Iran released 80 political prisoners...not Hoder yet September 24, 2013 6:59 AM Subscribe
In an attempt to smooth things over ahead of Iranian President Hassan Rouhani’s visit to the United Nations Tuesday, Iran has released 80 political prisoners. I cannot find a list of all the names, but it appears Hossein Derakhshan (Hoder) was not among them. Among those released was Hamid Ghassemi-Shall, also Canadian, and arrested the same year that Hoder was (2008).
Iran also released a dozen political prisoners last week. Here's to hoping that Iran will release additional prisoners and Hoder will be among them. If anyone knows where to find a full list of the prisoners that have been released, I'd be grateful.
Iran also released a dozen political prisoners last week. Here's to hoping that Iran will release additional prisoners and Hoder will be among them. If anyone knows where to find a full list of the prisoners that have been released, I'd be grateful.
Thanks for this, cashman. AFAIK, they haven't released names yet.
I've been hoping that Hoder would be on the list.
For anyone who's interested: this is the most complete list available of prisoners being held in Iranian prisons. It takes time to load, since there are more than 4,700 names. Most records shown are for people detained after 2009.
posted by zarq at 8:04 AM on September 24, 2013
I've been hoping that Hoder would be on the list.
For anyone who's interested: this is the most complete list available of prisoners being held in Iranian prisons. It takes time to load, since there are more than 4,700 names. Most records shown are for people detained after 2009.
posted by zarq at 8:04 AM on September 24, 2013
I was watching the news on this too hoping to hear about his release. Fortunately, I ran into someone working on his case recently, and they said in the next few weeks there might be ways we can help and at some point I'll be quietly asking here for people to pitch in but they're still working out the details, so stay tuned.
posted by mathowie (staff) at 8:51 AM on September 24, 2013 [54 favorites]
posted by mathowie (staff) at 8:51 AM on September 24, 2013 [54 favorites]
mathowie: "...and at some point I'll be quietly asking here for people to pitch in..."
That's good news. Please let us know.
posted by zarq at 9:02 AM on September 24, 2013 [4 favorites]
That's good news. Please let us know.
posted by zarq at 9:02 AM on September 24, 2013 [4 favorites]
For new people wondering what the heck this is about and what it has to do with mefi, Hossein Derakhshan is a metafilter member who uses (well, used) the username hoder. Here's the initial post about his arrest. The hoder tag will help you catch up on further developments.
posted by desjardins at 9:17 AM on September 24, 2013 [4 favorites]
posted by desjardins at 9:17 AM on September 24, 2013 [4 favorites]
His domain is still registered in his name but expires on November 25, 2013. It was last updated in 2011.
I hope it's him or some well wisher/acquiantance had updated it. Can somebody make sure(I mean ask around or reply here if have some info this) that after Nov 25 of this year his domain is not at GoDaddy's mercy?
posted by amar at 9:17 AM on September 24, 2013
I hope it's him or some well wisher/acquiantance had updated it. Can somebody make sure(I mean ask around or reply here if have some info this) that after Nov 25 of this year his domain is not at GoDaddy's mercy?
posted by amar at 9:17 AM on September 24, 2013
Hoping for the best.
I think of Hoder pretty often, actually, and that feeling of something being terribly wrong but there being so little one can do, but listen and wait for something to change. And knowing that Hoder's just one example of thousands, not just in Iran, and is a particularly close-hitting human face on a terrible situation that's played itself out so many times. Of course, he did great things for Iranian bloggers, and is quite special for that, and his courage in going home. But there's so much courage to be found in the prisons of the world.
Still waiting.
posted by kaibutsu at 9:29 AM on September 24, 2013
I think of Hoder pretty often, actually, and that feeling of something being terribly wrong but there being so little one can do, but listen and wait for something to change. And knowing that Hoder's just one example of thousands, not just in Iran, and is a particularly close-hitting human face on a terrible situation that's played itself out so many times. Of course, he did great things for Iranian bloggers, and is quite special for that, and his courage in going home. But there's so much courage to be found in the prisons of the world.
Still waiting.
posted by kaibutsu at 9:29 AM on September 24, 2013
This is a seriously good start, and if Rouhani’s comment about working together to “reach joint interests” is meant in a lets be more democratic and open with one another rather than, hey US, help us set up our own NSA style spying network, then there may be some hope for relations between Iran and the West.
Is there any information on how the Iranians decided which prisoners to release and which to keep? Did they categorise them and keep those they felt were the most dangerous? (Not that I think Hoder is dangerous.)
posted by marienbad at 9:43 AM on September 24, 2013
Is there any information on how the Iranians decided which prisoners to release and which to keep? Did they categorise them and keep those they felt were the most dangerous? (Not that I think Hoder is dangerous.)
posted by marienbad at 9:43 AM on September 24, 2013
His domain is still registered in his name but expires on November 25, 2013. It was last updated in 2011.
Me and a couple other MeFites tried to renew it back in 2009. Godaddy would have none of it. I offered to renew for 10 years without requesting to change any owner or admin details. They said no dice but, if I remember correctly, renewed it for 2 years for free and said that if the same situation arose in 2011 that we were out of luck.
Gotta admit I found it bizarre that they didn't want to take my money when it wouldn't negatively affect the domain owner.
posted by dobbs at 10:03 AM on September 24, 2013
Me and a couple other MeFites tried to renew it back in 2009. Godaddy would have none of it. I offered to renew for 10 years without requesting to change any owner or admin details. They said no dice but, if I remember correctly, renewed it for 2 years for free and said that if the same situation arose in 2011 that we were out of luck.
Gotta admit I found it bizarre that they didn't want to take my money when it wouldn't negatively affect the domain owner.
posted by dobbs at 10:03 AM on September 24, 2013
Let us know how we can help, mathowie.
posted by boo_radley at 10:05 AM on September 24, 2013
posted by boo_radley at 10:05 AM on September 24, 2013
Can somebody make sure(I mean ask around or reply here if have some info this) that after Nov 25 of this year his domain is not at GoDaddy's mercy?
I've only been through the process once, but there was a domain I had wanted for a decade that the owner finally let expire (it had been parked the whole time and never hosted an actual website) and I had good luck grabbing it through NameJet. Basically you pledge to pay at least $70 if they manage to grab the domain as soon as it becomes available (which there's no guarantee of happening but is pretty likely if it's an obscure domain), and then there is a period of time where other people can outbid you to pay more for it. In my case nobody else wanted it so I got it for $70. Also it took forever for the actual domain to become available after it officially expired, I think almost a year after the WHOIS data listed as the expiration date.
posted by burnmp3s at 10:35 AM on September 24, 2013
I've only been through the process once, but there was a domain I had wanted for a decade that the owner finally let expire (it had been parked the whole time and never hosted an actual website) and I had good luck grabbing it through NameJet. Basically you pledge to pay at least $70 if they manage to grab the domain as soon as it becomes available (which there's no guarantee of happening but is pretty likely if it's an obscure domain), and then there is a period of time where other people can outbid you to pay more for it. In my case nobody else wanted it so I got it for $70. Also it took forever for the actual domain to become available after it officially expired, I think almost a year after the WHOIS data listed as the expiration date.
posted by burnmp3s at 10:35 AM on September 24, 2013
Gotta admit I found it bizarre that they didn't want to take my money when it wouldn't negatively affect the domain owner.
They probably make more on rescuing/returning or reselling expired domains.
posted by inigo2 at 10:55 AM on September 24, 2013
They probably make more on rescuing/returning or reselling expired domains.
posted by inigo2 at 10:55 AM on September 24, 2013
Me and my crossed fingers will stay tuned.
posted by rtha at 10:57 AM on September 24, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by rtha at 10:57 AM on September 24, 2013 [1 favorite]
Is there anything we can do? Write real paper letters somewhere, or anything? Is it best to stay out of it because pressure might affect Hoder adversely?
posted by Cranberry at 11:00 AM on September 24, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by Cranberry at 11:00 AM on September 24, 2013 [1 favorite]
Gotta admit I found it bizarre that they didn't want to take my money when it wouldn't negatively affect the domain owner.
Because there are rules on how domains can be modified. Kind of sucky, since I thought they would be happy to take the money. I was just sad we couldn't get his photography site.
The last time the domain was set to expire Christine Jones put a lock on it, since she was the Godaddy attorney at the time. I believe she's done this twice, but since she's no longer with Godaddy I am not optimistic it'd work again. "glad we could help."
Count me in for some time/money for whatever is needed.
Free Hossein Derakhshan // Libérez Hossein Derakhshan has had an update or two over the years, but mostly it's just people being added.
posted by cjorgensen at 11:42 AM on September 24, 2013 [1 favorite]
Because there are rules on how domains can be modified. Kind of sucky, since I thought they would be happy to take the money. I was just sad we couldn't get his photography site.
The last time the domain was set to expire Christine Jones put a lock on it, since she was the Godaddy attorney at the time. I believe she's done this twice, but since she's no longer with Godaddy I am not optimistic it'd work again. "glad we could help."
Count me in for some time/money for whatever is needed.
Free Hossein Derakhshan // Libérez Hossein Derakhshan has had an update or two over the years, but mostly it's just people being added.
posted by cjorgensen at 11:42 AM on September 24, 2013 [1 favorite]
Fingers crossed for some good news.
posted by arcticseal at 12:19 PM on September 24, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by arcticseal at 12:19 PM on September 24, 2013 [1 favorite]
Because there are rules on how domains can be modified.
Yeah, I wasn't attempting to modify it. I was trying to put money in the account the way someone would put into a friend's or child's bank account. I've done it at other registrars without issue.
posted by dobbs at 2:10 PM on September 24, 2013
Yeah, I wasn't attempting to modify it. I was trying to put money in the account the way someone would put into a friend's or child's bank account. I've done it at other registrars without issue.
posted by dobbs at 2:10 PM on September 24, 2013
I think of Hoder frequently. If there's anything we can do, I'm in to help.
posted by 26.2 at 8:40 PM on September 24, 2013
posted by 26.2 at 8:40 PM on September 24, 2013
I read this thread just before going to sleep, and somewhere in my confused dreams there was a part where Hoder had been released, and Metafilter was celebrating.
I hope that comes to pass, soon.
posted by cmyk at 12:46 PM on September 26, 2013 [1 favorite]
I hope that comes to pass, soon.
posted by cmyk at 12:46 PM on September 26, 2013 [1 favorite]
Hoder's fate makes me cry every time I think of it, every time Iran is in the news, every time he's mentioned here. Please be sure to let us know if/when there is something we can do to help.
posted by _paegan_ at 12:24 AM on October 1, 2013
posted by _paegan_ at 12:24 AM on October 1, 2013
So I can't really do anything but guess at the details (thanks google translate) but it seems like Hoder's sentence has been reduced from 19.5 years to 17 years? He's been in for 5 years.
Can anyone do a proper (Human) translation?
posted by cashman at 6:41 AM on October 17, 2013 [2 favorites]
Can anyone do a proper (Human) translation?
posted by cashman at 6:41 AM on October 17, 2013 [2 favorites]
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posted by mumkin at 7:57 AM on September 24, 2013