Iranwire – A meeting between Pope Francis, the head of the worldwide Catholic Church, and Ayatollah Ali Sistani, an influential Shia source of emulation, is scheduled to take place next month. This remarkable event might well have an impact on both politics and interfaith relations in years to come. It is less likely, however, to be well-received by those close …

VOA – The family of a jailed Iranian dissident recently sentenced to 14 years in prison for peaceful activism has begun speaking out about his case, saying his health is worsening as Iranian officials deny him treatment for severe epilepsy after forcing him to confess to security crimes.   In a Thursday Skype video interview with VOA Persian from her home in Iran’s …

Amnesty – The Iranian authorities’ flogging of Hadi Rostami, an inmate at Urumieh prison in West Azerbaijan province, 60 times on 14 February 2021 is a gruesome reminder of the cruelty of Iran’s seriously flawed justice system, said Amnesty International, calling on the authorities to immediately quash his conviction and amputation sentence and provide him with the urgent medical care …

Iran Human Rights (IHR) – A prisoner sentenced to qisas (retribution-in-kind) for murder, has been executed at Meshgin Shahr Prison. According to Iran Human Rights, a male prisoner was executed at Mesghin Shahr Prison on Saturday, February 13. The identity of the prisoner who was sentenced to to qisas (retribution-in-kind) for murder, has been established as 37-year-old Ardabil native, Bahavar Tanazi. An informed source …

Iran-HRM – Behnam Mahjoubi, from Iran’s persecuted Gonabadi Dervish religious minority, passed away today in a hospital in Tehran four days after receiving an of unknown medication in prison. Mahjoubi was transferred to Loghman Hospital on February 12 from the notorious Evin Prison. Ebrahim Allah Bakhshi, the friend of dissident Behnam Mahjoubi, cited “credible hospital sources” as saying Behman Mahjoubi had …

Al-Arabia – Iranian and Russian militaries have kicked off a joint naval drill in the Indian Ocean aimed at boosting security of maritime trade in the region, Iran’s state TV reported on Tuesday. For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app. The TV said units from Iran’s Navy and the powerful Revolutionary Guard’s navy …

RFL/RE – Iran says it will block snap inspections by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) beginning next week if other parties to the 2015 nuclear deal do not uphold their obligations under the accord.Under legislation enacted last year, the Iranian government is obliged to limit IAEA inspections to declared nuclear sites starting next week if other parties do not …

RFL/RE – Iran’s Foreign Ministry has denied Turkish media reports alleging that an Iranian citizen recently arrested in Turkey is a consulate employee linked to the 2019 murder of an Iranian dissident in Istanbul. “What has happened is the arrest of an Iranian national upon entry,” ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh told reporters on February 15, adding that Tehran was in …

RFL/RE -The UN’s special rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Iran has expressed concern over reports that the country has subjected lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) children to “torture and cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment.” In a report released last week, Javaid Rehman said such practices, which violate Iran’s obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights …

Iranwire – A surge in the number of people infected with the highly contagious coronavirus variant found in the UK has deepened fears of an oncoming “fourth wave” in Iran. New cases have been reported across Iran’s central provinces, including Tehran, Alborz, Isfahan and Qazvin. In the latter, two villages have been quarantined. Kianoush Jahanpour, officially the spokesman for Iran’s …