Monday's Daily Briefing on Iran

DoctorZin reports, 9.5.2005:

The regime promised to release Ganji - They lied

Iran Press News: Translation by Banafsheh Zand-Bonazzzi

Akbar Ganji's wife, Massoumeh Shafii, in a radio interview called the authorities of the Islamic Republic of Iran “Infamous and Shameless Charlatans”; she said hopelessly: “the judiciary officials acted in contradiction to the agreement we arrived at together.” Shafii explained: “The regime actively manipulated my family into convincing Akbar to discontinue his hunger strike; they had also struck a deal with us, demanding that I refrain from any further interviews or public statements and they had promised that Mortazavi (pint-size Tehran prosecutor-general known for killing Zahra Kazemi among others) would also stop issuing his counterfeit reports.”

Shafii said: “The regime's authorities had promised Ganji that with the various conditions in place and his hunger strike terminated, that he would be handed his release orders within 10 days; however as usual, the so-called Gentlemen, including Mortazavi conned us.”

Banafsheh has been doing a great job translating these Persian news reports that are typically missed by the mainstream media.

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

• Iran Press News reported that Mostafa Jokaar, imprisoned journalist, is in grave danger after sustaining a heart attack in prison. The prison authorities refuse to allow him to be transported to a hospital so that he can in fact die.
• Iran Press News reported that Mohammad Saeedi, the deputy of the Iranian Nuclear Energy Agency, warned Europe saying: they should know that the regime also has plans in place in response to each one of the step that they take; it will all be scrutinized and enforced.
• Iranian blogger, Windsteed, Iran Hopes angry with his government's lack of concern for the victims of Katrina said: I wish to speak for all Iranians who are well-known for their kindness and caring attitude towards others: Our hearts are with victims of this massive and sad human tragedy.
• Islamic Republic News Agency reported the IRI announced readiness to send twenty million barrels of crude oil to the United States to help Washington deal with the consequences of Hurricane Katrina, if the sanctions are lifted.
• IranMania reported that Shirin Ebadi accused the hardline judiciary of placing so much pressure on her colleagues that few were prepared to defend dissidents.
• Iran Press News reported on received reports the IRI has executed political prisoner Ismail Mohammadi,by hanging.
• Iraqi blogger, Mohammed, Iraq the Model thinks that Iran is seeking a limited confrontation and Iran is calculating the possible gains and losses.
• Yoav Stern, Iran Press Service reported that one day after the historic meeting of Pakistani and Israeli foreign affairs ministers in Istanbul, it was learnt that Israel has opened a diplomatic mission in the Persian Gulf sheikhdom of United Arab Emirates.
• The Washington Times reported that the president of Iran's powerful Higher Council for National Security, Ali Larijani, canceled a Monday visit to Pakistan. Foreign Ministry spokesman saying: we express sorrow and bewilderment over the cordial meeting between Pakistani and Zionist officials.
• Iran Focus reported that the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps announced that dozens of “trained volunteers for martyrdom-seeking operations” will soon stage a manoeuvre to display their “readiness”.
• Bahrain Tribune reported that former national police chief and defeated Iranian presidential candidate Mohammed Baqer Qalibaf was appointed mayor of Tehran.
• And finally, Reuters said that Russia opposes reporting Iran to the U.N. Security Council.