News Update - December 21, 2009

URGENT: Majid Tavakkoli under risk of torture

News Links

A Mourning Mother Reports on Her Arrest

Full Report of Montazeri’s Funeral in Qom

A historic farewell with Ayatollah Montazeri

Exclusive: Ahmadinejad Hedges on Freeing American Hikers

Iran: What the death of dissident cleric Montazeri means for opposition

Ahmad Montazeri: Number of people are injured & plain clothes have occupied the mosque (Farsi)

Filling Montazeri's shoes in Iran

Iran demands international nuclear ban

Khatami's rep was present at Montazeri's funeral

France refuses Iranian prisoner swap offer

Ahmad Montazeri: “They Did not Allow the Ceremony to be Carried Out”

From Tweets

- HRDA reports 7 more names of those arrested Dec 7 have been released. 127 names have been released so far.

- Families had taken warm clothes & supplies for their loved ones, that was also refused by prison officials.

- Sunday families had gone to Evin hoping for a visit with loved ones. After a long wait, it was not allowed.

- Monday about 50 family members of people arrested Dec 7 gathered in front of Court Building trying to get answers.

- BBC reports Mousavi car was attacked on the way back to Tehran, one of his group was injured.

- 4 months since the arrest of Kurdish civic activist Ahmad Bab, family has had no news & are worried.

- A 40th day grave site memorial service was held Mon for Ehsan Fatahian by his family & group of supporters.

- Ansar Hizbollah forced themselves into Azam Masque during Montazeri’s son speech & start chanting pro-supreme leader slogans.

- Shiva Nazarahari has been arrested again. She was kept at Evin for months just a while ago.

- Mousavi is fineMousavi's security detail reacted to the attack, Plainclothes sustained minor injury as well.

- Attackers were on motorcycles & followed Mousavi's car, they broke the back window, 1 passenger had a minor injury.

- Ehsan Kachoyi student at Tehran Uni released.

- A memorial service was held by Tabriz Sahand Uni & Shiraz Uni students for Ayatollah Montazeri.

- The attack was organized & Basijis, Ansar Hezbollah and also IRGC “Tip Emam Sadegh” cooperated.

- Plainclothes/Ansar had pictures of Khamenei & chanted “Khoni ke dar rage mast hedye be rahbare mast”.

- Intel agents searched home of Ahmad Ghabel(was arrested yesterday) today & confiscated some of his personal papers.

- 1. Mothers of victims of mass arbitrary executions in regime's prisons in 1987 offered their condolences.

- 2. Montazeri's denunciation of these executions is one of the reasons he did not succeeed Khomeini.

- 3. Mother of Anoushiravan Lotfi, a senior leader of the Fadayeen Khalgh who was executed in 1987...

- 4. ...thanked Montazeri for his efforts to save the lives of political prisoners.

- 1. Saeed Montazeri, the ayatollah's son, to BBC Persian: It's like martial law around our house.

- 2. Saeed Montazeri: The ceremony for my father's death at Azam Mosque has been banned by regime.

- 3. Security prevented regime critic Ayatollah Saeenei from entering Masoumeh Shrine for Montazeri's funeral.

- 4. Eyewitness: The people booed when Khamenei's condolence was read and tore down the official loudspeaker.

- 5. Another eyewitness: Mourners were attacked in a street, Basij at one end, police at the other end.

- Basijis tore down pictures of Montazeri and chanted “Malom shod ki akso ro pare karde”.

- People threw stones at Sec forces , more guards moving towards people gathered outside Montazeri’s home.

- Clashes between group of protesters and few 100s basiji. Greens try to keep it calm ask police for help.

- Police warned basiji to respect the mourners, People chanting anti coup & Khamenei slogans.

- 1/2 Ayatollah Montazeri's daughter: My father was not feeling well, he woke up 1:30 am Sunday.

- 2/2 He recited his Shahadat prayers than went back to sleep. He peacefully passed in his sleep.

- Disciplinary wave continues for Esfahan Uni. Disciplinary Office has issued verdicts for 30 students.

- ILNA news agency has been given yellow warning card by Guidance Ministry for covering too much Reformist news.

- 11 Shahr-e-Ray Azad Uni students have been summoned by the Disciplinary Office.

- Reformist newspaper Andiyshehno has been ordered to suspend publication.

- Shiraz Uni student Mohamad Tabe Mohamadi arrested Nov 4 has been sentenced to 4 years.

- Shiraz Uni student Sayed Hamed Kavousi arrested Nov 4 has been sentenced to 3 years.

- Ordinary people in the conservative city of Ghom were amazed today. They were smiling while people chanted anti Coup slogans.

- Basiji throw stones and coins at people. People chanting anti-supreme leader slogans.

- People chanting back showing Basijis money. Police try to keep basiji apart from the people.

- Montazeri’s son asked people to stop chanting. Still lots of people in Ghom but its more quiet.

- Iran expects speedy trial of 3 American hikers.

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