Iranwire – The second and final hearing in the high-profile trial of Iranian journalist Elahe Mohammadi took place on July 26, with the defendant denying the charges against her, her husband says. “The hearing concluded with the final defense. Elahe strongly denied all the charges, and we are hopeful that her clear defense presented in court will be duly considered,” …

VOA – A group of families who lost relatives when Iran shot down a Ukrainian passenger plane in 2020 tells VOA the four nations that initiated international legal action in the case this month have not supported their request for a separate global probe. In September, the Association of Families of Flight PS752 Victims asked the International Criminal Court prosecutor’s …

VOA – Bolivia is interested in obtaining Iranian drone technology to protect its borders and combat smuggling and drug trafficking, the Andean country’s defense minister confirmed Tuesday, a day after Argentina demanded information on an agreement reached by Iran and Bolivia that has raised security concerns in the region. Edmundo Novillo dismissed those concerns, saying they were “exaggerated” and came …

Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO) – The scope of offences leading to the death penalty has widened significantly this year. In the latest case, state media have reported the death sentence against an unidentified man for consensual sex. Extramarital relations are criminalised under the Islamic Republic’s laws which proscribe the death penalty for the married party. On the other hand, Supreme …

Al-Monitor – The head of US Central Command (CENTCOM) overseeing all American forces in the Middle East, Gen. Michael Erik Kurilla, met Wednesday in Tel Aviv with Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, just two days after the Knesset adopted controversial legislation called the “Reasonableness Clause” eroding the powers of the Supreme Court and triggering concerns in Israel over the readiness of …

RFL/RE – What should have been a time of celebration of a young couple’s life journey has become a time of remembrance of the death of the “Groom of Mahabad.” It was one year ago that Zaniar Abubakri and his fiancee announced their engagement in a ceremony before friends and family. Videos on social media show the lovestruck 20-year-old nervously …

RFL/RE – Gholamali Koveitipor, an Iranian singer known for his support of the Islamic government and whose military anthems were a significant part of the Islamic republic’s propaganda during the Iran-Iraq War in the 1980s, has released a song critical of the crackdown authorities have waged in the face of months of unrest. Released in tandem with the traditional mourning …

Iranwire – The Iranian judiciary has overturned the death sentence of 23-year-old protester Mohammad Qobadloo, his lawyer says, after the convict sent a distressing message from prison. “The sentence of Mohammad Qobadloo was overturned by Branch 1 of the Supreme Court,” Lawyer Amir Raisian said on his Twitter account on July 26.  “The case will now be referred back to …

Iranwire – In a joint statement, the IRGC Intelligence Organization and the General Intelligence Directorate of northern Gilan province have announced the arrest of several Baha’i citizens. The arrested members of the Baha’i religious minority are facing serious accusations of “infiltrating various cultural, social, and educational sectors, with a special focus on music schools for children and teenagers.” Furthermore, they …

Iranwire – The Iranian judiciary has granted retrial to a father of three sentenced to death over his participation in nationwide unrest in November 2019, his lawyer says. The request for Abbas Daris’s retrial has been registered with Branch 9 of the Supreme Court and an order to halt the execution of his sentence has been sent to a court …