In a statement released by the European Iraqi Freedom Association today, calls are made for “real and comprehensive reforms”, the absence of which will ensure that Iraq will “lurch towards catastrophe”.
Iranian political prisoner sentenced to almost 40 years in jail after sham trial
Alireza Golipour, an Iranian political prisoner, was sentenced to 39 and a half years and 170 lashes on Tuesday.
His trial was held in Tehran on April 19, presided over by notoriously ruthless judge, Abolqasem Salavati.
Maldives cuts diplomatic ties with Iran
On Tuesday, the government of the Maldives announced that they have decided to sever diplomatic ties with Iran after 40 years. This decision is based the on the Iranian regimes policies in the Middle East which are proving to be damaging to peace and security in the region.
Iran: Regime hangs 21 people, including 1 man in public, in 2-day period
The National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) have reported that 21 people have been hanged in Iran since Monday, one of which was in public.
In the Central Prison of Urmia (Orumieh), north-west Iran, on Tuesday 17th May, six men were hanged collectively. These men were serving a prison sentence for drugs-related charges in Ward 15 of the prison.
Iran unleashes brutal backlash against protesters
The Iranian government has launched a violent crackdown on anti-government protests within the country.
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, told senior security officials that the serious “threat”, caused by teachers, trade unionists, street vendors and truck drivers, represented a “high priority” need for further repressive measures.
Iranian prisoner of conscience, seriously ill after years of medical neglect, leading to kidney surgery
An Iranian prisoner of conscience is critically ill following kidney surgery.
Omid Kokabee, an experimental laser physicist at the University of Texas, had his right kidney removed on 22 April; he was diagnosed with advanced kidney cancer after years of medical neglect.
Vienna: World powers meet to save Syria peace hopes
It has been reported in The Local that senior envoys from around the world are meeting again in Vienna on Tuesday with the aim of putting an end to the bloody civil war in Syria.
The chairs of the meeting are US Secretary of State John Kerry and Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov – an odd combination mentions the journalist as they are “at loggerheads over much else in the world”.
Iran: Jafar Azimzadeh’s statement regarding the release of Ismail Abdi
Jafar Azimzadeh, an Iranian political prisoner and workers’ rights activist who has been on an indefinite hunger strike since the end of April has managed to send a statement out of Tehran’s notorious Evin Prison. His statement comments on the release on bail of fellow political prisoner Ismail Abdi, Secretary General of Iran’s Teachers’ Trade Association (ITTA).
