Radiofarda – For the first time since March thousands of Iranians in the capital Tehran and 400 other cities throughout Iran gathered in mosques and open-air spaces on Tuesday evening for three-night long ceremonies amid coronavirus fears. Iranian news agencies have published pictures of the mask-wearing faithful listening to prayers and praying in mosques or in their cars in open …

Radiofarda – A parliamentary motion to officially ban Iranian athletes from competing with their Israeli counterparts has pushed the country to the verge of becoming an outcast at international sports events. Since the establishment of the Islamic Republic of Iran in 1979 , the country does not recognize Israel and, based on an unwritten law, has prohibited Iranian athletes to …

Radiofarda – The Director-General of Iran’s West Azarbaijan Prisons on May 12 denied reports about an uprising against the outbreak of the deadly coronavirus in the city of Orumieh’s central jail. A day earlier, a Kurdish human rights website, Hengaw, had reported that the inmates of the secured ward in Orumieh (Urmia) Central Prison had revolted, protesting the outbreak of …

Radiofarda – Iran’s oil minister said Tuesday that stockpiling gasoline in his country has reached an “unprecedented historic level” due to falling demand. Bijan Namdar Zanganeh, speaking at a meeting of oil industry officials in Tehran, explained that both foreign and domestic demand has fallen as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. Sanctions imposed by the United States have also …

Al-Arabia – Iran should not yet reopen mosques at this critical time in its coronavirus epidemic, said Iranian physician Dr. Kamiar Alaei, following the reopening of some mosques in the country. The Iranian government closed mosques in mid-March, but reversed its decision on Tuesday, temporarily opening mosques for the Islamic holy night of Laylat al-Qadr, which commemorates the Quran being revealed …

Iran-HRM – Inmates at the Urmia Prison torched their blankets and set fire to the “secure section” on May 12, to protest over fears of contracting the coronavirus. According to informed sources, 150 prisoners are kept in the section which has the capacity for only 50 prisons. Prisoners are held in crammed conditions with only one restroom and shower for …

RFL/RE – U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on May 13 accused Iran of using its resources to “foment terror” even as its people suffer through one of the Middle East’s deadliest coronavirus outbreaks. The top U.S. diplomat arrived in Jerusalem earlier on May 13 for talks with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other members of Israel’s new government on …

RFL/RE – The innumerous, pretty food packages for the poor were carefully set around the shrine of the founder of Iran’s Islamic republic, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, to highlight support for people left in need by the deadly coronavirus pandemic. But those images filling Iranian news sites led to a sudden flood of criticism from people shocked by the stark contrast …

CHRI – The Center for Human Rights in Iran (CHRI) today published an unofficial Persian translation of the UN’s recent guidance note and accompanying press release on how states can mitigate the disproportionate risks faced by persons with disabilities during the COVID-19 pandemic. “The Iranian government’s handling of this pandemic has endangered everyone, particularly vulnerable communities such as people with disabilities who faced multiple barriers to …

Al-Monitor – President Hassan Rouhani sacked his minister of industry, mine and trade at one of the most chaotic moments for the country’s industry, particularly in the automotive sector. The Iranian auto industry has been on a downward path in the past two months with prices of domestic products soaring by up to 60%. Yet no mention of that turbulence was made in …