Iran: Head of Judiciary Orders Quick Sunni Prisoners' Execution

ordered that Sunni prisoners convicted of drug trafficking to be executed as soon as possible so that they won’t be subject to the new legislation approved by regime’s Parliament.

According to reports, a senior judiciary official has revealed a secret decree given by the head of regime’s judiciary ‘Sadegh Amoli Larijani’ to courts to quickly go ahead with the execution of Sunni prisoners convicted of drug trafficking.

Sunni Prisoners' Execution

Message of Maryam Rajavi to the Conference at the US Senate

Washington, D.C. - In a briefing held at the Senate Kennedy Caucus Room, senior senators and former national security officials condemned the flagrant violations of human rights in Iran and the clerical regime's meddling in the region.

They stressed on the need to adopt a firm policy on the religious dictatorship ruling Iran.

During Rouhani’s so-called “moderate” presidency, more than 2,600 people have been executed.
According to the United Nations, this marks the largest number of executions in the past 25 years.
In order to create an atmosphere of repression and fear in society, the clerical regime has been executing a large number of victims, in public places.
At least 70 women have been hanged during Rouhani’s term.
Despite a decline in sanctions and transferring a considerable amount of cash to the mullahs’ pocket, the Iranian economy is suffering from recession. 

Maryam Rajavi

Iran:Successful Completion of the Resettlement of Camp Liberty residents from Iraq to Europe

Iran:Successful Completion of the Resettlement of Camp Liberty residents from Iraq to Europe

This afternoon, September 9, 2016, the final group of Camp Liberty residents (more than 280) departed Baghdad, Iraq, for Albania. This final round of departures marks the successful conclusion to the process of relocating members of the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) outside of Iraq despite the Iranian regime’s conspiracies, obstruction and threats, which continued until the very last day.

During the four-and-a-half-year-long resettlement process, the residents of Liberty were relocated to European countries, including Germany, Norway, the United Kingdom, The Netherlands, Finland, Denmark, Belgium, Italy and Spain. Close to 2,000 residents left Iraq since the beginning of 2016.

In this process, the religious dictatorship ruling Iran provided red notices to Interpol and used fake arrest warrants issued by the Iraqi Judiciary in a bid to prevent the departure of 1,000 PMOI members, and arrest officials and other well-known figures.

Exploiting the post-invasion atmosphere in Iraq, the ruling clerical regime did its utmost to destroy the PMOI/MEK. Three massacres at Camp Ashraf, five missile attacks on Camp Liberty, two cases of abduction of residents, and the imposition of a full-fledged eight-year siege, which left 177 residents dead, constituted parts of this inhumane, albeit futile, plan.

Iran: Warnings of another attack on Camp Liberty, Iraq

Camp Liberty

London, 26 Aug - A letter addressing the US President Barack Obama and General Ban Ki-moon, the UN Secretary, received on August 19, warns against another attack on Camp Liberty in Iraq where Iranian political dissidents are claiming shelter.

According to a guest column in Augusta Free Press by Prof. Raymond Tanter (former member of the U.S. National Security Council Staff) and Col. (Ret.) Wes Marten (former antiterrorism/force protection for coalition forces in Iraq), the letter was signed by “a bipartisan group of 36 former national security officials.”

Prominent figures of the U.S. politics, including Ed Rendell and Mayor Rudy Giuliani, were among those who had signed the letter. The letter expressed fear of another attack on Camp Liberty in Iraq, organised by Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence (MOIS) and Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

Despite the extreme danger that the dissidents of Iran’s ruling regime are facing at Camp Liberty, it will not be the first time that they come under such a threat. Following the July 9 rally, hosted by the National Council of Resistance of Iran in Paris, which attracted a following of 100,000 supporters, the media in Iran reported that “Camp Liberty must be targeted once again with a number of missiles,” according to Otagh-e-Khabar.

Iranian opposition leader calls for international investigation into 1988 massacre of political prisoners

ranian opposition leader calls for international investigation into 1988 massacre of political prisoners

 The leader of the Iranian opposition has stated that an international inquiry into the 1988 massacre of political prisoners in Iran, is essential to bring the perpetrators to justice.

Maryam Rajavi made this speech during a tour of the exhibition of photos depicting Paris’ massacred political prisoners on the anniversary of the liberation of Paris. It also features reflections and testimonials from political prisoners in Iran.

A statement from Paris Municipality 2nd District about the exhibition read: “This exhibition especially commemorates the sad anniversary of the massacre of some 30,000 political prisoners during the summer of 1988 in Iran. This terrible episode in modern history is now back on the front burner with the revelation a few days ago of an audiotape recounting conversations that occurred at the highest level with those directly responsible for the killings.”

Iran:Disabled Mother of Iranian Prisoner of Faith Begs for the Release of Her Son

Disabled Mother of Iranian Prisoner of Faith Begs for the Release of Her Son

In an article by Stoyan Zaimov, in the August 24 Christian Post, he writes about the plight of a disabled mother of a Christian prisoner in Iran.  Her son is held in Rajaei-Shahr prison, and she has been unable to visit him because she is visually impaired.

As reported by Mohabat News on Tuesday, Ebrahim Firouzi, is one of several people imprisoned because of their Christian faith. Because he was not allowed access to his defense documents, he refused to attend his appeals court hearing. His appointed judge was not present, so the hearing has been postponed for four months.

According to the National Council of Resistance of Iran, Firouzi was arrested in August 2013, and sentenced to five years in prison in 2015. he was charged with "acting against national security," a charge often given to prisoners of faith in Iran.

Firouzi's mother pled with officials to handle her son's case fairly and to release him.  "Crying as she delivered the message to the authorities, Mr. Firouzi's elderly mother said that she is visually impaired and there is nothing she can do and has no one to help her. She said she doesn't have the ability to go from court to court and follow up on her son's case," Mohabat News reports.  "She added that she misses her son and because of her disability she has not been able to visit her son in prison. She pleaded with the authorities to release her son so he can come home.”

Iran regime arrests 11 Christians in raid on house church

Iran regime arrests 11 Christians in raid on house church

Iran's fundamentalist regime arrested a group of practicing Iranian Christians last week at an in-house church in the city of Isfahan, central Iran.

In total 11 Christians were arrested during the raid on their congregation last Friday, August 12. The raid was carried out by armed plain clothes intelligence agents, according to eye-witnesses.

Ten of those arrested have been identified as Amin Ahanin, Mohammad Alyasi, Fatemeh Amini, Edmund Khachaturian, Mohammad Malek Khatai, Mohsen Khoobyari, Arash Qodsi, Hamed Sepidkar, Samaneh Shahbazi-Far and Maryam Zonubi. An eleventh person arrested at the mass has not yet been identified.

Iran:More Arrests of Iranian Youths for Mixed Gender Partying.

 Authorities in Iran have arrested at least 50 young men and women who attended a mixed-gender party.

"Families must be more vigilant regarding their children to make sure they do not end up in such circumstances”, says Mojtaba Vahedi, the head of the judiciary in Damavand, east of Tehran.

A report on Friday, July 22, by the state-run Tasnim news agency said more than 50 young men and women were arrested at a party that was organized via social networking.

Security forces monitoring social media obtained a warrant after ‘carrying out the necessary investigations’, and judicial files have been opened against those arrested at the party, Tasnim quoted Vahedi as saying.

Iran:More Arrests of Iranian Youths for Mixed Gender Partying.

, 

Iran:Lord Maginnis: the Iranian Resistance has the momentum

Iran:Lord Maginnis: the Iranian Resistance has the momentum

 Lord Ken Maginnis argued that the Iranian Resistance, in the shape of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), is building significant momentum against the regime in Tehran.
Reflecting on both the absence of moderation in the regime and the abundance of it in the opposition led by Maryam Rajavi, Lord Maginnis called on Western governments to re-think strategy towards Iran.

A year on from the nuclear deal with the regime, he argued, the twin hopes of a non-nuclear Iran and a moderate Iran have foundered. A covert nuclear programme continues (confirmed by German intelligence) with a parallel initiative in ballistic missile development. President Rouhani, Lord Maginnis said, "has exceeded the brutality and extremism of his predecessor," citing both the regime's support for Assad and a range of terrorist groups and the record number of executions taking place within Iran.
Lord Maginnis presented a contrasting snapshot of the Resistance, reflecting, in particular, on the July 9 rally of 100,000 Iranians. Noting not just the numbers of supporters who made their way to Paris from across the globe, he also saw huge significance in the nature of non-Iranian allies present at the rally. 

Iran:Iranian Intelligence Agent Convicted in Germany

Iran:Iranian Intelligence Agent Convicted in Germany

Berlin, 20 Jul - An Iranian Intelligence Agent has been convicted in Germany of spying on Iranian Resistance members living abroad.
The National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) has welcomed this conviction of the Ministry of Intelligence and Security (MOIS) agent and has urged foreign governments to prosecute and expel other regime spies.

The agent, Meysam Panahi, was spying on members of the NCRI and the People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/ MEK). Despite posing as a refugee, Panahi had worked as a spy for three years and helped to recruit extra people to the Intelligence Agency, receiving 28,600 Euros from the MOIS in at least 30 payments.
The spies would then travel to Iran to receive espionage training with help from the Iranian embassies in Europe.

Germany’s prosecution said that Iran’s Intelligence Ministry created “secret networks” in the country to spy on and spread lies and half-truths to discredit the Iranian Resistance.

Iran:Former EU Commissioners Warn Against Deals with Iran

Iran:Former EU Commissioners Warn Against Deals with Iran

Brussels, 20 Jul - EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini announced the lifting of “multilateral and national” sanctions on Iran on 16 January this year, saying the nuclear deal showed that intense diplomacy could resolve even “the most difficult issues”. However, this new position came despite the EU sanctions still imposed on Tehran due to its poor human right record and links with terrorist organizations.

As the European Union now moves towards more business dealings with Iran, former Commissioners Karel de Gucht and Louis Michel have urged EU institutions and member states to make any dealings conditional upon Tehran improving its human rights record.

Michel, father of Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel, was European Commissioner for Development and Humanitarian Aid between 2004 and 2009. De Gucht was in charge of the trade portfolio between 2010 and 2014. Both men played an important role in forging the EU’s business relationships with other countries over the last decade.

Iran hangs 18 prisoners, including at least one woman, in just two days

 Iran hanged 18 prisoners, this past weekend; with 16 executions on Sunday alone.

Eleven prisoners were hanged in Qezelhesar Prison in Karaj, north-west of Tehran, on Sunday, but only two have been identified; Saeed Saberi and Moslem Bahrami. The charges have not been specified but at least one member of this group was a woman.

Two men were hanged on Sunday, in a public square in the city’s Mehshahr District, according to the state-run Tasnim news agency. They have only been identified by their initials Q. J. and M. R.

Still on Sunday, another three men were hanged in prison in Birjand, eastern Iran. Mansour Zafarani, Yousef Barahoui, and Qassem Delshad were accused of drugs-related charges.

On Saturday, two unidentified prisoners aged 40 and 49, were hanged in Lakan Prison in Rasht, northern Iran, according to the state broadcaster, Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB).

Iran hangs 18 prisoners

Iran: Iranian Artist Talks About Oppression and Art

Atena Farghadani drew a cartoon mocking Iran’s parliament in protest of her country’s anti-birth control policies. For this, she was arrested by the Revolutionary Guard in the summer of 2014.

In her July 15 interview with Michael Cavna of the Washington Post, after she was released from prison, the Iranian artist says: “I’m stuck in a limbo.” referring to the mental weariness and the physical problems caused by her imprisonment. “At the moment,” she continues, “since I’ve arrived at the certainty that there is miracle lying in the art of drawing and painting, I’m more determined to continue doing it than ever.”

Atena is an inspiration to many. Her creative and political resistance has influenced the community of artists and their supporters around the world. Paintings, drawings and cartoons have flooded in from her fellow artists for the #Draw4Atena call to arms.

While imprisoned at in the gruesome Gharchak prison she went on a hunger strike. She says, “What bothered me the most was to see inmates — many of whom were victims of the economic and cultural poverty in the Iranian system — who were not treated like human beings; their most basic rights were violated. I consider Gharchak prison as a graveyard of time …”                               

Atena Farghadani

Iran:Ex-US Ambassador: Iranian regime intends to incorporate Iraq, Syria and Lebanon

mark-ginsberg

Ambassador Ginsberg argues that Iran’s regime has become more immoderate following the nuclear agreement last July: "The record of meddlesome, terror-laden interference throughout the Middle East by Tehran is growing longer by the day." In addition, he argues, the regime’s current President Hassan Rouhani is hanging more people than the "notorious Ahmadinejad."

The list of Iranian threats to international security is long: increased funding of Hezbollah and Hamas; a proxy war in Yemen against the U.S. and Saudi-backed government; ballistic missile tests in violation of existing Security Council resolutions; and "massively" deploying the Revolutionary Guard inside Syria to defend Assad. However, for Ginsberg, the focus of his main concern is Iranian action in Iraq.

Iran:Maryam Rajavi calls on the U.S. and the UN to guarantee Camp Liberty’s security until all residents depart Iraq

Maryam Rajavi

Missile attack on Camp Liberty

Following tonight’s missile barrage on Camp Liberty by militias affiliated with the terrorist Quds Force, Mrs. Maryam Rajavi, the President-elect of the National Council of Resistance of Iran, hailed the heroic perseverance of the residents of Camp Liberty and wished a quick recovery for those wounded in the criminal attack.

She said that the missile attack on Camp Liberty, especially following an inhumane eight-day siege, blocking fuel, food and medicine from entering the camp, demonstrated that the religious dictatorship ruling Iran is terrified of the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) and the Iranian Resistance, which it views as an existential threat.

For this reason, Mrs. Rajavi noted, the mullahs’ regime opposes any solution for Camp Liberty residents that would ensure their safety and security and tries to obstruct it. The only acceptable options, as far as the regime is concerned, are to either compel Camp Liberty residents to surrender and abandon their struggle or to physically eliminate them.

She called on the UN Security Council, the European Union and their member states to decisively condemn the criminal missile attack on Camp Liberty. Mrs. Rajavi said now that no doubt remains as to the Iranian regime’s intentions to cause more bloodshed at Camp Liberty, there is added urgency for the United States and the United Nations to take action to guarantee and provide safety and security for the residents of Camp Liberty until such time when all of them have departed Iraq. She emphasized that this would be consistent with the repeated and written guarantees the U.S. and the UN have given regarding the safety and security of Camp Liberty residents.

More than 50 missiles rained down at Camp Liberty, several of which landed outside the camp. The assault caused major destruction and fire in the camp, with missile craters seven feet wide and five feet deep. Based on reports received until midnight, 40 resident had been injured in the attack.

Iran:Struan Stevenson explains why he supports the “Free Iran” rally in Paris

Struan Stevenson

Struan Stevenson, former Conservative MEP representing Scotland in the European Parliament from 1999 until his retirement in 2014, is the current President of the European Iraqi Freedom Association (EIFA).  Mr. Stevenson, also chaired the Friends of a Free Iran Intergroup (Caucus) in the European Parliament, and was President of the Parliament’s Delegation for Relations with Iraq from 2009 to 2014.

READ MORE...

Iran: Political prisoner Ali Moezzi invites all to participate in “Free Iran” gathering

political prisoner Ali Moezzi

Iranian political prisoner Ali Moezzi, who is father to two members of the main Iranian opposition group People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI or MEK), has sent a message from Tehran’s notorious Evin Prison declaring his support for the annual gathering of the Iranian Resistance held in Paris on 9 July.

Canada’s James Bezan MP stands in solidarity with people of Iran

James Bezan MP

Ottawa, 28 Jun - The “Free Iran” gathering in Paris on 9 July has the support of Canadian Member of Parliament James Bezan. He has expressed his solidarity in a message for an Iran that is free and democratic and respects liberty and human rights.

His message is for proponents of the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI or MEK) and the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI). He criticizes continued human rights offensives that violate international law standards by the regime of President Rouhani and Ayatollah Khamenei. 

He also encourages continued solidarity to resist Iran’s persistent oppression of political activists, preventing freedom of religion, the regime’s meddling in Syria, Iraq, and Yemen by undercutting UN efforts to achieve peace in addition to coalition allies battling ISIS, and the continued barbarities by the Assad government in Syria.

‘Free Iran’ rally gives voice to those still suffering in Iran

Free Iran’ rally gives voice to those still suffering in Iran

Farzad Madadzadeh, a former Iranian political prisoner, who escaped Iran last year, has written his account of why he plans to join tens of thousands of Iranians and their international supporters at the July 9 "Free Iran" rally in Paris.

In an op-ed for The Hill on Tuesday, Mr. Madadzadeh wrote: "Needless to say, it is a significant international event regarding an important international issue. But for me it is very personal. In spirit, I will be with a much larger crowd. We will be joined by a countless Iranians still living under the thumb of the theocratic regime, who will risk reprisals to watch the proceedings on banned satellite television channels."

"How do I know? After this year’s rally, I will have seen the event from both sides of the ideological wall that separates the Islamic Republic from most of the rest of the world. In past years, I was among those Iranians who supported the NCRI and its main constituent group, the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI or MEK), from a silent place inside the country. I put my safety and freedom at risk, as did many of my colleagues, to carry on the groups’ local activism. I spent five years in jail from 2009 to 2014 and suffered extensive physical and psychological torture for my support for the PMOI.  I fled Iran at the age of 29 last year."

IRAN : Lamentable: Iranian FM invited to Oslo Forum to share experiences of peacemaking

June 13, Oslo: On Tuesday (14 June 2016) around 100 prominent mediators of armed conflict and peace process actors will be welcomed in Oslo by Norway’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr. Børge Brende. Included amongst the participants invited to share their experiences of peacemaking will be Iranian Foreign Minister Mr. Javad Zarif at this year’s 2016 Oslo Forum. Yesterday evening former Norwegian MP Mr. Lars Rise for his reaction on hearing that the Iranian FM is speaking at this year’s Oslo Forum. And we suggested that surely having open dialogue with these perpetrators of war crimes is better than to freeze them out of discussions? - See more at: http://www.theoslotimes.com/article/lamentable:-iranian-fm-invited-to-oslo-forum-to-share-experiences-of-peacemaking#sthash.Rj7DsKQz.dpuf

Lamentable: Iranian FM invited to Oslo Forum to share experiences of peacemaking