Iran - A female activist was given her day in court !

Posted on: 23rd May, 2015

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HRANA News Agency – The trial of Atena Farghdani, painter and civil activist, was held on 19th May.

According to the report of Human Rights Activists News Agency in Iran (HRANA), in the morning of Tuesday 19th May, Farghdani’s trial was held in Branch 15 of the Revolutionary Court, presided by judge Salvati, with presence of this civil activist’s solicitor.

Mr. Mohammad Moghimi, solicitor of Athena Farghdani, in an interview with the HRANA‘s reporter, evaluated the overall atmosphere of the trial as “good and positive”. About the trial, Ms. Farghdani’s solicitor said: “The court went well and smooth, I presented my evidence as the lawyer and Ms. Farghdani, herself gave her own defense statement and now we have to wait for the court decision.”

Mr. Moghimi described his client’s condition as “good and hopeful” and stated that the court has not given a specific time for the court verdict to be issued, but normally, this time can be at least one week, or more.

The charges against Ms. Farghadani in the court, were announced as; propaganda against the regime, gathering and collusion with the aim of acting against national security, insulting the Supreme Leader, insulting the president and insulting the MPs.

Atena Farghdani, painter and civil activist, was arrested on 23rdAugust last year by the security forces. After two months and a half he was released on a bail of 500 million Tomans, but after releasing a video clip in which she had talked about her problems during detention, she was summoned to the Revolutionary Court was sent to prison.

IRAN: Senior Cleric Urges more " Hand's to be cut off ", for punishment !

NCRI - A high ranking Iranian cleric who is the representative of the Iranian regime’s Supreme Leader in a Hormozgan province (southern Iran) has called for more inhumane punishment of hand amputations to be carried out.

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Ghulam Ali Naeem Abadi, who regularly speaks at the state-organized weekly Friday Prayers sermon in the city of Bandar Abbas, said on Wednesday in city of Mashhad: “If the hands of a few of those who commit thievery in the society be cut off, they would set as examples for the others and security will be restored.”

“When the security would be restored in the society with amputating a few finger, why such punishments are not being implemented?” he asked.

Naeem Abadi who is also a member of powerful Assembly of Experts urged the authorities in the province to carry out the inhuman amputation and do not pay attention to the international criticism of the regime. “Our government is based on implementation of Islamic laws,” he said.

Naeem Abadi was referring to the inhuman laws sanctioning the gouging out of many eyes, the amputation of many hands, fingers and legs, and the execution of many juvenile offenders, which the regime officials have described as ‘a unique particularity’ of the clerical dictatorship ruling in regime.

Last year, in a debate at the United Nations, Mohammad Javad Larijani, the Secretary General of the clerical regime’s so-called High Council for Human Rights defended the inhuman laws and urged the Western countries “to look into” it

Iran denies protestors were detained in Mahabad riots

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region— Security officials in Iran deny that any protesters were detained in connection with the demonstrations in Mahabad in early May over the death of a Kurdish hotel maid, Farinaz Khosrawani, who officials said died after falling from a hotel balcony.

Ali Radfar, the deputy governor of Iran’s Western Azerbaijan province, told reporters on May 8 that 25 people were injured during the riots, including seven policemen, but rebuffed accusations that any of the demonstrators were detained. Radfar also categorically denied reports that security personnel had used live ammunition against demonstrators.

Meanwhile, Iran’s deputy police chief, Said Montazar, told reporters on May 9 that “individuals who are believed to have masterminded the riot” were arrested following the riots. Montazr did not give details about the number or whereabouts of the detainees.

In amateur videos obtained by Rudaw, sporadic gunshots are heard followed by what appears to be groups of protesters carrying wounded demonstrators to safety.

Kurdish activists told Rudaw at least 50 demonstrators were wounded and more than 70 others were arrested by police forces.

“Many of the wounded did not seek medical treatment for fear of police investigations,” an activist who wished to remain anonymous told Rudaw. “Most of the detainees are between 18 and 30 years of age.”

Akam Tallaj, 25, was critically wounded and is being treated in Urumiyeh state hospital for injuries he received during the riots.

Hospital sources told Rudaw Tallaj was shot at close range by a Winchester rifle.

“After three operations, his condition is still unstable,” the source from Imam Khomeini hospital told Rudaw on condition of anonymity.

Angry protesters stormed a hotel in Mahabad on May 8 after reports Khosrawani fell from the hotel balcony as she tried to escape an attempted sexual assault by a security agent.

Thousands of Kurds across the world took to social media to show solidarity with the ill-fated Khosrawani and condemned the official response in Iran.

Mahabad was the capital of the first and only Kurdish republic established in the aftermath of World War II in 1946.

One man, who is an employee of a governmental tourist office, was arrested as the only suspect of the incident. 

The owner of the hotel has rejected allegations that his staff was involved “in any ways” in the incident that led to Khosrawani’s death.  

“There is no trust in the judiciary system in Iran,” Dr Khalid Tawakoli, a Kurdish activist and researcher, told Rudaw. “The political and civil rights of the Kurdish people have been ignored for too long.”

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani is expected to visit the province in the coming days after a number of Kurdish activists wrote an open letter to the moderate president urging him to release the Kurdish detainees.

Relatives of detained Kurdish activist Armin Housseinpoor told Rudaw officials it has not been disclosed where the 19-year-old activist who took part in the protests is being held.

“Armin was a student and a breadwinner for his family,” one relative who wished not to be named told Rudaw. 

A video image circulated on social media in recent days apparently showing Khosrawani “willingly” entering a hotel rum.

Activists say the publication of the video was to discredit the young Kurdish woman and has already discouraged protesters.

“The riot was provoked by the patriarchal mentality in the country and was ended by the same world view,” said Tahir Khadio, a political researcher in the city of Mahabad.  

But the leader of a Kurdish political party says the riots were both “political and legitimate.”

“Iran’s officials are terrified of the nationalist sentiments in Kurdish regions of the country,” said Khalid Aziz, who is the leader of the Kurdistan Democratic Party-Iran (KDPI). 

“Officials wanted to show an aggressive image of the Kurdish people who set fire on hotel buildings,” Azizi said.

“They prevented the protests from spreading to other Kurdish cities by labeling them as a violent, aggressive riot, which in fact it was not.”

Iraq - US gives anti-tanks guns to stop ISIS car bombs

Erbil, Kurdistan Region - The United States will deliver 1,000 anti-tanks weapons to Baghdad next month so Iraqi forces can use the guns against deadly ISIS vehicle-borne suicide attacks, a US official said on Thursday. 



“ISIS militants launched nearly 30 suicide car bombings on the Iraqi forces when they took control of Ramadi,” the official told Rudaw on condition of anonymity.

The source said the weapons deal was agreed upon during Iraqi Prime Minister’s Haidar al-Abadi vist to Washington earlier this year. He said the anti-tank guns will arrive in June. 

ISIS took control of Ramadi, capital of Anbar province, on May 17. The quick retreat of the Iraqi Army has led many experts to question both Baghdad and Washington's policies for containing the extremists.

ISIL to blame for Saudi Arabia Shi’ite mosque suicide attack

Iran news in brief, 21 May 2015 #iran

Russian Woman Shoots Herself in Head Taking Selfie with Pellet Gun

MOSCOW – A 21-year-old Russian woman shot herself in the head on Thursday when she tried to take a selfie with a pellet gun pointed at her temple, Moscow police reported on Friday.

When trying to take the selfie in her office, she pulled the trigger of an air gun left behind by a security guard.

She survived the accident, but was hospitalized by the rubber bullet.

Incidentally, on Thursday, another Russian man nearly lost his life while trying to take a selfie when climbing an arched bridge in central Moscow.

The man fell, plunged to the ground and hit the asphalt, but also managed to survive despite having suffered several injuries, for which he was also hospitalized.

The self-portrait photo taken with a mobile phone or webcam known as a selfie has led to numerous accidents, some with tragic results.

On Monday, a ninth grader died in the Russian city of St. Petersburg after falling from a fifth-floor fire escape, which he had climbed to take a selfie.