New letter from Iran: "Not much going on, but a lot going on"

From Iran today:

March 3, 2010 Not Much Going On, But A lot Going On

A second person I am personally aware of, who was imprisoned for 2 years around 1367, was summoned for questioning.  The two who were questioned were asked to fill in a lot of personal information on a form including who they regularly hang out with and what those persons’ views and beliefs are.  They were also asked to provide updated pictures. They were questioned by people beind a two-way mirror. Both thought that it seemed the gum’t is attempting to update their political dissident files. Since they take pictures of everyone in the protests, it seems they are updating records to be able to pick out the Green (anti-gum’t) Protestors.

One school principal relayed how tough it is on the teachers this year. He said that they get called in to the office for every slip of the tongue. They have been told to report families whose children speak “Green”. He also said that the schools get harassed for any music they play – but they still push ahead.

A preschool I am close to said that they have been instructed to speak about the 12th Imam (Mahdi) on Teachers’ Day at the end of the school year to the kids! The head there said, “What am I supposed to tell a 3 year old about the coming Mahdi!?” It seems Ahmadinejad and his group are trying to hasten the End Times and the coming of the Mahdi is a required event!

In the past 2 days three different people from 3 walks of life have asked me my religion. When I respond that until there is freedom of religion in Iran and all Iranians can freely express their beliefs without fear, I refuse to answer that question – these people have promptly told me that while they call themselves Muslim, they do not pray, fast or believe in heaven or hell at all. And then they continue their conversation with me. Theses three are 25, 35 and a bit older respectively – all children of the revolution.

One cab driver who signed up for an election-promise house and voted for the “correct” candidate told me that they have since been told that the apartment promised was promised illegally and that they would not be receiving an apartment after all. He said he has observed that some very well connected people have however, received apartments through this scheme although he has not.

[Via http://iranelectionstories.org]