Alireza Jafarzadeh
The March 7 parliamentary elections have heralded a new era for Iraq, pushing aside the incumbent Prime Minister, Nouri al-Maliki and officials with ties to Iran while opening way for a new slate of politicians hoping to mend serious sectarian divides. But, as a U.S. military official in Iraq told the Washington Post, Maliki and his allies “have no intention of giving up their regime,” something that could threaten the hard earned post-election gains for progress and stability and harm US troops withdrawal timetable.
Tehran’s strategic defeat in Iraq
Dance Lessons Prohibited in Iranian Nursery Schools
Mullahs’ regime has been known for leading the way in inventing means and measures to make living in Iran as hell for its citizens.
Imposing sex segregation in schools and universities and even buses and harassment of women in streets by Basijies for wearing makeup or loose scarves are just some examples.
The latest measure that knowing the mullahs would not come as a surprise is the prohibition of dancing lessons in kindergartens and nursery schools.
Iran – Grand Ayatollah Montazeri Dies leaving mullahs’ Regime in Shambles
Crowds walk the streets of Tehran once again, this time chanting in support of an Iranian top cleric who died only a day ago.
Grand Ayatollah Hossein Ali Montazeri was once heir to the Ayatollah Khomeini himself, but later disqualified by the founder of the Islamic Republic due to his objections to the massacres of 1988 in which over 30,000 political prisoners –mostly members and supporters of the Mojahedin Khalq Organization of Iran (PMOI) –were executed in a very short period of time. The PMOI later turned into the main opposition movement to the theocratic regime of Khamanie calling for an end to his dictatorship.
The chanting crowd walking the streets, congratulated the top cleric on his lastly found freedom in death; referring to the fact that the grand ayatollah had been mostly under house arrest since his disqualification and spent his time teaching Islamic theology.
But since the uprising of the Iranian public started earlier this year, the ayatollah stepped in to the public scene once again, condemning tortures and executions taking place at the hands of the ruling mullahs saying their actions has nothing to do with Islamic teachings.
Iranian Protests – Clashes reported in Tehran
On a day historically known in Iran as the day Americans were taken hostage 30 years ago, Iranian protesters once again stage demonstrations against their government.
While a demonstration supported by the government in front of the now closed American Embassy was in progress, thousands of protesting Iranians took to the streets to show their discontent.
Clashes have been reported in different parts of Tehran and there are reports of teargas being fired and arrests taking place. Large crowed has been reported at the Tehran University and also the Enghelab square chant anti-government slogans.
Iran – Woman Journalist, Hengameh Shahidi Freed from Prison
Stop Fundamentalism – Iranian woman journalist, Hengameh Shahidi, who spent the past 121 days in the notorious Evin prison, has been released, says HRA News Agency.
Shahidi was arrested after the recent presidential elections in Iran which caused an outbreak of demonstrations and social dissent against the Iranian regime.
Shahidi spent 50 days in solitary during her captivity. She was on her sixth day of hunger strike when released.
Hengameh Shahidi, is a member of Etemad-Meli Party, headed by Iran’s former presidential candidate, Mehdi Karrubi.
Shahidi was subject to intense torture and abuse during her arrest.
Iran – Imprisoned Woman Journalist on Indefinite Hunger Strike
Stop Fundamentalism – Hengameh Shahidi, an Iranian woman Journalist and a member of Etemad-Meli Party, headed by Iran’s former presidential candidate, Mehdi Karrubi, has started a hunger strike in the Iranian notorious Evin prison, Iranian news sources say.
Shahidi who has been detained for the past four months, started her hunger strike after she was transferred to the public ward of the prison. She intends to continue her strike until she is freed.
Shahidi has been subject to intense torture and abuse in prison since her arrest.
Shahidi who is a reputable journalist was arrested after the unrest erupted following June elections in Iran.
Hunger strike Ends as 36 Ashraf Residents go free
Stop Fundamentalism – National Council of Resistance of Iran announced today in a statement that 36 Ashraf residents, who had been taken in custody of the Iraqi forces on June 28 during an attack on the camp, have been returned to the camp.
Those released where on their seventieth day of hunger strike and Sixth day of dry hunger strike. As reported, some were unconscious when they were returned to camp Ashraf.
A resident of Ashraf indicated that the prisoners were taken directly to the camp hospital for immediate medical attention.
Iran – Women Political Prisoner Moved to Evin Prison
Stop Fundamentalism – A woman political prisoner by the name of Shireen Alam-Houie, 28 stays in ward 209 of notorious Evin prison in Iran, reports Hrana News Agency.
Ward 209 in Evin is known to hold political prisoners.
According to reports Shireen, an Iranian political activist from Kurdistan, is charged with membership in a Kurdish party. She has been in prison since May 2008 and has been denied to have access to proper defense. It is feared that she is in danger of receiving the death penalty.
Iran Press news has reported that seven other political prisoners have received the death penalty in southern city of Ahwas.
Iran – Ashraf Residents Moved; Third Day of Dry Hunger Strike
Stop Fundamentalism, October 4, 2009- National Council of Resistance of Iran, in a statement today said that Iraqi police has once again move the thirty six Mojahedin members it has in its custody to a new undisclosed location.
The members had been arrested late July after an attack by the Iraqi forces on camp Asharf north of Baghdad, where the PMOI members reside. 11 residents of the camp were killed and over 500 wounded during the attack. Videos of the raid showing Iraqi police using chains, axes, and bulldozers to attack the unarmed civilians of this camp were distributed on YouTube and outraged the international community.
Iran – New Signal Distortion System Put in Place
Stop Fundamentalism – According to sources, Iranian Revolutionary Guards has tested a new noise creation system, Saturday.
This new system can transmit with 1 Gigahertz of power.
The device is Russian made and it is intended to be used in electronic warfare to distort radar receptions.
Iranian regime is trying to prevent international and satellite programming to reach Iranians.
While having a satellite television is illegal in Iran, many Iranians prefer to watch foreign media rather than Iranian produced television programs.
The osolators embedded in this system will create noise with enough power to distort most satellite programming.
The system transmits at such power that it is feared to be hazardous to human health.