Iran Focus: Brussels, May 19 – A parliamentary caucus in the European Parliament rejected today a report by the New York-based Human Rights Watch on alleged human rights abuses in an Iranian opposition camp in Iraq and called on the organization to retract the controversial report.
European Parliament caucus calls on Human Rights Watch to retract distorted report
Human Rights Watch Report on the Iranian Opposition: A Reward for the Iranian Regime; A Penalty for
U.S.Newswire: In a press release, Human Rights Watch announced that it has released a 28-page report titled, “No Exit: Human Rights Abuses Inside the MKO Camps.” The report contains telephone interviews with 12 “former…(Mujahedin e-Khalq Organization-MEK)) members.” It considers their statements as “credible claims that they were subjected to imprisonment as well as physical and psychological abuses.”
Iran exile group rejects Human Rights Watch accusations
Iran Focus: Paris, May 19 Irans main opposition group, the Mujahedeen-e Khalq (MeK) rejected a report released by New York-based Human Rights Watch on alleged human rights abuses in MeK camps in Iraq as a rehash of trite accusations by agents of Irans secret police, the Ministry of Intelligence and Security.
Iran exile group rejects Human Rights Watch accusations
Iran Focus: Paris, May 19 Irans main opposition group, the Mujahedeen-e Khalq (MeK) rejected a report released by New York-based Human Rights Watch on alleged human rights abuses in MeK camps in Iraq as a rehash of trite accusations by agents of Irans secret police, the Ministry of Intelligence and Security.
Iran says decision to restart nuclear activities ‘irreversible’
AFP: Iran’s decision to resume some of its sensitive nuclear work is “irreversible” despite the danger of being referred to the UN Security Council, a senior official told AFP on Thursday. His comment followed the European Union ratcheting up pressure on Tehran over its nuclear programme — ahead of crisis talks between the two sides slated for next week — with an EU warning that it could yet haul the Islamic state before the UN Security Council.
Iran wants significant incentives for a deal
New York Times: Iran and the European Union will not break their impasse over restraining Tehran’s nuclear development program unless the Europeans offer significant incentives like a deal for 10 nuclear reactors, a top Iranian negotiator said Wednesday.
California Conference for Democratic Change in Iran
U.S. Newswire: On Sunday May 22, a conference will be held in Huntington Beach California where hundreds will join leaders of the Iranian Diaspora across California, along with an array of distinguished guests and speakers to voice support for a democratic, secular republic in Iran. The event, which will commence at 2 p.m., will call for a US policy in support of democratic change in Iran.
Anti-US rally in Iran over alleged Koran desecration
AFP: At least 1,000 Iranians in the holy city of Qom protested Wednesday over desecration of the Koran at the US detention camp at Guantanamo Bay, even though a story alleging the abuse has been retracted. The demonstrators, mostly
students from Shiite Muslim seminaries, chanted “Death to America” and other anti-US slogans.
Iran facing real prospect of Security Council referral: diplomats
AFP: The chances of Iran being hauled before the UN Security Council over its suspect nuclear programme have never been stronger, diplomats said ahead of crucial talks in Europe next week. When the foreign ministers of Britain, France and Germany meet the Islamic republic’s top nuclear negotiator Hassan Rowhani, the “only thing we will agree upon is that we disagree”, a European diplomat told AFP.
Registering New Influence, Iran Sends a Top Aide to Iraq
New York Times: Wasting little time in registering its new influence in Iraq, Iran sent its foreign minister to Baghdad on Tuesday only 48 hours after Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice became the first high-level visitor to hold talks with Iraq’s new Shiite-majority government. The arrival of the Iranian, Kamal Kharrazi, underscored changes in the political landscape that many Iraqis find dizzying: almost 25 years after Iraq and Iran started an eight-year war that left a million people dead, the government in Baghdad is now led by officials with close personal, religious and political ties to Iran’s ruling Shiite ayatollahs.
