THE CONTENT OF THIS PAGE WILL BE UPDATED WITH THE LATEST NEWS
UPDATE: 5:30 PM CEST
Iran’s Regime and the Death Sentences of Protesters
On Thursday, an international campaign forced the Iranian regime to temporarily halt its death sentences for three men who participated in the nationwide Iran protest last November. The sentences had been upheld by the regime’s Supreme Court two days earlier, leading to widespread protests on social media. A Persian hashtag meaning “don’t execute” was reportedly used five million times and gained support people from all walks of life, foreign lawmakers, and international human rights defenders before the judiciary responded to the pressure.
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UPDATE: 5:00 PM CEST
Iran coronavirus update: Over 72,200 deaths, medical staff suffering from “extreme fatigue”
Over 72,200 people have died of the novel coronavirus in 346 cities checkered across all of Iran’s 31 provinces, according to reports tallied by the Iranian opposition People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) as of Friday afternoon local time, July 17. The official death count declared by the regime stands at 13,791 around a sixth of the actual figure.
The death toll in various provinces include: 5,395 in Khuzestan, 5,375 in Razavi Khorasan, 3,285 in Gilan, 2,730 in Lorestan, 2,235 in Sistan & Baluchistan, 1,850 in Golestan, 1,435 in Kurdistan, 986 in Kerman, 830 in Hormozgan, 750 in Bushehr, 738 in Markazi (Central), 735 in Ardabil, and 535 in Ilam. This is in addition to reports obtained from other provinces.
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UPDATE: 11:15 AM CEST
Free Iran Global Summit in the Media:
AGENCE FRANCE PRESSE: Exiled Iran opposition group to press for ‘uprising’
National Council of Resistance of Iran gathers online to press for “uprising” and regime change in Tehran.
AGENCE FRANCE PRESSE: Exiled Iran opposition group to press for ‘uprising’https://t.co/bhe1OUJ92m
National Council of Resistance of Iran gathers online to press for “uprising” and regime change in Tehran.#FreeIran2020 @iran_policy @AFP @meonewsen
— NCRI-U.S. Rep Office (@NCRIUS) July 18, 2020
FOX NEWS: Giuliani, speaking at summit of Iranian dissidents, compares mullahs to the mafia
FOX NEWS: Giuliani, speaking at summit of Iranian dissidents, compares mullahs to the mafia #FreeIran2020 #FoxNews @RudyGiuliani @iran_policy @FoxNews https://t.co/yekThnjSzp
— NCRI-U.S. Rep Office (@NCRIUS) July 18, 2020
WASHINGTON EXAMINER: ‘The great uprising’: Iranian dissident group holds global summit calling for regime change
WASHINGTON EXAMINER: ‘The great uprising’: Iranian dissident group holds global summit calling for regime change https://t.co/pG4xpX5qon#FreeIran2020 #Iran @Maryam_Rajavi @iran_policy @dcexaminer
— NCRI-U.S. Rep Office (@NCRIUS) July 18, 2020
The Washington Times: Largest virtual gathering links Iranians and 1000 current, former officials, international dignitaries, and bipartisan lawmakers from 30,000 locations in 102 countries and five continents
LIVE NOW – Largest virtual gathering links Iranians and 1000 current, former officials, international dignitaries, and #bipartisan lawmakers from 30,000 locations in 102 countries and five continents. Click to watch – https://t.co/kz3ax5Zd09. #FreeIran2020 #sponsored
— The Washington Times (@WashTimes) July 17, 2020
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UPDATE: 10:45 AM CEST
Watch the Free Iran 2020 Global Summit
Iran Rising Up for Freedom | Resistance Units Key to Victory
Watch the #FreeIran2020 Global Summit
Iran Rising Up for Freedom | Resistance Units Key to Victory #IStandWithMaryamRajavihttps://t.co/RfWQh1EAYq
— NCRI-FAC (@iran_policy) July 18, 2020
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UPDATE: 10:00 AM CEST
Maryam Rajavi: Three major commitments of the Iranian Resistance: regime change, universal suffrage and people’s sovereignty, and social freedom and justice
The Free Iran Global Summit, a major online and live conference encompassing over 30,000 points spread across 100 countries, was convened on Friday, July 17, 2020, in a direct link to Ashraf 3, home of the Iranian opposition, Mujahedeen-e Khalq.
The summit, held in commemoration of the July 20 anniversary of Iranians’ historic uprising in 1952 against domestic reactionary forces and colonialism, to restore the nationalist and democratic government of Dr. Mohammad Mossadeq, as well as the anniversary of the founding of the National Council of Resistance of Iran, the sole independent and democratic alternative to the current regime in 1981, was met with widespread participation and enthusiasm by Iranian compatriots.
Over 1,000 political dignitaries from various countries participated in this summit to voice support for the Iranian people’s uprising and in solidarity with Resistance Units.
Maryam Rajavi, expressed her gratitude to all compatriots and supporters of the Iranian Resistance and all participating dignitaries.
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Free Iran Global Summit: Solidarity with the Iranian People’s Uprising, Support for Resistance Units, and the Liberation Army
- The Iranian Resistance’s annual gathering connects voices of freedom from 30,000-locations in Iran, Ashraf-3 and over 100 countries
- 1,000 political leaders, parliamentarians, and religious and cultural figures from around the world attended the event
- Maryam Rajavi: The ruling theocracy is close to being overthrown, and the people and the Iranian Resistance are committed to building a democratic and free Iran. We do not seek power at any cost; we seek freedom and justice and a democratic, secular, and non-nuclear republic
- Speeches and messages from 8 American senators and 10 members of the US House of Representatives
- Speeches by former Prime Ministers of Canada, Algeria and Albania and former Foreign Ministers of France, Italy, Canada, Poland, Yemen, Jordan, and Algeria
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The Uprising of the People of Behbahan With the Slogans “We Do Not Want the Mullahs’ Rule” and “the Mullahs Must Get Lost”
Fearing the spread of the uprising, the clerical regime disrupted the Internet in Khuzestan and arrested dozens of young people.
From the early hours of Thursday evening, July 16, 2020, a large number of people in Behbahan (south west Iran) took to the street chanting “We do not want the mullahs’ rule”. The protesters gathered in Bank Melli Square, opposite the Bank Melli building, which was the same location that was torched by protesters during November 2019 uprising as a symbol of regime’s plundering and looting.
People chanted, “Iranians will die, but they will not accept humiliation”, “Shame on the Basij, leave the nation alone,” “Shameless Basiji,” “Do not be afraid, we are all together,” “Mullahs must get lost,” “Neither Gaza nor Lebanon, I give my life for Iran,” “Khamenei, you are the devil, and Iran is not a legacy of your father,” and “You, the evil criminal soaked in blood, get out of my country.”
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Former minister admits regime massacred more than 100,000 MEK members
In an unprecedented acknowledgement, the Iranian regime’s former Minister of Post and Telegraph revealed that the during the 1980s the Iranian regime has killed over 100,000 members of the main Iranian opposition movement the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK).
Mohammad Gharazi, the official, told Etemad online on July 15: “An 80-million-strong population cannot be dominated with extremism.”
Gharazi mentioned the regime’s brutal repression during the 80s against the MEK members and supporters and said: “During the 80s we went too far. The MEK announced armed resistance and many of us have been killed and then the MEK went to Iraq and about 100,000 them were killed. The price of going too far is much for the society. The white revolution the Shah announced led to his downfall.”
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WHAT ARE THE IRAN PROTESTS OF 2019?
Saturday, July 18, 2020, marks the 245th day since the beginning of the nationwide Iran protests.
The People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) has identified 755 of the more than 1500 protesters killed by the regime so far.
Mrs. Maryam Rajavi the President-elect of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) has called on the United Nations to urgently send an international fact-finding mission to Iranian prisons to meet with the detainees.
HIGHLIGHTS OF THE UPRISING:
Number of uprising cities: 191
Number of martyrs: At least 1500
Number of injured: More than 4,000
Number of detainees: More than 12,000
Read more: Latest News in Brief- July 17, 2020