majority of Iranians still believe that all women should wear hijabs, criminal should be publicly hanged from construction cranes and blasphemous/secular journalists should be jailed. If that's what's the point of having a "democracy" in such a country? Wouldn't a secular/progressive dictatorship be preferable (assuming it's even possibly for it to exist)?
The Mullahs in Iran didn't even fairly win the election in 1980 or 1984 making their regime less legitimate than that of Morsi's. But it's pretty clear that they were the most popular politic force in the country. They possibly still are. I wouldn't be particularly surprised if the majority of Iranians still believe that all women should wear hijabs, criminal should be publicly hanged from construction cranes and blasphemous/secular journalists should be jailed. If that's what's the point of having a "democracy" in such a country? Wouldn't a secular/progressive dictatorship be preferable (assuming it's even possibly for it to exist)?
What about the part where they purged and executed every one of their allies - socialists, liberals, even opposing cliques in their own theocracy - after the overthrew the Shah?
They learned that from Stalin. He even purged all the communists.
This is the right question. Are people in his situation ever set free? What is the most common way this occurs? We can’t invade Iran. Do they ever bow to social pressure of any kind? Is there some other form of pressure or influence that can be exerted to secure his release? OP you know the terrain and norms there better than us. So how can we help?
We are talking about a ruthless government, which is hard to predict, but what has been proven in the past is that being not famous or not covering by the media can end very badly [0]. On the other hand, raising awareness in the past has saved people's lives. An example I remember was physics researcher Omid Kokabi [1], who was finally released from Evin prison after years of pressure from the international community.
[0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sattar_Beheshti
[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Omid_Kokabee
[0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sattar_Beheshti
[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Omid_Kokabee
Yes. Media attention does bring a level of accountability and pressure to the system and in cases has pressed them into a little more transparent due process.
There is nothing anyone here can do about the situation.
The US, or Israel, or Saudi could probably negotiate a prisoner release. However, the price could be releasing some Iranian who's imprisoned there, at the very least.
That's incredibly naive.
Would you like to explain how it's naive?
Certainly but I have a question for you as well. What organization do you donate money to and is Amnesty International among them [1]?
1: https://www.amnesty.org/en/donate/.
1: https://www.amnesty.org/en/donate/.
My donations are my own business.
Jadi, I am sure you will make Evin the best Hacker School of Iran. I wish I could do more thn few words
Thanks for posting this. Sending my thoughts and prayers to all Iranian
[deleted]
I feel for these individuals who are suffering but let’s be clear.
This attempt at overthrowing the regime in Iran with the help of the western media is probably not going to work. This is not the first time that it’s been attempted. If you’re willing to stand against your own government then you’re definitely brave but you will likely deal with the consequences no matter where you’re from. And that’s not something anyone can help with.
I posted this a few months back and I was downvoted but I’ll say it again. It’s important that we all remain neutral and promote non-interventalisim on this platform. One life harmed or lost is not worth it!
This attempt at overthrowing the regime in Iran with the help of the western media is probably not going to work. This is not the first time that it’s been attempted. If you’re willing to stand against your own government then you’re definitely brave but you will likely deal with the consequences no matter where you’re from. And that’s not something anyone can help with.
I posted this a few months back and I was downvoted but I’ll say it again. It’s important that we all remain neutral and promote non-interventalisim on this platform. One life harmed or lost is not worth it!
We can't light the spark for them, but we can help fan the flames.
The last thing we should be doing is fanning flames in matters of life and death. Especially from the couch.
Absolutely. Please, enough suffering. I can’t imagine what the families of prisoners must be going through right now. It’s a nightmare. I really hope Jadi is freed soon.
This thread will make things worse. When you raise a person's profile, the state won't stand idly by. You will end up with another Assange or Snowden. If this thread snowballs, the Iranian government will make an example out of him purely for the sake of it. In other words, your virtue signaling is going to get him killed.
If you truly care, for whatever reason, reach out to your contacts in the country and grease a few palms. Those countries are poor and easily bribed. But if you raise too much awareness, then his freedom would be beyond bribes and diplomatic pressure.
If you truly care, for whatever reason, reach out to your contacts in the country and grease a few palms. Those countries are poor and easily bribed. But if you raise too much awareness, then his freedom would be beyond bribes and diplomatic pressure.
I have a lot of activist friends in Iran who has been previously arrested. It is well known amongst all Iran activists that media attention helps bringing more transparency and due process.
Could we please stop calling any expression of differing views "virtue signalling"? It is actually possible for people to vocally disagree with you sincerely.
I mean, it's a useful phrase because that lets me know the person saying it is a worthless human being with no virtues. If they had any virtues they'd also be trying to signal theirs, but since they don't, they complain about the meta.
> The reason I am writing here is to raise awareness about him, which may lead to his release.
its unlikely Iran government cares about opinions on the HN.
its unlikely Iran government cares about opinions on the HN.
It's unlikely anyone thought they did.
What can we do? I know his name now but I want to do something.
I can't find a Git or GitHub account for him. Any ideas?
Probably https://github.com/jadijadi. I googled for “jadi github”.
Ah I was using ctrl+f. Doh! Thank you!
All the best to Jadi
Is there an action I can take?
Yeah, you can stop supporting censorship.
Facebook, Twitter, Reddit et al are modern censorship platforms. I know that saying that violates liberal dogma, but it's true. You could probably even go so far as to say cancel culture is a censorship platform, particularly when it's misused.
The problem with censorship is that it stifles intellectualism. Intellectuals have always cut against the grain and said crazy shit in essays, much like I'm saying now. It's the sort of crazy shit that challenges your worldview, and it's natural to want to downvote, report, and have that content removed from your platform of choice.
But intellectualism is the only thing that can create a revolution.
And politically-correct censorship is getting all the intellectuals silenced (along with all the actual idiots).
Now, what's it mean to "stop supporting censorship?" Everybody agrees that, as private platforms, these companies have the right to moderate and remove any speech that they choose. The problem is that they're also seeking protections under Section 230, which says "Internet companies that don't moderate their content can't be responsible for their content." This creates a dilemma, especially when these companies have created an oligopoly surrounding online speech.
We need legislation that establishes the public forums and discussion areas on these providers as public utilities so that their users receive first amendment protections under the Constitution. This still allows them to remove content that violates the first amendment - like incitement - but would otherwise reclaim the internet as the world's largest mass free speech zone.
Facebook, Twitter, Reddit et al are modern censorship platforms. I know that saying that violates liberal dogma, but it's true. You could probably even go so far as to say cancel culture is a censorship platform, particularly when it's misused.
The problem with censorship is that it stifles intellectualism. Intellectuals have always cut against the grain and said crazy shit in essays, much like I'm saying now. It's the sort of crazy shit that challenges your worldview, and it's natural to want to downvote, report, and have that content removed from your platform of choice.
But intellectualism is the only thing that can create a revolution.
And politically-correct censorship is getting all the intellectuals silenced (along with all the actual idiots).
Now, what's it mean to "stop supporting censorship?" Everybody agrees that, as private platforms, these companies have the right to moderate and remove any speech that they choose. The problem is that they're also seeking protections under Section 230, which says "Internet companies that don't moderate their content can't be responsible for their content." This creates a dilemma, especially when these companies have created an oligopoly surrounding online speech.
We need legislation that establishes the public forums and discussion areas on these providers as public utilities so that their users receive first amendment protections under the Constitution. This still allows them to remove content that violates the first amendment - like incitement - but would otherwise reclaim the internet as the world's largest mass free speech zone.
>"Hate speech can't exist on the internet, because words on a computer screen cannot physically threaten you."
If this is an example of the "intellectualism" you're championing, then honestly nothing of value was lost.
If this is an example of the "intellectualism" you're championing, then honestly nothing of value was lost.
I edited to remove this, because it detracts from the point, despite the fact that the Supreme Court has specifically ruled that ALL hate speech legislation in the U.S. is unconstitutional.
Whether or not "nothing of value was lost" depends on how much you value the freedom of Iranians.
Personally, I only downvote content that violates the rules or is spam. Since a downvote is the first step to having content hidden, downvoting things just because you disagree with them makes you a censor. That's not a good thing to be, yet the companies offering downvotes know about and encourage this behavior. Don't you ever wonder why? State actors routinely use these tools to silence their critics, and yet you play ball.
Whether or not "nothing of value was lost" depends on how much you value the freedom of Iranians.
Personally, I only downvote content that violates the rules or is spam. Since a downvote is the first step to having content hidden, downvoting things just because you disagree with them makes you a censor. That's not a good thing to be, yet the companies offering downvotes know about and encourage this behavior. Don't you ever wonder why? State actors routinely use these tools to silence their critics, and yet you play ball.
You're not being persecuted by state actors. Your views, as far as I can tell, aren't even that heterodox.
But trying to derail a thread about an actual dissident to focus on cancel culture and deplatforming is obnoxious and worth the crits you're taking, IMO. If that serves some dark CIA agenda, I guess I'll have to take that risk.
But trying to derail a thread about an actual dissident to focus on cancel culture and deplatforming is obnoxious and worth the crits you're taking, IMO. If that serves some dark CIA agenda, I guess I'll have to take that risk.
It's not derailing, you're just too interested in playing political football to understand the worldwide implications of these platforms handling moderation.
The U.S. Constitution grants some of the strongest guarantees of free speech in the world. Most other nations have laws limiting speech that would violate our Constitution. Forcing these platforms to play by our Constitution is a big win for the entire world, because Facebook routinely over-moderates topics of public interest in places like Iran, too.
https://www.oversightboard.com/decision/FB-P93JPX02/ https://www.oversightboard.com/decision/IG-2PJ00L4T/
They are censoring people _everywhere_, but American snowflakes would rather protect their sensitive ears from unpopular opinions than allow everyone to speak freely everywhere in the world.
The U.S. Constitution grants some of the strongest guarantees of free speech in the world. Most other nations have laws limiting speech that would violate our Constitution. Forcing these platforms to play by our Constitution is a big win for the entire world, because Facebook routinely over-moderates topics of public interest in places like Iran, too.
https://www.oversightboard.com/decision/FB-P93JPX02/ https://www.oversightboard.com/decision/IG-2PJ00L4T/
They are censoring people _everywhere_, but American snowflakes would rather protect their sensitive ears from unpopular opinions than allow everyone to speak freely everywhere in the world.
Forcing Facebook et al to become nationalized so they can't legally moderate content as they wish wouldn't somehow lead to an intellectual revolution in Iran - authoritarian governments already block Facebook and other Western platforms, and if they didn't, those governments would still insist that they follow local laws (including censorship laws.) So we would be flooded with Iranian propaganda, anti-semitic memes and shit that we couldn't legally stop, while Iran would still be persecuting dissidents.
In other words, "Free speech doesn't always help so free speech can never help."
Look, we're not gonna find common ground on this. We'll just have to build a new, decentralized internet, and then you can keep Facebook.
Look, we're not gonna find common ground on this. We'll just have to build a new, decentralized internet, and then you can keep Facebook.
There isn't. No one on HN has any influence over Iranian happenings.
At the very least, we can assist Iranian citizens in evading digital censorship and surveillance.
That's not their problem. Their problem is an oppressive government and people who can't get organized enough to make a difference, very similar to the US.
No one outside of Iran can solve their problems for them, just like no one outside of the US can solve US problems.
No one outside of Iran can solve their problems for them, just like no one outside of the US can solve US problems.
> Their problem is an oppressive government and people who can't get organized enough to make a difference, very similar to the US.
Thanks for bringing the parallels in the US to my attention. Really, I had no idea that the US was so similar to Iran. You are doing this this topic a great service by not using hyperbole.
Thanks for bringing the parallels in the US to my attention. Really, I had no idea that the US was so similar to Iran. You are doing this this topic a great service by not using hyperbole.
Suppose that there was an American handball player who was incarcerated unfairly, say, for bringing Schedule 1 drugs for personal use into the United States, how exactly would/should anyone outside of the United States apply public pressure to secure their release?
>incarcerated unfairly
Yea, I don’t know what I would think about that. Perhaps if the scenario was someone bringing illegal drugs into a country, knowingly violating that countries laws, having been to that country before and been told what was illegal, and then to top it off that person had publicly mocked and criticized the free country they had come from previously - I‘m not sure I could muster the will to care if they are released or not.
I wouldn’t have empathy for someone knowingly breaking any foreign country laws with arrogance.
Yea, I don’t know what I would think about that. Perhaps if the scenario was someone bringing illegal drugs into a country, knowingly violating that countries laws, having been to that country before and been told what was illegal, and then to top it off that person had publicly mocked and criticized the free country they had come from previously - I‘m not sure I could muster the will to care if they are released or not.
I wouldn’t have empathy for someone knowingly breaking any foreign country laws with arrogance.
> people who can't get organized enough to make a difference
In large part due to the aforementioned censorship and surveillance.
In large part due to the aforementioned censorship and surveillance.
let him go
thanks
When it comes to Iranian government, there are two types of people that run it.
First group are the fanatic idiots who consider themselves at war with the west. They see anyone who who is not aligned with their view as enemy and therefore must be removed/killed.
The second group are opportunists who probably have assets abroad and will do and say anything to stay in power as long as possible to milk every last penny.
I think it's important to identify them and their families abroad. Deporting their families and freezing their assets inorder to change their behaviour.
This is very much the case. There are a ton of people in the Iranian government and power structure who don't believe in the mission, but go along because the money is great.
If the west cracked down on Iran's powerful grifters half as hard as it is going after Russian oligarchs, the regime would be under a lot of pressure. The oligarchs, in comparison, don't seem to mind - they are more afraid of Putin.
If the west cracked down on Iran's powerful grifters half as hard as it is going after Russian oligarchs, the regime would be under a lot of pressure. The oligarchs, in comparison, don't seem to mind - they are more afraid of Putin.
[deleted]
It's interesting to me having recently slightly broken a few years' stint of largely ignoring 'the news', at least more than I have for ages, that I've heard about the protests in Iran twice via HN now (previously via Rust 1.65 release note: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=33451359) and not at all from the newspapers I've read.
(I think I'll go back to largely ignoring it, satisfied that HN is a perfectly adequate 'jumping off point' for everything worth reading, with perhaps better global coverage of the worthy stuff.)
(I think I'll go back to largely ignoring it, satisfied that HN is a perfectly adequate 'jumping off point' for everything worth reading, with perhaps better global coverage of the worthy stuff.)
I see the merit in avoiding daily news sites, but I spend way to much time on HN, and this is the first time I've seen the Iran protests mentioned here.
vs almost daily for the last while (week? month?) on CNN.
vs almost daily for the last while (week? month?) on CNN.
These were on the front page I believe:
https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=33398134
https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=33371121
https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=33140237
https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=33106196
This last one was also about Jadi.
https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=33398134
https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=33371121
https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=33140237
https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=33106196
This last one was also about Jadi.
not at all from the newspapers I've read.
I find that very interesting, since in the national and local newspapers I read in the United States, the Iranian protesters have been extensively covered. There were multiple stories each day at the beginning, and even now at least two or three each week.
In what country are you? Which newspapers are letting you down?
I find that very interesting, since in the national and local newspapers I read in the United States, the Iranian protesters have been extensively covered. There were multiple stories each day at the beginning, and even now at least two or three each week.
In what country are you? Which newspapers are letting you down?
That is interesting. I'm in the UK, haven't noticed it at all - and I just double-checked The Times (centre-right) and The Guardian (centre-left) online homepages, and also grepped each for 'Iran' and 'protest'. The only hit was for Iran in The Guardian, but that's an article about the war in Ukraine - 'Iran says it supplied drones to Russia before war began'.
This gives me a lot of hits: https://www.google.com/search?q=iran+protests+site:theguardi...
FWIW, I recommend to replace news surfing by perusing https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:Current_events daily.
I'm not quite there yet myself, I sometimes fall in the bad habit of news surfing for fun, but I found the wiki portal to be sufficient to keep reasonably informed.
I'm not quite there yet myself, I sometimes fall in the bad habit of news surfing for fun, but I found the wiki portal to be sufficient to keep reasonably informed.
While Wikipedia is great, that link is more like news “trivia” rather than anything substantially informative.
There is absolutely no value to knowing every single accident, disaster, political incident, etc happening in every country around the world today.
There is absolutely no value to knowing every single accident, disaster, political incident, etc happening in every country around the world today.
But it does let you decide for yourself which have any importance to you without enticing you with clickbait headlines and images, or pre-filtering for what the particular company's editors or owners want you to see/think you want to see.
And which of these news trivia facts actually have relevance and importance to you?
I’m not supporting clickbait, just debating the value of a list of events with zero context.
I’m not supporting clickbait, just debating the value of a list of events with zero context.
Thanks - I came across that in reply to a similar comment to my own here recently, I do like the idea of it, might try that for a while.
[deleted]
Does protesting even do any good in a government such as Iran? Being present during a protest -- get targeted and locked up or worse (killed). It is really doing the oppressors a favor by gathering together.Rather than take it to the streets they should take it to the basement and plan out calculated attacks and disrupt the infrastructure that facilitate their rule.
You're Right. Western media is reticent to push that narrative because idiots in America will think the same and pull that shit here. We're already at a point where half the country thinks the last vote was rigged. Wouldn't take a far leap for then to take those very steps here.
That is called terrorism.
Also, people participate in protests because they feel need to do something and are willing to take the risk. It is the "I can't stay passive anymore" statement and feeling at large.
And there were succesfull protests. That is how communism ended. That is how Ukraine protests kept it democracy back in 2014 (rather then allowing it to become Belurussia). And Iran had succesfull revolution too, through that one brought religious dictatorship.
Also, people participate in protests because they feel need to do something and are willing to take the risk. It is the "I can't stay passive anymore" statement and feeling at large.
And there were succesfull protests. That is how communism ended. That is how Ukraine protests kept it democracy back in 2014 (rather then allowing it to become Belurussia). And Iran had succesfull revolution too, through that one brought religious dictatorship.
>That is how communism ended.
Whoa, wait a minute. Where?
Communism in Europe imploded on itself because of western pressure, weakened Soviet Union and dysfunctional economy. Protests were just a manifestation.
Whoa, wait a minute. Where?
Communism in Europe imploded on itself because of western pressure, weakened Soviet Union and dysfunctional economy. Protests were just a manifestation.
if they take it to the basement that would mean they are conspiring. the government will hear about it and they would be in the same situation but with less support since nobody heard about them before.
he is not doing anything illegal, he just wants a better life for everybody including the guys who jailed him and their children. His best bet is that some of those guys would understand his motivations and help him.
Now he probably does not fully understand the regime motivation and how the police state lives in a paranoia. Not because he's stupid, because sometimes the only way out of a situation is to trust your opponent with your own life. Sometimes you do what your guts tell you to do
he is not doing anything illegal, he just wants a better life for everybody including the guys who jailed him and their children. His best bet is that some of those guys would understand his motivations and help him.
Now he probably does not fully understand the regime motivation and how the police state lives in a paranoia. Not because he's stupid, because sometimes the only way out of a situation is to trust your opponent with your own life. Sometimes you do what your guts tell you to do
You should look up how the current Iranian regime got in power.
[deleted]
xvector(3)
Before making an appeal to save foreign hackers, how about that one guy who exposed the total corruption of our western elite and is still rotting in prison for no moral wrongdoing.
Where's my Free Julian Assange topic?
HN is truly disgusting/compromised.
Please do not do this. There is nothing that anyone on HN can do to help, and raising awareness may bring undue attention from the Iranian authorities. Although I'm sure this wasn't your intent, this thread amounts to rubbernecking of an incarcerated man in a perilous situation.
Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.
https://encyclopedia.ushmm.org/content/en/article/martin-nie...
What we can do is try and support everyone who is taking action to better their place in the world. If all we have is our attention and our voices, that is what we MUST use.
Even if just to tell Iranians that we hear their voices and support their cause.
https://encyclopedia.ushmm.org/content/en/article/martin-nie...
What we can do is try and support everyone who is taking action to better their place in the world. If all we have is our attention and our voices, that is what we MUST use.
Even if just to tell Iranians that we hear their voices and support their cause.
[deleted]
> The reason I am writing here is to raise awareness about him, which may lead to his release.
I understand that you are desperately trying to help him but you need to think very carefully about unintended consequences in these situations. I don't have specific advice I would want to post here.
I do have a question that has been on my mind: these protests seem to be spontaneous and the crackdown spastic - I don't get how people like Jadi allowed themselves to be caught in the first place as he has the skillset to avoid detection.
Why did he ever post anything under his real name? How did he not see the arrest coming? Why is everything so disorganized at this seemingly late stage?
Anyway, I wish him and you the best of luck.
P.S. - There is a lot of interesting none-philosophical reading material produced in the US and elsewhere during the counterculture era that you might find extremely useful more directly than the well wishing going on in this thread.
P.P.S - For people who are taking this as some sort of debbie downer comment understand that there are reports not only of teenagers being incarcerated but show trials and impending death sentences. Sadly, you can expect some people like Jadi will be made an example of - this isn't a game.
I understand that you are desperately trying to help him but you need to think very carefully about unintended consequences in these situations. I don't have specific advice I would want to post here.
I do have a question that has been on my mind: these protests seem to be spontaneous and the crackdown spastic - I don't get how people like Jadi allowed themselves to be caught in the first place as he has the skillset to avoid detection.
Why did he ever post anything under his real name? How did he not see the arrest coming? Why is everything so disorganized at this seemingly late stage?
Anyway, I wish him and you the best of luck.
P.S. - There is a lot of interesting none-philosophical reading material produced in the US and elsewhere during the counterculture era that you might find extremely useful more directly than the well wishing going on in this thread.
P.P.S - For people who are taking this as some sort of debbie downer comment understand that there are reports not only of teenagers being incarcerated but show trials and impending death sentences. Sadly, you can expect some people like Jadi will be made an example of - this isn't a game.
In Iran, he is one of the most famous people active in the field of programming and computer education. In his personal blog[0], he has been writing about technology and society for years. He has also a YouTube channel[1][2] to teach and encourage Iranians to programming and Linux, and a podcast[3] that has been explaining technology and science news along with his comments for several years. All this in a country with a dictatorial government where standing in the right place has a heavy price.
His arrest occurred on October 5, a few days after the recent nationwide protests[4] began in Iran. Arrest at home with beating. The reason for this is not yet clear, but it is probably due to his efforts to increase awareness of the society about Iran's internet censorship system, and his positions against a company called ArvanCloud. Many claim this company help the government of Iran in implementing the internet censorship's system (something like Great Firewall of China). In Jadi's own words, this company has made it possible for the government to turn the Internet into an intranet at any moment and block people's access to international services. Something that happens in every demonstration in Iran including right now.
The reason I am writing here is to raise awareness about him, which may lead to his release. All this may be nothing more than a false hope, but it is what I can do. From the news he covered in his podcast, it could be guessed that he is one of the regular readers of Hacker News. Perhaps hearing your support here will boost his morale behind bars in Evin. The prison which is also known as Evin University due to the number of educated political prisoners [5].
[0](Persian) https://jadi.net/
[1](Persian) https://www.youtube.com/jadimirmirani
[2](English) https://www.youtube.com/geekingjadi
[3](Persian) https://castbox.fm/channel/%D9%BE%D8%A7%D8%AF%DA%A9%D8%B3%D8%AA-%E2%80%93-%D8%AC%D8%A7%D8%AF%DB%8C-%D8%AF%D8%A7%D8%AA-%D9%86%D8%AA-%7C-%DA%A9%DB%8C%D8%A8%D8%B1%D8%AF-%D8%A2%D8%B2%D8%A7%D8%AF-id22150?country=us
[4] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahsa_Amini_protests
[5] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evin_Prison