Social and Political

Amnesty – UN Human Rights Council member states must urgently establish an investigative and accountability mechanism on Iran to address the alarming spike in unlawful killings and other human rights violations, Amnesty International said today, following a week in which the Iranian security forces shot dead at least 60 protesters, mourners and bystanders, including children. Security forces are ruthlessly persisting …

Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO) – At least 416 people including 51 children and 27 women have been killed by security forces in the ongoing nationwide protests. Recalling the mass killing of people, particularly in Kurdish cities in recent days and in Sistan and Baluchistan on September 30, Iran Human Rights calls on the international community to investigate them as crimes …

Al-Monitor – Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) deployed helicopters and rows of military vehicles and machine guns to the Kurdish city of Javanroud as part of its clampdown on anti-government protests that have gripped the country since mid-September. As reports of deadly shootings came out, the IRGC-affiliated Fars News confirmed that combat bullets had been fired, but on “terrorists” linked to opposition groups …

Shabtabnews – In a twitter statement USCIRF condemned the sexual assault of Iranian protestors against mandatory hijab. USCIRF Commissioner @Skleinbaum: "USCIRF is appalled by reports Iranian protestors against mandatory hijab laws are being sexually assaulted & raped by Iranian security forces. The US gov must act through sanctions & intl pressure to disrupt this violence."https://t.co/LPZztGzIC0— USCIRF (@USCIRF) November 22, 2022 …

RFL/RE – Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) has fired on the headquarters of Iranian Kurdish opposition groups based in northern Iraq, the latest in a series of attacks as Tehran accuses them of fomenting a wave of unrest inside the Islamic republic. At least one person was reported killed in the attack late on November 20 that hit buildings of Kurdish …

Iranwire – Iranian armed forces arrested dozens of protesting university students in a mainly Kurdish city last week, amid a hardening of the authorities’ response to nationwide demonstrations. Security and intelligence agencies raided a dormitory of the University of Razi in the western city of Kermanshah, and beat up students before taking them away, sources told IranWire on November 22. …

Iranwire – Azerbaijan’s State Security Service (DTX) announced last week it had busted an Iranian spy network and arrested five Azerbaijani citizen on charges of treason. The five alleged spies had been gathering information about the Azerbaijani military, including its drones, and the country’s energy infrastructure. At least two of the suspects had received religious training in Iran. The announcement …

Iranwire – Iranian authorities have shut down a newspaper that published an op-ed by a University of Tehran professor, and banned another reporter from practicing their profession, in a continued crackdown against media workers. The offending article, by Sadegh Zibakalam, an outspoken academic, had voiced criticism of the government’s crackdown on the recent nationwide protests. Mizan news agency, affiliated with the hardline judiciary, announced that …

VOA – Iran has begun producing enriched uranium at 60% purity at the country’s underground Fordo nuclear plant, official media reported Tuesday, describing it as a response to a resolution by the United Nations’ nuclear watchdog. The step was seen as a significant addition to the country’s nuclear program. Enrichment to 60% purity is one short, technical step away from …

VOA – On day two of the World Cup in Qatar, Iran’s turmoil from a two-month long protest movement against Islamist rule was apparent among Iranian fans in the stadium as their men’s football team slumped to a 6-2 loss to England. A VOA Persian reporter who was at Monday’s first match of the tournament for Iran and England at …