Friday, January 1, 2010

Makhmalbaf: Secrets of Khamenei's life - part 3 - His wealth

This is part 3 of a 4-part series.
For part 1 - His interests, please click here.
For part 2 - His entourage and Household operations, please click here.


Mohsen Makhmalbaf, internationally renowned filmmaker and the Iranian opposition's main spokesman abroad since the disputed presidential election, posted an article, entitled 'The secrets of Khamenei's life,' on his web site on Monday, December 28, 2009. Makhmalbaf has been living in exile in Paris. The original article in Farsi can be read here.

The following is a translation of the third part of the article. My notes are in italics.

Note: The term 'beyteh rahbari' has been translated as the Leader's Household in the broadest sense, which includes Ali Khamenei's personal office and inner circle.


The Secrets of Khamenei's Life - Part 3

Mohsen Makhmalbaf

I compiled this text which is based on information relayed to me by former staff members of the Leader's Household and the Intelligence Ministry who have escaped abroad.

Khamenei's residences
[Islamic Republic founder Ruhollah] Khomeini's residence in Jamaran (NB Neighborhood in northern Tehran) was 200 square meters. Khamenei's main residence on Pasteur Street measures 1,200 square meters. (This 1,200-square-meter residence is the only one that everyone knows about).

Khomeini only lived in a small house in Ghom and the Jamaran prayer complex, but Khamenei uses all of the Shah's palaces (NB Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, deposed in the Islamic Revolution of 1979) which have not been turned into museums, and has even added to them.

Nevertheless, Iranian children still read in their schoolbooks that the Shah's teaspoons were made of gold and that the revolution took place because of his aristocratic manners.

A 5,000-square-meter anti-nuclear protective bunker has been built under Khamenei's Pasteur Street residence, at a depth of 60 meters. The elevator alone cost $5 million. A protective bunker has also been built under the Vakil Abad Palace in Mashhad. But these bunkers cannot prevent a revolution. If a revolution occurs in Iran, Khamenei will escape to Syria, otherwise to Russia.

Khamenei's logistics: The following means are exclusively at the disposal of the Leader's Household:
One Airbus airplane, for his personal travels
Two Boeing 707s, one for the family's travels, the other for bodyguards
Five Falcons, two for his own travels, one for Mojtaba (NB His influential second son), two for the rest of the family
Five helicopters, two for Khamenei's travels, one for Mojtaba, two for the rest of the family
Although helicopters are banned over Tehran, the sound of helicopters can often be heard in northern Tehran.
Six helicopter pads. In Tehran: Mehrabad, Abbas Abad, next to Esteghlal Hotel, Manzariyeh, and one each in Ghom and Lavasan.
17 bullet-proof vehicles, each one at a cost of $400,000
1,200 other vehicles

Those who run the Leader's Household
[The late Grand Ayatollah Hossein Ali] Montazeri was initially supposed to succeed Khomeini. His denunciation of the mass executions of political prisoners (NB In the late 1980s) gained him Khomeini's disfavor and he was not only dismissed, but also placed under house arrest. Of course, some clerics also played a role in overthrowing Montazeri (NB as deputy leader and heir-apparent) and replacing him with Khamenei.

When Khomeini was dying, some wanted his son Ahmad to replace him. Ahmad did not seek such a role. Khomeini would say, 'Make whoever you want Leader after me, but do not do me the disservice of naming Ahmad Leader. Don't let the people say that Khomeini's son inherited [his position] just like in a monarchy.' Some people wanted to seize the opportunity to sideline Montazeri from power and replace him with Khamenei. Among these people were Reyshahri (NB Former Intelligence Minister, described in greater detail in part 2), Mohammadi Golpayegani, Hejazi (NB Asghar Hejazi, chief of staff), and Taeb (NB Probably Hojjatoleslam Hossein Taeb, described in greater detail in part 2), who at that time was the interrogator of Mehdi Hashemi (NB Brother of Montazeri's son-in-law. Mehdi Hashemi was executed by the regime in 1987 after a complex frame-up. Most observers believe Hashemi was executed because he opposed and divulged regime contacts with the US administration which were part of the Iran-Contra scandal.) Upon Khomeini's death and Khamenei's accession to the Leadership, all of these individuals became the key figures of Khamenei's office. These individuals opposed the proposal to create a leadership council after Khomeini's death, a council that was to have included ayatollahs Golpayegani, Ardebili, and Khamenei.

The main people who run the Leader's Household are Khamenei himself, his son Mojtaba, and then Hejazi, Mohammadi Golpayegani, and Vahid (NB Golpayegani's executive deputy). The first tier of the Household's staff number 500 individuals, the second tier 2,000, and the third tier 10,000. In reality, it is not the government, Majlis, or judiciary which run the country, but rather it is the Leader's Household that controls everything. The Leader's Household has numerous buildings across Iran.

Khamenei's view of the Basij
Khamenei was the head of the Islamic Republic Party (NB Created 1979, disbanded 1987). He believes that the Basij can be his party, a party which is also an army. Critics who speak of a 'barracks party' are referring to this issue. [Khamenei] has built himself a military party with the government and people's money.

Khamenei's main businesses
Sugar and rice imports, BMW automobiles, production of sugar cubes and sugar under the name of the Imam Reza Shrine authorities (NB An immensely wealthy conglomerate based in Mashhad, involved in businesses from pizza parlors to the rug trade. Resembles the so-called 'bonyads' or foundations in its seemingly religious facade behind which large portions of the Iranian economy are controlled.), investments in Dubai, Germany, Iraq, South Africa, Venezuela, Lebanon, and China.

Souri

In order to control his various businesses, Khamenei maintains the same people in key positions for very long periods. For example, Majid Hedayatzadeh who was in charge of selling Iran's oil for 30 years (Hedayatzadeh was replaced last year after Nourizadeh revealed his identity) (NB Majid Hedayatzadeh Razavi ran the Naft Iran Inter-Trade Company, better known as NICO, which is based in Lausanne, Switzerland. NICO is the only body other than the international division of the Iranian national company that can sell Iranian oil. Hedayatzadeh was injured in the bomb explosion at the Islamic Republic Party HQ in 1981. He was replaced last year by Mohammad Javad Asemipour.) Another individual is Mr. Souri (NB Mohammad Souri), who has been in charge of transporting Iranian oil for the past 30 years. Khamenei named these two individuals to their posts in 1982. [Former President] Hashemi Rafsanjani, [former President Mohammad] Khatami, and even [Mahmoud] Ahmadinejad wanted to replace them, but were overruled by Khamenei. These two worked with the Leader's Household in the following manner: Hedayatzadeh would sell the barrels of oil, Souri would have the oil transported, and the commission would be transferred to Khamenei's bank account. In the past 30 years, Iran has sold about $700 billion worth of oil and the commissions from the sales and transport have been paid into Khamenei's account through these two individuals. The third person whom Khamenei brought into the Oil Ministry was his own brother, Hassan Khamenei, who was initially a member of the censorship team at the Islamic Guidance Ministry, but was brought to the Oil Ministry to keep an eye on Khamenei's profits.

Khamenei's palaces
The following pictures obtained through Google show Khamenei's palaces (NB Makhmalbaf's web site does not provide photos of all the palaces. Where possible, I've also used Google Maps in addition to the photos provided by Makhmalbaf in order to allow readers to zoom in and out).
1. The palaces at Lavasanat which are used by Khamenei, Mojtaba, and Mohammadi Golpayegani (NB Photo not provided by Makhmalbaf. The following is a satellite image of the village of Lavasanat, which is just to the east of Latyan Dam mentioned below. I cannot situate the palace.)

View Lavasanat in a larger map

2. Jamshidiyeh Palace, former palace of Ardeshir Zahedi (NB Former Iranian ambassador to the United States in the time of the Shah. Makhmalbaf does not provide a photo. The following is a satellite image of Jamshidieh Park. I cannot situate Jamshidieh Palace.) (where Khamenei goes mountain hiking)

View Jamshidieh in a larger map

3. Feish Ghola Palace, next to the Caspian Sea. (NB Makhmalbaf does not provide a photo)

4. The palaces of Malek Abad in Mashhad with 300,000 square meters of grounds.


View Malek Abad - Mashhad in a larger map

5. Niavaran Palace (NB Khamenei's palace is situated to the east of the Niavaran Palace Complex and Museum, the former residence of the late Mohammad Reza Shah.)


View Khamenei's Niavaran Palace in a larger map

6. The palaces of Latyan Dam, which belonged to the Shah

View Latyan Dam Palace in a larger map

Khamenei's wealth
Khamenei became president in 1981.

In 1982, he put Hedayat (NB Hedayatzadeh, mentioned above) and Souri in charge of selling oil and they were not replaced until 2006.

In 1983, he put Mohsen Rafighdoust in charge of purchasing arms (NB Former Minister of the IRGC in the 1980s and a former head of the Foudation of the Oppressed or Bonyadeh Mostazafan. According to his own accounts, available at the Islamic Revolution Document Center, he assassinated a man in the streets with a bludgeon on June 5, 1963.).

In 1991, he became aware of the value of land and through the Enforcement Staff of the Imam's Decree and the Foundation of the Oppressed (NB Setadeh Ejraie Farmaneh Imam and Bonyadeh Mostazafan respectively are another two examples of official bodies which operate vast business empires. The Mostazafan Foundation is particularly involved in military companies and procurement, and is considered one of the largest commercial entities in Iran. For a look at the long list of companies which the foundation is willing to admit that it controls click here.) he started making a land grab.

From 1984, [his brother] Hassan Khamenei oversaw Hedayat and Souri at the Oil Ministry.

In the Defense Ministry, Mohammadi Golpayegani oversaw Rafighdoust and Heydari.

Mr. Lolachian was put in charge of business connected to land and he subsequently became related to Khamenei. (NB Bazaar merchant Lolachian's daughter is married to Khamenei's son Meysam).

From 1997, he allowed his children to engage in business.

In 2005, he stopped his personal business activities and began getting money directly from the government, the same funds which get lost in the country's budget. During the election, [Etemad Melli Party chief Mehdi] Karroubi asked Ahmadinejad what happened to a certain $1 billion?

The total wealth of Khamenei and his family: $36 billion.

Khamenei's personal wealth: $30 billion.

His family's wealth: $6 billion.

Cash
$22 billion of the $36 billion were kept in Iran in the form of currency. During the post-election unrest, it was decided to move a major portion of this money to Syria by way of Turkey. The shipment was exposed and confiscated in Turkey. Khamenei was worried that the money would be blocked in Iran if the regime were to collapse. The Iranian government is striving to retrieve this money from the Turkish government. There is no doubt that this money was confiscated in Turkey. The question is why this money was not transported to Syria by air. Perhaps it was feared that the airplane and its cargo would be identified and destroyed.

The rest of the cash: $3.5 billion, of which $1.5 billion is in diamonds, $1 billion is in gold, and the rest is in dollars.

$10 billion of the $36 billion are in bank accounts:
$1 billion in Russia

$1 billion in Syria
$1 billion in China
$1 billion in Venezuela
$2 billion in South Africa
$2 billion in London
$2 billion in other countries.

Apart from the $22 billion in cash and $10 billion in bank accounts, the rest of the assets are in the form of land and stocks:
$2 billion in stocks in world markets
$1 billion in South Africa
$500 million in Syria
$500 million in Venezuela

Where have Khamenei's $30 billion come from?
$12 billion from commissions on oil sales
$2 billion from land
$6 billion from the arms business
$10 billion from Ahmadinejad in the past 4 years

Khamenei's religious businesses
Khamenei shares and controles all the income and investments of the Imam Reza Shrine authorities in Mashhad, the Massoumeh Shrine authorities in Ghom, the Shahreh Rey Shrine authorities in southern Tehran. Tabasi (NB Ayatollah Abbas Vaez Tabasi, headof the Imam Reza Shrine authorities) and Reyshahri (NB Describes in greater detail in previous parts of this report) are his partners in Mashhad and Shahreh Rey respectively.

This is part 3 of a series.
For part 1 - His interests, please click here.
For part 2 - His entourage and Household operations, please click here.


(Soon: Part 4 - The financial and political activities of his family)

40 comments:

  1. I feel sick to my stomach. What a hypocrite... People in Iran are suffering. No wonder he wanted Ahmadinejad to stay. He made 10 bill in 4 years! God help us get rid of this fake imposter.

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  2. The problem is that the Shah was educated in a western country and spoke French and English and had money invested in foreign countries so he had no problem leaving the country. The current leaders are not comfortable living in another country and won't give up without a fight.

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  3. Makhbalbaf is a desperate liar. All of these different parts are starting to all contradict each other. I don't even support Khamenei, but I can smell a major desperate lie when i see one.

    Why can't we overthrow the mullahs through honesty, rather than make up a whole bunch of lies that don't even add up. All his numbers and the people he is mentioning are starting to contradict each other.

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  4. well murder is even worse than stealing?

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  5. there's no evidence backing this article. But I do think Ayatollah Khamenei is very interesting person with a lot of secrets. I'd love to see a documentary on his life.

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  6. IF EVEN 1% OF THIS IS TRUE AND THERE IS A GOD WATCHING OVER ALL HUMAN BEINGS I PITY HIM AND WONDER WHAT IS WAITING FOR HIM WHEN HIS END IS NEAR

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  7. Thank you Mr Mahkmalbaf,

    I am sure the word would reach Iran's poor and would help us to get rid of this killer regim.
    Everyone knows someone in Iran, whom, is on the receiving end of undeserved incom.
    Above list is the iceburg itself.
    Thank you

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  8. Can you please elaborate Anonymous (Comment number three) on the contradictions - I am not sure what are the contradictions you are referencing to.

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  9. Thank you for the translation, this is an amazing story. Now it is our duty to get the story out to as many people as possible. This regime has no shame but at least now they are exposed

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  10. makhmalbapf is a scenario writer, a brilliant one too, he is a director, a damn good one too, the man is trying to overthrow this regime by his art so he can later state that art is indeed above everything...goebels did the same thing with jews, dont believe everything you read.

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  11. Job well done!! I can not stop laughing at the posting of the person who wrote "Why can't we overthrow the mullahs through honesty".I am guessing he is a dope smoking Hippy left over from 60's that angel of death has not visited him yet.What a Moron!!

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  12. As long as Iran has oil brewing under its soil there will be tons of sons of bitches that are willing to kill and rule for profit and depress the common people through religion,tyranny and imperialism. Whether home grown, like these bastard Mullahs or self proclaimed savior of the world,the united states of Assholes.when Iran runs out of oil, then it turns into Haiti or Cuba.But,as Ghoran says:God is all knowing and I trust its word that all them bastard Mullahs and the saviors of humanity(USA Gov)will get their judgement.

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  13. This is no surpris. The US has sanctioned millions of dollars for such kind of propoganda. keep going until the money lasts.

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  14. ONE WORD "RASTAKHIZ" ITS THE SECRET OF THOUSANDS OF YEARS AND ITS THE KEY OF TODAY! A MASTER PLAN HAS BEEN PUT TOGETHER BY THE PEOPLE OF IRAN. AN ALL OUT RECLAIMING OF IRAN BY THE HANDS OF IRANIANS.

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  15. This is all very interesting. I agree that it is standard dictator fare. Of course not all of it is true. However, the poor people of Iran deserve to have SOMEONE tell them the truth at least once.

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  16. He will have a lot to answer for... The persecution of his own people and to steal from them into the bargain... No wonder the people are protesting. He has his reward already. God says this of Israel, "I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse. Through you every family on earth will be blessed." (Gen 12:3)... has not this man and the leaders of Iran cursed Israel, promising their annihilation... and Allah will be of little help before the Almighty on that day

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  17. perhaps not all is true but he cannot make it all a story. someone has found the picture of the palaces in this video on youtube. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KaGfuMXBOu0 I feel so sick inside. he has all the money while at same time people of Iran living in poverty who he is supposed to be looking after.

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  18. OTHER THAN A FEW PICS OF PEOPLE AND MAPS TAKEN FROM GOOGLE,CAN ANYBODY SPOT EVEN A SINGLE OUNCE OF REAL EVIDENCE? MAKHMALBAF YOU ARE YET ANOTHER AMERICAN PUPPET WHO HAS A KNACK FOR WEAVING UP CONFABULATIONS BRILLIANTLY!ATLEAST MOUSAVI HAS THE GUTS TO OPENLY DECLARE HIS POLITICAL AMBITIONS.DEGRADING THE ENEMY IS THE WORST TRICK PLAYED TO GET POWER.TRY TO IMPROVE YOUR OWN IMAGE!!!

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  19. Ali Khamenei has a lot of supporters and his propaganda machines (Iranian TV/press & websites) are quite active. Just to get a glimpse of his views you may go to his website which is damn good compared to websites of other leaders and presidents around the world (at least, the English version is). Almost all of his speeches have been translated into English. You can also have a look at his views in the section titled "viewpoints". Here is the link:
    english.khamenei.ir

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  20. I am terribly sorry for people like you Mr. anonymous to have blindly believed in Ali Shah's stiffling regime, so sorry.

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  21. An excelent and well researched article. Dont miss these great videos comparing Khameneis lifestyle to that of the poor in iran and comparing him to the shah:

    http://bit.ly/6FSSm6

    http://bit.ly/4CZ8Yx

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  22. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tOxDGUpQm50

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  23. Hahahahaha. I like how this guy just makes claims without bringing any substance or citations for his argument.

    Mohsen Makhmalbaf possess 30 billion dollars cash

    -10 billion in the United States.
    -5 billion in Sweden.
    -5 billion in Canada.
    -10 billion up his ass.

    I wrote it so now it's true. Man the LA crew really needs to lay off the coke..

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  24. how can you find these information or what is the source of these.
    thank you

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  25. Big deal.
    All middle eastern rulers behave and live like this.

    Iran's problem do not stem from a person and a ruling elite who plunders the nation's wealth.

    The root cause of this problem is the backward culture and mindset that nurtures, celebrates, and worships corruption. And I know that a lot of Iranian do not like what I just said but so be it.

    My question is why Makhmalbaf did not expose these things when he was in Iran and when he was part of the system?

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    Replies
    1. ORIENTALIST BULLSHIT. The most corrupt people on earth are the degenerate judeo-cuckristian. Full spectrum corruption.

      Delete
  26. The implication is that Khamanei is a corrupt leader and enjoying opulence and luxury whilst his people are facing hardship. Corruption is given amongst most political leaders throughout the world taking different forms. But what I do not understand is what does he do with the money? From what we know of his lifestyle and hobbies, and the fact that he is a religious man and a cleric, so presumably he is not known to frequent the casinos of the world, or have mistresses/wives all over the place, or loads of expensive cars. I am wondering how he spends his money apart from building Islamic centres, helping the poor and so forth. All good things I gather.

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  27. Bill Gates is richer than this man. Rothscheilds have more palaces and monies than this man. All world leaders have security and staff and food tasters. This is the same sort of nadid badid propaganda that Mr. Makhbalbaf's former comrades used to tarnish the late Shah of Iran.

    Karma's a bitch, isn't it comrade?

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  28. when is the fourth section gonna be linked? looking forward to it...

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  29. Do you have any news on the whereabouts of the $18 billion confiscated at the Turkish border after the election? What the hell happened to this money?

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  30. I wonder how Makhmalbaf got all these secrete details as noted in above. I think if khamenie is smart enough to have 78 million sheep under his control for sure he can take care of his bank account not be revealed and be exposed to public. Mr. makh.... just shut the fuck up do not waste our time with your bullshits.

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  31. if these are authetic accounts; why not used by the opposition. take pakistan case what BB and Zardari were accused of actually existed and the opposition made a good use of the same. why not iranian opposition when they had allt he support they can imagine of from the wordl????

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  32. This is just American & British propaganda against the Law-full leaders of IRAN, to hide their(American & Europeans)War Crimes. as the IRAN is the only Nation which is standing stronger and raising the voice against these Devils(ISRAELS& Americans) so they want to stop this while placing such fake articles. And I request all the readers of this article not to belief it as it is nothing but a joke without any authenticity. And also request to view the link posted below to know the Real fact about the IRANIAN Leaders.

    Copy & Paste the following link in your browser for the Truth.

    http://www.shiatv.net/view_video.php?viewkey=639acb17b035ab8963f1

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  33. This is just American & British propaganda against the Law-full leaders of IRAN, to hide their(American & Europeans)War Crimes. as the IRAN is the only Nation which is standing stronger and raising the voice against these Devils(ISRAELS& Americans) so they want to stop this while placing such fake articles. And I request all the readers of this article not to belief it as it is nothing but a joke without any authenticity. And also request to view the link posted below to know the Real fact about the IRANIAN Leaders.

    Copy & Paste the following link in your browser for the Truth.

    http://www.shiatv.net/view_video.php?viewkey=639acb17b035ab8963f1

    October 2, 2010 4:21 AM

    ReplyDelete
  34. The facts are clear,he has a $300,000 BMW..every where he goes,he hands out gold coins, 1.2 billion pounds of his money was blocked in London,in spring just before the election,the news coming from California very close members of Khamenei,s circle,have bought 8-14 million dollars houses in most expensive locations of California, Large sums of money in the banks, expensive lawyers,acting on their behalf to obtain US green cards.and so on........
    I suppose khamenei,s secret police after raping Taraneh Moosavi so many times that her body was ripped apart,and they had to burn her body to cover their crime,are going to retire in sunny California, and laugh at Tarane,s parents and all the others whom their family member were raped and tortured and finally murdered.

    These people who leave comments in support of Khamenei, they must really think that all Iranians are bunch of retards like basijis who can be manipulated and bought

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  35. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  37. Makhmalbaf is a total fake.

    Some friends mine work with him in Afghanistan and he stole money from poor people he was supposed to pay for shooting. and then he say 'oh I am good man I pay for orphanage and poor orphans' it is sad thing when people are tricked by him like this in this way. he is fraud and fake and cheat, my afghan friend tell me.

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  38. Thanks for your post. I’ve been thinking about writing a very comparable post over the last couple of weeks, I’ll probably keep it short and sweet and link to this instead if thats cool. Thanks. Persian food

    ReplyDelete