Week 27 - 2012

News of the Prisoners

A- Transfers

• After 3 months in Intel detention, cultural activist Jabar Yebari has been moved to Karoon prison in Ahvaz.
• Amin Zargarnezhad transferred to solitary in Tabriz prison.

B- Arrests/Incarcerations

• Shamzin Ahmadnezhad recently arrested in Mahabad.
• Student activist Navid Gorgin was arrested in Esfahan last week.
• Ahmad Hashemi former president Khatami's Inspector General at the Interior Ministry started serving 5 years sentence.
• Idris Kaveh, Kurdish villager, arrested in Nei near Mahabad.
• Bohran Keyvanpour, Kurdish villager, arrested in Nei near Mahabad.
• Greens supporter journalist Ali Moslehi was arrested in Kashan.
• Hamid Parhizkar, Kurdish villager, arrested in Nei near Mahabad.
• Shahoo Partavi recently arrested in Mahabad.
• After 3 days on medical leave Baha'i professor Farhad Sadeghi returned to prison.
• Mohammad-Amin Salimi recently arrested in Mahabad.
• Mohammad Savarkar recently arrested in Mahabad.
• Asad Soleimannezhad recently arrested in Mahabad.
• Khalil Zibaei recently arrested in Mahabad.

C-Liberations

• Journalist/civil activist Aref Darvish was released from prison after completing 1 year sentence.
• Cyrus Fatehi, workers’ rights activist, released on bail.
• Mitra Homayouni, workers’ rights activist, released on bail.
• Journalist Nazanin Khosravani was just released for a week after posting bail.
• Blogger/Human Rights activist Hossein Ronaghi Maleki has been released on bail on medical furlough.
• Saeed Marzban, workers’ rights activist, released on bail.
• Labor activist Maziar Mehrpour has been released on bail.
• Farhad Sadeghi released from Rejaei Shahr on medical furlough.
• Temporary release of imprisoned Christian convert Mehrdad Sajjadi on high bail.
• Masoud Salimpour, workers’ rights activist, released on bail.

D-Other News 

• Cleric blogger Arash Honarvar Shojaei started a hunger strike upon return to Evin after expiration of Medical furlough. He fells unconscious on the 4th day and is transferred to clinic.
• In protest against transfer from ward 12 to ward 10 in Rajaei Shahr prison, 53 prisoners refuse the food rations- 40 announce hunger strike 

News of injustice in Iran

• Samin Ehsani, Baha’i children’s rights activist, sentenced to 5 years in prison.
• Semnan Court of Appeals has sentenced Elham Roozbehei to 24 months in prison.
• Court of Appeals in Semnan sentenced Baha'i Taraneh Torabi to 20 months in prison.
• The two men sentenced to death for alcohol consumption have each received 80 lashes following their two previous convictions.
• One public hanging in Ahar on Sunday.
• 4 hangings on Monday, 1 publicly and 3 in Semnan.

University - Culture

• The Jameh Mosque  and Gonbad-e Qabus Tower have been approved as World Heritage sites.
• Filmmaker Asghar Farhadi has been invited to join the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
• 1070 satellite dishes seized in Northern Iran.
• Tehran International puppet theater festival kicks off.
• Modernist Iranian painter Mansureh Hosseini dies at 86.
• Mahmoud Dowlatabadi 's “The Colonel” just published in the US.
• Police raided and disrupted the Pen Society meeting held by Dr. Khazali and prevented Mohammad Nourizad from entering the meeting.
• Another concert cancelled because men and women were not separated.
• Misagh Afshar, Student in Beheshti University expelled because he is Baha’i.

Protests

• Activists protest in support of Abr Forest.
• Families of detained workers’ rights activists meet to protest 
• Disabled people demonstrated in front of the General Health Organization of Iran’s offices to protest the non-payment of disability benefits.
• Telecom workers to strike and protest working conditions in Shiraz.

Economy in Iran

• Ministry of industry and mines raises interest rates on loans to industry from 11% to 21%.
• Iran discovers 6 billion barrels of new oil reserves.
• Iran automobile production drops 40% this year.
• 4,000 Iranian brick workers lose jobs after plant closure.
• No Iranian crude imports for Japan in July.
• Sanctions cut Iran's July oil exports to near 1 million barrels per day.

Iran  abroad

• Salehi, Iran Foreign Minister briefly arrested last week in Cyprus.
• U.N. publishes report on Iran arms trade with Syria.
• Iran calls for extraordinary OPEC meeting.
• Qatar frees 8 jailed Iran fishermen.
• Saudi Arabia stops issuing visas to Iranian pilgrims.
• Iran summons Afghan diplomat.
• Saudi decided not to execute Iranian prisoners. Sentences commuted to 15 years in jail.
• Iran proposes opening of bank branch in Mumbai.
• The 2 Iranians arrested in Kenya with 15 kgs of explosives are members of IRGC Qods force which executes terror attacks against targets outside Iran.
• Iran arrests two men on charges of spying for Azerbaijan; Iranian ambassador to Baku recalled.
• Frankfurt prosecutor office: Iran's Vice Consulate is accused of sexually molesting children.
• Iran invites Egypt’s new Islamist president to non-aligned summit in Tehran in August.

Politics in Iran

• Iranian authorities ban selling food and transport services 2 foreign (read afghan) citizens without residence permit.
• Foreign Ministry rejects anti-Semitic remarks of first Vice President Rahimi.
• The government retreats from implementing the second phase of targeted subsides.
• Iran dismisses militia commanders involved in the British embassy attack.
• Speaker of Syria parliament to visit Iran on Tuesday.
• Tehran to host conference on women and Islamic awakening next week.
• Reza Taghipour, Minister of Communications admitted surveillance and illegally intercepting citizens' conversations.

Miscellaneous 

• One hour "temporary marriage" (Islamic prostitution contract) in Iran at $35-$50/hour.
• 63% of Iranians vote to stop Uranium-enrichment in online poll on Iran's national TV's website.