News from Iran – Week 40 – 2012

Prisoners’ News

A- Transfers

Political prisoner Fayzollah Arabsorkhi has launched a hunger strike protesting denied medical care; he stopped when transferred to hospital.
Imprisoned Journalist Mohammad Reza Pourshajari (Siamak Mehr) taken to hospital after heart attack.
Keyvan Rahimian transferred from Evin to Rejaei Shahr prison.

B- Arrests/Incarcerations

Mohammad-Ali Dadkhah, prominent Human Rights lawyer, has gone to Evin to serve a 9 year prison sentence.
Children’s books translator Nazanin Daihimi reported to Evin to start serving her 8 months sentence.
Nava and Nika Khalousi, Baha’i, arrested during a raid against their home in Mashhad.
Mahsa Mahdavi, Baha’i, arrested during a raid against her home in Mashhad.
Mehdi Emami-Naseri, editor in chief of Maghreb newspaper arrested.
Two people arrested for publishing music on Internet.
On the pretext of ridding the Salmas in West Azerbaijan of thugs, security arrested 15 people – no charges known.

C-Liberations

Behrooz Alavi activist arrested at the earthquake site has been released.
Mohammad Azadi released from Evin.
Hamid-Reza Moseibian activist arrested at the earthquake site has been released.
Mehdi Rahmanian, editor in chief of Shargh newspaper, was released on 50 million toman bail.
Baha’i citizen Shahnaz Ranjbar summoned twice by Intelligence Bureau, arrested.
Esmail Salmanpour activist arrested at the earthquake site has been released.
Hooman Taheri activist arrested at the earthquake site has been released.

D-Other News

Saeed Malekpour, jailed web programmer who is sentenced to death, ‘expressed remorse and repented’.
Political prisoner Fardin Moradpour started a dry hunger strike to protest being severely beaten.

News of injustice in Iran

Shahab Abbasi, Arab activist, arrested in 2008 was sentenced to execution.
Hadi Albokhanfarnezhad, Arab activist, arrested in 2008 was sentenced to 3 years in exile in Ardebil.
Taher Eskandarian sentenced by Appeals to 3 years in prison.
Student activist Mohammad Haji Babaei sentenced to 5 months in prison.
Supreme Court has upheld the death sentences of Ebrahim Isapour on Moharebeh charges.
Sami Jadmavinezhad, Arab activist, arrested in 2008 was sentenced to 3 years in exile in Ardebil.
Abdolreza-Amir Khanafereh, Arab activist, arrested in 2008 was sentenced to execution.
Jasem Moghadam, Arab activist, arrested in 2008 was sentenced to 3 years in exile in Ardebil.
Abdolamir Mojdami, Arab activist, arrested in 2008 was sentenced to execution.
Supreme Court has upheld the death sentences of Sirvan Nezhavi on Moharebeh charges.
Civil rights activist Hamid Reza Ranjbar sentenced to 3 years in prison and 74 lashes.
Afrasiab Sobhani sentenced by Appeals to 1 year in prison.
Pouya Tabianian sentenced by Appeals to 6.5 years.
Hand amputation for the person convicted of theft to be carried out in public.
Three Afghan nationals hanged in Tabas on Monday.
Two hangings in Naghadeh on Tuesday.
One Afghan national hanged in Evin on Tuesday.
Two men charged with theft publicly lashed in Masjed Soleiman; one received 50 lashes the other 70.

University – Culture

San Sebastian Film Festival lauds works of Touraj Aslani, Majid Barzegar.
Iran lifts block on Gmail.
More than 50 female students of Shahrekord Uni expelled from dormitory for dress code violations
9 Internet cafes have been closed in North Khorasan since the start of year.
Iranian websites that give current currency rates filtered.
Banned from filmmaking,yet Jafar Panahi has made another movie, says Abbas Kiarostami.
Iran student magazine “Arman” at Tehran Azad University banned; equipment confiscated.

Protests

Tehran bazar closed; bazari hold gathering to protest rising prices/dollar exchange rate; anti-riot police reported they arrested around 150 people, including 2 Europeans.
Iran Security forces clashed with people gathered at Ferdowsi Bazar in Mashhad.
A second petition by workers with 20,000 names protests government’s indifference to first petition.

Iran Economics

200 workers laid off at Electric Khodro Shargh Company (EKS)
$1 = 2770 tomans on Saturday, 3050 on Sunday, 3500 on Monday, 4000 on Tuesday
Tehran Metro partly lying idle because of subsidy cuts.
The Pouya auto parts factory that laid off 1,300 workers in February has now completely shut down.
Tehran Bazaar partly closed on Monday because of currency crisis.
Trade in gold coins and US dollar in Tehran Bazaar ‘stopped’ on Tuesday.
Damash mineral water plant shut down.
Isfahan’s goldsmiths’ Bazaar half closed because of currency crisis.
Tehran’s bazaar remained closed on Thursday.

Iran abroad

Ahmadinejad’s former-Basiji cameraman defects in New York; Debka File claims he was recruited last year, and brought secret nuclear site videos with him
Tehran transfers $10 billion to aid Assad war effort, and Ahmadinejad awards Iran’s highest national medal to Assad.
German investigators uncover more illegal exports.
First Vice President, Mohammad Reza Rahimi visits Turkey to discuss economic cooperation.
Three kidnapped Iranian nationals freed in Syria after four months.
Six Iranian pilgrims killed in Karbala.

Politics in Iran

Miscellaneous

@lissnup