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Hostage Crisis

Looks like Iran wants one. Iranian-American student nabbed on traffic violation. When was the last time the cops pulled you over for speeding, then ransacked your house, took your computer and held you in prison for a week? LA Times: 

It seemed like a routine traffic stop. At first.

Esha Momeni, an Iranian American scholar visiting Tehran, was pulled over Oct. 15. She had allegedly committed a traffic violation while driving along the main north-south highway of the Iranian capital.

But instead of writing up a ticket and sending her on her way, the purported traffic cops escorted the Cal State Northridge graduate student to her relatives’ home.

They searched the place, human rights organizations say, confiscating her computer and footage of interviews she’d conducted as part of her research for a master’s degree thesis.

Then they took Momeni, who was born in Los Angeles, away, according to a report issued this week by Amnesty International.

Momeni, 28, was reportedly being held in the notorious Section 209 of Tehran’s Evin Prison, though officials have not announced any charges. Amnesty International and others worry that she might be subjected to torture.

Friends have launched a website to demand Momeni’s release, and administrators at Northridge have asked congressional offices and other federal officials to help secure her release.

“She is a student invested in learning and understanding current conditions in the country of her family’s origin. Anyone who values knowledge and the role of academic inquiry in shedding light on the human condition should be concerned” about the arrest, Cal State Northridge President Jolene Koester said in a statement released Thursday.

State Department spokesman Robert Wood told reporters this week that U.S. officials were seeking more information about the case. “We stand with all those in Iran who are working for universal human rights and justice in their countries,” he told reporters.

Brave woman or a very naive one. She must have known what the Iranians do with people who ask awkward questions.

Speaking of awkward, this is happening at the height of the U.S. presidential campaign, in which the mullahs have said they favor Obama. They may want to think about that before they let any international crisis develop, even a relatively small one. As gleefully as the Obama camp has welcomed dire economic news, the last thing the Obamists want right now is anything that speaks to their guy’s Carter-like foreign policy weakness.

Here’s a thought. Maybe Obama’s other nemesis, Jesse Jackson, can go over there and get her freed. … That might be a little awkward, too.

Topics: Iran, pols

  Posted by Jules Crittenden at 9:54 am on Friday, October 24, 2008

3 Responses to “Hostage Crisis”

1. TheBigHenry Says:
   October 24th, 2008 at 12:28 pm

   Then, after they cut Jesse’s n*ts off, Obama can go on national TV and invite I’madinnerjacket to the White House for a small gathering of celebrants, say a couple hundred of Holyshitwood’s finest, and have a sing-along around chestnuts roasting on an open fire …

   I could go on, but what would be the point? The public moronity will prevail.

2. Gerard Van der Leun Says:
   October 24th, 2008 at 7:39 pm

   Henry,
   Please do not give people any reason whatsoever to vote for Obama.
   Thank you.

3. Consul-At-Arms Says:
   October 26th, 2008 at 1:38 am

   I’ve quoted you and linked to you here: http://consul-at-arms.blogspot.com/2008/10/re-hostage-crisis.html

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