Archive Regime Change Iran: Human Rights Abuse in the Islamic Republic

[9/10/06 - 9/16/06]

Dow Jones Newswires reported that the Islamic Republic closed the daily Shargh, the most prominent reformist daily opposed to the hard-line policies of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
Reporters Without Borders reported that Iran is doing its utmost to isolate its citizens from the rest of the world by purging the Internet of independent content, noting that the authorities even brag about the success of their censorship. "We are filtering more than 10 million websites." They have made a special focus on censoring all political opposition and all information about the rights or the condition of women.
Reuters reported that the United States took Iran to task for its "harsh and oppressive treatment" of religious minorities in its annual "Report on International Religious Freedom".

[9/03/06 - 8/09/06]

Rooz Online reported that Iran's Ministry of Islamic Guidance, which controls the media in this country, issued a directive to press publications which in practice bans them from quoting all available news sources in their reporting.
Dallas Morning News reported that Iranian activist Manouchehr Ganji argued that at least 70 percent of Iranians would help the democracy movement succeed if they could be convinced that it has the support of the West for the long haul.
National Review Online reported on the growing calls to save the lives of Iranian women Nazanin Fatehi, Malak Ghorbany, and many others just like them.

[8/27/06 - 9/02/06]

IranMania reported that Iran warned it would prosecute any individual or business inside the country from working with foreign-based Persian language satellite channels.
Time Magazine reported that for the past few months, Iranians have been subjected to stronger enforcement of Islamic codes using a new tactic. Is this a revival of the dogmatic strictures of the country's revolutionary past? A must read.
Radio Free Europe reported that activists in Iran have started a petition drive calling for changes to laws that discriminate against women. Organizers hope to attract the signature of 1 million Iranians -- a challenge that they say public officials could not ignore.
The Washington Post reported that the managing director of an Iranian daily has been acquitted of insulting Iran's Azeri minority, four months after the newspaper was banned for a cartoon that sparked protests. The cartoonist is still awaiting trial.
Ha'aretz reported that AIPAC is urging the United States government to disconnect an Iranian news site, Baztab, from American Internet servers, charging that the site has ties to terrorist organizations.
The New York Times reported that Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad faced a freewheeling two-hour news conference and found himself challenged by local reporters who questioned the government’s economic program and its treatment of the press. A must read.
Iran Focus reported that hundreds of new “judicial police” have begun to roam the streets of Tehran arresting those who the judiciary suspected of “illegal activities”.
The Financial Times reported that when Mahmoud Ahmadi-Nejad spiced up a press conference this week by challenging George W. Bush to a live television debate he displayed a keen grasp of American-style politics. But a diplomat said "If he doesn't answer questions, and it's shown live on TV anyway, what's the point?" The local Iranian journalists put him on the hot seat.

[8/20/06 - 8/26/06]

Reuters reported that Iran's government has urged the judiciary to clamp down on newspapers which spread "lies." (Nothing new here).
Iran Press News reported on a protest in Kurdistan of the trial of labor activists.
News Observer reported that the European Union questioned the circumstances surrounding the recent death of an Iranian student activist, Akbar Mohammadi, and called on Tehran to launch an independent investigation into the case. A little too late.
Pamela Bone, The Australian, a feminist, criticized her movement for the lack of concern for the rights of Muslim women in Iran.
Iran Press News reported with the implementation of harsh rules for issuing proper permits for translating, promoting and distribution of books, publishers in Iran have begun to go bankrupt; many writers and translators with considerable backgrounds have also abandoned their craft.
Iran Daily reported that Iran will now require identification cards be issued for Iranian websites and individuals will be responsible for what they publish on their websites.

[8/13/06 - 8/19/06]

Yahoo News reported that Iranian authorities are stepping up arrests and pressure on popular bloggers as part of a wider Internet clampdown.
Fox News reported that an exhibition of more than 200 cartoons about the Holocaust opened Monday as Iran's response to last year's Muslim outrage over a caricature of the Prophet Muhammad in a Danish newspaper. But interestingly, only about 50 people attended the exhibition's opening.
Iran Press News reported that the Islamic regime once again executed three people on the grounds of the Zahedan prison.

[8/06/06 - 8/12/06]

Iran Press News reported that two young men, Ali Ramezani and Ebrahim Karimi were arrested and charged with “being in contact with Kurdish political parties”.

[7/30/06 - 8/05/06]

Rooz Online reported that the office of Amir Kabir University's student association was demolished in the presence of management and faculty members and with the approval and support of Dr. Rahaiee, the chancellor of the University.
Adnkronos International reported that Iranian authorities banned the human rights group founded four years ago by a group of lawyers including Nobel Prize laureate Shirin Ebadi.
Reza Pahlavi demanded the release of all Iranian political prisoners in Iran after the death in prison of Akbar Mohamadi, the Iranian dissident, this week.
Iran Press News reported that August 2nd, over 50 workers and activists from the greater Tehran bus drivers Union gathered in front of the labor department in east Tehran and asked that their belated demands be investigated as promised.
Iran Press News reported that the publisher of the economic and cultural publication, Asia was sentenced to 6 months in prison charged with “propaganda for activist groups opposed to the Islamic Republic.”
Michael Ledeen, The Corner commented on our report, where Iran warned that should their nuclear dossier be voted for referral by the United Nations Security all political prisoners will be summarily executed, saying A regime that kills its own citizens will not hesitate to kill its external enemies.
Iran Press News reported that since the Islamic regime was taken off-guard by recent demonstrations and protests by the brave people of Tabriz, they have been displaying their mercenaries in the streets under the guise of conducting “maneuvers for confronting uprisings and unrest in the cities”, the terrorism-financing Islamic regime aims to strike fear in the hearts of the people.

[7/23/06 - 7/29/06]

The Sunday Mirror reported that a girl of 19 faces being hanged in Iran for a crime she didn't commit. Delara Darabi was just 17 when her boyfriend, Amir Hossein, persuaded her to confess to a murder he committed.
Iran Press News reported that the Islamic regime’s mercenaries attacked houses in the city of Rasht with the excuse of confiscating satellite dishes. "This is the first time in six years where the executive, legislative and disciplinary forces have agreed upon the ban on satellites."
Amnesty International is seeking information from the Iranian government about a letter which calls for government ministries and the Republican Guard to compile information and report to the Armed Forces Command on the activities of adherents of the Baha’i faith.
Iran Focus reported that the European Union issued a statement that expressed “serious concern about the deteriorating situation with regard to the freedom of expression and the status of human rights defenders in Iran.”
Iran Press News reported that Akbar Mohammadi imprisoned student who was refused his medical furlough from prison, began a hunger strike on July 23rd. Photo.
Iran Press News reported on the Islamic regime's flogging of a 37-year-old man in Vahdat Square in the city of Gorgan (northern Iran). He received 74 lashes. Photo.
Iran Press News reported that in 2005 eight adolescents under 18 were executed by the Islamic Republic of Iran.
Iran Press News reported that the regime’s authorities at the Rajaiishahr prison have begun summoning and threatening political prisoners, trumping up charges against them in order to stymie their hunger strikes.
Iran Press News reported that an Iranian woman, Shamameh (Malak) Ghorbani, has been sentenced to execution through stoning. Human rights groups have begun a campaign to save her life. Photo.

[7/16/06 - 7/22/06]

Iranian.ws reported that once again, another Iranian woman, Malak Ghorbany, has been sentenced to death by the barbaric practice of public stoning. They have a petition to help me save her life.
Potkin Azarmehr, azarmehr.blogspot.com reported on the final day of the hunger strike in London, which took place in solidarity with Iran's prisoners of conscience.
Rooz Online reported the words of Issa Saharkhiz, an Iranian journalist who has been sentenced by jury of the special press offences. He said “They have not left any space for independent and freedom loving papers. From their perspective, a good journalist is the one who accepts the dictated stories of the judiciary, ministry of guidance, and national security council.”
Rooz Online reported on the forced confessions of imprisoned Iranian intellectual Ramin Jahanbegloo.
Iran Press News reported that Dr. Alireza Sassanian, a pharmacological researcher famous for his vaccines, was arrested and remains in Evin Prison for failing to transfer the registration of his discovery from his own name to one of the governmental universities of the Islamic regime. He has also been sentenced to death.

[7/09/06 - 7/15/06]

Iran Focus reported that after the European Parliament (EP) adopted a resolution accusing Tehran of obstructing freedom of expression on the internet, the official Iranian news agency IRNA reported the EP resolution and listed all the states but one on the blacklist: Iran.
CTV.ca News reported that Stephan Hachemi has launched a civil suit against the Iranian government and a handful of specific individuals, three years after his mother died of injuries suffered while in their custody. Hachemi says the civil lawsuit filed in Quebec is the "one recourse that we have. We were blocked. We were not allowed to take another avenue."
Reporters Without Borders, on the third anniversary of Canadian-Iranian photo-journalist Zahra Kazemi’s death from her injuries after being beaten while in custody in Tehran, today called for a proper trial of all those responsible involved.
Rooz Online reported that the Prosecutor of the Special Clergy Court Salimi is seeking to change the methods of selecting religious students. He mentioned background family checks, personal records, and the motivation of the applicants as important subjects that had to be taken into account before accepting the applicants. The Iranian constitution specifically bans prying into the ideology of individuals in any form.
Iran Focus reported on the most recent of 98 executions reported in the state media since the start of 2006.

[7/02/06 - 7/08/06]

News.com.au reported that the Iranian intelligence ministry accused prominent Iranian intellectual Ramin Jahanbegloo, who is currently imprisoned, trying to "instigate a velvet and soft revolution in Iran."
Mehr News.ir reported that Iranian Intelligence Minister Gholam-Hossein Mohseni Ejei saidthat the Intelligence Ministry has devised various strategies to combat internal and external measures taken against Iran’s Islamic system and is closely monitoring foreign "subversives" activities.
A petition Online addressed to the United Nations, European Union, and other international bodies asking for help in saving Malek Qorbani from stoning in Iran.
Rooz Online reported that a week after the banning of the Student Association of Amir Kabir University (a major university student organization in Iran) the student crackdown has been rising. He reported on the many protests throughout Iran.
Rooz Online reported that a group of students advising President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on student issues was dismissed because of its criticism of the performance of the government in the sphere of higher education. He didn't like being criticized.
Yahoo News reported that Shirin Ebadi finally demanded the "unconditional" release of all political prisoners, despite official denials that such a category of detainee exists.

[6/25/06 - 7/01/06]

Human Rights Watch asked Iran’s judiciary to rescind the death sentences of at least 10 Iranians of Arab origin convicted of plotting against the state, and retry them before courts that meet international fair trial standards.
Rooz Online reported that as the regime pursues its policies of confronting student activists, the center for activities of protesting students, the Islamic society of Isfahan University was shut by official order.
Rooz Online reported that activists of the women’s movement in Iran have been under interrogations by security agents since their last rally in Tehran on June 12.
SMCCDI reported that students of the Ashtian Azad University protested against the arrest and pressure made on a female students.
The Guardian reported on how some Iranian Jews are learning to live with Ahmadinejad.
Los Angeles Times reported that in what call Iranian students call a "purge," more than 40 professors at Tehran University were last week unexpectedly forced to retire.
Macleans reported that two months have passed since the Iranian-Canadian philosopher Ramin Jahanbegloo was locked in Tehran's notorious Evin prison, Canada is making so little headway in securing his release. His wife said: "He is in poor shape and has lost a lot of weight."
Adnkronos International reported that an Iran court has sentenced a Kurdish woman, Malak Ghorbany, found guilty of committing adultery to death by stoning. Photo. See also a video of a stoning if you have a strong stomach.
Amnesty International said that as the annual Babek Castle cultural gathering of Iranian Azeri Turks approaches on 30 June 2006, they are urging the Iranian authorities to exercise restraint while policing the gathering.
Rooz Online reported that the Islamic Republic of Iran spent $350 million to equip and arm 2 brigades of Baseej mass-mobilization forces with heavy weapons. These two brigades had been involved in crushing the student protests. A must read.
Rooz Online reported on a gathering to protest the detention of a former Majlis MP.
Kuwait Times reported that a human rights group said Syria detained several leading Iranian Arab rebel leaders yesterday. The human rights group fear they will send them back to Iran.
Amnesty International claimed that Sayed Ali Akbar Mousavi-Kho’ini is a prisoner of conscience in Iran. Sayed is a former student leader and former member of the Islamic Consultative Assembly, the Majles (Iran’s parliament) who was reportedly arrested during a peaceful demonstration in the capital, Tehran.

[6/18/06 - 6/24/06]

BBC News reported that forty professors and lecturers from Tehran University in Iran are being retired on Thursday. The move is causing concern that the new government of President Ahmadinejad is purging professors.
CNET News reported that internet web surfers frustrated by government censorship in search engines are increasingly turning to a little-known Internet browser with a big following, Maxthon.
Reuters reported that Human Rights Watch said that Iran's judiciary should rescind the death sentences of at least 10 Iranians of Arab origin convicted of plotting against the state, and retry them before courts that meet international fair trial standards.

[6/11/06 - 6/17/06]

Rooz Online reported that an Iranian judge has decided to reopen the 9-year-old mysterious murder case of a flight attendant which was initially closed because of the interference and lobbying of top intelligence officials.
Reuters reported that Iran's judiciary freed two journalists on bail after they were arrested for insulting Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Fars News Agency reported that Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki said his ministry is about to release a detailed report on the cases of human rights violation in the United States and Europe.
Macleans published a detailed report on Ramin Jahanbegloo is a noted scholar and a Canadian citizen who has recently been imprisoned in Iran. An excellent report.
Rooz Online reported on the new tactics the regime employed in putting down the recent women's rights demonstration in Tehran.
Iran Focus reported a man has been hanged in a prison in the south-eastern province of Sistan-va-Baluchistan, in what many Baluchis believe is a response to a spate of attacks by dissidents on government and security officials.
Iran Focus reported that Iran’s State Security Forces have carried out nearly 80,000 “on the spot” interrogations over the past two months in the streets of Tehran alone.
Akhbaremovasagh.blogfa.com reported that last month, elements of the intelligence services of Iranian regime abducted the seventeen year-old Shima, the daughter of Koorosh Ahmadi, a political activist in Iran.
Rooz Online reported that in their first press conference, the new student members of the Islamic Association of Amir Kabir University warned that they will not allow universities to be turned into prisons or military camps.

[6/04/06 - 6/10/06]

BBC News reported that the United States has added Iran to its list of countries that could face sanctions over their failure to tackle trafficking in people.
Rooz Online reported that Iran's hardline ministry of culture recently announced that the private sector would be responsible for book reviews and censorship of books through controlling what is published.

[5/28/06 - 6/03/06]

Rooz Online reported that in recent days, the Iranian government has sharply increased its control and monitoring of Internet users though what is known as “smart filtering.”
Rooz Online reported on the ban on media coverage of the growing Azerbaijan unrest.
Reporters Without Borders reported that Iran's Supreme Guide Ali Khamenei is a predator of press freedom.
The New York Times reported that members of the Bahai religious minority in Iran said that the government had recently intensified a campaign of arrests, raids and propaganda that was aimed at eradicating their religion in Iran.

[5/21/06 - 5/27/06]

Independent reported that Iranian Jews are worried and angered by their President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's denial of the Holocaust, saying his comments caused "fear" in his community.
Rooz Online reported that while the public relations director of Tehran’s revolutionary and regular judiciary have said that news dissemination must be in accordance with legal rules and be respectful to people, apparently this does not apply to Iranian dissidents.
Rooz Online reported that the hardline minister of culture of Iran expressed dissatisfaction over a number of publications and criticized their attitude towards Ahmadinejad's government. The press has been put under check by the events and unrest in the provinces.
Bahai.org reported that Iranian officials have arrested 54 Bahá'ís in the city of Shiraz.
Reporters Without Borders condemned the closure of the governmental daily Iranian newspaper.

[5/14/06 - 5/20/06]

Petition Online published the English text of the Call for Solidarity with the imprisoned Iranian philosopher and writer Ramin Jahanbegloo.
BBC Monitoring reported that the authorities in Iran are reportedly making new plans to disrupt broadcasts from abroad intending to increase the number of jamming stations in Tehran and other cities from 50 to 300 within two years.
Rooz Online reported the Iranian press claimed that Ramin Jahanbegloo, the prominent Iranian scholar and philosopher is one of the key elements in the so-called "soft overthrow" of the Islamic republic.
Rooz Online reported that the new EU3 package designed to lure Iran into accepting a moratorium on Iran’s nuclear enrichment activities includes a section that deals with human rights.

[5/07/06 - 5/13/06]

Scotsman reported that since Mahmoud Ahmadinejad came to power last June, life for Iran's 25,000 Jews has become even more precarious.
Iran Press News reported the arrest of more political activists in Azerbaijan.
Rooz Online reported that the representative of the world Bahai's at the United Nations will file a complaint to the UN over an Iranian government letter instructing that all government agencies in Iran collect the names of all Baha'is in Iran and control their activities.
Iran Press News reported that a university student was suspended for drawing a cartoon of Ahmadinejad.
Nicole Sadighi asked for urgent action on behalf of Valiyollah-Fiez Mahdavi who is in imminent danger of execution. Plus the transcribed text of his last message.
Radio Free Europe reported that Iranian journalists are complaining over the Iranian government's increased pressure and tighter media restrictions. A growing number of journalists have been jailed and their publications have been suspended.

[4/30/06 - 5/06/06]

Rooz Online reported that Iran's hard-line Sepah-e Passdaran Revolutionary Guards Corps has launched a new project to use intelligent jamming to block specific satellite channels and broadcasts beamed into Iran.
Iran Focus reported that dozens of Iranian Sufi's and their lawyers have been sentenced to jail and flogging.
The Scotsman reported that a prominent Iranian philosopher, Ramin Jahanbegloo, has been arrested on suspicion of espionage. Ramin also holds Canadian citizenship.
Radio Free Europe reported that human rights activists have expressed concern about the "intensifying repression" and the worsening of the situation regarding freedom of expression in Iran since the government of hard-line Ahmadinejad took office in August 2005.
Human Rights Watch demanded that immediate release of one of Iran’s most prominent scholars, Ramin Jahanbegloo from Iranian custody.
Khaleej Times reported that the European Union on Friday expressed "serious concern" about the human rights situation in Iran. The statement said they were particularly worried about 10 executions carried out at Iran's Evin prison on April 19 and the indictment of human rights defender Abdolfattah Soltani.
Rooz Online reported that the news of the arrest and detention of Iranian-Canadian scholar and researcher, Ramin Jahanbeglou, has stirred serious concerns among intellectuals that former intelligence agents are again targeting them.
The Toronto Star reported that Iranian-Canadian academic Ramin Jahanbegeloo has been hospitalized for a medical condition, not for any mistreatment. Why was he arrested? Is it because "he is a philosopher of non-violence," who did his Ph.D. thesis on Mahatma Gandhi?
Philadelphia Inquirer reported that concern is rising over Baha'is in Iran.

[4/09/06 - 4/15/06]

Rooz Online reported on the latest efforts by the Iranian regime to control cell phone text messaging (SMS). SMS in Iran began just four years ago. The volume of SMS messages surpasses the seven million users of Internet in Iran.
Iran Press News reported that Islamic police stopped a 10-year-old girl at Tehran airport for improper clothing.

[4/02/06 -4/08/06]

Iran Focus reported that Iran's security forces have arrested several student activists responsible for the publication of campus newspapers in two Iranian universities.
Rooz Online has been the subject of repeated Internet attacks during the past few days.

[3/26/06 -4/01/06]

The Guardian reported that Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is cracking down on Iran's universities in an effort to crush a student pro-democracy movement.
Institute for War & Peace reported on the efforts of the Iranian regime to eliminate the Iranian Turkmen language and identity.
USA Today reported that blogs are now under attack by Iran's hard-line regime.
Radio Free Europe reported that the UN special rapporteur on freedom of religion, Asma Jahangir, disclosed an official Iranian government letter that reportedly tells government agencies to collect information -- "in a highly confidential manner" -- about Baha'i members. She explained why the information will likely be used to persecute and discriminate against Baha'i believers.

[3/19/06 -3/25/06]

Iran Press News reported that residents of the town of Sardasht and surrounding villages have been arrested and charged with phoning into Iranian opposition radio and satellite TV talk shows outside Iran.
BBC News reported that as the international debate over Iran's nuclear program has intensified, some Iranian journalists say they have come under increasing pressure not to criticise their government on the issue.
Inter Press Service reported that a United Nations Security Council (UNSC) vote imposing sanctions on the Tehran government for its nuclear program could result in retaliatory executions.
Iran Press News reported that another Iranian woman is on the brink of execution for killing a man attempting to rape her daughter.

[3/05/06 -3/11/06]

Iran Press News reported that the Organization of The Defense of Women's Rights released a report on the condition of Iranian women.
Iran Press News reported that the automobile racing federation of the Islamic Republic invalidated the scores for the speed competition in which Leila Sadigh was the frontrunner and completely banned all sports that included mixed competition.
ABCNet reported that the US Government has singled out Iran as among the world's worst human rights abusers.

[2/27/06 -3/04/06]

Rooz Online reported that with the upcoming March 6 meeting of the IAEA coming soon, on what they write.
Rooz Online reported that a group of Iranian women have decided to ignore an unwritten and illegitimate order that has banned them from attending soccer games.
Mail & Guardian Online reported two men convicted of carrying out a deadly a bomb attack in Iran's restive oil city of Ahvaz were executed in public early on Thursday.

[2/20/06 -2/26/06]

SMCCDI reported that the theocratic regime has increased the wave of repression to boost the existing fear among Iranians, executing two more Iranians.
Amnesty International has just released a report on Iran, "New government fails to address dire human rights situation"(available here).
Khaleej Times Online reported that Iran’s judiciary said two people had been sentenced to death for their role in twin bombings in the southwesten city of Ahvaz last month which killed eight people.
Rooz Online reported on the increasing number of executions of dissidents in Iran whose backgrounds range from political activism to young women, children, and men.
Amnesty International reported that executions in Iran are continuing at an alarming rate.

[2/13/06 -2/19/06]

Reuters reported that Iran said it would continue to block the BBC's Persian-language Web site until Britain's public service broadcaster changed its "anti-Iranian tendency, " adding that the site was read by about one third of Iran's 7 million Internet users.
Iran Press News reported that Mohammad Djaroui, warden of ward 6 of Gowhardasht prison; said: ‘In the case of the regimes referral to the Security Council each and every one of you will be put to death.’
Kamangir, Archer reported on another victim of the regime commits suicide[?]: Elham Afrootan.
The International Women's Day in Tehran ask people to join them in a peaceful march - March 8th. See poster.
Rooz Online reported that after Iran’s Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) instructed the Iranian media not to portray the country’s referral by the IAEA to the UN Security Council as a diplomatic failure, it has sent out another circular asking the press not to criticize Iran’s nuclear issue.
Amnesty International reported that since Iran's new president came to power human rights violations remain widespread and the new government has failed to take any action to address the situation.
Rooz Online provided more details on the unconfirmed reports about the suicide of Elham Afroutan, arrested for publishing an article insulting to Iranian hard-line government officials.
Iran Press News reported on the firing and flogging of Iranian University Professors.

[2/06/06 -2/12/06]

A compilationof Iranians executed or sentenced to death from December 05 through January 06.
World Tribune reported that Iran has forced the United Arab Emirates of Dubai to halt live Persian-language television broadcasts. But Sen. Santorum has introduced the Iran Freedom and Support Act, which would increase support for a free media in Iran. Write or call your Senator now.
SMCCDI reported that three more Iranians were executed, yesterday, in Sabzevar, the scene of several riots.
FrontPageMagazine.com published an interview with Joseph Akrami, an independent filmmaker who is the director of A Few Simple Shots, a film documenting the Iranian regime's human rights atrocities.

[1/30/06 -2/05/06]

SMCCDI reported that a man accused of "murder" was executed, but was arrested following the clashes between protesters and Islamic regime's security forces.
Adnkronos International reported that Iranian officials in Isfahan announced that women state employees who fail to wear the Islamic hijab or head scarf face 74 lashes according to Islamic law.
SMCCDI reported that several assisted women were beaten up, yesterday, by the Islamic regime's security agents when forced from their home.
SMCCDI reported that two more Iranians were executed, yesterday.

[1/23/06 -1/29/06]

Rooz Onlinereported on the governments rising confrontation with Iran's students.
Iran Press Service reported that the Iranian Government has blocked the BBC's Persian language internet site.

[1/16/06 -1/07/22]

Kamran Mizani, Rooz Online reported on how various governments are blocking private and independent satellite Iranian broadcasters from beaming into Iran.
AnoniBlog produced a Persian guide to anonymous blogging.
Iran Press News reported that "The Servants of Allah Hezbollah of Kurdistan" have issued a bulletin for the physical "elimination" of journalists, civil and human rights activists.
Human Rights Watch released its 2006 Human Rights Watch World Report.
Francis Fukuyama, The Wall Street Journal reported on a Web site that comes online today and documents the individual stories of the victims of the Iranian regime.

[1/08/06 -1/07/15]

Teamsters.org reported that the Teamster's President Hoffa called on Iranian President to release striking bus drivers. The Unions are finally joining the struggle.
Iran Press News reported that a 17-year-old Nazanin was sentenced to death for protecting her chastity against three rapists.
Iran Press News reported on more executions in Iran.
Iran Press News reported that a female member of the Organization for Human Rights in Kurdistan savagely beaten and kidnapped.
Iran Press News reported that cameras are being installed around Iranian universities in order to tighten control over students.
Iran Press News reported that the regimes brutal disciplinary forces, in the city of Ahvaz, harassed civilians chanting anti-regime slogans.
Amnesty International called for an inquiry needed in the death of Baha'i prisoner of conscience.
Iran Press News reported that the Islamic regimes brutal disciplinary forces attacked a party that was being held in one of Esfahans gardens and arrested 72 people.
Iran Press News reported that in the Islamic regime, homeless children eat out of garbage bins.
AlterNet reported on Iran and blogging against the regime.

[1/01/06 -1/07/06]

Reuters reported that the Iranian government on Monday ordered the closure of a daily newspaper and banned a new women's bi-weekly from publication.
SMCCDI reported that two female students were seriously injured by brutal Bassijis who splashed acid to their faces.
Sunday Times reported that an 18-year-old Iranian woman has been sentenced to death for killing a man she said tried to rape her.

[12/25/05 -12/31/05]

Rooz Online reported that Iranian satirist, Ebrahim Nabavi received the Prince Claus Award for Culture and Development in the Netherlands. Nabavi 58 is an accomplished writer with 31 published books, including his Prison Memoirs.
Radio Free Europe reported that Tehran's prayer leader recently said: "we consider ourselves pioneers of human rights."
Rooz Online reported that in a public letter, Ms Shafiee, the wife of imprisoned journalist and writer Akbar Ganji has called the recent statements of Mahmud Salarkia, the deputy prosecutor of Tehran to be laughable.
Shahram Rafizadeh, Rooz Online reported that a member Iran’s Parliament says a committee in the Ministry of Culture plans to control Iranian fashion and clothes people wear.
SMCCDI reported that two young men qualified as "Enemy of God" were hanged in the central square of the southern City of Ahvaz.
Bahram Rafiee, Rooz Online reported that the Iranian Ministry of Culture has not issued any licenses to publishers for the publication of any new books, and officials will review all licenses for current books.
Ardeshir Dolat reported that a young Iranian girl has been sentenced to death by hanging.
Radio Free Europe hosted a roundtable discussion in December about "women and power" in Tajikistan, Iran, and Afghanistan.

[12/18-12/24]

Kenneth R. Timmerman, The National Review reported that Iran’s Christians have a high price to pay.
Reuters reported that an Iranian of the Bahai faith has died in his jail cell of unknown causes, 10 years after being imprisoned by Tehran for abandoning Islam.
René Wadlow and David G. Littman, FrontPageMagazine published a reminder of the UN's Convention on Preventing Genocide and the UN's failure to act on it.
Reuters reported that the European Union accused Iran of persistent and grave human rights failings.
Radio Free Europe reported that the European Union issued a statement today criticizing Iran for refusing to resume a dialogue on human rights.
SMCCDI reported on three more public executions carried in Iran.
Christian Today reported that a U.S. evangelist who has been declared an “enemy of the state” by Iran has unveiled plans to broadcast special Christmas television programmes into Iran.
Amnesty International wrote the head of Iran’s Judiciary to express concern at continuing abuses committed against the country’s Baha’i community and they were greatly saddened by the death in custody of a Baha’i prisoner of conscience who had been detained for 10 years solely on account of his faith.
Omid Memarian, Rooz Online reported Iran’s new ultra-conservative Minister of Culture declared that to get a licence to start a publication would require the applicants to show that their publication is different from existing ones and is thus unique.
The Times reported that the place Iranians call “Weblogistan” has grown this year from 5.4 million blogs to today to more than 23 million. The bloggers have proved so wily and hard to censor that the Iranian Government has even considered removing Iran from the internet entirely.

[12/11-12/17]

Iran Press News reported that the Islamic regime publicly executes a man on International Human Rights Day.
Dow Jones Newswires reported that European Union foreign ministers called on Iran Monday to show greater respect for human rights.
Amnesty International reported it is outraged that once again Iran has carried out the execution of a juvenile offender.
The Telegraph reported that Ahmadinejad has packed his government with former security and intelligence officials responsible for serious human rights abuses.
Human Rights Watch: Iran’s new Minister of Interior is implicated in grave human rights violations over the past two decades, possibly including crimes against humanity.
Phyllis Chesler, FrontPageMagazine published a speech given before the US Senate this past week: Islamic Gender Apartheid.
Iran Focus reported that the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution censuring widespread human rights violations in Iran.

[12/04-12/10]

Iran Press News reported that the Islamic regime shuts down 9 Internet cafes in the Tehran suburb of Karadj.

[11/06-11/12]

Rooz Online in a special report claimed that a group of former Intelligence Ministry agents are back in action to control Iran’s news media. A must read.
Iran Press News reported that thirty eight U.N. member nations lead by Canada are demanding the condemnation of the Islamic regime for continued and barbarous violation of human rights in Iran.
Rooz Online published an interview with Shirin Ebadi.
Iran Focus reported that Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence and Security cautioned the heads of the various news organisations against publishing “unofficial news” regarding Tehran’s controversial nuclear work.

[10/30-11/05]

Iran Press Newsreported that Tehran authorities are inspecting the case of a young man who according to his family was tortured to death by the regime’s agents.
Mehdi Khalaji, The Washington Institute for Near East Policy discussed how to create effective international pressure for human rights in Iran and why it is so important.
Iran Press News reported that another student publication has been banned.

[10/23-10/29]

Shahram Kholdi, ScanIranic pubished a report of an appeal hearing of Webloggers from the Holy City of Qom, plus an update.
Mehdi Khalaji, The Washinton Institute discussed what it will take to create effective international pressure for Human Rights in Iran.
The Guardian UK reported that a committee of Islamic clerics in Iran this week banned foreign films.
Farhad Motamed, Rooz Online reported on the recent threat of executing 210 journalists inside of Iran.
Saeed Mirbahrami, Rooz Online reported that a new wave of subpoenas have been issued to journalists requiring them to appear before Tehran’s Prosecutor.
Shahram Raffizadeh, Rooz Online reported on the extremes to which the regime is blocking internet access inside of Iran.
Mehrangiz Kar, Rooz Online reported on the regime's betrayal of Human Rights in Iran and the present danger to human rights advocates there.
FIDH released a Briefing Note on the Human Rights Situation in the Islamic Republic of Iran.

[10/16-10/22]

Iranian.ws reported that the European Union severely criticised Iran's human rights record.
Reporters Without Borders accused the Iranian government of seeking to increase its control of the Internet, with more sites banned and an overhaul of filtering system planned.
Folkpartiet reported on member's of the Swedish Parliament support of political prisoners in Islamic Republic prisons.
ICFTU Online reported that the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions reported on repression and violence in Iran.
Iran Press News reported that out of fear of being arrested many Iranians have begun to remove their own satellite dishes.
Iranian.ws provided a detailed explanation for Iran's internet surfers on how to find their way to restricted or censored Iranian sites.

[10/09-10/15]

Iran Press News reported that the regime has refused to stop the execution of yet another teenager.
Iran Press News reported on the abusive and violent treatment of the disciplinary guards toward the youth of Iran.
Nazanin Namdar, Rooz Online reported that Iran's press court will resume its work next week to publicly review the case of more than 130 publications that have been closed.
Gulf Times reported that the European Union severely criticized Iran’s human rights record yesterday, saying its performance on the death penalty, freedom of expression and religious liberty had deteriorated.
Shahram Rafizadeh, Rooz Online reported on the current offensive against Human Rights Groups in Iran.
Shirin Ebadi, Rooz Online said that based on Iran’s constitution, all court hearings are to be public, except in very rare legal situations. ... but this a measure that has not been observed in many of the judicial cases.
TechWeb News reported that Secure Computing said that it is taking steps to prevent Iran from illegally downloading its software the regime is using to restrict Internet access by the Iranian people.
TheStar reported that an Iranian woman has been sentenced to death by stoning for adultery.

[10/02-10/08]

Reuters reported that Canadian Foreign Minister Pierre Pettigrew said they will put forward a resolution in the United Nations shortly accusing Iran of human rights violations. Faster please.
Rooz Online asked: Is Iran about to make concessions on human rights?
Mehrdad Sheibani, Rooz Online reported that the leader of the judiciary branch, Hashemi Shahroodi, ordered a list be provided him with the grounds for the release of 34 political prisoners.

[9/25-10/01]

Rooz Online reported that Canada's Minister of Foreign Affairs, said his country had prepared a new resolution to condemn human rights violations in Iran and would propose it to the United Nations General Assembly.
Shirin Ebadi, Rooz Online argues that Iranian women deserve better laws!
Yahoo News reported that Canada's Foreign Minister Pierre Pettigrew launched a new warning to the Iranian government not to try to produce enriched uranium.
IAEA released the text of the resolution of the IAEA Board of Governors on Iran.
VOA News reported that Iran is calling an international resolution on its nuclear program politically motivated and illegal.
The Times of India reported the overt and transparent shift in alignment in support of the U.S. regarding Iran's nuclear program.
The New York Times reported that a Western diplomat said: The fact that Peru, Singapore, Ghana, India and Ecuador voted to support this resolution undercuts Iran's argument that this is purely Western political pressure.
Louis Charbonneau, Reuters reported background information on the UN Nuclear Watchdog meeting on Iran.
Human Rights First called for support of Kurdish Iranian women activists recently detained by the regime.
Farnaz Ghazizadeh, Rooz Online discuussed 25 Years of unpopular and mandatory head covering by Iranian women.
Shirin Ebadi, Rooz Online argued that woman's rights are the foundation of human rights and values.
Morteza Abdolalian, Iran Watch Canada reported that the head of the Tehran appeal court: No political motive in Zahra Kazemi's court file!
Farah Karimi, Rooz Online discussed Kofi Annan's proposal for creating a "Council of Human Rights" to overview human rights situations in different countries and provide it with sufficient and necessary executive authority to implement its decisions.

[9/18-9/24]

Iran Focus reported that an Iranian man was hanged in Ahwaz and another in Tehran.
Iranian blogger, Omid Memarian, Rooz Online reported that a member of the central committee of the Islamic Coalition Party once again called for combating civil society groups in Iran.
Iranian blogger, Morteza Abdolalian, Iran Watch Canada reported that a reporter in Iran exposing about the violation by members of city council and the officials of the municipality in Karaj was forced to resign from his job.
Iran Press News reported that the Iran's Minister of Information and Security confessed to torturing prisoners.
Pink News reported that a 22 year old gay Iranian has escaped his home country after being subjected to 100 lashes.
Iran Press News reported the disappearance of a 19-year-old activist in Mahabad (Greater Kurdistan Province).
Iran Press News reported that Iran recently arrested 12500 people for the socially corruptive and disorderly use of 3000 satellite dishes.
Iran Press News reported that Mullah Ahmad Alam-Alhadi said: women must be cast down for improper veiling and those whose one strand of hair even is seen by an unfamiliar male are a tool of the enemy.
SMCCDI reported that the Islamic regime admits to arresting over 12,000 people in Tehran this month.
SMCCDI reported that the beginning of the Iranian New Academic Year, starting Saturday, was marked by spread protest actions.

[9/11-9/17]

Shirin Ebadi, Rooz Online warned that Iran's new government sponsored NGO's are providing wrong information regarding human rights conditions in Iran.
Agence France Press reported that a 22-year-old Iranian man has been publicly hanged.
Iran Press News reported that the regime has stepped up it's oppression and intimidation of women and the youth of Iran.
Iran Press News reported on the distribution of CD's cataloguing and exposing the depth of the regime's corruption and crimes in the province of Khuzestan.
Iranian blogger, Mehrdad Sheibani, Rooz Online reported that a Majlis deputy requests that the term happiness be defined and its terms identified! He has asked the ministry of Islamic guidance to come up with standards for holding marriage weddings and punishing those who violate it!
Iranian blogger, Hossein Derakshan, The Guardian discussed Internet censorship in Iran.
Iranian blogger, Mehrangiz Kar, Rooz Online reported that in Iran these days there is talk of replacing detention and flogging as forms of punishment with something more human.
Iranian blogger, Vahid Sabetian, Rooz Online reported that the new hardline government of Iran has tasked the new Minister of Justice to write the bill for defining political crimes in Iran.

[9/04-9/10]

SMCCDI reported that a man accused to have waged 'war against god' was hanged, yesterday, in the southeastern City of Iranshahr.
IranMania reported that Shirin Ebadi accused the hardline judiciary of placing so much pressure on her colleagues that few were prepared to defend dissidents.
Iran Press News reported on received reports the IRI has executed political prisoner Ismail Mohammadi,by hanging.
Iran Press News published an Iran Daily report that the disciplinary forces of the regime are ganging up and swarming around girls, harassing, disgracing and insulting them.
Iran Focus reported that the IRI's prosecutor’s offices announced women who violate Iran’s strict Islamic dress code will be flogged immediately, usually 100 lashes in public.
Iran Press News reported on a statement issued by the Kurdish Democratic Front of Iran regarding the execution sentence of 3 other activists.
Iranian blogger, Windsteed, Iran Hopes mentioned that a UN special rapporteur on human rights will soon be visiting Tehran for a meeting with Ganji and other political prisoners.
SMCCDI reported that tens have been arrested and hundreds more investigated in Iranian cities in the frame of a new systematic crackdown.
Reporters Without Borders demanded the immediate release of four journalists who were arrested in the Kurdish part of Iran.
Iran Press News reported that drivers of the Tehran Bus Drivers Association turned on the headlights of their vehicles in protest to non-receipt of their wages and benefits. The regime reacted harshly and arrested several drivers.

[8/28-9/03]

SMCCDIreported that social and political conditions are worsening in Iran as the Islamic republic regime is increasing the repression.
Iran Press News reported that Iranian blogger, Majid Rezaii who was arrested by the regime's judiciary and was sentenced to 20 months.
Iran Press News reported that Shuana Ghadri's brother, Aboubakr Esfrem, in Iraqi Kurdistan and spoke of the brutal torture that his brother endured.
Sheffield Today reported that a 14-year-old Kurdish Iranian girl died after setting herself on fire in protest over her right not to wear the hijab headdress.
Reporters Without Borders welcomed the release of online journalist Mojtaba Lotfi and Mohamad Reza Nasab Abdolahi. But voiced concern that both still have prison sentences hanging over their heads.
Iran Press News reported on a proposal in Iran's parliament to fine women who are charged with improper veiling.

[8/21-8/27]

Iran Focus reported on a new sex-segregated park is under development in the city of Mashad. The new park will be used exclusively by women.
SMCCDI reported that the Islamic republic regime is to apply more discriminatory measures against Iranian women in days ahead.
Rooz Online looks at the change in Iran regarding the Chador, the mandatory women's covering.
SMCCDI reported that four more young Iranians were executed.
The Associated Press reported that the Iranian government has tightened its control over the Internet.
The Guardian reported on the hundreds of Iranian rock acts springing up despite official disapproval. These bans have never been able to experience playing a live gig.
Rooz Online reported that Ali Afshari, a leading member of Iran's largest student organization, will not have an open court hearing since there are currently no laws defining political rights.
SMCCDI reported on the mass arrest of Iranian women have increased for the non-observance of Islamist veil.
Amnesty International is calling on the Iranian authorities to prevent the execution of two teenagers in Iran.
The Committee to Protect Bloggers has a petition calling on Iran to free Iranian blogger, Mojtaba Saminejad!

[8/14-8/20]

Rooz Online suggested one of the dangers for human rights is to politicize the defense of human rights issues.
Iranian.ws reported that the government of Iran has banned the use of Blogrolling.com and has ordered all Iranian ISPs to block and filter the blog rolling service.
Iran Focus reported on a recent scientific study that found 71 percent of teenagers in Iran suffer from depression.
Bamahang Productions reported that for the first time, underground music from Iran became available for Digital Download over the internet.
IranMania.com reported that the Guardians Council has approved the Majlis bill on resumption of the press jury's activities.
Iran Focus reported that Iran’s police forces have been instructed to use all means, including helicopters, to locate and confiscate privately-owned satellite dishes.
Iran Focus reported Iran’s new Minister of Justice vowed that “improperly-veiled women” will be treated as if they had no Islamic veil at all.

[8/07-8/13]

World Peace Herald reported on the U.S. Helsinki Commission, which just held a hearing titled, "The Iran Crisis: A Transatlantic Response."
Iranian blogger, Omid Memarian, Rooz Online discusses the new administration's war on the NGO's.
Iranian blog Rooz Online reported that Iranian lawyers are threatening a protest.

[7/30-8/06]

Reporters Without Borders released their Iran - 2005 annual report. It said, press freedom shrank daily during 2004 in Iran and that Iran has for years been the Middle East's biggest prison for journalists.
IranMania reported that Canada threatened to introduce a UN resolution on Iran's human rights record.
Amnesty International released a public statement calling on Iran's new President, Mahmoud Ahmadinezhad, should make human rights a top priority.
Reza Pahlavi published a letter to Kofi Annan to act on behalf of Iranian political prisoners.
Reporters Without Borders condemned a wave of harassment of Kurdish journalists by local authorities in Iranian Kurdistan.

[7/24-7/29]

Yahoo News reported that the lawyers representing the family of a Canadian photographer who died in custody in Iran said she was deliberately killed and demanded an impartial court retry the case.
Iranian blog, Roozonline reported on the charges by Hossein Ghaziyan, one of those imprisoned for conducting a poll on US-Iran relations. The article outlines the abuse he has received by the regime.
Iranian blogger, Behrouz Sayyedi, Roozonline reported that two years have passed since the Writers Guild elected its board of directors, however, permission for it to convene and elect new officers has been denied.
Iranian blogger, Hossein Bastani, Roozonline reported that despite Iran's Judiciary report outlining violations of the rights of the accused and imprisoned nothing will change.
The UK Foreign Ministry released its Annual Human Rights Report 2005 arguing there has been no significant progress in Iran since their last Annual Report.
Iran Press News reported that an estimated 900,000 workers all around Iran are on perpetual strike.

[7/17-7/23]

Iranian.ws reported that the man linked to murder of Canadian journalist is touted as Iran's new minister of justice.
Roozonline took a look at another prison in Iran and the political prisoners forgotten there.
Payvand reported four Iranians received Hellman/Hammett awards this year, in recognition of their courage in the face of political persecution.
Reuters reported that an unprecedented report from Iran's conservative judiciary acknowledged that human rights violations were widespread in prisons.

Fox News reported that free speech advocates are frustrated with a host of American companies they say have been collaborating with oppressive regimes.
The Red Herring reported on a roundtable at Harvard University on bloggers who are fighting censorship, the threat of jail time, and often physical violence and whether Western technology companies can be pressured to maintain U.S. speech protections.

[7/10-7/16]

Iranian.ws reported that Iran will soon have women only parks built in all the cities of Tehran Province.
Iranian blogger, Nazanin Namdar, Roozonline reported the deputy police chief said “one cannot deny torture in detention centers.” He is quick to add that “… it is an illegal act.”
Dozame.org reported that Iranian prisoner Cehangir Baduzade was punished with 25 whiplashes because of his hunger strike.

[7/03-7/09]

Eli Lake, The NY Sun reported that jailed Iranian dissident journalist Akbar Ganji has defied the will of his captors, vowing to refuse to end his 26-day hunger strike.
IranMania reported that imprisoned Iranian dissident Ganji is near death due to his hunger strike and demanding unconditional freedom.
Islamic Republic News Agency reported that the EU called on Iran to release Ganji.
Islamic Republic News Agency reported that Ebadi says Zarafshan on medical leave from prison and the government denies Ganji is in any medical emergency.
Gooya News reported that more than 380 intellectuals and scholars called for a demonstration next Tuesday, to press the Islamic government to release Akbar Ganji and other political prisoners.
Amnesty International released an Urgent Action statement on Iranian writer and journalist Yousuf Azizi Bani Toruf.
Reporters Without Borders issued another statement saying Iran's judiciary continues to stall in Kazemi case, two years after her death.
Gooya News published a petition in support of Dr. Hossein Ghazian who was tried and charged with the alleged crime of cooperating with a belligerent state (the U.S.) through conducting opinion polls for Gallup Organization and Zogby Polling Institute.
Iran Focus reported that a hospital belonging to the Revolutionary Guards in the Iranian capital is refusing entry for women not wearing the head-to-toe covering known as chador.
IranMania reported that Iran's Judiciary system says will not carry out eye-for-eye verdict.
Iranian.ws reported that an Iranian woman singer was threatened with death for singing.
Voice of America News reported that Iran's streets are full of children working illegally.