Radiofarda – The son of Ayatollah Hossein Ali Montazeri, a former deputy to Iran’s first Supreme Leader Ayatollah Rouhollah Khomeini says he has access to a tape recording showing the Islamic Republic’s culpability in executing thousands of political prisoners in 1988. Ahmad Montazeri says he is not “authorized” to disclose the contents of the tape. In 2016 he released another …

Radiofarda – Tehran’s outspoken member of parliament Mahmoud Sadeqi has warned about the dangerous health condition of imprisoned dervishes who are on a hunger strike in Iran. In a tweet on Friday, December 20, the city of Tehran’s MP Sadeqi insisted that the detained “dervishes’ lives were in danger” and urged the Islamic Republic’s head of the judiciary Ebrahim Raeesi …

Radiofarda – Air pollution will increase in the coming days in Iran’s capital Tehran, the official news agency IRNA quoted an official of the country’s meteorological organization as saying. During the week, the government closed all schools in Tehran and adjacent regions till Sunday due to heavy smog. A brief rain cleared the air somewhat, but the new warning indicates …

Radiofarda – Widespread protests in in over 100 Iranian cities in November were met with the Islamic Republic’s usual reaction, which is violent suppression. This time it was even more violent. “Suppression” is the most frequently used keyword in Iran as it is how the government deals with any gathering, protest, and movement by any Iranian group may be it …

RFL/RE – U.S. President Donald Trump spoke by phone with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe about Iran, North Korea, and trade, the White House said late on December 21. White House spokesman Judd Deere did not offer specifics on the leaders’ discussions on Iran. Kyodo news service said the call lasted one hour and 15 minutes. Abe told reporters the …

CHRI – UN Press Release, – UN human rights experts* today called on the Iranian authorities to release all individuals arbitrarily detained and mistreated during recent protests, and expressed concerns over the hundreds of people who have been killed. “We are shocked at reports of the ill-treatment of those detained during the protests that took place in November 2019, and …

CHRI – Nine Labor Rights Activists and Journalists Sentenced to Prison Without Right to Appeal Judiciary Chief Ebrahim Raisi Eliminated Appeal Process with Supreme Leader’s Blessing Nine labor activists were each sentenced to five years in prison on December 14, 2019, on the charge of “assembly and collusion against national security” at Branch 36 of the Appeals Court in Tehran without the …

PayvandNews – A new Yalda Night is approaching the hearts of Iranians no matter which part of the globe they live. On that graceful night the winter chill is vanquished and the warmth of love embraces the entire family. The last evening of autumn and the beginning of winter is a ceremonious, auspicious time for Iranians and lovers of Iranian traditions everywhere …

Radiofarda – Iran’s Prosecutor General announced that “many of those detained” in the November protests across Iran have been indicted and their trials will begin next week. Mohammad Jafar Montazeri also said those who “could be freed” have already been released from prison. Iran has so far refused to disclose the number of the detainees or give any information about …

Radiofarda – While 70 countries improved their human freedom ranking in the past year, Iran remained in the 154th place among the 162 countries in the Human Freedom Index (HFI). The index which measures personal, civil and economic freedom at a global level, covers areas such as rule of law, security and safety, size of government, property rights, religion, civil …