Let's say, for the sake of argument, that Nazanin didn't know Persian, or even much about Iranian politics, back when you interviewed her in 2003. It is now 2007, is it not possible that in four years, this extremely bright and talented woman was able to grow and learn? I have heard this woman in interviews, documentaries, etc. she is quite knowledgable about the situation in Iran. As a matter of fact, any man or woman born with a living soul is capable of understanding the situation in Iran. It is quite simple really: Your friends the mullahs keep a stranglehold on a good and noble people, these mullah bureaucrats and flunkies steal and hoard the wealth, and it is screw the people, business as usual and let's whip a kid for having rap CDs or a woman for too much of her hair showing. But hey you're worried about the Crown Prince and Nazanin! They're the real threat to the Iranian people right? Give me a break Mistah Hezbollahi!
- By: Caesar Warrington on May 14, 2007

Hang On Isn't this woman really a Canadian? Is she muslim? She does not support Reza Pahlavi (the remnant of a real 100% dictatorship unlike the IRI)? It would be good if Shirin Ebadi was her boss. She could learn a little from her. Ebadi should be credited with wanting to talk to her. But talking to Pahlavi is very sus. You can't just talk to anyone with a shared vague goal. I see where she is coming from as a westerner but doesn't she know anything about Islam? Remember Iran is a muslim country so alot of the things that happen in Iran is what muslims do according to the religion. You can't force the west on a country that is not the west as the Shah found out. But Iran can and has just by looking at it taken western things and adapted it into its Islamic culture. As for some other things people like Ebadi are working in Iran to change things. But you have to remember Iran is a muslim country! It changes without turning on its own culture and religion to be itself and not what the west wants it to be. I sense some of you maybe those Iranian youths who only see Islam as the law, not as a part of Iran's culture and values. It is more than just the law, it is the religion of Iran. I think you perceive a "totalatarian" use of Islam because your parents may have took the revolution for granted and not taught you Islam (as one female Iranian MP pointed out) so you just see it as the law. Why not give Islam a go? It is not a disease that needs to be cured like one of you said. Perhaps some of the Mullah's may not care if they don't have political power anymore, they could perhaps do better influencing from the sidelines. You talk about 1m people protesting. You know way more than that from all walks of life under the guidance of the mullah's protested to oust the Shah and create the Islamic Republic and of course restore democracy (oh you haven't noticed the democratic institutions that exist in Iran). OK you got some government bodies with mullahs in them that are not directly elected as a bonus. But still... Bad mouthing? Hey you guys have been doing all the bad mouthing! Not all Mullah's are the same and not all have political power. Even if the institutions of the Council of Guardians and Supreme Leader are abolished or their powers reduced, mullahs could still influence politics in Iran as they did before the revolution. Are you sure you know your supposed own country of Iran? I would laugh if I knew it better than you guys. And all I have is news reports, talk with Iranian exchange/international students, muslims and things I have read. I don't think the Islamic Republic will fall. It will adapt just like it has since the revolution becoming more open while protecting Islam. I think they could even adapt Miss Canada here in somehow. How else do you explain that it is not the same place as it was in 1979? Did you notice that many of the candidates for the Assembly of experts elections last year campaigned on opposing the power of the Council of Guardians to vet candidates in elections. This is something of debate in Iran as this power is based on a controversal interpretation of the constitution. Can't you a picture an Islamic Republic where there is no Supreme Leader, Council of Guardians etc just the democratically elected President, parliament, local councils etc (that they have now) but Islam is not irrelevent and Mullahs would still have influence. This model was proposed by the uncle of Iraq's Muqtada al-Sadr. To a lesser extent can you see one with those institutions making different decisions that you would like or full of different people? You do have democratic institutions and processes in Iran to use to influence them. And at the same time you could try and be a good muslim, and when you do you may not have a problem at all with the Islamic Republic. Come on stop been so anti-Islam and realise that the Islamic Republic of Iran is more free and democratic than the Shah, Saddam Hussein's regime, the Taliban and some it's neighbours. By the way the Ukrainian "Orange" revolution did not change the "regime" just protested the election results. And didn't the pro-Russian candidate end up having to be the pro-European's P.M in the end? You guys talk about respect. Well would you respect the religous people in Iran? Would you respect mullahs? Would you respect conservatives? Would you respect Islam? Those Turkish protesters were secularists who want the military to save Ataturk's republic from democracy and have no respect for Islam really even though I did spot a tiny amount of people with the hijab. Hmmm. As you can see by the election of the AK party that even in Turkey Islam is making a comeback. Hossein appears to know more than you guys. And he is not in Ansara e Hezbollah as he is an Atheist who drinks alcohol, don't you Hossein?
- By: Henry Ong on May 12, 2007

Stop pulling ludicrous claims out of your ass. I am half Persian myself, who sadly can't speak Persian yet, but I do have a friend who's fresh out of Iran and she said Nazanin speaks perfect Farsi with a tiny hint of accent which is really cool. You sir are a loser, which is probably why you were kicked out of the Persian BBC.
- By: Sultan on May 11, 2007

“They filled our minds with hate They deceived the nation…” Does she have to spell it out for us? She says "they” deceived the nation. So the whole thing was a sham. The next verse could be something like this: “They exiled our beloved Shah”
- By: Mohammad on May 7, 2007

Hossein Derakhshan, the writer of this piece, is heavily tied to the conservative Iranian hezbollah under the conservative regime. Why are you so threatened Mr. Derakhshan?
- By: LongLivePersia on May 4, 2007

I loved the video. Your Islamic reveloution is going down.
- By: hooman farah on May 4, 2007

Hmmm...and what is your proof that Reza Pahlavi is Nazanin's "real boss"? A meeting and photo?!!!!!! She also had meetings with Shirin Ebadi (A muslim). Does that make Shirin Ebadi her "real boss"? How about her photo and meeting with head of international Committee against executions, Mina Ahadi (a communist). Does that make Nazanin Afshin-Jam "real boss" a communist? How about her meetings with presidents and politicians of different countries? Does that make them her "real boss"? Or are you suffering from the Iranian decease of accusations without proof ? Did you see 1 million people in Turkey last week demonstrating against a religious government? There were people from all political and religious beliefs among them but they all respected one another... and yes may be if you read about Gandhi, Ukrainian revolution etc, you learn something too... Ahmadi-Nejad writes and speak good Farsi, does that make him a better Iranian or human? Did you even read Nazanin's campaign site at www.stopchildexecutions.com where it says: "Our campaign is not affiliated with any political or religious groups, associations or organizations. We appreciate and encourage any cooperation and efforts by all groups and individuals who share our goal. " or her own site where it says: http://www.sportz-images.com/bodog_myspace/onbrand-assets/naz-notice.gif Who knows may be one day when enough of us get cured , we'll see one million Iranians of all backgrounds coming to the streets too. Let's start with you and I and thinking before bad mouthing others without any foundation.
- By: David on May 4, 2007

Haha you are one of a kind, Hossein. Nazanin has been a true activist working hard to let people know of the current disgraceful human rights situation that your beloved Islamic Republic has created for Iranians - for the people that are trying to live normal lives under this shameless theocracy. What have you been doing besides supporting the terrorist sponsoring Islamic Republic and bad mouthing anyone who supports Iran's road to freedom? I look forward to the day your beloved Islamic Republic falls in front of your eyes by the freedom loving people of Iran. You Traitor.
- By: City boy on May 3, 2007

fvck you. why do you put people down. you people are a bunch of m****f**er animals who can't see other people's success. you deserve mullahs to fvck you dry dry...
- By: fvck hooder on May 3, 2007