News Update - October 15, 2009

Stop Child Executions

Newslinks

U.S. Senate approves sanction bill against Iran

Mother of American Detained in Iran Presses for His Release

If Iranian Supreme Leader Khamenei dies, then what?

Steps away from execution and still uninformed

2,500 seek release of U.S. hikers detained in Iran

Iran Blasts Back at Rumors of Supreme Leader's Death, News Site Reports

Mothers to Meet with Iran's U.N. Mission

Hamed Rohinezhad (one of the detainees sentenced to death) in intense physical condition (Farsi) | وضعیت وخیم جسمانی حامد روحی‌نژاد، زندانی محکوم به اعدام

The Death March

Ayatollah Khamenei dead? How rumours start

Concern about exodus of journalists, as regime steps up suppression of news

Karroubi responds to comments by Gholam-Hossein Mohseni-Ejei (Farsi) |
کروبی: از برگزاری دادگاه استقبال می‌کنم تا بر دغدغه‌های خود اصرار ورزم
Summary by anonymous: "Mehdi Karoubi welcomed the recent remarks made by Gholam-Hossein Mohseni-Ejei, the General Prosecutor, in which he promised to “take Mousavi and karoubi to court when the time is right”. Karoubi said: “I very much welcome this event so that if during... these years due to some considerations I have not raised some issues, I could do so in details then”. According to the office of Mehdi Karoubi, while Karoubi was attending a ceremony for the anniversary of the martyrdom of Imam Sadegh (Sia’s sixth Imam) and the day that the Seminary School of Qom was attacked by Shah’s forces, in response to the question regarding this matter said: “Unfortunately in these years the authorities that according to the quote by Imam Khomeini should be the servants of the nation, not only have not paid any attention to this advice but also instead of being responsible and taking fair positions, have confirmed the positions of extremists’ media; so that by doing so, they could hide their unjust behaviour and also insult and falsely accuse others who don’t have any media [to defend themselves]. Karoubi added: “This time not only I am not concerned about the “trial” but also I very much welcome it so that by this mean I can emphasize on my concerns that are raised from national and religious beliefs of the Iranians and Imam Khomeini’s ideas, and clearly reveal those who are oppose to these concerns.”

From Misc. Sources

-According to one of my sources, a 55-year old man attempted suicide by setting himself on fire infront of the Islamic Parliament. The motive behind it was being unable to acquire any loans after his truck suffered mechanical problems and could no longer use it. He wrote in his well that the people who denied him the loans were not directly responsible for his attempt.

- According to another source, the trial for seven Bahai leaders is set for this Sunday. They have been enduring horrid conditions in Evin prison.

- October 13, Behnoud Shojaie was laid to rest. If he could not find peace in life, I hope he's found it wherever he is and I hope he has been reunited with his mother. Rest in peace, Behnoud.

- October 12, trial was held at Babolsar for eight university students arrested.

- Mohabbat Mahmoudi, a woman who as spent the past nine years in prison for killing a man who assaulted her with a knife and attempted to rape her, has been sentenced to death.

(I did not write this one.)
- Shirin Ebadi, the Nobel Peace Prize laureate and human rights advocate, accused America and the West on Tuesday of having closed their eyes on instances of human rights violations in Iran. In an interview with Reuters, Ms Ebadi said: “Iranian officials have recently sentenced three people to death to intimidate those confined in prisons.” Regarding these people’s accusations, she said, “This is a big lie as Mohammad Reza Ali-Zamani, one of these convicted, was arrested before the presidential elections and had been told that he would be released given he confess to having participated in the protests.” Ms Ebadi also stated that in her opinion, public dissatisfaction will prevent these executions to take place.

From Tweets
(Slightly edited for grammar and spelling.)

- Until Khamenei is confirmed dead, we must not assume that he is. It will become apparent soon.

- A fifth protester on "trial" has been sentenced to death.

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