Iran: call upon

Haleh Rouhi Jahromi,29 jaar, Raha Sabet Sarvestani, 32 jaar and Sasan Taqva, 33 jaar,
all Baha'i s, have been detained by the Ministry of Intelligence in Shiraz since 19 November 2007.
They belong to the group of 54 Baha'is who were arrested in May 2006.
August last year they were tried by Branch 1 of the Revolutionary Court in Shiraz, on which trial they were each sentenced to three years' imprisonment for "organizing illegal groups" and to an additional one year's imprisonment for "propaganda on behalf of groups that are opposed to the Islamic system". The 51 other Baha'is were sentenced to 4 and 8 months suspended prison sentences.
The three appealed against their convictions and sentences. November 19, 2007, they were told to go to the Office of the Ministry of Intelligence in Shiraz to retrieve items that had been confiscated from them when they were first arrested.
They did not return home.
Amnesty International calls for their immediate release.


According to Tehran Times Iran wants to bar British theater troupes from participating in the Fajr International Theater Festival and other Iranian cultural events in retaliation for the recent actions of the British Embassy in Tehran.
An Iranian theatergroup led by actor Azim Musavi had been scheduled to give a series of performances in London in the forthcoming weeks, but the British Embassy took measures to create obstacles for the troupe.
The troupe’s members had to be fingerprinted and they had to provide the deeds to their properties as security and to provide financial statements and lists of their properties.
Center for Dramatic Arts Director Hossein Parsaii told the Mehr News Agency that despite all the letters and explanations sent to them, they did not revise their behavior and that the organizers of the Fajr Theater Festival have been asked to take reciprocal measures against British theater troupes to in practice prevent them from participating in the Fajr festival and any other Iranian cultural events.

In Iran there are childoffenders, still on death row.

Children are being hanged to death.
A child will be hanged to death.
Poster amnesty.nl

Iran: January 30/ 10 bahman

Today, January 30, 10 bahman (Farsi) is the day of solidarity with imprisoned students in Iran.
A film is Here.
Names of the students are here.


According to reports, the protests of university students in Tehran continue. Several students were injured.



ISNA reported the execution of five convicted murderers on Wednesday inside Tehran's Evin prison.
Iran's judiciary chief has ordered a halt to public executions unless they have his approval.
This order of Hashemi Shahroudi appeared designed to lower the public profile of an increasing number of executions in Iran.
European governments and Western rights groups have increasing critics on Iran for the hangings, since authorities launched a clampdown on "immoral behaviour" .
He also banned the media from publishing television footage and pictures of executions.
Judiciary spokesman Alireza Jamshidi said in a statement that based on the order carrying out executions in public is only possible with the agreement of the judiciary chief and based on social necessities.
"The punishment of execution should not be carried out or publicised in a way that would create psychological tensions for the society, especially the young," he said.



In Iran are Tuesday 3 Baha'i sentenced to four years in prison for "propaganda against the regime" and 51 Baha'i received suspended one-year jail terms.
According to judiciary spokesman Ali Reza Jamshidi the suspension of the sentence for the 51 Bahais was conditional on their attendance of courses held by state Islamic Propaganda Organisation.
The Baha'i faith is banned in Iran.
Another judicial official who asked not to be named said that the last year arrested Baha'í were proselytizing in the city of Shiraz under the cover of charity.
In the past few months, conservative newspapers in Iran have criticised what they said was a rise in the activities of Bahais throughout the country, specially in Shiraz.


In Iran there are childoffenders, still on death row.

Children are being hanged to death.
A child will be hanged to death.
Poster amnesty.nl

Iran: dark

In the city of Arak, Markazi province, are Monday two men hanged in public.
The men, Yazdan Karimi en Abu-Taleb Mohammadi-Nasb were accused of murder and rape.
A customscontracter is executed for corruption and three customs employees have also been sentenced to death.
Judiciary spokesman Alireza Jamshidi said he did not know whether it was the first time an execution for such crimes was carried out in the Islamic Republic.
Jamshidi told that three customs employees at Tehran's Mehrabad airport and one contractor were sentenced to death for "office corruption and other economic crimes".
The execution of the three others is not carried out yet, because they had appealed for their sentences to be commuted to life imprisonment and that this was being studied by the judiciary authorities.



The woman'magazine Zanan has been after sixteen years closed down after being accused of painting a "dark picture" of Iran.
Zanan's founder Shahla Sherkat is accused of "offering a dark picture of the Islamic Republic through the pages of Zanan" and of "compromising the psyche and the mental health" of its readers by providing them with "morally questionable information."
The magazine, has for years been considered a place where controversial topics in Iranian society have been discussed.


ADNkronos reports that Hossein Shariatmadari, managing editor of 'Kayhan' a conservative hardline newspaper, has issued a strongly worded editorial inviting Muslims to topple moderate Islamic governments and attack US, European and Israeli interests.
In the editorial, entitled "The enemy's shield", Shariatmadari argues that in Shia or Sunni Islam "It is legal to strike those who protect the enemy" .
According to him, the real enemies are "The barbaric Zionists, the ferocious Americans and their European allies".
Shariatmadari is not considered a journalist with radical Islamist views, or an extremist in Iran's Islamic hierarchy.
But its newspaper is considered the most conservative in Iran and one that reflects the views of the government.
Kayhan's director is considered the representative of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the Supreme Leader.


In Iran there are childoffenders, still on death row.

Children are being hanged to death.
A child will be hanged to death.
Poster amnesty.nl

Iran: ambiguous

The Iranian foreign ministry summoned the Norwegian ambassador over what Iran says Oslo's double standard approach for human rights.
The Iranian Foreign Ministry's Human Rights watchdog criticizes Norway for its critics over the execution of criminals in Iran, but at the same time its silence towards whats happening in Gaza and the West's racial discrimination against immigrants.
The ambassador for his part, said he would convey Iran's complaint to Norwegian officials.


Sunday Iran started pumping gas to Turkey.
The pumped gas is still far bellow the usual 29 million cubic metres a day. Turkish officials said they expected the amount to gradually increase in the coming days.
Iran cut the gasflow at January 7,because of the cold weather and the cut of gas to Iran from Turkmenistan.


Iranian authorities are looking at new restrictions that will create different school textbooks for boys and girls.
Ali Reza Ali Ahmadi of the Ministry of Education, said that the 'spiritual, physical, and mental needs' of boys and girls are not identical, and therefore textbooks that give them information cannot be the same.
Also he said that it is not discrimination against female students but on the contrary give a more precise response to the needs of students.


In Iran there are childoffenders, still on death row.

Children are being hanged to death.
A child will be hanged to death.
Poster amnesty.nl

Iran: spread

Fars Newsagency reported Saturday that in the city of Mobarakeh, Isfahan province a man is executed by an Iranian firing squad.
The man, Reza Sharifi was convicted for the rape of 17 children between seven and eleven years old.


According to National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) nearly 1,000 Tehran University students demonstrated Friday over the bad food at the school cafeteria.The NCRI says that soon the event turned into an anti-government demonstration.
State Security Forces (SSF) blocked the main gates, not allowing the crowd to get out to the near by streets.
Nevertheless many students managed to go out on the streets.



IRNA reports that Iranian Health Minister Kamran Baqeri Lankarani said Saturday that no case of H5N1 virus has been observed in Iran.
Based on a veterinary organization announcement, one case of fatality, involving four birds, was reported from a village in Mazandaran province.
Following the incident, medical teams were dispatched to the area to prevent any spread of deadly avian flu.


In Iran there are childoffenders, still on death row.

Children are being hanged to death.
A child will be hanged to death.
Poster amnesty.nl

Iran: resume

Dutch NRC newspaper writes today that TU Twente no longer rejects Iranian students.
Only specific studies, involving nuclear technology, are off-limit for Iranian students.
Since end last year the university refused admittance of Iranian students because Dutch Immigratie- en Naturalisatiedienst (IND) asked for it.
The chairman of the Executive Board of TU Twente says this changed. The IND always denied requiring such information.
The Minister of Education will announce next week the results of his consultation with the Minister of Foreign Affairs about this matter.
The petition against the expel of Iranian students already shows almost 3500 signatures, including those of professors abroad and linguist and author Noam Chomsky.


The Iranian Foreign Minister says Iran will resume natural gas export to Turkey thanks to improved weather conditions.
Two weeks ago Iran stopped pumping gas to Turkey.
Turkish Minister of Energy said Thursday, that he expects Iran to resume gas exports by next week.


In Iran there are childoffenders, still on death row.

Children are being hanged to death.
A child will be hanged to death.
Poster amnesty.nl

Iran: solidarity

Iranian bloggers have decided to celebrate 10 Bahman [January 30, 2008] as a day of solidarity with imprisoned students.
A statement published on the websites of united bloggers refers to complaints made by families of detained students against the judiciary.
On the blog of Kamangir(Archer) you can read the statement.
Information is also on 10bahma.blogfa.comFarsi.
Names of imprisoned students:
Arash Paknejad (m), Mazandaran University
Saeid Habibi (m),
Anoshe Azadbar (f), Tehran University
Elinaz Jamshidi (f), Azad University
Mehdi Gerilo (m), Tehran geophysics center
Nader Ahseni (m), Mazandaran University
Behroz karimizade (m), Tehran University
Nasim Soltan-beigi (f), Alame Communication University
Ali Sa`lem (m), Polytechnic University,
Mohsen Qanim (m), Polytechnic University
Rozbeh Saf-Shekan (m), Tehran University
Yaser (Sadra) Pirhaiaty (m), Shahed University
Saeid Aqam-Ali (m), Yazd University
Ali Kolaee` (m), Azad University of Shahriar City
Amir Mehrzad (m), (high School Student)
Hadi Salary (m), Rajaey University
Farshid Ahangaran(m), Rajaey University
Amir Aqai (m), Rajaey University
Milad Omrani (m), Rajaey University
Keivan Amir Eliasy (m),
Soroush Hashem-poor (m), Ahvaz University
Farshad Doosti-poor (m)
Sohrab Karimi (m)
Javad Alizade (m)
Mohammad Salleh Auman (m)
Mehdi al-lahyari (m), Sharif industrial University,
Rozbehan Amiri (m), Tehran University,
Bahram Shojaee (m), Tehran-south Azad University,
Saied Aqakhani (m)
Majid Ashraf Nejad (m)
Peiman Piran (m),
Aabed Tavanche (m), Polytechnic University
Soroosh Dastestany (m)
Amin Qazaei (m)
Bijan Sabaq (m), Mazandaran University
Anahita hosini (f), Tehran University
Morteza Khedmatlo (m)
Mohamad Pour Abdol-lah (m), Tehran University
Bita Samimi-zad (f), Polytechnic University
Behzad Baqery (m), Mazandaran University
Soroosh Sabet (m), Sharif University
Morteza Eslahchi (m), Allame University
Mostafa Shirvani (m)


Iranian officials are considering German Lothar Matthaeus as their first option to coach the country's national team.
An unnamed FFI official told the Mehr news agency that the Iranian Football Federation (FFI) is looking for a German coach for its national football team.
According to the Die Welt newspaper, Lothar Matthaeus has said he hasn't been directly contacted by Iranian officials but he is willing to discuss the job.


In Iran there are childoffenders, still on death row.

Children are being hanged to death.
A child will be hanged to death.
Poster amnesty.nl

Iran: questionable

Mostly reformist candidates have been disqualified for the elections.
The final list of approved candidates will be announced on March 5.
Also 20 sitting MP's have been disqualified by the Guardian Council for running the election of March 14, including one of the Presidents most outspoken critics, who has already served two terms in Parliament.
Reformist parties said they will have an emergency meeting on Wednesday.



On the Radio Farda website is an interview with Mermoushe Solouki, who was allowed to leave Iran last week.
In this interview she tells about her arrest, detention and the fact she was not able to leave Iran.
The reason for her arrest lies probably in the fact that she filmed a part of Khaveran Cemetary which contains a mass grave of regime opponents executed in the summer and fall of 1988.



The US State Department joined a Iranian rights group in calling for a full investigation into the death of a 27-year-old Kurdish law student Ebrahim Lotfallahi. who died after he was detained on January 6.

Also the sudden death of 27-year-old Zahra Bani-Ameri, who died in October while in custody, must be examined.

In both cases, officials said the cause of death was suicide.


In Iran there are childoffenders, still on death row.

Children are being hanged to death.
A child will be hanged to death.
Poster amnesty.nl

Iran: refect

In Khorramabad, Lorestan province,is Tuesday a man hanged in public.
The man was identified only as Hamed P.




Iran warned Turkmenistan to remain committed to its 25-year gas contract and not to force Iran into lodging a complaint . The signed contract clearly specifies that Tehran is entitled the right to file a complaint with the International Court of Justice in case of a violation in the gas deal agreement.



The Financial Times has a backgroundarticle about the effects of the sanctions to Iran.
Doing business today, f.e. with China is, due to the fact that foreign banks are not allowed transferring money to Iran,done through money transfer agents in Dubai and sometimes with cash.
For many businessmen this is a time-consuming procedure, with higher costs, causing prices to rise.
Official inflation is 17%, because of shortages of everyday goods such as tomatoes and detergent, increased import costs, and the government’s expansionist fiscal policies.
Critics say the government has been trying to deflect responsibility for the price rises away from its mismanagement of the economy and onto the international pressure.

Almost 3000 candidates are banned from running in the upcoming parliamentary elections in Iran.
According to Tehran Times are political figures as Javad Eta’at and Abolfazl Shakouri, former MP's Elyas Hazrati and Mohammad-Javad Haqshenas, former Gilan province’s governor Masoud Soltanifar, and former Tehran mayor Morteza Alviri banned from running for the March elections,
The banned candidates can protest against the outcome.


In Iran there are childoffenders, still on death row.

Children are being hanged to death.
A child will be hanged to death.
Poster amnesty.nl

Iran: approval

Alireza Afshar, head of election headquarters, told ISNA that out of 7,200 registered candidates, about 3,000 had intelligence (ministry) and judiciary records.
This is more than at the previous parliamentary election, when there were about 1,800 who had records.
He did not elaborate, but candidates in past votes in a similar position were barred.
The comment suggests these hopefuls would not even be reviewed by the Guardian Council, which vets candidates .


A senior official said the health budget for the next Iranian year (to start on March 20) will increase by 35 percent.
He said that more than 5,700 billion rials will be set aside for completing the construction of hospitals and purchasing new medical equipment next year.
The credit allocated to the insurance and retirement sectors for the next year will also increase by 23.5 percent.
He said the health budget, which was presented to the parliament last week, should be ratified by the Majlis Health Commission.


In Iran there are childoffenders, still on death row.

Children are being hanged to death.
A child will be hanged to death.
Poster amnesty.nl

Iran: views

IRNA reported that police in the city of Isfahan detained a large number of mourners for mutilating themselves.
Ashura is an islamic day where shi'ites mourn the dead of Mohammeds grandson Imam Hussein by punishing themselves by hitting on their heads.
According to police these people were disturbing the public order and used daggers as well as slashing their shoulders with spiked chains.




Central Bank of Iran has reported the positive development of greater tax revenues .
Financing government expenditure with taxes is a sign of improvement in government operational efficiency and according to the president is making the government less dependant on oil revenues.
Since March 2007, the tax contribution to government budget has jumped from 37.9 percent to 45 percent. The government wants to increase the figure to 50 percent next year.



According to the Iranian tourism office the number of foreign tourist arrivals grew by 25 percent during 2007.
Chief of Iran Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism Organization (ICHHTO) announced that the customs department reported that 1.5 million tourists visited Iran in the year 2007.
Iran's 20-Year Vision document projects investments of more than $32 billion in the country's tourism sector.




Supreme Leader ayatollah Kamenei has backed Iranian parliament in a dispute with president Ahmadinejad. He had objected to several measures adopted by MPs.
The parliament overturned his decision to dissolve several institutions, including the Monetary and Credit Council as well as his abolition of summer time in Iran.
In a letter to speaker of parliament Gholam Ali Hadad Adel, Kamenei wrote that
"Laws adopted through the process defined by the constitution must be respected by all organs,".
Hadad Adel had sought the opinion of the supreme leader, who has the final say on all key policy issues, after receiving Ahmadinejad's complaint.


In Iran there are childoffenders, still on death row.

Children are being hanged to death.
A child will be hanged to death.
Poster amnesty.nl

Iran: sweet and sour

An earthquake measuring 4.7 on the Richter scale jolted the city of Yazd late Saturdaynight.
No damage to people or property was reported.



Iranian sugar import tariffs will double.
Import tariffs of sugar will increase from 10 to 20 percent to support domestic producers with its most severe crisis in the past 110 years.
Experts say that the price of sugar in the market is about 2,000 rials less than factories’ cost price.
As a result, sugar mills have been unable to repay their debts to banks and farmers.
Over 150 parliamentarians wrote a letter to President Ahmadinejad ten days ago, calling for solving the challenges facing the industry.



The US has refused visas for Iran's national cycling team .
The cyclists were to attend the Los Angeles World Cup as a preliminary qualifier for the 2008 Beijing Olympics.


In Iran there are childoffenders, still on death row.

Children are being hanged to death.
A child will be hanged to death.
Poster amnesty.nl

Iran: the "safety"of custody

Reuters India reports that jailed journalist and human rights activist Emadeddin Baghi is released on parole. Baghi was sentenced to one year in prison.
Newsagency ISNA wrote Friday that he was released on health grounds.
Baghi was transferred to a Tehran hospital last month after heart trouble in jail and later returned to jail.
His lawyer told ISNA that because of his heart problem, Baghi was released on parole and he was transferred to a Tehran hospital for treatment

Human Rights Watch released a press statement in which she Iranian authorities should investigate the sudden deaths of two people while in custody in northwestern Iran.
Ebrahim Lotfallahi,27, died between January 9 and January 15 in Sanandaj.
January 6 he was arrested, three days later he told his brother that he was well and would be released.
January 15, authorities told the family that he committed suicide and that they buried him.
The family was not allowed to see the body and the authorities covered the grave with concrete.
The family plans to ask the authorities to exhume the body for a forensic determination of the cause of death.
The second case is Zahra Bani Yaghoub, 27, who was arrested by moral police on October 12 in a park in Hamedan and who, according to authorities committed suicide in custody.
According to her brother, he spoke telephonically to her 30 minutes before the reported deathtime and she seemed fine.
Her family says her body was bruised and calls for an autopsy.
Shirin Ebadi represents the family in their lawsuit against the officials responsible for her arrest and detention.

In Iran there are childoffenders, still on death row.

Children are being hanged to death.
A child will be hanged to death.
Poster amnesty.nl