Human Rights Watch -
For Immediate Release
Iraq/Mojahedin-e Khalq Organization: Cooperate With UN Provide Safe Location to Assess Camp Ashraf Refugee Claims(New York, November 30, 2011) – Both the leadership of the exiled Iranian opposition group Mojahedin-e Khalq Organization and the Iraqi government should fully cooperate with the UN refugee agency, Human Rights Watch said today.Both sides should allow the more than 3,200 Iranians at Camp Ashraf, in Iraq, to move to a protected location under UN supervision before the Iraqi government’s December 31, 2011 deadline for closing the camp, Human Rights Watch said. And both should allow the UN refugee agency sufficient time to conduct private and confidential interviews with each person to assess their refugee claims.“With each tick of the clock, the danger to camp residents grows,” said Bill Frelick, refugee program director at Human Rights Watch. “The best way forward for the safety of the Camp Ashraf residents is to give them the chance to press their individual claims for refugee status with the UN in a safe location.”Camp Ashraf, recently renamed Camp New Iraq, has already been the site of two bloody confrontations between Iraqi security forces and camp residents. Most recently, on April 8, 2011, 36 camp residents were killed. On July 29, 2009, 9 were killed. After these incidents Human Rights Watch called on the Iraqi authorities to protect camp residents and open transparent investigations into the killings.Both the Iraqi security forces and the leadership of Mojahedin-e Khalq (MEK/PMOI) should avoid bloodshed and allow residents to leave Camp Ashraf and meet privately with the UN refugee agency without fear of harm from either camp leaders or the Iraqi authorities, Human Rights Watch said.The UN has offered to monitor the entire process when residents leave Camp Ashraf and to be present with them in a safe transit location. The UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has also agreed to assess refugee claims among camp residents who seek asylum and to seek durable solutions for refugees among them. Human Rights Watch has documented abuses by the leadership of the MEK in Camp Ashraf against camp residents who questioned their authority.Human Rights Watch called on the Iraqi government to allow former Camp Ashraf residents who qualify as refugees to stay in Iraq subject to Iraqi law and respect for their basic human rights, until a durable solution can be found on their behalf.The Iranian government should agree to the voluntary repatriation of those former residents from Camp Ashraf who wish to return in safety and dignity, Human Rights Watch said. The camp residents should not, for example, be subjected to televised confessions, as other former MEK members have said has happened, and the government should ensure their freedom of movement, including the right to leave Iran. Iran’s government should also allow independent international organizations full access to monitor their return.Because some former Camp Ashraf residents will not be able safely to stay in Iraq or return to Iran, Human Rights Watch also called on other governments to respond favorably and promptly to UNHCR referrals of former Ashraf residents for resettlement or for governments to allow Ashraf residents to whom they had previously issued passports to return to those countries.The Iraqi government should ensure that any MEK members accused of crimes in Iraq or for whom extradition requests have been issued receive all procedural rights in open and fair proceedings and ensure that none are subjected to torture or cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment in either Iraq or Iran.The MEK was founded in 1965 as an armed group to challenge the Shah of Iran’s government. In 1981, two years after the Iranian revolution, the group went underground after trying to foment an armed uprising against Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini. After a period of exile in France, most of the group's leaders relocated to Iraq in 1986, although its top leadership remains in France.In 1997, the United States State Department designated the group a foreign terrorist organization and it remains on the State Department’s list of foreign terrorist organizations. The European Union also listed the group as a foreign terrorist organization, but has removed it from the list. Many Iraqis also have alleged that the group’s members actively participated in campaigns against opponents of Saddam Hussein's government. The fall of Hussein's government in April 2003 put an end to Iraqi financial and logistical support to the group.

For Immediate Release
Iran: Protect Health, Safety of Jailed Cleric Hossein Kazemeini Boroujerdi, Outspoken Religious Critic, in Grave Danger
(New York, November 28, 2011) – The Iranian authorities should ensure a prompt and thorough investigation into threats and attempted attacks against Ayatollah Hossein Kazemeini Boroujerdi’s life, and allow him to seek proper medical care outside prison, Human Rights Watch said today. Boroujerdi, a prominent 53-year-old Shia cleric who has criticized the religious system of government, suffers from several serious health conditions.
A source close to Boroujerdi and his family told Human Rights Watch that on November 22, 2011, a cellmate tried to kill Boroujerdi during an altercation. Boroujerdi’s family and followers have long complained of the dangerous and substandard conditions under which the cleric is held, including detention with violent cellmates convicted of drug trafficking and violent crimes.
“We have serious concerns about Boroujerdi’s well-being and safety,” said Sarah Leah Whitson, Middle East director at Human Rights Watch. “In addition to denying him necessary medical care, authorities are playing with Boroujerdi’s life by apparently not protecting him from threats and attacks against his life.”
Boroujerdi is in ward 350 of Evin prison, in the sixth year of an 11-year sentence on charges never made public. His followers and family members have reported at least two previous incidents in which cellmates have attacked or seriously threatened the cleric’s life.
Security forces arrested Boroujerdi and dozens of his supporters on October 8, 2006 during a raid on his home in Tehran. Sources close to Boroujerdi told Human Rights Watch that authorities harassed and eventually detained Boroujerdi because of his views that Islam should be separated from politics. Since his arrest, Boroujerdi has been an outspoken critic of the Islamic Republic and the concept of the velayat-e faqih, or leadership of the jurist, which endorses the idea espoused by the government of a Shia supreme leader.
Authorities have consistently denied Boroujerdi access to a lawyer of his choosing, including during his trial in 2007 before the Special Clerical Court, which was conducted behind closed doors. The Judiciary found Boroujerdi guilty on several security charges, including “moharebeh” – or enmity against God – a charge that carries the death penalty under Iranian law, sources told Human Rights Watch. Later, an appeals court reduced the death sentence to 11 years in jail.
The Special Court for Clergy was established by Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeni, the founder of the Islamic Republic, to try both Shia and non-Shia dissident clerics. It operates independently from the Iranian Judiciary and is not bound by any constitutional provisions. Since its founding, the Special Court of the Clergy has tried or sentenced dozens of dissident and reformist clerics to prison on charges including insulting Islamic values, propaganda against the regime, and apostasy, for which the punishment is death.
Iranian authorities have so far refused to provide any public information regarding Boroujerdi’s prosecution and sentence. Authorities have consistently denied Boroujerdi regular visitation rights, and repeatedly targeted his family members and followers with harassment, confiscation of property, arrest, and detention, several sources close to him have told Human Rights Watch.
Boroujerdi reportedly suffers from failing eyesight, Parkinson’s disease, diabetes, and high blood pressure. A source close to him told Human Rights Watch that the failure to treat Boroujerdi’s heart disease has resulted in pulmonary edema, the accumulation of fluid in the lungs. She said that doctors at Evin Prison have told Boroujerdi that he needs to be treated in a hospital, but that authorities have repeatedly refused to allow him proper medical care outside the prison.
In a public letter released on October 1, a group of human rights activists expressed concern about Boroujerdi’s deteriorating health, saying he “has been subjected to the most inhumane forms of physical and psychological torture to force him into signing a statement renouncing his beliefs.” Human Rights Watch has previously criticized Boroujerdi’s detention, calling on Iranian authorities to allow him access to necessary medical care.
International and Iranian law require prison authorities to provide detainees with adequate medical care. The UN Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners require that authorities transfer prisoners needing treatment by medical specialists to specialized institutions, including civilian hospitals. Additionally, Iran’s State Prison Organization regulations state that, if necessary, detainees must be transferred to a hospital outside the prison facilities to secure proper medical treatment.
“During the past several years, other political prisoners have died in Iran’s prisons as a result of abuse, torture, or medical neglect,” Whitson said. “Iranian authorities will have blood on their hands if Boroujerdi is attacked or his health deteriorates for lack of medical access.”
For more Human Rights Watch reporting on Iran, please visit: http://www.hrw.org/middle-eastn-africa/iran

Mother Behkish speaks about killing of her six childeren by Islamic Republic regime in Iran & UN keep it's silence on mass killings of 1998 !

IRAN WATCH CANADA : How could i listen to this mother's pain and sufferings and not to translate her words from Farsi to English- My sympathy with Mother Behkish and all the mothers, who have lost their childeren under Islamic Republic regime in Iran inside and outside the prison due to reppression?!
Mother Behkish:
I have a grievance ,I have a complaint against UN.....The Islamic Reublic have killed these much of my childeren and UN have kept silence about it. What kind of UN they are? We expect they will break their silence and speak and talk.What was the fault or guilt of these childeren?Why they killed them?....As a mother , how much patience can i have and must witness these much breavement of my childeren? They call themselves moslem too...do moslem bring these much harm?All of my childeren were highly educated. As a mother ,i laboured hard and brought up edecated childeren,and they have killed my educated childeren.Why UN don't speak about them and say about their names?I expected UN say the names of these childeren in the television.For example ,they say that UN wants to review and help ease to the pain and sufferings of the people, while they have killed six of my childeren and UN kept silence ....not speaking on.... Now they are ( the Islamic Republic regimein Iran)is going after my only daughter left ... How much cruelty ...reppression to what point..?I expected UN to listen to my words and to record what i have said...and speak about my childeren...while UN didn't say anything about my childeren....UN only talks about itself......Then, what is the use of UN?....It's only to praise themselves ? ...Then, what is it that UN do not talk about the nation and our childeren? They ( IR regime in Iran) killed my childeren for the fear of their mistakes or guilts not to become exposed. As they ( IR regime )brought grief to my heart ,God will bring griefs to their heart too.
Listen to the video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lHGH9VXkeGw&feature=player_embedded

Pepper Spray Cop gets Online Spanking

Meshkin news Human Rights Service:
Azerbaijani writer critical of Islam, died in the attempt!
Rafiq Taqi, General physician and a controversial writer, who was assassinated on November 19, died. His doctor at the hospital in Baku said that his respiratory passage was blocked .
The Ajarbayejani journalist was assassinated due to a fatwa by Ayatollah Fazel Lankarani.
Rafiq Taqi who aws the member of "The Assembly of Free writers" wrote an article on 2006 titled " The Europe and Us" which was critical to Islam and based on that, Ayatollah Fazel Lankarani issued a fatwa and called him as "Mahduroldam" meaning its ok if he is killed by Islamists.
Because of protest by some religious personalities ,the Government of Azarbayejan arrested Rafiq Taqi and sentenced him to three years imprisonment. Rafiq Taqi spent two of three years in jail when the president of Azarbayjan pardoned him and he was released and resumed his medical practices and writing .
Rafiq Taqi was on his way home on Nov.19 at 10 pm when an unknown assailant attacked him by knife which resulted nine wounds on his body and as a result of these wounds he died later in the hospital.
After the operation in the hospital ,he has told reporter of "Free Europe " that , he believe the Azarbayejani Islamicts and Islamic Republin in Iran were behind the assassination .However,Islamic Republic regime issued a statement rejected the allegation.

People in the Middle East are serious on their demands for democracy.Democracy Movement will generate social movement.

For Immediate Release-
Iran: Crackdown Shows Intolerance for DissentOpposition,
Pro-Ahmadinejad Newspapers Targeted(New York, November 23, 2011) –
The Iranian security forces’ November 21, 2011 raid on the offices of the official Iran newspaper and their attempt to arrest President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s media adviser show the Iranian government’s extreme reaction to dissent, Human Rights Watch said today. The authorities detained about 40 staff members of the Iran daily while attempting to arrest Ali-Akbar Javanfekr, the head of the official Islamic Republic News Agency, who was conducting a news conference at the newspaper’s offices in Tehran. By evening, 30 of the 40 arrested staff members had been released, the Islamic Republic News Agency reported.The raid came after Iran’s Judiciary ordered the two-month closure of the reformist newspaper Etemad on November 19. Etemad had earlier published an interview in which Javanfekr criticized the Judiciary and opponents of Ahmadinejad. On November 22 Elias Hazrati, the managing editor of Etemad confirmed that his paper had been shut down because it had published an article about opposition leaders Mir Hossein Mousavi and Mehdi Karroubi, who have been under house arrest since February, and because of the interview it had conducted with Javanfekr.“The simultaneous crackdown on President Ahmadinejad’s media adviser, journalists working for a state-owned newspaper, and a reformist daily shows the absurd level of intolerance authorities have toward freedom of the press in Iran,” said Joe Stork, deputy Middle East director at Human Rights Watch. “The authorities should release anyone still detained from the Iran daily raid and lift the ban on Etemad.”The raid at Iran’s offices followed a ruling by a Tehran criminal court on November 20 sentencing Javenfekr to one year in prison and banning him from working for the news media for three years for “publishing materials contrary to Islamic norms.” The charge related to an article associated with Javanfekr that was published in a special issue of Iran in August. The article contained controversial statements suggesting that the practice of wearing the black chador, the full-body covering worn by many women in Iran, is not rooted in Islam.According to the Committee to Protect Journalists, as of December 2010, 34 journalists and bloggers were in Iran’s prisons. More than 60 journalists have been forced into exile in 2011 alone, and authorities have shut down at least 40 publications since 2009.Prosecutors have charged journalists with offenses that on their face violate the right to freedom of expression, such as “propaganda against the regime.” Courts in these cases have handed down heavy prison terms, flogging sentences, and work bans. Iran has one of the worst records among the world’s countries for arresting and imprisoning journalists and bloggers.For more Human Rights Watch reporting on Iran, please see: http://www.hrw.org/middle-eastn-africa/iran

Alert....Alert ....

Warning for Identity theft..
Someone allegedly call himself as Morteza Abdolalian and his purpose for posing as Morteza Abdolalian is not clear.It may be trying to redirect the true Morteza Abdolalian's contact to its address. The real Morteza Abdolalian is 58 years old and he is identified with IRAN WATCH CANADA as his blog and he lives in Oakvile and not in Ottawa.However ,the embassy of the Islamic Republic regime in Iran is located in Ottawa.
The following website does not have any affiliation with IRAN WATCH CANADA and the real Morteza Abdolalian:
http://www.wayn.com/profiles/mortezaabdolali

Plain clothes police Attack on "Iran" Newspaper Publishers, 21 Nov 2011-You have read reports by RSF, now watch this film how did it happen!

Journalists and media fall victim to power struggle

Reporters Without Borders condemns physical attacks on journalists with the state news agency IRNA and state-owned daily Iran, the arrests of several of these journalists and the closure of the privately-owned daily Etemad, all within the past three days.
IRNA headquarters was raided yesterday by police and officials from the Tehran prosecutor’s office with the aim of arresting its director, Ali Akbar Javanfekr, just as he was giving a news conference to protest against the one-year jail sentence and three-year ban on working as a journalist that a Tehran court had imposed on him the day before.
Javanfekr is also a media advisor to President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who is currently embroiled in power struggle with the Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamanei,
The raid was conducted in a violent manner and the police did not hesitate to use tear gas on the IRNA journalists who were there to support Javanfekr. According to an IRNA statement, “the director of the newspaper Iran, Mosayb Naimi, and several journalists were wounded or arrested” during the raid. Naimi was released hours later. It is not yet known what happened to the other detained journalists.
Javanfekr was himself detained and handcuffed, but was released following President Ahmadinejad’s direct intervention.
A court sentenced Javanfekr to a year in prison on 20 November in connection with a controversial supplement about the chador that the newspaper Iran, which Javanfekr used to run, published on 13 August.
A two-month suspension was meanwhile imposed on Etemad on 19 November because its latest issue including an interview in which Javanfekr was very critical of many of Ayatollah Khamenei’s close supporters including prosecutor general Gholam Hossein Mohseni Ejehi, intelligence minister Heydar Moslehi and parliamentary speaker Ali Larijani.
In the interview, he protested against the harassment of certain close Ahmadinejad supporters, saying: “Keeping prisoners in individual cells is forbidden under Iranian law.” He also said the Ahmadinejad administration was not responsible for the mistreatment of detainees and did not control the intelligence ministry. Now one of Ahmadinejad’s staunchest supporters, Javanfekr used to be a senior intelligence ministry official and a member of Ayatollah Khamenei’s office in the 1990s.
This is the second time that Etemad has been suspended in the past 20 months. Previously suspended on 1 March 2010 on the orders of the Press Licensing and Surveillance Commission, an offshoot of the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance, it was allowed to resume publishing on 19 June 2011. Edited by Elyass Hazrati, a former parliamentarian and Revolutionary Guard, commander, Etemad supports the reformists.
“Etemad’s crime was to publish comments by a presidential adviser, a government official, criticizing other government officials,” Reporters Without Borders said. “The judicial system ordered this newspaper’s closure for ‘publishing false information.’ Although it was the head of the government news agency IRNA who accused the government and former officials of torture, it is the reformist newspaper that is punished. Independent newspapers and journalists are the real victims of this power struggle within the leadership.”
Rahman Gahremanpour Benab, a pro-Ahmadinejad journalist who worked for Hamshahri Diplomatic and Tehran e Emrooz and as a researcher at a government strategy centre, was arrested on 1 June on a spying charge and was placed in Tehran’s Evin prison. He was arrested at the same time as three Turkish university academics who were freed 13 days later. There has been no news of Benab since his arrest.
Link:
http://en.rsf.org/iran-journalists-and-media-fall-victim-22-11-2011,41429.html

The U.N. General Assembly on Monday passed an annual resolution condemning alleged human rights abuses in Iran with a record number of votes in support.
The assembly also passed resolutions condemning human rights in North Korea and Myanmar. All received record high backing.
The Iran vote came only three days after the General Assembly condemned an alleged plot to assassinate the Saudi Arabian ambassador to Washington -- a plot which the United States accuses Iran of masterminding.
The 193-member assembly passed the resolution condemning "torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment" by Iranian authorities with 86 votes in favor, six more than last year, 32 against, down eight from 2010, and 59 abstentions.
The resolution, proposed by Canada, condemned "flogging and amputations" carried out in Iran and deplored a "dramatic increase" in the use of the death penalty, particularly against minors. Many human rights groups say events have deteriorated in Iran over the past year.
Iranian government representative, Mohammad Javad Larijani, an advisor to the country's supreme leader, called the resolution "substantially unfounded and intentionally malicious" in a speech to the General Assembly's human rights committee.
Syria, which faces a special human rights vote on Tuesday over its deadly crackdown on opposition protests, spoke out strongly for its Iranian ally.
The North Korea vote was passed with 112 votes in favor, 16 against and 55 abstentions. On Myanmar the vote was 98 in favor, 25 against with 63 abstentions.
The assembly raised "very serious concern" over the "torture" and "inhuman conditions of detention, public executions, extra judicial and arbitrary detention" in North Korea.
It also condemned the "existence of a large number of prison camps and the extensive use of forced labor."
The Myanmar resolution welcomed recent talks between democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi and the military-dominated government, the release of some political prisoners and other changes over the past year.
But the General Assembly said there were still "systematic violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms."
It highlighted "arbitrary detention, enforced disappearance, rape and other forms of sexual violence, torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment." It also raised concerns about the treatment of ethnic minorities such as the Karen people.
Western nations, which have sanctions against Myanmar, have sought to encourage the tentative reforms started by the government. U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is to hold talks in Myanmar next month.
Myanmar's U.N. ambassador U Than Swe highlighted the government's efforts towards "building a flourishing, democratic society."
"We do deserve warm, welcome, kind understanding and sincere encouragements of the international community rather than unconstructive approach by adopting such resolutions," he told the assembly.
In a statement, Britain's Foreign Secretary William Hague acknowledged the changes in Myanmar, but said "human rights abuses continue, especially in ethnic areas, and the level of support for this resolution shows once again that the international community has not forgotten the people" of Myanmar.
"The U.N. General Assembly passed these three resolutions by a record majority today, and I welcome the strong signal that sends," Hague said.
Link:
http://www.naharnet.com/stories/en/20975-u-n-passes-resolution-condemning-iran-human-rights-abuses
http://www.indianexpress.com/news/un-resolution-against-iran-gets-record-number-of-vote/879059/

Workers protested in front of the parliament for yet another worse labour law!

Will the Iranian workers increase their networking for a united day of action?

While Iranian workers are facing harsher labour laws ,and manufacturing closure and layoffs are increasing and workers are dealing with delay in their salary sometimes for months , the MP's passed law to gurantee their salary for life. More than 2000 workers gathered in a rainy day today Sunday November 20 infront of parliament in Tehran and protested for two hours and shouted : The incapable minister ,resign ! Resign! .....Iran's Wall Street......A craven parliament like this ,never have seen this nation! ...Workers Unite! Unite ! ....Dismantle anti labour laws....

Like:

http://www.akhbar-rooz.com/article.jsp?essayId=41801

On the occassion of 16th of November the World Bloggers Day !

Hoping one day all the bloggers will write without fear !

Hoping everyone write without Censorship!

Hoping for the freedom of all bloggers who are currently in prison !

On this day we have to remember Hossein Ronaghi Maleki an Iranian blogger who is currently in prison and his health is deteriorating daily.

Link:

www.nexuus.wordpress.com

Many Iranian political personalities are summoned to the Ministry of Information.

Info for Mr. Ahmad Shaheed the UN reporter on Human Rights in Iran.

News from Iran-

According to news many Iranian political personalities are summoned to the Ministry of Information.

Those who have been summoned are:

1-Parasto Forohar ( Daughter of Dariush and Parvaneh Forouhar leaders of Melat party)- She has come from Germany to hold the 13th anniversary commemoration of her parents killed by agents of Ministry of the Information 13 years ago on Nov.22,1998

2-Khosro Seif- Member of "Melat Party"

3-Mehrdad Seyed Asgari -Member of Melat Party

4-Hossein Shah-Hosseini- Member of the Central council of "National front "

5-Doctor Mohsen Farshad- Member of the central council of " National Front"

6-Adeib Broumand-Leader of National Front

7-Doctor Hossein Musavian- Leader of National Front

8- Doctor Shahin Sepanta- Member of National Front council - City of Esfahan

9-Doctor Ali rashidi-Member of central council of the National Front- Still in Evin peison

10-Hamid Reza Khadem-member of National Front-Still in Evin prison

11-Peyman Aaref - Memberr of National Front - Still in Evin prison

By summoning and arresting them regime is warning anyone to attempt to hold anniversary commemoration for Dariush and Parvaneh Frouhar who were brutally killed by knife inside their home 13 years ago by agents of Ministry of Information.

Link:

http://asre-nou.net/php/view.php?objnr=18044

‎11-11-2011 Damascus, Qaboun - A raid on a house by Al Assad militia.

Mohammad javad Larijani head of the Islamic Republic commission on Human Rights: In Iran there is no any secret execution !

Based on a report by ISNA-

Mohammad javad Larijani head of the Islamic Republic Commission on Human Rights in an interview with Aljazira Television Network said:

"In Iran, there is no any secret execution. They are collecting hearsays in their reports.This reports are not justified." ( Speaking about the recent UN reporters report-IWC)

On the situation about Musavi and Karoubi two of the green movement leaders Mr. Larijani said:

"Their house arrest isn't a secret problem,which was claimed. "

Link in Farsi:

http://www.isna.ir/ISNA/NewsView.aspx?ID=News-1891833&Lang=P

Watch the pictures here:

https://secure.flickr.com/photos/pencanada/show/
It Happened today Tuesday November 15 ,2011 in Toronto - Pen Canada organized a day of Support for Nasrin Sotoudeh, the Iranian imprisoned human rights lawyer and ..../ with Wearing the shirt with the picture of Nasrin Sotoudeh and her picture in hand, plus flyers , we stoped in three locations in Toronto :Union Station, Dundas Square and Nathan Philip Square , we talked to people and explained her situation and asked them for solidarity to hold Nasrin's picture in their hand and our photojournalist took their picture - many people said yes for taking a picture with Nasrin's picture in their hand. We achieved our goal - Thanks to Pen Canada and its program manager Brendan de Caires - Thanks to Rita the photojournalist -and thanks to Ayub and Meghdad and all others. At the end it was a good day .
TAKING IT TO THE STREETS —
ON PEN’S DAY OF THE IMPRISONED WRITER
What: The Toronto public are invited to show support for jailed authors on PEN International’s
30th Day of the Imprisoned Writer.
When: Tuesday, November 15, 2011: 2 pm – 4 p.m.
PEN Canada will take to the streets of Toronto and invite pedestrians to show their support for
the immediate release of two of its Honorary Members: the Iranian human rights lawyer and
journalist Nasrin Sotoudeh, recipient of the 2011 One Humanity Award; and Dawit Isaak, one of
ten Eritrean journalists who have been held without formal charges or trials since September
2001.
On November 15, PEN International’s 30th Annual Day of the Imprisoned Writer, teams of
PEN Canada volunteers between 2 pm and 4 pm will invite members of the public to have their
photographs taken with large portraits of these writers as a gesture of support. With their
consent, these photos will be uploaded to various websites supporting this cause. They also will
be given detailed case information and the names and addresses for authorities to whom
petitions and appeal letters should be sent.
To show your support for these writers, look for PEN Canada volunteers at the following
locations.
Nasrin Sotoudeh – An Iranian human rights
lawyer known for her outspoken advocacy of
women's and children's rights, currently
serving a six year sentence in Evin prison for
"propaganda against the regime".
Union Station (Front and Bay) – 2 pm
Dundas Square (SE corner) – 2 :45 pm
Nathan Philips Sq. (by the pond) – 3:30 pm
Dawit Isaak – Imprisoned immediately after the
Eritrean government’s crackdown on independent
media in 2001, he has been held for over ten
years without due process and is believed to be in
poor mental and physical health.
Nathan Philips Square (by the pond) 2 pm
Dundas Square (SE corner) – 2:45 pm
Union Station ( Front and Bay) – 3:30 pm
More information: Brendan de Caires bdecaires@pencanada.ca 416 703 8448 ext 21

Iranian people learned good lesson from their experience and will return to the Street and protest against this regime !That isn't far!!Dictators fear

Watch this film :
Letters from Iran
Letters from Iran http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.aljazeera.com%2F&h=RAQFSb9l1AQGNPD9_yzVTE4f49Rzjw9hyj5GA192HxGbGqw
We examine the aftermath of Iran's Green Revolution and find an opposition that remains eager for change.
While winds of change have been blowing through the Arab world this year, Iranians have been forced to wait for political reform.
In 2009, in the aftermath of an election that saw Mahmoud Ahmadinejad controversially returned to power as president of the Islamic Republic, millions took to the streets of Tehran to protest against the result. But the demonstrations were brutally repressed and the hopes of the "green revolutionaries" were dashed.
Since then Iran has closed itself off to international media scrutiny and it has been difficult to determine exactly what happened to the many thousands of dissidents arrested and imprisoned during the protests, or the current scale of political opposition to the regime.
Yet as this film reveals, that opposition is still alive and kicking and just as eager for change as before. Letters from Iran paints a fascinating portrait of the aftermath of the Green Revolution and a country holding its breath.

Journalist was arrested for reporting on explosion!

Iranian journalist Hassan Fathi is arrested for speaking with BBC Farsi news about explosion!

On last Saturday in one of Sepah's ammunition barack in suburb of Tehran ( Alborz region) huge explosion occured which shook the residents in villages around and as well Tehran the capital of Iran.As a result of explosion and as reported 17 member of Sepah ( Revolutionary Guards )lost their life and one of those killed was a commander- major general Hassan Moghadam and many are also believed wounded.Mr. Hassan Fathi was invited from Iran by BBC Farsi to attened in pannel discussion via phone about the explosion.According to Fars News agency Mr. Fathi was arrested after speaking with BBC Farsi. Mr. Fathi is arrested on charges of "Publicity of lies to disturb the peace and public order ".

Link To this news:

http://news.gooya.com/politics/archives/2011/11/131254.php

James Bezan discusses Iran and Mahmoud Reza Khavari- We will not tolerate these individuals after years of serving IR to come here & enjoy life.

Islamic Republic Authorities speak against corruption but arrest and detaine independent journalists!

Saham News has reported that,Mehran Faraji journalist is sentenced to six months jail and six months suspended sentence.

Branch number 36 of appeal court sentenced Mehran Faraji the reporter of Sharq Newspaper on social issues to six months jail and six months suspended sentence. Faraji is charged with publicity against the Islamic Republic system .

According to Saham News, while visiting his family in the city of Qazvin on December 9,2010 , Faraji was arrested by agents of the Ministry of information and was transfered to ward number 209 of the Evin prison.After spending 2 months imprisonment he was released on a 100 milion Tuman bail.

Mr. Mehran Faraji has worked for "Etemad Melli" newspaper, ISNA , ILNA and " Kargozaran " newspaper.

While speaking against the corruption and ....in the Islamic Republic , the officials time to time arrest and detain independent journalists.

Designed by Mehrdad- Mihan Website

http://www.mihan.net/press/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/b400ea6f-8dff-4721-986b-e52baa06d0ca.jpg

Bashar al Asad must decide whether he wants to face the same faith as Ghadafi and his sons....Syrian continue their protest stronger...

Syrian uprising against dictator Asad-The leaders must see tragic experience of Iranian revolution 32 years ago which ended w/ Islamic Dictatorship

Minister of economy apologize for 3 billion Dollar banking fraud in impeachment sessionof Majlis

IRAN WATCH CANADA:
Khamenei in his speech on Financial embezzlement asked officials and media not to stretch the story!!??? here we go weeks after speech ,the story is top news and among Iranian people as well!
Watch the video as pro and against MP's speak on impeachment of Mr. Shamsoldin Hosseini the Minister of Finance in Majles - Ahmadinejad accompanied the minister and spoke in support of his minister.At the end Ali Larijani the speaker of the parliament together with many other Mp's particularly those known as member of " Jebheh Payedari" voted against impeachment. Out of 144 MP's present 93 voted Yes for impeachment -141 No and 10 abstention.Ali Larijani the parliament speaker spoke in support of Minister of Finance/End

In public session of Majlis on Tuesday 1 November , members spoke against and for impeachment of minister of commerce and the minister apologize the nation and Majlis for his carelesness in his job . Ahmadinejad will defend his minister after those speech and Majlis will vote for or against the minister . Watch related Related videos HERE and HERE .
http://www.gooya.com/external/www.lenziran.com/2011/11/01/minister-of-eonomy-apologize-for-3-billion-dollar-banking-fraud-in-impeachment-cessionof-majlis/

Editor in Chief of Kayhan newspaper- An interview w/ Shariatmadari !Known as interrogator/Torturer in Evin prison!What a journalism?!

This is an interesting interview by "Seda va Sima" ( Islamic Republic Television Network) with Mr. Hossein Shariatmadari representative of Khamenei in Kayhan Newspaper-
He says:
"We follow a principles - We follow Khomeini''s ideals and Khamenei the leader of the Islamic Republic". Shariatmadari doesn't say that he follows the 10 Journalism principles- And calls its newspaper not dependent to any political parties- Kayhan is known as "Kayhane Shariatmadari" - An interrogator and torturer after the revolution - Shariatmadari become nervous, look at his face,particularly the lines around his nose and cheek when question becomes a bit critical, when it is about election and supportinng Ahmadinejad . The question asked was, how did you definitely knew a night before the election that Ahmadinejad is going to be elected?-Because one night before presidential election ,Kayhan front page title predict Ahmadinejad as the winner!!?? . The role of Kayhan is to attack daily on reformists and other political parties and personalities like Mosharekat party and Musavi or Karoubi .Iran Watch Canada wanted to keep this video in its archive for future date to write about it-
Unfortunately the video is in Farsi-
http://alef.ir/vdcjaoevxuqe8yz.fsfu.html?128074
ويديو/ صحبت‏ هاي شريعتمداري در پارك ملت
تماشاي ويديو

Case of Iranian banker reaches Parliament

colin freeze AND tu thanh ha
From Tuesday's Globe and Mail
Published Monday, Oct. 31, 2011 9:34PM EDT
Last updated Tuesday, Nov. 01, 2011 7:34AM EDT

A financier who fled from Iran to Canada during an embezzlement scandal is the subject of a citizenship-fraud investigation, but is not considered a criminal or an active security threat, top Canadian security officials say.
The case of Mahmoud Reza Khavari was discussed in Canada’s Parliament for the first time on Monday as federal officials were grilled on whether they adequately screen for problematic individuals before people are allowed into Canada.
Until September, Mr. Khavari headed Bank Melli, a major Iranian lender that has been blacklisted internationally for alleged ties to Tehran’s nuclear programs. “There’s something here that has to be looked at,” Conservative senator Daniel Lang said as he pressed for answers on how the banker found a haven in Canada.
The question arose during scheduled Senate committee testimony on the measures Canada is taking to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons.
“We do investigate threats to the security of Canada, we do investigate individuals who are in Canada regardless of their citizenship, and we do provide advice to immigration officials where there is a security concern,” replied Jeff Yaworski, an executive with the Canadian Security Intelligence Service. But he added that “in the case of this particular individual, there was nothing that I'm aware of that came to the surface.”
Mr. Khavari, who sources say has been a dual Iranian-Canadian citizen since 2005, left Iran in September as prosecutors there announced they wanted to question him in connection with a $2.6-billion embezzlement scandal that has led to the arrest of several bankers. Tehran also wants an international warrant for Mr. Khavari’s arrest.
The security officials testified that Canada has no extradition treaty with Iran. But Mr. Khavari could be stripped of his Canadian citizenship under immigration laws if officials discover he misrepresented himself to gain status.
RCMP assistant commissioner Mike Cabana, told the Senate committee that “there is a process in place … our agencies are supporting CIC [Citizenship and Immigration Canada] in their decision-making process.”
The banker’s continuing freedom and apparent wealth – he and his family own several Toronto properties – have angered Iranian diaspora groups. It’s unclear how he could become a Canadian citizen while working in Iran as an elite banker.
Sources say Mr. Khavari is indicative of a much larger wave of people who have slipped into Canada. The Globe and Mail reported Monday that one of several brothers whose family business is at the heart of the Iranian embezzlement scandal moved to Montreal this past summer.
John Davies, who is Public Safety Canada’s national-security policy director, told the committee that the bureaucracy is considering tweaking immigration laws. “There is quite an active look,” he testified, adding that the bureaucracy is studying dormant security certificate laws, which allow officials to kick out potentially dangerous foreigners under relatively low legal thresholds.
With a report from Bill Curry in Ottawa .
www.globeandmail.com