Friday's Daily Briefing on Iran

DoctorZin reports, 7.8.2005:

EU Calls on Iran to Release Ganji

Islamic Republic News Agency:

The European Union has made "urgent representations about Akbar Ganji, a political prisoner detained in Iran", according to a statement issued Friday night by the EU's British Presidency.

He is believed to be seriously ill and reportedly in need of urgent medical attention, it said. READ MORE

We have been getting phone calls saying that Ganji is now in a coma.

A new website in support of Ganji is now in operation. It has some interesting ideas. Check it out.

Update: International demonstrations around the world have been taking place in memory of the anniversary of the bloody crackdown of pro-democracy forces in Iran, July 9th.

Reports of demonstrations inside of Iran are scheduled for tomorrow. I will publish the reports as the come in.

Here are a few other news items you may have missed.

• FrontPageMag reported that more and more young Iranians are resorting to violence against the regime and its representatives.
• Alan Peters, The Free Republic published: Operation "Sandblast" advocating the U.S. support a radical rethinking of U.S. policy. The following is an example of one such approach.
  
• Amir Taheri, Arab News reported the people of Iran are witnessing an impressive build-up of power around the newly elected president.
• Amir Taheri, The Times UK said, It may take some time before the full identity of the attackers is established. But the ideology that motivates them, the networks that sustain them and the groups that finance them are all too well known.
• Radio Free Europe reported that a U.S. court has sentenced an Iranian national to nearly five years in prison for trying to export parts for F-4 and F-14 jet fighters.
• The NY Sun reported that Jack Straw said the attacks in London bore all the hallmarks of Al Qaeda.
• Voice of America News reported that Iran's streets are full of children working illegally.
• Reporters Without Borders issued another statement saying Iran's judiciary continues to stall in Kazemi case, two years after her death.
• Victor Davis Hanson, National Review suggested that the British may react very differently than the Spanish did after Madrid — by doing nothing.
• Gooya News published a petition in support of Dr. Hossein Ghazian who was tried and charged with the alleged crime of cooperating with a belligerent state (the U.S.) through conducting opinion polls for Gallup Organization and Zogby Polling Institute.
• BBC News reported Tehran is considering building 20 new nuclear power stations.
• And finally, Iran Focus reports that a senior Iran cleric blames West for London bombings.