UPDATE 9 FEBRUARY: The list has grown to 63 journalists detained with additions from Reporters Sans Frontières:

An EA correspondent has compiled the following list of 58 journalists (1 has just been released) in Iran’s prisons, suppmenting the news release from the Committee to Protect Journalists with the most recent information. All but five have been detained in the post-election crisis. Unless otherwise noted, information on the detainee is in the CPJ story:

1. Adnan Hassanpour, Aso
Imprisoned: January 25, 2007

2. Mohammad Seddigh Kaboudvand, Payam-e Mardom
Imprisoned: July 1, 2007

3. Mojtaba Lotfi, freelance
Imprisoned: October 8, 2008

4. Hossein Derakhshan, freelance, blogger
Imprisoned: November 2008

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Tags: Reporters Sans Frontieres

1924 GMT: Rumour of Day (Week? Month?) — Rafsanjani “Ultimatum” to Supreme Leader. The Green site Rah-e-Sabz, without citing a source, makes the following claim:

Authorities went to arrest the wife of Mir Hossein’s chief advisor Alireza Beheshti, who was already detained, on Tuesday, but could not find her. She then called Hashemi Rafsanjani from her hiding place and told him, “Look where we have got to that the grandchildren of Shahid Beheshti have to be on the run in dahey-e fajr (the 10-Day Dawn preceding the anniversary of the 1979 Revolution).” This allegedly upset Rafsanjani to the point to tears.

During his regular Tuesday meeting with the Supreme Leader, Rafsanjani reporetedly demanded the immediate release of Beheshti and an end to these “shameful” actions. Beyond this, Rafsanjani spoke with Ayatollah Khamenei about the management of the country, the post-election crisis, detentions, and the press. The former President then allegedly gave Khamenei an ultimatum (“etmam-e hojjat”, which may also translate into “last word”) to take action.

Rah-e-Sabz says that it will publish more about this meeting later.

Now there is no way to verify the website’s claim, but Alireza Beheshti has been freed. Coinicidence or validation of the report?

NEW Iran Feature: Human Rights Round-up (1-7 February 2010)
Latest Iran Video: Protest at Sharif University, Tehran (8 February)
Iran Document: Khatami Statement for 22 Bahman (8 February)
Iran Special: The 57 Journalists in Iran’s Prisons
The Latest from Iran (8 February): Staying with the Real Story

1920 GMT: We have posted an updated list, amidst recent arrests, of 63 journalists in Iran’s prisons.
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Tags: 22 Bahman, Ali Malihi, Alireza Beheshti, Amir Kabir University, Arash Rahmanipour, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Ayatollah Hossein-Ali Montazeri, Ayatollah Mousavi-Ardebili, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, Behzad Nabavi, Emadeddin Baghi, Etemaad, Hashemi Rafsanjani, Hossein Karroubi, International Atomic Energy Agency, Iran, Iran Elections 2009, Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting, Kalemeh, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Medhi Karroubi, Mir Hossein Mousavi, Mohammad Khatami, Mohammad Reza Ali Zamani, Mohammad Reza Tajik, Mohammad-Baqer Qalibaf, Mostafa Tajzadeh, Parleman News, Peyke Iran, Reza Aslan, Sadegh Masouli, Shah of Iran, Shahid Beheshti, Shahid Beheshti University, Tahavol-e-Sabz, The Daily Beast, uranium enrichment, Vahid Ostadpour

In June 2009, we noted that the Netanyahu Government was trying to use the Kremlin as leverage against the pressure of the Obama Administration as it manoeuvred over the peace process with Palestine and other Arab states. And we added that Israeli officials might want to remember that the multipolar works in more than one direction: Moscow had just welcomed Palestinian Authority representatives as part of its interest in the Middle East developments.

After eight months, Moscow has found more space for its initiative, welcoming Hamas’s Khaled Meshal on Monday. Amidst the inability of the Obama Administration to make headway on the peace process, Kremlin has remembered and upheld one of the actors “forgotten” by Washington and the European Union.

Middle East Inside Line: Hamas in Russia, Iran FM on “Crazy Israel”, Palestine Talks

On the one hand, this tells  the Israelis that Russia’s relationship with Palestinian factions cannot be broken easily and, on the other hand, it sends a signal to Washington that Moscow’s can influence the course of the process in the region. Israeli officials could not summon Moscow’s Ambassador “on a lower chair” but had to send a letter of protest asking Moscow to clarify its intentions.

The Kremlin said that Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov was the highest-level official Meshal would meet. Its ambassador assured Israel that the visit did not signal a swing in Moscow’s policy toward Hamas, and he said that Lavrov would reiterate its stance that the Islamist movement must abide by conditions to recognize Israel, give up violence, and honor past peace accords.

Meanwhile, Meshal declared:

I don’t see any prospects on the Palestinian, the Syrian or any other track of the Middle East process because the Israeli leadership is a leadership of war, aggression and occupation.

It’s enough that Moscow tells the world that Hamas is a movement of freedom fighters, not a terrorist group.

Tags: Benjamin Netanyahu, European Union, Hamas, Israel, Khaled Meshal, Obama Administration, Russia, Sergei Lavrov

Hamas in Russia: On Monday, Hamas’s Khaled Meshal was in Moscow, a guest of Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov despite protests by Israel. Meshal said there was “no prospect of peace because the Israeli leadership is a leadership of war” and added, “It’s enough that Moscow tells the world that Hamas is a movement of freedom fighters, not a terrorist group.”

Iran FM on Israel “Crazy Nation, Crazy People”: Following Ayatollah Khamenei ’s statement, “Today Palestine is the symbol of life, determination, faithfulness, diligence, and dignity,” Foreign Minister Manchour Mottaki jumped in: “Israel is a crazy nation run by crazy people. Therefore, we must prepare for the chance that Israel will do something crazy against everyone in the region: the Syrians, the Lebanese and the Palestinians.”

Israel, Hamas, and Russia: Who is in Bed with the Bear?

Palestinian Authority on Peace Talks: With the leader of the Palestinian Authority Mahmoud Abbas agreeing in principle to the U.S. proposal to hold talks with Israel, Foreign Minister Riyad al-Malki said Monday that renewed talks with Israel under US mediation must focus first and foremost on the issue of borders.

The talks are expected to begin on February 20, a senior Palestinian official told AFP on Monday. “These contacts will be aimed at creating a better climate and reaching an understanding on the borders of the Palestinian state, and they will begin on February 20. They will last three months, with the Americans negotiating directly with the two sides after determining a timetable and agreed-upon mechanisms for implementation,” the official said.

Tags: AFP, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Hamas, Israel, Khaled Meshal, Mahmoud Abbas, Manoucher Mottaki, Palestinian Authority, Riad al-Maliki, Russia, Sergei Lavrov

After a two-month dispute, Russia and Belarus have finally confirmed a deal on energy supplies, agreed to several points on oil transportation and pricing as well as security.

Belarus has an important geopolitical location for the transportation of oil from Russia to Europe, bringing in significant income. The dispute arose over a Russian demand that Belarus pay import duties. In response, Belarus threatened to cut off electiricity to Russia’s certain regions and demanded 30 metric tons of oil duty-free.

Belarus has given way, accepting Russian demands. The agreement should provide uninterrupted oil transit to Europe, preventing a repeat of a 2007 dispute that disrupted supplies to Poland and Germany.

The broader question remains, however. Will Russia play the “trump card” of energy supplies to extract further advantage from Europe and, if so, will Europe show a poker face in reply?

Tags: Belarus, Oil, Russia

Overview

Optimism and a refusal to be cowed, bullied or intimidated: that’s the message from human rights activists this week. Despite the Iranian Regime’s best efforts to thwart the preparations for 22 Bahman — with intimidation and coercion in the form of mass arrests of both students and journalists, continued threats to execute execute the nine “mohareb” Ashura protesters, and other propaganda — the protests will proceed.

Iran Special: The 57 Journalists in Iran’s Prisons
The Latest from Iran (8 February): Staying with the Real Story

The Week In Brief:

Monday 1 February

• Vahid Abedini, (University of Tehran) arrested with two others.
• Navid Abedini, (University of Shahid Beheshti) arrested with Vahid Abedini and Esmaeel Izadi Khah (student at University of Shahid Beheshti). Reports from Kashan indicated further arrests: Mohammad Mokhtari (formerly but recently dismissed from the University of Kashan) arrested with two others who were subsequently released.
• Shirin Alam Hooli, recently found guilty of being a member of the Kurdish opposition group PJAK, wrote a   letter “from death row” on 18 January.
• Parisa Kakaiee, a member of CHRR and Mehrdad Rahimi, one of the Committee members arrested. Two other members, Saeed Habibi and Hesam Missaghi were not arrested, but were reportedly receiving repeated calls from officials from the Ministry of Information.
• The International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran (ICHRR) said there was no information about Mehraneh Atashi (the internationally acclaimed photo-journalist) and her husband, who remain missing, presumed detained.

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Tags: 22 Bahman, Iran, Iran Elections 2009

Iran: With 22 Bahman just three days away we are watching the situation in Iran even more closely than usual. The Iranian regime’s rhetoric on its nuclear programme has continued throughout the day, but the Western media, which had chased the story to the exclusion of all other topics, has now re-discovered Iran’s internal development.

The White House,on behalf of the US Government and the European Union, has issued a statement condemning the human rights violations in Iran since the June elections. All the latest news in our live weblog, which also contains links to other stories.

Former President Khatami set out his thoughts for Thursday’s anniversary of the 1979 Revolution.

There have been new protests at Sharif University today, and we have the video.

We have a list of the 57 journalists currently detained in Iran’s prisons.

Arabian/Persian Gulfs: Sean Foley has written an EA special analysis of the Gulf States and Iran in the wake of recent news about the deployment of  US soldiers and advanced weapons to Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Israel/Syria: Do we have  peace, or commitments to work towards peace from Israel and Syria? Follow the statements from the main players over the weekend.

Palestine: Mahmoud Abbas, Leader of the Palestinian Authority, has expressed his disappointment with the Obama administration and says he will  “not back down” from his demands.

Tags: 22 Bahman, EU, Iran, Mahmoud Abbas, President Khatami, Sean Foley, Sharif University, US Government, White House

2045 GMT: But There are Limits. One leading international media organisation is proclaiming that it has mobilised itself to cover Thursday’s events in Iran. It has even set up a dedicated Twitter account for Iran, announced throughout today in a series of tweets.

Only problem is that this broadcaster/website hasn’t quite got the hang of using Twitter for gathering latest news rather than for self-promotion. Total number of Twitter accounts it is following? 7, all of whom happen to be its own staff.

NEW Iran Document: Khatami Statement for 22 Bahman (8 February)
NEW Iran Special: The 57 Journalists in Iran’s Prisons
NEW Iran Advice Video: Palin to Obama “Bomb and You Get Re-Elected”
Iran Special: The Weakness of the Regime “It’s Deja Vu All Over Again”
Iran: The “Reconciliation” Proposals of Karroubi’s Etemade Melli Party
Iran: “Conservative Opposition” Offer to Mousavi “Back Khamenei, We Sack Ahmadinejad”
Iran Space Shocker: Turtle-Astronauts Defect to West
The Latest from Iran (7 February): Tremors

2020 GMT: 22 Bahman is Back! The “Western” media, which only 12 hours ago seemed to be oblivious to anything Iran-related  unless it had the word “nuclear”, has re-discovered the internal events and tensions. Numerous services are carrying the report of the Associated Press on the Supreme Leader’s speech (1245, 1420, & 1940 GMT), while The New York Times picks up on Reuters’ summary of the statements of Mir Hossein Mousavi (1635 GMT) and Mohammad Khatami (separate entry). Even America’s ABC News has taken notice, catching up with Saturday’s interview of Mehdi Karroubi in a German magazine.

And CNN, declaring that it was going to cover Iran closely before and on Thursday, has launched a special section on its website.
Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: 22 Bahman, ABC News, Agh Bahman, Ahmad Montazeri, Ali Akhbar Salehi, Ali Fallahian, Amir Sadeghi, Ashura, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Ayatollah Hossein-Ali Montazeri, BBC, CNN, Elm-o-Sanat University, Emaddedin Baghi, Ezzatollah Zarghami, Farhange Ashti, Feizollah Arab-Sorkhi, Green Voice of Freedom, Hillary Clinton, Hossein Hamadani, International Institute for Strategic Studies, Iran, Iran Elections 2009, Islamic Iran Participation Front, Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting, Juan Cole, Kahrizak Prison, Los Angeles Times, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Mark Fitzpatrick, Mehdi Karroubi, Mir Hossein Mousavi, Mohammad Khatami, Mohammad Sadegh Larijani, Mohsen Aminzadeh, Mojahedin of Islamic Revolution, New York Times, Saeed Mortazavi, Seyed Hassan Khomeini, Tehran Live, Washington Post