Iranwire – Molavi Abdulhamid, Iran’s most prominent Sunni cleric, has strongly criticized the authorities for preventing the families of people killed at last year’s nationwide protests from holding memorials on the anniversaries of their deaths. “It is a universal custom and an Islamic tradition to extend sympathy to those who are suffering and grieving,” the outspoken Sunni Friday prayer leader …

VOA – The U.N.’s human rights office Friday assailed a new law passed by Iran’s parliament which increases jail terms and fines for female citizens who do not comply with the nation’s strict Islamic dress code on head coverings and modest clothing. Speaking at a news conference in Geneva, spokesperson for the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Ravina Shamdasani …

gatestoneinstitute.org – The Biden administration… is also financing the ruling mullahs of Iran with billions of dollars to put the finishing touches on the country’s nuclear program and for delivering more weapons to Russia with which to attack Ukraine. “We’re sitting still, and the Chinese, the Russians, Iran, North Korea, and several others, are moving to shore up their relations …

Al-Monitor — Iran’s armed forces paraded multiple drones, missiles and other military hardware on Thursday, as the country marked the national Army Day that falls on the anniversary of its 1980s war with Iraq.    During the televised ceremony in Tehran, 16 different types of drones were paraded before President Ebrahim Raisi and Iran’s most senior men in uniform.   According to state …

RFL/RE – Plans to commemorate the first anniversary of the death of Nika Shakarami, a 16-year-old protester believed to have been killed by Iranian security forces during widespread protests last year, have been abruptly canceled amid an increased security presence around her grave site and the detention of several people who tried to come and pay their respects. Nasrin Shakarami, …

iranintl – US State Department has strongly condemned threats against Iran International reporters by the entourage of the Iranian president during their visit to the UN this week. A State Department official in response to inquiries said that they have seen reports of threats, and assault on, an Iran International journalist by a member of the Iranian delegation. The behavior …

iranintl – The entourage of Iran’s president attacked, harassed and insulted Iran International journalists covering Ebrahim Raisi’s stay in New York. In the latest incident on Wednesday, an official from Raisi’s delegation attacked Iran International correspondent Kian Amani outside the Millenium Hilton New York One UN Plaza Hotel.  The official tried to grab Amini’s cellphone as he was capturing footage of them …

Iranwire – I am awaiting the arrival of Dr. Mohsen Sohrabi in Paris at the home of one of my friends.  Dr. Sohrabi, a remarkable physician, emerged from the heart of a “war-torn region.” He tirelessly cared for hundreds of wounded individuals in the Kurdish town of Sanandaj and carries with him the profound memories of those who lost their …

Iranwire – A “massive fire” hit a storage area of an Iranian Defense Ministry’s factory north of Tehran, local media reported on September 22. The fire happened in a storage area of plastic items in a battery factory north of Tehran, Fars news agency reported.  The Ministry of Defense confirmed that the fire happened in “warehouses of a battery manufacturing …

Iranwire – Iranian security forces detained at least 600 women in Tehran alone on the one-year anniversary of Mahsa Amini’s death on September 16, according to the Committee to Follow-Up on the Status of Detainees. Citing information provided by the families of the detainees, the group said that the majority of those detained have since been released on bail.  However, …