Iranian Police Clash With Protesters Over Banned Newspaper: Via Voice of America.

Iranian police clashed with protesters who gathered Monday outside the Tehran office of a reformist newspaper, which was recently banned by authorities.

Witnesses say police dispersed dozens of opposition supporters who shouted anti-government slogans outside the office of the National Trust (Etemad Melli), the newspaper of former presidential candidate Mehdi Karoubi. Some demonstrators were reportedly arrested.

Aides close to Karoubi say Iran's judiciary ordered a ban on the daily Sunday, after it printed his claims that some election protesters were raped while in custody.
( Read more ... )

Iran's Supreme Leader Names New Hardline Judiciary Chief: Via Voice of America.

As the Iranian judiciary prepares to try another wave of post-election protesters and opposition supporters, Sunday, government TV is announcing that Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has appointed a new hard-line head of the judiciary. The appointment was not unexpected, however.

The Iranian judiciary has taken a leading role in trying to quell opposition protests, with a series of recent trials of opposition leaders and protesters, and the nomination of a new judiciary chief will set the tone for where the process is heading.

Iranian government TV reports Supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has named Ayatollah Sadeq Larijani as the new head of the judiciary to replace the stern-looking two-term veteran chief Ayatollah Mahmoud Hashemi Shahroudi.
( Read more ... )

Iranian Nobel Laureate Calls for New Election Under UN Supervision: Via Voice of America.

Iranian Nobel Peace Prize laureate Shirin Ebadi repeated her call for a fresh election in Iran, held under the supervision of the United Nations.

Speaking during a visit to South Korea, Ebadi said a new presidential election with U.N. oversight could help end the unrest that erupted after President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's disputed June 12 re-election.  

Ebadi made similar comments during a protest speech in Amsterdam last month.

She also asked U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to visit Iran to receive a first-hand account of human rights abuses.
( Read more ... )

Iran Tries Second Group of Election Protesters: Via Voice of America.

An Iranian revolutionary court held its second session in a week to try dozens of activists, journalists and protesters arrested during weeks of unrest in the aftermath of a disputed June 12 presidential election. Opposition leaders are calling the trials illegitimate.

The government-run Iranian News Network announced the second session, Saturday, of a series of trials of dozens of leaders and protesters from the opposition movement. The TV news report accused them of trying to topple the Islamic Republic and of inciting violence.

The closed door session of Iran's revolutionary court took place amid a certain hush, with government TV publicizing the trial while limiting coverage of what was actually being said. At the first session, one week ago, just a few cross-examinations were televised.
( Read more ... )

Iran's Supreme Leader Endorses Ahmadinejad's Presidency: Via Voice of America.

Iran's supreme leader has formally endorsed the second-term presidency of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, despite a widespread dispute over his re-election.

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei approved Mr. Ahmadinejad's presidency at an official ceremony in Tehran. Opposition leaders boycotted the occasion, saying Mr. Ahmadinejad's re-election is fraudulent.  

Mr. Ahmadinejad will be sworn in by parliament on August 5. The president has two weeks from that date to unveil his new Cabinet.
( Read more ... )