Stop deportation of Mr. Hazhir Pelaschi from Germany !

IRAN WATCH CANADA supports:
The call of " Gozareshgaran " ( Reporters ) in support of Mr. Hazhir Pelaschi a member of the Association of writers in Iran , journalist, member of the human rights reporters council, member of anti-censorship … who have fought for years for freedom of expression and since 1998 until now have been imprisoned and was tortured by the Islamic Republic and because of fear for his life left the country.
Mr. Hazhir Pelaschi currently is in Germany and applied for refugee status but his application was denied and is facing deportation.

Please do not let this happen. If he is deported from Germany his life would be in danger.
Please for support write to this email and demand for his stay in Germany.

mailto:info@gozareshgar.com

http://www.gozareshgar.com/

"Alborz Tire" workers continue their protest !

Workers are against the policy of management and want them out of their post. They fight back for their

labor human rights.

Here the picture shows two workers with following slogans:

"Father doesn't have bread", "Alas to workers that are forgoten".

Watch this video clip:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L3r_0s5I9V8

Assadollah Lajvardi was Tehran prosecutor and the head of Iran prison's ( for 10 years) and his brother was the head of the prosecutor office in Tehran Mehrabad Airport . It was during his time when thousands of political prisoners in Evin prison were either hanged or sent to fire squad (1979 -1988) . Lajvardi himself later was killed by gunmen( 1998). Iranian oppositions believe regime killed him because of his vast knowledge about these killings.Lajvardi was member of the "Islamic Motalefeh party " a right wing radical Islamist group.

Blogger reportedly arrested on allegations of spying for Israel
Country/Topic: Iran
Date: 26 November 2008
Source: Canadian Journalists for Free Expression (CJFE)
Person(s): Hossein Derakhshan
Target(s): other
Type(s) of violation(s): arrested
Urgency: Threat
(CJFE/IFEX) - The following is a 25 November 2008 CJFE press release:
CJFE Concerned about the Reported Arrest of an Iranian Blogger
(Toronto, November 25, 2008) Canadian Journalists for Free Expression (CJFE) is concerned by reports over the past week that blogger Hossein Derakhshan may have been arrested in Iran and has not been heard from.
The news of his arrest comes from an Iranian website called Jahan News which is said to have connections to the Iranian government, but which is not known for its reliability. The site also reported that he had been charged with spying for Israel. The Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) website also published what appear to be quotes from 'Hossein D'. CJFE has been unable to confirm these reports and currently no official announcement has been made by the government of Iran.
Derakhshan, known online as 'Hoder', is known as the 'blogfather' in Iran for his work as a pioneer in Iran's blogging movement. His personal blogs can be found at http://www.hoder.com/ and http://www.hoderiniran.com/ , although he has not written on them since November 1, 2008.
Born in Tehran, Iran, Derakhshan moved to Canada in 2000 and lived here for several years; he most recently lived in England, and arrived in Iran several weeks ago. Derakhshan, who holds both Canadian and Iranian citizenships, has travelled on at least two occasions to Israel on his Canadian passport; Iranians are forbidden to travel to Israel. Derakhshan reported that his Iranian passport had been confiscated by officials upon entering Iran.
CJFE condemns the illegal arrest of all journalists and writers. We will continue to monitor this case, and call upon the Iranian government to confirm Hossein Derakhshan's whereabouts and status. If it is confirmed that Derakhshan has been arrested for exercising his right to free expression, we call for his release.
Canadian Journalists for Free Expression (CJFE) is an association of more than 300 journalists, editors, publishers, producers, students and others who work to promote and defend free expression and press freedom in Canada and around the world. CJFE has a history of work on cases pertaining to media law and freedom of expression.

For further information, contact CJFE Manager Julie Payne (x226), CJFE, 555
Richmond Street West, Suite 1101, P.O.B. 407, Toronto, Ontario M5V 3B1
Canada, tel: +1 416 515 9622, fax: +1 416 515 7879, e-mail: cjfe@cjfe.org,
Internet: http://www.cjfe.org
The information contained in this alert is the sole responsibility of CJFE.
In citing this material for broadcast or publication, please credit CJFE.

Workers of "Alborz Tire" continued their protest against the policy of the Government!
According to ILNA (Iran Labor News Agency) the workers believed there were 700-800 workers and for the first time the women workers colleagues also joined the protest against Government policies towards workers.
Workers demanded the company must run by Social Security Agency (Shasta)and not by private owners because of their mismanagement.
The protest took place in front of Social Services & Welfare office buildings.

Too late. Despite of protest from around the world:
Fatemeh Haghighat-Pajoo and nine others have been executed !
Fatemeh who was sentenced to death for killing her Sigheh (Temporary married-limited time marriage)husband because of raping her 16 years old daughter was sent to the gallows with nine others on Wednesday November 26,2008 in Evin prison.
Her lawyer Mr. Abdolsamad Khoramshahi confirmed the news that her client had infact was sent to the gallows.

Alert.Alert.Alert.Alert.Alert.

Iranian Kurdish teacher Farzad Kamangar is going to be executed tomorrow morning (Wed. Nov.26/08)!

Teachers union around the world , UN , human rights NGO's and ....

Help stop the execution of Mr. Farzad Kamangar.

According to news that have reached to "International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran ",

Mr. Farzad Kamangar the Iranian Kurdish teacher and social activist who was sentenced to death by the Islamic Republic judiciary was removed from his Evin prison cell number 209 and is going to be executed on early morning of Wednesday Nov. 26/08.

Farzad Kamangar is 32 years old and he is from the city of Kamiaran in Kurdistan province.

His lawyer Mr. Khalil Bahramian said: " There isn't any documents against my client". Mr. Kamangar was arrested on July of 2006 by security agents of the Islamic Republic.

An Iranian women facing death penalty!

Ms. Fatemeh Haghighat Pajoo is 37 years old. She is accused of killing her husband on April 2001 because of raping her 16 years old daughter. Her lawyer Mr. Abdolsamad Khoramshahi said; he has heared from unofficial sources that his client was removed from her prison ward.

Five years imprisonment for Yusef Azizi-Banitorf an Iranian writer !

Yusef Azizi Banitorf is an ethnic Iranian -Arab minority ,member of the "Association of Iranian Writers". In an interview with Roozonline he said: The constitution haven't been implemented on minorities in Iran.

UN human rights committee condemned Iran for violation of human rights !

UN general assembly -human rights committee strongly condemned Iran, Burma (Myanmar) and North Korea for violation of human rights.
On Friday UN human rights committee in three separate resolutions about punishment such as " lashes and dismemberment of the body in Iran" , "attack on peaceful demonstrators in Burma" and " torture and execution in public places in North Korea" condemend these three countries.

Next month UN will send these resolutions to general assembly for final vote. Iran tried to prevent this resolution but failed to do so. This resolution was approved by 70 Yes vote, 51 No vote and 60 abstentions against Iran.

Where is Hossain Derakhshan?

For the last two weeks some of the Iranian web writers, bloggrs and journalists inside and outside Iran were talking about the disappearance of Hossain Derakhshan a blogger who actually for the first time introduced a model of writing Farsi in blogs.

On the night of October 21 Hossain Derakhshan entered in Iran as he wrote in his blog (hoder.com) :" I have returned- The night before last night I arrived in Tehran and as many including myself were guessing; my passport in a usual and legal way was confiscated. Now, this week I have to go and take action which of course means naturally to go through questions and based on the foresight I have to wait."
He added: "But in any way their encounter was very friendly .They neither search my luggage and nor even search me physically. And now, in these one or two days I have gone wherever I wanted and have contacted with many new and old friends and have met them , and haven't encountered with any problems."

In another writing earlier in his blog on October 17,2008 with the title " quiet return " he wrote: " But I have a request to ask ; whatever I face with security or judiciary system in Iran ; I do not want to become a cudgel in the hands of charlatan human rights businessman in America and Europe, what isn't important for them is the human rights of others."

Here are some excerpt from his blog editor myself (hoder.com) in English:

1- “Excerpt: Ali Kordan’s cost for Ahmadinejad’s discourse of justice and his anti-corruption stance is way more than its benefit. He should fire him, before Majlis acts.”

2-“Excerpt: Iran has become more tolerant for people who are patriotic, but not religious enough”

3- “ Excerpt: One Million signature campaign is a U.S. State Department project.”

4-"Excerpt: It's incredible how a group of foreign-funded 'human rights activists', such as Hadi Ghaemi and Shirin Ebadi and their gang on the internet are making a martyr of Yaqoub Mehnahad, a member and collaborator of a terrorist and separatist group, Jondollah, that is is responsible for dozens of murders. Yes, he has been a journalist and an activist, but the basis for the verdict was his collaboration with and membership in a terrorist and separatist group. I'm against capital punishment myself, but these people are against anything Iran does, not just teh form of punishment. I wonder how other countries treat similar members of outlawed terrorist organizations backed by their enemies' funds. "

Another version:

[In another article with a title : “1984 in Iran : Murderer is the journalist , Terrorist civil rights activist”, about a Baluchi journalist & blogger Yaghub Mehrnahad who was sentenced to death by the Islamic Republic judiciary and the sentence was carried out and many human rights organizations around the world including International campaign for human rights in Iran condemned Islamic Republic for doing so, in an attack to campaign’s head Mr. Hadi Ghaemi he wrote:
“But these disgraceful people like Hadi Ghaemi and his phony human rights campaign with the expenses perhaps given by Mrs. Rice through government of Netherland ……( See how this bastard is spreading lies in all over the world again …That, ah world , the barbaric government of Iran has sent an innocent Baluchi and Sunni religion journalist to death .” ]

Mr. Derakhshan’s website is full of article defending the most ruthless faction of the Islamic Republic .

Therefore , Iranian are divided into two or more groups when comes to Hossain Derakhshan. Some support him and others believe that he is one of the regime's novice. Mr. Derakhshan himself played a very controversial role when it com’s to his position towards the Islamic Republic. By looking at his writings in his blog ( hoder.com ) he had in fact supported the most radical faction ( Khamenei and Ahmadinejad )of the Islamic Republic and against the more moderate so far.

Despite of all, He is now disappeared in Iran and his mom is silent to the media and he himself asked not to write anything if he is arrested. Iran Watch Canada is concern about his whereabout and safety .

Some believe this arrest may be a play or game by the Islamic Republic information ministry and it might become a scenario against social and human rights activists in Iran.

Deputy public prosector of the country reported :
Five millions online site's are filtered in Iran!

Roozonline- Shervin Omidvar

Judiciary advisor of the country's public prosecutor has reported yesterday that five millions internet site are filtered . He said: the Islamic Republic officials called this as a preventive action.

Mr. Abdolsamad Khoramabadi said ; Most of these five million filtered internet site in Iran had immoral and anti-social content. "

This is the first time a judiciary official is announcing about filtering millions of internet site.

According to a report by IRNA the official Islamic Republic News Agency ; the judiciary advisor to country's public prosecutor requested for the formation of a cyber police.

Also the advisor to the public prosecutor of the country called internet more dangerous to satellite because of its ocean of information and easier than satellite to have these information which causes more social damages to the society. The judiciary officials do filter 1000 internet site Monthly. Since 2006 more than 10,000,000 internet site has been filtered said Mr. Esmail Rakani. He also reported about the filtering of 5,000,000 new internet site. The head of a committee which is know as “ Comite taeen Masadiq” is with the Ministry of Information and a representative from each of the following ministries including Ministry of Guidance , Radio and Television of the Islamic Republic , office of the Cultural Revolution, Islamic Propaganda Organization and Ministry of Communication are member of this committee. “ Comite Taeen Masadiq “ started its activity seven years ago by cultural revolutionary council . Despite of request for registration of blogs and websites and threat of imprisonment for violators by Ahmadinejad’s Government including this committee; only 850 blogs and website were registered which shows a big NO to the request.
In the past the regime has even threatened the critical bloggers and web writers to death.

Mr. Abbas Amirentezam will possibly return to Evin prison !
Roozonline- Arash sigarchi
For not extending "the leave of absence from prison" by the court of revolution to Amirentezam, there is possibility that he may return to Evin prison again.Because of his health condition he used leave of absence from prison from time to time.
Mr. Amirentezam has confirmed the report if his leave of absence from prison not extended he may end up in Evin prison as early as this Friday.

Background:
Following the revolution and the establishment of provisional government of the Prime Minister Bazargan and as a member of National Front and by PM's appointment Mr. Amirentezam became the deputy of PM and then the spoksperson of the provisional Government and later the special representative in negotiation with US and USSR. He was also appointed as ambassador to the Scandinavian countries. But at that time the students invaded the US embassy and allegedly found documents connecting Mr. Amirentezam to US embassy officials . He was then called back to Iran and was arrested and sent to Evin prison and according to himself, he spent 555 days in solitary confinement. By resumption of Mr. Amirentezam's imprisonment ,next month will be his 29th years in Islamic Republic prison.He is the longest served prisoner of the Islamic Republic.
Because of long time imprisonment, Mr. Amirentezam's physical condition is in bad shape and need continues medical attention and treatment.

Currently he is one of the open critic of the Islamic Republic and in the past when Asadollah Lajvardi the Evin prison boss was gunned down, he called him " butcher " while the Islamic Republic officials including Mohammad Khatami called Lajvardi as a hero and martyr. When Lajvardi was the Evin prison boss ,thousands of political prisoners were murdered and buried secretly.

Harsh punishments for women fighting back for their basic human rights in Iran!
IRAN WATCH CANADA


Despite of these punishments the fight back continues.

One of these activist women and a member of the "campaign for one million signature" in the women's movement in Iran is Ms. Susan Tahmasbi. She was suposed to attend in a world conference in Cape town in South Africa from 14-17 November , 2008 but the agents who called themselves as the "security agents from the office of president" confiscated her passport and prevented her from leaving the country.

In this regard Susan said: "This morning persons who called themselves as the security agents of the president called my name in loudspeaker of the airport and while i had passed the immigration confiscated my passport and prevented me from leaving the country . She said this is the fourth time the security agents in the airport without explanation have prevented me from leaving the country ."

Some other Iranian women including 2003 Nobel prize winner Ms. Shirin Ebadi participated in the conference and spoke about their struggle for women's human rights.Ms. Ebadi said: "The Government in Iran can't control the women for ever with these discriminated laws . The Government doesn't pay attention or recognize the women's demand for equality ."

http://www.ihrv.org/inf/?p=1184

Burmese journalist U Win Tin was released by the Burmese junta on September 23, 2008 -- after 19 years of incarceration. Until his release, U Win Tin (by then 79) was the longest serving prisoner of conscience in Burma. On November 8, 2008, on the 10th anniversary of the Bangkok-based Southeast Asian Press Alliance (SEAPA), U Win Tin released a message to his fellow journalists, urging a continued campaign for press freedom in Burma and the rest of the region. After its first public airing on November 8, before an audience of Southeast Asian journalists, human rights and media advocates, U Win Tin's message is now posted on YouTube. Saying, "Let us not forget the oneness of our common freedom of press struggle," U Win Tin calls on Southeast Asian journalists to continue to fight for press freedom in Burma and the rest of the region.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D2dgkxB4X0o
roby@seapa.org
http://www.seapa.org/

Mr. Hossain Taeb is the commander of "Baseej resistance force" , he is also deputy commander of " Sepah Pasdaran " . both of these organizations are undemocratic and are major violators of human rights in Iran.

Human rights activists:
Continuation of Bahai (religious minority) arrest in Iran !

While the seven leaders of the Bahai are still in prison in Tehran and three Bahai youth are in Shiraz city prison and several other Bahai are in other part of the country in prison , recently a new wave of Bahai arrest has started.

According to reports received on October 18 two bahai from the city of Behshahr in Mazandaran province are arrested by the agents of the Ministry of Information and they are allegedly charged with “ propaganda against Islam and communication with Baitol-adl , the Bahai religious centre” . These two Bahai’s name are Tarazolah ( Zia ) Alahverdi and Ms. Sonia Tabiyanian. There situation is unknown and are still in the detention centre of the Ministry of Information in the city of Sari .

Also Mr. Siamak Ebrahimi another Bahai from the city of Tonekabon is arrested on November 4 / 08 and the court of the Islamic Republic has sentenced him to six months imprisonment and two years internal exile to the city of Zabol . Two years ago Mr. Ebrahimi was arrested but released by bail.

The last report is about three Bahai who were arrested in the city of Yasuj and their names and situation is not known.

Because of fear from people’s protest for democracy and human rights the Islamic Republic recently has started wave of arrest and creation of command post in all over Iran.

http://www.blogged.com/about/bahai/

Greek music - Enjoy

Family members of two "chain murdering" victims announced their support for the" Association of Writers in Iran" on December three as a day to fight against censorship in Iran.
The family members of Mohammad Mokhtari the Iranian writer and poet and Mohammad Jafar Puyandeh an Iranian writer who were murdered by the agents of the Islamic Republic Information Ministry in the early years of the reformist government put their support behind the Association of Writers in Iran about December three as a day to fight against censorship in Iran.
Ten years has passed since their brutal murder by the agents of the Islamic Republic.

On December three all out to fight against censorship in Iran !
To writers in Iran and the world over !
To writers unions!
To the Association of Pen all over the world !
We call upon you to recognize this day and to join us in anyway in our fight against censorship.

December three is named by the "Association of Writers in Iran" as the Day to Fight Censorship in Iran!
The "Committee Against Censorship" of the Association of Writers in Iran in memory of those who have lost their lives in December 1998 , named December three as a Day to Fight Censorship in Iran and asked from the writers and artists inside and outside Iran to join them in protest against censorship in Iran.
The Association of Writers in Iran in its statement wrote:
"Freedom of Expression and thoughts is the natural rights of every human being. Because every human think naturally and there is no natural reason to prevent their freedom of thought."

Email: kanoon.nevisandegan.iran@gmail.com

Homay -
http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=n6hnSQNGdQs

http://zariyaddastha.blogspot.com/2008/09/blog-post_9152.html

Persian - Gorooh e Mastan - Concert -

The 7th young offender was sent to the gallows!

This is part of a joint submission by HRW & International Campaign for HR in Iran.

So far , in this year alone Iran has sent seven young offenders to the gallows. this last one happened when in recent months Iran claimed that it stopped execution of young offenders. "in the past 3.5 years Iran has sent 27 young offenders to the gallows . Out of 33 execution of young offenders in the world ,Iran alone executed 27 of them and therefore ranked number one among the countries in the world ."

"At present 130 young offenders are awaiting for the gallows ."

The last young offender was Gholamreza H. an Afghani youth . He was 17 when commited the crime and was 19 when sent to the gallows.

On October 30, 2008 the judiciary office in the city of Isfahan in its website announced that ;its office has carried out the execution on that morning. "

Does UN human rights council still believe what Islamic Republic say and promise?

http://www.iran-emrooz.net/

Lahijan's landscape- A city in the north of Iran ,along Caspian sea

http://www.tabnak.ir/

Kordan the Interior Minister of Ahmadinejad was forced to resign!

He has resigned because of his controvercial fake doctorate degree from Oxford University.

So far 13 or 14 cabinet ministers of Ahmadinejad has resigned from their posts.

Tabnak online reported:
This report hasn't been confirmed.

After 70 issue,
Weekly magazin " Shahrvand Emrooz" has been banned!


The reason for the closure was because of an interview with a relative of Rafsanjani who spoke about the murdering of Ayatollah Lahuti in Evin prison by Lajvardi the former head of the Evin prison.

ISNA reported:

Islamic Republic in Iran will evaluate the educational documents of its current and past 23 years officials!

This is happening because there are reports that so many Islamic Republic officials have either bought educational documents or received their educational documents without attending schools.

Among them officials known as judges, engineers, medical doctors , professors and ......

The rest is comedy and tragedy, because these people are running the country.

Two years imprisonment and 4000000 Tuman ( $4000) fine for bloggers and website writers who won’t follow the Islamic Republic newly passed bills !
Title: Iran Watch Canada
Roozonline- Shahram Rafizadeh – Nov.4/08

Judiciary commission in the Islamic Republic parliament approved a bill known as " Internet crimes" which makes it easy for officials to imprison and filter the websites and internet bloggs.

According to the judiciary commission some of the bills are about the punishments for those who produce the content of the sites in the internet.
Mr. Amin Hossain Rahimi has told to the ISNA reporter that : " For publishing lies and disturbing the public mind through internet, two years imprisonment has been considered."

Also, those who " through internet , film, sound will change the picture of others or distort and publish them in a way that may damage the reputation of people, will receive two years imprisonment plus four million Tuman ($4000) cash fine or both of the punishment"

We Will Stay and Fight ‎
Issa Saharkhiz

Roozonline- 2008.11.05
Barring political and civil society activists from exiting the country has become a ‎repetitive and tiring game. ‎
It does not matter on whom this policy is implemented: social volunteer or political ‎activist. What is important is that those who want to leave and “return” are not allowed ‎to leave. On the other hand, some of those who want to leave and “not return” do not ‎face any problems and the security apparatus is even happy that they are leaving and not ‎returning. It is not important to what country or what purpose they are departing. What ‎matters is that they leave and not return. But if they intend to leave and return, then they ‎must pay the price.‎
It is true that people do not suddenly go “missing” as they did during the previous ‎decade, but measures are still in place to relegate them to the sidelines. When in prison ‎and during interrogation sessions officers do whatever they want to their victims so that ‎they forgo the right to live in Iran: officers make arrangements for them to be fired from ‎their workplace for questionable reasons, shut down their offices, officially or ‎unofficially, drive their publishing companies to the verge of bankruptcy, filter their ‎websites and blogs, threaten them or create an environment of terror so that they would ‎refuse to grant interviews to or cooperate with media outlets outside the country, shut ‎down their civil society centers… All of this so that they finally throw up their hands and ‎say, “Leave us alone, we will leave and not return!” ‎
They want the social and political activists to leave and not return so that they can point ‎accusatory fingers to friends and family, colleagues and coworkers and shout: "Didn't we ‎tell you that they all are foreign mercenaries!" They want all political and civil society ‎activists to leave Iran so that in Iran, newspapers or magazines, blogs, streets, alleys and ‎universities are no longer bothers to the government, so that the government would no ‎longer has to worry about eruption of social movements spearheaded by political activists ‎or civil society volunteers. ‎
If their policy is to encourage us to leave and not return, we must do something else: stay ‎and persevere in our work and remain committed to our plans. If the game is to return us ‎from the airport and then pressure us to give our passports back to us, we must let go of ‎passports and the desire to travel, whether for political or social motives or to participate ‎in a conference or gathering or workshop, or whether for personal reasons and visiting a ‎child or parents. In return, however, we must defend our rights not behind closed doors ‎of interrogation rooms, but in domestic and foreign courts. ‎
We must stay and fight and do something so that, not only our country is not emptied of ‎political and civil society activists, but also those who left return and help us change ‎conditions inside the country. ‎
We may face prison, or unemployment or threats if we stay, but that is better than the ‎prospect of our children having the same problems as us in the future, and Iranians ‎having to leave their country's borders for an ounce of freedom and security, and not see ‎anything of their country, other than a giant prison, the size of Iran! ‎

A letter was sent by 500 teachers from Kurdistan to the head of judiciary power in support for Farzad Kamangar !

In the letter, the teachers have demanded the death sentence be removed against Mr. Farzad Kamangar the teacher of the villages of Kamiaran and a human rights activist.

Osanlu (the labor leader) was beaten on his way to the hospital !
Without treatment of his eye, the prison officials returned osanlu to the Rejaei Shahr prison.
On last Sunday Nov. 2 , 2008 , in a pre-arranged plan the prison officials decided to bring Mr. Osanlu to Labafinejad Hospital for his eye treatment. However , on their way to the hospital the prison official told him they will bring him to Farabi Hospital instead of Labafinejad Hospital.
Mr. Osanlu protested to the decision and the prison officials then beat him and then return him to the Rejaeishahr prison and told him that they will never again bring him to the hospital.

Link:

iran-emrooz.net-Monday Nov.3/08

A link about Afghanistan:
http://afghanpress.org/

Antonio Vivaldi "Autumn"