Iran: dust

Duststorms have put airpollution levels of some cities 9 times greater than standard levels. This is an unprecedented level in 30 years in Iran.
Dust from the Arabian deserts that has entered Iran from Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Kuwait, forced Tehran offices, educational and industrial centers to close.
The dust contains silicon dioxide, calcium, potassium, carbon, and other elements which can damage people's respiratory systems.
Offices and educational and industrial centers are closed Tuesday due to the high level of dust pollution in Tehran. Industrial centers will remain closed until July 9.
The Ministry of Health and Medical Education advised that in Iran's western and southwestern areas, including the provinces of Qom, Kurdistan, Chahar-Mahal and Bakhtiari, Zanjan and Fars, Kermanshah, Lorestan, and Khuzestan, children, the elderly, and people suffering from heart and lung disease should stay indoors because the dangerous levels of pollutants.
Desertification of several lagoons in Iraq and the strong winds from the deserts of Saudi Arabia are to blame for the smog in Iranian cities.
source PressTV


Reporters without Borders reports that American-Greek journalist Iason Athanasiadis, 30, is released Sunday.
The Iranian foreign minister said that he was arrested for reasons conflicting with journalism and in relation with the recent street riots.
source:usatoday


Adnan Hassanpour, , the Kurdish journalist who was sentenced to death in Marivan in 2007 for "moharebe", which deathsentence was quashed last August, is retried in Sanandaj and convicted to 10 years in prison.



Saeed Hajjarian who was arrested June 15, was taken to hospital on the evening of 3 July, in a very bad condition.
His wife wrote an open letter to the judiciary, asking for his release.

Masoud Bastani,who wanted to visit his pregnant wife, journalist Mahasa Amrabadi and Issa Saharkhiz are arrested July 4.
Reports without Borders says that currently at least 35 journalisten and bloggers are detained.
source: RSF


On his website have Mir Hossein Mousavi, Mehdi Karroubi and Mohammad Khatami criticised what they describe as the "security state" imposed in the country and called for the release of the thousands of detainees.
If the current situation is allowed to continue, the statement says, it would lead to increased radicalisation of politics.
source: BBC



Green brief no.20




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