Aug 2009

Ahmadinejad's cabinet challenged by legislators

Iranian legislators continued to debate the suitability of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's proposed cabinet on the second day of their deliberations. Proposed minister of education and intelligence were criticized for their lack of experience, and the re-appointment of the foreign minister, Manouchehr Mottaki, was received with a harsh disapproval of the performance of the ministry in the last four years.

Further probe into anonymous burials

Reports of 44 unidentified graves in plot 302 of Tehran's largest cemetery is under investigation by the city council as well as a parliamentary panel. Reformist media claim the plot was used to secretly dispose of the bodies of detainees who died under torture by security forces.

"Sickness" ruled out in Ruholamini death

The coroner's report on Mohsen Ruholamini cited physical stress and repeated blows with a hard object as cause of death. Ruholamini, son of a senior aide to a presidential candidate, was previously announced to have died from meningitis whilst in detention in the course of post-election protests in Iran.

Khamenei condemns teaching of humanities

Iran's Supreme Leader spoke out against the teaching of humanities in Iranian universities. He claimed this field of study was responsible for the spread of doubt in matters of faith and Islamic ideology.

Demonstrations planned for further protests

Mehdi Karoubi announced that people will show their power through demonstrations on Ghods Day, the last Friday of Ramadan. He urged political activists to resist government efforts to silence them.

Iran Parliament deliberates on Ahmadinejad's cabinet

Iran's parliament started its three-day deliberation on Ahmadinejad's proposed cabinet. The vote of confidence is crucial for Ahmadinejad since in addition to the challenges of the reformist leaders on the legitimacy of his victory, he has been snubbed by the conservative camp for his attempts at monopolizing power.

Tehran's prosecutor-general dismissed

New head of Iranian judiciary dismissed Saeed Mortazavi, a hardliner and a staunch supporter of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Iranian judiciary faces the tough task of investigating the actions of senior officials in the blatant violations of citizens' rights in the post-election events.

Police and Revolutionary Guards defend their actions

Senior officers of Iranian Police Force and Revolutionary Guards defended their actions in the post-election crackdown on protesters and denied involvement in any violations of detainee rights. They claim only three low-ranking individuals are guilty of misconduct and will be punished.

Human Rights Watch urges action from Iranian judiciary

In a letter to Iran's new Head of Judiciary, Joe Stork, deputy director at Human Rights Watch, calls for a fact-finding investigation into the role of senior officials in the violent post-election crackdown on peaceful protests, as well as some earlier cases of detainee human right violations.

UAE seizes arms shipment headed for Iran

United Arab Emirates has seized a shipment of arms headed for Iran from North Korea. Western diplomats have called this a violation of UN sanctions against North Korea.

IAEA not fully convinced on Iran

The latest IAEA report on Iran states that Iran has reduced its uranium enrichment activity and provided broader access to its nuclear installations. However, it expresses concern over stonewalling of questions which need to be clarified in order to rule our "possible military dimensions."

Khatami demands investigation of "undeniable crimes"

Former Iranian president, Mohammad Khatami called for the prosecution of the true perpetrators of "undeniable crimes" against the people and announced that despite repeated pressures to oust reformists and advocates of justice, they will remain in the scene.

Ahmadinejad backs Iranian Security Forces

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad claimed the perpetrators of violence against the recent detainees were enemy infiltrators and called for the prosecution of opposition leaders whose actions he claims were "in line" with foreign interests.

Israel presses for tougher sanctions against Iran

Benjamin Netanyahu urged Germany to act in unison with world powers to impose "crippling sanctions" on Iran. While insisting that time was running out, he claimed lack of a UN resolution should not stop volunteer states from taking decisive action.

Montazeri condemns Iranian regime

Prominent reformist cleric, Ayatollah Montazeri spoke out against government crackdown on post-election protesters in Iran and condemned the actions of the current Islamic Republic regime which he claims is "neither a republic, nor Islamic."

Iran's Supreme Leader addresses recent crisis

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei spoke out against the prominent political figures that have become leaders of the opposition in the recent unrest; however, he claimed that he does not believe they were backed by foreign powers because he has seen no evidence of it.

Trial confessions condemned as forced lies

The fourth trial of post-election protesters in Iran which saw prominent political figures such a Saeed Hajjarian recanting all his reformist political analyses of Iranian society, was condemned by former president Mohammad Khatami and many others.

"Paris also sheltered Ayatollah Khomeini"

The French remind Iran that their custom of sheltering political dissidents was also extended to Ayatollah Khomeini, the leader of the 1979 Iranian Revolution. Iran has criticized France for giving shelter to post-election Iranian protesters in June on the embassy premises in Tehran.

Head of cemetery retires during mass burial probe

Head of Tehran's largest cemetery retires right after news that a parliamentary investigation is looking into allegations of a mass burial reported on Norooz website. Mahmoud Rezaian denies any connection between his retirement and the said investigation.

Prominent reform figures on trial in Iran

Saeed Hajjarian and several prominent reformist figures appeared in the fourth mass trial of protesters to retract their former claims of vote-rigging in the June presidential elections in Iran. The defendants face a list of charges ranging from threatening national security to ties with foreign elements and conspiring to topple the government.