Al-monitor  — Iranians have long been proud of their ancient history and culture, and they always speak of the Achaemenid Empire (circa 550-330 B.C.) with pride. Since the kings of this empire, and particularly Cyrus the Great and Darius the Great, ruled with benevolence and tolerance, they enjoy a particular affection among Iranians. Darius, in his famous prayer, wished for …

Iranhr.net – Iran Human Rights has obtained the names of 14 prisoners in Qorveh’s central prison who may be executed at any moment. One of the prisoners is a woman. Iran Human Rights (NOV 3 2016): According to close sources, there are a total of 47 prisoners who are currently on death row in Qorveh’s central prison (Kurdistan province, western …

Iran Human Rights –  Three prisoners were reportedly executed at Darya, Urmia’s central prison, on drug related charges. According to a report by the human rights news agency, HRANA, the prisoners were hanged on the morning of Wednesday August 2 in the West Azerbaijan province (northwestern Iran). HRANA identifies the prisoners as Farhad Mansouri, Shoaib Hatami, and Darvish Monzemi. These …

Iran Human Rights –  Two prisoners were executed at Salmas Prison (west Azerbaijan province, northwestern Iran) on drug related charges. According to close sources, one of the prisoners, identified as Sami Mamadi, was hanged on Monday October 31. According to the Kurdistan Human Rights Network, the other prisoner, identified as Iraj Hamedi, was hanged on Tuesday November 1. The human rights …

Iranhumanrights.org – Tehran MP Voices Support for Yashar Soltani. New information has seriously challenged the credibility of the charges against Yashar Soltani, who was detained and charged with “spreading lies” and “gathering classified information with the intent to harm national security” after he published an unclassified letter exposing wide-spread corruption in the Tehran Municipality. Tehran City Council member Ahmad Hakimipour, …

PayvandNews – Iranian architect Leila Araghian and Alireza Behzadi won the UAE’s prestigious Aga Khan Award for Tabiat Pedestrian Bridge that connect two parks separated by a highway in northern Tehran. Tabiat Pedestrian Bridge in Tehran, Iran (photo by Sina Ahmadi) see more photos The Aga Khan Award for Architecture established in 1977 is given every three years to projects that …

PayvandNews – Iranian search engine ‘Parsijoo’ is the most used search engine in Iran after Google, head of the Steering Committee of the project ‘Domestic Search Engines’ said Monday. Alireza Yari, head of the Steering Committee of the project ‘Domestic Search Engines’ told Mehr News correspondent on Monday that Iranian internet citizens are slowly moving toward using domestic search engines more …

PayvandNews – President Rouhani while noting the various progress his govt. has made in economic and foreign policy arenas, urged finding solutions to raise Iranian youth’s hope for the future of the country. Suicide cartoon by Keyvan Varessi, Iranian daily Ghanoon President Hassan Rouhani attended an open Parliament’s session on Tuesday where MPs would assess the qualifications and then vote …

RFL/RE – Iranian lawmakers on November 1 approved three new ministers, signaling support for changes in the cabinet of President Hassan Rohani seven months before a presidential election. State media reported that Reza Salehi Amiri, Saeed Soltanifar, and Fakhredin Ahmadi Danesh-Ashtiani won votes of confidence to take over the ministries of Islamic guidance and culture, sport and youth affairs, and …

Iranhumanrights.org – Narges Mohammadi: “I will not allow an assault on my human dignity, and I will not stay silent.” Following an unprecedented public plea by Iranian Members of Parliament (MPs) for the Judiciary to show her “Islamic mercy,” Iran’s prosecutor general has claimed that imprisoned prominent human rights defender Narges Mohammadi is part of a foreign plot designed to …