Monday, May 26, 2014

About the Director of the Iranian Version of the Happy Video

The end credits for the much publicised Iranian version of the Farrell Williams' "Happy Video", showed the director's name simply as "SOL". He was the only one of those involved in making the video, not to have his real name shown and was the last one who was arrested. He is also now the only one who has not been released on bail.

Sasan Soleimani, who was shown simply as "SOL" in the end credits of the video, was in fact actively involved in Rouhani's election campaign. In this article published before, he says he took all the studio photos of Rouhani used for his election campaign posters and banners. Soleimani also claims that it was him, who suggested the colour violet to become Rouhani's campaign colour.

Sasan Soleimani often argued with Iranian expats on the  social media chats, saying they should not paint such a bleak picture of Iran and that "things are not as bad as they suggest".

Perhaps some times you can not see the forest for the trees!

Sasan Soleimani seen with Rouhani, second from  the left


Sunday, May 11, 2014

Iranians Told to Have 5, 8, 12 or 14 Children!


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mhfasoZfRFg#t=51

Supreme Leader and his appointed clerics are intent on doubling Iran's population by curbing birth control measures but this cleric on Iranian State TV is appealing to the Shiite population inside and outside Iran to have up to 14 children.

"For the love of the holy Zahra and for the love of Imam Ali, the prince of the faithful, save yourselves from this ominous culture of one child or two children nonsense ” The cleric tells the viewers.


He encourages the Shiite population inside and outside Iran to choose an auspicious Shiite number for how many children they should have. “Have five children as in the Five of the Purest, or eight children as in the eighth Imam of the Shiites, the holy Imam Reza or have twelve children in the name of the twelve Shiite Imams or fourteen in the names of the 'Fourteen Sinless'  saints“.

Luckily, I fall outside of the "ominous culture of one or two children only" zone but still way to go to 14 :(