THIS PAGE WILL BE UPDATED WITH THE LATEST NEWS
UPDATE: 10:00 PM CET
Why I Fear Iran’s Dictators May Use Chemical Weapons In Terror Attack On Europe
Suffering a series of devastating blows, the Islamic Republic of Iran is now like a wounded beast, dangerous and unpredictable. Having seen their ‘axis of resistance’ crumble, with the effective decapitation of Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon, the mullahs’ regime has now suffered its greatest catastrophe, with the fall of their closest ally, Bashar al-Assad, in Syria.
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran’s ailing and increasingly confused Supreme Leader, regarded Syria as Iran’s 35th Province. For decades he funneled more than $50 billion and tens of thousands of Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) personnel and other Islamist militias into propping up Assad’s brutal regime.
UPDATE: 9:00 PM CET
The Fall of the Syrian Dictator: Time for Recalibration of Western Policy on Iran
The recent overthrow of Bashar al-Assad marks a significant turning point in Middle Eastern politics. Assad, along with his father, has been a brutal fixture in Syria, committing heinous crimes against humanity over the past 54 years. His regime’s fall is not just a victory for the Syrian people but a major strategic blow to one of his staunchest allies: the Iranian regime.
For 45 years, the Iranian regime has relied on exporting its brand of religious extremism as a pillar of its foreign policy, with Assad’s Syria as a cornerstone of this strategy. The alliance allowed Iran to wield influence far beyond its borders, using Syria as a conduit to support various proxy groups and extend its reach throughout the region.
The fall of Assad signifies a crippling blow to Iran’s strategic ambitions. Maryam Rajavi, President-elect of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), aptly noted that this event marks the collapse of Iran’s “strategic depth.”
UPDATE: 6:00 PM CET
The Alleged Iran Connection of Düsseldorfer Volksbank
Transactions involving Iran linked to the scandal-ridden Volksbank Düsseldorf Neuss are reportedly connected to GIC International and its affiliates. This information comes from financial circles, as reported by WirtschaftsWoche. Both GIC and its network have come under scrutiny for alleged ties to the Iranian regime. Earlier this year, WirtschaftsWoche revealed that GIC was established in 2012 by the Ghadir General Company (Ghadir Allgemeine Aktiengesellschaft) in Tehran. This holding company, linked to Iran’s military, is listed under U.S. sanctions.
GIC International is now owned by an Iranian national residing in the Rhineland. This individual previously worked for the German subsidiary of Ascotec, a steel company owned by another state-controlled Iranian holding.
UPDATE: 9:00 AM CET
The Fall of Assad, A Prelude to The Collapse of The Iranian Theocracy?
The world has been shocked by how quickly and easily the Assad family dictatorship in Syria has been toppled by a smorgasbord of opposition forces supported by outside powers such as the United States, Turkey, and some Gulf monarchies. It should be noted that unlike in the revolt that followed the “Arab Spring”, this time the movement against the government has been basically autochthonous, with the influence of other countries being much less. The first signals emitted by the coalition that has ended half a century of tyranny allow for a certain optimism. For the moment, its members act mostly in a cohesive way without confrontations between them, despite some looting the situation has not gotten out of control or massacres and the new power has shown signs of tolerance, moderation, and good intentions. Although it is too early to say that an acceptable democracy will be established in Syria and not an Islamic fundamentalist system, the initial impression is favorable.
UPDATE: 7:00 AM CET
PMOI Resistance Units in Zahedan Condemn Executions, Reaffirm Commitment to Regime Change in Iran
In the southeastern city of Zahedan, PMOI Resistance Units have intensified their activities against the Iranian regime, condemning the widespread wave of executions and ongoing repression. These actions come as part of a broader campaign aimed at regime change, despite the severe repressive measures imposed by security forces. The Resistance Units have demonstrated remarkable determination through various revolutionary activities designed to inspire resistance and expose the regime’s failures. These activities include distributing leaflets, writing slogans on walls, and displaying banners with revolutionary messages such as: “The overthrow of the Syrian dictator paves the way for the fall of the religious fascism in Iran,” “Khamenei feels more threatened than ever by the prospect of his regime’s downfall,” and “To free our country and our people, we rely only on ourselves.”
New Mandatory Hijab Law Suspended Following Intervention by Supreme National Security Council
Following intense backlash against the new mandatory hijab law, the clerical regime, fearing widespread uprisings after the downfall of the Syrian dictator—an event that has shaken the regime to its core—was compelled to halt the implementation and enforcement of the law. On the evening of December 14, 2024, it was announced that the Secretariat of the Supreme National Security Council had formally requested the mullahs’ Parliament to suspend the enactment and enforcement of the new mandatory hijab law.
Alireza Salimi, a member of the Parliament’s presidium, confirmed the news, stating: “The Secretariat of the Supreme National Security Council has sent a letter to the Parliament today, requesting that the government submit a new bill to address ambiguities in the hijab and chastity law.” (IRNA News Agency, December 14, 2024)
A Grim Day in Iran: Executions Highlight Human Rights Concerns
On Sunday, December 15, Iran’s central prisons in Yazd and Zahedan became sites of harrowing human rights violations as 11 individuals, including 9 Baluch prisoners, 1 Kurdish prisoner, and 1 woman, were executed. Despite repeated warnings from human rights activists, these individuals—convicted on charges ranging from drug-related offenses to murder—met their deaths in a single day.
Among those executed were 36-year-old Mohammad Ali Kharkouhi and 43-year-old Reza Kharkouhi, along with three members of the Totazehi family: Abdol Baset, Abdol Nasser, and Nematollah Totazehi. These individuals, many of whom had large families relying on them, were arrested and sentenced to death years ago for alleged drug-related crimes. Local reports indicate that Reza Kharkouhi became physically disabled due to medical neglect in prison and had been using a wheelchair in his final years.
The Struggles of Celebrating Yalda Night in Iran Amid Economic Hardship and Cultural Suppression
Yalda Night, a cherished remnant of ancient Iran, is a celebration rooted in solidarity, kindness, and the joy of togetherness. This ancient ritual, believed by some to date back to the era of Darius the Great, has been a symbol of hope and unity for centuries. However, in contemporary Iran, the shadow of economic hardship and cultural suppression has turned the celebration of this historic night into a challenge, especially for the economically disadvantaged and elderly members of society. Market investigations reveal the staggering costs of preparing a modest Yalda table for a family of four. At a minimum, this requires 1.7 million tomans, with higher-quality items pushing the expense to around 4 million tomans—approximately half the monthly salary of a minimum-wage worker. Such financial strain puts the celebration out of reach for many families.
Kurdish Teacher and Union Activist in Sanandaj Suspended for Two Months Following Disciplinary Ruling
Sanandaj, Western Iran—Leila Salimi, a prominent teacher and union activist from Sanandaj, the capital of Iran’s Kurdistan Province, has had her dismissal from the Ministry of Education reduced to a two-month suspension. The appeals board issued the revised ruling for administrative violations. Leila Salimi, a teacher with 32 years of experience and a provincial award-winning researcher, holds a doctorate in management. She was initially dismissed earlier this year by the preliminary board of the Ministry of Education in Kurdistan Province. The charges against her were linked to her union activities and membership in the Kurdistan Teachers’ Association in Sanandaj, a group advocating for teachers’ rights.
Yazd Central Prison: One Woman Among 7 Prisoners Executed
In the early hours of Sunday, December 15, a woman, along with six other prisoners, was hanged at Yazd Central Prison. The identity of the woman, who was sentenced to death on charges of murder, has not been confirmed at the time of this report. She is the fifth woman to be executed in Iran this December. In addition to the seven executed in Yazd Central Prison, four others were executed at the Central Prison in Zahedan on Sunday, December 16.
During the first week of December alone, four more women were executed in Iran. The execution rate for women has significantly increased under the clerical regime’s new president, Massoud Pezeshkian.
Schools in Many Provinces of Iran Closed Due to Cold Weather, Gas Shortages
With a drop in temperatures across various regions of Iran, officials in 15 provinces announced the closure of schools to “manage energy consumption.”
Schools in the provinces of West Azerbaijan, East Azerbaijan, Ardabil, Tehran, North Khorasan, Razavi Khorasan, South Khorasan, Zanjan, Semnan, Qazvin, Qom, Kermanshah, Golestan, and Mazandaran were declared closed and shifted to remote learning for Sunday, December 15.
In Khuzestan Province, schools were also closed due to air pollution and a red alert for dust storms.
Government offices and institutions in most of these provinces were also declared closed, with only Semnan and Golestan provinces starting operations with a two-hour delay.
Political Prisoner Transferred for Execution Amid Rising Executions in Iran
Mohammad Amin Mahdavi Shayesteh, a political prisoner sentenced to death, was recently transferred from Evin Prison to a solitary confinement cell in Qezel Hesar Prison in Karaj for the execution of his sentence.
The Iranian Human Rights Organization, on December 13, announced the transfer of Mahdavi Shayesteh to solitary confinement. They reported that he was tried by Branch 15 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Abolqasem Salavati, and sentenced to death on charges of “insulting Islamic sanctities” and “collaborating with the enemy.”
This human rights organization emphasized that the case against this political prisoner is so lacking in evidence that a “single empty pistol magazine” and “a pepper spray” were used as proof of “collaborating with the enemy” to substantiate the charges.
MEK Supporters in Lucerne Support Iranian Political Prisoners and Condemn Violations of Human Rights
Lucerne, Switzerland—December 14, 2024: Freedom-loving Iranians and supporters of the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) held an exhibition and protested against the rising wave of executions carried out by the Iranian regime, supporting the ‘No to Execution’ campaign against Iran’s regime. They called for the immediate release of all political prisoners held in the regime’s prisons in Iran and protested the sentencing of six political prisoners associated with the PMOI to death.
MEK Supporters in Los Angeles Support Iranian Political Prisoners and Condemn Violations of Human Rights
#MEK Supporters in #LosAngeles Support Iranian Political Prisoners and Condemn Violations of #HumanRights #StopExecutionsInIran #FreePoliticalPrisoners #NoImpunity4Mullahs #FreeIran10PointPlanhttps://t.co/b80bFEYAHt
— Iran Freedom (@4FreedominIran) December 15, 2024
Californian, Los Angeles (Santa Monica)—December 14, 2024: Freedom-loving Iranians and supporters of the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) held a book exhibition and protested against the rising wave of executions carried out by the Iranian regime, supporting the ‘No to Execution’ campaign against Iran’s regime. They called for the immediate release of all political prisoners held in the regime’s prisons in Iran and protested the sentencing of six political prisoners associated with the PMOI to death.