Nonviolent action around the world – 5 February 2010 (Part 1)

Iran: Systematic suppression of dissent continues
By: IFEX, February 4, 2010
Iranian authorities are carrying out a lethal campaign to silence independent journalists and critics, report the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) and Reporters Without Borders (RSF). Two Iranian netizens and human rights activists are possibly facing the death penalty. RSF has accused the Iranian regime of crimes against humanity.
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An Iranian artist in jail
By: RFE, February 4, 2010
According to rights groups, over 2,000 political and human rights activists, students, and intellectuals have been arrested in Iran’s postelection crackdown. Among those reported arrested are an internationally renowned photographer, Mehraneh Atashi.
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Iran: Ban on participation in book fair for printing Mir-Hossein Mousavi photographs
By: IHRV, February 3, 2010
Following a protest by Davoud Ali-Babaei, chief editor of Omid Farda, a publishing company which has composed a 10-volume collection entitled “25 Years of What Happened in Iran? – from Bazargan to Khatami”, refused to remove a picture of Mir-Hossein Mousavi, the acting Prime Minister during the war period, from the cover of the ninth volume.
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Iran arrests rights activist, campaign group says
By: CNN, February 3, 2010
A leading Iranian human rights activist and journalist was arrested Wednesday, activists said. Kaveh Ghasemi Kermanshahi was taken by seven security agents who searched his home and took personal belongings including his computer, the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran said in a statement.
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Student denies charges as Iran protest trial resumes
By: Reuters, February 3, 2010
A 20-year old university student arrested for participating in antigovernment street protests in Iran in December rejected charges of spreading moral corruption as the trial of 16 opposition supporters resumed today.
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Opposition hardens line inside Iran
By: Nazila Fathi, NY Times, February 2, 2010
Mir Hussein Moussavi, the Iranian opposition leader, made some of his harshest remarks to date against Iran’s rulers on Tuesday in an interview on his Web site, calling their behavior dictatorial and terrifying.
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In response to Iran’s nuclear program, German firms are slowly pulling out
By: Judy Dempsey, NY Times, February 2, 2010
German companies, long Iran’s biggest trading partners in Europe, are finding it increasingly difficult to do business there as the United States, Israel and others campaign for tougher United Nations sanctions in response to the country’s nuclear program.
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Iran to execute nine more protesters, as opposition leader denounces ‘dictatorship’
By: RFE, February 2, 2010
The deputy head of Iran’s judiciary says nine more protesters are to be executed soon over the unrest that erupted following the controversial June presidential elections. Iran’s Fars news agency quoted Ebrahim Raisi as saying that the nine were linked to counterrevolutionary groups and planned to topple the Islamic regime.
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They’re wearing green in Dubai
By: Jeffrey Gedmin, Foreign Policy, February 1, 2010
The Iranian diaspora is gearing up for Feb. 11. Dubai may be possibly the closest thing to being in Iran itself. In five days here I’ve met with nearly three dozen Iranians from different walks of life to try to get a better impression of what’s happening inside the country.
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Kyrgyz protesters defy ban to rally for jailed politician
By: RFE, February 3, 2010
More than 200 protesters rallied today in the southern Kyrgyz village of Sopu-Korgon to demand the release of imprisoned former Defense Minister Ismail Isakov, who was found guilty of corruption and sentenced to eight years in jail on January 11.
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Kyrgyzstan: Who sponsors the murder of dissidents?
By: Bakyt Beshimov, Ferghana, February 2, 2010
Kazakhstani investigators revealed the track of Kyrgyz special services in the murder of journalist Gennadiy Pavlyuk. The persecution of believers in the southern part of the republic, the Nookat events, the murders and assaults against politicians, journalists, public figure, the conflicts in the Petrovka village and the Balykchi events prove that current regime, its characteristics and application are the major source of troubles.
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Kazakh newspapers seized for alleging corruption by president’s son-in-law
By: RFE, February 2, 2010
Kazakh officials have seized editions of at least five opposition and independent newspapers that contain an article alleging corruption by President Nursultan Nazarbaev’s son-in-law, Timur Kulibaev, who is suing the newspapers.
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Indonesia: Buffaloes banned at protests
By: Straits Times, February 5, 2010
Enraged by protesters likening him to a ‘big and stupid’ water buffalo, Indonesia’s president has ordered the beasts and other animals banned at street rallies, a decision some Indonesians said shows their leader can’t handle criticism.
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Vietnam: Expanding campaign to silence dissent
By: Human Rights Watch, February 4, 2010
The Vietnamese government should immediately drop all charges and free the prominent writer and democracy activist Tran Khai Thanh Thuy, Human Rights Watch said today. She is to be put on trial February 5, 2010, on assault charges after thugs attacked and beat her in front of her home, as undercover police looked on.
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Vietnam: Convictions of activists could hurt US-Vietnam relations
By: Monster and Guardian, February 3, 2010
The recent sentencing of 15 Vietnamese democracy activists to prison could damage the country’s image and its diplomat relations, the US ambassador to Vietnam said Wednesday.
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Burma: Four women activists awaits court verdict
By: Myint Maung, Mizzima, February 2, 2010
District Court in Rangoon’s notorious Insein prison has set February 15 for pronouncing the verdict of four women activists including popular activist Naw Ohn Hla, who are supporters of Aung San Suu Kyi. The East District Court on Monday announced that it would pronounce the verdict on February 15.
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