THIS PAGE WILL BE UPDATED WITH THE LATEST NEWS
UPDATE: 7:00 PM CET
Regime Forces Redeploy Areas of Iranian Militias
Regime forces evacuated military checkpoints at entrances of Daraa City, where the checkpoint of Al-Qonaitara School on Al-Sad Road was removed, as well as the Al-Shalal checkpoint on Al-Sawamae’ Road, Al-Maslakh checkpoint in Al-Bahhar Neighbourhood in Daraa Al-Balad and the military checkpoint of the Military Security in Al-Manshiya Neighborhood. Moreover, security checkpoints were removed from the outskirts of Hama City and the road between Homs and Tartous along with a checkpoint on the road between Damascus and Daraa. The regime forces worked on removing one of the largest checkpoints on the road between Al-Qonaitara province in the Al-Golan area of southern Syria and the capital Damascus.
Iranian-Backed Militias in Al-Bokamal and Areas Near Syria-Iraq Border Put on High Alert
Deir Ezzor province: SOHR activists have reported that Iranian-backed militias in the Al-Bokamal area and Al-Bokamal desert near the Syria-Iraq border have been put on high alert. This coincides with military drills by US forces in the east Euphrates region, simulating attacks on the west Euphrates region, where the forces participating in this drill used artillery pieces and attacked fake targets. Earlier today, SOHR sources reported that the Lebanese Hezbollah militia, with the participation of IRGC, conducted joint military exercises in the Al-Bokamal desert in the eastern countryside of Deir Ezzor, within regime-held areas, where live ammunition and heavy weapons were used in the exercises, to raise the combat readiness of their forces in the desert, in anticipation of a possible attack.
Global Unions Condemn the Escalating Violations of Human and Labour Rights and Civil Liberties in Iran
The Council of Global Unions (CGU), representing over 200 million workers through the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC), the Global Union Federations (GUFs), and the Trade Union Advisory Committee to the OECD (TUAC), condemns the escalating violations of trade union leaders’ and activists’ human and labour rights and civil liberties by various Iranian authorities. The CGU expresses deep concern about the intensification of repressive measures targeting teachers, journalists, trade union activists, student activists, and women’s rights defenders, especially in light of the approaching anniversary of the extrajudicial death of Jina Mahsa Amini on 16 September. We denounce this repression and urgently call for its cessation, thereby enabling trade unionists to defend and uphold workers’ rights in Iran, a cornerstone of any democratic society.
UPDATE: 3:30 PM CET
UK Parliament Discusses Listing IRGC as Terrorist Group in Session with Home Secretary
In a session at the UK Parliament attended by the Home Secretary, the question of designating the IRGC (Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps) as a terrorist organization was brought up and discussed.
Dr. Liam Fox, a Member of Parliament and former UK Defense Secretary, argued, that the IRGC is under Khamenei’s direct authority and directly participates in the ruthless suppression of Iranians, violations of human rights, disappearances, torture, and executions. The IRGC is also a hub for exporting terrorism to neighboring countries and beyond. So, why not list them? he inquired.
He further explained that the IRGC is an essential link in the chain of hostage-taking, which directly affects UK security, especially dual nationals abroad.
Priti Patel, the UK Home Secretary, acknowledged that it’s evident that the Iranian regime remains a lasting threat to individuals living in the UK. It’s clear that the Iranian regime still plays a significant and concerning role in our global order, she asserted.
No one disagrees that Wagner are an evil, dangerous and malign grouping. But I would argue that they are no worse than the IRGC. I urge the government to proscribe the IRGC as a terrorist organisation. pic.twitter.com/9sv3cKz96r
— Dr Liam Fox MP (@LiamFox) September 13, 2023
USCIRF Releases Report on Religious Freedom in Iran
Washington, DC – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) today released the following new report: “Iran Country Update – This report provides an overview of religious freedom conditions in Iran in 2023. It enumerates various forms of repression that Iran’s government has used to target religious minorities and those whose views differ from the government’s religiously grounded interpretations. These include state-perpetrated killings, imprisonment, torture, sexual and gender-based violence, bodily injury, and enforced disappearances. The report concludes by urging policymakers to take seriously the grave nature of religious freedom violations in Iran, particularly as it pertains to supporting multilateral actions that include a United Nations Security Council referral of the matter of Iran to the International Criminal Court.”
Fatal Shooting by Regime Forces Near Zahedan
According to reports circulating on social media, on Tuesday, September 12, individuals identified as agents of the clerical regime’s security forces in Zahedan fired upon a Peugeot car near the city’s exit. This led to the injury of two occupants of the vehicle.
Eventually, as a result of this confrontation, both occupants of the car and a passerby, who happened to be in the vicinity, lost their lives.
63 Countries Unite Against Iranian Regime’s Nuclear Program
Sixty-three member states of the International Atomic Energy Agency expressed their deep concern regarding the development of the Iranian regime’s nuclear program and its lack of cooperation with the IAEA.
In a joint statement presented by the Ambassador of Denmark at the Vienna session, the group stated, “We express our sincere appreciation for the continued professional and impartial efforts of the Agency to implement Iran’s Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement. We commend the Director General for his extensive efforts to engage Iran regarding the outstanding safeguards issues and implementation of further verification and monitoring activities by the Agency. We note that the Director General has further reiterated that the outstanding safeguards issues stem from Iran’s obligations under its Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement and need to be resolved for the Agency to be in a position to provide credible assurance regarding the exclusively peaceful nature of Iran’s nuclear programme. We echo the Director General’s request that Iran works with the Agency in earnest and in a sustained way towards the fulfillment of the commitments contained in the March 4 Joint Statement.”
Iran Steps up Internet Crackdown One Year After Mahsa Amini Death
Sept 14 (Thomson Reuters Foundation) – One year after young Kurdish woman Mahsa Amini died in police custody while under arrest for improper hijab, Iran has stepped up internet restrictions to stop a resurgence of the widespread mass protests that swept the Islamic Republic last year.
Ahead of the Sept. 16 anniversary of Amini’s death, days before her 22nd birthday, government opponents say Iran is conducting a wide-ranging crackdown to stifle possible dissent.
At least 22,000 were arrested in the protests and seven people executed. The demonstrations – the biggest and most widespread since the Islamic Republic was founded in 1979 – were sparked after images spread on social media of Amini lying unconscious in a hospital bed following her arrest.
UPDATE: 9:00 AM CET
1,000 Female Dignitaries Unite for Freedom and Equality in Iran
In anticipation of the first anniversary of the Iranian uprising, over 1,000 female dignitaries, including former heads of state, have issued a call to action directed at the international community. Their message emphasizes three key points:
- Solidarity with the courageous women and the people of Iran.
- Support for Maryam Rajavi and her Ten-Point Plan, which advocates for a free and democratic republic.
- The need to blacklist the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
Leading up to the one-year mark of the nationwide uprising that began on September 16, 2022, more than 1,000 women dignitaries have united in signing a statement, urging the international community to stand alongside the Iranian population, with a special focus on women, in their pursuit of freedom.
The Iranian Regime’s Diplomacy is Disgraceful Even to its Own Officials
With the spread of dispute between Iranian regime factions, the state-run Entekhab news website, affiliated with the so-called “reformist” faction, was closed recently.
Fars News Agency, affiliated with the Revolutionary Guards (IRGC), explained the reason behind the seizure of the website by publishing a video and report titled “Auctioning Iran’s brand—why has Iran’s foreign policy weakened so much?”
Fars wrote, “This report is outside the limits of the law and contrary to national interests and against the fundamental policies of the Islamic Republic of Iran in foreign policy.”
Therefore, closure of the Entekhab news website, the insider media is due to the exposure of part of the regime’s humiliating diplomacy and the bursting of the balloon of Ebrahim Raisi’s fake power displays and bluffs about his achievements in foreign policy, an issue that can ensue further defections from the regime’s ranks.
A Growing Number of Iranian Children Left Out of School
A recent report in Resalat, a newspaper closely aligned with Iran’s ruling faction, has sounded the alarm about a significant increase in the number of children and teenagers who have missed out on education over the past six years. The primary culprit, as highlighted in the report, is the ‘expansion of poverty’ within the country. Drawing on statistics from the Majlis Research Center, Resalat reveals that the number of school dropouts has surged by a troubling 17.15% from the academic year 2014-2015 to 2020-2021. This disconcerting trend, the report asserts, encompasses a broad spectrum of society, including working children, foreign nationals, and young girls who were married off prematurely. Statistics from the regime’s Ministry of Education paint an even grimmer picture, indicating that over 911,000 children and adolescents dropped out of school during the academic year 2021-2022. Shockingly, 279,000 students joined this unfortunate cohort within this very year.
House Passes Bipartisan Measures Targeting Iran Over Death of Mahsa Amini, Missile Program
WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. House overwhelmingly approved measures Tuesday targeting Iran for its human rights record and placing restrictions on the country’s ability to import or export its expanding arsenal of weapons.
The measures would impose a series of sanctions on Iran’s supreme leader, president and other individuals as Washington seeks to further punish the Islamic Republic ahead of the one-year anniversary of nationwide protests. The resolutions will now go to the Senate, where it is unclear if the Democratic-controlled chamber will take them up.
The first bill takes aim at Iran’s production and exports of missiles and drones by sanctioning individuals involved in the process, while the second imposes sanctions on high-ranking government officials for “human rights abuses and support for terrorism.” The third resolution specifically condemns the government’s persecution of the Baha’i minority.
Zahra Safaei and Her Daughter, Parastoo Moini, Rearrested
Former political prisoners Zahra Safaei and her daughter, Parastoo Moini, were arrested again today, Wednesday, September 13, 2023, by Intelligence Ministry agents in Tehran.
They were transferred to Ward 209 of Evin Prison. No information is available on the reason for the arrest of the two former political prisoners supporting the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran.
The clerical regime has embarked on a wave of arrests and crackdown on political prisoners and activists as the anniversary of last year’s uprising is approaching.
The Concerning Physical Condition of Masoumeh Yavari in Prison
On Monday, September 11, 2023, Masoumeh Yavari, a former political prisoner who had previously suffered from severe disc herniation in Evin Prison, sustained severe damage to her back due to prolonged interrogations in Dolat Abad Prison in Isfahan, and two discs in her back have protruded. Ms. Yavari was arrested by security forces at her residence in Golpayegan on September 4, 2023, and after a search of her house, she was transferred to Dolat Abad Prison in IsfahanAccording to an informed source, Ms. Yavari had previously been diagnosed with a herniated disc while in prison, and she is currently suffering from severe back pain in prison. Prolonged interrogations have led to the protrusion of two discs in her back.
Javad Rouhi, a Tragic Victim of Iran’s Ongoing Uprising in 2023
In recent times, Iran has been marked by a turbulent atmosphere, with the ruling regime continually resorting to inhumane tactics to maintain control and quell dissent. One of the latest victims of this unrest is Javad Rouhi, whose tragic story sheds light on the ongoing struggle for justice and freedom in Iran. In this article, we will delve into the circumstances surrounding Javad Rouhi’s death and the broader implications for Iran’s human rights situation. On August 31st, the regime’s judiciary announced the death of Javad Rouhi, a prisoner who had been swept up in the recent uprisings. Javad was transferred to Beheshti Hospital in Nowshahr after suffering a seizure, but despite medical efforts, he did not survive.
Amnesty International Calls for Action Against Suppressors of Iran Protests
Amnesty International warned about Iranian regime authorities committing multiple crimes under international law since the anti-government protests that erupted in response to the death of Mahsa Amini in the custody of the regime’s morality police.
Iranian authorities committed “unspeakable atrocities” against people in Iran who have resisted “decades of oppression and inequality,” said Julia Duchrow of Amnesty International Germany in a statement released on Wednesday.
Sept 16 marks the first anniversary of the death of the 22-year-old at the hands of the so-called morality police.
Amnesty called on the international community for legal action against the related authorities. In practice, it is a call for countries like Germany to prosecute crimes against humanity that have been committed abroad.
September 9, 2023—MEK Supporters Celebrated the Anniversary of the Foundation of the PMOI in Rome, Oslo, Stockholm, and Gothenburg
September 9, 2023—Freedom-loving Iranians and supporters of the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) held gatherings and celebrated the anniversary of the foundation of the PMOI/MEK in Rome, Oslo, Stockholm, and Gothenburg.
Also, read Iran News in Brief – September 13, 2023