Shabtabnews In this dark night, I have lost my way – Arise from a corner, oh you the star of guidance.

Al-Monitor – “The spring of tourism [is coming],” wrote the government-run Iran newspaper Sept. 21, reporting on a ceremony in which conservative politician Ezzatollah Zarghami was sworn in as Iran’s new minister of cultural heritage, tourism and handicrafts. Zarghami told the event that following his conversations with hard-line President Ebrahim Raisi, Iran plans to lift visa restrictions to help the severely hit …

Iranwire – On Saturday, at a meeting with Iranian medalists in the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympics games, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei once again drew attendees back to the only topic that concerns him in the sporting arena: Israel. Using harsher language than usual, Khamenei told officials “not to be passive” in refusing to accept Israel’s legitimacy at international sports contests. He …

Iran-HRM – A appeals court in Tehran has upheld flogging and prison sentences against labor activist Esmail Gerami. Esmail Gerami was sentenced to 74 lashes, five years of prison, and a fine of 2 million tomans (about $72) by the Tehran Appeals Court on Saturday, September 19. The 67-year-old labor activist was previously sentenced to 74 lashes, five years of prison, and …

Iran-HRM – A Kurd border porter was killed by security forces on Sunday in Sardasht, northwestern Iran. According to Kurdish news websites, the man was identified as 39-year-old Omid Mohammadzadeh. He was shot in the hip and bled to death. Mohammadzadeh was married and father to three children aged eleven, seven, and five. His body has not been given to …

gatestoneinstitute.org – According to the Global Index of Terrorism, more than 57% of terrorism in the first 15 years of the Global War on Terror happened in four countries: Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan and Nigeria. In Syria, since 2011, most of the deaths in that category were the work of state terrorism. Most of the active terror groups are located in …