Mar 2010

Iranian cleric claims Iraqi elections were rigged

Ayatollah Makarem Shirazi, Iranian Shiite leader speaking in his Beyond Religion class in Qom contended that Iraqi parliamentary elections “were without a doubt fraudulent."

Missing Iranian nuclear scientist defects to US

Iranian nuclear scientist, Shahram Amiri, who had “disappeared” on a pilgrimage to Mecca, has defected to the United States.

Iranian election detainees suffer severe ill health

Reformist websites report that Iranian post-election detainees Emdeddin Baghi and Mehdi Mahmoodian are suffering form severe health complications in prison.

Iran accuses US and Israel of backing kidnappers

Iran accuses US and Israeli intelligence services of supporting the kidnappers of Heshmatollah Attarzadeh Niaki, the Iranian diplomat whom Islamic Republic announced to have rescued today.

Iranian agents secure release of kidnapped diplomat

Heshmatollah Attarzadeh Niaki, an Iranian diplomat who was kidnapped in November 2008 in Pakistan was rescued by Iranian agents in what the Iranian Ministry of Intelligence described as “a complicated intelligence operation.”

Amnesty International reports surge of Iranian executions

According to Amnesty International at least 388 people were executed in Iran in 2009 which is a record high for the Islamic Republic.

Thirty people arrested at funeral of Ayatollah Montazeri's wife

Thirty people were arrested yesterday at the funeral of Mahsoltan Rabani, wife of late dissident cleric Ayatollah Montazeri in Qom.

Iranian activist sentenced to 8 years in prison

Shahnaz Gholami, Iranian journalist and women’s rights activists was sentenced to eight years in prison by Iranian judiciary.

Citizens Rights Commission established by Iranian police force

Iranian police department has announced that respecting citizens’ rights is one of its priorities in the New Year and reported that to this end they are establishing a Citizens’ Rights Commission within the Security Forces.

Iran's conservative lawmakers stand by parliament's decision

Conservative faction of Iran’s parliament played down the differences between government and parliament on the subsidies bill stating that the discussions "advance the cause of the Revolution."

Russia will only support "clever" sanctions against Iran

Sergei Lavrov, Russian Foreign Minister announced that Moscow will only support “clever” sanctions against the Islamic Republic that do not pave the way for future military actions against Iran.

Dissident cleric's wife laid to rest in Iran

MahSoltan Rabani, wife of the late dissident Shiite cleric, Ayatollah Montazeri was laid to rest today under strict security measures in Qom.

First international celebration of Norooz in Tehran

The first international celebration of Norooz began in Tehran with the presence of Hamid Karzai, Imomali Rakhmanov, Gurbaguly Berdimohamedow and Jalal Talabani, presidents of Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Iraq, as well as other officials.

Iran's academic elite protest continued imprisonment of their peer

The arrest of Abdollah Yousefzadegan, a law student at Allame Tabatabai University and winner of the nationwide Olympiad of literature is once more criticized by a group of his peers who have issued a letter to demand his release.

Wife of late dissident cleric, Ayatollah Montazeri, passes away

Wife of Ayatollah Hoseinali Montazeri, Mahsoltan Rabani passed away today in Qom less than four months after the dissident cleric was laid to rest.

UN urges Iran to stop jamming satellite broadcasts

Following official complaints made by France representing satellite provider Eutelsat, the UN telecommunications agency urged Iran to stop jamming international satellite broadcasts.

Iran's Revolutionary Guards behind recent arrest of activists

Human Rights Activists of Iran claims that the “plot against human rights activists in Iran is being carried out by the Revolutionary Guards Corps.”

Iran fails to charge detained journalist/filmmaker

Fatemeh Maleki, wife of Mohammad Nourizad, the detained filmmaker and journalist, told Kalameh website that after over three months, the authorities claim they have not finished questioning her husband and his case remains up in the air.

Ahmadinejad advises the West to stop supporting Israel

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad advised the West in a speech on Thursday to reform its ways and withdraw its support of Israel or “divine tradition will join your fate with those of criminals, pharaohs, Nimrods and the murderers of history.”

"Coordinated attack" on Iranian human rights groups

Human Rights Watch condemned Islamic Republic’s “new coordinated attack” on human rights groups in Iran after the Islamic Republic accused human rights groups of fronting for foreign plots.