Heard in Iran This Week
on Radio Farda
(Washington, DC--November 15, 2007) Radio Farda covered the following stories and more:
* Treason charges against former nuclear negotiator
* The arrest of a leading opposition activist
* Attack on Sufi Muslims
* Affirmation of journalist's death sentence
Radio Farda Analyzes Treason Charges Against Former Nuclear Negotiator...
November 11 -- Radio Farda aired interviews with analysts [text in Persian: http://www.radiofarda.com/Article/2007/11/14/f4_Ezhei-Mussavian-secrets.html/ analysis in English: http://www.rferl.org/featuresarticle/2007/11/1ACE3C09-CBFC-4382-91C6-A21742FABED9.html] on the announcement by Iran's Intelligence Ministry of fresh charges of treason against former nuclear negotiator Hossein Musavian and how they may point to splits in the Iranian leadership over President Ahmadinejad's nuclear policies.
...Airs Exclusive Interview with Arrested Democratic Front Leader...
November 11 -- Radio Farda aired an exclusive interview with Democratic Front of Iran leader and journalist Heshmatollah Tabarzadi [text in Persian: https://audio.rferl.org/ch21/2007/11/12/20071112-150000-FRD-program.mp3 / in English: http://www.rferl.org/featuresarticle/2007/11/2600A579-056B-4D5E-92E5-DBEB5BA44448.html], recorded prior to his re-arrest on November 11. Radio Farda also interviewed Tabarzadi's 18-year old son, who said, "My father went to the court [to discuss his case with the presiding judge], but without being able to talk to the judge or anyone else, he was taken to Evin prison by a soldier who put handcuffs on him."
...Covers Brutal Basij Attack on Sufi House of Worship...
November 11 -- During an interview with Radio Farda [text in Persian: http://www.radiofarda.com/Article/2007/11/11/f4_Dervishes-clashes-Iran.html], a Sufi expert and an eyewitness described how Basij militia carried out a midnight attack on a Sufi house of worship in the northwestern Iranian city of Boroujerd using tear gas and Molotov cocktails and finally leveling the building with a bulldozer.
...Interviews Activist on Student Solidarity Rally in Esfahan...
November 12 -- Radio Farda's "Human Rights Magazine" aired an interview [audio in Persian: https://audio.rferl.org/ch21/2007/11/12/20071112-183000-FRD-program.mp3] with activist Peyman Aref on a rally by students at Esfahan University to express their solidarity with Amir Kabir University students still in government detention and protest President Ahmadinejad's "belligerent foreign policy."
...Reports on Closed Trial of Students...
November 14 -- Radio Farda interviewed Mohammad Ali Dadkhah, the lawyer for three Amir Kabir University students charged with "sacrilege and insulting the president" who are on trial in a closed proceeding [text in English: http://www.radiofarda.com/Article/2007/11/14/o2_students_iran.html].
...Airs Lawyer's Statement on Hassanpour Death Sentence...
November 10 -- In an interview with Radio Farda [audio in Persian: https://audio.rferl.org/ch21/2007/11/10/20071110-150000-FRD-program.mp3], lawyer Abdolfattah Soltani said the allegations made against Iranian Kurdish journalist Adnan Hassanpour are legally incompatible with the conviction and death sentence against him that was recently upheld by Iran's Supreme Court.
...Follows Latest Rallies at Haft-Tapeh Sugar Factory...
November 8 -- Radio Farda interviewed journalist Abolfazl Abedini [audio in Persian: https://audio.rferl.org/ch21/2007/11/08/20071108-113000-FRD-program.mp3] about the most recent workers' rallies at the Haft-Tapeh sugar cane processing plant in the southern province of Khuzestan, where two activists were arrested.
For more on these and other stories about Iran, please visit:
http://www.radiofarda.com -- Radio Farda's Persian-language website
http://www.rferl.org/reports/iran-report/default.asp -- "RFE/RL Iran Report" weekly analysis
http://www.rferl.org/featuresarchive/country/iran.html -- RFE/RL English-language coverage of Iran
Radio Farda, a joint project of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) and
Voice of America (VOA), is a 24-hour, seven-day-a-week news service.