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Global Campaign Against the Belgium-Iran Prisoner Exchange Deal
On Thursday, July 7, the global campaign launched by freedom-loving Iranians and supporters of the Iranian opposition People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) against a shameful deal between Belgium and the Iranian regime entered a new phase. Tehran is seeking to release a Belgian citizen currently kept hostage by its authorities for the release of Assadollah Assadi, its convicted diplomat-terrorist currently serving a 20-year prison sentence for his role in a foiled bomb plot that targeted an Iranian Resistance rally back in 2018 held just of Paris.
Iran Official Acknowledges 1988 Massacre, Says Genocide Needed To Preserve Regime
Hossein-Ali Nayeri, the chief judge in the Iranian regime’s notorious 1988 massacre “Death Commission,” in Tehran, acknowledged the genocide in a recent interview and defended the mullahs’ action, adding that if not for those executions “the entire state may not exist today.”
“In those special circumstances, the country was in a crisis, meaning if it were not for the firm decision-making of [regime’s first supreme leader Ruhollah Khomeini] we would be in completely different conditions. The entire state may not exist today,” Nayeri said in an interview recently published on the “Islamic Revolution Documents Center” website on July 9.
Political Prisoners in Qarchak Prison Hold a Sit-in Protest
Political prisoners in Qarchak Prison held a sit-in protest after Zahra Safaei was denied a prison-to-prison visit with her son, Massoud Moini, in Evin Prison. News from Qarchak Prison on July 12 indicates that two political prisoners, Zahra Safaei and her daughter, Parastoo Moini, held a sit-in protest in Qarchak Prison. The sit-in followed the rejection of their request to visit their son and brother, Massoud Moini, in Evin Prison.
Iran: Brain Drain and Migration
According to studies conducted in 2019, Iran ranked the second-largest brain drain in the world with the migration of nearly 180,000 educated professionals. Of course, with the deterioration of all aspects of life in Iran in the past many years and the increase in public dissatisfaction, this statistic has undoubtedly increased.
The brain drain from any country generally happens for three reasons: economic, social, or political. Iran’s ongoing brain drain crisis can be attributed to the compounding effects of many factors, including decades of poor governance, wide and ongoing political and social repression, severe human rights abuses, bleak economic outlook, corruption, and socio-demographic factors.
Mass Arrest of November Victims’ Mothers and Social Activists
On July 11, the Iranian regime’s intelligence and security forces detained dozens of mothers and relatives of the November 2019 protests’ victims, along with women’s rights, labor, cultural, and social activists, as well as several filmmakers and bloggers. The regime has also arrested several Christians and Baha’is and Telegram Channels managers. Voicing support for the regime’s decision, Judiciary Chief Gholam-Hossein Mohseni Eje’i said, “Some of the sworn enemies to the state promote ‘vulgarity,’ ‘chastity,’ and ‘indecency’ in society, and addressing such issues needs intelligence efforts.
Political Prisoner Lashed 74 Times at Greater Tehran Penitentiary
A political prisoner was lashed 74 times at the Greater Tehran Penitentiary. Naser Fahimi, a Kurdish political prisoner was lashed 74 times on Sunday despite his poor health condition and suffering from acute heart failure. The condition of Dr. Naser Fahimi has been reported to be very critical after the sentence was carried out. Naser Fahimi is a Kurdish doctor who was arrested by the Ministry of Intelligence in July 2010.
1,700 Women Summoned in Western Iran Province Over “Improper Hijab”
The Chief of Police of Kermanshah in western Iran said 1,700 people were summoned over “improper hijab” since the beginning of the Persian year in late March. He also said 230 cars were impounded during the same time for “cruising on the streets”.
In comments carried by the state-run Tabnak website, Ali Akbar Javidan said those who don’t observe hijab laws would be punished. “Regarding the issue of chastity and hijab, 26 systems are directly involved, and six systems are indirectly active in the province,” he added.
July 13, 2022, Washington, DC: The Eighth Day of the Campaign to Condemn the Belgian’s Shameful Deal With Iran’s Regime
July 13, 2022, Washington, DC: The eighth day of the campaign to condemn the Belgian government’s shameful deal with Iran’s regime continued as a rally outside the White House by freedom-loving Iranians and supporters of the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK).
July 12, 2022, Brussels: Protest Rally by Freedom-loving Iranians, MEK Supporters Against the Shameful Deal Between Iran’s Regime and Belgium
July 12, 2022, Brussels: Protest rally and sit-in of freedom-loving Iranians, supporters of the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK), against the shameful deal between Iran’s regime and the Belgium government, continued for the seventh consecutive day.
Stockholm: Protest Rally by Freedom-loving Iranians, MEK Supporters Against the Shameful Deal Between Iran’s Regime and Belgium—July 11-12, 2022
July 12, 2022, Stockholm: Protest rally and sit-in of freedom-loving Iranians, supporters of the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK), in front of the Belgian embassy in Stockholm, against the shameful deal between Iran’s regime and Belgium government, continued for the seventh consecutive day.
Read more: Iran News in Brief – July 12, 2022
