Reuters: Celebrated Iranian director Abbas Kiarostami, the subject of a major retrospective in Britain, would never get the same treatment at home, where he says authorities have not shown his work for the past 10 years. The winner of the Cannes Film Festival’s coveted Palme d’Or in 1997, and regarded by the film industry as one of the most important
living directors, Kiarostami is used to struggling with a government wary of work it perceives as subversive.
Iranian Director Censored at Home, Praised Abroad
EU to ask Iran for postponement of nuclear talks
DPA: The European Union ‘big three’ of Germany, France and Britain are to ask Iran to postpone the resumption of nuclear talks until after presidential elections in the country slated for
17 June, it was reported on Wednesday – then promptly
officially denied.
Iran steps up pressure on EU in nuke talks-diplomats
Reuters: Iran is ratcheting up the pressure on EU giants France, Britain and Germany to accept its plan to join the world’s nuclear club, European diplomats said on Wednesday. Sharing Washington’s suspicions that Iran is trying to develop the capability to produce atomic weapons, the European Union has demanded that Iran give up its nuclear fuel programme in exchange for economic and political incentives.
Iran’s police set for new crackdown on ‘models’
AFP: Police in the Iranian capital are poised to launch a fresh crackdown targeting “models of corruption”, or in other words poorly-veiled women, press reports said Wednesday. “The police will act against the models of corruption out in public places and against those who may not be ladies of the street but whose conduct does not respect Islam,” Tehran province’s police chief, General Reza Zareie, was quoted as saying.
Call for release of two imprisoned journalists
Reporters Without Borders: Reporters Without Borders called today for the immediate release of reformist Iranian Arab journalist Yosef Azizi Banitrouf, who was arrested in a raid on his home on 25 April. It also demanded the release of dissident journalist Reza Alijani, expressing “great concern” about his deteriorating health after two years in prison. “We strongly deplore the arrest of Banitrouf, who was simply expressing his personal opinion in articles and in interviews given to other newspapers,” it said.
Council of Europe urges Iran to abide by nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty
AP: The Council of Europe called Tuesday on Iran to abide by the nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty and fully cooperate with the U.N. nuclear watchdog agency. In a resolution adopted three days before Iran is to restart its talks with Germany, Britain and France on its nuclear programs, the Council urged Iranian authorities to allow free access to the country’s nuclear sites and research facilities, but also said Tehran should be …
Iran Convention in Belgium urges EU support for Third Option
Iran Focus: Brussels, Apr. 25 Some 2,000 delegates from Iranian communities in the Benelux – Belgium, The Netherlands and Luxembourg – today held their first-ever convention, in which they condemned the current policy of appeasement vis-à-vis Irans clerical regime and rejected the notion of a foreign war.
Iranian student to be jailed, flogged for demonstrating
AFP: An Iranian student detained for taking part in anti-regime demonstrations has been sentenced to 18 months behind bars and 76 lashes, his lawyer told the ISNA news agency Tuesday. The lawyer said an Islamic revolutionary court had found Farab Samimi guilty of “propagating against the regime” and “disturbing public order” for taking part in an illegal gathering on July 9, 2003.
Analysis: Court explores Iran liability
UPI: The Supreme Court is taking a close look at a case against Iran involving an assassination in Paris, inviting the Justice Department Monday to “express the views of the United States” before the justices decide what to do with the dispute. How the Supreme Court handles the case — whether it accepts or rejects the case for argument, and if it hands down a decision — could give the U.S. courts some guidance on …
Iranian opposition group condemns European asylum restrictions
AP: An Iranian opposition group condemned European governments on Thursday for appeasing the clerical regime in Iran and being too tough with Iranians seeking political asylum. In pursuit of appeasing Tehran, the European countries have exerted an assortment of pressures and privations on these refugees,” said Maryam Rajavi, co-leader of the National Council of Resistance of Iran.
