By Hamid Yazdan Panah
On December 3rd 2015, Iranian dissident and activist Mehri Jannatpour passed away. Jannatpour was remembered for her bravery and perseverance as a political activist in Iran over the last 40 years. This included three separate terms served in prison for her support and affiliation with the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI), one of Iran’s principal opposition organizations.
Iran’s Civil Society Ignored but Defiant
By Hamid Yazdan Panah
Don’t look now but Iran’s civil society is on fire. In recent weeks dissidents, ethnic minorities, and political activists have presented a formidable challenge to the claim that the Nuclear Deal with Iran would benefit human rights and political reform. Their presence is also a sharp critique towards the facade of reform projected by Hassan Rouhani. The unrest is particularly inconvenient for Rouhani and his Western counterparts who appear more interested in establishing ties with the theocracy in Tehran than the ongoing movement for change in Iran.
By Hamid Yazdan Panah
Iranian refugees fleeing persecution joined thousands of other asylum seekers in protesting new restrictions on refugees in Balkan states. According to reports, at least six Iranians sewed their lips shut and went on hunger strike to protest the closure of the Greek-Macedonian border, preventing them from traveling towards western Europe.
24 November 2015
Women must rise up against this phenomenon
Maryam Rajavi’s message on the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women – 25 November 2015:
The International Day for elimination of Violence against Women is a proper occasion to expose a disgraceful, misogynous regime founded on suppression of women and discrimination against them.
The Hill – Shaqayeq Azimi
London, 24 Nov – My parents were arrested earlier in late October during a raid by Iranian intelligence agents on their home in Tehran. This isn’t the first time that I hear about their arrest; but I can never get used to it. I am now left worrying about their fate, and cannot help but think: What kind of torture will they have to endure? And, will I ever be able to see them again?
Iran Focus
London, 22 Nov – Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton said on Thursday US cannot view regime in Iran and ISIS as separate challenges adding regional politics are too interwoven.
“Raising the confidence of our Arab partners and raising the costs to Iran for bad behaviour will contribute to a more effective fight against ISIS,” she said in a speech at the Council on Foreign Relations.
In a ceremony commemorating victims of terrorist attacks in Paris and in solidarity with the people of France held on Saturday, 21 November, the Iranian Resistance’s President-elect Maryam Rajavi reiterated:
The 13 November tragedy demonstrated that there are two opposing fronts; freedom-loving people and advocates of democracy and separation of religion and state, tolerant and democrat Muslims versus tyrants, savages, fanatics, ISIS, Bashar Assad and the Iranian regime.
London, 22 Nov – On 22 November, a court in Iran has sentenced Washington Post reporter Jason Rezaian to an unspecified prison term, the state news agency IRNA said on Sunday, quoting a judiciary spokesman.
“Serving a jail term is in Jason Rezaian’s sentence but I cannot give details”, IRNA quoted the spokesman, Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei, as telling journalists during a weekly news conference in Tehran.
By Hamid Yazdan Panah
There is growing concern about the fate of a little known Iranian political prisoner, Alireza Golipour. According to reports obtained by the Society of Iranian Political prisoners, the life of political prisoner Golipour remains in grave danger, based on the cruel conditions in which he is confined and his deteriorating medical condition.
BY GEN. HUGH SHELTON
London, 19 Nov – I have long advocated that the United States must uphold its promises to protect the thousands of unarmed Iranian refugees in Iraq as they await final resettlement to third countries through the United Nations. To my regret, warnings of an impending bloodbath perpetrated by Tehran came true last month when 24 Iranian dissidents were killed in a horrific rocket attack against their defenseless encampment. Dozens more were wounded.
