Social and Political

Iranwire – Security forces have met a wave of strikes and protests across Iranian Kurdistan with a swift and lethal display of force which has left at least seven dead, according to human rights groups. Hengaw, which reports on Iran’s Kurdish regions, said protesters in 10 cities had confronted “security forces’ intense violence” on Wednesday night. Direct fire had killed …

Iranwire – One of Iran’s best-known and admired actresses has demonstrated her support for the public protests sweeping Iran, appearing on a social media video without a hijab. Fatemeh Motamed-Arya showed her anger at the ongoing violent suppression of protesters. 🎥«فاطمه معتمدآریا»، بازیگر برجسته سینمای ایران با انتشار یک ویدئوی بدون حجاب به حضور تصویرش در دیوارنگاره جدید میدان ولیعصر …

VOA – Anti-government protests are continuing across Iran following the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini in police custody last month. She had been arrested by Iran’s morality police for ‘unsuitable attire’. Where might the protests lead – and how should the West respond? Henry Ridgwell reports from London.

Amnesty – Iranian security forces’ unlawful killings of at least 23 children shed further light on the authorities’ deadly resolve to crush the widespread, ongoing protests, which were sparked by the death in custody of 22-year-old Mahsa (Zhina) Amini on 16 September and grew into what many in Iran say is a broader uprising against the Islamic Republic establishment, Amnesty …

Al-Monitor – Iran is warning the European Union over the supranational body’s threat of new sanctions.  The US news outlet Politico reported Thursday that the Iranian government sent a letter to some European diplomats warning them to abandon the sanctions threat.  Iran said Europe must consider the “nuances” of the situation. If not, “the ramification will be grave and the bilateral relations …

Al-Monitor – Iran’s judiciary chief Gholam-Hossein Mohseni Ejei has told judges to avoid leniency and “unnecessary compassion” when it comes to prosecuting “the main elements of the riots,” as anti-government protests continued despite a deadly crackdown and crippling internet blackouts.   “Lenient verdicts will be injustice toward the public,” the hard-line cleric declared at a meeting in Tehran on Oct. 13. He advised …

RFL/RE – Top U.S. officials have met with representatives of technology companies to encourage them to work on ways to facilitate Internet access in Iran after a licensing change freed up the use of software and other technology used to circumvent Internet blockages. The United States issued a general license for such technologies last month and says they can be …

Iranwire – The number of dead killed in the latest round of public protests in Iran has passed 200, including dozens of children, a Norway-based human rights organization said Wednesday.  “According to information obtained by Iran Human Rights, the number of protesters killed by security forces has risen to at least 201 people,” Iran Human Rights said in a statement. …

Iranwire – Women inmates in Iran’s notorious Evin Prison have backed the ongoing nationwide protests in Iran and condemned security forces for violently repressing the people.  Narges Mohammadi, a prominent human rights activist who has been repeatedly arrested in recent years for her work and public comments, and who is herself currently incarcerated in Evin, said people inside the prison …

gatestoneinstitute.org – [T]he Biden administration, even during the Iranian regime’s current brutal crackdown on its own citizens, and the US Special Envoy for Iran, Robert Malley, are still seeking to revive the lethal “nuclear deal” — allowing the regime to enrich uranium to acquire an arsenal of nuclear weapons and the missiles to deliver them — and reassuring the mullahs …