Social and Political

Al-Monitor – The US Air Force on Thursday launched the second short-term deployment of B-52 heavy bombers to the Middle East in less than a month as part of efforts to deter potential hostile Iranian military activity as Washington reduces its military presence in Iraq and Afghanistan. The flight by two B-52 Stratofortress crews from Louisiana to the Levant comes less than two …

Shabtabnews – In a twitter statement IOPHR stated that “The life of #RouhollahZam is in grave danger as his death sentence has been confirmed. Zam’s bravery to expose the deep corruption within #Iran‘s ruling regime deserves global attention. “ The life of #RouhollahZam is in grave danger as his death sentence has been confirmed. Zam's bravery to expose the deep …

Shabtabnews – In a twitter statement USCIRF commends the UN special rapporteurs calling for the release from prison of Iranian lawyer Nasrin Soutudeh, who defended women peacefully protesting mandatory religious headscarf laws in #Iran. USCIRF commends the UN special rapporteurs calling for the release from prison of Iranian lawyer Nasrin Soutudeh, who defended women peacefully protesting mandatory religious headscarf laws …

Shabtabnews – In a twitter statement the USCIRF stated that : ” 81% of cases of state enforcement of #blasphemy laws were in only 10 countries: Pakistan, Iran, Russia, India, Egypt, Indonesia, Yemen, Bangladesh, Saudi Arabia, and Kuwait.” 81% of cases of state enforcement of #blasphemy laws were in only 10 countries: Pakistan, Iran, Russia, India, Egypt, Indonesia, Yemen, Bangladesh, …

Iranwire.com – Iran is not just a place. Iran exists wherever Iranians talk and care about Iran. Naturally the Iranian diaspora around the world is an energetic amalgam of cultures, religions and political dispositions. But they are all Iranian, definitely and eternally, however many years they have been away from their homeland. Three Iranian human rights figures, the lawyer Payam …

Radiofarda – Twenty-two years after the political “Chain Murders” in Iran, Pirouz Davani’s family is still waiting to hear about his whereabouts. His brother, Hossein Davani, says that no trace remains of his brother, who he says was murdered in the heat of the Iranian Ministry of Intelligence’s project to kill dissidents in 1998. The writer, translator, and owner of …

RFL/RE – Iran and Afghanistan have officially inaugurated their first railway link, an achievement the two countries’ presidents said would help enhance trade across the region.The 130-kilometer line running from Khaf in northeastern Iran into Rosnak in the western Afghan province of Herat is seen as providing a crucial transport link for the landlocked country where decades of war have hindered …

RFL/RE – The ultraconservative former chief of Iran’s judiciary, Mohammad Yazdi, has died at the age of 89, the official IRNA state news agency reported. Yazdi, a student of Islamic republic founder Ruhollah Khomeini, died on December 9 due to “illnesses of the digestive system,” IRNA said. Yazdi was named to head the judicial authority in 1989, shortly after Supreme …

RFL/RE – In early December 2005, Nshan Topouzian, an ethnic Armenian bishop living in Iran, received an alarming tip-off. According to Iranian border guards, a demolition crew had arrived at the Armenian cemetery of Julfa, in the Azerbaijani exclave of Naxcivan. The Armenian cemetery of Julfa. This is one of several photographs of the ancient cemetery that were taken by …

Payvandnews – The Iranian Health Ministry has confirmed 10,223 COVID-19 infections and 295 deaths due to the respiratory disease in the past 24 hours. Health Ministry Spokesperson Sima Lari made the announcement on Wednesday, saying that the total coronavirus cases in the country have so far reached 1,072,620 with the death toll standing at 51,620. Funeral for a coronavirus victim …