News Update - October 23, 2009

Disappeared journalist at risk of torture

Newslinks

Clashes as Iran opposition leader visits exhibition

Selected headlines from the Tehran Bureau

France, Israel “exchange” nuclear information on Iran

US displeased at delay in Iran response on uranium

Iran universities target of conservative attacks

Terrorism: Iran reaps the whirlwind

Iran will emerge victorious

60 arrested at the prayer session (Farsi) | تعداد بازداشت شدگان مراسم دعای کمیل به 60 نفر رسید

Iran urges Pakistan to hand over rebel group leader

Iran Fails to Endorse U.N. Nuclear Deal

Families of the detainees offer strong words to the coup government (Farsi) | بیانیه جمعی از خانواده‌های زندانیان سیاسی در باره بازداشت‌شدگان دعای کمیل و سایر زندانیان جنبش سبز
Summary by anonymous: Following the arrest of about 30 members of the families of the political prisoners last night (Oct 22, 2009), who had gathered in the residence of Shahabbedin Tabatabai (a detained member of the Participation Front) to pray for his release, families... of political prisoners issued a statement strongly condemning this pathetic act. In this statement addressed to the coup forces they said: “If you have no mercy on our innocent children, at least have mercy on your religion; stop ruling in the name of Islam and [therefore] stop dishonouring Islam [with these acts]. The detention of our loved ones, who had done nothing wrong but expressing their thoughts or at most revealing the bitter truth of the society, is a great oppression and people will not forgive you for this.” They also warned the coup agents: “be afraid of the day that people’s patience is over!”

Grand Ayatollah Bayat-Zanjani praises Karroubi after being attacked by hardliners (Farsi) | گفتگوی تلفنی مرجع عالیقدر با حجت الاسلام و المسلمین
Summary by anonymous: Grand Ayatollah Bayat-Zanjani in a phone conversation with Mehdi Karroubi while denouncing the recent assault against Karroubi in Media Fair by pro-Ahmadinejad hardliners, admired Karroubi’s resistance in front of these obscene and hideous acts. In this conversation Grand Ayatollah Bayat-Zanjani called Karroubi a fighter and a true believer and addressed to him said: “The more influential you are, the more they (pro-coup hardliners) resist you and these insulting attempts [just] reveal how successful you are.”

Grand Ayatollahs Montazeri and Saanei condemn the recent raids on the homes of families of political prisoners (Farsi) | ابراز تاسف آیات عظام منتظری و صانعی از حمله به مراسم دعای کمیل
Summary by anonymous: Grand Ayatollahs Montazeri and Saanei, strongly condemned last night’s (Oct 22, 2009) raid on the families of political prisoners, who had gathered in a religious ceremony in the residence of Shahabbedin Tabatabai (a detained member of the Participation Front) to pray for his release, and the arrest of 30 members of these political prisoners’ families. Grand Ayatollah Montazeri after learning about this pathetic act by coup forces expressed deep sorrow and regret that in the Islamic Republic authorities are now raiding the religious ceremonies! He also reinstated that the original slogan of the revolution which is “Islamic Republic” has been ignored by the rulers and added that the most important slogan of the revolution, which is “Independence, Freedom, and Islamic Republic”, has been ignored and that the meaning of “Republic” in an Islamic government which is basically the same as people’s authority [and democracy], has been ignored and people’s right to be free is being violated. Also, Grand Ayatollah Saanei by strongly condemning this act, advised the families of the political prisoner to be patient and strong, as well as to be more resistance and to spread the information. He also by pointing out the raid on a religious ceremony said that when the families of political prisoners and innocent people are being attacked in a religious ceremony, it shows the weakness of the authorities, meaning that they cannot even tolerate a religious ceremony!

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From Tweets

- Agents attacking the Komail prayer service were masked and armed.

- Mousavi announced he would not renew publication of his newspaper Kalameh Sabz for time being.

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