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Faezeh Hashemi slams MP report of Evin visit

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Jailed political prisoner Faezeh Hashemi Rafsanjani has challenged an MP who recently visited Evin Prison, declaring that his statements about the conditions there were fraught with “lies and delusions.”

A letter by Faezeh Hashemi, which was dated January 27 and published on the Kaleme website, refers to a delegation of MPs that visited Evin Prison on January 23, following repeated complaints by political prisoners and opposition websites about prison conditions.

Faezeh Hashemi writes: “Unfortunately, the reports by Mr. Naimi and the other visiting MPs are not only mixed with lies and delusion but they are also very tactless. We saw the signs of this tactlessness during the visit as this individual treated the women prisoners with contempt; he denied the veracity of their statements and soon pressed for the delegation to leave, saying he had to get to his prayers on time.”

Safar Naimi, one of the three MPs that visited Evin, told reporters that the prisoners receive high-quality food, adding that “the name of the prison should changed to Hotel Evin.”

Faezeh Hashemi adds that the MPs had been given the responsibility to investigate the prison conditions and “were accountable for reflecting the truth as they actually saw it in the prisons and not simply as they saw fit.”

Naimi had told the Bahar Daily: “As I visited the Women’s Ward, which has Baha’i, seditious, monafeggh and mojahed prisoners (referring to members of the dissident group People’s Mojahedin Organization), their leader, Ms. Faezeh Hashemi, complained about the food and the presence of surveillance cameras in the ward, which I believe goes back to her family situation because she never ate the kind of food that we all eat.”

Faezeh Hashemi is the daughter of Ayatollah Hashemi Rafsanjani, the former president and current head of the Expediency Council.

In response to MP Naimi’s statement, Faezeh Hashemi said their request for the removal of surveillance cameras had been strictly limited to those installed in the bathroom and shower areas.

She also responded to the MP’s statements about prison food, saying: “He talks about my complaints about the bad quality of food in prisons and adds his own evaluation of my family’s situation, while neither I nor my inmates spoke a word about prison food during the visit by the MPs.”

She adds that in the Women’s Ward, the inmates have long stopped eating the prison food and do their own cooking.

Hashemi says: “In this part of his statement, the MP appears not only to have fallen victim to his delusions and uttered complete lies, he also fails to hide his latent prejudice and contempt for me and my family.”

The statements by Safar Naimi were also challenged by Mohsen Mirdamadi, a political prisoner in the men’s ward of Evin Prison, who invited the MP to live in Evin Prison if he truly likens it to a “hotel.”

Source: Radiozamaneh

Large arms shipment intercepted off Yemen, Iran eyed as source

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Yemeni forces intercepted a ship on Jan. 23 carrying a large cache of weapons – including surface-to-air missiles – that U.S. officials suspect were being smuggled from Iran and destined for Yemeni insurgents, officials said on Monday.

Yemen’s government said the arms intercepted aboard the ship off the country’s coast also included military grade explosives, rocket-propelled grenades and bomb-making equipment, according to a statement by its embassy in Washington.

A U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed the operation was coordinated with the U.S. Navy and that a Navy destroyer was nearby.

A second official told Reuters the intercepted shipment was believed to have been from Iran and destined for insurgents, likely Houthis.

“This demonstrates the ever pernicious Iranian meddling in other countries in the region,” said the second U.S. official, who also spoke on condition of anonymity.

Iran denies any interference in Yemen’s affairs.

Analysts and diplomats believe that the ascent of the Houthis, named after their leaders’ family, has turned Yemen into a new front in a long struggle between Iran and Western powers and the Arab regimes they support.

Gulf Arab governments and Sunni clerical allies accuse Iran of backing Shi’ite communities around the region, and Sanaa has also accused Iran of trying to meddle in Yemeni affairs.

Yemen’s President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi snubbed a visiting Iranian envoy last year to signal “displeasure” with Tehran after Sanaa said it had uncovered an Iranian-led spy ring in the capital.

Earlier this month, the U.S. envoy to Yemen, Gerald Feierstein, was quoted accusing Iran of working with southern secessionists. Yemen is also grappling with al Qaeda militants in the north.

Its location flanking top oil producer Saudi Arabia – Iran’s Sunni Muslim regional adversary – and major shipping lanes have made restoring its stability an international priority.

Yemen’s government said in a statement the shipment was intercepted in Yemeni waters, close to the Arabian Sea. It said Yemeni Coast Guard officials boarded the vessel, which flew multiple flags and had eight Yemeni crew members on board.

“Authorities are continuing to investigate the vessel’s shipping route by analyzing navigation records found on board the ship,” the statement said.

Source: Inside of Iran

At least 5 students of senior dissident cleric arrested in Shiraz

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Iranian authorities have arrested five students of a leading dissident cleric in the southern city of Shiraz, human rights sources say.

According to the Committee of Human Rights Reporters, security forces have arrested five students of Ayatollah Dastgheib, a senior religious figure in Shiraz. Of the five detainees, only one has been identified as Taher Faghih, the group added.

Some reports suggest that the number of detained clerics could be greater.

Ayatollah Dastgheib, a prominent religious scholar and supporter of the opposition Green Movement, is also a member of the Assembly of Experts, the only constitutional body with the authority to appoint and dismiss the leader. Since the rigged 2009 presidential race and its subsequent clampdowns, the Ayatollah has proven to be a thorn in the side of Iran’s ruling elite. His forthrightness and vocal opposition to state-violence has made him his home, students, mosque, and seminary the target of regular attacks by pro-government vigilantes who are usually backed up by the security forces.

In late 2011, the Ayatollah also criticised the Guardian Council for preventing free and fair elections as well as its role in facilitating widespread rigging in the country’s 2009 presidential election.

Source: Iran Green Voice

Two Iranian journalists arrested

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Two more Iranian journalists were arrested by Iranian security forces on the night of Saturday January 26.

Milad Fadayi-Asl, the head of ILNA’s political section, and Soleyman Mohammadi, a reporter for Bahar daily newspaper , were arrested and transferred to Evin Prison, the Kaleme opposition website reports.

The families have not been given any reason for their arrests. Fadayiasl was previously arrested at his home in December of 2009 and served a one-year jail sentence.

Soleyman Mohammadi has collaborated with several top Iranian newspapers, including Shargh, Etemad and Hamshahri.

The two were arrested under orders from Court of Culture and Media, a court especially established since last year to process cases against journalists and writers.

Reporters Without Border says Iran is the biggest jail for journalists in the Middle East.

Source: Radiozamaneh

Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei Steps Up War On Journalists

In a renewed crackdown on the news media in the capital, plain-clothes intelligence ministry officials yesterday searched the headquarters of four daily newspapers – EtemadArmanShargh and Bahar – and the weekly Aseman and, without giving any explanation, arrested at least 10 journalists.

Two other journalists were arrested the day before. Arrest warrants have been issued for other journalists.

“The constant persecution of journalists keeps on intensifying by the day,” Reporters Without Borders secretary-general Christophe Deloire said. “Iran has not yet emerged from the era of terror launched after the disputed June 2009 presidential election and now, five months before the next election in June 2013, a clear warning is being given – journalists and news media will be gagged.”

Reporters Without Borders calls for the immediate and unconditional release of all journalists currently detained in Iran. The authorities must put an end to these repeated waves of arrests, which have the sole aim of ensuring the regime’s stability and survival. Such intimidation attempts are doomed to fail.

According to the information obtained by Reporters Without Borders, at least 12 journalists were arrested during the weekend. The ten arrested yesterday were Sasan AghaiNasrin TakhayoriJavad Daliriand Emily Amrai of EtemadMotahreh ShafieNargus Jodaki and Saba Azarpik of ArmanPorya Alami and Pejman Mousavi of Shargh; and Akbar Montajabi of Aseman.

The two journalists arrested the day before were Milad Fadai Asl of the news agency ILNA and Soliman Mohammadi of Bahar. Both were arrested at their place of work. All 12 were transferred to unknown detention centres after searches of their homes and confiscation of personal effects.

Other journalists have been sent summonses to present themselves to revolutionary courts during the days to come.

Since the start of January, a number of journalists have been summoned for questioning by Revolutionary Guards or intelligence ministry officials. During these interrogations, they have been questioned above all about the next presidential election and the candidate or candidates they intend to support.

They were also asked for their opinion on Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei’s latest speech, on 28 December, in which he berated government opponents. “Stop saying we must organize free elections,” he said. “Since the start of the Islamic Republic, the elections have always been free.”

Prosecutor-general Gholam Hossein Mohseni Ejehi said threateningly during a news conference on 21 January: “Reliable information has reached me that certain journalists in Iran are collaborating with westerners and counter-revolutionaries based abroad.”

Source: Reporters Without Borders

Six months imprisonment verdict for a civil activist

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Hamed Malek Abadi, the civil activist sentenced to six months imprisonment by Sarab revolutionary court.

According to the report, judge Khateri in Sarab revolutionary court sentenced Hamed Malek Abadi to six months imprisonment on charge of propaganda against regime.

Hamed Malek Abadi, the student of private university of Sarab has been arrested by the security forces at home without showing detention verdict and been interrogated with his friend Babak Baghaie in Sarab Etela’at for a few days.

Then by the order of Sarab court transferred to Etela’at of Tabriz for further investigations and then he released by a 50 million tomans bail.

This activist has accused to propaganda against regime and membership of illegal group.

On Sunday, January 6th of 2013, his trial took place with attendance of his lawyer Mr. Ja’far Afshar Nia and he has exonerated from membership of illegal group because of lack of documents.

After all, by the fake reports of Etela’at of Sarab and Tabriz about him related to sending SMS during the national celebrities against regime, also protesting about Oroumiyeh lake dryness and attending Turkey language courses and history of Azerbayejan, the court sentenced him to six months imprisonment on charge of propaganda against regime.

It has to be mentioned that the court issued the verdict without paying attention to Hamed’s and his lawyer’s defense.

Source: HRANA

Report says jailed dervish severely beaten

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Hamidreza Moradi, a jailed Gonabadi dervish currently serving a sentence in Evin Prison, was severely beaten by security forces during interrogations, the Majzooban Noor website reports.

The website for Gonabadi Dervishes reports that Moradi was beaten in front of Mostafa Daneshjoo, another jailed dervish, during an interrogation session.

Moradi reportedly “vomited blood due to severity of the blows.” The report adds that he was then stripped of his clothes and left in the yard in cold weather.

Hamidreza Moradi and six other Gonabadi dervishes serving time in Evin Prison are being held in solitary confinement.

Moradi, who ran the Majzooban Noor Website, was arrested in September of 2011 along with 14 other Gonabadi dervishes.

The Gonabadi dervishes can be traced back to the 16th-century mystic Shah Nematollah Vali, and their current master, Nourali Tabandeh, was involved with the Culture and Guidance Ministry in the early days of the Islamic Republic. However, during the Mahmoud Ahmadinejad administration, the Gonabadi Dervishes have become repeated targets of government persecution.

Source: Inside Of Iran

A Kurd from Salmas sentenced to 5 years imprisonment

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Recently a Kurd from Salmas has been sentenced to 5 years imprisonment.

Farhad Panirak the son of Chargez, A Kurdish citizen from Broshkhovaran village in Salmas has been sentenced to 5 years imprisonment on charge of acting against national security by Salmas revolutionary court.

According to the same report, Farhad Panirak has twenty days to appeal and object the verdict. Also, Farhad Panirak who was been summoned and detained many times by security forces, been sentenced to 5 years imprisonment on his dossier on charge of national security.

Newly, the way of dealing with Kurds of Salmas and lots of arrests, summoning, threats and imprisonment verdicts need to pay attention deeply to them.

Detaining Kurds and preventing them to visit their families and lawyers is against the civil rights and constitution. Especially in some cases even their families could not get the correct information about the situation and whereabout of the detainees.

Source: HRANA

Two Baha’i Citizens Arrested in Nour, Iran

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Security forces arrested a Baha’i citizen with her guest at her home and searched herhouse.

According to a report, Security forces searched Sheida Ta’ieed’s home and arrested her and her guest Bayan Babaie on Monday, January 21, 2013.

They were transferred to Sari’s Intelligence Office and after three days informed their families about their arrest.

Sheyda Ta’ieed had been arrested two years ago with her mother (Farideh Ta’ieed) and was held in Sari’s Intelligence Office for 25 days.

Sheyda Ta’ieed, born in 1990, is from Nour city and Bayan Babaie, born in 1991, is from Ghaem Shahr city, Mazandaran province.

Source: HRANA

Mousavi children fear for parents under house arrest

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The children of Iranian opposition leaders MirHosein Mousavi and Zahra Rahnavard have announced that for the past two months they have had no news of their parents, who have been under house arrest for close to two years.

The Mousavi children call for an end to the “illegal incarceration” of their parents and demand that authorities be accountable for their health and well-being.

Mousavi and Rahnavard were put under house arrest in February of 2011 following demonstrations triggered by Mousavi and his fellow reformist candidate, Mehdi Karroubi.

Mehdi Karroubi is also under house arrest, completely cut off from the public and allowed only rare visits with his family.

The Mousavi children say in their letter, published on a number of opposition websites, that the restrictions imposed on Mousavi and Rahnavard make their situation akin to a “kidnapping.”

The letter indicates that in the past two months they have not even had telephone contact with their parents and are, therefore, fearful for their health.

They write: “In our last visit, the health of our parents appeared precarious, and in view of the repeated crises created by their guards and the rough and chaotic air of our last meetings with them, especially the last one, after which we were completely cut off from them, and in view of our father’s blood pressure and heart complications, we are very concerned for their health.”

Last month, the Mousavi children issued a joint statement with the Karroubi children calling for the release of their parents.

The Islamic Republic authorities have held the opposition leaders under house arrest without laying any formal charged, and recently the head of Iran’s security forces announced that Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei is directly responsible for the opposition leaders’ situation and has refused to allow for any formal charges to be laid against them.

Source: Radiozamaneh