======== 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 ******************************************************************** Issues 6-7-8-9 Friday June 14-July 12, 1996 ******************************************************************** In this Issue: - US-Iran tensions mount - Clinton not seeking armed confrontation with Iran - Israleies point at Iran - A British Parliamentary group accuses Iran of attacks - Cultural Revolution in Iran - An interview with Dr. Chehregani in Tabriz - A Report on soroush's speech in Birmangham - Ezatoolah Sahabi and Amir Entezam - Egypt-Iran relations - Bank Director jailed - Netanyahu on Iran - AI: Iran Bulletin _______________________________ Date: Mon, 24 Jun 1996 14:17:43 -0700 Subject: U.S. -Iran tensions mount Source: Reuter New York - According to Reuter, "the United States and its Arab allies are moving closer to open confrontation with Iran over complaints Iran is stirring up trouble in the Persian Gulf with Jordan, the Wall Street Journal said Friday." "Jordan intended to bring to the Arab summit today in Cairo allegations of Iran-sponsored terrorist plots against officials and Israeli tourists in Jordan, the newspaper said." "The tensions also will be aggravated by a bill passed this week by U.S. House of Representatives which punishes foreign companies that invest in Iran, the newspaper said." ______________________________________ Date: Mon, 24 Jun 1996 14:22:27 -0700 Subject: Clinton not seeking armed confrontation with Iran Source: Reuter Clinton in an interview Asharq al-Awsat newspaper: ``As a matter of policy, the United States does not seek to overthrow the government of the Islamic republic of Iran. Nor do we seek a military confrontation with Iran,'' Clinton said. ``In fact, we are prepared at any time to have a full and frank dialogue. Our only condition is that such a dialogue must be with an authoritative, official representative of the Iranian government,'' he added. ``Our policy toward Iran is designed to change the government's behaviour,'' Clinton said. Clinton said he imposed sanctions on Iran ``in response to these inexcusable activities...My administration continues to urge others to take similar actions.'' ``Until we see a change in Iran's behaviour, there will be no change in our policy. Iran must face the full consequences of its actions,'' he added. _________________________________________ Date: Wed, 26 Jun 1996 Subject: Israelies point at Iran Source: Reuter JERUSALEM, June 26 (Reuter) - Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reacted on Wednesday to a bomb blast that killed at least 17 people in Saudi Arabia by saying Israel was ready to join the United States in the fight against ``terror.'' Weizman, whose job is largely ceremonial, said he blamed Iran for the blast. ``The time has come for understanding all the more what is understood today that Iran is behind this matter,'' Weizman said, adding that he had told Christopher as much. __________________________________________ Date: Wed, 26 Jun 96 17:04:17 -0700 Subject: British parliament group accuses Iran of attacks Source: Reuter LONDON (Reuter) - A British parliamentary group said Wednesday that evidence of Iranian government involvement in a string of attacks on dissidents living abroad was overwhelming. A pamphlet issued by parliament's all-party human-rights group said that over the last 17 years more than 150 assassination attempts on the lives of Iranian dissidents living abroad had been committed in 21 countries. It said almost 350 people had been killed or injured in the attacks, in places as far apart as Karachi, Paris and Buenos Aires. Two-thirds of the attacks had taken place in the seven years since President Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani came to power. ``The least that can be said is that in all the cases described, there was some involvement of persons employed by the Iranian government,'' said the pamphlet. ``But it is simply not credible that so many sophisticated operations, including many well-planned murders committed by highly trained men, were the result of individual initiatives. Only the government itself had the motive, the opportunity and the resources,'' said the pamphlet. _________________________________________________ Date: Fri, 28 Jun 1996 Subject: cultural revolution Source: Islamic Republic News Agency IRNA universities-president supreme council for cultural revolution meets tehran, june 26, irna -- president akbar hashemi rafsanjani here on wednesday attended a special meeting of the supreme council for the cultural revolution to study the subject of islamicization of universities. minister of culture and higher education mohammad reza hashemi golpayegani gave a report on implementation of the recommendations made by the leader of the islamic revolution ayatollah seyed ali khamenei on islamicization of higher academic centers. the supreme council for the cultural revolution approved to form research groups to study ways to implement the leader's recommendations in this regard. ___________________________________________ Date: 30 Jun 1996 13:19:07 Subject: Dr Chehregani: The people of Tabriz are very angery with Tehran. By: Asghar A. On Saturday, 29th June 1996, I contacted Dr Chehregani at his home in Tebriz. Dr Chehregani: I received more than 100,000 votes during the first round in spite of serious manipulation of votes by election officials against me and other alike candids. Emam Jomeh Mohsen Mojtehed Shabostari (a prominent member of Ruhaneyat Mobarez in Tabriz) openly was accusing me as a spy for Turkey and separatist. Emam Joneh's attack on me attracted more people toward me and I was going to be the first or second MP of Tabriz during the second round. I was reminding the voters that our movement was beased on five pillars: Islamic Revolution, Iran, Qanun Asasi, Velayat Faqih and Nezam Jomhuri. However, a nation is dying. Azari heritage is in danger of 'estehAle'. Azari language and culture should be given equal protection by the IRI." But, it seemed that criteria set by Imam Khomeini, "mizAn ra'y mellat ast" was a joke. It became obvious that "mizAn ra'y emam jomeh ast". Around 8.30 a.m., my name was removed from the list of candids. later, 40,000 people demonstrated at the front of Farmandari. 600 were arrested which all of them were from pro-IRI and Muslem individuals. They were families of martyrs, Basijies and students. They were among the most faithful individuals for Imam Khomeini. They were not Tudeyi or Monafeq. They were faithful revolutioary Muslems. Still, the Ministry of Ettela'at releases some and arrest another group of my supporters. People are very angery. If the USA had spent millions dollars to separate Azaries from the IRI, they would not be successful as the behaviour of election officials. When I was under arrest, Tabriz was 'cloudy' and any moment people could rise and riots could sweep whole the city. I calmed my supporters because I did not want any Azari to be hurt at this critical situation. I wanted to call for preservation of Azari culture but I noted that some power thirsty officials were ready not only sacrifice our culture before Tehran but also they did not mind to sacrifice Azari people who were faithful supporters of Iran and Islam. I am worried about our culture and language. It is in danger of 'estehAle'. It needs to be protected by the government as the Persian language and culture is being protected. I found Dr Pezeshkeyan, Dr Jabbarzadeh and Mohandes Abdul Ali Zadeh very positive officials who really respected opinion of the people but Emam Jomeh and Farmandar showed their degree of dictatorship. _____________________________________________________ Date: 30 Jun 1996 Subject: A report on Dr Soroush's speech in Birmingham By: Asghar A. Dr Soroush was invited to Birmingham by Iranian Muslem Students sponsored by the IRI. He arrived in Birmingham along his host Mr Saidi based in London. He was welcomed very warmly by members of the Association of Muslem Students (sponsored by the IRI). 30 copies of a complexe of his articles published in Kayan were bought from Mr Saidi by Movahhedin and waere freely distibuted among students. This action was sponsored by Movahhedin to support freedom of expression of Dr Soroush and to thank Iranian Muslem Students (sponsored by the IRI) for making the gathering possible in spite of written warning from the Union of Association of Muslem Students in EU who had banned its members of hosting Dr Soroush's lectures across UK. Dr Soroush's talk lasted 2 hours followed by Question & Answer session which officially lasted for 2 hours but actually continued for at least an extra 2 hours. Dr Soroush and his associate were pleased by very warm welcome from the students. Members of the Association of Muslem Students (sponsored by the IRI), Birmingham branch was the first and the last branch of the Union in UK who arranged such wonderful meeting and hosted him and his associate in their houses. Interestingly, all students attended in the talk along their families indicating that spouses of the students have also become interested in Dr Soroush's lectures. I have to add that the gathering of the members of the Association of Muslem Students (sponsored by the IRI) in Dr Soroush's talk should not be taken as a support for his ideas but a support for his freedom of expression. The majority of Muslem students believe that academicans of Iran have reached to the degree of maturity who can listen to various academic views without being in the danger of being brain-washed by lecturers. ____________________________________________________ Date: 2 Jul 1996 11:17:29 Subject: Ezzatullah Sahabi and Amir Entezam! By: Asghar A. In the last issue of Nimrooz, 372, page 36, a small note from Mr Sahabi was published. This note reported from Keyhan, Tehran, which in turn has reported it from "Howeyyat=identity" program made by the IRI TV. Recently, the program has intensified its attack on Mr Sahabi and the Minister of Ettela'at has stated that Sahabi and Iran Farda has gone too far and they are dangerous for national security and therefore, they should be dealt seriously. The program has aired a tape made from Sahabi during his forced interview in prison (Evin) six years ago. Six years ago, 99 people sent and open letter to Rafsanjani asking his to observe the Constituion Law of Iran. Later, tens of the signators were arrested including Sahabi and Sabbagheyan. Both were tortured and under torture they were forced to give an interview which was being recorded. After six years, the tape was broadcasted on TV. In this tape, Nehzat azadi was criticised. After broadcasting the interview, Mr sahabi released a statement stating that the interview was produced under force and his relationship with Nehzat Azadi was friendly. ________________________________________________ Date: Tue, 2 Jul 1996 17:28:16 +0800 Subject: US sends $62 million Iran compensation Source: UPI LONDON, July 2 (UPI) -- A Swiss bank account has been credited with $61.8 million from the United States to compensate families of Iranians killed in 1988 when the U.S. cruiser Vincennes shot down an Iranian airliner over the Persian Gulf, Iran's official news agency said Tuesday. _______________________________________ Date: Tue, 9 Jul 1996 Subject: Egypt-Iran relations Source: Reuter CAIRO, Egypt (Reuter) - Egypt's President Hosni Mubarak said Sunday his country had turned down an idea by Syria that Egyptian and Iranian ministers meet to resolve nearly two decades of differences. ``There was an idea (for a meeting) but we apologized because Iran still works against some countries and they are putting this idea about,'' Mubarak told reporters. ``But there are no meetings on any ministerial level and there are no meetings of any form.'' ``If Tehran wants to improve relations it must offer us clear proof that it will not interfere in our internal affairs and will not support terrorists,'' Baz said. He said the Iranian leadership should also ``stop trying to exert pressure on the Arab states in the Gulf.'' _________________________________________ Date: Tue, 9 Jul 1996 Subject: Bank Director jailed Source: Reuter TEHRAN, Iran (Reuter) - An Iranian court has sentenced a bank director and two accomplices to jail terms of up to six years for defrauding a state bank of more than $800,000, a newspaper said Wednesday. The daily Kayhan said the court jailed Abolhassan Chizri, director of a branch of Bank Tejarat, for five years, and Nasser Nassirein, a client, for six years for misappropriating $859,000 of the state-owned bank's funds. In the biggest fraud case in Iran's history, an Iranian businessman was executed in November after a court found him guilty of defrauding Bank Saderat of $21.7 million. _______________________________________ Date: Wed, 10 Jul 1996 Subject: Netanyahu on Iran Source: Reuter WASHINGTON (Reuter) - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Wednesday called on the United States to lead an international effort to isolate the ``despotic regimes'' of Iran and Iraq and prevent them acquiring nuclear weapons. ``Time is running out'', Netanyahu said in a speech to a joint meeting of the two houses of the U.S. Congress. Netanyahu, referring to a ``major challenge facing all of us,'' strongly backed the current U.S. initiative to isolate the two neighboring states and slammed European and Asian countries which support maintaining relations with them. ``Time is running out. We have to act,'' he said. He said the Middle East was ``being radicalized and terrorized by a number of unreconstructed dictatorships whose governmental creed is based on tyranny and intimidation.'' ``The most dangerous of these regimes is Iran, that has wed a cruel despotism to a fanatic militancy. If this regime or its despotic neighbor Iraq were to acquire nuclear weapons this could presage catastrophic consequences not only for my country and not only for the Middle East but for all of mankind.'' __________________________________ Subject: AI: Iran bulletin Date: 10 Jul 1996 22:13:08 GMT Source: AI +------------------------------------------------------+ + AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL URGENT ACTION BULLETIN + + Electronic distribution authorised + + This bulletin expires: 12 August 1996. + +------------------------------------------------------+ EXTERNAL AI Index: MDE 13/24/96 10 July 1996 Further information on EXTRA 52/96 (MDE 13/11/96, 12 April 1996) - Death penalty IRAN Saleh Hakki, aged 42, Kurd Sennar and one other Amnesty International has received unconfirmed reports that the execution of Saleh Hakki may be imminent. He has apparently been informed by the prison authorities that his death sentence has been confirmed and would be carried out. Saleh Hakki, from Mahabad, was reportedly arrested in July 1993 and convicted on drugs charges. There is no further information available on Sennar and the other person mentioned above who have also been sentenced to death. _/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/ _/ _/ _/ Democracy Network of Iran (DNI) _/ _/ P.O. Box 1611 _/ College Park, MD 20742, USA _/ _/ _/ _/ http://www.algonet.se/~farhad/dni/index.htm dni@glue.umd.edu _/ _/ _/ _/ To subscribe, send a message to majordomo@glue.umd.edu, include in the _/ _/ body: subscribe spi _/ _/ _/ _/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/