By Jubin Katiraie
An investigation into the crimes against humanity committed by the Iranian dictators has been called for after an Amnesty International statement was published by the United Nations General Assembly.
The statement specifically involved the 1988 massacre where, over the course of just two months, 30,000 political prisoners were “forcibly disappeared and extrajudicially executed” and their bodies dumped in unmarked mass graves.
Iran Focus
London, 2 Mar – Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) have written to Iranian President Hassan Rouhani to express “strong concern” over the prolonged detention of eight environmental activists who are accused of spying.
The 26 MEPs have called on Rouhani to release the environmentalists, highlighting that the closed-door trial, which began January 30, falls “seriously short” of fair trial standards.
Iran Focus
London, 28 Feb – The Iranian nuclear archive, which was seized by Israel in 2018, is “rich in new information” about the Islamic Republic’s nuclear aspirations and raises doubts over Iran’s supposed commitment not to pursue nuclear weapons, according to researchers who have spent months reviewing the information.
A paper detailing the results of the study was published on Monday by the researchers:
Iran Focus
London, 28 Feb – Workers from Haft-Tappeh sugar cane mill in Khuzestan province, Iran, began their protests against unpaid wages, the corrupt practices of private owners, and the lack of recognition of their independent labour syndicate in November of 2018. A few days later, employees of the nearby Iran National Steel Industrial Group (INSIG) went on strike with similar demands.
By Mehdi
The Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) is concerned about the “minimal” budget allocated to the Bushehr nuclear power plant. Officials at AEOI have criticized the government over the low budget allocation, saying that it endangers the future of the nuclear reactor.
Iran Focus
London, 26 Feb – Several top Iranian officials, including the vice president for women’s affairs, have publically questioned the decision by a state-run broadcaster to air a programme that risked normalising domestic violence and encouraging victims to stay in abusive relationships.
The Formula One show last week aired an interview with a self-described abusive husband and his wife, where the man explained that despite 20 years of constant abuse on his part and 27 attempts by his wife to divorce him, the couple has stayed married.
By Pooya Stone
A high-ranking Iranian cleric has claimed that the Iranian people are overweight and should eat less, at a time when 80% of Iranians live in poverty and many are forced to search through the bins for scraps of food.
These comments from Naser Makarem Shirazi, a so-called Shia Marja, were no doubt deliberately designed to detract from the disastrous economic situation faced by ordinary Iranians.
Iran Focus
London, 26 Feb – Mohammad Javad Zarif, Iran’s foreign minister, recently remarked that Iran was willing to provide military and economic aid to the Lebanese state. This, while Iran’s economy is in a financial crisis, due to re-imposed sanctions and its own rampant corruption.
By Jubin Katiraie
An investigation into a dossier of crimes committed by the Iranian dictators has been called for, as a result of a statement issued by Amnesty International and published by the United Nations General Assembly.
According to the statement, “Between late July and September 1988, the Iranian authorities forcibly disappeared and extrajudicially executed thousands of prisoners for their political opinions and dumped their bodies in unmarked individual and mass graves… Since then, the authorities have tormented the relatives by refusing to tell them when, how and why their loved ones were killed and by keeping their remains hidden. To reinforce secrecy, they have also destroyed mass grave sites and forbidden commemorations.”
Iran Focus
London, 25 Feb – The Iranian ambassador to Kenya reportedly tried to help two Iranian terror suspects escape from police custody, something that will likely increase diplomatic relations between the two countries.
The Directorate of Criminal Investigation (DCI) arrested two suspects on Friday who are accused of defrauding Iranian Ambassador Hadi Farajvand by posing as senior Interior ministry officials who could secure the release of Iranian nationals Ahmad Abolfathi Mohammed and Sayed Mansour Mousavi.
