WWIII. America in final preperations to attack Iran?

Park Life · February 24, 2007

2. Pure supposition.....Albeit the current propaganda.

haway man Parky it's not a fucking stretch is it?

Even if it isn't the government itself I'm sure there are a plethora of zealots fizzing at the slit to get their hans/hooks on the launch codes so they can wipe these pesky Jews (who bang on about a genocide that never happened... honestly ) off the face of the planet.

Israel has over 100 warheads - dozens of which are submarine based...Iran would be toast. I don't think they would really want go ahead with a strategy which would be the extinction of their country.

They wouldn't (if you remember before they realised what a mire Iraq would become for the USA they were running scared of actually being physically invade by the USA, since that is now out of the question their postitions have changed considerably), but IF they could get away with it they would.

At present highly unlikely, but as I've said much more unlikely things have come to pass.

So infact in essence you're saying it's highly unlikely..

In fact in essence and reality THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT I HAVE SAID RIGHT FROM THE START.

i.e.:

If Iran thought they could get away with droping a nuclear weapon on Isreal I am pretty sure they would, of course them being in a postion to do that is another issue, but not beyond the realms of possibility.

So I don’t see what you’re getting at tbh, oh no I’ve said WHAT I SAID ALL ALONG… how terribly “silly” of me.

Btw..USA don't have the troops, will/popular support or now the balance of congress has changed techinical ability to invade Iran. Just summat I picked up on my scouring of 'world affairs'.

Yup again that’s been the case for a while, but pre-Iraq and in the early days of Iraq (before the quagmire of the insurgence and security issues – remember the military part of the operation went quite well, this issue as ever is in the peacekeeping), Iran was very concerned about the USA having the both the might and the will to invade them.

My main concern is that Israel will do something, inevitably drawing America in and us in to some degree.

Israel won’t, they tend to mostly only massively overreact to aggression, but the recent Lebanon conflict has likely put a curb on that as they didn’t exactly lose, but didn’t win militarily and hugely lost politically and in standing in the eyes of their enemies.

In the 'highly unlikely event' Iran attacks Israel.....Tell me why are we to be so concerned about it? Is Israel national security our concern....?

Erm…. you think using nuclear devices in anger is something NOT to be concerned about?

For a start it would kill a LOT of people directly, and a lot more indirectly (and not necessarily in that specific area either).

Secondly it could well trigger a much wider conflict, especially if Iran trades nuclear capability with its close allies.

You’ve lost the plot here IMO.

Well nuclear proliferaton ie India, Pakistan, Israel, South Africa, N.Korea, the odd left over nuke in Azerbiajan or Uzbekistan...Are you seriously saying that the U.K should be ready to intervene in these kind of theatres...There is a big difference being concerned (the both of us and no doubt the public at large are very concerned) it is another thing being drawn into a 20 year war with Shia Islam cause they attacked (although highly unlikely <_< ) Israel.

If Iran trades nuclear capability? It is at even worse case estimates 8/10 years from having ONE bomb of their own.

If OUR neighbour had a 100 nuclear warheads....Would you not want US to aquire some measure of response?

Park Life · February 24, 2007

Israel has over 100 warheads - dozens of which are submarine based...Iran would be toast. I don't think they would really want go ahead with a strategy which would be the extinction of their country.

yes because they don't believe in martyrdom do they... oh no wait..

Gosh that's stretching the mad mullah, every towel head is a terroist theme a bit...I don't think it would run to carrying out action that would guarantee the extinction of Iran...Nuclear winter etc...Do you really think everyone in the Iranian leadership is some kind of psychotic nutcase? I mean how do they manage to carry on world affairs and get China, Russia and India on their side in the U.N.?

You want to take a look at the birth of Israel and who's soldiers they were killing....

If you think that affairs in the UN with the likes of Russia, China and India have more to do with "supporting Iran" (or anyone else) rather than looking after their own interests and/or pushing back the interests of the USA and/or EU then I just don't know what to say.

You need to take a course in politics or something tbh.

But yes unfortunately the Iranian regime is FULL of zealots and frankly probably a few psychotic nutcases, it doesn't take too many of them too cause problems, just ONE (or a few) in the right postion(s)...... just look at the early 2oth century or frankly look at Bush himself, both prove that point to a certain degree.

They are doing it out of the goodness of their hearts..... :rolleyes: Sorry I should have made it clear. America I suppose has 152 bases around the world cause it is interested in democracy.. :razz:

That is a ridiculous statement.

Fop · February 24, 2007

Well nuclear proliferaton ie India, Pakistan, Israel, South Africa, N.Korea, the odd left over nuke in Azerbiajan or Uzbekistan...Are you seriously saying that the U.K should be ready to intervene in these kind of theatres...There is a big difference being concerned (the both of us and no doubt the public at large are very concerned) it is another thing being drawn into a 20 year war with Shia Islam cause they attacked (although highly unlikely ) Israel.

Are you seriously suggesting the world need MORE nuclear weapons not LESS? :razz:

Are you seriously suggesting the UK (and the EU) should NOT take its active role in non-proliferation (which has stopped nuclear programs in several countries already)? <_<

If Iran trades nuclear capability? It is at even worse case estimates 8/10 years from having ONE bomb of their own.

Hmm.... worst case estimates at 10 years? I'm pretty sure the latest IAEA report puts it at less than that, but even if that is the case I’m fairly certain never is better and safer than in 8/10 years.

If OUR neighbour had a 100 nuclear warheads....Would you not want US to aquire some measure of response?

We have, but equally we are not Iran, and if you don't know the difference (and I suspect you probably do not) I suggest going and trying to live there (or even visit for a few weeks) that should be a nice eye opener for you. :razz:

Although personally I’d rather no one had them.

Fop · February 24, 2007

Israel has over 100 warheads - dozens of which are submarine based...Iran would be toast. I don't think they would really want go ahead with a strategy which would be the extinction of their country.

yes because they don't believe in martyrdom do they... oh no wait..

Gosh that's stretching the mad mullah, every towel head is a terroist theme a bit...I don't think it would run to carrying out action that would guarantee the extinction of Iran...Nuclear winter etc...Do you really think everyone in the Iranian leadership is some kind of psychotic nutcase? I mean how do they manage to carry on world affairs and get China, Russia and India on their side in the U.N.?

You want to take a look at the birth of Israel and who's soldiers they were killing....

If you think that affairs in the UN with the likes of Russia, China and India have more to do with "supporting Iran" (or anyone else) rather than looking after their own interests and/or pushing back the interests of the USA and/or EU then I just don't know what to say.

You need to take a course in politics or something tbh.

But yes unfortunately the Iranian regime is FULL of zealots and frankly probably a few psychotic nutcases, it doesn't take too many of them too cause problems, just ONE (or a few) in the right postion(s)...... just look at the early 2oth century or frankly look at Bush himself, both prove that point to a certain degree.

They are doing it out of the goodness of their hearts..... Sorry I should have made it clear. America I suppose has 152 bases around the world cause it is interested in democracy..

That is a ridiculous statement.

The USA protects its interests, of course it does, every country does (as I said in the UN that's the reason for many things).

But there a LOT of HUGE differences between the USA and Iran, even with someone like Bush in charge.

I think you should have a read up on Iran tbh, what they've said, what they've done, you seem to be rather uninformed on the whole issue.

The Fish · February 25, 2007

Parky I know it's popular and fun to be anti west, but seriously, if cannot see zeal when it's blatant then you're blind.

Also it matters little if the government is zealous or not, when they're entirely incapable of stopping or policing the extremists in their country, then they should have the fucking sense to refrain from developing a nuclear arsenal which will serve only to scare other nations into producing nuclear arms and suddenly we're off to the races.

You'll have all the arab nations with nuclear capabilities, then they'll increase aggressive tactics against their neighbours who will not back down... at that point what are we supposed to do? launch conventional strikes to render their nukes impotent? it's too late they'll launch Nuclear counterstrikes and suddenly we've destroyed a planet simply because we're too shortsighted or bigotted to act like grown ups and realise that there is a finite amount of resources and land on this rock, we should learn to share and be accepting of others.

It's seems rude to say our way is better, but to be honest we don't murder people for having a different view, the men in our country don't gang rape a woman because her husband has made some slight to our families, and then our leader doesn't accuse this woman of creating negative propoganda against our country when she has the gaul to say that perhaps this isn't fair. (Pakistan)

Come on, I know that it isn't the entire Islamic faith that takes such a hardline view, but the men in power of these countries are absolutely the ones who should not be. They are reactionary, they are bigots, they are zealots and they are in the pocket of religious fanatics.

Park Life · February 25, 2007

Parky I know it's popular and fun to be anti west, but seriously, if cannot see zeal when it's blatant then you're blind.

Also it matters little if the government is zealous or not, when they're entirely incapable of stopping or policing the extremists in their country, then they should have the fucking sense to refrain from developing a nuclear arsenal which will serve only to scare other nations into producing nuclear arms and suddenly we're off to the races.

You'll have all the arab nations with nuclear capabilities, then they'll increase aggressive tactics against their neighbours who will not back down... at that point what are we supposed to do? launch conventional strikes to render their nukes impotent? it's too late they'll launch Nuclear counterstrikes and suddenly we've destroyed a planet simply because we're too shortsighted or bigotted to act like grown ups and realise that there is a finite amount of resources and land on this rock, we should learn to share and be accepting of others.

It's seems rude to say our way is better, but to be honest we don't murder people for having a different view, the men in our country don't gang rape a woman because her husband has made some slight to our families, and then our leader doesn't accuse this woman of creating negative propoganda against our country when she has the gaul to say that perhaps this isn't fair. (Pakistan)

Come on, I know that it isn't the entire Islamic faith that takes such a hardline view, but the men in power of these countries are absolutely the ones who should not be. They are reactionary, they are bigots, they are zealots and they are in the pocket of religious fanatics.

Oh I see the zeal and the fanatical elements at play in Shia and Sunni Islam, but I try and balance it although it is difficult as Iran is continually portrayed as a bunch bulging eyed savages...Where things are getting hazy in our ideation of Iran is that we aren't shown the rich Persian culture (not Arab)..Iran differs from Egypt and Syria and indeed the real brutal Wahabi regime of Saudi Arabia in many ways, but since the Khomeni revolution has become very tight knit and insular to some degree...Iran in the early years was very much recovering from the Shah and his predominantly American backers. I fundametally disagree that war with Iran is the way forward and we really have to look very hard at other means and to some respects the E.U. have been taking a lead as they know the Americans are itching to get in there.

I have to be frank getting embroiled 'with the U.S.' in some kind of action in Iran will be a huge mistake. Our economy is not dependant on oil as the U.S. is and untill fairly recently we had very good trading with Iran and a reasonable relationship. If Iran and Israel get into summat we need to stay out of this one, not because we are absconding our responsability but mainly because Israel can defend herself....She has more nuclear weapons than we do, better submarines and actually an airforce as good if not better...Why would we want to be there?

Non-proliferation is a goal and a good one and one that I agree with fully, but this must be measred with a degree of realism. There were times during the changeover of power from 'white' South Africa to 'black' South Africa, very similar issues and sentiments started appering in the international press along the lines of 'can we trust the wogs with these weapons' , as if somehow black people with a revolutionay background (the ANC) would be unreliable...But as time passed, these things were forgotten and Mandela got the Nobel peace prize etc..

The fact that Israel has armed itself to the teeth with nuclear, biological and chemical weapons has had a knock on effect in making its Arab neighbours demand and look for parity. Perhaps it would have been better if we had been forthright in stopping Israel acquiring such weapons, but of course we didn't hear a whisper about non-proliferation then and infact WE and South Africa and later the U.S. were on hand to help with technology transfer. No talk of non-proliferation whatsoever.

General Lee Butler former head of SAC (Strategic air command) U.S....

"...it is dangerous in the extreme that in the cauldron of animosities that is the middle east, one nation has armed itself ostensibly with stockpiles of nuclear weapons. perhaps in the hundreds and that inspires the other to do so.."

If you seriously want to talk genuinely about non-proliferation lets take the apparent John Wayne of this scenario in hand. The U.S has rejected all recent treaty talk, especially regarding the nuclear non-proliferation of space and has already declared its plans to widen its arsenal to develop the next generation of mini-nukes (there isn't much mini about them the smallest one is eqivalent to 3 Hiroshimas). And how about us committing to the next generation of nuclear submarines...YOu see WE can't have it both ways..If we and America and Russia and China are going to continue to develop our arsenals we shouldn't be surprised if others want a piece of the action.

While time is on our side we need to keep talking to Iran and find other ways, one possibility was that of Russia offering them low grade fission material for their nuclear reactors, which was quite a clever move.

Anyway that is my 10p worth. :rolleyes:

Edited February 25, 2007 by Parky

The Fish · February 25, 2007

the difference is though Parky (and I'm amazed that this needs to be said) , your optimism blinds you. it takes 1 zealot, just one to start a nuclear war, fortunately there are fewer zealots in the governments you ention, than there are in the Iranian government. Despite your claims to the contrary we are not dealing with a moderate regime, we are dealing with people who use ancient ideals in a modern society.

I'm all for harshers restrictions on all nuclear weapons, but before we address the problems with countries who are moderate and stable, lets take the world ending weapons away from the people who would welcome armageddon...

I can't believe that you think that simply by our tolerance, they'll change their minds and suddenly reverse centuries of tradition. We interfered before and fucked up, unfortunately it's neccesary to interfere again to redress the imbalance. This does mean stopping or at the very least massively restricting the proliferation of nuclear arms in the most unstable region in the world.

Nobody in this fuck up is innocent, but at least the major powers are acting with a modicum of global responsibility. Iran's president has publically declared that it would be a good thing to wipe the Jews fromt he face of the planet. He was not misquoted he was not misinterpreted, those were his words....He has once again celebrated martyrs and in so doing condoned the acts of suicide bombers across the world. This man will soon have Nuclear weapons to play with.

can you honestly sit there and tell me that this will be fine as long as we don't piss them off?

our very existence pisses him off, we don't worship his god (who quite frankly is the same god the Jews and christians pray to) and as such we don't deserve to live.

The country he presides over hasn't the infrastructure to cope with the nightmare. An amount of nuclear product is stolen, smuggled into London, detonated and the dirty bomb reduces london to rubble and a barren wasteland thereafter... and for what reason? Because we allow our women to wear whatever they fucking want.

I'm all for pluralism and tolerance mate, but the man who's right to bear nuclear arms you're defending does not. He simply doesn't believe you have the right to vote for whomever you want to, he doesn't think you have the right to go to a church, or a synagogue or neither, he doesn't believe you have the right to drink beer, or say whatever you like, he doesn't believe you mum has the right to an education or to wear a mid-calf skirt.

Now that wouldn't be a problem if he restricted his Medieval practises to his own country, but he's not content with that. You sitting around not agreeing with him fucks him off no end.

and you think he should be allowed to have access to the big red button which ends life in Greenwich for the next 50 years?

not me mate

I say seek diplomatic measures, but when they don't work (and they won't work) remove Iran's capability to produce nuclear weapons then Iraq's, then Kuwaits, then Jordan and Egypt, and and and

then we'll do it to Korea, then to the US and Russia and China and France and the UK and then we'll all have a nice cuppa tea and try to do this like adults.

Park Life · February 25, 2007

the difference is though Parky (and I'm amazed that this needs to be said) , your optimism blinds you. it takes 1 zealot, just one to start a nuclear war, fortunately there are fewer zealots in the governments you ention, than there are in the Iranian government. Despite your claims to the contrary we are not dealing with a moderate regime, we are dealing with people who use ancient ideals in a modern society.

I'm all for harshers restrictions on all nuclear weapons, but before we address the problems with countries who are moderate and stable, lets take the world ending weapons away from the people who would welcome armageddon...

I can't believe that you think that simply by our tolerance, they'll change their minds and suddenly reverse centuries of tradition. We interfered before and fucked up, unfortunately it's neccesary to interfere again to redress the imbalance. This does mean stopping or at the very least massively restricting the proliferation of nuclear arms in the most unstable region in the world.

Nobody in this fuck up is innocent, but at least the major powers are acting with a modicum of global responsibility. Iran's president has publically declared that it would be a good thing to wipe the Jews fromt he face of the planet. He was not misquoted he was not misinterpreted, those were his words....He has once again celebrated martyrs and in so doing condoned the acts of suicide bombers across the world. This man will soon have Nuclear weapons to play with.

can you honestly sit there and tell me that this will be fine as long as we don't piss them off?

our very existence pisses him off, we don't worship his god (who quite frankly is the same god the Jews and christians pray to) and as such we don't deserve to live.

The country he presides over hasn't the infrastructure to cope with the nightmare. An amount of nuclear product is stolen, smuggled into London, detonated and the dirty bomb reduces london to rubble and a barren wasteland thereafter... and for what reason? Because we allow our women to wear whatever they fucking want.

I'm all for pluralism and tolerance mate, but the man who's right to bear nuclear arms you're defending does not. He simply doesn't believe you have the right to vote for whomever you want to, he doesn't think you have the right to go to a church, or a synagogue or neither, he doesn't believe you have the right to drink beer, or say whatever you like, he doesn't believe you mum has the right to an education or to wear a mid-calf skirt.

Now that wouldn't be a problem if he restricted his Medieval practises to his own country, but he's not content with that. You sitting around not agreeing with him fucks him off no end.

and you think he should be allowed to have access to the big red button which ends life in Greenwich for the next 50 years?

not me mate

I say seek diplomatic measures, but when they don't work (and they won't work) remove Iran's capability to produce nuclear weapons then Iraq's, then Kuwaits, then Jordan and Egypt, and and and

then we'll do it to Korea, then to the US and Russia and China and France and the UK and then we'll all have a nice cuppa tea and try to do this like adults.

Good post. Bit late for a proper reply will get back later. :rolleyes:

I'm not overly optimistic but try and remain hopeful, the other way doesn't bear thinking about.

Edited February 25, 2007 by Parky

Fop · February 25, 2007

Oh I see the zeal and the fanatical elements at play in Shia and Sunni Islam, but I try and balance it although it is difficult as Iran is continually portrayed as a bunch bulging eyed savages...

The government of Iran has MUCH more in common with Bush than "bulging eyed savages", frankly they are more like a MORE fanatical and evangelical Bush but WITHOUT the legal, constitutional and cultural balances that somewhat keep him in check, and frankly probably with a lot more political nouse than the US administration.

That is fucking scary to my mind (and frankly if they were “bulging eyed savages” there’d be nothing like as much to worry about). They know exactly what they are doing, exactly how to go about getting it and they play the world politics “game” very, very well.

Which is always something that puzzles me, people are prepared to hate and despise Bush for being Bush (which is fair enough), but are equally perfectly happy to apologise for and play down states and leaders as bad or much worse than him, simply because it doesn’t marry (in their eyes at least) with trendy “I hate Bush/the West” ravings.

If Iran ever gets as much power as the USA currently does, we’re all likely screwed, unless their recently quashed democracy and freedom movement does make a strong resurgence, but the skill and cleverness they used to deal with that…. I’m not sure it will.

Tom · February 25, 2007

Ketsbaia · February 25, 2007

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/6394387.stm

Iran 'launches rocket into space'

Iran has successfully fired its first rocket into space, Iranian state television has announced.

It gave few details about the rocket or its range, but said that it had carried cargo intended for research.

Iran already has a civilian satellite programme but so far has relied on Russia to put its satellite into orbit.

The launch - if confirmed - comes at a time of mounting tension between Tehran and the West over Iran's controversial nuclear programme.

"The first space rocket has been successfully launched into space," Iranian TV said.

It quoted the head of Iran's aerospace research centre, Mohsen Bahrami, as saying that "the rocket was carrying material intended for research created by the ministries of science and defence".

Concerns

In 2005, Iran's Russian-made satellite was put into orbit by a Russian rocket.

But soon afterwards Iranian military officials said they were preparing a satellite launch vehicle. Last month, they announced they were ready to test it soon, the BBC's Frances Harrison in Tehran says.

The ballistic technology used is believed to be an extension of Iran's long-range Shahab-3 missile, our correspondent says.

She says that military experts believe that if Iran has sent a rocket into space it means scientists have mastered the technology needed to cross the atmospheric barrier.

In practice, they say, that means there is no technological block to Iran building longer range missiles now, something that will be of great international concern.

Our correspondent says the timing of this announcement is clearly confrontational - just as the five permanent members of the UN Security Council and Germany are about to meet to discuss the possibility of more sanctions over the nuclear issue.

DanTheMan · February 25, 2007

I think there should be; a considerable history of consistent, progressive government, evidence of unfettered access to education for all people, the freedom to practise whatever religion you please (without impinging on others rights)

All of which Iran has!

The Fish · February 25, 2007

I think there should be; a considerable history of consistent, progressive government, evidence of unfettered access to education for all people, the freedom to practise whatever religion you please (without impinging on others rights)

All of which Iran has!

:naughty:

no.. it really doesn't.

how many Jews enjoy freedom from oppression in Iran?

DanTheMan · February 25, 2007

I think there should be; a considerable history of consistent, progressive government, evidence of unfettered access to education for all people, the freedom to practise whatever religion you please (without impinging on others rights)

All of which Iran has!

no.. it really doesn't.

how many Jews enjoy freedom from oppression in Iran?

Iran has the highest proportion of female MPs in the world and education is legally guaranteed to all, regardless of gender. There is no widescale persecution of Jews in Iran as you seem to be implying. It's very easy to lump Iran in with less developed Islamic countries, however I accept there problems. It just annoys me when the media seem so clueless about the Arab World.

Park Life · February 25, 2007

I think there should be; a considerable history of consistent, progressive government, evidence of unfettered access to education for all people, the freedom to practise whatever religion you please (without impinging on others rights)

All of which Iran has!

no.. it really doesn't.

how many Jews enjoy freedom from oppression in Iran?

Iran has the highest proportion of female MPs in the world and education is legally guaranteed to all, regardless of gender. There is no widescale persecution of Jews in Iran as you seem to be implying. It's very easy to lump Iran in with less developed Islamic countries, however I accept there problems. It just annoys me when the media seem so clueless about the Arab World.

This is the thing Dan the average European knows very little about Iran.

DanTheMan · February 25, 2007

I think there should be; a considerable history of consistent, progressive government, evidence of unfettered access to education for all people, the freedom to practise whatever religion you please (without impinging on others rights)

All of which Iran has!

no.. it really doesn't.

how many Jews enjoy freedom from oppression in Iran?

Iran has the highest proportion of female MPs in the world and education is legally guaranteed to all, regardless of gender. There is no widescale persecution of Jews in Iran as you seem to be implying. It's very easy to lump Iran in with less developed Islamic countries, however I accept there problems. It just annoys me when the media seem so clueless about the Arab World.

This is the thing Dan the average European knows very little about Iran.

Indeed!

Fop · February 25, 2007

I think there should be; a considerable history of consistent, progressive government, evidence of unfettered access to education for all people, the freedom to practise whatever religion you please (without impinging on others rights)

All of which Iran has!

no.. it really doesn't.

how many Jews enjoy freedom from oppression in Iran?

Iran has the highest proportion of female MPs in the world and education is legally guaranteed to all, regardless of gender. There is no widescale persecution of Jews in Iran as you seem to be implying. It's very easy to lump Iran in with less developed Islamic countries, however I accept there problems. It just annoys me when the media seem so clueless about the Arab World.

Aye except of course if you're not the "correct" type of MP (and don't toe the approved line) you are simply banned from standing as an MP (or they simply rig the vote). :lol:

Education is decent, but it's education in what they want and along approved lines (what isn't wanted is quashed and all trace removed).

Jews are actually protected in a fashion in Iran, however that protection (are we seeing a pattern yet) is only they so long as they toe the approved line and are no "threat". :razz:

Iran is not a backward state, it is a very nasty state however (and much more dangerous for not being backward), and it is pretty much apposed to much of what we hold dear in the West.

Fop · February 26, 2007

Aye womens rights :naughty: :lol: :

Iran: Amnesty International concerned at continuing harassment
of journalists and women’s rights activists

Amnesty International is concerned by a rising tide of harassment of journalists and women’s rights activists in Iran by security officials.

One recent incident occurred on 26 January 2007 when 15 women journalists were detained for questioning by Ministry of Intelligence officials as they were about to fly out from Tehran to attend an educational workshop on journalism in India. Twelve of the women were freed after several hours but warned that they should not attend the training or they could face unspecified consequences on their return to Iran.

Three others - Farnaz Seyfi, Mansoureh Shojaie and Tala’at Taghiniya - were taken to Section 209 of Evin Prison, which is run by the Intelligence Ministry, and held for 24 hours before being released. They are now are reported to be facing trial in April, charged with "acting against state security" on account of their planned participation in the workshop in India. While they were detained, security officials searched their homes and removed personal effects, including computers and notebooks, and since their release they have been prevented from working.

Amnesty International is calling on the Iranian authorities to immediately drop the charges against the three women journalists and to cease harassing them for pursuing peacefully their internationally recognized right to freedom of expression. If any of the three were to be imprisoned solely on the basis of such charges Amnesty International would consider them prisoners of conscience and would call for their immediate and unconditional release.

Farnaz Seyfi, 23, is a freelance journalist who has written for the women's rights news and information website Zanestan (http://www.herlandmag.com). Her own weblog is located at: http://www.farnaaz.com. Mansoureh Shojaie, 48, writes in-depth articles, while Tala’at Taghiniya, 61, has been active in the women’s movement for over 30 years. She has written for Zanestan and Shahrzad News (www.shahzradnews.org), a Persian-language news agency based in the Netherlands. All three women are members of the Iranian Women’s Cultural Centre, which runs the Zanestan website and which has organised events promoting women’s rights, including a demonstration in June 2006 calling for an end to legalised discrimination against women, which was violently dispersed by the security forces who arrested dozens of participants. The Centre has also founded a library for women.

The 13 women journalists planned to travel to India to take part in a training workshop run by Shahrzad News. The training would have covered areas such as how to arrange a press conference and the differences between traditional media and the internet.

In another case, journalist and women's rights activist Zhila Bani Ya'qoub was acquitted on 4 February 2007 on charges that included "acting against state security" which arose from her participation in a demonstration in support of women's rights.

Amnesty International has repeatedly expressed its concern over the harassment of human rights defenders, including many journalists. Such harassment includes travel restrictions, both within Iran and on leaving the country. Others have been interrogated and threatened after their return from travel abroad. For example, Taghi Rahmani, a writer and journalist who was a prisoner of conscience for 14 years, was prevented from attending the annual conference of PEN Denmark, an international writers' association, where he was due to deliver a speech and receive an award, in January 2007. Also, in early February 2007, academic and former prisoner of conscience, Hashem Aghajari, and Abdollah Mo’meni, a student leader and former political prisoner, were prevented from boarding a flight to the United States reportedly by plain clothes security officials and told to report within 72 hours to the Presidential Office for Passport Services. The two men were due to take part in a seminar at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where Hashem Aghajari was due to deliver a speech.

Other recent incidents of harassment of journalists and women’s rights defenders, include:

- a group of over 20 journalists, who attended a training seminar in November 2006 in the Netherlands, were detained on their return to Iran and interrogated for three hours at Mehrabad airport in Tehran by security officials, who also confiscated personal property, before being released.

- Ali Farahbakhsh, a journalist with the now-banned daily newspapers, Yas-e No and Sharq, was detained on 27 November 2006 following his attendance at a conference in Thailand which dealt with the media. He is reportedly held in Section 209 of Evin Prison.

- Ezzatollah Sahabi, an intellectual associated with advocates of political reform, Melli Mazhabi (National Religious Alliance), was prevented from delivering a speech at a mosque in Esfahan in February 2007.

International law guarantees the right to freedom of information and the free flow of ideas across borders. Iran has specific obligations under Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) to safeguard the right to freedom of expression. While this right may be legitimately restricted in specified circumstances, Amnesty International is concerned that the restrictions imposed by the Iranian authorities go far beyond what is permissible under international human rights law. Amnesty International urges the Iranian authorities to lift all travel restrictions imposed on anyone solely in connection with the peaceful exercise of their right to freedom of expression and association.

Amnesty International calls on Iran to adopt all legislative, administrative and other steps as may be necessary to ensure the rights and freedoms for the defence of human rights as set out in the UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders (1998).

Tehran, Iran, Mar. 06 – Iranian security officers forcefully removed several hundred women spectators from an indoor stadium as they were watching athletes performing in the 2006 Gymnastics World Cup tournament being held in Tehran, eye-witnesses reported.

The action took place on the opening day of the tournaments as fans gathered in Tehran’s 12,000-seater Azadi indoor stadium to watch the international gymnasts compete.

Little more than 10 minutes after the start of the games, intelligence officials from the government’s sports institution entered the stalls of the arena and demanded that all women exit the facility.

Among those asked to leave were several female translators for the international teams that were competing on the day.

As the roughly 250 women were being led out, a number began to protest loudly and chanted slogans against gender inequality in the Islamic Republic.

Some international athletes took photos of the women being forced out.

On Wednesday, Iran’s State Security Forces attacked female football fans in Tehran after they held a defiant protest against the government decision to ban women from football stadiums.

Dozens of young women, who had bought tickets and hoped to cheer on their national team, were all banned from entering Tehran’s 100,000-seater open-air Azadi Stadium.

After being refused entry into the stands, the women organised a demonstration outside the stadium and quickly brought to the scene banners which read, “Azadi Stadium: 100,000 men-only arena” and “We also want to cheer on our national team”.

The ban on women watching male athletes performing in stadiums has been in force for years, but a few dozen women have challenged it in recent months. President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s hard-line government recently decided to enforce the ban more stringently.

Tehran, Iran, Jan. 07 – The government of radical Islamist Mahmoud Ahmadinejad plans to segregate Iran’s pedestrian walkways on gender basis, according to Fatemeh Alia, a deputy in Iran’s Majlis (Parliament) and one of Ahmadinejad’s closest allies.

Since Ahmadinejad took office as president, new measures have been enforced to, in his words, “return the Islamic Republic to the days of the [1979 Islamic] revolution”.

As part of the government plan called “Increase the hejab (veil) culture and female chastity”, the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development has received orders to construct separate pedestrian walkways for men and women, according to Alia.

“This plan is the most advanced and complete plan regarding the hejab. In the next two weeks its final considerations will be complete and it will start to be implemented”.

Previously, when he was Mayor of Tehran, Ahmadinejad ordered all the buildings belonging to the municipality to have separate elevators for men and women.

“The Ministry of Housing and Urban Development will have an obligation to construct apartments in a special way … which would be in line with the culture and atmosphere of an Islamic society. The Ministry of Roads and Transport must pay special attention to the walkways, roads, railways, and transportation routes so that we no longer get reports of mal-veiling in these routes”, the hard-line Majlis deputy said.

Alia added that special provisions also had to be made for tourists who travel to Iran so that they also adhere to Islamic regulations.

TEHRAN - The UN's top official on women's rights chastised Iran on Sunday over what she said were abuses and discrimination built in to the Islamic Republic's laws.

"In the family, women face psychological, physical and sexual violence, and gender discrimination," said Yakin Erturk, the UN's Special Rapporteur on Violence against Women.

She told a news conference that Iran's laws "do not provide protection for victims of domestic violence and make it difficult to escape violence through divorce," adding that suffering wives also faced "time-consuming judicial procedures and stigmatisation".

Women wishing to divorce can only demand one if they can prove their husband is either impotent, a drug addict, unable to provide for a family or living away from home for more than six months.

For men, divorce was often a simple procedure, although that was slowly changing.

"I am concerned that victims of rape face obstacles in seeking justice and if they cannot prove they have raped they face sentences," Erturk said, referring to cases where women complaining of rape run the risk of being charged for adultery.

Erturk, speaking at the end of a week-long visit at the invitation of the reformist government, also said she was "seriously concerned" over arbitary arrests, prolonged confinement and the "widespread practice of arrests for political views".

"The various forms of violence against women are underlined by a common element, namely the existence of discriminatory laws and malfunctions in the administration of justice", she said.

"Such a situation creates an environoment for a perpetrator to escape punishment," she added, appealing for the "correction" of discriminatory laws, judicial reforms and the abolition of the death penalty.

The official also said she had raised the case of Iranian-Canadian photographer Zahra Kazemi, who was killed in custody in July 2003 after taking pictures outside a prison.

"I have been assured the case is going to be properly investigated and the facts revealed to the public," Erturk said.

Between her arrest and her admission to hospital, Kazemi was interrogated by judicial prosecutors, the police and intelligence ministry, rival power centres in Iran that have since blamed each other for the death.

An intelligence ministry agent was cleared of "quasi-intentional murder" in July 2004, and the judiciary later said Kazemi's death seemed to have been accidental as "the only suspect" had been found not guilty.

The case has badly damaged relations between Iran and Canada. Iran does not recognise dual nationality and insists that Canada has no say in the matter.

Tehran, Dec. 26 – Iranian press have reported the public execution of at least four women in the past year, with at least 14 more to be publicly hanged or stoned to death.

Iran Focus has obtained the names and particulars of the four executed women, among them a 16-year-old girl. They were:

1. Monireh Ghasempour, hanged in public in Tehran on July 11;

2. Atefeh (Sahaleh) Rajabi, 16 years old, hanged in public in the northern town of Neka on August 15;

3. Diba Zomorodian, a microbiology student, hanged in Qazvin (western Iran) on June 29;

4. Unknown woman hanged in Qazvin on July 12.

Iran Focus has also obtained the names of the 14 women currently on death row:

1. Afsaneh Norouzi, aged 32, sentenced to stoning

2. Kobra Rahmanpour

3. Najmeh Vosouq-Razavi

4. Hajiyeh Esmaeilvand, sentenced to stoning

5. Mandana Nikkhou

6. Shahla Jahed

7. Faeze A.

8. Fatemeh Haghighat-Pajou

9. Leyla Mafi, aged 19

10. Sara

11. Zahra

12. Raheleh

13. Tayyebeh

14. Shahnaz, aged 35

In the fifty-first United Nations resolution censuring human rights abuses in Iran, the UN General Assembly condemned the Iranian regime on December 20 making particular reference to the treatment of women. It expressed its serious concern at “the systemic discrimination against women and girls in law and in practice … and the refusal of the Guardian Council to take steps to address this systematic discrimination, noting in this context its rejection, in August 2003, of the elected Parliament’s proposal to accede to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women”.

Iran has in recent weeks stepped up public executions, sparking an international outcry. One such event on 7 December, where seven people were hanged together in public in the southeastern town of Zahedan, was broadcast on national television.

Tehran, Iran, Jan. 07 – An Iranian court has sentenced a teenage rape victim to death by hanging after she weepingly confessed that she had unintentionally killed a man who had tried to rape both her and her niece.

The state-run daily Etemaad reported on Saturday that 18-year-old Nazanin confessed to stabbing one of three men who had attacked the pair along with their boyfriends while they were spending some time in a park west of the Iranian capital in March 2005.

Nazanin, who was 17 years old at the time of the incident, said that after the three men started to throw stones at them, the two girls’ boyfriends quickly escaped on their motorbikes leaving the pair helpless.

She described how the three men pushed her and her 16-year-old niece Somayeh onto the ground and tried to rape them, and said that she took out a knife from her pocket and stabbed one of the men in the hand.

As the girls tried to escape, the men once again attacked them, and at this point, Nazanin said, she stabbed one of the men in the chest. The teenage girl, however, broke down in tears in court as she explained that she had no intention of killing the man but was merely defending herself and her younger niece from rape, the report said.

The court, however, issued on Tuesday a sentence for Nazanin to be hanged to death.

Last week, a court in the city of Rasht, northern Iran, sentenced Delara Darabi to death by hanging charged with murder when she was 17 years old. Darabi has denied the charges.

In August 2004, Iran’s Islamic penal system sentenced a 16-year-old girl, Atefeh Rajabi, to death after a sham trial, in which she was accused of committing “acts incompatible with chastity”.

The teenage victim had no access to a lawyer at any stage and efforts by her family to retain one were to no avail. Atefeh personally defended herself and told the religious judge that he should punish those who force women into adultery, not the victims. She was eventually hanged in public in the northern town of Neka.

Rafat Bayat

Rafat Bayat denies the government wants to limit women's freedom

A hardline member of Iran's parliament is calling for a dialogue with US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.

Rafat Bayat has said she wants to talk to Ms Rice as one woman to another.

"The men in parliament tease us and say, 'See what your fellow woman is doing?'," Ms Bayat said.

"In other words, women who come to power become like her," she explained.

"I get upset, but they're telling the truth. I believe Ms Rice can do something that other women can be proud of."

'Other side of the coin'

At a ceremony marking this year's International Women's Day, Ms Bayat called on women around the world to gather to discuss mutual global challenges, such as how to reduce the spread of drugs, war and weapons of mass destruction, instead of interfering in other countries' domestic affairs.

Women in Tehran

Many Iranian women serve in parliament and local government

"I think we women should come and talk about these international challenges because men don't want to agree that peace and security have other definitions," she said.

"Women are on the other side of the coin."

But a Tehran-based analyst said Ms Bayat's suggestion is "nonsense" and that she wants to distract attention from Iran's domestic issues and foreign policy.

Ms Bayat made the comments as the UN's nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), met in Vienna to discuss Iran's controversial nuclear programme.

The US ambassador to the IAEA says the agency is sending its latest report on the nuclear programme to the UN Security Council for action.

Iran says the programme is purely peaceful and that it will never give up the right to pursue nuclear technology.

Women's rights

President Bush said on Tuesday that democracies only reach their potential when women are allowed to fully participate in society.

Women protest against restrictions on their rights during the Iranian election

Activists say women still have fewer rights than men in Iran

He singled out Iran, North Korea and Burma as countries that suppress women's rights.

Many women rights' activists in Iran say women here achieved a great deal in recent years.

They have become more active in society and in the workplace, and now comprise around 65% of university entrants.

Women also serve in parliament and local government.

But activists say Iranian women still have fewer rights than men in the Islamic Republic.

They point out that women have not been able to run for president or serve as judges.

Women cannot have full guardianship over their children after divorce, and they get half as much inheritance as men.

Conservative president

Some women's rights advocates say they have not seen the rollback of women's rights they expected since the conservative Mahmoud Ahmadinejad became president last August.

President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad (centre) at a women's conference

President Ahmadinejad wants to make the family a priority

But, at the same time, they do not foresee radical change for the better under his presidency.

"Mr Ahmadinejad's policies are that women should return to their homes and that their priority should be the family," Mahbube Abbasqolizade, a member of the Iranian Women's Centre NGO, said.

"For example, under his government, the Centre for Women's Participation has been renamed the Centre for Women and Family Affairs."

Some activists also say Iran's minister of culture and Islamic guidance, Mohammed Hossein Saffar Harandi, has called on women working in his ministry to leave by 1800 every evening in order to help them look after their families.

Womens paradise tbh....

Park Life · February 26, 2007

Aye womens rights :

Iran: Amnesty International concerned at continuing harassment
of journalists and women’s rights activists

Amnesty International is concerned by a rising tide of harassment of journalists and women’s rights activists in Iran by security officials.

One recent incident occurred on 26 January 2007 when 15 women journalists were detained for questioning by Ministry of Intelligence officials as they were about to fly out from Tehran to attend an educational workshop on journalism in India. Twelve of the women were freed after several hours but warned that they should not attend the training or they could face unspecified consequences on their return to Iran.

Three others - Farnaz Seyfi, Mansoureh Shojaie and Tala’at Taghiniya - were taken to Section 209 of Evin Prison, which is run by the Intelligence Ministry, and held for 24 hours before being released. They are now are reported to be facing trial in April, charged with "acting against state security" on account of their planned participation in the workshop in India. While they were detained, security officials searched their homes and removed personal effects, including computers and notebooks, and since their release they have been prevented from working.

Amnesty International is calling on the Iranian authorities to immediately drop the charges against the three women journalists and to cease harassing them for pursuing peacefully their internationally recognized right to freedom of expression. If any of the three were to be imprisoned solely on the basis of such charges Amnesty International would consider them prisoners of conscience and would call for their immediate and unconditional release.

Farnaz Seyfi, 23, is a freelance journalist who has written for the women's rights news and information website Zanestan (http://www.herlandmag.com). Her own weblog is located at: http://www.farnaaz.com. Mansoureh Shojaie, 48, writes in-depth articles, while Tala’at Taghiniya, 61, has been active in the women’s movement for over 30 years. She has written for Zanestan and Shahrzad News (www.shahzradnews.org), a Persian-language news agency based in the Netherlands. All three women are members of the Iranian Women’s Cultural Centre, which runs the Zanestan website and which has organised events promoting women’s rights, including a demonstration in June 2006 calling for an end to legalised discrimination against women, which was violently dispersed by the security forces who arrested dozens of participants. The Centre has also founded a library for women.

The 13 women journalists planned to travel to India to take part in a training workshop run by Shahrzad News. The training would have covered areas such as how to arrange a press conference and the differences between traditional media and the internet.

In another case, journalist and women's rights activist Zhila Bani Ya'qoub was acquitted on 4 February 2007 on charges that included "acting against state security" which arose from her participation in a demonstration in support of women's rights.

Amnesty International has repeatedly expressed its concern over the harassment of human rights defenders, including many journalists. Such harassment includes travel restrictions, both within Iran and on leaving the country. Others have been interrogated and threatened after their return from travel abroad. For example, Taghi Rahmani, a writer and journalist who was a prisoner of conscience for 14 years, was prevented from attending the annual conference of PEN Denmark, an international writers' association, where he was due to deliver a speech and receive an award, in January 2007. Also, in early February 2007, academic and former prisoner of conscience, Hashem Aghajari, and Abdollah Mo’meni, a student leader and former political prisoner, were prevented from boarding a flight to the United States reportedly by plain clothes security officials and told to report within 72 hours to the Presidential Office for Passport Services. The two men were due to take part in a seminar at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where Hashem Aghajari was due to deliver a speech.

Other recent incidents of harassment of journalists and women’s rights defenders, include:

- a group of over 20 journalists, who attended a training seminar in November 2006 in the Netherlands, were detained on their return to Iran and interrogated for three hours at Mehrabad airport in Tehran by security officials, who also confiscated personal property, before being released.

- Ali Farahbakhsh, a journalist with the now-banned daily newspapers, Yas-e No and Sharq, was detained on 27 November 2006 following his attendance at a conference in Thailand which dealt with the media. He is reportedly held in Section 209 of Evin Prison.

- Ezzatollah Sahabi, an intellectual associated with advocates of political reform, Melli Mazhabi (National Religious Alliance), was prevented from delivering a speech at a mosque in Esfahan in February 2007.

International law guarantees the right to freedom of information and the free flow of ideas across borders. Iran has specific obligations under Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) to safeguard the right to freedom of expression. While this right may be legitimately restricted in specified circumstances, Amnesty International is concerned that the restrictions imposed by the Iranian authorities go far beyond what is permissible under international human rights law. Amnesty International urges the Iranian authorities to lift all travel restrictions imposed on anyone solely in connection with the peaceful exercise of their right to freedom of expression and association.

Amnesty International calls on Iran to adopt all legislative, administrative and other steps as may be necessary to ensure the rights and freedoms for the defence of human rights as set out in the UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders (1998).

Tehran, Iran, Mar. 06 – Iranian security officers forcefully removed several hundred women spectators from an indoor stadium as they were watching athletes performing in the 2006 Gymnastics World Cup tournament being held in Tehran, eye-witnesses reported.

The action took place on the opening day of the tournaments as fans gathered in Tehran’s 12,000-seater Azadi indoor stadium to watch the international gymnasts compete.

Little more than 10 minutes after the start of the games, intelligence officials from the government’s sports institution entered the stalls of the arena and demanded that all women exit the facility.

Among those asked to leave were several female translators for the international teams that were competing on the day.

As the roughly 250 women were being led out, a number began to protest loudly and chanted slogans against gender inequality in the Islamic Republic.

Some international athletes took photos of the women being forced out.

On Wednesday, Iran’s State Security Forces attacked female football fans in Tehran after they held a defiant protest against the government decision to ban women from football stadiums.

Dozens of young women, who had bought tickets and hoped to cheer on their national team, were all banned from entering Tehran’s 100,000-seater open-air Azadi Stadium.

After being refused entry into the stands, the women organised a demonstration outside the stadium and quickly brought to the scene banners which read, “Azadi Stadium: 100,000 men-only arena” and “We also want to cheer on our national team”.

The ban on women watching male athletes performing in stadiums has been in force for years, but a few dozen women have challenged it in recent months. President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s hard-line government recently decided to enforce the ban more stringently.

Tehran, Iran, Jan. 07 – The government of radical Islamist Mahmoud Ahmadinejad plans to segregate Iran’s pedestrian walkways on gender basis, according to Fatemeh Alia, a deputy in Iran’s Majlis (Parliament) and one of Ahmadinejad’s closest allies.

Since Ahmadinejad took office as president, new measures have been enforced to, in his words, “return the Islamic Republic to the days of the [1979 Islamic] revolution”.

As part of the government plan called “Increase the hejab (veil) culture and female chastity”, the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development has received orders to construct separate pedestrian walkways for men and women, according to Alia.

“This plan is the most advanced and complete plan regarding the hejab. In the next two weeks its final considerations will be complete and it will start to be implemented”.

Previously, when he was Mayor of Tehran, Ahmadinejad ordered all the buildings belonging to the municipality to have separate elevators for men and women.

“The Ministry of Housing and Urban Development will have an obligation to construct apartments in a special way … which would be in line with the culture and atmosphere of an Islamic society. The Ministry of Roads and Transport must pay special attention to the walkways, roads, railways, and transportation routes so that we no longer get reports of mal-veiling in these routes”, the hard-line Majlis deputy said.

Alia added that special provisions also had to be made for tourists who travel to Iran so that they also adhere to Islamic regulations.

TEHRAN - The UN's top official on women's rights chastised Iran on Sunday over what she said were abuses and discrimination built in to the Islamic Republic's laws.

"In the family, women face psychological, physical and sexual violence, and gender discrimination," said Yakin Erturk, the UN's Special Rapporteur on Violence against Women.

She told a news conference that Iran's laws "do not provide protection for victims of domestic violence and make it difficult to escape violence through divorce," adding that suffering wives also faced "time-consuming judicial procedures and stigmatisation".

Women wishing to divorce can only demand one if they can prove their husband is either impotent, a drug addict, unable to provide for a family or living away from home for more than six months.

For men, divorce was often a simple procedure, although that was slowly changing.

"I am concerned that victims of rape face obstacles in seeking justice and if they cannot prove they have raped they face sentences," Erturk said, referring to cases where women complaining of rape run the risk of being charged for adultery.

Erturk, speaking at the end of a week-long visit at the invitation of the reformist government, also said she was "seriously concerned" over arbitary arrests, prolonged confinement and the "widespread practice of arrests for political views".

"The various forms of violence against women are underlined by a common element, namely the existence of discriminatory laws and malfunctions in the administration of justice", she said.

"Such a situation creates an environoment for a perpetrator to escape punishment," she added, appealing for the "correction" of discriminatory laws, judicial reforms and the abolition of the death penalty.

The official also said she had raised the case of Iranian-Canadian photographer Zahra Kazemi, who was killed in custody in July 2003 after taking pictures outside a prison.

"I have been assured the case is going to be properly investigated and the facts revealed to the public," Erturk said.

Between her arrest and her admission to hospital, Kazemi was interrogated by judicial prosecutors, the police and intelligence ministry, rival power centres in Iran that have since blamed each other for the death.

An intelligence ministry agent was cleared of "quasi-intentional murder" in July 2004, and the judiciary later said Kazemi's death seemed to have been accidental as "the only suspect" had been found not guilty.

The case has badly damaged relations between Iran and Canada. Iran does not recognise dual nationality and insists that Canada has no say in the matter.

Tehran, Dec. 26 – Iranian press have reported the public execution of at least four women in the past year, with at least 14 more to be publicly hanged or stoned to death.

Iran Focus has obtained the names and particulars of the four executed women, among them a 16-year-old girl. They were:

1. Monireh Ghasempour, hanged in public in Tehran on July 11;

2. Atefeh (Sahaleh) Rajabi, 16 years old, hanged in public in the northern town of Neka on August 15;

3. Diba Zomorodian, a microbiology student, hanged in Qazvin (western Iran) on June 29;

4. Unknown woman hanged in Qazvin on July 12.

Iran Focus has also obtained the names of the 14 women currently on death row:

1. Afsaneh Norouzi, aged 32, sentenced to stoning

2. Kobra Rahmanpour

3. Najmeh Vosouq-Razavi

4. Hajiyeh Esmaeilvand, sentenced to stoning

5. Mandana Nikkhou

6. Shahla Jahed

7. Faeze A.

8. Fatemeh Haghighat-Pajou

9. Leyla Mafi, aged 19

10. Sara

11. Zahra

12. Raheleh

13. Tayyebeh

14. Shahnaz, aged 35

In the fifty-first United Nations resolution censuring human rights abuses in Iran, the UN General Assembly condemned the Iranian regime on December 20 making particular reference to the treatment of women. It expressed its serious concern at “the systemic discrimination against women and girls in law and in practice … and the refusal of the Guardian Council to take steps to address this systematic discrimination, noting in this context its rejection, in August 2003, of the elected Parliament’s proposal to accede to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women”.

Iran has in recent weeks stepped up public executions, sparking an international outcry. One such event on 7 December, where seven people were hanged together in public in the southeastern town of Zahedan, was broadcast on national television.

Tehran, Iran, Jan. 07 – An Iranian court has sentenced a teenage rape victim to death by hanging after she weepingly confessed that she had unintentionally killed a man who had tried to rape both her and her niece.

The state-run daily Etemaad reported on Saturday that 18-year-old Nazanin confessed to stabbing one of three men who had attacked the pair along with their boyfriends while they were spending some time in a park west of the Iranian capital in March 2005.

Nazanin, who was 17 years old at the time of the incident, said that after the three men started to throw stones at them, the two girls’ boyfriends quickly escaped on their motorbikes leaving the pair helpless.

She described how the three men pushed her and her 16-year-old niece Somayeh onto the ground and tried to rape them, and said that she took out a knife from her pocket and stabbed one of the men in the hand.

As the girls tried to escape, the men once again attacked them, and at this point, Nazanin said, she stabbed one of the men in the chest. The teenage girl, however, broke down in tears in court as she explained that she had no intention of killing the man but was merely defending herself and her younger niece from rape, the report said.

The court, however, issued on Tuesday a sentence for Nazanin to be hanged to death.

Last week, a court in the city of Rasht, northern Iran, sentenced Delara Darabi to death by hanging charged with murder when she was 17 years old. Darabi has denied the charges.

In August 2004, Iran’s Islamic penal system sentenced a 16-year-old girl, Atefeh Rajabi, to death after a sham trial, in which she was accused of committing “acts incompatible with chastity”.

The teenage victim had no access to a lawyer at any stage and efforts by her family to retain one were to no avail. Atefeh personally defended herself and told the religious judge that he should punish those who force women into adultery, not the victims. She was eventually hanged in public in the northern town of Neka.

Rafat Bayat

Rafat Bayat denies the government wants to limit women's freedom

A hardline member of Iran's parliament is calling for a dialogue with US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.

Rafat Bayat has said she wants to talk to Ms Rice as one woman to another.

"The men in parliament tease us and say, 'See what your fellow woman is doing?'," Ms Bayat said.

"In other words, women who come to power become like her," she explained.

"I get upset, but they're telling the truth. I believe Ms Rice can do something that other women can be proud of."

'Other side of the coin'

At a ceremony marking this year's International Women's Day, Ms Bayat called on women around the world to gather to discuss mutual global challenges, such as how to reduce the spread of drugs, war and weapons of mass destruction, instead of interfering in other countries' domestic affairs.

Women in Tehran

Many Iranian women serve in parliament and local government

"I think we women should come and talk about these international challenges because men don't want to agree that peace and security have other definitions," she said.

"Women are on the other side of the coin."

But a Tehran-based analyst said Ms Bayat's suggestion is "nonsense" and that she wants to distract attention from Iran's domestic issues and foreign policy.

Ms Bayat made the comments as the UN's nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), met in Vienna to discuss Iran's controversial nuclear programme.

The US ambassador to the IAEA says the agency is sending its latest report on the nuclear programme to the UN Security Council for action.

Iran says the programme is purely peaceful and that it will never give up the right to pursue nuclear technology.

Women's rights

President Bush said on Tuesday that democracies only reach their potential when women are allowed to fully participate in society.

Women protest against restrictions on their rights during the Iranian election

Activists say women still have fewer rights than men in Iran

He singled out Iran, North Korea and Burma as countries that suppress women's rights.

Many women rights' activists in Iran say women here achieved a great deal in recent years.

They have become more active in society and in the workplace, and now comprise around 65% of university entrants.

Women also serve in parliament and local government.

But activists say Iranian women still have fewer rights than men in the Islamic Republic.

They point out that women have not been able to run for president or serve as judges.

Women cannot have full guardianship over their children after divorce, and they get half as much inheritance as men.

Conservative president

Some women's rights advocates say they have not seen the rollback of women's rights they expected since the conservative Mahmoud Ahmadinejad became president last August.

President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad (centre) at a women's conference

President Ahmadinejad wants to make the family a priority

But, at the same time, they do not foresee radical change for the better under his presidency.

"Mr Ahmadinejad's policies are that women should return to their homes and that their priority should be the family," Mahbube Abbasqolizade, a member of the Iranian Women's Centre NGO, said.

"For example, under his government, the Centre for Women's Participation has been renamed the Centre for Women and Family Affairs."

Some activists also say Iran's minister of culture and Islamic guidance, Mohammed Hossein Saffar Harandi, has called on women working in his ministry to leave by 1800 every evening in order to help them look after their families.

Womens paradise tbh....

Got any links?

Fop · February 26, 2007

Got any links?

You don't need links to find out the truth about Iran (just google the text above if you want them, I guess, I cba to go back though to do it for you), it took me all of 3 mins to find all those.

But peoples ignorance on Iran is amazing.

Although I very much doubt anything will convince you, you're clearly significantly emotionally invested in pretending Iran is a great place where everyone is equal and happy and if only we all could just be like them the world would be wonderful place. :naughty:

Fop · February 26, 2007

Little bit on Iran's much vaunted tolerance of freedom of expression and on being fine about those that don't toe the line (this thread would be enough to get me arrested). :naughty:

http://hrw.org/english/docs/2006/12/12/iran14824.htm

Iran: Prosecute Torturers, Not Bloggers

(New York, December 12, 2006) – The Iranian Judiciary should prosecute officials responsible for the arbitrary detention and alleged torture of several bloggers in 2004, instead of prosecuting the bloggers for expressing their opinions, Human Rights Watch said today.

" The Iranian judiciary is trying to prosecute government critics using vague, overbroad laws whose very names restrict free expression. Iran should be prosecuting the officials accused of torture, not the bloggers accused of holding opinions. "

Sarah Leah Whitson, director of the Middle East division at Human Rights Watch.

On December 3, branch 1059 of Tehran’s Judiciary commenced a trial against four men, Roozbeh Mirebrahimi, Shahram Rafizadeh, Omid Memarian, and Javad Gholam Tamimi, on charges of “participation in formation of groups to disturb national security,” “propaganda against the state,” “dissemination of disinformation to disturb public opinion by writing articles for newspapers and illegal internet sites,” and “interviews with foreign radio broadcasts.” The court has held one closed-door session, and the trial is scheduled to resume on December 17.

“The Iranian judiciary is trying to prosecute government critics using vague, overbroad laws whose very terms restrict free expression,” said Sarah Leah Whitson, director of the Middle East division at Human Rights Watch. “Iran should be prosecuting the officials accused of torture, not the bloggers accused of holding opinions.”

Human Rights Watch said the laws on which the government has based its case are themselves incompatible with international human rights law. The Johannesburg Principles on National Security, Freedom of Expression and Access to Information (1995) provide that “no one may be punished for criticizing or insulting the nation, the state or its symbols, the government, its agencies, or public officials, or a foreign nation, state or its symbols, government [or] agency.” Compiled by experts in international law, national security and human rights, the Principles are based on international law and standards and have come to be widely recognized as an authoritative interpretation of the relationship between legitimate national security interests and the rights of free expression and to information.

The detention of the men by Iranian security forces has been fraught with allegations of serious abuse. In September and October 2004, Tehran’s prosecutor general, Saeed Mortazavi, orchestrated the secret detentions and alleged torture of 21 bloggers and staff of internet news sites known to be critical of the government. Following domestic and international protests, the authorities ordered the release of all the detainees. But the release order came only after Mortazavi had personally coerced the four bloggers now on trial to sign written confessions as a condition for their release, they said. While the Judiciary dropped the charges against the 17 others, it prosecuted those four.

According to the bloggers and their lawyers, the prosecution’s evidence for the most serious charges – conspiring with others to disturb national security – rests primarily on their false coerced confessions. In their confession letters, made public shortly after their release, the bloggers stated that they were part of a “dreadful network operating inside and directed from outside the country” that instructed them to write articles aimed at “sabotaging the image of the Islamic Republic of Iran” by portraying government actions as “anti-human rights.”

Tamimi remains in Iran, but the other three men currently reside outside Iran, represented in absentia by their lawyers.

Immediately after their release in 2004, the bloggers renounced their confessions as false and forced, and gave public statements about the conditions of their detention. On January 1, 2005, Mirebrahimi and Memarian appeared before a presidential commission set up by the former president Mohammad Khatami to investigate their detention. They detailed their arrest, solitary confinement in a secret prison, and torture at the hands of their interrogators.

Mirebrahimi, Memarian and Rafizadeh also met with the head of the Judiciary, Ayatollah Mahmoud Shahrudi, on January 10, 2005 and briefed him on the conditions of their detention. Two days later, the Judiciary’s spokesperson, Jamal Karimirad, said: “Ayatollah Shahrudi has issued a special order to investigate and probe these [detentions]. If any of the detainees’ allegations, at any level, are true then we will prosecute the violators.”

On April 20, 2005, Karimirad announced that, “following our investigation, it has been established that the interrogators and prosecutors committed a series of negligent and careless acts in this case that led to the abuse of the detainees’ words and writings in producing the confession letters.” The Judiciary did not release a report on its findings and has not held anyone accountable. Human Rights Watch called on the government to make the full findings of its investigation public.

“The Judiciary has no business prosecuting writers based on confessions it admits were coerced,” said Whitson. “Its first task should be to bring to justice those men responsible for the torture and abuse of these bloggers.”

Background

Human Rights Watch recently collected detailed testimonies from three of the bloggers who are currently on trial.

“I was held in solitary confinement in a secret prison for 86 days,” Rafizadeh told Human Rights Watch. “My cell measured barely 5 feet by 6 feet. The magistrate, Mr. Mehdipoor, was present in the detention center. He threatened me with execution if I didn’t confess to what he dictated. He told the interrogator, known as Mr. Keshavarz, he can do whatever he wants to me, such as ‘peeling the skin off my head.’ The interrogator beat me mercilessly while I was handcuffed and blindfolded. Interrogations continued under these circumstances for more than 40 days.”

Another former detainee, Mirebrahimi, told Human Rights Watch: “After 60 days of solitary confinement and ill-treatment, the interrogator informed me that I will be released if I sign a confession letter and publicly release it. One day after my release, I was summoned by Mr. Mortazavi’s office and he told me: ‘The release of your friends is dependent on publishing your confession letter. If you don’t do it, not only will they not be released, but we will put you back in prison.’ I was forced to send the confession letter, which Mortazavi dictated, to the news agencies.”

Memarian told Human Rights Watch that during their meeting with the head of Judiciary, Ayatollah Shahrudi told them “confessions in prison without the presence of your lawyers are not valid.”

“In any other country, we could file a law suit against the violators. Despite the admission by the head of the Judiciary that our detention and treatment was against the law, we are being prosecuted, not the violators,” Memarian added.

http://hrw.org/english/docs/2007/02/06/iran15271.htm

(New York, February 6, 2007) – Human Rights Watch announced today that seven Iranians are among the 45 writers from 22 countries who are receiving the prestigious Hellman/Hammett prize, an award that recognizes writers globally who have been victims of political persecution.
" The past year was a particularly difficult one for Iranian writers who had to work in an ever more restrictive atmosphere of new publishing rules and policies. It is important to draw international attention to their achievements under the current repressive policies. "

Sarah Leah Whitson, Middle East director at Human Rights Watch

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The Iranian recipients of this year’s award are writers and activists whose work and activities have been variously suppressed. Beyond what they themselves have experienced, they represent numerous other writers and journalists whose personal and professional lives have been hampered as a result of repressive government policies governing speech and publications.

“The past year was a particularly difficult one for Iranian writers who had to work in an ever more restrictive atmosphere of new publishing rules and policies,” said Sarah Leah Whitson, Middle East director at Human Rights Watch. “It is important to draw international attention to their achievements under the current repressive policies.”

Human Rights Watch administers the Hellman/Hammett grant program in recognition of the hardships faced by writers all around the world who have been victims of political persecution. The program is financed by the estate of the American playwright Lillian Hellman, with funds set up in her name and that of her long-time companion, the novelist Dashiell Hammett, both of whom suffered professionally during the anti-communist “witch hunts” of the 1950s.

Since the election of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the situation for Iranian writers has worsened. Authorities systematically suppress freedom of expression and opinion by closing newspapers and imprisoning journalists and editors. The few independent dailies that remain heavily self-censored. Many writers and intellectuals have left the country, are in prison, or have ceased to criticize the government in their writings. Recently imposed rules of publication have further narrowed the field of acceptable speech.

This year’s recipients of the Hellman-Hammett grant from Iran are:

* Ali Ashraf Darvishian, 65, one of Iran’s most prominent and prolific post-revolutionary writers, has published more than 20 books, including fiction, children’s stories and a 20-volume collection of Iranian folk tales. For the past four years, government censors have banned the publication of his works.

* Shahram Rafizadeh, 34, investigative journalist and blogger, also writes poetry and literary criticism. During the reform era, Rafizadeh was well known for writing about the role of Iranian intelligence agents in the murder of several writers and intellectuals in 1998. He was detained in September 2004 and was held in solitary confinement for 86 days.

* Roozbeh Mir Ebrahimi, 27, worked as an editor and reporter for a number of reformist dailies that have since been shut down by the government. He investigated several high profile human rights cases, including the murder of a

Canadian-Iranian photojournalist in 2003. He was detained in September 2004

and held in solitary confinement for 60 days. He has written two books on

contemporary Iranian political history that have not received government permission for publication.

* Arash Sigarchi, 28, journalist and blogger, started his career in journalism at the age of 15. He was arrested in January 2005 after he reported on human rights violations on his blog. Originally sentenced to 14 years in prison, an appeals court reduced the sentence to three years. He was recently diagnosed with cancer and is receiving treatment outside of prison.

* Ali Afshari, 33, political analyst and human rights advocate, was imprisoned in 2000 and held in solitary confinement for 328 days for his role in the student movement. He has written numerous articles and co-authored a book on political theory. When he left Iran in 2005, the Judiciary sentenced him to six years in prison.

* Ensaf Ali Hedayat, 41, journalist, has reported extensively on human rights

violations in the Iranian province of Azerbaijan. He was arrested in June 2003,

spent 74 days in solitary confinement and 18 months in prison. He currently lives in exile and is writing his prison memoirs.

* Hassan Zarezadeh Ardeshir, 29, journalist, has written extensively on the political environment and human rights issues in Iran. He has been arrested several times and spent nearly eight months in Evin prison in 2003. In 2005, he was forced into exile, but continues to report on human rights violations in Iran from abroad.

We have so so much to learn from them.... that 1.8 million person petition against road pricing on the Downing Street website?

In Iran they could have just used it to arrest the lot and then both the problem AND congestion would have been removed!!! :lol:

Renton · February 26, 2007

I think there should be; a considerable history of consistent, progressive government, evidence of unfettered access to education for all people, the freedom to practise whatever religion you please (without impinging on others rights)

All of which Iran has!

no.. it really doesn't.

how many Jews enjoy freedom from oppression in Iran?

Iran has the highest proportion of female MPs in the world and education is legally guaranteed to all, regardless of gender. There is no widescale persecution of Jews in Iran as you seem to be implying. It's very easy to lump Iran in with less developed Islamic countries, however I accept there problems. It just annoys me when the media seem so clueless about the Arab World.

Is Iran a part of the Arab world?

Unbelievable naivety in that comment Dan which shows your age I reckon.

Meenzer · February 26, 2007

I think there should be; a considerable history of consistent, progressive government, evidence of unfettered access to education for all people, the freedom to practise whatever religion you please (without impinging on others rights)

All of which Iran has!

no.. it really doesn't.

how many Jews enjoy freedom from oppression in Iran?

Iran has the highest proportion of female MPs in the world and education is legally guaranteed to all, regardless of gender. There is no widescale persecution of Jews in Iran as you seem to be implying. It's very easy to lump Iran in with less developed Islamic countries, however I accept there problems. It just annoys me when the media seem so clueless about the Arab World.

Is Iran a part of the Arab world?

Unbelievable naivety in that comment Dan which shows your age I reckon.

Alright Leazes? :lol:

Renton · February 26, 2007

Aye, it was a bit patronising, but I can remember being a naive, gullible teenager! To argue Iran is anything but a tyrannical state (by western values) is absurd though.

February 26, 2007

I think there should be; a considerable history of consistent, progressive government, evidence of unfettered access to education for all people, the freedom to practise whatever religion you please (without impinging on others rights)

All of which Iran has!

no.. it really doesn't.

how many Jews enjoy freedom from oppression in Iran?

Iran has the highest proportion of female MPs in the world and education is legally guaranteed to all, regardless of gender. There is no widescale persecution of Jews in Iran as you seem to be implying. It's very easy to lump Iran in with less developed Islamic countries, however I accept there problems. It just annoys me when the media seem so clueless about the Arab World.

Is Iran a part of the Arab world?

Unbelievable naivety in that comment Dan which shows your age I reckon.

The majority of the population are of Iranian / Persian descent, i.e. not Arab iirc.

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