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Radio Iran reprted that the election turn out has been extremly poor in Tehran, and some major cities ( according to France Press). This is possibly the reason for the land slide victory of the conservatives, and a group of the so called leftists clergies. However, i expect very little change, since I maintain that, there are very minor differences between the two wings. In iri's politics, the ruling party or individual are perceived to be more liberal, due to actualy having some responsibility. This pattern has been generally been consistent in the post revelotion iran.
In another news, iran has accepted to mediate between isreal, and Lebenan. Is it mean, iran has begun a process to recognise isreal, and may be see an opening in her relation with U.S.?
regard Saied
Ba SalAm,
1.431431 million people participated in the second round of the Parlaimentary elections where 28 out of 30 seats were to be determined. 2.4 million had participated in the first round. 4.5 million are eligible to vote in Tehran according to Payame Baseej.
Participation in the first round: 53.3% Participation in the second round: 29.8%
Seyed Akbar TorabiFard received 683,597 in the first place while Seyed Shahbbeddin Sadre received 372,883 votes in teh 28th place.
I think the "high" level of participation in the first round was mainly due to feasr of losing some priviledges and force. Had the elections were successful and heated up, more people should have participated.
The main message is that 29.8% of the eligibles voted in Tehran. Most of the news sources have forcasted a defeat for the Rafsanjani group.
I think DNI should produce a factual analysis and statement regarding the electionspulling together the available official stats and make some recommendations if necessary [perhaps something similar to the human Rights Watch's* report].
Best Kourosh
Quite interesting. First of all we have to thank god that we no longer are in that country. For some of the morons they talked to it seemed as if the time had stood still in these last 17 years. The same rhetoric. Death to everyone... But there was some positive things too. What caught my attention was how freely some people talked about the conditions. It seemed to me as if people are afraid of nobody or they have nothing to lose. And there was some high ranking officials who insisted on opening the politcal arena because as one of them put it no system will survive in the way they run the country. Most of them were people close to Rafsanjani and they were aware of the fact that there is much resistance among the clergy for any kind of change but there is no other way to go. They couldn't talk to Soroush but there were some other people (islamic intelectuals) who had been thrown out of the system, very much the same way of thinking as of Soroush. So I think soon is the time for some changes in one or another direction. Let's hope the less bad guys win.
UN COMMISSION EXPRESSES CONCERN OVER HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS IN IRAN
COMMISSION EXPRESSES CONCERN OVER HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS IN IRAN; HEARS
CHAIRMAN'S STATEMENT ON SITUATION IN LIBERIA
Also Adopts Measure on Protecting Rights of Children The Commission on Human Rights expressed concern this afternoon over a wide range of human rights violations in Iran in a resolution adopted by roll-call vote after last-minute negotiations failed to achieve consensus.
The resolution cites abuses involving administration of justice, torture, discriminatory treatment of religious minorities -- notably the Baha'is, whose existence as a viable religious community in the Islamic Republic of Iran was termed "threatened" -- violations of the right to peaceful assembly and restrictions on the freedom of expression, thought, opinion, and the press. The text also welcomes the invitation extended by the Government of Iran to the Commission's Special Representative on the situation of human rights in the country to visit Iran, as well as an invitation to the Special Rapporteur on the right to freedom of expression and association.
The representative of Iran said there had been substantial progress in negotiations on the resolution, but due mainly to the politically motivated inflexibility of a few western States, consensus had not been reached. The measure was infused with fingerpointing, name calling, and politicization, did not recognize that the situation had changed, he added.
.......
In a resolution on the situation of human rights in Iran (E/CN.4/1996/L.42), the Commission expressed its concern at the continuation of violations in the country, in particular the failure to meet international standards with regard to the administration of justice, notably with respect to pre-trial detention and the right of accused persons to defense lawyers, subsequent executions in the absence of guarantees of due process of law and cases of torture and cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment or punishment; the discriminatory treatment of minorities by reason of their religious beliefs, notably the Baha'is, whose existence as a viable religious community in the Islamic Republic was threatened; lack of adequate protection for some Christian minorities, some members of which had been the target of intimidation and assassinations; and violations of the right to peaceful assembly and restrictions on the freedom of expression, thought, opinion, and the press, including the intimidation and harassment of journalists.
The Commission called upon the Government of Iran to implement fully the conclusions and recommendations of the Special Rapporteur on religious intolerance relating to the Baha'is, and to other minority religious groups, including Christians, to the human rights of women, and in relation to the imposition of the death penalty; expressed grave concern that there were continuing threats to the life of Salman Rushdie, as well as to individuals associated with his work, which had the support of the Government of Iran; urged the Government to refrain from activities against members of the Iranian opposition living abroad; urged the Government to abide by its obligations as a party to the International Covenants on Human Rights and related instruments; called upon it to continue to cooperate with the Special Representative of the Commission, including by allowing him continued free access to the country; and decided to extend the mandate of the Special Representative for another year.
The above resolution was carried by a roll-call vote of 24 in favour to 7 against, with 20 abstentions. The vote was as follows:
In favour: Algeria, Australia, Austria, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Netherlands, Nicaragua, Peru, Russian Federation, United Kingdom, United States and Venezuela.
Against: Bangladesh, China, Cuba, India, Indonesia, Malaysia and Pakistan.
Abstentions: Angola, Belarus, Benin, Bhutan, Cameroon, C'te d'Ivoire, Egypt, Ethiopia, Gabon, Guinea, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Nepal, Philippines, Republic of Korea, Sri Lanka, Uganda, Ukraine and Zimbabwe.
SIROUS NASSERI (Iran) said that for the last few days intensive negotiations had been held with the European Union with the aim of arriving at an understanding at how the Commission could respond to the full understanding extended by the Republic of Iran. There had been substantial progress in many areas, but due mainly to the politically motivated inflexibility of a few western States, consensus had not been reached. The existing practice of the European Union, where draft resolutions were worked up, consulted on, and agreed upon before presentation to the parties concerned, had been an obstacle. The resolution seemed to be intended for discontinuation of cooperation on the situation in Iran. The Special Representative and the special rapporteurs who had visited Iran had recommended continued cooperation, but the resolution was infused with fingerpointing, name calling, and politicization; it was based on language from older resolutions and did not recognize that the situation had changed. Iran was prepared to respond positively to constructive measures of the Commission. The Commission should, instead of adopting this resolution, adopt a measure that would truly promote human rights in Iran.
GERALDINE A. FERRARO (United States) said the grave violation of human rights in Iran continued to give cause for concern, particularly the persecution of the Baha'i community. The latest example of this was the decision of the Iranian Supreme Court to condemn to death two members of the Baha'i faith arrested without charge seven years ago for practising their religion. The United States called upon Iran to release them and generally to emancipate the Baha'i people.
MUNIR AKRAM (Pakistan) said the resolution on Iran had become a hardy perennial at the Commission. The Government of Iran had extended cooperation to the Commission, and the reports submitted to the forum reflected improvements in the situation in Iran. It was unfortunate that the draft resolution did not reflect adequately the progress that had been made and the cooperative attitude of the Government. Pakistan was most unhappy that consultations aimed at reaching a consensus resolution had failed and hoped Iran would continue its cooperative approach on the issue, despite the resolution. Pakistan would vote against the measure. HEMANT KRISHAN SINGH (India) said extensive consultations had been held between the co-sponsors of the draft resolution and Iran in order to achieve consensus, but they had not been successful in resolving all areas of conflict. India urged that greater efforts continue to be made in this regard, particularly in the light of the cooperation shown by Iran. It was important for resolutions of this nature to be adopted by consensus in order to avoid confrontation. India would not support the resolution.
SalAm doostan,
According to Pejvak radio in Sweden, UN's HR group (in Turkey) has condemned Turkey's government for deportation of Mehrdad Kavoosi directly to Iran.
He was in IRI's jail for about 10 years and left the country few months after he was released. After a week he registered himself at UN in Istanbol but not the Turkish authorities, last week when he went to the police in Istanbol, he was captured and after a few hours deported to Iran.
His syster, Maryam Kavoosi who lives in Sweden said (in an interview with Pejvak), the last time they heard from him was when his lawyer talked with him at the boarder between Turkey and Iran, she said that their mother and another brother who stil lives in Iran, has disspeared after they went to the local IRI authorities to answer some question, she said that she has tried to contact them during the last few days but "no one answers the telephone". She said also that she thinks that the fact that the turkish authorities deported her brother only after a few hours, shows that they knew his case and had already decided to deport him.
His life maybe in danger and I will send any furthur information regarding him and his family as soon as I hear anything.
Best regards,
Farhad A.
EXTERNAL AI Index: MDE 13/14/96
UA 113/96 Forcible Return / Fear for Safety 30 April 1996
TURKEY/IRAN: Mehrdad Kavoussi, aged 36, Iranian asylum-seeker
Amnesty International is concerned for the safety of Mehrdad Kavoussi, an Iranian asylum-seeker* in Turkey, who was arrested by Turkish police in Agri, eastern Turkey, on 25 April 1996 and forcibly returned to Iran on the same day. His current whereabouts are unknown.
Mehrdad Kavoussi is a member of the People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran, an armed opposition group opposed to the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran. He is reported to have been imprisoned previously and tortured in Iran for his political activities. He had entered Turkey in August 1995, but had not registered his asylum claim with the Turkish authorities within five days of entering the country, as required by Turkish regulations. At the time of his arrest, he had gone to the police to register as an asylum-seeker, in the company of a lawyer from the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). Amnesty International is calling on the Iranian authorities to ensure Mehrdad Kavoussi's safety and to account for his current whereabouts. It is also concerned that the Turkish authorities are violating Turkey's obligations under international law not to expel people to countries where they are at risk of serious human rights violations.
* UNHCR has publicly stated that they believe he is a refugee, although the process of his recognition had not been completed at the time of his deportation.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION Turkey introduced new regulations in November 1994 which require all asylum-seekers entering Turkey to submit their application to the police within five days of their arrival. After an interview with the police, the Minister of Interior decides on their cases. With regard to non- Europeans, if they receive a positive decision, they receive temporary residence in Turkey and the Ministry of Interior submits their case to UNHCR for resettlement to a third country. If the decision is negative, they receive a deportation order from the Ministry of the Interior, which may be appealed within 15 days. If the appeal is not upheld, or there is no appeal, the asylum-seeker is deported. However, people who have failed to register within the five-day limit are at risk of immediate deportation without any assessment of the validity of their claim by the Turkish authorities. In addition, such people who have been recognized as refugees by UNHCR and accepted for resettlement in a third country are often not granted exit visas allowing them to leave Turkey. Some such people have, in fact, been arrested and deported to their country of origin. There have also been reports of individuals presenting themselves in border towns to make asylum claims who have been arbitrarily deported in violation of the regulations.
Failure to comply with procedural requirements such as the five-day rule does not justify the expulsion or forcible return of an asylum-seeker or refugee who may be at risk of serious human rights violations in the country to which he or she is returned. Conclusion No. 15(xxx) of the Executive Committee of the UNHCR states that: "While asylum-seekers may be required to submit their asylum request within a certain time limit, failure to do so, or the non-fulfilment of other formal requirements, should not lead to an asylum request being excluded from consideration."
Amnesty International is also concerned that a security agreement between Iran and Turkey, which may include the reciprocal return of opposition activists present in the other country, may be leading to the forcible return of individuals who risk serious human rights violations in their own country. In recent months, diplomatic relations between Iran and Turkey have become strained, culminating in the expulsions of Iranian and Turkish diplomats in Turkey and Iran. The organization fears that Turkey may be returning asylum-seekers and refugees under this agreement to try to improve relations. Turkey should not use this or any other security agreement as a justification to violate its international obligations not to forcibly return people at risk of human rights violations.
In Iran, people who oppose or are suspected of opposing the government risk serious human rights violations including torture and the death penalty. Amnesty International has documented these violations over many years. Two members of Komala, a Kurdish opposition group, were reportedly executed on 10 April 1996, after more than five years in detention (see Follow up UA 107/93 of 30 April 1996, MDE 13/15/96)
RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please send telegrams/telexes/faxes/airmail letters
To the Turkish authorities:
- expressing deep regret over the forcible return of Mehrdad Kavoussi;
- urging the Turkish authorities to respect their obligations under
international law not to forcibly return people to countries where they
may be at risk of serious human rights violations;
- pointing out that neither procedural requirements such as the five
- day limit nor the existence of security agreements should be used
as a justification to violate this obligation;
- asking what steps have been taken to establish that Mehrdad Kavoussi
is not being subjected to human rights violations.
To the Iranian authorities:
- seeking urgent clarification of Mehrdad Kavoussi's whereabouts, and
his legal status, if detained;
- seeking assurances that if he is in custody, he is being humanely
treated.
APPEALS TO:
President Soleyman Demirel ,Head of State,
Office of the President
Cumhur Baskanligi
06100 Ankara, Turkey
Telexes: 42303 kosk tr
Telegrams: President Demirel, Ankara, Turkey
Faxes: +90-312-468 5026
Salutation: Dear President
Mr Mesut Yilmaz, Prime Minister
Office of the Prime Minister
Basbakanlik
06573 Ankara, Turkey
Telegrams: Prime Minister, Ankara, Turkey
Telexes: 44061/44062/44063 bbmt tr / 42099 basb tr
Faxes: +90-312-417 0476
Salutation: Dear Prime Minister
Alk1 Goney, Minister of Interior
Ministry of Interior
Icisleri Bakanligi
06644 Ankara, Turkey
Faxes: +90-312-418 1795
Telegrams: Interior Minister, Ankara, Turkey
Salutation: Dear Minister
His Excellency Hojjatoleslam Ali Akbar Hashemi RafsanjaniThe
Presidency,
Palestine Avenue
Azerbaijan Intersection
Tehran, The Islamic Republic of Iran
Telegrams: President Rafsanjani, Tehran, Iran
Salutation: Your Excellency
His Excellency Mohammad Ali Besharati Jahromi Ministry of the
Interior
Dr Fatemi Avenue
Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran
Telegrams: Interior Minister, Tehran Iran
Salutation: Your Excellency
relevant Ambassadors: His Excellency99mer Ersun Ambassador of Turkey 197 Wurtemburg Street Ottawa, Ontario K1N 8L9 Fax: (613) 789-3442
His Excellency Seyed Mohammad Hossein Adeli Ambassador of Iran 245 Metcalfe Street Ottawa, Ontario K2P 2K2 Fax: (613) 232-5712
THANK YOU FOR SENDING YOUR MESSAGES PROMPTLY.
EXTERNAL AI Index: MDE 13/15/96
30 April 1996
Further information on UA 107/93 (MDE 13/09/93, 8 April 1993) and follow-ups (MDE 13/08/93, 7 June 1993, MDE 13/09/93, 6 September 1993, MDE 13/06/94, 20 May 1994 & MDE 13/08/94, 12 August 1994) - Death Penalty
IRAN Salim Saberniah, aged about 33 Mustafa Ghaderi, aged about 31
Amnesty International has learned with deep regret that Salim Saberniah and Mustafa Ghaderi were executed in Orumiyeh prison in north-western Iran on 10 April 1996. No information that their executions were imminent was received beforehand.
In August 1995, the Iranian Embassy in Sweden had informed Amnesty International's Swedish section that a court in Tabriz was investigating their petition for a new trial.
Salim Saberniah and Mustafa Ghaderi had reportedly been arrested in late 1990 when trying to cross the border into Turkey. They were held in Orumiyeh prison until late 1992, when they were transferred to Tabriz prison, where they were sentenced to death by an Islamic Revolutionary Court, reportedly after conviction of opposition to the Islamic Republic of Iran, related to their activities in Komaleh, a Kurdish armed opposition group. According to the Iranian authorities, the two men had confessed to "killing people and collecting money by force".
FURTHER RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please send telegrams/telexes/faxes/express/ airmail letters: - expressing deep regret over the executions of Salim Saberniah and Mustafa Ghaderi; - urging that all other death sentences in Iran be commuted; - pointing out that the Iranian authorities have never provided information about their trial allowing its fairness to be assessed and expressing concern that it may have been unfair; - pointing out that there is no evidence that the death penalty deters serious crimes.
APPEALS TO:
His Excellency Ayatollah Sayed ~Ali Khamenei The Presidency Palestine Avenue Azerbaijan Intersection Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran Telegrams: Ayatollah Khamenei, Tehran, Iran Salutation: Your Excellency
His Excellency Hojjatoleslam Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani The Presidency Palestine Avenue Azerbaijan Intersection Tehran Islamic Republic of Iran Telegrams: President Rafsanjani, Tehran, Iran Salutation: Your Excellency
His Excellency Ayatollah Mohammad Yazdi Head of the Judiciary Ministry of Justice Park-e Shahr Tehran Islamic Republic of Iran Telegrams: Justice Minister, Tehran, Iran Salutation: Your Excellency
His Excellency Mohammad Ali Besharati Jahromi Minister of Interior Ministry of Interior Dr Fatemi Avenue Tehran Islamic Republic of Iran Telegrams: Interior Minister Besharati Jahromi, Tehran, Iran Salutation: Your Excellency
COPIES TO:
His Excellency Dr Ali Akbar Velayati Minister of Foreign Affairs Ministry of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Abdolmajid Keshk-e Mesri Avenue Tehran Islamic Republic of Iran
Dr Sa'id Raja'i Khorasani Chairman of the Human Rights Committee Imam Khomeini Avenue Tehran Islamic Republic of Iran
Mr Hussain Farahi, Secretary, Islamic Human Rights Commission P O Box 13165-137, Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran
and to diplomatic representatives of Iran accredited to your country.
PLEASE SEND APPEALS IMMEDIATELY. Check with the International Secretariat, or your section office, if sending appeals after 20 JUNE 1996.
During the last week, i have recieved a number of news mainly through radio Iran. I wanted to share with you the highlight of these news:
Comments: Tension between iran- Turkey, Iran vs. golf states and Isreal, and also U.S, coupled with mounting internal problems both economically and politically is indeed alarming for iran.
Regard
Saied
Latest news on this subject:
According to KSRI (Radio Sedaye Iran in California): On Thursday, a group of "policemen" attacked a private burthday party at "shahrak-e qharb". Alireza Farzanfar who where celebrating his 23rd burthday together with his friends in an apartment on 18th floor, went to the balcony to discuss with the authorities, he was there biten by them and after a while people heard a scream and Alireza Farzanfar was found on the street floor, It is not known if the authorities are responcible for his dead or not
Directly after that those uniformed guys, left the seen without dooing anything, after almost 2 hours, another group of "policemen" came to shahrake Qharb to peek up Alireza's body.
It is amazing ho cheap people life are in our country? Killing a guy in his 23rd burthday and leaving his body on the street for 2 hours and then telling people that "it is not know that the authorites are responcible for his dead".
Best regards,
Farhad Abdolian
Stockholm/Sweden
Farhad Abdolian's interview wioth Radio Parastoo in Malmö/Sweden
The interview started at 16:57 to 17:23 CET time, I answered to many question about Internet and Iranian groups. Here is a translated version of the interview (I am writing it from my memory so it is not exactly what we said and it is not translated word by word):
Parastoo: We have Mr. Farhad from Stockholm here with us, would you please tell me more about yourself?
Farhad : I have been living in Sweden for 11 years and currently working as Hardware design engineer in a small company in Sweden, in authumn 95, I got in contact with DNI and started to work actively with the group.
Parastoo: I have heard, or more correctly I have visited your so called homepage. You have an internet server with a lot of information about different places on internet, there people can use it to access othere interesting sites around the world, would you please tell us more about it? I have heard that people in Iran are also able to access this page is it correct?
Farhad : I do not have an internet server, I have an internet subscription on Algonet in Sweden, but I have a so called homepage (unfortunately I don't know a correct Farsi translation for this word), and there I have gathered some information about Iran. The official homepage of DNI is there together with the homepage of Iranian Human Right Working group. The answer to you second question is Yes, everyone who have access to internet can read the information on my home page no mathere where in the world they are.
Parastoo: I have heard that you have made some Farsi program and currently are working on a Farsi e-mail program, would you please tell uss more about them?
Farhad : I have been working on different Farsi program for PC and Windows for 3 years, many of them are in use by many people around the world and the e-mail program is not ready yet, so I do not want to talk about it anymore.
Parastoo: There are a lot of different political, cultural and individual groups who are currently active around the world, could you please tell us what you think DNI can do that those groups can not or do you see DNI as a complement to them?
Farhad : DNI is an internet based group, ur activities, for the moment are based on iternet, we see ourself as a groups of individuals who want to make a democratic atmosphere on internet, to make it possible for everyone to freely discuss their ideas and to make it posible to distribute Iran related news and information to our members and other Iranians around the world. DNI is not a homogeneous organisation or a political pary, we have member from left, nationalist and individual iranians without political connection. The major thing in our group is that we all care about our country and we are trying to create a democratic dialog between us.
Parastoo: What is the major reasone why you started DNI?
Farhad : To understand DNI I have to tell you about the background
of our group, DNI was started by 5 people in summer of 95, by autumn, the
number of active people where 14 when we asked people to join our group,
after about 6 months we are now 120 members who are actively participating
in different discussions. Please let me read a few lines from our charter:
The main objective of our group is the promotion of democracy and freedom
in Iran. The formation of this group is the result of our collective concerns
for the cause of democracy, unconditional provision of "freedom of
expression and thought" through freedom of press, freedom of assembly
and freedom of political campaign and activity for all political denominations
in Iran.
Parastoo: Who can become a member of DNI?
Farhad : Everyone who accept our charter and is interested in Iran=B4s politic and curent events can become a member by sending an e-mail to us and asking for membership.
Parastoo: We have received (and receiving) a lot of telephone contact from poeple who want to know how they can contact DNI? I know that people can access your so called "homepage" and read the information but is there any other way for people to contact you?
Farhad : Since DNI is an internet based group it is much easier to contact us via e-mail our e-mail address is dni@glue.umd.edu or by sending an e-mail to me (farhad@algonet.se) and we will send more information about our group. One can also contact us via fax, in Sweden, our fax number is 08-530 686 15 and in US it is Att: DNI 718-863-2775.
Parastoo: You said that poeple in Iran can also contact you, have you ever heard from anyone from Iran or do you send your information to them (except the fact that they can read about you on your homepage)?
Farhad : Yes we have been in contact with some people in Iran, we have e-mail address of more than 2000 iranians that we send our statements and news to, there are also some people from Iran who are members in our group and in some occasion we have received some unpleasent e-mails from them, but the majority of them are silent readres who use DNI as an information source, many of them do not want to send e-mails to the whole group because they are afraid, but they have send e-mail to some individual members in different occasion.
Parastoo: Have you any information about the internet in Iran? Before the interview you told me about the connection between Iran and rest of the world can you tell it to our listeners?
Farhad : My knowledge of internet connection in Iran is very narrow, but as far as I know there are two major Internet distributers in Iran, and many of Iran's universities are connected to Internet, the price of internet subscription is very high in Iran so there are no so many people who have access to it. And about the connection between Iran and the rest of the world, I have heard that there is 2, 19200 baud dial up connection between Iran and Austria I think, and there where some roumers that Iran wanted to increas the capacity to 2, 64kbit last winter, but I am not sure if they have made it or not. I have also read on Hamshahri newspaper that Tehran "shahrdari" is working on a satelite 1megabit connection, and they want to become internet provider in Tehran, and put the prices down, but this sounds like a roumer. Because many people inside and outside Majles has talked about internet, and they want to conroll or even forbid it in the same way they handled the Satelite dishes.
Parastoo: You talked about security, is it possible for a person, a government or an organisation to controll the information on internt?
Farhad : Yes it is possible, specially if there is few connection to the ousite world, but when the amount of information increases, the stream of information becomes so big that in practic it is not possible to pur a filter in it, there are also some 2ncryption program on the net that make it possible to send messages to another person without beeing afraid of somenelse is able to read them. These filters can only handle text information but one can send data in many other format as well so my personal answer is NO. Internet is like telephone, if someone wants to listen to a telephone line, then he/she can do it but when the number of lines are 100 or thousands then it become almost impossible to listen to all telephone lines. Parastoo: Yes you are right, and I think controlling the information on internet is much harder that telephonelines. Me: offcourse there is alwasy a possibility to controll some individuals so we can not say that internet is "safe".
Parastoo: We have reached the end of the program so we can not be able to answer to peoples question, I thank you for participation and that you where willing to participate in this interview.
Farhad : I have to thank you for helping us to inform people about our group and I hope we can be in touch in the future.
Parastoo: Yes, and thank again.
Thousands attended the funeral service for Ali Reza ForouzanFar in Tehran two days ago [Sohrevardi Street]. The Baseejees and pasdars were noit present at the scene of the Funeral understandably so.
Hezbollahies demonstrate in Tehran
Hezbollahies held a demonstration in Tehran chanting Anti-Liberal slogans and threatening to hang the Liberal Majlis Represnetatives off the buildings. This was a day before the second round of elections in Tehran which is held today, Friday April 19, 1996
New York
Womens' conference at Columbia university sponsored by the "Iranian Association
of Columbia", "Iran resource Council", And CDDI.
Best
Kourosh
A) One year ago, a medical student had been killed and his body was thrown into "fAzelab". He was the 5th year student at the time of death. According to rumors, he was living with some of his friends. His friends brought a prostitute home wanted to share together. The Islamic guy complained to his friends's immoral action. His hommates decided to kill him to be able to enjoy for themselves.
B) Nurses of Cardiology and Nephrology Departments of Imam Khomeini Hospital, Tabriz, complained to the authorities for not paying their salaries and "eidies", properly. These nurses were working as "peymAni". The authorities rejected their complain. Nurses took the case to edAreye kAr. edAreye kAr found their complaint to be fair and ordered the university officials to respect "qAnun kAr" compensating the differences.
In revenge, nurses of Nephrology Department (6) were fired being replaced by new nurses. Nurses of Cardiology Department were left unpunished at the moment.
C) Young members of the Islamic Association of Medical School (Tabriz) approached Miss Shahin Zolali expressing their sorrow for her being temporarily excluded from her studies. They are going to write a complain letter to the authorities (shurAye enzebAti) supporting Miss Zolali.
D) Mr Dariush Fruhar contacted Miss Zolali expressing his support for her. She was asked to report to Mr Fruhar if she faced further trouble by the authorities.
Asghar Abdi
ShurAye QolderAn made of 12 SheytAn amAmehdAr and biamAmeh declared the elections of Isfahan and malayer to be false. In Isfahan, Mrs AkhavAn and in Malayer, Mrs RAstgu won the elections. ShurAye QolderAn ordered their malijaks in the fourth tavileh to change the "election laws".
shame to ShurAye QolderAn
Asghar Abdi
Election authorities in Tabriz manipulated election so that, Mrs Iran Ahvar was forced out. She is the second leading candid during the first round of election. Dr. Chehregani (from Tasuj), one of the leading candids durig the first round were forced to withdraw from campaign. Later, Dr. Chehregani and his followers were arrested.
Before Friday, election officials forced Chehregani to withdraw from the election campaign. Later, Dr. Chehregani talked to Azari students in the university. Yesterday, the IRI forces arrested Dr. Chehregani and 40 Azari students.
Since yesterday, sensitive offices of Tabriz have been surrounded by armed gangs and Azari people have being harrased by armed forces of the IRI.
Regards
Arvanaq includes Sofian, Shabostar, Khamne and Benis while Anzab includes Sharafkhane and Tasuj. Til is part of Sharafkhane while Dizaj Sheikhmarjan and Chehregan is part of Tasuj.
Among ptominent figures from Arvanaq va Anzab,I can mention the follwing names.
Khamne, Arvanaq: Seyed Hossein Musavi (ex-prime Minister). Seyed Ali Khamneyi (self appointed Vali Faqih). Shabostar, Arvanaq: Muhammad Mujtehed Shabostari (a so-called liberal akhund), Mohsen Mujtehed Shabostari (Friday leader of Tabriz and MP),
Sharafkhaneh, Anzab, Jalil Oghli (general director of Bonyad Mostazeafan (Tabriz) and Ex-commander of Sepah Pasdaran (Shabostar), Ghaffari (general director of Amuzesh va Parvaresh, Shabostar).
Tasuj, Anzab: Asghar Abdi.
During the recent poll, one Mulla and four intellectual campaigning for a seat in Majlis:
The Mulla was from Sis who lost the fourth and fifth election for Majlesduring the first round.
Dr. Aminlu was openly supported by Mohsen Mojtehed Shabostari, a close friend of Seyed Ali Khamneyi. He was fully supported by the people of Shabostar. During his two period of serving as MP, he made sure that Shabostar got most of the facilities allocated for whole of Arvanaq va Anzab. He ignored other parts of Arvanaq va Anzab especialy Tasuj and its surrounding. Therefore, people of Anzab and some parts of Arvanaq decided to support his opponent. During the Fourth Election, his opponenet was from Tasuj, Dr. Akbarilar. All of the officials were backing Aminlu because Dr. Akbarilar was independent and had no relation to the religious powers. He was told that his fault was his relation with me (Asghar Abdi).
During the Fifth election for Majles (first round), votes of Anzab were divided between Mohandes Musavi Kuzekonani, Dr. Panahpour (Dizaj Sheikh Marjan) and Dr. Akbarilar. People of Shabostar supported Dr. Aminlu.
During the second round, Mohandes Musavi Kuzekonani who was related to Jahad Sazandagi won the election and Dr. Aminlu lost the election. Mohandes Musavi Kuzekonani won 30,000+ votes out of 50,000+.
The above data indicates that the competition among candids were very high in small areas where local people were supporting the candids from their towns.
I remeber that during the fourth election, every person of Tasuj (young or old, healthy or sick), participated in the election. The support lines were drawn according the distribution of population in various parts of a district (mantaqeh).
This also shows that MPs can influence the government (dovlat) in distributing public facilities among various parts of a city.
The influence of a MP and his/her relation to a certain town in an area is so critical that, people risk their lives to support their favoured candid. In Bonab, competition between two candids, one from Bonab and the other from Malekan, claimed tens of casualties.
MPs of such areas usually do not support any of the factions but they present interests of their relatives and inhabitants of their birth place.
In summary, the turn out in Arvanaq va Anzab was over 90%. Regards!
Asghar
Last night I talked to a Tabrizi friend in UK. He had a phone call from Tabriz. He was told that situation in Tabriz is very dramatic. "dar Tabriz QeyAmat ast".
Some of my friends have been arrested in Tabriz. Some of them are ex-supporters of MKO who have joined non-violent progressive forces.
Is there any other independent news about developments in Tabriz.
We want Azari language, music and literature taught, preserved and promoted as Persian language, music and literature. We are Iranians and not Persians. We want Azari and not Arabic language to be taught as the second language for our children.
Asghar Abdi
Summary from Abdi:
A) Development without legal security and freedom is impossible.
B) HojjatulIslam Rafsanjani was shrunk to Mr Rafsanjani while HojjatulIslam
Khamneyi has swallowed to the status of ayatullah and GrandAyatullah.
C) While Khamneyi continues silencing and threatening authors and journalists,
Rafsanjani leads them to establish a firm and strong allience.
D) Mohajerani: It is better to carry a reasonable message for our audience
than spreading nonsense every day and night.
E) Khamneyi to Basijies: I have empetied 1050 places in the prisons,
you may fill the vacancies ASAP.
F) Rafsanjani to press family: I am going to lose my job and power
soon and I won't be able to support you. Then try to grow up standing on
your own feet. Dady is going away.