IRAN WATCH CANADA

Sunday, January 29, 2006




Sunday Jan. 29, 2006
News update- ISNA ( Iran Students News Agency):
Picture- Mr. Ali Asghar Zareie , Student gathering


The head of the " Herasat " ( One of several intelligent agency in public offices and other industrial corporation ) office in the ministry of science & culture have reported:
The students that were arrested by the police forces are released !
The head of the " Herasat " office from within the ministry of education and culture have reported that; those students who were arrested during the gathering of Tehran public transit protest are released.
Mr. Ali Asghar Zareie in speaking with the ISNA reporter have said: Last night by coordination of the officials of police forces , we helped for the release of 13-14 students who were arrested yesterday.
He said : These students must attend in "Herasat" office of their university and see if they commited any offences. They must follow their cases through their university .
He said : These students are from University of Amir Kabir, University of Tehran , University of Tarbiat Modares, University of Azad and .......

End/
IRAN WATCH CANADA
Link to this news in Farsi:

http://www.isna.ir/Main/NewsView.aspx?ID=News-657810

IRAN WATCH CANADA: Even officials themselves are talking about the arrest of students and about the " Herasat " office and ..........So the suppression are going on in Iran ......................!

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Saturday, January 28, 2006




Saturday Jan. 28,2006
News update: Iran-Emrooz reporting from (DW) Radio germany Farsi language- Interview by Ms. Mihandokht Mesbah .

Tens of the Public Bus Co. ( Sherkat Wahed ) employees have been arrested !

Tens of the Tehran Public Bus Drivers who were following up on their syndicate demands and the release of thier leader Mr. Mansur Osanlu the president of the Syndicate workers of the Public Bus Co. ( Sherkat Wahed) were arrested last night and this morning by the security agents of the Islamic Republic.The number of the people arrested , as reported are upto hundreds.
in some cases there are family members of the employee who are also been picked up by security agents.
The protest which was set to take plce today Saturday in Tehran the capital of Iran for the demands such as the release of thier president Mr. Mansur Osanlu and thier rights was cut off by the attack of police forces. The syndicate believe that the number of the people who are arrested upto now are 750.The arrest started from last night. They have also arrested three employees wife .

Q-A:
Mr. Hasan Mohammadi in an interview with ( DW radio ) said:
This morning they forced us to cancel our protest . We decided to gather in region #4 , but the police forces were also thereand they have beaten and arrested our friends ! they have arrested around 200-300 people only from this region . Three women that are among the people arrested are the wife of : Mr. Mansur Hayatgheibi, Mr. Seyed Dawood Razavi and Mr. Yaghub Salimi.
Q: Why they have been arrested ?
A: Mr. Mohammadi :These friend were gathered in front of the house of Mr. Salimi to join the protest . But at night they attacked the house and arrested them while their children were sleeping.
Q: Who were these people? were they Police or Pasdar or Basij( revolutionary forces) ?
A: God, I dont know , they were in plain cloths , I do not know exactly. They have gone to one of our friends home whose name is Mr. Ata Babakhani in Islamshahr and they ruined the interior of the house . Also they have gone to the house of Mr. Yusef Moradi and they did the same. We the workers activist are under threat and are being called escapees.
Q: Where are you know?
A: Mr. Hasan Mohammadi : Right now I'm in a park in a street.
Q: Did you face any problems?
A: This morning no! We escaped from their hands and presently are staying in a park and waiting to see what will happens next.
Mr. Mohammadi : Mr. Rezaiefar and his mom were both arrested but later his mom was released. Our friends from region # 4, 5 and 6 are going to have hunger strike. Most of those arrested were brought to "Information station number# 8 in Eshrat Abad " .
Mr. Mohammadi at the end asked the people to support them for achieving their rights..............

End/
IRAN WATCH CANADA
Link to this news in Farsi:
http://www.iran-emrooz.net/index.php?/news/more/6579/

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Friday, January 27, 2006



Saturday Jan. 28,2006
News in brief- Iran-Emrooz online reporting from ILNA :

The great success of "Data Company" !
National data base filtering will take place in the coming three months and therefore all of the websites in the country will be somehow filtered !

Engineer Mr. Reza Rashidi the managing director of the Information Technology Co.( Data ) have said : In the committee for finding the regulation for filtering the ministry of telecommunication will assist the technical discussion.
He said : The national filtering database will prevent the difficulties and mistakes in filtering the sites due to similarity of wordings.
Mr. Rashidi also added that : The agreement of Filtering Information Bank is under the control of an internal company.Delta Global Co. is an Iranian company which has signed the agreement.
Mr. Rashidi said: We are trying to increase the STN1 of the Data Company all over Iran. And we are trying to bring the number from 11 to 200 . And we must have more modern equipement and the agreement was signed for this reason. About central security operations ( SOC) the general manager said: This project is going to be completed and we are in the stage of recieving the equipement and tools. He said : The issue of security is not only the equipement but also to have the knowledge. He said: ( Soc) can identify the infilteration,This project can be used in infiltration of ......in the viruses net . At present we are working on bringing stronger security in Data Net .

End/
IRAN WATCH CANADA
Link to this news in Farsi:
http://www.iran-emrooz.net/index.php?/news2/more/6561/

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Friday Jan. 27,2006
News in brief- Iran-Emrooz online reporting from ILNA:

The public bus drivers in the capital city of Tehran will stage strike for tomorrow Saturday Jan. 28,2006 !
In protest to the arrest of their leader Mansur Osanlu, the public bus driver will stop driving the bus for several hours.
Previousely , the bus drivers in protest to the violation of their rights also stoped working but soon after when the officials promissed they will look into their demands ,the strike was stoped after 4-5 hours.
According to the report at the time the mayor went among the protesters and promissed that he will solve their problems after three weeks.But upto now nothing has happened.
the bus drivers are asking for an increase in their salary , job security and increase for their shelter expenses.

IRAN WATCH CANADA: It seems that the Islamic Republic officials keeping their ears and eyes closed on all these cry for freedom ,demands for human rights, reform and protests. The tidal wave of protest and a tsunami will hit Iran if all the social forces will join together because one particular group may make noise but not so loud, so , it is needed to join together under the banner of human rights .

End/
Link to this news:
http://www.iran-emrooz.net/index.php?/news2/more/6554/

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Thursday, January 26, 2006

(RSF ) reports on Mojtaba Saminejad:

Iran24 January 2006Jailed blogger taken to sit university exams in handcuffs
Blogger Mojtaba Saminejad, who has been in prison since February last year was taken in handcuffs (photo) to sit his exams at Tehran’s Azad University on 21 January 2006. Reporters Without Borders welcomed the fact that the Iranian courts have allowed him to continue his university course but repeated its call for his release.
"We have never stopped our condemnation of the unfair conviction of this young student who has been imprisoned for nearly a year for posting a few messages on the Internet. We urge the authorities to show leniency. Bloggers like Mojtaba represent no threat to Iranian society. On the contrary, they support the emergence of a citizen’s debate,” said the organisation.
The weblogger was photographed inside the Tehran university as he was going to take his exam and the photo was then posted on his former blog : http://man-namanam.blogspot.com.
He was first arrested in November 2004 for speaking out against the arrest of three colleagues. While he was in prison, his website was hacked into by people linked to the Iranian Islamist Hezbollah movement. On leaving jail, he relaunched his blog at a new address (http://8mdr8.blogspot.com), which led to his re-imprisonment, on 12 February 2005.
Mojtaba was sentenced in June 2005 to two years in prison for “insulting the Supreme Guide”. One month later he was given an extra ten months in prison for incitement to “immorality”.

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Thursday Jan. 26,2006
News update on Arash Sigarchi court case.
Iran Emrooz Online reporting from "Iran Ma" :

Arash Sigarchi is arrested !

Arash Sigarchi , the editor of " Gilan Emrooz " newspaper is sentenced to three years imprisonment and is detained in " Rasht" prison !

Based on the news reported by Iran Emrooz online from "Irane Ma" , Arash Sigarchi the journalist of "Iran Ma" newspaper is arrested.
According to other news coming from Iran, Arash Sigarchi attended for an appeal court hearing and was arrested and detained. The appeal court was deciding on his 14 years sentence which was issued against him previousely by the Gilan court of revolution.
Arash Sigarchi is also a blogger and was running a blog named " Panjereh Eltehab" . And he was given 14 years imprisonment based on his writing in this blog. Arash is 28 years old and his charges are " espionage and insult to the leader " .But in reality his charges are his media activities and his writing on his blog.
IRAN WATCH CANADA will follow the news and will bring you the latest on Arash Sigarchi.

This is the his site: http://www.sigarchi.com


End/
IRAN WATCH CANADA
Link to this news in Farsi:
http://www.iran-emrooz.net/index.php?/news2/more/6540/

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Wednesday, January 25, 2006



++++++++++++++
Wednesday Jan. 25,2006
News Updates:
IRAN WATCH CANADA

The site of Gooya newsonline reporting from "ILNA" : Three students from the University of " Lorestan " were suspended for two terms from education.

As usual , the " diciplinary Committee " of the university of Lorestan has postponed the education of three students for two terms.

Mr. Arash Khandel, the member of central council of the " Association of Islamic Students" of Lorestan University announced the news to ILNA reporter. He said the students were charged with " instigating for students gathering" and " holding an illegal election" .
He said: A few days ago election of the Association of Islamic Students of Lorestan University was held and five students were elected to its central council but after a few days on the pretext that the election was illegal three students were banned for two terms from education.
He said : After issuing sentences for me and two others from our association , we were banned from entering to university. He added : A few days ago , In a letter to us they indicated that our suspension will start from next semester . this means that we have been suspended for three terms from continuing our education.
Mr. Khandel said: Yesterday they have banned us from entering to the campus dorm. and they told us that we have a few hours to pack up our belonging .

End/
Link to this news in Farsi :
http://1384.g00ya.com/politics/archives/042938.php

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Wednesday Jan. 25,2006
News in brief -
IRAN WATCH CANADA

Iran-Emrooz online reported that the site of " Nameh " was embezzled !

The site of monthly " nameh " was embezzled by unidentified person or persons and was removed !
At 1:30 pm today Wednesday Jan. 25, 2006 the site of Monthly " Nameh " was embezzled by unidentified persons and was removed from the site . During this embezzlement all the numbers of the Monthly " Nameh " was removed from the site.So, it is impossible to have the past numbers of the " Nameh ". But the public relation of the site have announced that the technical support team are working to bring back the site .
End/
Link to this news in Farsi:
http://www.iran-emrooz.net/index.php?/news2/more/6531/

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Wednesday Jan. 25, 2006
News in brief-
IRAN WATCH CANADA:

Gooya newsonline reported from Tabriz news that : "Mr. Amin Movahedi" a journalist in the city of "Meshkin Shahr" have been beaten and tortured !

Mr. Peyman Pakmehr the reporter from Tabriz News ( www.tabriznews.com , pakmehr88@hotmail.com) have reported that: "Mr. Amin Movahedi" a journalist is residing in " Meshkin Shahr " in the province of "Ardebil" . The brother of Mr. Movahedi have told to the reporter that , after his brother was arrested the security agents beat him up and also tortured him and then after three days detention they have released him on bail.

"Mr. Amirhosein Movahedi" the brother of the journalist ( Amin Movahedi ) have told to Tabriz news reporter that :His brother wrote an article in the local Ardebil publications about the air pollution and its cancerous effect . After writing this article; at around 10:00pm on Friday Jan. 20 , 2006 he was arrested in his home by the security agents with the warrant from judiciary power of the region and then he was transfered to a security place and was beaten and tortured.
He said: In detention they punched him to the face and eyes and they beat him with an object like a rod(bar) , the effects of this object was on his body. And he was kept in detention with a very cold environment.

We have reported this to "Ardebil" court of revolution and the assistant to the public prosecutor have seen the torture on the body and he then ordered to my brother ( Amin Movahedi) be seen by medical examiner .

It is needed to say that: Previousely Mr. Amin Movahedi the journalist followed and reported on a company which was polluting the water , fruits , vegetables and poultry to radioactive materials which the news was also approved by NGO's, but despite of evidence he was put behind bars for a year for charges such as: " publication of classified documents" and " creating public unrest" .

End/
IRAN WATCH CANADA
Link to this news in Farsi:
http://1384.g00ya.com/politics/archives/042936.php

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Tuesday, January 24, 2006




Tuesday Jan. 24,2006
News in brief- Gooya news reporting from "ISNA" :
Two students from "Zanjan" University have been summoned and detained !
The head of the Association of Islamic Students of Zanjan University reported that ; two students of Zanjan University have been summoned and detained.
Mr. Amirhosein Kheirifam have told to the political reporter of ISNA that; Mr. Yashar Hakakpoor and Ms. Reihaneh Poorghani are the two student activist who were working more on the student publication of this university.
End/
Link to this news in Farsi:
http://1384.g00ya.com/politics/archives/042863.php

IRAN WATCH CANADA: After the new president took the office the pressure on students was intensified. The students are being summoned to a " diciplinary committee" within the university jurisdiction and are being either detained or expelled from university or suspended for few semesters.
++++++++
Another news - Gooya news from "ILNA " :
"Arash Sigarchi" the blogger and journalist who was last year sentenced by the Gilan court of revolution to 14 years imprisonment , in a recent court hearing by the Gilan court of appeal his sentence was reduced to three years imprisonment.
Arash in speaking with the reporter from ILNA said : In the early of this week i attended to the Gilan court of appeal and they have told me that ; the order of the division number one of the court have been issued and my sentence was reduced from 14 years imprisonment to three years.
Aras was the editor of the " Gilan Emrooz " newspaper . He was charged with " Collaboration with the hostile american government " by interview with Radio Farda , " Insult to the leader " , " Insiting people to disturb the national security" and " propaganda against Islamic Republic".
Arash Sigarchi, after spending 60 days in prison was realsed by a bail of " One billion Rials ".

End/
IRAN WATCH CANADA
Link to this news in Farsi:
http://1384.g00ya.com/politics/archives/042847.php

+++++++++
In another news from ISNA ; another student from Tabriz University who's name is Mr. Heidar Zahedi will go on trial . He is chrged with " action against national security" and " publication of lies".
End/
Link to this news in Farsi:
http://1384.g00ya.com/politics/archives/042789.php

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Monday, January 23, 2006

International Federation of Journalists( IFJ) :


To download the main 2005 report in pdf click on the following links:Part One: Introduction, Caselist, Africa and Latin America casesPart Two: Asia-Pacific, Europe and Middle East casesPart Three: Safety Fund ReportDownload special insert on Media Solidarity in Face of Misfortune


The International Federation of Journalists today condemned a “culture of neglect and indifference” over killings of journalists which is making journalism more dangerous than ever. The IFJ says that 150 journalists and media staff were killed last year, the highest ever, and has warned that the situation will get worse unless political leaders act to bring the killers to justice. Launching the IFJ report Targeting and Tragedy on media casualties last year the IFJ General Secretary Aidan White criticised governments who do not take the murder and assassination of reporters seriously. “In more than 90 per cent of all cases there are few serious investigations by the authorities and only a handful of the killers are ever brought to trial,” he said. “A combination of police corruption, judicial incompetence and political indifference has created a culture of neglect and indifference which makes every day hunting season for attacks on media staff.” White said that impunity in the killing of journalists “remains the intolerable scandal of our times that can no longer be ignored by the international community.” He said the IFJ has called for action by the United Nations Security Council and has pressed the Secretary General Kofi Annan to mobilise governments to act against the targeting and killing of journalists. “The truth is that even democratic governments turn a blind eye to the crisis of violence against media,” said White. “In Iraq, where media people hardly dare walk the streets, there are 18 cases of unexplained killings of journalists and media staff by United States soldiers. Justice demands that these deaths are properly investigated. If not, speculation about military targeting of journalists will persist.” The IFJ report says 2005 was a year “scarred by targeting and tragedy.” Some 89 of the listed killings were journalists and media people murdered “in the line of duty” many of them assassinated by ruthless killers working for political gangs or criminals. Another 61 were killed when disaster struck while on assignment – 48 of them alone in a Tehran plane crash where questions are being asked about the safety of the military aircraft in which they were travelling. “The list is a cruel catalogue of sacrifice and illustrates in painful detail just how journalists and media staff continue to suffer for press freedom and their profession,” he said. But the IFJ also highlights action from within journalism to counter the crisis. Around 100,000 Euro was paid out last year from the Federation’s International Safety Fund to provide humanitarian relief for the media victims and their families. And the International News Safety Institute, a coalition of media employers and journalists’ groups, is vigorously campaigning for change and a culture of safety within the media industry. The IFJ says the most dangerous countries for journalism were Iraq (35 killings), the Philippines (10 killings) and Colombia, Mexico and Haiti, the notorious “deadly triangle” of countries plagued by drugs gangs in which nine journalists were murdered. The IFJ plans to organise worldwide protests on 8 April this year to highlight demands for more action against impunity. This day is the anniversary of the US attack three years ago on the Palestine Hotel, a media centre in Baghdad, in which two journalists, Taras Protsyuk of Reuters and José Couso of the Spanish network Telecinco, were killed. Another reporter, Tareq Ayyoub, died on the same day when the US bombed the offices of Al Jazeera in the city. The IFJ report was expanded this year to give information on the Federation’s solidarity and assistance programme through the IFJ Safety Fund. A special appeal at the beginning of 2005 in response to the Tsunami disaster in 2004 in which around 78 journalists and media staff were reported dead or missing raised more than 100,000 Euro. In addition the IFJ Fund made payments to the families and victims of killings in more than 25 countries as well as to victims of the Pakistan earthquake disaster in which three journalists died. A special disaster relief fund has also been created by the IFJ, in the name of the former IFJ Senior Vice President and Chair of the European Federation of Journalists, Gustl Glattfelder who died last year.
For further information contact: +32 2 235 22 00
The IFJ represents over 500,000 journalists in more than 110 countries.

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Sunday, January 22, 2006




Sunday Jan.22,2006
News in brief -
Gooya newsonline reporting from "ILNA" ( Iran Labor News Agency) :
"Mr. Khalil Bahramian" the lawyer of Mr. Heshmatollah Tabarzadi (Who is presently in prison) reported of his request from the judiciary power to review on the sentences that was given to his client. Mr. Hesmatollah Tabarzadi was chrged with the " Insult to the leader of the Islamic Republic" and " Action against national security " . For the first charge he was given 2 years imprisonment and for the 2nd charges he recieved 5 years imprisonment plus 10 years ban from social rights.
Mr. Tabarzadi was the editor in chief of Weekly " Payame Daneshju" ( Weekly Student Message)and is a political prisoner.He is the general secretary of the "Iran Democratic Front( IDF)" and currently is in Evin prison ( Labor section # 350 ) .

End/
IRAN WATCH CANADA
Link to this news in Farsi:
http://open.g00ya.com/politics/archives/041005.php

Also on this issue by Amnesty International:

Heshmatollah Tabarzadi, age 39, journalist
Hossein Kashani, journalist

Amnesty International is concerned for the safety of Heshmatollah Tabarzadi, editor-in-chief of the weekly newsletter Hoveyat-e-Khish (Our Identity), and Hossein Kashani, its director, who have been arrested after questioning about publishing information contrary to "public order and the public interest". On 16 June 1999, Hossein Kashani was summoned to a tribunal at the office of the revolutionary prosecutor, in Evin prison, and arrested after questioning.
Heshmatollah Tabarzadi was called to the same office for questioning the following day, and was also arrested. They have both been detained in Evin prison since then, and have not been granted access to family or legal representation.
The precise charges brought against them are not clear and have not been officially announced. Before Hossein Kashani was arrested the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance issued a statement saying that it intended to charge Hoveyat-e-Khish with publishing "deceitful and offensive" articles.
Heshmatollah Tabarzadi gave a radio interview the day before his arrest, in which he reportedly criticised aspects of government policy. He also reportedly criticised President Khatami's position on the arrest of at least 13 people, thought to include Iranian Jews, rabbis and religious teachers, who have been charged with espionage and spying for the USA and Israel (see UA 133/99, MDE 13/11/99, 8 June 1999).

BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Hoveyat-e-Khish has only published three issues to date. Heshmatollah Tabarzadi was previously the editor of the student newsletter Payam-e Daneshjou (Students' Message), which was banned after complaints from a number of government officials.
In 1998, shortly after he had reportedly criticised the Iranian leadership in Payam-e Daneshjou, he was attacked and beaten by a group of unknown men who raided the office of the Islamic Students' Association. He is now the president of the Association as well as the editor-in-chief of Hoveyat-e-Khish.

On 25 May 1999, shortly before he was scheduled to speak at a protest rally at Tehran University, student activist Manuchehr Mohammadi was attacked and driven off in a car by five unknown men. Gholamreza Mohajeri-Nezhad, another student leader, was also detained on 30 May. They were released at the beginning of June, but a number of people who attended the rally are said to be still in fear for their safety (see UA MDE 13/09/99, 26 May 1999 and UA MDE 13/12/99, 11 June 1999).

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Saturday, January 21, 2006



Saturday Jan. 21,2006
Gooya Newsonline reporting from Iran:
"Advar News" : Letter from Masumeh Shafiei on the coming of Akbar Ganji's 3000 days of imprisonment !
She reported that; On last thursday Jan. 19,2006 she have met her husband. She said: " they informed us that; together with Mr. Molaie ( Ganji's lawyer ) at 3:00pm to be in Evin prison to meet Ganji. But in order we the family member to have more time to speak with him ,Mr. Molaie the lawyer decided not to meet with Ganji at this time. Together with family members we went to the gate of Evin prison, after an hour finaly they brought Ganji , his physical condition was same as before, 50 kg weight, yellowish feature and older, with low blood pressure ( his cold body was the indication) and a body with skin and bone with long beard and dishevelled hair.
He is still in the same security cell( Alef- 2 ), the doctor in the prison prescribed for him to have MRI for his back and the whole nervous system, this was our third meeting with him after 148 days. From Ganji's 6 years imprisonment 2 months have left. So Ganji should be out by March 21st.

End/
IRAN WATCH CANADA
Link to this news:
http://open.g00ya.com/politics/archives/042771.php

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Thursday, January 19, 2006




Thursday Jan. 19,2006
News Update- On Ganji
Gooya newsonline reporting from " Advar news":

Masumeh Shafiei the wife of Akbar Ganji releasd a letter which says:
God ! I'm asking you to protect my dear who is in prison!

Ganji on 2094 days in prison . Out of this 139 days in solitary confinement . During past 145 days he has only meet his children twice. He is still in the solitary confinement security cell ( Alef -2) in Evin prison.
In the letter she is showing her families suffering and demanding for his release.

IRAN WATCH CANADA
Link to this news:
http://open.g00ya.com/politics/archives/042567.php

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Thursday Jan. 19,2006
News Update- On Roya Toluie The journalist and human rights defender in Kurdistan province
Gooya news reporting from ILNA :

Roya Toluie the editorial writer of " Payam Mardom" publication in Kurdistan and one of the human rights defender in Kurdistan province have been summoned to the division number one of the court of revolution in the city of Sanandaj.
Ms. Nasrin Sotudeh the lawyer for this journalist in speaking with ILNA reporter have said: The first court which reviewed on the charges of my client was held on Wednesday Dec. 21 , 2005 . But this time the court is summoned my client to clear the situation of the bail.
She said: My client at this time is residing in abroad and her bail amount which is being withheld by the court is under the danger .She said that: She is trying to ask the court to determine the amount. She also indicated that Mrs. Shireen Ebadi also have joined the team of the lawyer in defending Roya Toluie.

End/
Translated by : IRAN WATCH CANADA
Link to this news in Farsi:
http://open.g00ya.com/politics/archives/042560.php

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Iran
Respect for basic human rights in Iran, especially freedom of expression and opinion, deteriorated considerably in 2005. The government routinely uses torture and ill-treatment in detention, including prolonged solitary confinement, to punish dissidents. The judiciary, which is accountable to Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, has been at the center of many serious human rights violations. Abuses are perpetrated by what Iranians call “parallel institutions”: paramilitary groups and plainclothes intelligence agents violently attack peaceful protesters, and intelligence services run illegal secret prisons and interrogation centers. President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, elected in June 2005, appointed a cabinet dominated by former members of the intelligence and security forces, some of whom are allegedly implicated in the most serious human rights violations since the Islamic Republic of Iran was established twenty-six years ago, such as the assassination of dissident intellectuals.
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Freedom of Expression and Opinion :
The Iranian authorities have systematically suppressed freedom of expression and opinion since April 2000, when the government launched a campaign involving closure of newspapers and the imprisonment of journalists and editors. Consequently, very few independent dailies remain, and those that do self-censor heavily. Many writers and intellectuals have left the country, are in prison, or have ceased to be critical. During 2005 the authorities also targeted websites and Internet journalists in an effort to prevent online dissemination of news and information. Between September and November of 2004, the judiciary detained and tortured more than twenty bloggers and Internet journalists, and subjected them to lengthy solitary confinement. The government systematically blocks websites with political news and analysis from inside Iran and abroad. On February 2, 2005, a court in the province of Gilan sentenced Arash Sigarchi to fourteen years in prison for his online writings. In August 2005, the judiciary sentenced another blogger, Mojtaba Saminejad, to two years in prison for “insulting” Iran’s leaders. Torture and Ill-treatment in Detention With the closure of independent newspapers and journals and the suppression of reporting on human rights abuses, treatment of detainees has worsened in Evin prison as well as in detention centers operated clandestinely by the judiciary and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. The authorities have subjected those imprisoned for peaceful expression of their political views to torture and ill-treatment. Judges often accept coerced confessions. The authorities use prolonged solitary confinement, often in small basement cells, to coerce confessions (which are videotaped) and gain information regarding associates. Combined with denial of access to counsel, prolonged solitary confinement creates an environment in which prisoners have nowhere to turn to seek redress for their treatment in detention. The judiciary issued an internal report in July 2005 admitting serious human rights violations, including widespread use of torture, illegal detentions, and coercive interrogation techniques. However, the judiciary failed to establish any safeguards, follow up on its findings, or hold any officials responsible. Impunity There is no mechanism for monitoring and investigating human rights violations perpetrated by agents of the government. The closure of independent media in Iran has helped to perpetuate an atmosphere of impunity. In recent years, public testimonies by numerous former prisoners and detainees have implicated Tehran’s public prosecutor Saeed Mortazavi and his office in some of the worst cases of human rights violations. Despite extensive evidence, Mortazavi has not been held responsible for his role in illegal detentions, torture of detainees, and coercing false confessions.
The case of Iranian-Canadian photojournalist Zahra Kazemi, who died in the custody of judiciary and security agents led by Mortazavi in June 2003, remains unresolved. Lawyers representing Kazemi’s family revealed that in addition to signs of torture including fractures to her nose, fingers, and toes, Kazemi received heavy blows to her head, once during her initial detention by the head of the intelligence unit at Evin prison on June 23, 2003, and another blow during an interrogation led by Mortazavi three days later. According to autopsy reports, Kazemi died of severe blows to her head. The judiciary had accused a low-ranking Intelligence Ministry official, Reza Ahmadi, of Kazemi’s unintentional homicide, and had proceeded with a hastily organized trial held in May 2004 which cleared Reza Ahmadi of the charges. Following an appeal by lawyers representing Kazemi’s family, an appeal hearing was convened in July 2005, in which the lawyers demanded that the judiciary launch an investigation into charges of intentional homicide, but the judge refused their request. The judiciary has taken no further steps to identify or prosecute those responsible for Kazemi’s killing.
Human Rights Defenders In 2005, the authorities intensified their harassment of independent human rights defenders and lawyers in an attempt to prevent them from publicizing and pursuing human rights violations. The judiciary summoned Noble Peace Prize winner Shirin Ebadi in January 2005 without specifying charges against her. After she challenged her summons as illegal, and following an international outcry, the judiciary rescinded its order. In July, the authorities once again threatened to arrest Ebadi after she publicized several high-profile human rights cases. On July 30, the judiciary detained Abdolfattah Soltani, a lawyer and member of the Center for Defense of Human Rights, after Soltani and Ebadi protested the judiciary’s inaction in Zahra Kazemi’s case. No formal charges have been filed against Soltani; the judiciary appears to be using his illegal detention as a way to intimidate and silence other human rights defenders and lawyers. Prominent dissident and investigative journalist Akbar Ganji, who exposed the role of high-ranking officials in the murders of writers and intellectuals in 1998, remained imprisoned for a sixth year.
Minorities Iran’s ethnic and religious minorities are subject to discrimination and, in some cases, persecution. The Baha’i community continues to be denied permission to worship or engage in communal affairs in a public manner. In April 2005, protests erupted in the southern province of Khuzistan, home to nearly two million Iranians of Arab descent, following publication of a letter allegedly written by Mohammad Ali Abtahi, an advisor to then-President Mohammad Khatami, which referred to government plans to implement policies that would reduce the proportion of ethnic Arabs in Khuzistan’s population. After security forces opened fire to disperse demonstrators in Ahvaz, the confrontation turned violent and spread to other cities and towns in Khuzistan. The next day, Abtahi and other government officials called the letter a fake. During the clashes, security forces killed at least fifty protestors and detained hundreds more.
In July 2005, security forces shot and killed a Kurdish activist, Shivan Qaderi, in Mahabad. In the wake of this incident protests were held in several cities and towns in Kurdistan demanding that the government apprehend Qaderi’s killers and put them on trial. Government forces put down the protests, killing at least seventeen people and detaining several prominent Kurdish journalists and activists. In October 2005, they were released on bail. Key International Actors In 2005 the policy of the European Union towards Iran was dominated by negotiations over Iran’s nuclear programs, with human rights concerns a secondary matter. The European Union has pledged to tie Iranian respect for human rights to progress in co-operation on other issues, but so far with little impact. Australia and Switzerland also have “human rights dialogues” with Iran but have not made public any relevant benchmarks for assessing progress. Against strenuous Iranian objections, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution in November 2004, noting serious violations and the worsening of the human rights situation in Iran. However, in 2005, unlike in previous years, no resolution was introduced at the U.N. Commission on Human Rights concerning the human rights situation in Iran. Under a standing invitation issued in 2002 from Tehran to the thematic mechanisms of the U.N. Commission on Human Rights, the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention and the special rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression visited the country and subsequently issued reports critical of government practices. However, the government has failed to implement their recommendations, and in some cases there were reprisals, such as re-arrest, against persons who testified to the experts. In January 2005 the special rapporteur on violence against women visited Iran, and the special rapporteur on adequate housing made a visit in August. Iran has not responded to requests by the U.N. special rapporteurs on torture and on extrajudicial executions to visit the country. Relations between the United States and Iran remain poor. President Bush in August 2005 said that U.S. military action against Iran was an “option on the table,” but the administration reportedly remains divided on this point.

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Wednesday, January 18, 2006



Wednesday Jan. 18,2006
News in brief - Gooya news-online reporting from " Entekhab" News Agency:

"Entekhab" News Agency is filtered !
" Entekhab" News Agency : One of the official from telecomunication filtering division in a contact by our reporter, while confirming the filtering of " Entekhab" have said: "Entekhab" site have been added to the list of filtering and soon " Entekhab " will be filtered in all ISP of the country.
According to this report: From early this morning , many who visit "Entekhab" in continous contact inquired about the reason for filtering " Entekhab" .

End/
Translated by IRAN WATCH CANADA
Link to this news in Farsi :

IRAN WATCH CANADA: It is needed to say that ; previously the following sites were filtered: Emrooz, Ruidad, Meli - Mazhabi, Mizan . All of these sites were active in legal frame of Islamic Republic.
All "Gooya" News sites were also been filtered for several times.( http://mag.g00ya.com)http://mag.gooya.com)، (http://raha.gooya.com) (http://news.gooya.com).
According to "Entekhab" the site of Mr. Alireza Assar the Iranian Pop singer was also been filtered .
In another report by Entekhab the site of Mr. Poornejati become the victim of filtering .
In the past months at least four sites which were belong to Iranian women ( These sites were dealing with women and their rights issues ) were censored :
http://www.womeniniran.org,http://irwomen.com، www.iftribune.com, www.womeniw.com

Link to this news in Farsi:
http://open.g00ya.com/politics/archives/037879.php
http://open.g00ya.com/politics/archives/041344.php

End/

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Wednesday Jan. 18,2006
News in brief-
Gooya Newsonline reporting from ILNA :

Mr. Alireza Alavitabar one of the journalist & political activist have been sentenced to 15 months imprisonment by the division number 26 of Tehran court of revolution. His sentence will stay on suspension for three years.
According to a report by ILNA reporter sometime ago Mr. Alivitabar wrote an article on " militarism" and its cosequences , this article was published in a magazin in the city of Yazd .
After publication of this article a complainant brought a complaint against him on the charges that he has " insulted the leader of the Islamic Republic" and the complainant filed it in division number 26 of...... After reviewing the charges on December 28, 2005, the judge of the case issued 15 months jail term for Mr. Alavitabar and ordered that; the sentence will be in suspension for three years.

End/
Translated by IRAN WATCH CANADA
Link to this news in Farsi from Gooya:
http://open.g00ya.com/politics/archives/042563.php

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Sunday, January 15, 2006



Saturday Jan. 14,2006

News Update - On Mr. Abdolfatah Soltani the lawyer and human rights defender

Iran-Emrooz online reporting from "Aftab" :

This bail is an extension of imprisonment !

Shireen Ebadi, the Noble Peace Prize winner : The 800 Million Tuman bail for Soltani doesn't have any legal explanation !

" Aftab" : Mrs. Shireen Ebadi called the 800 Million Tuman bail for Abdolfath Soltani as illegal !

Mrs. Ebadi , one of the lawyer for Mr. Soltani in speaking with the political reporter of " Aftab" announced that : According to the provisions of The legal penal procedure the amount of bail must be in harmony with the personality of the accused and the reasons for charges. Mr. Soltani is one of the prominent lawyer in Iran ,he is member of the board of "Association of Lawyers" and one of the founder of " Association of Human Rights Defenders" who three years ago have recieved a human rights award from Jacques Chirac the president of France.
This shows that; those who have issued this $900,000 bail did not consider the personality of the accused.
Mrs. Ebadi about the charges of Mr. Soltani said: " The most important charges against Mr. Soltani was that he is against the Islamic Republic which upto now was not proven , even if this be proven , he just have expressed his opinion and the freedom of expression and opinion have been cosidered in the constitution.

She said : This bail has no legal explanation because everyone knows the living situation of Mr. Soltani . He does not recieve money from more than 80% of his clients.
She added : Not only his family , but also my family is unable to pay this amount.

End/
Translated by IRAN WATCH CANADA
Link to this news in Farsi:

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Friday, January 13, 2006




Friday Jan. 13, 2006
News update- On lawyer and human rights defender Mr. Abdolfatah Soltani
Iran-Emrooz online reporting from ISNA:

Heavy bail for Mr. Soltani !
Soltani's lawyers : The 800 Million Tuman bail which was set for the release of our client is heavy and disproportionate !
Ms. Farideh Gheirat one of the lawyer for Mr. Soltani ( The lawyer and member of the Association of Human rights defenders in Iran ) in speaking with ISNA said: Yesterday Mr. Soltani contacted with his family and informed them about his release would only be possible if he will provide a bail of 800 Million Tuman( 1Canadian Dollar = 800 Tuman , meaning 1Million Dollar Canadian ). This news was given to him two days ago in prison.She said: Since his charges isn't clear for us, the bail is heavy and disproportionate.
Mr. Najafi Tavana and Mr. Seifzadeh are the other two lawyers for Mr. Soltani.
Mr. Seifzadeh said: This type of bail shows that they don't want him to be released.He added: No one can prepare this type of bail and in my opinion issuing such bail doesn't have any legal explanation.

End/
Translated by IRAN WATCH CANADA
Link to this news in Farsi:
http://www.iran-emrooz.net/index.php?/news2/more/6289/

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Friday Jan. 13,2006

Amnesty International concern about the Iranian woman going to be executed.

Read the statement below:

PUBLIC AI Index: MDE 13/003/2006 11 January 2006UA 11/06 Imminent executionIRAN Azam Ghareh Shiran (f), aged around 37Azam Ghareh Shiran, who was sentenced to death in April 2002 for being an accomplice in the murder of her husband, who had allegedly forced her into prostitution, could now be executed at any time, possibly within days. The Head of the Judiciary has the power to order a stay of execution.Azam Ghareh Shiran was allegedly forced to marry one of her father’s cousins at the age of 15. She claims that her husband was a violent unemployed drug addict, who forced her into prostitution to support the family, and who she feared intended to also force their nine-year-old eldest daughter into prostitution. She ran away with her three children in around 1996, after beginning a relationship with another man, Abbas A, who bought a house for her. She tried twice to obtain a divorce, without success.A year after she left, her husband found her and threatened to have her convicted of adultery and stoned to death. Azam and Abbas invited him to dinner, apparently hoping to placate him by offering him money. Azam put sleeping pills in the soup, to put her husband and children to sleep, and once he was asleep Abbas reportedly strangled him. They disposed of the body in a canal. Azam was arrested in 1998 after the authorities became suspicious of her and Abbas, when they tried to obtain a divorce for her, while claiming to be brother and sister, on the grounds that her husband had deserted her. Under "pressure", Azam confessed to cooperating with Abbas A in the murder of her husband. She reportedly made this confession in the belief that it would mean that Abbas would face lesser charges, and escape the death penalty. She has since retracted this confession. Azam was held in Evin prison for two years before she was put on trial, and had no access to a lawyer until the day her trial began, when she was assigned one by the court as she could not afford to hire one herself. In April 2002, she was sentenced to qisas-e nafs (retribution in kind) for "being an accomplice to murder" (in Persian, mosharekat dar ghatl). As the body was never found, the cause of death was not established, and the sleeping pills are not cited in the case file as the cause of death. Her lawyers have asserted that she should actually have been charged with "assisting a murderer" (in Persian mo-aven dar ghatl), which carries a maximum 15-year prison sentence.Azam's death sentence was passed to the Supreme Court for approval, like all death sentences in Iran. The Supreme Court found problems with the lower court's proceedings, and referred the case for re-examination to a lower court, which again passed the death sentence on 21 July 2004. On 8 November 2004, the sentence was upheld by the Supreme Court. Her lawyers requested a re-trial, and the execution order was suspended, but this request was apparently rejected, and so the sentence has been passed to the body which carries out executions, the Unit for the Enforcement of Judgements.Abbas A was also sentenced to death, and his sentence was upheld by the Supreme Court. Under the Iranian penal code, if a prisoner is sentenced to qisas-e-nafs, the decision on whether the death penalty shall be inflicted rests with the victim's blood relatives. They can forgo their right to qisas and instead request diyeh (blood-money) or just pardon the culprit. The family of Azam’s husband have reportedly agreed to forgo their right to retribution and accept blood money from Abbas A. They have reportedly refused to do so for Azam, and have asked for her to be executed. Azam Ghareh Shiran has three children, the youngest of whom was only a few months old at the time of her arrest. Azam has now been in prison for seven years, during which her children have been in government custody. Her eldest daughter married and assumed custody of her siblings two years ago.BACKGROUND INFORMATIONAmnesty International opposes the death penalty as the ultimate cruel, inhuman and degrading punishment, in violation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. In 2005, Amnesty International recorded at least 94 executions in Iran, although the true figure may be considerably higher.RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please send appeals to arrive as quickly as possible, in Persian, Arabic, English or your own language:- urging the authorities to stop the execution of Azam Ghareh Shiran;- urging the authorities to commute her death sentence immediately; - calling for the case against Azam Ghareh Shiran to be reviewed urgently, and in particular for the charges against her to be re-examined;- expressing concern that Azam Ghareh Shiran was reportedly detained without trial for two years after her arrest, and did not have access to a lawyer until the first day of her trial; - acknowledging that governments have a responsibility to bring to justice those suspected of criminal offences, but stating your unconditional opposition to the death penalty, as the ultimate cruel, inhuman and degrading punishment and violation of the right to life.APPEALS TO:Leader of the Islamic RepublicHis Excellency Ayatollah Sayed ‘Ali Khamenei, The Office of the Supreme LeaderShoahada Street, Qom, Islamic Republic of IranFax: + 98 251 7 774 2228 (mark "FAO the Office of His Excellency, Ayatollah al Udhma Khamenei") Email: info@leader.ir istiftaa@wilayah.orgSalutation: Your Excellency Head of the JudiciaryHis Excellency Ayatollah Mahmoud Hashemi ShahroudiMinistry of Justice, Park-e Shahr, Tehran, Islamic Republic of IranEmail: irjpr@iranjudiciary.org (mark "Please forward to His Excellency Ayatollah Shahroudi") This email address can be unreliable. If it does not work, please send your appeal via the judiciary website: http://www.iran-emrooz.net/index.php?URL=http://www.iranjudiciary.org/feedback_en.htmlSalutation: Your ExcellencyCOPIES TO:PresidentHis Excellency Mahmoud AhmadinejadThe Presidency, Palestine Avenue, Azerbaijan Intersection, Tehran, Islamic Republic of IranFax: + 98 21 6 649 5880Email: dr-ahmadinejad@president.ir(via website) http://www.iran-emrooz.net/index.php?URL=http://www.president.ir/emailand to diplomatic representatives of Iran accredited to your country.PLEASE SEND APPEALS IMMEDIATELY. Check with the International Secretariat, or your section office, if sending appeals after 22 February 2006.--------------------- * http://www.iran-emrooz.net/index.php?URL=http://zanan.iran-emrooz.net/index.php?/znews/more/6264/

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Wednesday, January 11, 2006





Wednesday Jan. 11,2006
News Update- C130 plane crash
Iran-Emrooz online reporting from IRNA:

Families of the victimes of C130 plane crash was threatened not to investigate the issue !
An MP : Several family members of the victimes of C130 plane crash were threatened not to follow up the issue!
IRNA : Mr. " Mohammad Reza Tabesh " member of the chair of minority group in the parliament informed about some of the difficulties facing those who intend to impeach the officials responsible for the crash. And some families of the victimes have been threatened not to follow the issue.
He said: If we were able to do the impeach of defence minister without restriction and if the parliament was behind the issue, we would not have seen the crash of recent "Flcon jet" which ended with the death of all high ranking military officials.
It was pre-arranged that the minister of defence will attend in parliament for answering the question but because of reasons it was postponed to next week.
The representative of " Ardakan " in the parliament said: It is not fair to put all the guilt on the control tower of the airport . As far as we know only 10% of the guilt is on control tower but 90% is on other reason.

End/
Translated by IRAN WATCH CANADA
Link to this news in Farsi:
http://www.iran-emrooz.net/index.php?/news2/more/6255/

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Tuesday, January 10, 2006




Tuesday Jan. 10,2006

Picture - Mr. Sebghati and the media controler
News in brief-
ISNA online reporting from Iran:

Mr. Iraj Sebghati was elected as representative of the directors of "Non Governmental News Agencies" in the board of media watchdog !
According to the ISNA the deputy of the media relation& broadcasting announced that :" In electing the director of the Non Governmental news agencies which was held at the media relation& broadcasting office with the presence of the 8 directors of the news agencies , Mr. Iraj Sebghati was elected with relative majority of the vote as the representative of the directors ".

Other present were: Mr. Parviz Esmaili the director of the" Mehr News Agency" and Mr. Mahmud Reza Amini the director of the" Moj News Agency ". Also Mr. Mehdi Fazeli From "Fars News Agency" and Mr. Mostafa Ajorlu from "Iran Sport Ipna" .

All of the above were candidate for the position .

The board will resume its activity with the presence of : Minister of Culture & Islamic Guidance , The deputy of media relation , managing director of Islamic Republic Agency, a director from NGO news agencies chosen by themselves, a professor of law chosen by minister of education and 2 expert in the field of communication & information chosen by the government council on broadcasting .
End/
Translated by the IRAN WATCH CANADA
Link to this news in Farsi:
http://www.isna.ir/Main/NewsView.aspx?ID=News-648095

---------------------------------------------------------------
IRAN WATCH CANADA:

Does the regime in Iran knows what is hapening in Iran?

This is being called a democracy " Islamic Republic " style. whom the regime is going to fool? Iranian intellectuals ? of course not , it is a policy of throwing a stone in the dark . It is because, for the Islamic Republic it is too late to fool the Iranian intellectuals. Perhaps regime is trying to fool the UN and world NGO's and its own supporters and may be some moslem around the world.

In fact all the above News Agencies are the AGO's and not NGO's. and the elected director is the best candidate in censoring and banning the independent media. Iranian intellectuals are not blind and they dont buy this , because they can easily find the past and present activity of the elected director.He is infact the director of the most fanatic news agencies close to Ahmadinejad.

The reality is that; the regime is unable to control the growing number of Iranian striving for human rights and independent mind and learning how to deal with this regime best with less human casulties and economic damages. Iranian intellectuals , Iranian students , teachers, bloggers, writers , journalists , women , lawyers , workers and political activists are aware .
In fact it is the regime that is unaware of what is hapening in Iran.

End/
IRAN WATCH CANADA

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Tuesday Jan. 10,2006
News in brief-
Gooya newsonline reporting from " ISNA " ( Iran's Students News Agency" :

A student of University of Tehran has reported that he has been summoned by the " Diciplinary Committee of the university " and the " Court of revolution" !
Mr. Peyman Aref a political science student said that; he has been summoned to the court of revolution without a written notice . He said: "After arriving to the court , they have announced that; the time to deal with the case will be on 23rd of January @ 11:00am this year" . He has been charged with : " Action against security" and " propaganda against the system". The Diciplinary Committee session will also take place tomorrow and they will review on the problems in this year's " student day ceremony " .
Mr. Aref rejected the competency of the diciplinary committee to deal with the charges based on the paragraph 73 of the constitution and said : "there is political motive behind this ".

End/
Translated by :IRAN WATCH CANADA
Link to this news in Farsi:
http://open.g00ya.com/politics/archives/042278.php
-----------------------------------------
Other cases:
"ILNA" : The court of Mr. Amir Raeyat Nazari the student of Tehran University was held !
Mr. Raeyat Nazari was chrged with " action against national security" . He has to wait till next week to recive the sentencing.
Link to this news:
http://open.g00ya.com/politics/archives/042232.php

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Monday, January 09, 2006



Monday Jan. 9, 2006
News in brief-
Roozonlie reporting - Mr. Hamed Irani

Warning by Ministry of Islamic Guidance and ministry of Information to news agencies: Writing the news about summoning is prohibited !

The Ministry of Islamic Guidance and Information in recent weeks have verbally and in written warned " ILNA" and "ISNA " the two news agency that; from now on have no right to report about detaining , summoning , interrogation and trial of journalists , political activists and students without necessary coordination with the two ministries.
According to the news the regime believe that the recent resolution on human rights in UN against Iran was based on the news that were collected from these two news agencies .
So the 9th government is trying to control news agencies that are not under her supervision.
It is needed to say that: " IRNA " News Agency is under government control, "Fars " News Agency is under supervision of judiciary power ," Mehr " News Agency is under the organization of Islamic propaganda and " Vahede Markazie Khabar " is under the system of " Seda Va Sima " ( Radio & TV ) of the Islamic Republic.

End/
Translated by : IRAN WATCH CANADA
Link to this news in Farsi:
http://r0ozonline.com/01newsstory/013245.shtml

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Monday Jan. 9,2006
News in brief- urgent action needed
Picture- shows stoning to death ( " Sangsar" ) of a woman
Gooya newsonline reporting from " Zanane Iran" - reporter :Asieh Amini

A woman's life in danger , she will be executed !

The execution of Ms." Azam Farbad Ghareh Shiran " which was stoped by her lawyers request for redress of grievances, is going to take place because the request of the lawyers has been rejected by the head of the judiciary power ( judiciary office in "Shiraj" ) .

One of the lawyer of Ms. Azam Ghareh Shiran by speaking on this matter to the site of " Zanane Iran " said: The charges of Ms. Ghareh Shiran was supervision with intention to murder her husband Mr. Abdollah Ranjbar which according to her confession was commited in the year 1997.
Ms. Elham Fahimi one of the lawyer of Ms. Azam said that : In our openion her charges is not "supervision" but " assist to murder " and in our defence we have emphasized on that. We too , believe that Ms. Azam is guilty of crime and believe that she must be punished but not punishment by execution and according to her confession she just helped the murderer but not supervision.
At this time the murderer was able to ask from the victimes family to forgive him and the family ( father and mother of victim) did so, however did not forgive their daughter inlaw.
Ms. Azam Ghare Shiran ( around 35 years of age) in the year 1997 went to court and requested for divorce and during the review of the case the court noticed that her husband was disappeared then as the court followed the case Ms. Azam and another man who was coming to her house and at the begining was saying that he is the brother of Azam ,were arrested . Azam and Abbas confessed that together they murdered her husband, so both of them were charged in murdering Mr. Abdollah Ranjbar .
Ms.Azam have said that her husband was a drug addict and when she was just 15 years old , she was forced to marry her , that he was jobless and was unable to have income for the family and for his drug addiction, therefore , after sometime he decided to abuse her sexually . According to her 2 times she went to court for divorce but no result ( because it needs the approval of the man ).
The husband brings many people to his house to have sex with her and later started to do the same with her 9 years old daughter and one of the man was Mr. Abbas who later looked at Azam different than the other man and killed Azams husband and droped the body in the river .
Now , she is waiting for her execution . The lawyers (Ms Shadi Sadr and Ms. Fahimi )only hope is to aske the victimes family to forgive her .

End/
Translated by IRAN WATCH CANADA
Link to this newsin Farsi:
http://open.g00ya.com/politics/archives/042256.php

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Monday Jan. 9,2006
News in brief-
Gooya Newsonline reporting from " Advar " news:

A journalist from the city of " Mashhad " was sentenced to 3 years imprisonment!

Advar news:Mr. "Ahmad Reza Shiri " journalist and political activist , who live in the city of Mashhad, on the morning of Sunday Jan 8 ( Iranian time) have been charged with " action against internal security" , " publishing lies" and " cooperation with publication outside of the country", by the division number 7 of the Mashhad court of Islamic revolution to 3 years suspension sentences.
Mr. Ahmad Reza Shiri announced that he will not protest to the sentencing by the division number 7 of the Mashhad court of Islamic revolution , because this decision has been approved .
it is needed to say that during the last 2 years because of news activity and news reporting he has been summoned and arrested by the ministry of information and court of revolution.

End/
Translated by IRAN WATCH CANADA
Link to this news in Farsi:
http://open.g00ya.com/politics/archives/042227.php

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Friday, January 06, 2006



Friday Jan. 6,2006
Picture- Shireen Ebadi & Mohammad Ali Dadkhah

News in brief-
Gooya newsonline reporting from " Nasre Ma" :

"Mehrabad" Airport security prevented Madame Shireen Ebadi ( The Noble Prize Winner ) to travel to the city of "Isfahan" !
" Nasre Ma" : With intervention of Mehrabad Airport security forces and for not issuing exit permit to Madame Shireen Ebadi and Mr.Mohammad Ali Dadkhah, they were unable to attend in the innagural ceremony of coming into existance of " Association of Human Rights supporters of Isfahan " .
However , the organizers by using the phone ,were able to cover the speech of Madame Shireen Ebadi and Mr. Dadkhah for their ceremony.
In a short conversation Shireen Ebadi said:" I am sorry that i was unable to be with you and to share with you the happy moments of establishing the Support Association ....
She also said that; At this sensetive historic stage of dear Iran, paying attention to the matters of human rights is the pressing needs of our society.Many are trying to divert the public minds from the importance of human rights to secondary issues.......
She also said: Those people who are opposing with freedom of discourse and created a rough wall for not to hear the word of right, their wall won't stay long.
Then Mr. Hagh Panah one of the founder of this association said:
the reason for establishing the association is because of the :
1- sensetive situation of the last year
2-Most of the ministers and managers of the country have military experience and the rights of the people are in danger.
3- to defend the rights of religious minorities
4- to defend the histric sites of Isfahan
5-to defend the social rights
..........
End/
Translated by IRAN WATCH CANADA
Link to this news in Farsi:
http://open.g00ya.com/politics/archives/042123.php

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Wednesday, January 04, 2006


Picture- Recent students protest
Thursday Jan. 5,2006
News in brief -
Gooya newsonline reporting from " Tabriz news" :
Peyman Pakmehr , journalist of Tabriz news.
www.tabriznews.com
pakmehr88@hotmail.com

The defence lawyers for the family of the student who was killed by the police force in the city of "Mahabad" protested to the court decision!
Tabriz news: Human rights services - The defence lawyers of " Shirkuh Amini" the kurdish student who was murdered by the police force in the city of Mahabad have protested to the competency of the court as well as the order issued against the accused by the prosecutor of the division number one of the military prosecutors office.
Mr. Abas Jamali and Ms. Minu Dakhteh the members of the commission on human rights of the Association of Lawyers in Eastern Azarbayjan and the city of Ardabil, and the defence lawyers of " Shirkuh Amini " the 27 years old student of "Payam Nur " University in the city of Mahabad who was killed on Jan. 19, 2005 during the shooting of police force , have protested to the competency of the court as well as the bail issue by the prosecutor. Mr. Jamali the lawyer of this murdered student said: We have protested to the decision of the court , because the court issued a bail for (27 Million Tuman,700 Tuman = 1 Canadian Dollar ) and the accused was released .............

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Translated by : IRAN WATCH CANADA
Link to this news:
http://open.g00ya.com/politics/archives/041981.php

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Wednesday Jan. 4,2006
News in brief:
Gooya newsonline reporting from "ILNA ":
Nikahang Kowsar's court case was adjourned to Monday March 13, 2006 !
Tehran - ILNA :

A court session to deal with the charges of Nikahang Kowsar , the caricaturist of the banned newspapers which was supposed to take place in division number 1083 of Tehran's public court with Judge Hoseinian as the presiding judge, was adjourned to Monday March 13 of this year.According to the report by ILNA's reporter , in the court session of this caricaturist, representative of public prosecutor and also representative from " Seda va Sima" ( Government TV and Radio station)who are the complainant of the case were present but because of the absence of the accused , Mr. Hoseinian the judge of the case adjourned the hearing to Monday March 13 ,2006 .
This caricaturist was charged with offences as" insult" and the complainants are Mr. Ali Larijani the former head of the " Seda va Sima " organization and Mr. Mesbah Yazdi the chair of the " emam Khomeini Educational Institute " .
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Translated by IRAN WATCH CANADA
Below this news in Persian:
جلسه رسيدگي به اتهامات نيك
آهنگ كوثر، كاريكاتوريست روزنامه
‌هاي توقيف شده كه قرار بود در شعبه 1083 دادگاه عمومي تهران به رياست قاضي حسينيان برگزار شود، تجديد و به 23 اسفند ماه سال جاري موكول شد.به گزارش خبرنگار "ايلنا"، در جلسه دادگاه اين كاريكاتوريست،
......................................

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Tuesday, January 03, 2006



Tuesday Jan. 3,2006
News Update on Ganji.
Iran-Emroozonline reporting from Emrooz:

Ganji's wife offered a proposal to Ahmadinejad( The president ) !
Mrs. Masumeh shafiei in a letter spoke about her meeting with Ganji and her worries about his situation!
On Sunday Jan.1/2006 , finally after 44 days without news and bann on visitation , we were able to meet Mr. Ganji in Evin prison. This was Mr. Ganji's 2nd meeting with his dughters and mother after 130 days.Mr. Molaei the lawyer of Ganji was also present. Mr. Ganji is still in a security prison of "alef-2 " and his situation is still like before. Aside from the problems that was said before he developed a new digestion desease .
we have to ask the officials that why they have transfered Ganji from public cell to a solitary confinement like security one " alef-2" ?..............
Mr. Ahmadinejad offered for a series of scientific sessions between Islamic and European philosophers about Human Rights and preparation of report on freedom of expression and freedom of pen, prisons situation and...... and asked its judgement be left to world openion. I, as a citizen welcome this offer and propose this report be prepared from solitary confinement cell of "alef 2" ( the Evin Guantanamo) and since your government known as " the government of kindness and justice " send your representative together with several photojournalist and independant reporter to this cell, so that everyone can see a typical prison situation of the Islamic Republic that what has left from the prisoners is just skin and bone. Prisoners that have become captive because of telling the truth and voiced the critical dialogue on irresponsive power. if you are honest and not affraid of the report start from here because " it is what you walk not what you talk" . Certainly you can't just by painting, cleaning , changing the bed sheets and...hide the real violation of human rights from the prisoners. Because by seeing his thin body , yellowish face and by touching his cold hand everything can become more and more evident.

Masumeh Shafiei
Jan.3/2006
The 2081 days imprisonment of Ganji
& the 123 days of his solitary confinement


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Translated by : IRAN WATCH CANADA
Link to this news in Farsi:
http://www.iran-emrooz.net/index.php?/news2/more/6133/




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