I endured 5 sobering days in Iran's capital & saw what locals have put up with for 46 yrs – reign of tyranny must end
THERE are no boozers in Iran. In the capital, Tehran there are plenty of shops selling spare parts for trucks and heavy machinery though. There are also a plethora of stores flogging long-sleeved shirts, hijabs and chadors (full body cloaks).
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In the Islamic Republic, advertising is virtually non-existent. Western brands are forbidden. They drive
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The forbidding eyes of the Ayatollahs stare down at the public in Tehran
Credit: Alamy
The only advertisements you'll see, apart from those praising local products, are massive murals celebrating the
The 'martyrs' of the eight-year Iran-Iraq war adorn the sides of apartment blocks.
The street outside the old British Embassy is still named after the
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Four-lane motorways accommodate eight lanes of traffic, at least.
A city of 10 million souls live in a theocratic prison. The Islamic Revolution of 1979 promised freedom, instead it delivered repression, isolation, inequality, death and despair.
Men in black never deliver.
Those are some of my memories of Tehran. I was there for the guts of a week in November 2001, sent by my editor to cover the World Cup play-off match between Ireland and Iran. The winner would go to
Ireland had won the first leg in
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I was part of a media pack of about 20. A further 100 or so die-hard fans joined us. We travelled on the same plane as the team, jetting out on a Sunday. We all stayed in the same hotel, the five-star Laleh International, guarded 24/7 by plain-clothes Iranian regime spies and car loads of Basij, the morality
Whenever we ventured out, we were followed at an indiscreet distance. We knew they were there and they wanted us to know they were there. After all, it had been just two months since terrorists had flown two planes into the Twin Towers in
DICKY STOMACH
After two days without a drop of
There's only so much soft drink one can imbibe, without the body rebelling. Then, on Wednesday afternoon, the day before the big game, rumours swirled at the hotel that someone had sourced booze, but at a secret location in the city. All very hush, hush it had to be.
A go-between by the name of 20 Major had set up the pre-match party, but it'd be £50 a head (punts).
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That evening, three or four mini-buses drove up to the back gate of the hotel to take 40 or so who'd stumped up the necessary. After an hour's ride through back streets the buses parked up outside a block of apartments.
The fans were ushered inside and found themselves outside a flat in a dark hall. The door slowly opened and they were ushered in, the hosts holding their fingers up to their lips.
Hands were rubbed, lips licked, feet tapped together in anticipation of a feed of drink. In they traipsed to the kitchen. A generous spread of grub was piled on one table, but all eyes were on the table at the back wall.
MATCH DAY
For there lay the holy grail; 200 cans of Tuborg that were TWO YEARS out of date. Undeterred by the prospect of a dicky stomach the following day (and they all had), the cans were devoured.
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At 3am, they were smuggled back to the hotel, mercifully without incident.
Match day. Thursday evening. The Azadi stadium. 99,900 Iranian men. A sea of beards. 100 Paddies. A cacophony of noise, colour and horns. The stadium was ringed with Islamic revolutionary slogans. Two giant portraits of old, dead Khomeini and the new man in black, Khamenei staring at us.
A dour, nervous game. The first time women had been allowed into a football stadium in Iran (after a diplomatic wrangle). Ten or so of our girls. Wearing green chadors in defiance, in a metal cage.
STADIUM SCENES
Iran winning 1-0. Ireland hanging on for the win. Scenes. Rocks and bottles come at us from all angles. The revolutionary posters are torn down and set on fire. Seats are on fire too. We're kept in the stadium for three hours afterwards.
Outside, Iranian fans and police engage in running battles.
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Our buses arrive. Reporters, photographers, Irish fans and team clamber on board. Glass and debris litter the road on the 45km drive from the stadium to the airport.
No one says a word. Fear makes you shut your trap. Airport staff can't get shot of us fast enough. Scowls. Moustaches. Dark eyes. We board the
The relief to be away from that suffocating place. What must it be like for ordinary, decent Iranians? We endured five sobering days there. They've put up with it for the last 46 years.
The soft and remarkable Iranian people long for regime change, the one thing both Israel and the
For lasting peace in the
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STUDENT RITE ENDS
YOUNGSTERS heading to America on J1 student visas to work during the
We've been doing it for generations. I went to
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President Donald Trump ordered US embassies world-wide to vet the social media of everyone seeking a work visa
Credit: Shutterstock Editorial
They worked in bars and restaurants, at amusement arcades, as hotel valets and porters to name but a few.
They had a ball. America gave them a taste of a culture that's been in the Irish DNA for over 150 years. Both profited hugely from the exchange.
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Students will now think long and hard about heading to the States on a J1 after
Kids will now have to make public every
Who would want to go through that? The days of the J1 are over. Until Trump is ousted and sanity prevails in America, Irish students and anyone else in possession of a brain will go to work and live in
SOLVE THE MYSTERY
TO lose a child is unfathomable. To lose a child and for them never to be found is a heartbreak too far.
Annie McCarrick, who
The search of the house has ended.
Annie's mother, Nancy, who lives in Long Island, New York, has endured a living hell. The latest developments would have given her renewed hope of a breakthrough as to what happened to Annie.
The cold case cops are close, but not there yet. For Nancy's sake, hopefully they will crack the case soon.
ALL TALK, NO ACTION IN DUBLIN
THE hot air brigade were busy again this week huffing and puffing and bloviating about what they will do.
Taoiseach
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Waste on the side of a road in Dublin
Credit: Alamy
Like the Boy Who Cried Wolf, we've stopped believing anything that emanates from either of their mouths.
We've heard it all before. Now is not the time for more talk, it's way past the time for action.
Dublin is blighted by dereliction, crime-ridden due to too few cops, chronically littered and its public spaces filthy. A firm hand would end that quickly. Instead of tough love, we were again served up the weak hand this week.
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Martin,
Martin said policing numbers would be increased over the next TEN YEARS. Christ almighty.
They waxed lyrical about the revamp of the GPO, the Abbey and Ambassador theatres and the Fruit & Veg market. But these are already under way and not because of anything they did.
The Dublin City Task Force made a series of recommendations last year. Those recommendations remain largely unfulfilled.
'DUBLIN IS A JEWEL
SINCE that report, the government has failed to implement concrete plans and match any commitments with the necessary funding.
Dublin is a jewel. It is a city we should be proud of. It deserves better than the plamas being lobbed in its direction every few months from politicians who, if they did care about sorting Dublin's problems, would just get on with it and do it.
It's clear this government, with FF/FG in power, has failed Dublin and its citizens.
They have repeatedly reneged on a recommendation from the Citizens' Assembly that Dublin have its own directly elected mayor with real power.
Hot air won't transform Dublin, a mayor with teeth would. Until that happens, don't believe a word the government says about our capital city.
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The Irish Sun
11 minutes ago
- The Irish Sun
Meet China's shady ‘Sea Dragons' – the elite unit training for Taiwan invasion with underwater pistols & pirate battles
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Advertisement Beijing's troops haven't seen active combat in a full scale war since the 1970s, when China fought briefly against Vietnam. But China's elite 7th Marine Brigade - also known as the Sea Dragons - is kept at "high readiness" for conflict, and has experience in operations around the world. This secretive unit has been deployed in China's counter-piracy missions in the Gulf of Aden - and played a key role in evacuating Chinese nationals from the war in Yemen. They are often seen as China's answer to the elite US Navy Seals. Advertisement As Beijing's sabre-rattling across the Taiwan Strait grows louder, The Sun has spoken to leading military experts to find out how this unit could play a devastating role in such a war. Analyst Alexis Turek of the Coalition Defense of Taiwan Project said: "Any sort of amphibious operation in Taiwan is incredibly difficult. "It's going to be significantly more difficult than the Normandy invasion [in 1944]. "Part of that is because China is very unprepared and they haven't done this before." She explained that one Chinese dictator Xi Jinping's main military goals has been expanding the power of the Chinese Navy to prime Beijing's war-readiness. Advertisement Huge fleet of terrifying new Chinese 'tank boats' takes to water as Taiwan launches huge war drills Over the past decade, China has vastly expanded its naval capabilities, including building two massive home-grown aircraft carriers. "It's certainly true that they're not quite at the level of the US," Turek added. "There's a difference between having very powerful forces, and knowing how to conduct these sorts of operations." But while the rest of the Chinese military remains untested in battle, the Sea Dragons' experience and training could make them a force to be reckoned with. Alison O'Neil, a China researcher at the Institute for the Study of War, told The Sun: "This brigade is specifically trained for urban warfare and urban counter-terrorism. The 7th Brigade is kept at high readiness." Much of their experience comes from battling pirates in the Gulf of Aden, where the Sea Dragons have cut their teeth in amphibious operations. Advertisement Armed with specialist assault rifles and pistols that work underwater, they are especially adept at recon and sabotage operations. 13 Chinese President Xi Jinping has vowed to bring Taiwan under Beijing's control Credit: Alamy 13 Chinese marines take part in a joint naval drill in Zhanjiang Credit: Alamy 13 Chinese and Russian marines take part in a joint naval drill Credit: Alamy 13 Chinese marines during exercises Credit: US Department of Defense Advertisement "They have been sent to do a lot of these overseas power projection efforts, so that includes anti-piracy and counter-terrorism," Turek added. Taiwan's geography as a highly mountainous island with densely populated cities makes planning an invasion fraught with difficulty for China. One of the first tasks for China would be to assess Taiwan's coastline for potential landing spots. And the Sea Dragons' expertise in naval reconnaissance would put them right at the forefront. "They would probably be the ones identifying where the targets are and where they should strike," Turek said. Advertisement "We would also see them probably engaging in some of their own targeted strikes." The Sea Dragons would also likely play a key role in psychological warfare to try and force Taiwan into submission, Turek said. This could see them sabotage ports, major airports and other vital infrastructure in a brutal campaign to terrorise the island's population. The unit has even been seen wielding terrifying hidden drones that are disguised to look like birds, The War Zone previously reported. 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The 42
2 hours ago
- The 42
Sunshine on Leith: The Irish origins of Hibernian FC, as they celebrate 150 years
THE BHOYS IN their green and white hoops are on a season-long commemoration of their Irish roots, having been founded by a cleric with the intention of helping the destitute Irish in their Scottish city. We are talking, of course, not of Glasgow Celtic, but of Hibernian FC. On 6 August, the Edinburgh club hosted a free exhibition at the St Mary's Street Hall that documented their formation exactly 150 years to the day. It was one of a series of events to recognise the landmark. A few weeks before, they staged a friendly with Rot-Weiss Essen of the German third tier; the opposition they met back in 1955 when they became the first British club to play in the inaugural European Cup. A casual look at what was on display in the historical display, however, shows how at one point Hibernian FC were the greatest charitable experiment for the Irish diaspora in the world; one that Celtic would faithfully imitate right down to the small details. **** Take it right back to the start and at the time of their formation, Edinburgh had an Irish problem. Over 100,000 had left Ireland in the years during and immediately after the Great Famine to go to Scotland. While the majority settled in Glasgow, like many other cities, Edinburgh struggled to accommodate the refugees. Two of whom were John Connolly, a labourer originally from Monaghan, and his wife Mary McGinn of Ballymena, Co Antrim. They lived in Cowgate, nowadays a thriving area of modern city life, but back then a slum known as the unflattering 'Little Ireland.' Their third born son, James Connolly, would later become an enormous figure in Ireland's political history, but it was with the then seven-year-old James Connolly in mind that Limerick-born Canon Edward Hannan of St Patrick's Church and Michael Whelahan of Kilglass, Co Roscommon, who had just turned 21 and would become the club's first captain, were thinking of. James Connolly. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo Together, they imagined a football club that would raise money for the starving Irish and help them integrate successfully into Scottish society. At this early stage, the Irish influence was absolute, starting with the name itself: Hibernia being the Roman name for Ireland. The Catholic Young Men's Society was embedded from the outset and it was insisted upon that playing members were teetotallers and practising Catholics. The club motto adopted was 'Erin Go Bragh.' Naturally, there was opposition from certain elements of the establishment and Hibernian struggled to get opposition for games. Not only was there an anti-Irish feeling, but a class issue also as football was not yet a mass, working-class pursuit. It was Heart of Midlothian of all teams that helped them out and played a series of games until the stand-off melted away and they were accepted by those that ran Scottish soccer, the Edinburgh and Scottish Football Associations. A year into their existence, they began wearing green and white hoops, something they did for a decade. They called themselves the 'Bhoys.' In 1902 when they won the Scottish Cup, they did so with Dubliner Dan McMichael as the club secretary. While teams were effectively run by committee in those days, McMichael was the de facto manager. The Irish connection has not always been particularly strong, but some notable recent players include Nick Colgan, Daryl Horgan, Anthony Stokes and the late Liam Miller. Anthony Stokes. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo Northern Ireland manager Michael O'Neill had three seasons there in the '90s under Alex Miller, while Ivan Sproule of Tyrone had two spells at Easter Road and hit a hat-trick in a 3-0 win over then champions Rangers. Advertisement No less than George Best fetched up in the 1979-80 season on a 'pay for play' basis. While the gates were quadrupled, he could not save Hibs from relegation. George Best in the colours of Hibernian. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo One quirky connection was that of Pat Stanton who was acknowledged as one of Hibernian's greatest servants, a winner of the Scottish Football Writer's player of the year in 1970 and one who fended off interest from Celtic until the very final years of his career because of his connection to Hibs. He was the great-great nephew of founding member Michael Whelehan. In July of this summer, the club named one of the Easter Road stands, 'The Pat Stanton Stand.' Pat Stanton at the dedication of a stand in his name. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo Like any good Irish sporting story, there's also room for a good old gypsy curse saga. For Hibs, it centred around a Scottish Cup drought that lasted from the Edwardian era and the refurbishment of the south stand in the 1950s, that did not reinstall the Hibs' harp emblem. The finger of suspicion for such a decision landed on chairman Harry Swan. He was selected by the board as the first non-Irish Catholic to take the role. Any quick check though would debunk that theory. Swan had presided over a post-war period that had one of Hibs' most successful periods, including three league titles in five years. He himself ordered a hand-crafted mosaic harp for the club's boardroom. Still, there are grudges that never wither. The New Year's Day match between Celtic and Rangers in 1952 provoked serious violence on the pitch. The Scottish FA considered a request for the Irish tricolour to be removed from Celtic Park. Celtic refused. Sanctions were threatened. Other clubs had their say with a vote and Hibs – represented by Swan – voted against Celtic. **** Everything changes, everything evolves. Hibernian is like any other club; home to thousands of different philosophies. For a great deal of Hibs fans, the club was about the old dock town of Leith and the local culture. For some it was a badge of anti-establishment. Others felt they were just as Irish and indeed Republican as Celtic. It's a theory that has some references in popular culture outside of the terraces. For example, in Irvine Welsh's novel Trainspotting, following the misadventures of a group of heroin addicts and Hibernian fans in Edinburgh, there is a chapter detailing Francis Begbie's New Year's Eve party where the assembled are belting out a selection of Irish Rebel songs, including 'Off to Dublin in the Green.' Edinburgh author and Hibs fan, Irvine Welsh. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo And yet, one of the central characters in Mark Renton comes from a family of Hearts supporters with a brother in the British Army serving in Belfast. The passage of time brings a new generation. When Hibs reached the Scottish Cup final of 2016 and beat Rangers 3-2, their first Cup since 1902, it included a few elements. The contribution of Anthony Stokes was immense. He scored the first goal, a neat stab to the far post after finding himself in space down the left wing. Rangers then grabbed two goals before Stokes' equalising header in the 80th minute. But he was a complete menace throughout, hitting the woodwork and having another shot parried, before David Grey's header in added time sealed the 3-2 win. The big Hollywood moment came as the Cup was presented to Hibs for the first time in 114 years and Hampden Park swayed to the crowd belting out that most gorgeous Hibs anthem, 'Sunshine on Leith' by The Proclaimers. There were some Irish tricolours among the Hibs end. This was a century on from the Easter Rising and James Connolly's execution. Just on Connolly; as a child, he acted as a ball-boy on match days for Hibernian. He had a love-hate relationship with his home town. The love centred mainly around Hibernian but it is striking how monuments and statues commemorating Connolly have been erected in Belfast, Dublin, Chicago and Troy, but not in Edinburgh. There is a small plaque near his birthplace. Nonetheless, there is a Hibs supporter's club named after him. It is difficult to think of another example of just how Irish emigration succeeded than Glasgow Celtic. But it's debateable if it all would have happened without the example of Hibernian FC. Four years after their establishment, Dundee was a city with a strong Irish identity, a census conducted in 1851 revealing that 19% of the city was Irish. They found their voice with the formation of Dundee Harp in 1879. Following a suspension by the Scottish Football Association in 1894, Dundee Harp stopped playing, were replaced by Dundee Hibernian, before reverting back to the Harp name prior to going defunct. It lives on in one way. The area around Lochee was known as 'Little Tipperary.' Having been formed in 1904, Lochee Harp are still on the go at junior level. Then, there was Dundee Hibernian who formed in 1909. Their first game was in August of that year against Hibernian of Edinburgh and they joined the league the following year. In 1923, they almost went bust and it was decided to change the name of the club to Dundee United, and the colours from green and white, to white and black. They would later change to orange and black in 1969. In 1887, Brother Walfrid of Sligo was inspired by the success of Hibernian and wished to achieve the same for the Irish poor in Glasgow. At the time, Hibernian made donations to the fledging enterprise. Unbeknownst to the other Celtic board members as football was evolving from amateur to professional, two Celtic board members, Glasgow businessmen John Glass and Pat Welsh, were thinking in terms of running Celtic as a profitable venture. In time, the best players of Hibernian were tempted west by the Celtic largesse. Under the management of Willie Maley, born and bred in Newry, Co Down, Celtic developed ideas of producing players from the wider east end of Glasgow and surrounding regions that gave them a strong identity. Eventually, with the help of Jock Stein, Celtic would capture the European Cup in 1967 with a team of players all from within 30 miles of Celtic Park; a feat never done before, since, or ever with the remotest chance of happening again. The affections of the Irish were with Celtic and that's how it largely remains. But it may never have happened without the vision of Hibernian FC.
The Irish Sun
2 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
Moses Itauma vs Dillian Whyte EXACT fight time: When are ring-walks for TONIGHT'S huge all-British clash in Saudi
MOSES ITAUMA and Dillian Whyte go head-to-head in a mammoth all-British battle - and SunSport can reveal the EXACT time it will get underway. This all-Brit showdown sees rising whirlwind Moses 'Wrecking Ball' Itauma, aged just 20 and undefeated with a 12‑0 record (10 KOs), into the toughest test of his career. 3 Itauma is looking to grab another statement win as he continues his rise to the top of heavyweight boxing Credit: PA 3 Whyte needs a win to compete at the top level again. Credit: PA The WBO ranked the youngster as No1 after knocking out Mike Balogun in May. He faces off against veteran Dillian 'The Body Snatcher' Whyte, now 37 and holding a 31‑3 record (21 KOs). Itauma has bulldozed recent opponents - racking up eight consecutive knockouts - including Balogun and Demsey McKean in brutal stoppages, while Whyte comes off unconvincing wins over Christian Hammer and Ebenezer Tetteh. The former world title contender also pulled out of an arranged bout with Joe Joyce earlier this year. A win for Whyte is vital if he wants to get back to the top level of heavyweight boxing. What time does Moses Itauma vs Dillian Whyte start? Ring-walks for the main event is expected to get underway at approximately 10.20pm BST, meaning that the first bell should go around ten minutes later. However, timings could change depending on the length of the undercard bouts. Coverage of the main card will start from 5.45pm BST Who else is on the card? Moses Itauma vs Dillian Whyte; Heavyweight Nick Ball vs Sam Goodman; Featherweight, for the WBA title Ray Ford vs Abraham Nova; Super featherweight Filip Hrgovic vs David Adeleye; Heavyweight Hayato Tsutsumi vs Qais Ashfaq; Super featherweight 3 MOSES ITAUMA VS DILLIAN WHYTE: ALL THE DETAILS YOU NEED AHEAD OF HUGE HEAVYWEIGHT BOUT WATCH ITAUMA VS WHYTE LIVE ON DAZN What TV channel is Itauma vs Whyte on and can it be live streamed?
