Iran Focus

London, 10 November – A human rights activist has penned an op-ed for the American Free Thinker, criticising President Obama for the Iranian Nuclear Deal which was signed in 2015.

The US had hoped that Iran would mediate its interference in the Middle East but Amir Basiri, a supporter of democratic regime change in Iran, wrote that Iran has not upheld its side of the deal.

He wrote: “Not only has the Iranian regime failed to manifest a modicum of cooperation on the crises riddling the region, but it has also grown bolder in its efforts to expand terrorism, to fan the fires of sectarianism in neighbouring countries, and to threaten global peace and stability.”

Iran Focus

London, 9 November – The Iranian regime is infamous for its treatment of artists, creatives, and activists – and it’s never been one to advocate freedom of expression. Many artists and activists remain in captivity in Tehran’s prisons. Powerless and robbed of their basic freedoms, some opt to go on a hunger strike as their last resort to fight the regime and the injustice. Two brothers – a filmmaker Hossein Rajabian and a musician Mehdi Rajabian – have been on a hunger strike since October, as they live their days as captives in Tehran’s infamous Evin Prison.

Iran Focus

London, 8 November – The National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) reported on November 5, that the head of the Iranian regime’s Social Workers Association, Hassan Mousavi Chalak, acknowledged that following Iraq, Iran is the second saddest country in the world. 

“Iran is not among the happy countries.” According to ISNA state news agency, he said that based on average statistics on social happiness provided by several respected International organizations, “among 185 countries, Iran is ranked 105, and regarding the world’s unhappiest countries, Iran is at the bottom of the list, behind Iraq. We are the second saddest country in the world after Iraq.”

Iran Focus

London, 7 November – On Friday, the BBC reported that FIFA, soccer’s international governing body, had imposed a fine of 37,000 pounds (or about 46,000 US dollars) on the Islamic Republic of Iran over its match against South Korea last month. The match made headlines at the time because it coincided with the Shiite Islamic holiday of Ashura, marking the martyrdom of Imam Hussein. The coincidence led to criticism by Iranian clerics, because the expression of joy is considered forbidden during the two holy days. But the country’s authorities worked around this situation by imposing guidelines on attendees at the game, ordering both Iranians and foreign visitors to refrain from cheering or applauding.