THIS PAGE WILL BE UPDATED WITH THE LATEST NEWS
UPDATE: 12:30 PM CEST
New Jersey Man Charged with Terrorism Offenses Relating to His Attempted Murder of Salman Rushdie
Hadi Matar, 26, of Fairview, New Jersey, was arraigned today in federal court in connection with attempting to provide material support to Hizballah, a designated foreign terrorist organization; engaging in an act of terrorism transcending national boundaries; and providing material support to terrorists.
“We allege that in attempting to murder Salman Rushdie in New York in 2022, Hadi Matar committed an act of terrorism in the name of Hizballah, a designated terrorist organization aligned with the Iranian regime,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “The Justice Department will prosecute those who perpetrate violence in the name of terrorist groups and undermine the basic freedoms enshrined in our Constitution.”
“The defendant attempted to carry out a fatwa endorsed by Hizballah that called for the death of Salman Rushdie — a fatwa issued in 1989 by Iran’s Ayatollah Khomeini,” said FBI Director Christopher Wray. “Violence directed at Americans for exercising their First Amendment rights will never be tolerated. The FBI will work with our partners to pursue and hold accountable those who resort to violence.”
UPDATE: 7:00 AM CEST
Chaos and Crisis Continue to Riddle Iran’s Regime
Iranian regime supreme leader Ali Khamenei’s meeting with members of the Majlis (parliament) on July 21 was a desperate attempt to bring order to the chaotic state of the regime. Khamenei’s advice to “hear a unified voice from the country” comes at a time when, with the dust settling from claims of victory in the presidential election, the regime is now facing a new wave of splits and divisions. The process of selecting a so-called steering council to appoint ministers has ignited a new round of power struggle between regime officials and factions. Regime factions are tearing each other apart to gain a larger share of power and wealth.
The tension between the two factions has reached the point where the slogan “[former foreign minister Mohammad Javad] Zarif, get lost” has become popular in Friday prayers.
Iranian Female Political Prisoner Pakhsan Azizi Sentenced to Death
The Iran Human Rights Center announced on Tuesday, July 23, that Pakhsan Azizi, a political prisoner previously accused of “baghi,” has been sentenced to death by the Revolutionary Court. According to the laws of the Iranian regime, baghi means rebellion against the legitimate Imam and the Islamic ruler. Since late June, Pakhsan Azizi had been denied visits and contact with her family by the order of Evin prison officials.
She was arrested on August 4, 2023, in Kharrazi Township, Tehran, and was interrogated and tortured in the detention center of the Ministry of Intelligence. She was then transferred to Ward 209 of Evin prison and later to the women’s ward. In the winter of 2023, she was charged with “rebellion through membership in opposition groups” by Branch 5 of the Evin Security Prosecutor’s Office.
Paris, July 23, 2024: MEK Supporters Exhibition in Solidarity with the Iranian Revolution
Paris, France—July 23, 2024: Freedom-loving Iranians and supporters of the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) organize a photo and book exhibition. This exhibition is held in solidarity with the Iranian Revolution and as a protest against the increasing wave of executions carried out by the Iranian regime.
Bern, Switzerland—July 22, 2024: Iranian Community Exhibition Condemns Recent Executions and the Sham Trial of PMOI Members
Bern, Switzerland—July 22, 2024: Freedom-loving Iranians and supporters of the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) organized an exhibition to condemn the recent executions in Iran by the mullahs’ regime. They also responded to the mullahs’ regime judiciary regarding the sham trial of MEK members and their supporters.
Also, read Iran News in Brief – July 24, 2024
