THIS PAGE WILL BE UPDATED WITH THE LATEST NEWS
UPDATE: 8:00 PM CET
Canada Imposes Human Rights Sanctions Against the Regime in Iran
The Canadian government imposed sanctions on two officials of the Iranian regime implicated in the murder of Zahra Kazemi, an Iranian-Canadian photojournalist.
Kazemi, who was killed 20 years ago for photographing the families of detained students outside Evin Prison in Tehran, was subjected to arrest, and torture, and ultimately lost her life due to injuries sustained in custody. Mrs. Kazemi was arrested despite holding an official government press card.
According to a statement from the Canadian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the targeted individuals are directly responsible for committing a list of crimes, including extrajudicial killings, torture, and other human rights abuses.
Recently, the Canadian government also imposed sanctions on 22 individuals involved in gross and systematic human rights violations in Iran. These individuals include senior officials from the judiciary, prison organizations, and law enforcement command, as well as high-ranking assistants to the Supreme Leader of the regime and prominent figures in state media.
UPDATE: 1:30 PM CET
UK and Allies Impose Sanctions on Iranian Officials for Human Right Violations
The United Kingdom has sanctioned five Iranian state officials, including judiciary, law enforcement, and municipal authorities, for their involvement in enforcing mandatory hijab and alleged human rights violations. Among the individuals targeted are Ali Salehi, the prosecutor of Tehran, Masoud Darestani, the CEO of Tehran Metro, Alireza Edyani, the head of the ideological-political organization of the law enforcement forces, and the commanders of the State Security Forces in Hormozgan and Mazandaran provinces.
This action follows a coordinated effort by the UK, US, and Canada, aimed at holding individuals accountable for human rights abuses and complicity with authoritarian regimes globally. The sanctions, coming 75 years after the ratification of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, underscore the commitment to upholding fundamental freedoms.
U.S. Secretary of State Accuses Iran of Supporting Houthi Attacks in Joint Press Conference
On Thursday, December 7, in a joint press conference with his British counterpart David Cameron, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken accused the regime in Iran of providing military support to Houthi insurgents, enabling their drone and missile attacks.
Blinken stated that the paramilitary forces in Yemen have been carrying out a series of drone and missile attacks, pointing to evidence suggesting direct involvement and assistance from the Iranian regime.
Antony Blinken stated, “When it comes to conflict in the Middle East, we are absolutely united in doing everything possible to prevent it from spreading. We remain together and with others intensely engaged in the region to make sure that other fronts don’t open up.
This includes safeguarding maritime security in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. We’ve seen totally unacceptable attacks there on shipping. That has to stop. We have every reason to believe the attacks were enabled by Iran, by weapons supplied by Iran to the Houthis. And we are closely coordinating on steps to protect maritime shipping and to make sure that this practice stops.”
UPDATE: 7:30 AM CET
PMOI Resistance Units Mark Iran’s Student Day With Anti-Regime Activities
On December 7, 1953, the Shah regime murdered three student activists at Tehran University to stifle the voice of protests for freedom. However, seven decades later, the people of Iran continued to honor their memory and December 7 has become Iran’s Student Day, in which the people commemorate the role of Iran’s young generation in shaping the country’s future.
On the anniversary of Student Day, Resistance Units, the network of PMOI supporters inside Iran, held activities across the country. They reiterated their commitment to continue the path of the students who have laid down their lives for freedom and the martyrs of Iran’s uprisings for overthrowing the mullahs’ rule.
The War in Gaza Is Not Going According to the Plans of Iran’s Regime
With the resumption of the Gaza war following a brief and shaky truce, it has become evident that this conflict will persist much longer than the calculations made by the Iranian regime.
Initially, the regime aimed to divert attention from the explosive situation within Iranian society, creating a short-term crisis. It used this crisis to boost the morale of its forces and showcase the Basij in the media. However, as time passed, Iranian society demonstrated its unwillingness to support the regime’s intentions in the Gaza war, especially under the economic and social pressures they faced.
Shortly after the war resumed, individuals from various strata of Iranian society once again took to the streets to demand their rights. This further fueled disputes within the country’s political landscape. Critics emerged, with some regime officials, as usual, targeting Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and President Ebrahim Raisi.
“Preventing Injury of Women” Bill Fails to Mention Violence
The clerical regime’s parliament finally approved a so-called bill to eliminate violence against women on April 9, 2023, after 12 years of back-and-forth between the government, judiciary, and the regime’s parliament. The approved bill is titled “Preventing Injury of Women and Improving Their Security Against Misbehavior.”
However, after 12 years of delays, the regime presented a bill that essentially disregards the existence of violence against women, evident even in the bill’s title. The word “violence” has been removed and replaced by “misbehavior.”
This new bill merges the government’s drafted bill titled “Preserving the dignity and protection of women against violence” with the parliament’s bill titled “protection, dignity, and provision of women’s security against violence.” Unfortunately, the resulting bill is filled with empty words and phrases that are unlikely to be implemented.
Systematic Corruption Within the Iranian Regime’s Officials
Ali Khan-Mohammadi, the head of the “Managers’ Guidance Patrol,” has reported widespread economic and ethical corruption among managers in various Iranian institutions, stating that numerous cases of “ethical corruption” by managers have been reported, with the highest number of cases related to “financial corruption.”
According to the regime’s Didbaniran website citing Khan-Mohammadi’s remarks, corruption among managers within the Iranian regime is extensive, ranging from ethical corruption to corruption in contracts and appointments. He further stated that corruption is deeply rooted in administrative institutions and has affected the country’s managers.
Khan-Mohammadi also commented on the issue of “tea corruption” and the claims of fighting corruption by various authorities, saying, “We cannot claim to have fought corruption and that there are no more corrupt managers. Unfortunately, corruption is deeply rooted in administrative institutions, involving some of the country’s managers, and this issue cannot be concealed.”
Lucerne, Switzerland— December 6, 2023: MEK Supporters Held an Exhibition in Solidarity With the Iran Revolution
Lucerne, Switzerland — December 6, 2023: Freedom-loving Iranians and supporters of the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) organized a book exhibition in solidarity with the Iranian Revolution.
Also, read Iran News in Brief – December 7, 2023