The attack that hit the "Guardians of the Revolutions" in south eastern Iran, causing over 40 deaths bring back to the world's attention the many ethnic and religious minorities living in the country. Although Ahmadinejad's government blames the West for having financed and helped these rebel groups in reality the picture is much more complex than that. Iran is a nation with almost 75 million people, but ethnic Persians are little more than half.The attack that hit the "Guardians of the Revolutions" in south eastern Iran, causing... more
L'attentato che ha colpito i "guardiani della rivoluzione" nel sud est dell'Iran provocando più di 40 morti ha riportato l'attenzione del mondo sulle numerose minoranze etniche e religiose che vivono nel paese. Anche se il governo di Ahmadinejad incolpa l'occidente per aver finanziato e aiutato questi gruppi ribelli in realtà il quadro è molto più complesso di così. L'Iran è una nazione con quasi 75 milioni di abitanti ma i persiani sono poco più della metà.L'attentato che ha colpito i "guardiani della rivoluzione" nel sud est dell'Iran... more
China and Iran are certainly not the only dictatorship in the world but are leading the ranking of countries applicating the death penalty. In China, in 2008 more than 1700 were executed, in Iran 350. But the worst thing is that a good proportion of those convicted hadn't a fair trial and probably many of them had committed no crime other than to oppose the dictatorship. Iran has just sentenced to death 4 opponents who would had participated in recent protests.China and Iran are certainly not the only dictatorship in the world but are leading... more
Cina e Iran non sono certamente le uniche dittature del mondo ma sono i paesi che guidano la classifica dell'applicazione della pena di morte. In Cina nel 2008 ne sono state eseguite più di 1700, in Iran 350. Ma l'aspetto peggiore è che una buona parte di questi condannati non hanno avuto un giusto processo e probabilmente molti di loro non avevano commesso altro crimine che opporsi alla dittatura. L'Iran ha appena condannato a morte 4 oppositori che avrebbero partecipato alle recenti proteste.Cina e Iran non sono certamente le uniche dittature del mondo ma sono i paesi che... more
True peace is not merely the absence of tension: it is the presence of justice - Martin Luther King, jr."The young woman who marches silently in the streets on behalf of her right to be... more
When we speak of a country largely closed to the rest of the world as Iran is difficult to understand if the regime is solid, if really has support among the population, how long it can last. After the rigged election of Ahmadinejad and the protests in the streets with dozens of deaths and hundreds of arrests, some hoped that the islamic regime was close to falling.When we speak of a country largely closed to the rest of the world as Iran is... more
Quando si parla di un paese in gran parte chiuso al resto del mondo come l'Iran è difficile capire quanto il regime sia solido, quanto supporto abbia davvero tra la popolazione, quanto tempo ancora possa durare. Dopo le elezioni truccate di Ahmadinejad e le proteste nelle piazze con decine di morti e centinaia di arresti, alcuni speravano che il regime fosse vicino a cadere.Quando si parla di un paese in gran parte chiuso al resto del mondo come l'Iran è... more
Washington, 18 September (WashingtonTV)—France on Friday expressed concern by reports of violence towards Iranian opposition leaders, who joined tens of thousands of people at a rally in Tehran.
..................... http://www.televisionwashington.com/floater_article1.aspx?lang=en&t=2&id=14128Washington, 18 September (WashingtonTV)—France on Friday expressed concern by... more
"The pretext (Holocaust) for the creation of the Zionist regime (Israel) is false ... It is a lie based on an unprovable and mythical claim," Ahmadinejad said."The pretext (Holocaust) for the creation of the Zionist regime (Israel) is false ...... more
Iran security forces clashed with supporters of opposition leader Mirhossein Mousavi during annual anti-Israel rallies on Friday.Iran security forces clashed with supporters of opposition leader Mirhossein Mousavi... more
Washington, 14 September (WashingtonTV)—An aide close to defeated Iranian presidential candidate, Mir Hossein Mousavi, and a prominent human rights lawyer who belongs to Nobel Peace Prize laureate Shirin Ebadi’s rights group, have been released, the ILNA news agency reported on Sunday.
........................ http://televisionwashington.com/floater_article1.aspx?lang=en&t=1&id=13971Washington, 14 September (WashingtonTV)—An aide close to defeated Iranian... more
Iran's Revolutionary Guard said on Sunday that two defeated presidential contenders should be tried for inciting unrest after the disputed poll, and one of the candidates said on his website detainees had been raped in jail.
The June 12 election plunged Iran into its biggest internal crisis since the 1979 Islamic revolution, exposed deepening divisions in its ruling elite and set off a wave of protests that left 26 people dead.
"If (Mirhossein) Mousavi, (Mehdi) Karoubi and (former president Mohammad) Khatami are main suspects behind the soft revolution in Iran, which they are, we expect the judiciary ... to go after them, arrest them, put them on trial and punish them," said Yadollah Javan, a senior commander of the powerful Guard, the official IRNA news agency reported.Iran's Revolutionary Guard said on Sunday that two defeated presidential contenders... more
Since the announcement of the controversial President of Iran's surprise re-election, supporters of rival candidate Mir Hossein Mousavi have taken to the street amidst suspicions of voter fraud.
In response the hardline elements within the government have conscripted security forces to stamp out the protests.
The main misgivings stem from how Ahmadinejad seemed, on the basis of the results at least, to have won in areas that were mostly pro-oppostion. Places like Tehran where he somehow managed to win by over 50%. He is deeply disliked in the big cities and has never won big there. So add this with him beating his opposition in their own provinces?
Goes without saying that to even the casual observer, things look a bit dodge.
Juan Cole gives a breakdown on his blog on the key points of contention. But although these points don't necessarily mean that Ahmadinejad stole the election, you decide for yourself.
Mahmud Ahmadinejad has sworn as president of Iran, despite the many doubts about the regularity of elections and the weeks of clashes between opposition and government forces. Outside Parliament, police charged hundreds of people who had gathered to protest. Absent the leaders and MPs of the opposition, so that the empty seats were filled by the parliament staff.Mahmud Ahmadinejad has sworn as president of Iran, despite the many doubts about the... more
Mahmud Ahmadinejad ha giurato come presidente iraniano, nonostante i molti dubbi sulla regolarità delle elezioni e le settimane di scontri tra l'opposizione e le forze governative. Fuori dal Parlamento la polizia ha caricato centinaia di persone che si erano radunate per protestare. Assenti i leader e i deputati dell'opposizione, tanto che i seggi vuoti sono stati riempiti dallo staff del parlamento.Mahmud Ahmadinejad ha giurato come presidente iraniano, nonostante i molti dubbi sulla... more
Washington, 30 July (WashingtonTV)—Prominent Iranian reformist Saeed Hajjarian was to be transferred on Thursday from Tehran’s Evin Prison to a “state-owned house”, a Majlis [parliament] member told the semi-official Mehr news agency.Washington, 30 July (WashingtonTV)—Prominent Iranian reformist Saeed Hajjarian was... more
Washington, 30 July (WashingtonTV)—United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said on Wednesday that he had not yet decided on whether to send a delegate to Iran to investigate reported human rights abuses there.
Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, Iranian Nobel Peace Prize laureate Shirin Ebadi, and other activists and human rights groups have called on the UN chief to appoint a special representative to visit those arrested in the wake of Iran’s disputed presidential election, and to press for their release.
Speaking at a press conference at the UN headquarters in New York, Ban confirmed that he had received such a request directly, and that he was aware of their concerns.
“At this time, I have been very closely monitoring the situations which have been taking place in Iran. I’m still in the process of reviewing all the situations there,” he told reporters.
President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s disputed landslide victory sparked mass street protests throughout Iran, which killed at least 20 people, according to officials. But some human rights groups say that the death toll was likely to be much higher.
Iran’s prosecutor-general, Qorban Ali Dorri-Najafabadi, said yesterday that a “considerable” number of those arrested during the post-election protests would be released by Friday.
On Tuesday, 140 people detained in the aftermath of the election were released from Tehran’s Evin Prison, according to officials.
But about 200 others, accused of more serious crimes, remained behind bars, including 50 who are suspected of masterminding the riots, the Fars news agency reported.
Human Rights Watch has reported that Iranian authorities have used prolonged harsh interrogations, beatings, sleep deprivation, and threats of torture to extract “false confessions” from those arrested following the election.
Sources: United Nations website, Human Rights Watch website
Iranian police blocked opposition leader Mir Hossein Mousavi from attending a graveside memorial for victims of post-election unrest after he defied a government ban on the gathering.
Mousavi, surrounded by hundreds of supporters, was trying to reach the graveside of Neda Agha Soltan, a young woman whose shooting death at an anti-government rally on June 20 was caught on video that became one of the iconic images of the upheaval. Witnesses said hundreds of police surrounded Mousavi and forced him to leave Behesht-e Zahra cemetery on Tehran's southern outskirts.
About a thousand opposition supporters gathered at the cemetery, some of them chanting Mousavi's name and "Death to the dictator." About 500 policemen stood by but did not use force to break up the gathering, said the witnesses who asked not to be identified out of security concerns.
Press TV, Iran's English-language state television, later reported that police dispersed the demonstrators.
Earlier on Thursday, police arrested two prominent Iranian filmmakers when they tried to lay flowers at Soltan's grave. One of them was Jafar Panahi, best known for his film "The Circle" which was critical of the treatment of women under the Islamist government and was banned in Iran. A female associate and documentary maker, Mahnaz Mohammadi, was arrested with him.
The memorial service marked the end of the 40-day mourning period under Islam for 10 people killed in protests and clashes on June 20, including Soltan.
The deaths of protesters during the 1979 Islamic Revolution fueled a 40-day cycle of mourning marches, and shootings of mourners, that contributed to the overthrow of the U.S.-backed dictator, Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi.Iranian police blocked opposition leader Mir Hossein Mousavi from attending a... more
Molti dicono che la protesta iraniana non ha speranza di vincere contro Ahmadinejad, eppure è piuttosto chiaro che il regime vacilla. Gli ayatollah conservatori censurano il comportamento del presidente. Altri prendono posizioni pubbliche contro Khamenei. Lo stesso Ahmadinejad ha sollecitato la magistratura perché liberi i manifestanti arrestati e persino Khamenei ha condannato gli abusi nelle prigioni. Insomma, si sono accorti che l'insofferenza verso i loro metodi nel paese stava crescendo e ora cercano di correre ai ripari, anche perché Europa e Stati Uniti alternano la mano tesa con qualche velata minaccia.Molti dicono che la protesta iraniana non ha speranza di vincere contro Ahmadinejad,... more
