The Latest from Iran (1 September): The Threat of Stoning

1750 GMT: Repression. The International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran has issued a new statement, "Authorities in the Islamic Republic of Iran are continuing to arrest and jail civil society activists while persecuting and prosecuting independent lawyers."

“With a majority of Iranian human rights activists and lawyers already imprisoned or forced into exile, their remaining colleagues are systematically being taken down by the government of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad,” Aaron Rhodes, a Campaign spokesperson said.

1740 GMT: At the Movies. Esteemed director Jafar Panahi, who was detained for three months earlier this year, has been barred by Iran authorities from attending the Venice Film Festival.

Panahi's short film "Accordion" is showing at the event, but he claims he has officially been banned from making movies for five years. He says, ""Despite having been released, I am still not free to travel outside my country to attend film festivals. When a filmmaker is not allowed to make films, it is as if his mind was still imprisoned. Maybe he is not locked up in a small cell, but he keeps wandering in a much bigger jail."

NEW Iran Special: Thoughts on Protest, Stoning, and Human Rights (Shahryar)
Iran: Ahmadinejad’s Trash Talk (Theodoulou)
Iran Witness: Activist Mahboubeh Karami on Six Months in Detention
Iran: The Latest on the Karroubi “Siege” and the Qods Day Rally
The Latest from Iran (31 August): Unity? What Unity?

1515 GMT: Karroubi Watch. In a meeting with clerics and students of Qom, Mehdi Karroubi has said the intrusion of some security and intelligence forces in hawzah (religious circles) is "very alarming".

1500 GMT: Economy Watch. Conservative MP Ali Motahari, a member of Parliament's Communications Commission, has issued a warning over privatisation: "We oppose any kind of monopoly in the (tele)communications sector."

Khabar Online reports an extensive reshuffle of officials in Iran's national oil company is on the way, concluding that the move is "not sensible at all".

An EA correspondent reads the report as a warning of consolidation of power by Ahmadinejad allies.

1440 GMT: Today's We-Are-Not-Scared-at-All Message. Ayatollah Mesbah Yazdi has declared, "If people stage a riot or coup, we must stop them with security forces."

1425 GMT: Another Slap at Ahmadinejad's Foreign Policy. Hossein Sobhani-Nia, a member of the National Security Council, has repeated the Supreme Leader's criticism of the President's appointment of four special representatives for international matters.

Sobhani-Nia declared that Ayatollah Khamenei had said that the Foreign Ministry's position should not be damaged. He emphasised that, for unity in foreign policy and in accordance with the Constitution, all decisions must be made by the Foreign Ministry. Parallel organisations should not stop that and division in foreign policy should not prevent Iran from reaching its goals.

1415 GMT: Political Prisoner Watch. Teacher's union activist Mokhtar Asadi has been released on bail after two months in detention.

1400 GMT: The Karrroubis Fight the Siege. Fatemeh Karroubi, the wife of Mehdi Karroubi, has written to the Supreme Leader to condemn the attacks on her home and family by pro-regimes crowds.

Fatemeh Karroubi asks the Leader: “What do the disagreements between you and my husband over issues, that are evident to all by now, have to do with our right to live?”

She pulls no punches as she describes the crowd chanting “derogatory words” against Mehdi Karroubi and “writing slogans on the walls of the residential complex and the neighbours' houses": “These obvious crimes are taking place with your support and in front of the security forces who do not dare to approach these attackers.”

So, noting the policy of “attacking the family and neighbours of political opponents”, Fatemeh Karroubi asks Ayatollah Khamenei if he condones such “unethical acts".

1350 GMT: Claim of the Day. From the Supreme Leader's representative to the Revolutionary Guards, Mojtaba Zolnour: "Israel is out to kill the hidden (12th) Imam."

1345 GMT: Academic Corner. Minister of Science Kamran Daneshjoo, who threatened universities with "destruction" if they were not Islamic enough, now wants a referendum on their fate.

Iranian authorities have "retired" almost 20 senior officials at universities in recent months.

0920 GMT: A Break in Service for Birthdays and Monkeys. It is Ms EA's birthday today, and we're celebrating by going to Monkey Forest --- yes, really.

I'll be away until late afternoon but, as usual, I know I can rely on EA's top-flight readers to bring in the latest news and analysis.

0825 GMT: Political Prisoner Watch. Mojgan Ebadi and Nasim Rouhi, both of the Baha'i community, have been re-arrested 24 hours after their release from prison.

RAHANA also reports that more activists have been detained in northern Khuzestan in western Iran.

0815 GMT: The Next Campaign? International attention to the case of 18-year-old Ebrahim Hamidi, sentenced to death for sodomy, is growing. Writers Philippe Besson and Gilles Leroy organised an open letter by French activists, publicised by Le Monde last week.

0715 GMT: If You Don't Accept Stoning, You are a Prostitute (cont.). The Foreign Ministry may have told off "hard-line" media for calling Carla Bruni, the wife of French President Nicolas Sarkozy, a "prostitute" after she criticised the death sentence handed down to Sakineh Mohammad Ashtiani; however, the message does not seem to have gotten through.

Iran Newspaper on Network (INN), citing British reports of Bruni's past affair with singer Mick Jagger, declares, "Western Media approved implicitly the fact that Carla Bruni is a prostitute". (The story has been reprinted in the almost surreal website www.barackobama.ir. More on this "news outlet" later in the week.)

0655 GMT: Sieges for Qods Day. Pro-regime crowds, who surrounded the home of Mehdi Karroubi on Sunday and Monday night, reportedly moved to the house of reformist politician and cleric Abdollah Nouri on Tuesday evening.

0650 GMT: Freedom of the Press? Daneshjoo News reports that several journalists of Nasim-e Bidari magazine were threatened and interrogated on Tuesday.

0645 GMT: On Air. RASA TV, the Internet-based opposition channel, is now broadcasting.

0605 GMT: Labour Front. Writing for In These Times, Kari Lyderson reports on the continuing repression of Iran's trade unionists, specifically members of the Vahed Bus Workers Syndicate.

0600 GMT: We have posted a special feature by Josh Shahryar, reflecting on the reaction to his speech at last Saturday's rally in Washington against stoning, "Thoughts on Protest, Stoning, and Human Rights".

0500 GMT: We noted earlier this week how the controversy had grown over the death sentence for adultery --- initially to be carried out by stoning, though that has been suspended --- handed down on Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani; indeed, the Iranian Government was now appearing very unsettled by the reaction.

Although one website supporting the Government has tried to deflect the issue with the question, "Does the West Want a Real Discussion with Iran?", it is unlikely to disappear. There are reports of two other people condemned to die by stoning. Yesterday Ashtiani's son Sajad said his mother was subjected to a "mock execution", told last Saturday that she was to be hanged at dawn on Sunday.

Ashtiani wrote her will and embraced her cellmates in Tabriz Prison just before the call to morning prayer, but nothing happened as she waited. Sajad Ashtiani said, "Pressure from the international community has so far stopped them from carrying out the sentence but they're killing her every day by any means possible."

Sajad Ashtiani added that he had been told by Iranian authorities that the file on his father's murder case had been lost. Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani, first convicted of adultery, was later found guilty of complicity in the homicide.

Comments

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[...] The Latest from Iran (1 September): Sieges and The Threat of … [...]

[anon]

Seems rather crude to brand "race for Iran" as a site "supporting the Iranian government." As usual, the Leveretts raise a fair question.... about the Der Spiegel interview w/ Mottaki. Yet the comment posted here dismiss any such point as indicative of "supporting the government." So to continue the analogy, does this mean "EA" is safely "opposed to the government?"

[Catherine]

@ persecution of the Baha’i community

Baha'i woman recalls imprisonment in Iran
http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2010/08/31/bahai-woman-recalls-imprisonment-in-iran/

[Catherine]

"Easy letters": Take Action! Send e-Letters in support of Iranian journalist & activist, Shiva Nazar Ahari

[ ENGLISH: Send e-letters to WORLD LEADERS ]
[ ENGLISH: Send e-letters to IRI EMBASSIES & OFFICIALS ]

Below the letter you can find the personal fields to fill out. Enter as much information as you feel comfortable. A VALID e-mail address is required; however, if you don’t feel comfortable sharing your e-mail, consider making an e-mail account just to use for actions like this. To the right of the e- letter page are the various recipients of the e-mail you send — this way you don’t have to send a letter multiple times (one click will send your message to all of the listed embassies, consulates, interest sections, IRI authorities, and UN officials).
http://united4iran.com/2010/08/take-action-send-e-letters-in-support-of-iranian-journalist-activist-shiva-nazar-ahari/

[Catherine]

Just in case anyone is interested, Der Spiegel has translated into English their complete interview with Iran's Foreign Minister
'The West Lacks Political Maturity'
http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/0,1518,714513,00.html

[Catherine]

Exile Sentences Carried Out for Hamed Rouhinejad and Ahmad Karimi
http://persian2english.com/?p=13802

[Catherine]

Kurdish style “Romeo and Juliette” to go on stage in Tehran
TEHRAN, Aug. 30 (MNA) -- Iranian stage director Amir Dejakam plans to stage Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliette” with Kurdish traditions, music and costumes.
http://www.mehrnews.com/en/NewsDetail.aspx?NewsID=1143403

[Catherine]

Negotiation with US on Afghanistan Is an Opportunity
Interview with Dr. Davoud Hermidas Bavand
University Professor and Iran-US Analyst
http://www.iranreview.org/content/view/5979/36/

[Ange-Paris]

"Ahmadinejad dismisses Mideast peace talks "; he adds :
“Talks and even signing reconciliation treaties cannot gain legitimacy for the Zionist regime and resolve the Palestinian question.”
"Ahmadinejad called for the Islamic movement Hamas which rules the Gaza Strip to be involved in any peace talks as it is “the most official representative of Palestinians because it had the people’s votes.”
That is the evidence that they have a deep relationship with Hamas !!
http://www.khaleejtimes.com/displayarticle.asp?xfile=data/middleeast/2010/September/middleeast_September36.xml§ion=middleeast&col=

[Ange-Paris]

Wow !
French first lady Carla Bruni deserves to die,
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/french-first-lady-carla-bruni-deserves-to-die/story-e6frf7jo-1225912537370?from=public_rss

According to the rapists, torturers and killers !!!

[Ange-Paris]

Iran MP urges unity against Israel
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/140862.html

[Ange-Paris]

In Support of Carla Bruni Sarkozy by Marina Nemat , a former prisoner :
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/marina-nemat/in-support-of-carla-bruni_b_701301.html

[Ange-Paris]

It's what one of my jewish friends said to me before the public display of the reconciliation's plan between Palestine and Israel :
"Obama aims for Mideast deal to block Iran by stabilizing region ":
http://www.iranfocus.com/en/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=21590:obama-aims-for-mideast-deal-to-block-iran-by-stabilizing-region-&catid=4:iran-general&Itemid=26

[Ange-Paris]

IRAN: Courts confirm two more stoning sentences on adultery charges
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/babylonbeyond/2010/08/iran-two-more-persons-sentenced-to-stoning-for-adultery.html

Shame on you, rapists ! you have got only the show-off side of religion ! hypocrites!

[Ange-Paris]

The Great Dictator : he is absolutely convinced that the entire world is completely blind to the truth: the regime's decline.
http://www.iranfocus.com/en/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=21591:the-great-dictator&catid=34:editorial&Itemid=49

[Ange-Paris]

I was sure :

El-Baradei is accused to have been paid by Iran !!! it's why he's wealthy having presidential ambitions !!!!
http://www.alterinfo.net/notes/Presidentielles-el-Baradei-accuse-de-recevoir-des-fonds-en-provenance-d-Iran_b2319342.html

[Arshama]

@ 1350 GMT: Claim of the Day

“Israel is out to kill the hidden (12th) Imam.”
All Israeli forces are recommended to visit the Jamkaran well immediately, where the hidden Imam resides ;-)

[Arshama]

IRGC Watch

Jaras reports that IRGC will take over the inspection of passengers at Iran airports http://www.rahesabz.net/story/22594/

Should rename the IR as Islamic Guards Republic...

[Elhaqeem7]

seharusnya dunia internasional tidak selayaknya mencampuri perundang-undangan yang berlaku di iran.hukuman rajam yang untuk perjinahan adalah ketetapan hukum islam yang di berlakukan di iran

[Rough translation: "The international community should not interfere with the legislation in force in Iran. Stoning for adultery is an Islamic legal provision which was implemented in Iran."]

[WitteKr]

Blair alert: "Tony Blair memoirs: we must be prepared for attack on Iran
The international community has to be prepared to take military action against Iran if the regime develops a nuclear weapon, Tony Blair has said in an interview to promote his memoirs, A Journey."
''I think there is no alternative to that if they continue to develop nuclear weapons. They need to get that message loud and clear.'' In the interview, to be shown on BBC2 on Wednesday night, Mr Blair also said he was ''desperately sorry'' for the relatives of those killed in Iraq but insisted leaving Saddam Hussein in power would have been a ''bigger risk'' to security than removing him."
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/tony-blair/7974819/Tony-Blair-memoirs-we-must-be-prepared-for-attack-on-Iran.html#disqus_thread
You can watch Tony Blair's interview with Andrew Marr on BBC Two on Wednesday 1 September at 1900 BST (2000 CET).

[M. Varn Chandola]

Stoning executions in general and the Ashtiani case in particular struck such a nerve in me that I wrote the following article: http://rightlegalhelp.net/blog/modern-day-human-sacrifice-iran Unfortunately, even though she may not be stoned, she is still scheduled for execution. I hope that sufficient international exposure concerning her case will compel the Iranian government to release her.

M. Varn Chandola
rightlegalhelp.net

[Ange-Paris]

Iran's Intelligence Minister Heidar Moslehi says Tehran is engaged in a "multifaceted and complicated" defensive war which has been imposed by the US.
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/140891.html
He praised the Iranian nation for their "sense of responsibility and commitment" to the country's security and interests, saying people take action whenever they feel their national values and goals have been endangered.

My poor, I don't think that they have met an other enemy bigger than YOU !!
Mistakes ! Mistakes !!!!!!

[Ange-Paris]

American Islamic Congress Gives 'Advocate Behind Bars' Award to Endangered Iranian Activist, Shiva Nazar Ahari :
http://news.yahoo.com/s/usnw/20100901/pl_usnw/DC58338_1

[Ange-Paris]

"Gulf Arabs see Iran 'terror cell' threat"
http://www.upi.com/Top_News/Special/2010/09/01/Gulf-Arabs-see-Iran-terror-cell-threat/UPI-51951283362218/

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