Iran Focus
London, 27 May – Iranian authorities have flogged 17 men who had protested the loss of their jobs.
The men were sentenced to between 30 and 100 lashes each; they also had to serve time in prison and pay a fine.
Iran lashes 17 miners who protested their redundancy
Hangings continue in Iran this week
Iran Focus
London, 27 May – Fourteen prisoners were executed at prisons in the Iranian city of Karaj this week. Eleven were executed on Wednesday 25 May in Gohardasht Prison; one of whom is believed to have been a minor at the time of his alleged offence. A further three prisoners were executed on Tuesday at Qezelhesar Prison.
Iran teachers warn of harassment
Iran Focus
London, 27 May – A leader from an Iranian teachers’ union has warned the BBC of the campaigns of harassment and imprisonment they face at the hands of the Iranian government.
Ahmad Jannati new head of Iran’s Assembly of Experts
Iran Focus
London, 27 May – Ninety-year-old Ahmad Jannati has been named the new head of Iran’s Assembly of Experts. Jannati is a close confidant of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei and also sits as chairman of the Guardian Council – a body that approves all parliamentary laws. His appointment was confirmed when he received 51 of the 88 votes cast by other members of the Assembly of Experts.
44th anniversary of execution of Iranian MEK founders
Iran Focus
London, 24 May – This week marks the 44th anniversary of the execution of the founders of Iran’s main opposition group.
On 25 May 1972, the founders and leaders of the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI or MEK), were executed by death squads after months of imprisonment and torture from the regime of the Shah.
Zambian President expresses concerns over Iran’s attempts to spread religious dogma in Africa
Iran Focus
London, 24 May – President Edgar Lungu of Zambia has serious worries about Iran’s efforts to increase sectarian ideology in Africa.
In an exclusive interview with Okaz/Saudi Gazette on Monday, Lungu said: “These attempts are a source of serious concern for the African leaders”.
Nearly a month into hunger strike the health of Iranian political prisoner is deteriorating
Iran Focus
Tehran, 24 May – The health of an Iranian political prisoner on indefinite hunger strike is in grave danger.
Jafar Azimzadeh, imprisoned at the notorious Evin Prison in Tehran, is on Day 26 of his hunger strike protesting Tehran’s crackdown on union activity.
On Saturday, he was taken to hospital complaining of kidney pain but refused to have liquid serum administered and was transferred back to the prison, still in pain.
Killing of Taliban leader in US drone strike leads to questions about Iran
Iran Focus
London, 23 May – The killing of Taliban leader Mullah Akhtar Mohammed Mansur in a US drone strike at the weekend has attracted attention to Iran’s alliance with the Afghan Taliban.
Mansur and his driver were killed on the main highway between Iran and Quetta, the capital of Pakistan’s south-western province and it is believed that Mansur had just returned from Iran when the drone strike hit.
Iran further inflames Syria conflict
Iran Focus
Washington, 23 May – Iran is consistently expanding its involvement in Syria’s civil war, which has caused severe loss of life and created barriers to peace in the Middle East.
The Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) have dispatched more than 60,000 troops including 8000 Quds Force members, according to a member of the Iranian opposition who also said that Tehran sent their 65th Nohed Brigade, an army regiment made up of its own Green Berets.
Support for Iranian Resistance increases after US lies surrounding the lifting of Iran’s sanctions are revealed
Iran Focus
London, 23 May – Debate on the West’s policy towards Iran has intensified since a recent New York Times Magazine article which exposed possible deception by the Obama administration surrounding its nuclear pact with Iran and now support is rising for Iranian resistance forces.
