Social and Political

Iranhumanrights.org – A few months after the Iranian government launched the first phase of its “national information network” (NIN), many questions still surround Iran’s domestically hosted, state-controlled and censored internet. In this article, the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran discusses ten critical questions about NIN, the country’s most expensive internet-related project. Progress on NIN reflects the continuation of …

PayvandNews- The International Volleyball Federation (FIVB) should cease awarding Iran the right to host FIVB international tournaments until the country ensures that female spectators can freely attend volleyball matches in the country, Human Rights Watch said in a letter to Ary Graca, the sports federation’s leader. Graca was re-elected as the FIVB’s president at the sports federation’s 35th World Congress …

VOA – Iran has disrupted an Islamic State bombing plot targeting the Shi’ite religious commemoration of Ashoura, according to state media reports on Thursday. “Intelligence ministry agents, with the cooperation of other security forces, succeeded to defuse one of the anti-security plots of the ‘takfiri’ terrorist groups and prevent an inhuman crime in the ceremonies,” Intelligence Minister Mahmoud Alavi said, …

IBTimes – A group of Iranian schoolgirls were reportedly flogged because their parents owed less than £7 ($8.50) in tuition fees. At least 10 girls are believed to have been punished by education authorities in the Mokhtarabad village in the country’s southern province of Kerman when it discovered their families could not afford to pay 30,000 toumans in fees. The students …

Al-monitor — In recent years, tension between Iran and Turkey has been rooted in differences over regional developments rather than bilateral disagreements. Indeed, if one reviews the exchanges between the two neighbors during the past two decades, one can see that clashing policy toward regional issues has been virtually the only source of conflict. Now, however, more than five years …

PayvandNews – Millions of Shia Muslims in Iran and other parts of the world are commemorating Ashura, which marks the martyrdom anniversary of Imam Hussein (PBUH), the third Shia Imam. The faithful have converged on the streets and in mosques with heavy hearts to honor Ashura, the 10th day of the first month of the Islamic lunar calendar Muharram, which …

Al-monitor — Former Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s attempt at a political comeback came to an abrupt end following his reported Aug. 30 meeting with the supreme leader. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei reportedly told Ahmadinejad that his provincial tours in recent months were inappropriate and that his candidacy in the May 2017 presidential election would be divisive, thus effectively barring him from …

PayvandNews – Stymied in their effort to reschedule a qualifier match for soccer’s 2018 World Cup, Iranian officials are guaranteeing to uphold “religious norms” in connection with a major Shi’ite mourning festival when their national team meets South Korea this week in Tehran. They predict huge black banners covering parts of Azadi Stadium, backup players clad in black, and dirges …

RFL/RE – Iran’s foreign minister has asked United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to use his “good offices” to arrange for an Iranian aircraft to evacuate victims of an attack over the weekend that killed 140 people at a funeral in Yemen. Mohammad Javad Zarif said he was shocked at the “tragic and horrific air strikes” by the Saudi-led coalition fighting …

Al-monitor  — On Sept. 28, the Central Bank of Iran (CBI) announced a plan that would urge commercial banks as well as credit and finance institutions to keep deposits under a specific level or face disciplinary measures. This is the second step taken by the monetary regulator in less than a year to ensure that financial resources are not blocked …