Kaesra
05-20-2010, 06:51 PM
<table bgcolor="#ffffff" border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><th colspan="2" dir="ltr" align="left">Jailed US Hikers Meet Mothers in Iran </th></tr> <tr><td colspan="2" dir="ltr"> Source: VOA (http://www.voanews.com/)
<table align="left" bgcolor="#ffffff" border="1" bordercolor="#f7f7f7" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" width="228"> <tbody><tr> <td> http://payvand.com/news/10/may/Shane-Bauer--mother-Cindy-Hickey.jpg
Detained US hiker Shane Bauer hugging his mother Cindy Hickey in Tehran, 20 May 2010, in this picture obtained from Iran's state-run English-language Press TV shows</td> </tr> </tbody></table>
The mothers of three Americans suspected by Iran of spying met with their children during an emotional reunion Thursday in Tehran. State television showed Shane Bauer, Sarah Shourd and Josh Fattal embrace their mothers, who they were seeing for the first time since their arrest in July.
The three were detained in northwestern Iran and accused of entering the country illegally and, later, the far more serious charge of spying. Relatives have said the three were hiking in Iraq's scenic, largely peaceful Kurdistan region and accidentally crossed the poorly marked border.
They have been held in Tehran's notorious Evin prison and the families were given little information on how they were faring.
Iran's foreign ministry said the mothers were granted short-term visas as a humanitarian gesture. The women were effusive in their appreciation.
"We already have been treated so beautifully and we will tell everyone about this reception," said Laura Fattal.
Bauer's mother, Cindy Hickey, said she was "very grateful to the Islamic Republic of Iran and the authorities for granting us our visa. We know that this is a great humanitarian act that they have given to us."
http://payvand.com/news/10/may/detained-American-hikers-mothers-Tehran.jpgSwiss diplomats helped arrange the meeting, as Switzerland represents U.S. interests in Iran in the absence of formal American-Iranian relations. Those ties have been increasingly strained by the U.S. drive to place a new set of sanctions on Iran over its disputed nuclear program.
Analyst Ali Nourizadeh of the Center for Arab and Iranian Studies in London said he believes the granting of visas is tied to a recent flurry of international activity, including a deal Iran reached with Turkey and Brazil on enriching uranium, and aimed at avoiding more sanctions.
"They are very worried about sanctions because sanctions this time [are] directed against the Revolutionary Guards and military forces and military industry," he said.
Before leaving for Tehran, the mothers told VOA's Persian Service they hoped to meet with Iranian officials during their stay and secure their children's release.
</td></tr></tbody></table>=======================
<table bgcolor="#ffffff" border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><th colspan="2" dir="ltr" align="left">Iranian Student Leaders Given Lengthy Prison Sentences </th></tr> <tr><td colspan="2" dir="ltr"> By Golnaz Esfandiari, RFE/RL (http://www.rferl.org/content/Iranian_Student_Leaders_Given_Lengthy_Prison_Sentences/2047467.html)
<table align="left" bgcolor="#ffffff" border="0" bordercolor="#f7f7f7" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" width="262" height="213"> <tbody><tr> <td> http://payvand.com/news/10/may/Bahareh-Hedayat.jpg
Bahareh Hedayat
</td> </tr> </tbody></table>
Bahareh Hedayat and Milad Asadi, senior members of Iran's largest pro-reform student group, Daftar Tahkim Vahdat (Office to Foster Unity), have been given lengthy prison sentences. Hedayat received 9 1/2 years, while Asadi was given seven years.
The charges against them included insulting Iran's leaders and acting against national security.
Hedayat's husband, Amin Ahmadian, has described her sentence as "shocking." (http://www.rahesabz.net/story/15728/)He said it seems to be aimed as a warning to students and called it an attempt to create fear ahead of the first anniversary of last year's presidential vote.
The student group's website, advarnews.us, says the severity of the sentences (http://advarnews.biz/university/10986.aspx) are unprecedented.
Both Hedayat and Asadi were reportedly arrested in December 2009.
Here is a video message from Hedayat -- in Persian with English subtitles -- in which she speaks about the pressures faced by Iranian student activists and the role the activists play in Iran's pro-democracy movement. She says students have been the main victims of the postelection crackdown in Iran:
<object width="512" height="360"> <embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/l26k19Ps5oo&hl=en_US&fs=1&" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="512" height="360"></object>
<hr> Copyright (c) 2010 RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. www.rferl.org (http://www.rferl.org/) </td></tr></tbody></table>
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<table bgcolor="#ffffff" border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><th colspan="2" dir="ltr" align="left">Iran Sentences Detainees to Heavy Prison Terms </th></tr> <tr><td colspan="2" dir="ltr"> Source: Radio Zamaneh (http://radiozamaneh.com/enzam/)
Iran's Revolutionary Court has stepped up issuing heavy sentences to post-election detainees at the threshold of possible renewed street protests on the anniversary of the disputed presidential elections of last year.
http://www.payvand.com/news/10/jan/Iran_Prisoned-graphics-by-VOA.jpg
Majid Dorri
Daneshjoo News website reports that Pouya Ghorbani, who was arrested along with his wife and brother, has been sentenced to six years in prison. His wife has also been sentenced to 30 months in prison.
<table align="left" bgcolor="#ffffff" border="1" bordercolor="#f7f7f7" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0"> <tbody><tr> <td> http://payvand.com/news/10/may/Majid-Dorri.jpg
Majid Dorri
</td> </tr> </tbody></table>
Majid Dorri, another student activist was sentenced to six years in prison. His 11-year sentence in the preliminary court was reduced to six years at the appeals court, Jaras website reports.
The student activist received five years imprisonment in exile for "continued activities with the Disunity Group" and another year for the charge of "activities against the regime."
The attorney to Majid Dorri said that although there is no evidence to prove any ties between his client and the People's Mojahedin Organization, and the judge had expressed his understanding of Mr. Dorri's innocence in this regard, yet the sentence was issued as such.
Majid Dorri, who was banned from continuing his education at university, belonged to the Council of Defending the Right to Education and was arrested last July.
Another reformist website "Ta Azadi Zendanian Sabz" reports that political detainees, Masoumeh Yavari and Zahra Jabbari received 7 and 4 years in prison respectively by the Revolutionary Court.
Masoumeh Yavari has to spend his seven year term at the notorious Rejai Shahr Prison.
These two detainees who were arrested in the recent election protests were primarily accused of "Moharebeh" (enmity against God) by Deputy Prosecutor.
http://payvand.com/news/10/apr/prison-bars-green-300.jpgAnother political detainee, Mehdi Karimian was also handed a four-year prison term which he will serve out at Evin Prison where he is already incarcerated.
The churning out of these heavy prison terms for post-election detainees appears to be a warning to the public who may be contemplating joining anti-government protests on the anniversary of the controversial presidential elections of 2009 which was allegedly rigged to secure Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's victory.
</td></tr></tbody></table>
<table align="left" bgcolor="#ffffff" border="1" bordercolor="#f7f7f7" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" width="228"> <tbody><tr> <td> http://payvand.com/news/10/may/Shane-Bauer--mother-Cindy-Hickey.jpg
Detained US hiker Shane Bauer hugging his mother Cindy Hickey in Tehran, 20 May 2010, in this picture obtained from Iran's state-run English-language Press TV shows</td> </tr> </tbody></table>
The mothers of three Americans suspected by Iran of spying met with their children during an emotional reunion Thursday in Tehran. State television showed Shane Bauer, Sarah Shourd and Josh Fattal embrace their mothers, who they were seeing for the first time since their arrest in July.
The three were detained in northwestern Iran and accused of entering the country illegally and, later, the far more serious charge of spying. Relatives have said the three were hiking in Iraq's scenic, largely peaceful Kurdistan region and accidentally crossed the poorly marked border.
They have been held in Tehran's notorious Evin prison and the families were given little information on how they were faring.
Iran's foreign ministry said the mothers were granted short-term visas as a humanitarian gesture. The women were effusive in their appreciation.
"We already have been treated so beautifully and we will tell everyone about this reception," said Laura Fattal.
Bauer's mother, Cindy Hickey, said she was "very grateful to the Islamic Republic of Iran and the authorities for granting us our visa. We know that this is a great humanitarian act that they have given to us."
http://payvand.com/news/10/may/detained-American-hikers-mothers-Tehran.jpgSwiss diplomats helped arrange the meeting, as Switzerland represents U.S. interests in Iran in the absence of formal American-Iranian relations. Those ties have been increasingly strained by the U.S. drive to place a new set of sanctions on Iran over its disputed nuclear program.
Analyst Ali Nourizadeh of the Center for Arab and Iranian Studies in London said he believes the granting of visas is tied to a recent flurry of international activity, including a deal Iran reached with Turkey and Brazil on enriching uranium, and aimed at avoiding more sanctions.
"They are very worried about sanctions because sanctions this time [are] directed against the Revolutionary Guards and military forces and military industry," he said.
Before leaving for Tehran, the mothers told VOA's Persian Service they hoped to meet with Iranian officials during their stay and secure their children's release.
</td></tr></tbody></table>=======================
<table bgcolor="#ffffff" border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><th colspan="2" dir="ltr" align="left">Iranian Student Leaders Given Lengthy Prison Sentences </th></tr> <tr><td colspan="2" dir="ltr"> By Golnaz Esfandiari, RFE/RL (http://www.rferl.org/content/Iranian_Student_Leaders_Given_Lengthy_Prison_Sentences/2047467.html)
<table align="left" bgcolor="#ffffff" border="0" bordercolor="#f7f7f7" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" width="262" height="213"> <tbody><tr> <td> http://payvand.com/news/10/may/Bahareh-Hedayat.jpg
Bahareh Hedayat
</td> </tr> </tbody></table>
Bahareh Hedayat and Milad Asadi, senior members of Iran's largest pro-reform student group, Daftar Tahkim Vahdat (Office to Foster Unity), have been given lengthy prison sentences. Hedayat received 9 1/2 years, while Asadi was given seven years.
The charges against them included insulting Iran's leaders and acting against national security.
Hedayat's husband, Amin Ahmadian, has described her sentence as "shocking." (http://www.rahesabz.net/story/15728/)He said it seems to be aimed as a warning to students and called it an attempt to create fear ahead of the first anniversary of last year's presidential vote.
The student group's website, advarnews.us, says the severity of the sentences (http://advarnews.biz/university/10986.aspx) are unprecedented.
Both Hedayat and Asadi were reportedly arrested in December 2009.
Here is a video message from Hedayat -- in Persian with English subtitles -- in which she speaks about the pressures faced by Iranian student activists and the role the activists play in Iran's pro-democracy movement. She says students have been the main victims of the postelection crackdown in Iran:
<object width="512" height="360"> <embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/l26k19Ps5oo&hl=en_US&fs=1&" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="512" height="360"></object>
<hr> Copyright (c) 2010 RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. www.rferl.org (http://www.rferl.org/) </td></tr></tbody></table>
============================
<table bgcolor="#ffffff" border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><th colspan="2" dir="ltr" align="left">Iran Sentences Detainees to Heavy Prison Terms </th></tr> <tr><td colspan="2" dir="ltr"> Source: Radio Zamaneh (http://radiozamaneh.com/enzam/)
Iran's Revolutionary Court has stepped up issuing heavy sentences to post-election detainees at the threshold of possible renewed street protests on the anniversary of the disputed presidential elections of last year.
http://www.payvand.com/news/10/jan/Iran_Prisoned-graphics-by-VOA.jpg
Majid Dorri
Daneshjoo News website reports that Pouya Ghorbani, who was arrested along with his wife and brother, has been sentenced to six years in prison. His wife has also been sentenced to 30 months in prison.
<table align="left" bgcolor="#ffffff" border="1" bordercolor="#f7f7f7" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0"> <tbody><tr> <td> http://payvand.com/news/10/may/Majid-Dorri.jpg
Majid Dorri
</td> </tr> </tbody></table>
Majid Dorri, another student activist was sentenced to six years in prison. His 11-year sentence in the preliminary court was reduced to six years at the appeals court, Jaras website reports.
The student activist received five years imprisonment in exile for "continued activities with the Disunity Group" and another year for the charge of "activities against the regime."
The attorney to Majid Dorri said that although there is no evidence to prove any ties between his client and the People's Mojahedin Organization, and the judge had expressed his understanding of Mr. Dorri's innocence in this regard, yet the sentence was issued as such.
Majid Dorri, who was banned from continuing his education at university, belonged to the Council of Defending the Right to Education and was arrested last July.
Another reformist website "Ta Azadi Zendanian Sabz" reports that political detainees, Masoumeh Yavari and Zahra Jabbari received 7 and 4 years in prison respectively by the Revolutionary Court.
Masoumeh Yavari has to spend his seven year term at the notorious Rejai Shahr Prison.
These two detainees who were arrested in the recent election protests were primarily accused of "Moharebeh" (enmity against God) by Deputy Prosecutor.
http://payvand.com/news/10/apr/prison-bars-green-300.jpgAnother political detainee, Mehdi Karimian was also handed a four-year prison term which he will serve out at Evin Prison where he is already incarcerated.
The churning out of these heavy prison terms for post-election detainees appears to be a warning to the public who may be contemplating joining anti-government protests on the anniversary of the controversial presidential elections of 2009 which was allegedly rigged to secure Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's victory.
</td></tr></tbody></table>