Dec 2010

Iranian Vice-president cancels press conference on corruption charges

Divisions in Islamic Republic government deepened as the Vice-president, Mohammadreza Rahimi cancelled a press conference during which he was supposed to challenge the recent statement by the judiciary announcing possible links between Rahimi and a corruption ring.

Imprisoned Iranian student activists start hunger strike

Bahareh Hedayat and Mehdieh Golrou, two Iranian detained student activists have begun a hunger strike for being denied visitation rights.

Iranian prisoners, Sotoudeh and Arshi end hunger strike

Nasrin Sotoudeh, detained Iranian lawyer and Gholamhossein Arshi, post-election political detainee ended their hunger strike after several days.

Iranian women activists begin sit in for their jailed colleague in Iran

Seven Iranian political and women’s rights activists started their protest for the release of Nasrin Sotoudeh, outside United Nations human rights headquarters in Geneva today, despite extreme weather conditions.

Iran sentences filmmaker to 6 years in prison

Jafar Panahi, prominent Iranian filmmaker was sentenced to six years in prison and 20 years ban from filmmaking and travelling abroad.

11 people executed in connection with bombing in Chabahar

11 people were hanged in Sistan-Baluchistan today in connection with last week’s suicide bombing in the Shiite mourning procession in Chabahar.

Detained Iranian labour activist ends hunger strike

Iranian labour activist, Reza Shahabi ended his hunger strike yesterday after over two weeks on strike in protest to his undetermined legal state.

Iranian student activist in need of surgery in prison

Bahareh Hedayat, prominent Iranian student activist is reportedly suffering from gall bladder stones in Evin Prison and is in need of surgery.

New wave of arrests hits Iranian activists

On the first day of the implementation of subsidy cuts and the rising of energy and food prices, Iranian authorities began a new wave of arrests targeted at social and political activists.

Iran ex-foreign minister says his dismissal was offensive

Manouchehr Mottaki, Iranian foreign minister who was recently removed through a sudden dismissal by Ahmadinejad, hit out at the administration describing his dismissal “un-Islamic, outside political practices, undiplomatic and offensive.”

Energy prices in Iran soar as government cuts subsidies

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad announced that the subsidy cuts will take effect starting today, Sunday, and described the plan as the “biggest surgery” to the Iranian economy in the past fifty years.

Dismissed Iranian FM does not attend farewell ceremony

Manouchehr Mottaki, former Iranian foreign minister did not attend his own farewell ceremony in what appears as a protest against his sudden dismissal.

Iranian activists demand release of Nasrin Sotoudeh

Shirin Ebadi and six other Iranian women activists are planning to sit in protest in front to Human Rights headquarters in Geneva on Monday in protest to the situation of detained lawyer, Nasrin Sotoudeh in prison in Iran.

Canada calls for release of Baha'i leaders

Canadian Foreign Minister issued a statement calling on Iran to “immediately release” the seven Baha’i leaders who have been detained since two years ago.

Opposition leader urges Iranian prisoners to end hunger strike

MirHosein Mousavi lauded the resistance put up by post-election political prisoners in Islamic Republic jails and urged the several prisoners who are currently on hunger strike to end their strike.

Iran steps up pressure on families of post-election victims

Families of the victims of the post-election political turmoil in Iran are experiencing a new wave of pressures from Islamic Republic authorities.

Nine suspects arrested in Chabahar suicide attack

Iranian intelligence ministry has made nine arrests in connection with the terrorist operations in Chabahar two days ago.

Freedom Party MP comment draws fire from Iran

A Dutch lawmaker’s support in parliament for a military solution to settle the nuclear disputes with Iran drew fire from Iranian authorities.

Family of jailed journalist on hunger strike arrested

Iranian authorities arrested members of Mohammad Nourizad’s family along with the wife of Mostafa Tajzadeh in front of Evin Prison today.

Iranian religious scholar gets 20 months in prison

Islamic Republic judiciary sentenced religious scholar Ahmad Ghabel to 20 months in prison for “propaganda against the regime and insulting Ayatollah Khamenei, Iran’s supreme leader.”