Reformers call for probe of Iran supreme leader
By: Ali Akbar Dareini, AP, August 14, 2009
A group of former reformist lawmakers appealed to a powerful clerical body in Iran to investigate Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s qualification to rule in an unprecedented challenge to the country’s most powerful man over the postelection crackdown. The former lawmakers’ appeal was to the Assembly of Experts, a body of clerics that under Iranian law has the power to name the supreme leader and, in theory, to remove him.
Read full article…
Iran: Ahmadinejad aide says president only got ‘4 million’ votes
By: LA Times, August 13, 2009
Iranian opposition figures living abroad have long insisted that the majority of those living in the country were opposed to the Islamic Republic. They’ve found an unlikely ally in a top aide to President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Esfandiar Rahim Mashaei.
Read full article…
Iran opposition leader decries ‘show trials,’ prisoner treatment
By: Borzou Daragahi, LA Times, August 13, 2009
Iran’s legal system came under fresh criticism Wednesday amid allegations of prisoner abuse and controversy over televised courtroom confessions, decried as “show trials” by domestic and international critics.
Read full article…
Iran reformists seize on prisoner abuses
By: Ali Akbar Dareini, AP, August 12, 2009
Iran’s top opposition leader said Wednesday that the abuse and death of protesters detained after the disputed presidential elections shows the need for “deep change” in the country, in the most sweeping call for reform of the system to date.
Read full article…
The indictment in the Tehran trials, translated text
By: Scott Lucas, Enduring America, August 12, 2009
“As you have been apprised, the wise Leader of the revolution, with his Imam-like wisdom, stated that the aware nation of Islamic Iran has created an astonishing and unprecedented epic by their unusual presence at the ballot boxes during the elections, which showed the Iranian nation’s political maturity, revolutionary, powerful and civil capacity…”
Read full article…
Iran: Thirty years later…
By: Mahbod Seraji, Truthout, August 12, 2009
Chants of “death to the dictator,” images of young men and women pounding their fists in the air, soldiers and agents in civilian clothing attacking crowds of protesters, were all stark reminders to me of that long-ago revolution gone awry.
Read full article…
France says embassy employee freed by Iranians
By: Elaine Ganley, AP, August 11, 2009
Iranian authorities have freed a French Embassy employee on trial in Iran from a Tehran prison, President Nicolas Sarkozy’s office announced Tuesday, asking that a young French academic also be quickly freed.
Read full article…
Iran’s opposition verifies 69 deaths in unrest
By: Nasser Karimi, AP, August 11, 2009
Iran’s opposition said Tuesday it had verified the deaths of 69 people in the two months of unrest since the disputed presidential election, confirming suspicions that the death toll was at least more than double the official figure.
Read full article…
Iran admits 4,000 June detentions
By: BBC, August 11, 2009
Authorities in Iran say 4,000 people were detained in protests that followed June’s disputed presidential election – many more than previously stated.
Read full article…
Open Tehran trial to international observers: Amnesty International
By: Amnesty International, August 11, 2009
With more than 100 people now on trial before Tehran’s Revolutionary Court for fomenting protests against the disputed official result of Iran’s 12 June presidential election, Amnesty International Secretary General Irene Khan challenged the Iranian authorities to open up the court to international observers.
Read full article…
UK denies Iran revolution plans
By: BBC, August 11, 2009
Iran’s rulers have has repeatedly accused foreign powers – especially Britain and the US – of playing a part in encouraging last month’s demonstrations. Britain has no intention of inciting a revolution in Iran or any other activity which would undermine that country, the Foreign Office has said. However, nine British embassy officials were held after protests over June’s election result.
Read full article…
Bildt renews criticism of dissident trial in Iran
By: M&C, August 11, 2009
Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt Tuesday said the European Union was prepared to take ‘further steps’ to secure the release of local embassy employees and a French national held in Iran. He stated “‘we are prepared to take further steps if necessary, naturally in consultation with all 27 EU member states.”
Read full article…
Iranian dissident journalist Akbar Ganji blasts mass trial, torture of prisoners
By: Democracy Now, August 10, 2009
As court proceedings in a mass trial of reformers and protesters continued into their second week, a top judiciary official acknowledged Saturday that some of the arrested protesters had been tortured in Iranian prisons.
To watch the video…
Iran judiciary looks to calm prison abuse outrage
By: Ali Akbar Dareini, AP, August 10, 2009
Police and judiciary officials sought on Sunday to calm public outrage in Iran over the deaths of detained protesters in prison, acknowledging abuses and calling for those responsible to be punished. A Revolutionary Guard senior commander, meanwhile, said that the three top opposition figures are the ones who should be put on trial, striking a harder line that suggests tensions at the highest levels of Iran’s power structure.
Read full article…
Iran’s digital underground
By: David Feith, Washington Post, August 11, 2009
For three decades, the Iranian regime has sought to control the political, artistic and personal lives of its people through arbitrary but intimidating controls on literature, information and expression. Printed and copied literature can be found “above-ground,” such as the book stalls that line Tehran University’s main avenue. The regime occasionally cracks down on area booksellers, says Mr. Apostolou of Freedom House, “but Iran has a lot of blind eyes being turned.”
Read full article…
Iran: Revolution beyond caricature
By: Rasool Nafisi, Open Democracy, August 7, 2009
The supreme leader’s reference to the 2009 events as a “caricature” of the revolution out of which the Islamic Republic of Iran was founded also indicates that Iran’s clerical leaders are fully aware of their need to wage a counter-revolution.
Read full article…
|
CRISIS IN HONDURAS
Pro-Coup Honduras presidential candidate is beneficiary of continued US funding Honduras protests continue, as Zelaya visits Chile |
|
AFRICA
Sahara: Parties pledge to continue UN-backed talks Former Zambian president faces jail in unprecedented corruption trial By: David Smith, Guardian, August 13, 2009
A former president of Zambia faces jail tomorrow after an unprecedented criminal trial that should send a shiver down the spines of once untouchable autocrats in Africa. Read full article… Gambia case demonstrates disdain for press freedom Niger opposition figure ‘beaten’ Sudanese woman in trouser case banned from travel Zimbabwe: Detractors seeking to divide unity government Ethiopia: CIVICUS condemns suspension of NGOs
|
|
AMERICAS
TOP
Venezuela lawmakers approve education law
By: Christopher Toothaker, AP, August 14, 2009 The National Assembly’s only dissidents walked out of the debate hours before the final vote to protest the ruling party’s refusal to compromise on the bill’s most contentious articles. Pro-Chavez lawmakers continued to discuss the law, approving it article by article Thursday evening until giving it final approval early Friday. Read full article… Peru: Amazon oil protests Opponents rally against education bill in Venezuela Argentina convicts ex-general in 1976 killing Puerto Rico: The battle over public lands Cuban political prisoners increase by one Peru: Persecution of indigenous leaders continues
|