THIS PAGE WILL BE UPDATED WITH THE LATEST NEWS
UPDATE: 9:30 PM
We’re Witnessing Suicide Attempts among Residents, Iranian Medical Chief acknowledges
Mahmoud Fazeli, the head of the Iranian regime’s Supreme Council of the Medical Organization, voiced concerns about the challenges faced by medical residents in a recent press conference. Fazeli highlighted uncertainties regarding the employment status and insurance benefits for residents, emphasizing the crucial link between their education and the nation’s healthcare standards.
Fazeli warned of potential vacancies in residency programs due to insufficient admissions in certain fields, posing a threat to the quality of healthcare services. In response to questions about residents’ suicides, he revealed the establishment of a task force comprising various organizations to investigate and address the issues affecting this group. The task force aims to prevent suicides among residents and enhance their overall well-being actively.
In February, Mohammad Sharifi-Moghadam, a central council member of Iran’s Nurses’ Organization, approximated that each year, between 2,500 to 3,000 nurses leave Iran. In May, MP Hossein Ali Shahriari, who chairs the Health and Treatment Committee of the Iranian parliament, disclosed that approximately 10,000 healthcare practitioners have departed from Iran in the last two years, opting to work in the Arab world.
UPDATE: 7:30 PM
Senior IRGC Official Killed in Airstrike Near Damascus
In a targeted airstrike on the Zainabiyeh region on the outskirts of Damascus today, reports from state-affiliated media confirm the death of Razi Mousavi, also known as Seyyed Razi.
Mousavi, a longstanding figure within the Syrian branch of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and a close associate of the IRGC Quds Force’s slain commander Qasem Soleimani, was among the most experienced IRGC forces in Syria.
According to state-run news agencies, the correspondent for Al Mayadeen reported from Damascus that Mousavi fell victim to an attack involving three missiles. The strike, allegedly carried out by an unidentified adversary, resulted in Mousavi’s immediate demise.
In an official statement, the IRGC acknowledged Mousavi’s death, condemning what they termed a “criminal missile attack” by Israel on Damascus. The statement identified Mousavi as a high-ranking military adviser with a history of service alongside the late General Qasem Soleimani.
Meanwhile, SOHR sources reported that two Syrian individuals working for the IRGC were killed and another sustained serious injuries by the explosion of an IED planted earlier by unknown individuals in their car in Subaykhan town in the eastern countryside of Deir Ezzor.
UPDATE: 2:30 PM
Monday Protests in Iran
In a wave of discontent sweeping across the nation, various groups in Iran are taking to the streets to voice their grievances against economic hardships and demand reforms. From Tabriz in the northwest to Ahvaz in the south, citizens are expressing their frustration with low wages, inadequate pensions, and poor living conditions.
Tehran: Nurses at Mahdiyeh Hospital, Beheshti University, took to the streets in the capital to protest poor wages, the lack of implementation of tariff laws, and forced extra work. The healthcare workers emphasized the need for fair compensation and better working conditions to ensure quality patient care.
In Tehran, merchants of the gold bazaar also went on strike, signaling their dissatisfaction with economic policies and demanding reforms to improve their financial situations.
December 25—Tehran, #Iran
Nurses at Mahdiyeh hospital, Beheshti University, rally in protest to poor wages, lack of implementation of tariff laws, and forced extra work#IranProtests pic.twitter.com/hi3w3LsS85— People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) (@Mojahedineng) December 25, 2023
Kermanshah, Western Iran: Retirees and pensioners of the Telecommunications Company of Iran gathered in Kermanshah to protest against low pensions and deteriorating living conditions. The demonstrators voiced their concerns about the financial difficulties they face in their retirement years and called for urgent government action to address their grievances.
December 25—Kermanshah, western #Iran
Retirees and pensioners of the Telecommunications Company of Iran rally to protest low pensions and poor living conditions.#IranProtestspic.twitter.com/xXAhxq2LyV— People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) (@Mojahedineng) December 25, 2023
Ahvaz, Southwest Iran: Workers of Iran National Steel Industrial Group entered the third day of their strike, protesting the company’s decision to ban 21 workers and its failure to implement job classification rules. The industrial workers are advocating for fair labor practices and job security.
Retirees of the Telecommunications Company of Iran in Ahvaz joined the protests, specifically highlighting the regime’s disregard for laws requiring the adjustment of pensions according to the costs of living.
December 25—Ahvaz, southwest #Iran
Workers of Iran National Steel Industrial Group on strike for the third day after the company banned the entry of 21 workers to the company and refrained from implementing job classification rules.#IranProtestspic.twitter.com/1KnPFDabq4— People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) (@Mojahedineng) December 25, 2023
Ilam, Western Iran: Retired government employees held a protest rally in Ilam, demanding the regime uphold its own laws that mandate adjusting pensions based on the costs of living. The retirees expressed frustration with the government’s failure to meet its obligations towards those who have served the nation in various capacities.
Isfahan, Central Iran: Retirees of the Telecommunication Company of Iran resumed their protest rallies in Isfahan, demanding higher pensions and other basic needs. The demonstrators called on the government to prioritize the well-being of retirees and address their financial concerns.
December 25—Isfahan, central #Iran
Retirees of the Telecommunication Company of Iran (TCI) resume protest rallies, demanding higher pensions and other basic needs.#IranProtestspic.twitter.com/aKflSSyPwA— People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) (@Mojahedineng) December 25, 2023
Rasht, Northern Iran: Retirees of the Telecommunication Company of Iran gathered in front of the provincial headquarters of the TCI in Rasht, continuing their weekly protests. Despite their consistent efforts, the regime has yet to respond to their demands for higher pensions in line with the rising costs of living.
Tabriz, Northwest Iran: Retirees of the Telecommunication Company of Iran resumed their weekly protests in Tabriz, emphasizing their demand for increased pensions according to the cost of living. The demonstrators expressed their frustration with the government’s failure to address their concerns and implement necessary reforms.
Sanandaj, Western Iran: Retirees of the Telecommunication Company of Iran resumed their weekly protest rallies in Sanandaj, demanding higher pensions and other basic rights. The retirees emphasized the importance of fair treatment and adequate financial support in their retirement years.
December 25—Rasht, northern #Iran
Retirees of the Telecommunication Company of Iran resume their weekly protests in front of the provincial headquarters of the TCI as the regime ignores their demands.#IranProtestspic.twitter.com/OZrymneND3— People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) (@Mojahedineng) December 25, 2023
UPDATE: 7:30 AM
Iran’s Regime Denies Political Prisoner Ali Moezi Critical Medical Care
Iran’s regime is increasing pressure on political prisoner Ali Moezi, denying him access to medical care and facilities. In a move to torment and humiliate him, prison authorities have predicated him to the hospital wearing prison clothes. Moezi has refused to comply with the regime’s unlawful demand.
Ali Moezi, 70, is currently held in Evin’s 4th ward. He has spent 16 years in the regime’s prisons for his political activities and his support for the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK). He spent several years in the regime’s prisons in the 1980s. He was arrested and imprisoned again in the 2000s and 2010s for his political activities.
The Unseen Forces Shaping Iran Regime’s Dress Code Laws
Leaked documents from the Iranian regime’s Ministry of Interior reveal plans for a newly established headquarters named ‘Chastity and Hijab,’ aimed at implementing new policies to monitor and coordinate institutions responsible for enforcing hijab regulations.
Approved by the Supreme Council of the Cultural Revolution, which is presided over by the regime’s president, over 30 institutions have been tasked with overseeing hijab compliance for nearly two decades. These include the Ministries of Health, Education, Road and Urban Development, Municipalities, Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Intelligence, and the Police Force. The objective of the ‘Hijab and Chastity Headquarters‘ appears to be the supervision of these entities.
Combatting Child Marriage in Iran in 2023: Challenges and Urgent Reforms”
In many developed nations, the idea of child marriage, meaning young girls marrying significantly older men is not just frowned upon; it’s illegal and considered a violation of human rights. The UN’s Convention on the Rights of the Child firmly stipulates that anyone below 18 is considered a child, and marriage before this age is strictly prohibited. However, Iran’s conditional adherence to this convention has led to legal loopholes allowing marriages as young as 13 and 15 for girls and boys, respectively, with the approval of guardians and courts. This stark contrast between international standards and Iranian laws showcases a critical ethical and legal dilemma.
Varisha Moradi Languishes in Evin Prison Without Standing Trial
Four months into her arrest, Varisha Moradi is still in detention without standing trial.
Varisha Moradi, a Kurdish women’s rights activist from Sanandaj and a member of the East Kurdistan Free Women Society (KJAR), was kidnapped on August 1, 2023.
She was viciously tortured in the detention center of the Department of Intelligence of Sanandaj to make confessions against herself. An informed source reported that in one instance, she vomited blood and went completely unconscious under torture.
Varisha Moradi was subsequently transferred to the Intelligence Ministry Ward 209 of Evin Prison in Tehran.
Security officials interrogate Saleh Nikbakht, Confiscate Mahsa Amini’s Sakharov Prize
Mr. Saleh Nikbakht, the lawyer of Zhina Mahsa Amini’s family, was interrogated on Friday night, December 22, 2023, immediately upon arrival at a Tehran airport.
Security officials confiscated Mr. Saleh Nikbakht’s passport and cellphone, as well as the Sakharov Prize plaque that he received from the European Parliament.
Saleh Nikbakht received the Sakharov Prize on behalf of the family of Zhina Mahsa Amini at a ceremony at the European Parliament on December 12, 2023.
The clerical regime’s authorities banned the family of Zhina Mahsa Amini from traveling to Strasbourg to receive the award granted to their slain daughter.
Iranian Regime Spy Ship Assisting Houthi Attacks in the Red Sea
Western and regional security officials say that the Iranian regime’s proxy forces are providing information to the Houthis, which the Yemeni rebels use for their missile and drone attacks on ships in the Red Sea.
According to The Wall Street Journal, these officials state that the information collected by a surveillance vessel under the control of the Iranian regime’s proxy forces in the Red Sea is being transferred to the Houthis, who have recently used this data to attack commercial ships passing through the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait.
According to these officials, many ships moving through this strait turn off their tracking systems to avoid detection, but an Iranian ship stationed in the Red Sea enables precise missile and drone attacks by the Houthis.
Paris—December 22, 2023: MEK Supporters Held an Exhibition, in Solidarity With the Iran Revolution
Paris, France—December 22, 2023: Freedom-loving Iranians and supporters of the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) have been organizing an exhibition for several consecutive days to express solidarity with the Iranian Revolution.
On the Eve of Christmas, MEK Supporters Pray in a Church in Berlin for the Freedom and Victory of the Iran Revolution
December 23, 2023: On the Eve of Christmas, freedom-loving Iranians and supporters of the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) attended a prayer ceremony at a church in Berlin, displaying pics of the martyrs of the Iranian Revolution.
Also, read Iran News in Brief – December 24, 2023
