I can not tell you how sad, and angry I am,by yet, another unjust act, by the ruling theocracy, in Iran. How long, just how long, do they think they can go on repressing and brutalizing people who have done nothing but to voice their thoughts and opinions about their lives in Iran?
- By: behtaash on April 24, 2003

Is Islam in Iran so fragile that they need to arrest people that dissent in any small way? Free this man or allow him to leave your country if you can't tolerate a voice different from your own.
- By: Duckfat on April 23, 2003

Here we see the much-hoped for goal of a theocratic state by the followers of a major religion achieved. And what comes of it? People and ideas suppressed and oppressed, barbarism enacted upon the faithful followers who thought only that a nation ruled by God would be better than one ruled by man, forgetting in their religious fervor that the imans, priests, prophets, whatever, are simply men, that put their pants on one leg at a time and are just as failable as the rest of us. How many times in history, western, eastern and middle-eastern must we watch this idiocy happen and then stand there watching stupidly agape as it turns out badly? All for what, the chance to avoid Hell? A place of myth, invented by religion to control its followers, one that defies all reason. I hope this unjust theocratic system is overthrown soon and the zealous people of Iraq are not stupid enough to repeat the mistakes of Iran. This man's pain is a direct result of the system that the people in Iran put in place, that is the sad thing. We get the Government we allow ouselves to get.
- By: Brian on April 23, 2003

How much is enough? It's time all Persians living in the west unite and pressure their respective host countries to condemn such barbaric acts. Keep your faith in humanity and liberty, Sina jon!!
- By: Milan on April 23, 2003

Free speech is vital. Free him now.
- By: Louis Robinson on April 23, 2003

The IMAMS of Iran continue to reveal the fear that is in their hearts - fear of alternative ideas, fear of losing their control and power. If they trusted in the power from God, why would they worry? I feel sorry for these men, to live in such fear that they must jail others to feel secure. Come, free Sina Motallebi, and show what you are made of.
- By: Darrell Gudmundson on April 23, 2003

Thanks for the memories Dear " Islamic Republic," Just wanted to assure you that we will not forget what you did to us. Every day we had to say : " Oh no another one." This has been going on since Mr.Saaidi Sirjani, wake up idiots did it stop Sina, will it stop others? We are overseas here in U.S, try to shut us up. And by the way did you check out "Udday Hussein's" Palace. Remember , we will remember, will not let you bag your golds and antiques and take them to SYRIA!! Shokoofeh Enghelab
- By: laleh on April 22, 2003

Free my Brother and my hamvatan. Where is the president of Iran? Where is he? He promised the Iranian nation freedom and freedom of speech, why is that many of my brothers and sisters are continously being harrassed and abused and tortured. Free my brother and hamvatan Sina Motallebi now. My famil and I support our Friend Sina MOtalebi and family and demand for its immediate release. Shame on you the government of Iran, you are worst than Saddam. Your time will come, and I hope I am there when Khatami, and Khamenei and all the other dirty, hairy Arabzadehaye Kasif are pissing in their pants.
- By: Amir on April 22, 2003

How good and Smart and kind you want to be but Still if you want to keep being like that and not geting heart and building a society which people like you easily can be the same without being heart and prisoned you have to start knowing the rules of struggles which is nothing but mobilization against Capitalist system and work for Sosialist which there is no Capitalist rules which diktate their profits' rules! How many times this old stories has to be repeated?!!
- By: Mehran Mahbobi on April 22, 2003

Hang in there...the cavalry (and freedom) are right around the corner.
- By: Hamid on April 22, 2003

Free political prisoners in IRan
- By: Korosh on April 21, 2003

I have known Sina for many years. I have never felt any ampathy for anyone before, however I feel a deep sorrow to hear the arrest of Sina eventhough I have not seen him for a long time. It is reasonable to say that Sina is probably the most gifted person in the art of speech and writing. He is the most likable character whom I have ever met. His soul free from selfishness and his heart full of kindness and generosity. It is almost impossible not to like him. It is a great shame and disgrace to see him arrested. He could not harm anyone and he could never stop his compassion to lighten the candles of all our souls. He is truly a wonderful human being and it would be an understatement to say I feel very sad to see him arrested. I sincerely hope for his early release and my prayers go to him and his family during these difficult days. I also like to tell the people who have arrested him, please let him go he is a wonderful person.
- By: sohail on April 21, 2003

This is very sad and disturbing. Sina is my cousin and even though I have not seen him for about 10 years, I love him dearly and still have a lot of awesome memories from our childhood. Please let's do whatever we can to make sure he returns home safe and sound.
- By: Ara Serjoie on April 21, 2003

i just don't know what to say.there are some assholes who has the power.and not only they don't do anythin good,they don't let ppl like sina and other educated open-mindeds do sth for iran.i can't imagine how stupid they are. you know what,everythin's gonna be like this unless WE do sth. every'1 waitin for a HERO??????? nowadayz many are cursin khatami,they say he didn't do anythin.they utter such thigs cuz they're blind.cuz they don't use their brain.cuz they bother themselves to just think a little, our country's problem won't be solved with khatami or america or anythin that kind our ppl have forgotten everythin.their history their culture their customs the feats.the ratio of readin books in our counry is 2 mins a day.that's the problem. what was the realtion between the topic and my words now?!!!!!!!!! sorry. i just hope that sina and ppl like sina MR.GANJI and others will be free soooooooooooon. homayoon chakerim
- By: ARIA on April 21, 2003

This was disturbing to read. I wish the best for him and his family. I'm spreading the word to those I know. I don't think there's anything more powerful on the net as bloggers.
- By: brenda on April 21, 2003

Is there a Google-cached version of Motallebi's post listing the contents of the summons? (That's mentioned on the petition site.) And might someone translate it to English?
- By: Thomas Nephew on April 21, 2003

Sina is like my brother, we grew up together and I can not think of a more well educated and enlightened person. I beg all who read this web page to do what they can to free this free spirit from SIAHCHAALs of IRI.
- By: Homayoon on April 21, 2003

I'd like to help but not sure how. I was thinking today that maybe I should contact my local government official and ask how things like this are usually handled. Also maybe contacting my local newspaper? They might have some good thoughts.
- By: Ian Bruk on April 21, 2003

Like any other day I decided to see what is going on in the world specially in the great Iran by logging on peyvan.com. Unfortunately, the first news that I read was about Sina.The first thing I did was to call my mother to give her the awful news. I have known Sina since the days of living in "Iran Sokna" on shiraz AVE.. I got to know him through few mutual friends. Even back then he was a brilliant writer. Sina our thoughts are with you, and your family. You and the ones like you are the treasures of this nation.
- By: omid on April 21, 2003

Can someone get the google cache or similar from rooznegar.com? It seems that the weblog has been altered to be blank. Or is it just me?
- By: Casey on April 21, 2003

This is qyite shameful. Its so sad to see a well-known journalist arrested for no reason...lets pray for his release.
- By: Soroush on April 20, 2003

Mr. Derakshan, Thank you very much for the important information, which is spreading fast. If you are able to contact Farnaz Ghazizadeh, please convey my best wishes for her brave husband's swift release. I am unable to read Persian, but the pictures of their beautiful baby boy Mani are wonderful.
- By: Arjun Bamzai on April 20, 2003

thankhs hoder!
- By: erfan's father! on April 20, 2003

We have an article up on Samizdat.net... thanks for spreading the news.
- By: Perry de Havilland on April 20, 2003

Consider this publicised and I'll be contacting you Pedram.
- By: Jazz on April 20, 2003

how awful! what else can we do to help??
- By: sepideh on April 20, 2003

This is terrible, but not surprising, I suppose. Thanks for getting the word out. Hopefully spreading the word can create an embarrassment for the government that they do not want to continue with.
- By: Mac on April 20, 2003

Hossein, thanks for spreading the news. For us iranian outside the iran it is the only way that we can show our support...regards
- By: hossein on April 20, 2003

I see this as an opportunity for all bloggers world-wide to unite and organize towards a worthy cause. We should all speak against limits set by certain governments and organizations and stand for our common fundamental right to free speech. Limiting Sina's rights in this fashion should be viewed as an attack on all of us. Let us come together and find ways to spread the news and coordinate our efforts in this endeavor. Leave your comments here or contact me by email if you are "in".
- By: Pedram M. on April 20, 2003

Hossein- I believe Allah is the same God I worship as a Christian and I will be praying for Sina and his family and for all of you who are standing up for freedom in Iran. I have very warm feelings for the people of your country because my late father was a U.S. Army Colonel who spent most of World War II in Teheran as a liason officer with the Persian Gulf Command. I still have many of the films and photos he made in your wonderful country. My father often spoke with affection of his Iranian friends, especially several of Persian ancestry and a few Bedouin leaders he knew. My thanks to Jeff Jarvis and Glenn Reynolds for telling us about your story today. May God, Allah, bless us all, always- Tex
- By: Tex Chcotaw on April 20, 2003

That's awful! I'm unfamiliar with the civil society (or lack thereof) in Iran. Are there groups that protest things like this within Iran that should be notified and asked to provide support? That we could donate to?
- By: David Kenner on April 20, 2003

Is there any way we can help, beyond just spreading the word? (letter-writing etc.?)
- By: steven on April 20, 2003

I have spread the word and I hope that Mr.Sina would get free as soon as possible.
- By: Sassan on April 20, 2003

Hi, I'm realy sorry about that. What's his crime?
- By: sadjad on April 20, 2003

I'm surprised he wasn't using a pseudonym for blogging. We'll publicize this, but people are away now so I'll hold the piece until they're back. Hossein, are there any organizations people should write to?
- By: Joe on April 20, 2003

I hope as soon as possible...he get free. Best wishes
- By: No.1 on April 20, 2003