======== I R A N D E M O C R A C Y W A T C H A Periodical Newsletter by Democracy Network of Iran Democracy Network of Iran is an internet-based network of individuals with focus on social, economic and political development in Iran, advocating creation of truly democratic processes in political and social realms. For more information, you can look at our web site: http://www.algonet.se/~farhad/dni/index.htm or send an email to dni@glue.umd.edu ******************************************************************** Issue 2 Friday May 24, 1996 ******************************************************************** IN THIS ISSUE: * News from Tabriz and Tabriz University * "Jomhuri Eslami" Highlights, 15-23 Ordibehest 1375 * News from Radio Iran and other Iranian Media * Amnesty International Bulletins on Ayatollah Rastgari and Mehrdad Kavousi * News from Hezbe Mellate Iran * Reuters on the Banning of "Payame Daneshju" and * Warren Christopher's linking of Iran to Death of Israeli-American Student ***************************************************************** Date: 19 May 1996 0:04:12 Subject: Tabriz, news According to a member of Jonbesh-e MosalmanAn-e Mobarez, Tabriz: The authorities of Tabriz University's Department of Medical Sciences have started harassing Dr. Farastkhah by reducing his teaching hours in the university. ShurAy-e negahbAn confirmed Tebriz election's despite complaints by most of the candidates and people. There was a small gathering and demonstration in Tabriz University and the news of casualties can not be confirmed. A.A. ******************************************************************** Date: 18 May 1996 23:58:21 Subject: from "Jomhuri Eslami" daily, 15-23 Ordibehesht 1375 1) In a town, there is only one doctor and one darmAngAh for 30,000 people. "darmAngAh" was built 30 years ago. 2) Ayatullah MazAheri, President of Howzeye Elmieh Isfahan, and nemAyandeye vali faqih: Prophet Muhammad could write. 3) sarmaqAle: There should be no conflict between hezbullah and sAzandagAn and kArgozArAn. This conflict is provoked by the enemies of Islam and Iran. 4) Taleban group is a "guruhak vahshi" 5) Nabsh qabr sandicAye bad nAme nevisandagAne shAhi. 6) daftarchehAye bimeye darmAni rA dar bakhsh khususi qabul namikonand va dar bimArestAnhaye dowlati be bimAr bimeyi namirasand. 7) hukumate Turkey, hukumate shab parastAn ast. A. A. *************************************************************** Date: 20 May 1996 11:47:38 -0500 Subject: News from iran News from iran reported in radio iran, and some iranian newspapers. 1. Voice of Amercia (VOA) started its daily broadcasting ( 6 hour persian, and 8 hours English) for Iran on Friday 17th MAy. The signifacnce of this development is these programs are broadcast on medium wave (MW) covering all of Iran. Such transmission allows reception by normal AM radio recievers. It is being transmitted from Kuwait, using 7 antenna arrays of 600 KW each. It uses both ground and sky wave for reliable reception during the day. There are some restrictions on ability of Iran to blank these radio signals. On the opening day of the program, people in iran called and talked with the producers. It was interesting that most people requested, that these programs be more political rather than entertaiment. 2) Rafsanjani family A report by Payam Daneshju indicates that 5 members of Rafsanjani's familiy ( Brother, and son) have received commissions from various foreign companies. The name of the companies and the amount have also been reported. 3) Demonstration in Zahedan University 4) Hunger strike by 200 theological students (Tolab) in a Tehran school. It is reported that some Tolab from Tabriz are going to come to Tehran to join them. 5) Ayattollah Janati have called on the people of Saudi Arabia to rise and bring down the pro U.S regime ( Friday prayer) 6) Ansar-e Hezbollah have rejected a request by Rafsangani to restrain their activities. S.K. ************************************************************ Date: Mon, 20 May 1996 12:25:22 -0700 (PDT) Subject: AI on:Ayatollah Ya'sub al-Din Rastgari, aged 70 Unacknowledged EXTERNAL AI Index: MDE 13/17/96 17 May 1996 UA 124/96 Unacknowledged detention / Fear of "disappearance" IRAN Ayatollah Ya'sub al-Din Rastgari, aged 70 Amnesty International fears for the safety of Ayatollah Ya'sub al-Din Rastgari, who was reportedly detained in late February 1996 and taken to an unknown destination. Some of his possessions are also said to have been seized at the time of his arrest. Since then, no news has been received as to his whereabouts or circumstances. Ayatollah Rastgari, who is said to be critical of certain government policies, has reportedly been detained in the past, the first time after holding a mourning ceremony for the late Grand Ayatollah Shariatmadari who died in 1986, when he was reportedly sentenced to two-and-a-half years' imprisonment on charges said to include supporting Grand Ayatollah Shariatmadari and opposition to the Islamic Republic of Iran. Amnesty International does not have details of his subsequent arrests. In a letter to the Iranian authorities dated 4 April 1996, Amnesty International sought urgent clarification of Ayatollah Rastgari's legal status, including any charges against him, and his place of detention. It urged that his family be informed of his whereabouts, that he be granted immediate and regular family visits, as well as access to a lawyer of his choice, and to medical attention, if necessary. The organization also called for his immediate release if he was not to be promptly charged and fairly tried for a recognizably criminal offence, and sought assurances that he was being humanely treated. No response has yet been received. Date: Mon, 20 May 1996 21:22:39 +0200 (MET DST) Subject: AI: Further information Mehrdad Kavoussi's case EXTERNAL=20 AI Index: MDE 13/06/96 15 May 1996 Further information (1) on UA 113/96 (MDE 13/14/96, 30 April 1996) -Forci= ble=20 Return / Fear for Safety and new concern: Fear of Torture / Ill-treatment TURKEY/IRAN Mehrdad Kavoussi, aged 36, Iranian asylum-seeker Amnesty International has received unconfirmed reports that Mehrdad Kavou= ssi, forcibly returned to Iran from Turkey on 25 April 1995, is being held in a detention center in Tehran controlled by the Ministry of Information. The legal basis for any such detention is unknown, but it is feared that, if true, he may be held in incommunicado detention and to be at risk of torture or ill-treatment. The Iranian authorities have not yet provided any information to Amnesty International or to members of the Urgent Action network regarding Mehrdad Kavoussi's whereabouts. ********************************************************** Date: Tue, 21 May 96 14:38:33 EDT Subject: News Source: Hezbe Mellate Iran news service: Dr. Abdolkarim Soroush complained about the ilegal actions of the pressure groups which enjoy indirect support of the state to Rafsanjani. He said: " Aya Kareh een diar be enja resideh ast keh yek moalem Barayeh Hozoor dar kelas bayad as jAne khod begozarad va del beh Halak beseparad." Saturday May 10 Hossein Alizadeh's concert was disrupted by the Hezbollahi hooligans. A member of the Cultural ministry was present in the audience. The audience had to listen to the Hezbollahis preach on "anti-Islamic nature of music". 200 Talabeh of the ShahAbadi Hozeh in Tehran went on strike to protest educational, medical and food shortages. Mahmoud Ali Chehregani [Tabriz] denied withdrawal of his candidacy for the fifth Majlis. The Islamic Society of the Amir Kabir University issued a statement regarding forced cancellation of Dr. Soroush's speech. They denounced the Hezbollah group and some of the opportunistic members of the Press. Hundreds of the Amir Kabir University Students signed a statement requesting lawful dealing with the Ansar-e Hezbollah hooligans. They denounced anti-human right deeds of the Ansar and called on the interior ministry and law enforcement to deal with the ilegal acts of the Hezbollahis. Friday May 16, 1996 Dr. Mossadegh's birthday was celebrated in AhmadAbad by the Melli forces in Iran. Mossadegh's family members were present. Hezbe Mellat, ZahmatKeshan (Neeroyeh Sevom), Jonbeshe Azadi Iran, Etehad Demokratike Chap, Hezbe Iran represnetatives were present. K.P. ********************************************************** IRI bans Payame Daneshju again Avccording to Reuters, IRI "authorities have banned a popular radical Islamic weekly known for exposing corruption three months after dropping an earlier ban". "A member of staff of the weekly, who did not give his name, told Reuters by telephone: ``We have not heard anything official yet. We just read in Kayhan today that we are banned.''" Reuters reports that "It recently accused relatives of President Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani of corruption and charged Iran's largest state-affiliated economic conglomerate with mismanagement." *********************************************************** Date: Tue, 21 May 1996 17:09:05 -0700 (PDT) Subject: US preparing for action against Iran Source: Reuters Secretary of State Warren Christopher said Tuesday ``There should no longer be any debate about Iran's involvement in terrorism against the peace process,'' He said this in a speech to the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, a think tank. ``The evidence has grown in recent months. In advance of Israel's elections, Iranian-trained terrorists have been sent to infiltrate Israel and the Palestinian teritories. Some have been intercepted. Others narrowly failed in carrying out their deadly activities. Still others have succeeded in their murderous missions,'' he said. ``We believe that an Iranian-backed group was responsible for last week's drive-by shooting of an Israeli-American yeshiva student in the West Bank,'' Christopher said, without specifying the group. Christopher also said that Belgium had intercepted a shipment containing ``a mortar, which came from Iran and was probably intended for an attack on a Jewish target in Europe.'' Christopher said the United States, which last year imposed a comprehensive trade embargo on Iran, continues to believe the pay a sufficiently high political and economic price.'' But he stressed that Washington does not oppose speaking with Iran and reiterated a long-standing U.S. offer to open a dialogue with ``authoritative representatives'' of the Iranian government, an offer Tehran has never accepted. Date: Tue, 21 May 1996 17:35:13 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Rafsanjani warns Clinton Source: IRNA President Rafsanjani on Sunday issued a blunt warning to President Clinton: stay out of Iran's domestic affairs, or else! In a comment broadcast by the official Islamic Republic News Agency, Rafsanjani warned that the IRI "has documents and facts that can change the nature and outcome of the coming U.S. presidential elections," and hinted he would release the documents if the U.S. did not cease its "hostile" actions against Iran. [IRNA 5/19] ************************************************************************** Democracy network of Iran newsletter dni@glue.umd.edu http://www.algonet.se/~farhad/dni/index.htm To subscribe send a message to majordomo@glue.umd.edu The body of the message should be "subscribe spi" DNI is an Internet-based group which advocates democracy and pluralism in Iran. **************************************************************************