Social and Political

RFL/RE – The Center for Human Rights in Iran (CHRI) says that at least three political activists in Tehran’s Evin prison have joined imprisoned human rights activist Nasrin Sotoudeh’s hunger strike demanding freedom for all political prisoners. Sotoudeh’s hunger strike was launched after Iranian judicial officials announced the temporary release of 85,000 inmates to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus, which …

VOA – Iraqi President Barham Salih’s choice of former Najaf Governor Adnan Zurfi to form a new government is meeting opposition from the country’s divided Shiite political camp, along with the country’s main power broker, Iran.   Zurfi, who has 30 days to put together a Cabinet, is facing what some analysts see as insurmountable odds.   Despite opposition to Zurfi’s …

Amnesty – Responding to the announcement by the Iranian authorities that pardons will be granted to prisoners convicted of “security” offences who have a five-year prison sentence or less, and that those who have been granted leave in recent weeks will not be returned to prison, Philip Luther, Amnesty International’s Middle East and North Africa Research and Advocacy Director, said: …

CHRI – Stand with Healthcare Workers Battling COVID-19 March 18, 2020 — The Center for Human Rights in Iran stands in solidarity with the people of Iran during this time of great national trauma and suffering, and sends a message of hope and strength with the arrival of the Persian New Year. As Iranian families remember the beautiful traditions of …

Al-Monitor – “A good year ahead can be seen in a good spring,” goes a popular Persian proverb. The idea might ring true enough for Iranians looking back at the Persian year 1398, which comes to a close March 20. “Despite the problems that our enemy was determined to cause it, our nation managed to end the year in triumph,” President Hassan Rouhani said in a televised speech …

Al-Arabia – Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has not appeared in public for more than two weeks, prompting speculation that he could have contracted coronavirus as many other Iranian officials have done so. Iran has been one of the worst hit countries by the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, with the official toll listing 17,361 infected and 1,315 dead as of Wednesday – and …

Radiofarda – Iran’s death toll from the coronavirus has reached 1,135, with 147 deaths over the past 24 hours — the highest 24-hour rise yet — state TV reported on March 18, as President Hassan Rouhani defended his government’s response to the outbreak. Iran has been the hardest-hit country in the Middle East, with a total of 17,361 confirmed cases, …

Radiofarda – A Revolutionary Court in Tehran has sentenced the son of former Chief Commander of the Iranian Army to ten years in jail for corruption, the Islamic Republic Judiciary spokesman announced at his weekly news conference on Tuesday, March 17. Ammar Salehi, the only son of the former army commander, Major General Ataollah Salehi (2005-17), has also been banned …

Radiofarda – Two groups of vigilantes on Monday tried to force their way into the shrines in Iran that were closed to the public as a measure against the spread of coronavirus the shrines closed their doors to the public. One group consisted of pro-Khamenei zealots, the other of fanatical followers of a dissident anti-regime cleric. The incidents have caused …

Radiofarda – The Chairman of Iran’s Society of Zoroastrians has said that coronavirus (COVID-19) has impacted the small Zoroastrian community in Yazd very hard with a fatality rate much higher than the general population. In a tweet on Tuesday Sepanta Niknam who is also a former representative of Zoroastrians in Iran’s Parliament said the community accounts for 30 percent of …