Week 19 - 2012

News of the Prisoners

A- Transfers

• Kurdish political prisoner Jahangir Badozadeh has moved to solitary in Orumieh prison after protesting harsh treatment.
• After 20 days in solitary, Mohammadreza Motamednia on day 27 of hunger strike was moved to Ward 350.

B- Arrests/Incarcerations

• Journalist Mahsa Amrabadi reported to Evin after being summoned to start serving her 1 year sentence.
• Mohammad Haji Babaei, student activist, arrested in Babol.
• Omid Kharazmian summoned to Evin to start serving his 4 years sentence. He was arrested in connection with Ashura 09 protest.
• Yaghoub Moghanikar was arrested in a raid of his home in Karaj and sent to Intel section in Rejaei Shahr.

D-Other News 

• On death row IT specialist Saeed Malekpour's family was allowed a visit after 3 months.
• 16 year old brother of incarcerated Gonabadi dervish Kasra Nouri interrogated and threatened by Intelligence. Detention extended Kasra Nouri just before release.

News of injustice in Iran

• Laleh Azadi (F) arrested during Ashura protest in December 09 was sentenced to 4 years in prison.
• Aghaghiya Azizai (F) arrested during Ashura protest in December 09 was sentenced  to 4 years in prison.
• Mohammad Azizi was sentenced  to 5 years by court in Saghez on charges of affiliation with a banned opposition group.
• Samko Khorshidi was sentenced  to death on Moharebeh charges by court in Saghez.
• Journalist Omid Mohades was sentenced  to 4 years suspended for 5 years + 5 years ban on political activities.
• Journalist Meysam Mohammadi was sentenced to 4 years in prison + 5 years ban from print or online journalism.
• Mohammad Reza Pour Shajari, blogger, sentenced to one extra year in prison, 4 in total.
• Caricaturist Mahmoud Shokraiyeh sentenced to 25 lashes for drawing MP Ahmad Lotfi's carton.
• Khamenei pardons Ahmadinejad's ally Mohammad Sharif Malekzadeh, who was arrested last year on corruption charges, before going to court.
• Nine people hanged in a prison in Tehran on Monday.
• Four people were hanged in Kerman prison on Wednesday.

University  - Culture

• 'A Separation' won Italy's David Award as Best Foreign Language Film.
• 150 University students in Tehran summoned to National Organization of Educational Testing and interrogated by Intelligence agents.
• Samaneh Moradian, first ever translator of Georges Bataille works in Iran commits suicide at age of 24.  
• Women being arrested violently at Tehran Book Fair. Probable cause: Bad Hejab.
• The ministry of Guidance (Culture) sentenced to pay for damages for censuring a social criticism film, « Ali Santouri » (2006), from director Darioush Mehrjoui.
• Death threat [ fatwa ] against Shahin Najafi Iranian Rapper living in Germany.
• Nourizad movie “We Have Murdered People” released.
• Iran shut down pavilions of 3 foreign Publishers at Tehran book fair.
• Historic Amin ol-Soltan House (Qajar era) in Tehran to be demolished.
• Book vendor booth shut down in Tehran Book Fair for displaying poster of Cyrus the Great.
• Iran crowd gathered for memorial service for veteran actor and director Iraj Ghaderi.

Protests

• Workers gather in protest of firing and non-renewal of contracts; 3000 unemployed in 1 week.
• Textile workers in Mazandaran demonstrate.
• Laid-off workers from Shahab Khodro Company gathered in protest for the second time on Azadi Street in front of the building of the welfare and social security ministry.

Economy in Iran

• Madnoosh sugar factory in Saghez on the verge of closure due to sanctions. 1150 workers lost their job.
• Minimum salary for average Iranian worker covers 40% of their costs, 50% of them are looking for a second job.
• The subsidies reform earned half less than expected. 
• Iran willing to join China-Tajikistan-Afghanistan railway link.
• Per capita consumption of milk in Iran 1/6 of developed countries' per capita consumption.
• Iran Central Bank: Iranians’ food costs soar from 50 to 165 per cent in one year. 
• Farakolun Company which employed 500 specialists and other laborers was shut down.
• The head of the high commissioner of the labor associations of Iran announced that 43 percent of Iranian workers are paid less than minimum wage.
• The number of vehicles quadrupled from 2009 to 2011.
• Iran's private sector allowed selling up to 20% of Iranian crude oil to bypass sanctions.
• US dollar =1619 toman.

Iran  abroad

• Iran eyes spiritual leadership of Iraq's Shiites - maneuvering to replace ayatollah Sistani by ayatollah Shahroudi.
• A reporter of Fars news close to IRGC in Iran is arrested by Afghan Intelligence Agency in Kabul. 
• Tunisian higher education minister to visit Iran.
• New Portuguese ambassador to Iran meets Salehi.
• Egyptian University professors meet with FM Salehi.
• Salehi receives Azarbaijan Republic deputy FM.
• Britain seeks delay to EU's Iran ship insurance ban.
• Fars News will soon launch Russian language service.
• Iran summons Afghan ambassador.
• Hamas won't fight Israel over Iran, says Haniyeh.
• Ex French Prime Minister Michel Rocard on special mission in Iran.

Politics in Iran

• Majlis election in Iran : in the 2nd round, conservatives opponents to Ahmadinejad still stronger in Parliament.
• Iran parliament rejects subsidy cuts proposals.
• Budget bill to be discussed at Majlis open session on Wednesday : National budget amounts to about 5.1 quadrillion rials (approximatively $416 billion) down from 5.39 last year - defense budget up 127%. 
• IRGC-affiliated Javan: Government continues to degrade journalists and is failing to live up to its promises.
• A large workhouse which produced satellite television dishes in Tabriz was discovered and shut down.
• Ahmad Mansouri becomes the ninth 40-50 year old IRGC commander to die of heart attack in the past year.
• Supreme Leader’s representative in IRGC calls on Ahmadinejad to show more consideration of the Majlis.
• Each Iranian MP to receive a 700 million tomans (~$500,000) "loan".
• Iran to ban school stationery with 'un-Islamic pictures'.
• MP Koochekzadeh physically attacks 'Aftab' reporter over comments about Mortazavi Kahrizak murderer.
• Khamenei make unofficial visit to Qom to meet with Mesbah-Yazdi.
• 9 top commanders of IRGC have encountered a strange death: car crashes and heart attacks. 
• Majlis to pursue the removal of Mortazavi and impeachment of Labor Minister.

Miscellaneous 

• 3518 wounded in a 5,5 earthquake on the border with Iraq.
• Former Iran hostages Sarah Shourd and Shane Bauer got married.
• Iranian mountaineer Azim Gheichisaz conquers Himalayas Annapurna I peak.
• Telephone disruptions experienced by subscribers of 22 telecommunications centers in Tehran following deployment of cables over 3 days.
• Women’s football on rise in #Iran after FIFA lifted ban on headscarves.
• Suicide rate is up 17%.
• Iran has shut down 60 traditional tea houses and clothing stores in Tehran.