Hadi Saei poses for a photo with Mahroz Sae Bonekhohal Photo credit: Art Garcia

Saturday, the National Team of Iran arrived in Tijuana declaring they were ready for the 2010 World Junior Taekwondo Championships as well as the Youth Olympic Qualifying Round. What makes their arrival noteworthy is that in their delegation is Hadi Saei, a two time Olympic Champion and bronze medal winner, and now coach of the Persian team.

The Organizing Committee’s CEO and General Director of the Baja California Sports and Physical Culture Institute, Saul Castro Verdugo welcomed them. “It is a great honor and a pleasure for us to receive such a great athlete and Olympic figure in our country and our city,” said Castro Verdugo. “Please feel comfortable, feel like your at home and we wish you the best in this competition, and hope you have a great and successful one.

Verdugo had an opportunity to meet Saei in Copenhagen during the Senior World Championship, at which time Saei was a judge. “In my experience as student in Germany,” said Verdugo, “I had the chance to know a lot of people from Iran; we shared a lot of things in common like the food and that special flavor that characterizes us as Mexicans and them as very nice people.” Go to Examiner.

For over 150 years, the Baha’is have been oppressed in Iran. Waves of systematic persecution at the hands of the government and clergy has sought to expel, intimidate, and eliminate those who would believe in Baha’u'llah. Go to Examiner.

The “Quds Force,” an organization that has been mentioned a seemingly infinite number of times by the media, subject matter experts, military officers, and politicians. In fact, it is difficult to discuss insurgency activities in Iraq and Afghanistan without the term, “Quds Force,” coming up. So, what is it, who are its members, and what is its purpose? These are very good questions, indeed. Go to Examiner.

…The program began in an appropriately somber tone with prayers, two in English and one chanted in Farsi. The crowd, while largely Baha’is, were a mix of Iranians and Americans, Baha’is and those who were either friends of Baha’is or interested in the current political turmoil in Iran. Go to Examiner.