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UPDATE: 5:00 PM CET
VOA
Activists Seeking Probe of 1988 Iran Prison Killings Face Uncertainties After Boost from UN Experts
International rights activists pressing for a U.N.-authorized investigation of Iran’s 1988 mass killings of political prisoners got a boost this week from a supportive letter by U.N. rights experts, but the activists’ long-running campaign for such a probe faces several uncertainties.
In the letter published online Wednesday, the six U.N. Special Rapporteurs and the Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances warned Iran that if it continues to “refuse its obligations” under international human rights law to investigate the 1988 mass killings and their aftermath, the experts will call for a first-ever “international investigation” of those killings as potential crimes against humanity.
.@amnesty's campaign for a UN-authorized investigation of Iran’s 1988 mass killings of political prisoners got a boost this week from a supportive letter by UN rights experts, but the effort also faces several uncertainties, as I learned from @RahaBahreini https://t.co/82a4701XdI
— Michael Lipin (@Michael_Lipin) December 12, 2020
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Maryam Rajavi: The criminal execution of Ruhollah Zam is reprehensible
The criminal execution of #RuhollahZam is reprehensible.
— Maryam Rajavi (@Maryam_Rajavi) December 12, 2020
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UPDATE: 11:00 AM CET
Iran’s regime executes Ruhollah Zam
The inhumane mullahs’ regime executed Ruhollah Zam today. The spokesperson of the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) said: “The regime needs to issue consecutive death sentences to terrorize the public, prevent and an uprising, preserving its rule, and intimidating potential opponents among its ranks. The regime should answer for all of its crimes.
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UPDATE: 10:00 AM CET
Maryam Rajavi: Official UN experts describe the 1988 massacre as a “crime against humanity”
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Iran: Coronavirus Death Toll in 470 Cities Exceeds 182,500
The People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) announced on Friday, December 11, 2020, that the Coronavirus fatalities in 470 cities across Iran had exceeded 182,500. The number of victims in Tehran is 44,971, Isfahan 10,615, East Azerbaijan 7,143, West Azerbaijan 6,873, Alborz 4,840, Ardabil 2,192, Ilam 1,895, Bushehr 1,854, South Khorasan 1,681, Khorasan Razavi 12,620, North Khorasan 2,833, Khuzestan 9,430, Sistan and Baluchestan 4,526, Fars 5,432, Kurdistan 3,171, Kerman 3,834, Kermanshah 3,871, Gilan 6,231, Lorestan 7,425, Central Province 3,753.
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Epidemiologist says Iran has 3.3% of global COVID-19 deaths
With 1% of the world’s population, Iran has 3.3% of global COVID-19 deaths, higher than the world average, a professor and epidemiologist at Iran University of Medical Sciences said. According to a report by the state-run Mehr News Agency, Abbas Motavalian said this calculation was based on officially announced positive test results, but stressed that the actual numbers of infections and deaths were much higher.
Iran’s Health Ministry put the death toll at 51,728 today. This is much lower than the figures announced by the National Council of Resistance of Iran which announced today that 182,500 Iranians had died from the virus.
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AP: Treadstone 71 Releases Intelligence Advisory on Confirmed Iranian Influence Operations
Treadstone 71, LLC, the cyber intelligence and counterintelligence company, today released details of an Iranian intelligence-backed influence operation.
“The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and Ministry of Intelligence and Security (MOIS) joint operation targeted Iranian dissident groups using a timely and coordinated campaign of disinformation. The IRGC Cyber Units triggered core team members with military precision aimed at the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) annual online conference,” said Jeff Bardin, Chief Intelligence Officer at Treadstone 71.
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Wave of arrests in Ahvaz – Maryam Ameri, Azhar Albughabish, Zeinab Savari
On Thursday, December 10, 2020, intelligence forces raided the residence of Maryam Ameri. They arrested her and took away her personal belongings.
Maryam Ameri’s family have not been able to find out about her place of detention.
Intelligence agencies had summoned Maryam Ameri repeatedly over the past 10 days, questioning her about her cultural activities.
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Iran news in brief, December 12, 2020
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Read more: Iran News in Brief – December 11, 2020