Category: Other

Washington to tone down criticism of Russian human rights record

Washington to tone down criticism of Russian human rights record
— Daily Telegraph reports: “Washington will tone down its criticism of Russia’s human rights record in order to win Kremlin backing for possible sanctions against Iran, it has been claimed.”
— “Mrs Clinton’s trip was part of what Washington is calling a ‘reset’ with Moscow, a new more constructive relationship with the Kremlin that President Barack Obama wants to be based on pragmatism rather than the confrontation of the past.”
— “Michael McFaul, Mrs Clinton’s top Russia adviser, told Kommersant, an influential daily Russian newspaper, Washington was ready to dilute its criticism of Kremlin rights abuses.”
— “‘We have decided that we need a reset in this sphere and to scrap our previous approach,’ he said, adding that the US had decided it would no longer preach to Russia about democracy so as not to irritate Moscow.”
— “US officials said the newspaper had misinterpreted Mr McFaul’s remarks but human rights activists pleaded with Mrs Clinton not to downgrade human rights.
— “Oleg Orlov, head of rights group Memorial, said: ‘I told Clinton that for me the reset in Russian-American relations does not mean ending criticism of the human rights situation.'”

Iranian Journalists Flee, Fearing Retribution for Covering Protests

Iranian Journalists Flee, Fearing Retribution for Covering Protests
— NYT reports:
— “Mr. Maleki, 29, is one of dozens of reporters, photographers and bloggers who have either fled Iran or are trying to flee in the aftermath of the disputed June presidential election. Reporters Without Borders, a Paris-based organization that promotes press freedom and monitors the safety of journalists, said the number of journalists leaving Iran was the largest since the years after the 1979 Islamic Revolution.”
— “The wave of departures reflects the journalists’ anxiety over the retribution many of them have faced for reporting on the government’s violent suppression of the post-election protests. As bloody clashes unfolded in the streets of Tehran, the government went to great lengths to restrict the flow of information to the outside world. Foreign journalists were banned, and local reporters and photographers were warned to stay at home.”

Iran launches legal case against former presidential candidate Mehdi Karoubi

Iran launches legal case against former presidential candidate
— APA: “Iran launched a legal case against former presidential candidate and former parliament speaker Mehdi Karoubi over his allegations that his supporters were tortured and raped in jail, APA reports quoting IRNA”
— “Tehran prosecutor Abbas Jafari-Dolatabadi said that Karoubi was a cleric and his remarks should be studied at the Shari’ah court.”

Iran: Judge Charges Christian Converts with “Apostasy and Propagation of Christian Faith”

ICC Report: “Iranian Judge Charges Converts with Apostasy and Propagation of Christian Faith”

— see also Elam report
— see also FREETHEMM report

— ICC reports: “Washington, D.C. (October 08, 2009) – International Christian Concern (ICC) has  learned that on October 7 an Iranian judge charged Maryam and Marzieh with ‘crimes’ of apostasy and propagation of the Christian faith. They could face life imprisonment if convicted of apostasy.”
— “Elam ministries told ICC that Maryam and Marzieh were unexpectedly taken to appear before the court yesterday morning.”
— “In a positive development, their case has now been transferred from the revolutionary court to the regular courts after the judge dropped the earlier charge of anti-state activities. Maryam, Marzieh and their lawyer are pleased with this development.”
— “Maryam and Marzieh were detained on March 5, 2009. The Iranian officials accused them of ‘anti-state activities’ following their conversion from Islam to Christianity.  During their appearance before the revolutionary court on August 9, they told the court that they would not recant their faith in Christ.”

For the ICCreport on their court appearance, see:  http://www.persecution.org/suffering/pressdetail.php?presscode=325

— “Iranian officials sent Maryam and Marzieh to the infamous Evin prison where they have endured mistreatment, including solitary confinement and deprivation of medical attention. Both of them are in poor health. On October 4, Maryam suffered severe food poisoning and was given medical attention after much insistence.”
— “In an interview with the Voice of America Persian News Network, Maryam and Marzieh’s lawyer said, ‘My clients are not prepared to lie about their faith under any condition.'”
— “ICC’s Regional Manager for Africa and the Middle East, Jonathan Racho, said, ‘We welcome the move by the Iranian court to drop the charges of anti-state activities against Maryam and Marzieh. We urge Iranian officials to drop charges of apostasy and propagation of Christianity, as well. As party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, Iran has an obligation to respect the right of Maryam and Marzieh to follow the religion of their choice.'”

Maryam and Mazrieh
Maryam and Mazrieh

Iran: First opposition protester sentenced to death

Iran: First opposition protester sentenced to death
AKI reports:
— “Iranian authorities this week sentenced monarchist Mohammad Reza Ali-Zamani to death for his role in the unrest following the contested 12 June election, reformist website Mowjcamp reported on Wednesday. He is the first person to face execution for his role in the protests against alleged fraud that returned hardline president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to power in the presidential poll.”
— “There has been no official confirmation of the verdict.”
— “Ali-Zamani had confessed to plotting against Iran’s Islamic system and belonging to the previously little-known Iran Monarchy Committee (IMC), which the theocratic Iranian government regards as a terrorist group.
Reformist website: Iran protester gets death sentence