Iran on 'execution spree' since start of Israel-Hamas war, killing 107 anti-regime activists, ethnic minority Amnesty International cited Iran as 2022's second-leading executioner behind China https://www.foxnews.com/world/iran-...killing-anti-regime-activists-ethnic-minority
It should be noted that Iran also arrested and imprisoned other family members in Iran to prevent them from leaving the country to attend the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony for imprisoned activist Narges Mohammadi. Nobel Peace Prize winner vows Iranian people will ‘dismantle despotism’ in speech delivered by her children https://www.cnn.com/2023/12/10/world/narges-mohammadi-nobel-peace-prize-lecture-intl/index.html Oslo, Norway CNN — Imprisoned Iranian activist Narges Mohammadi paid tribute to the Iranian people’s determination to “dismantle” the “despotism and obstruction” of the Islamic Republic’s regime in her Nobel Peace Prize lecture delivered by her children, Kiana and Ali, on Sunday. Her teenage twins, who have not seen their mother in years, accepted the award on her behalf at a ceremony in the Norwegian capital, Oslo. Notable attendees included Iranian lawyer Shireen Ebadi, who was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2003, and British-Iranian woman Nazanin Zaghari Ratcliffe, who shared a cell with Mohammadi during her six-year imprisonment. The lecture was penned by Mohammadi from her prison cell in Tehran’s Evin prison. She won the award for what the Nobel Committee said was “her fight against the oppression of women in Iran and her fight to promote human rights and freedom for all.” In the opening lines, Mohammadi, who has been sentenced to a total of 31 years in prison for her activism, described herself as one of the “millions of proud and resilient Iranian women who have risen up against oppression, repression, discrimination, and tyranny.” In her lecture, Mohammadi charted the monumental impact of the “Woman, Life, Freedom” protests, which erupted across Iran in October 2022 following the death of a young Kurdish Iranian woman, Mahsa Amini, in morality police custody. Mohammadi described it as a “movement for fundamental change,” spawning civil resistance in sectors across Iran. “Resistance is alive, and the struggle endures,” she said. “The Iranian people will dismantle obstruction and despotism through their persistence. Have no doubt – this is certain,” Mohammadi emphasized. Mohammadi is among a handful of Nobel Peace Prize winners who were unable to accept the award in person. ‘Light of freedom and justice will shine’ Despite the groundswell of support from human rights organizations for Iranian protesters, Mohammadi said a “lack of serious attention” has been given to the situation in Iran. “The policies and strategies of Western governments have been ineffectual in truly empowering the Iranian people to achieve their goals, making democracy more achievable in this part of the world, and ensuring peace,” Mohammadi highlighted. She called on Western governments not to “postpone democracy” and avoid adapting “strategies focused on the continuation of the Islamic Republic’s rule.” However, the final sentences of Mohammadi’s speech centered on a message of hope, expressing her confidence “that the light of freedom and justice will shine brightly on the land of Iran.” The closing lines delivered by her 17-year-old son, Ali, were met by a standing ovation from the audience and cries of the Farsi chant: “Zan Zendegi Azadi,” the slogan of the recent protest movement. Elahe Tavakolian, another guest at the ceremony who lost her eye in the protests last year, was met outside Oslo town hall by a small group of “Woman, Life, Freedom” protesters who chanted “Zan Zendegi Azadi” as soon as she walked out. Kiana and Ali told CNN ahead of the ceremony that they have not seen their mother since they were eight years old and have not spoken to her in nearly two years due to increasing restrictions on communication that worsened ahead of the ceremony. Mohammadi’s prison sentences keep increasing, for charges of conspiring against national security and spreading false propaganda, among others. “I’m really not very optimistic about ever seeing [my mother] again,” said Kiana. “My mom has a 10-year sentence left and every time she does something, like sending out the speech we will read out at the ceremony, that adds to her sentence.” Kiana added: “She will always be in my heart, and I accept that because the struggle, the movement, Woman Life Freedom, is worth it. Freedom and democracy are priceless. It’s all worth the sacrifice.”
Just Iran executing more women... Iran hangs ‘child bride’ for murdering husband despite international calls for leniency Sabzian was forced into marriage when she was just 15 and was a victim of domestic violence https://www.foxnews.com/world/iran-...-husband-despite-international-calls-leniency An Iranian woman who was forced into marriage as a child and being held in prison for murdering her husband, was executed Wednesday despite calls from human rights groups for leniency. Samira Sabzian was hanged in Ghezelhesar Prison, according to the Norwegian-based group, Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO). IHRNGO Director Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam said Sabzian was a victim of "gender apartheid, child marriage, and domestic violence." "[T]oday she fell victim to the incompetent and corrupt regime’s killing machine. A regime that has sustained itself solely through killing and instilling fear," Amiry-Moghaddam said in a statement. "Ali Khamenei and other leaders of the Islamic Republic must be held accountable for this crime." Sabzian had been in prison for a decade, having been arrested for the murder of her husband. IHRNGO said Sabzian was forced into marriage when she was 15 and was a victim of domestic violence. She had two young children – including a newborn baby – at the time of her arrest. Sabzian did not see them for 10 years until they came to say their goodbyes at the prison before her execution. The office of the UN High Commissioner of Human Rights said it was "alarmed" at the execution. "We again urge Iran to establish a moratorium on all executions with a view to abolishing the death penalty," the office said. IHRNGO says Iran is one of the world’s leading executioners of women, with nearly 200 executed since 2010. In well over half of those cases, the women – who have no right to divorce, even in cases of domestic violence and abuse – were convicted of killing their husbands.
Let's see what is going on in Iran. Well, about what you expect from a country which supports Hamas and Hezbollah. Global Outrage After Iran Whips Woman Dozens of Times for Refusing to Cover Hair Roya Heshmati was charged with 'encouraging permissiveness' for walking around Tehran without a hijab https://themessenger.com/news/iranian-woman-flogged-for-not-wearing-headscarf-roya-hesmati
The government who funds terrorism across the entire region causing instability, now is demanding their musicians to write anti-U.S. songs while imprisoning them. Iranian singer gets unusual punishment for writing anti-regime song Grammy-winning Shervin Hajipour, 27, is sentenced to prison and ordered to produce song about ‘US crimes’ https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2024/03/02/shervin-hajipour-prison-iran-song-baraye/ An Iranian pop star who wrote an anthem for anti-regime protests across the country has been sentenced to prison and ordered to write a new song railing against America as punishment. Shervin Hajipour, 27, was sentenced to three years and eight months imprisonment on the charges of “inciting unrest against national security” and “spreading propaganda against the regime,” which are frequently levelled against participants in the 2022 mass uprising. But in a devastating twist, Mr Hajipour, who won a Grammy Award for his anthem, has been ordered by the same court to produce a song about the “USA’s atrocities against humanity” in order to reflect the “gravity” of his own actions. He has also been banned for leaving Iran for two years once his imprisonment ends. The unusual punishment was disclosed on Friday by the Human Rights Activists News Agency, a human rights group which scrutinises the Iranian regime and its brutal crackdown on demonstrators in 2022. Mr Hajipour’s song, “Baraye”, or “For” in English, became a national sensation in Iran when it was released after the death of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old Iranian woman, in police custody. Amini had been detained by the regime’s morality police for incorrectly wearing her headscarf and was allegedly beaten to death while in custody. “Baraye” quickly became an anthem for disaffected Iranians who were horrified by the killing of Amini, prompting hundreds of thousands to demonstrate in dozens of Iranian cities. The Iranian regime launched a brutal crackdown on the protests, killing an estimated 500 people and injuring countless others. An estimated 200,000 people were arrested, with some given as little as 15 minutes to defend themselves in court against the death penalty for sedition. Mr Hajipour does not appear to have been intimidated by the Iranian legal system, as last month he released a new song which doubled down on his opposition to the regime and his legal troubles. According to CNN, in that new song he characterises himself as “trash that will stay in Iran to rebuild this city,” even though he is not being allowed to freely express himself in songs. “Baraye” won a Grammy Award in the category of “best song for social change” due to its “profound social influence and impact”. “The Academy steadfastly supports freedom of expression and art that’s created to empower communities in need,” Harvey Mason Jr, chief executive of the Recording Academy, said at the time. “Because music serves the world, and the Recording Academy exists to serve music.”
Let's see how the repressive Iranian government treats Christians. Iran violently clamps down on Christians amid reports of torture, fines and floggings https://www.foxnews.com/world/iran-violently-clamps-down-christians-reports-torture-fines-floggings
The UN finally calling the oppression in Iran what it is --- a crime against humanity. Iran’s repression of protesters and women amounts to ‘crimes against humanity,’ UN report says https://www.cnn.com/2024/03/08/middleeast/iran-women-crimes-against-humanity-un-intl-hnk?cid=ios_app
An interesting take -- the recent election Iran had something like a mere 7% turnout. The regimes anointed candidates did not get many votes as a majority of the population boycotted the election -- despite governing officials begging them to participate. One take on this is that this lack of support indicates the upcoming demise of the Iranian regime. Iran’s historically low election turnout should spell the end of the regime https://nypost.com/2024/03/07/opini...n-turnout-should-spell-the-end-of-the-regime/
With protestors on campuses supporting Iran's proxy war against Israel. Let's take a look at how Iran treats progressives and film makers. Let's remind the pro-Hamas protestors that they are actively supporting this suppression and brutality. Iranian director sentenced to flogging, jail and fine for ‘collusion against national security’ https://uk.news.yahoo.com/iranian-director-sentenced-flogging-jail-095350590.html A court in Iran has sentenced renowned director Mohammad Rasoulof to eight years in prison, flogging, a fine, and the confiscation of property for national security crimes, his lawyer confirmed on Wednesday. In a statement on X, Rasoulof’s lawyer Babak Paknia wrote that the court found Rasoulof’s films and documentaries, along with his public statements, to be “examples of collusion with the intention of committing a crime against the security of the country”. Paknia added that the judgment was confirmed in a court of appeal and has now been sent for enforcement. Rasoulof is one of Iran’s most prominent directors, and his film The Seed of the Sacred Fig is scheduled to premiere at the Cannes film festival, which starts on 14 May. The director and the festival reportedly were under a lot of pressure from Iranian authorities to pull the film from competition. Producers of the film have also reported harassment and actors were summoned for questioning and have been banned from leaving the country. Last week, Paknia wrote on X that it wasn’t clear whether Rasoulof would be able to travel to Cannes to attend his film’s screening. In an email to The Guardian, Paknia confirmed the developments: “He is accused of making [The Seed of the Sacred Fig] without obtaining a license from the related authorities, alongside accusations that the actresses were not applying hijab properly and were filmed without hijab”. “All key members of the film are banned from leaving the country and have been investigated by the security forces of the Ministry of Intelligence.” Rasoulof has long faced legal persecution in his home country, but this is the harshest sentence among the series of punishments he has been given. Rasolouf was sentenced to six years in prison in 2010, later reduced to one year, after he was accused of filming without correct permits. In 2017, after Rasoulof’s film on corruption in Iran, A Man of Integrity, won the Un Certain Regard sidebar at Cannes, his passport was confiscated when he returned to Tehran from Colorado’s Telluride Film Festival. He was then sentenced to a one-year prison term and a two-year ban on leaving the country. He was also prohibited from any participation in social or political activity two years later by the Islamic revolutionary court. Rasoulof then went on to win the Golden Bear, the Berlin Film Festival’s top prize, in 2020 for his film about the death penalty in Iran, There Is No Evil. However, he was unable to attend the film festival because of the travel ban imposed on him and his daughter Baran received the award on his behalf. He was then incarcerated again in July 2022, after he criticised the response of Iranian security forces to protests over a building collapse in Abadan. He was released in February 2023, but barred from attending the Cannes film festival, where he was to serve as a member of the Un Certain Regard jury. Iran’s Independent Filmmaker Association has criticised the judgment in a statement, reported CNN. “Once again, the judiciary’s verdict against Mohammad Rasoulof proved that the law is only a playground for stubbornness and revenge in the legal system contaminated by government jurisprudence,” it said. “Independent and freedom-loving cinematographers condemn the invalid judgment of the judiciary against Mohammad Rasoulof and stand by him and all the artists who make fun of government censorship.” Appearances at film festivals for Iranian directors and actors sees a lot of persecution from the government, despite the country’s thriving film industry. Director Saeed Roustaee was sentenced to six months in prison for screening his film Leila’s Brothers at the Cannes film festival in 2022. Actor Taraneh Alidoosti, who played the lead, spent almost three weeks in jail over her support for the protests that broke out in Iran in 2022 over the death of Mahsa Amini in custody. Celebrated director Jafar Panahi has been subjected to several detentions and house arrests, with his most recent seven months-long imprisonment ending in February 2023. (Article has Tweets and pictures.)