News from Iran 9/30/2005

Hat tip to Dr. Etebar.

"Cuba, Syria and Belarus joined the International Atomic Energy Agency's 35-nation board Thursday, bolstering the ranks of countries expected to oppose any decision to refer Iran to the U.N. Security Council in November."

This will tie in nicely with the report that Japan is thinking about reducing it dues to the UN, because they pay the second highest dues but were refused a permanent seat on the panel.

The Brittish Embassy was attacked Wednesday by about 300 paramilitary (Hezbollah) forces. About six of these myrmidones were injured.

Syria has a new law allowing the people to choose and elect their own local administrations in the next elections! This will be the first time ever the Syrian people will have their voices heard.

Plans for the new law, explained Syrian Minister of Local Administration Hilal Attrash, will allow the 15,000 members of the country’s municipal councils to be freely elected in 2007.

"Hazem Sha'lan, Minister of Defense of the Iraqi interim government, who has repeatedly and emphatically stressed the Islamic Republic of Iran's continued meddling in Iraqi affairs as well as the revolutionary guards' support system for Islamic terrorists, in an interview with Asharq Alawsat, exposed the fact that Abu-Mussab Al-Zarqawi, the head of the Iraqi branch of Al Qaeda is in direct collaboration with the security and intelligence apparatus of the Islamic regime."

No more Presidential Commissions! The CIA seems to believe it is perfectly fine to let the enemies of our country know every plan, every intelligence gathered...or not, and God knows what else! Why don't we just invite them over for tea? Arrgghh!

Political Prisoners

Twenty-three year-old Kianoosh Sanjari has been in Evin Prison in solitary confinement for four months. When his Mother finally was permitted to visit him, he was so weak he did not recognize her at first. He was taken from his home June 16, 2005, the day before the first round of elections. He has not been charged with any crime, nor has he been allowed to visit a lawyer. He has been arrested since he was 16 years old, and has spent a total of 2 years in and out of prison, enduring severe torture.

The State Security Forces opened fire on hundreds of people in the city of Ahwaz, killing Heydari and Filabi. The rioting continues in the districts of Shilang-Abad and Malashieh in Ahwaz. While the clashes continued, "according to an opposition website, several of those detained were killed under torture and their charred corpses placed outside the homes of their families."

Technorati tags: Iran, Political Prisoners, and Terrorism.