Social and Political

RFL/RE – Germany’s Green party has elected a 28-year-old feminist and an Iranian-born foreign policy expert to lead the party just a month after it joined the national government in a three-way coalition. Ricarda Lang, 28, and Omid Nouripour, 46, were selected to take the reins of the party as it attempts to build on the success of its performance …

Iranhr.net – On the 43rd anniversary of the 1979 Islamic revolution, Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO) is organising a webinar with the aim of raising the debate on post-authoritarian transition. IHRNGO’s Director, Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam said: “The Islamic Republic is heading towards an uncertain future and a major change may not be far away. To avoid past mistakes and ensure human rights in a …

Al-Arabia – The Giants Brigades forces said Saturday some of its fighters remained on the front lines in key Yemeni conflict zones as part of defensive measures after driving out the Iran-backed Houthi militia. The Giants Brigades, which are supported by the UAE, said Friday it had begun repositioning its forces after pushing the Houthis back from oil-rich Shabwa province …

RFL/RE – In a rare message, the U.S. special envoy on Iran has congratulated the Islamic Republic’s national soccer team on making it to this year’s World Cup in Qatar. “Congrats to #teammelli on qualifying for the #WorldCup2022. It’s good to see women were allowed to attend the match,” Robert Malley wrote on Twitter, using the Iranian team’s nickname. Iran became …

RFL/RE – The latest round of talks to save the Iran nuclear deal have neared a final stage, diplomats said, after weeks of intense diplomacy in Vienna. Diplomats from Germany, France, and Britain, known collectively as the E3, together with Russia and China, have been meeting in the Austrian capital since last spring trying to bring Iran and the United …

Iranwire – According to widespread media reports, about 2,000 female fans were allowed into Azadi Stadium on Thursday to watch the Iranian national football team beat Iraq 1-0, securing a place at the Qatar World Cup. The eleventh-hour decision was praised by many observers as a first step in the right direction after months of prevarication by Tehran. But there were some …

Iranwire — The Ministry of Health and Medical Education has formally announced a “sixth wave” of coronavirus infections is under way in Iran. Omicron has now become the dominant variant: something officials had previously claimed would not happen due to Iranians having “more antibodies” after the late-starting vaccination drive.   The head of Iran’s Food and Drug Administration recently claimed the country …

Al-Monitor – Human Rights Watch called on Iran to “immediately and unconditionally” release Narges Mohmmadi, a prominent human rights campaigner sent back to prison this week.  Tara Sepehrifar, senior Iran researcher at HRW, said Friday that Mohmmadi’s “cruel detention and prosecution” was “clearly intended to crush her into silence at all costs.” Mohmmadi was the spokesperson for the Defenders of Human Rights …

FFL/RE – Human Rights Watch (HRW) has condemned a new prison sentence handed to prominent Iranian human rights defender Narges Mohammadi and called on Tehran to “immediately and unconditionally” release her. “Iranian authorities’ cruel detention and prosecution of Narges Mohmmadi only one year after she was released from an earlier prison term and then piling on more unfair prison sentences …

Iranwire – Iranian state TV was subjected to a rare disruption by hackers on Thursday in a strike attributed to opposition group the People’s Mojahedin Organization [MEK]. For about 10 seconds, broadcasts on the IRIB’s Channel 1 and Quran Channel were interrupted and replaced with pictures of the MEK’s co-leaders Massoud and Maryam Rajavi. A crossed-out image of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei …