Wednesday, January 27th, 2010

All Charges Dropped Against Space Hijackers

Crown Prosecution Service drops all charges against 11 Space Hijackers for impersonating police officers.
Elated. Over the moon. Downing a stiff gin to celebrate. But shaking with anger at the drama I and my friends have had to endure over the past ten months. Many of us have suffered throughout this ordeal, a farcical attempt by [...]

Tuesday, January 12th, 2010

Stop, Search, Succumb

The Home Office is to appeal a European Court of Human Rights decision stating that the use of Section 44 (Terrorism Act 2000) to stop and search individuals violates the right to respect for a private life guaranteed by Article 8 of the Convention on Human Rights.
Section 44 has long drawn criticism from protestors who [...]

Monday, November 16th, 2009

This Is Not a Photomontage

In the background, the Sheraton Hotel. Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The poshest place in town…possibly in the country. Owned by the richest man in the country who’s half Ethiopian and half Yemeni. He’s also one of the richest men in Saudi Arabia…more wonga than the entire Bin Laden family. He reckons he can throw billions into [...]

Thursday, October 1st, 2009

G20 vs 34C

Despite the fact that photographs from the first day of the G20 protests in April 2009 show me astride an armoured personnel carrier in black bra and blue boiler suit with another woman straddling me in red stockings and lipstick heels, the Crown Prosecution Service has charged me and 10 others with impersonating police officers. [...]

Saturday, August 1st, 2009

Iran. June 2009.

The height of post-Iranian Election fervour. As thousands of pro-reform demonstrators took to Iran’s streets asking where their votes went, one man went on a solitary journey along Tehran’s avenues pasting and painting hundreds of his own questions.
A1one, the street name for a Tehran-based street artist, erected over 400 pieces on the day the [...]

Tuesday, July 21st, 2009

EXCLUSIVE VIDEO: Police Shoot Protesters in Tehran

Received this video this morning. Not sure about dates, exact locations, times.
A rough translation:
“it is plastic bullet…he has shot three air shots…they give him
info who to shoot…yes..like Palestine…he is shooting to air…oh
bastard, bastard….Mohammad get away (from the window) they are
shooting…(when the soldiers flee) good for you, good for
you…(woman’s voice) bastards, someone help him, bastard…
(people) ya [...]

Friday, June 19th, 2009

Khameni on the Streets?

The other day I spoke with a former colleague based in Tehran. Someone with a knack for getting stupid foreign journalists out of Iran’s more logistical minefields. She’s had to switch phones regularly to avoid having his mobile connection blocked. It’s the first time I’ve spoken to her since election day.

“It’s going to be difficult [...]

Thursday, June 18th, 2009

A Protester's Truth (Dispatch from Iran)

As the rest of the world is discovering, Iran is a rather modern place. With nearly 70% of the population aged under 35, it would be. Men’s hairstyles may have a tad too much hair gel on the go and women may have a liking for bug-eyed sunglasses, but those are regional crimes of fashion [...]

Wednesday, June 17th, 2009

Why We Protest (A Letter From Iran)

Dissidents. That’s what you want to call them. People who actively challenge an established doctrine, policy, or institution.
Iran is a country where there is no clear black or white, good or evil. Like the chadors, hejabs and jilbabs worn by women, you see one thing, but beneath the veil can be the unexpected.
On the [...]

Wednesday, June 17th, 2009

Turban Warfare (Tehran Street Art pt.2)

My friend is tired. Having spent the day erecting over 400 street pieces throughout Tehran’s concrete, steel, and rage-lined arteries. Having run away from angry men on motorcycles wielding batons towards angry men wearing green and throwing rocks.
The world has been introduced to a new lexicon. The Guardian Council, the Basij, Khomeni, Khameni, Khatami, ValiAsr, [...]