Salem-News.com Iran articles Page 49

Groups Urge Iran Not to Stone Woman to Death

An effort is underway to release a 43-year-old Iranian mother of two.

(WASHINGTON D.C.) - In 2006, Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani was accused by the Islamic Republic of Iran of committing adultery with two men, supposedly before her husband died.

Sakineh, mother to a 16- and 20-year-old, says she was forced to confess after a brutal interrogation and has already received 99 lashes as a punishment for this alleged crime.

Who Cares About the Iranian People?

Actions like this will only injure the ordinary people of Iran who suffer from the effects of a power game between governments.

(TEHRAN) - Iraq's war on Iran during the 1980's was masterminded and fostered by the U.S. and its European allies.

With the horrors of anything but forgotten, new rounds of crippling sanctions directed against the most strategic industries of Iran come after one another in what is claimed to be the international movement of preventing Tehran from acquiring nuclear weapons.

Iranians Deny the Arrogant Literature of the West

Kourosh and Prof. Beeman discuss a variety of Iran-involved topics including the media propaganda, nuclear dossier and the prospect of revolution.

(TEHRAN) - Prof. William O. Beeman is the head of anthropology department at the University of Minnesota.

His inimitable and independent approach toward the current affairs of Iran, one of the most controversial countries of the world, resembles the attitude of Noam Chomsky in terms of perspective and mindset and has cost him his reputation, professional credit.

Making Plans from Tennessee to Iran

When I gave food to the poor, they called me a saint. When I asked why the poor had no food, they called me a communist - Dom Helder Comara

(CLERMONT, Fla.) - John Lennon said, "Life is what happens while you're busy making other plans." I make my plans anyway but always stay flexible for change.

Next week at this time, I plan to be in Tennessee among the participants celebrating 30 years of NONVIOLENT civil disobedient actions in pursuit of a Nuclear Free Future

Women Preparing for Gaza Sail: We Won`t Fight Israel

One of hundreds of female volunteers planning to sail to Hamas-ruled territory with diapers, milk, medical supplies and clothes says, 'Our only weapons are faith in the Virgin Mary and in humanity'

(TEL AVIV YNET) - "We have diapers, a lot of diapers, we have milk, we have treatments for cancer in children and medical supplies and clothes. If they fight we will not defend ourselves.”

Those words from organizers of an aid flotilla from Lebanon to Gaza, were shared with The Times in an interview published Friday.

G8 Says Gaza Blockade Not Sustainable

Over 1.5 million Palestinians are living under a relentless Israeli siege that has now entered its fourth year.

(TEHRAN PRESS TV) - The Group of Eight nations say Israel must lift the blockade of the Gaza Strip and allow aid through to its impoverished Palestinian population.

"We urge all parties to work together to implement UN Security Council Resolution 1860 and to ensure the flow of humanitarian and commercial goods and persons, to and from Gaza," the final communique said late Saturday.

Urgent appeal: Bring back the Israeli Foreign Ministry Website!

As for more romantic labels applied to Gaza-related fatalities, Operation Summer Rains of 2006 has recently been joined by Operation Sea Breeze, the euphemism for the flotilla attack.

(ISTANBUL) - For over a week here in Turkey, I have been unable to access the website of Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. At first I assumed the site was down for routine maintenance purposes and to allow experts time to craft an explanation—possibly with accompanying video—of how the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) were merely trying to engage humanitarian activists on board the Mavi Marmara in a friendly game of paintball.

Israel`s Lifting of Gaza Blockade Means Junk Food, But No Cement to Rebuild Damaged Buildings

The marginal easement is a step in the right direction, but a very small one.

(JERUSALEM) - Israel has allowed some previously banned food items into the Gaza Strip, taking a small step toward easing its three-year-old blockade of the territory after worldwide criticism of last week’s deadly raid on a Gaza-bound international flotilla.

The decision only narrowly expands the list of goods that can enter Gaza — and most of the newly permitted items are already being smuggled into the area from neighboring Egypt.

`They Looked in my Hair and Under my Tongue`

"I only cried when I saw that journalist Cevdet Kılıçlar had been shot." - Turkisn journalist Ayşe Sarıoğlu

(ISTANBUL) - Yesterday I posted excerpts from the first part of the Turkish daily Taraf’s two-part interview with 27-year-old journalist Ayşe Sarıoğlu, recounting her experience during last week’s attack on the Mavi Marmara.

Following is my (rough) translation of excerpts from the second part of the interview, which starts with the boat’s forced docking at Ashdod port and recounts the imprisonment of the passengers on board.

Turkish Journalist Recounts Flotilla Attack

"Everything happened so fast. At the same time, they boarded us from boats and descended from helicopters by rope. And as they were descending they starting firing" - Ayşe Sarıoğlu, who was on board the Mavi Marmara

(ISTANBUL) - Following is my (rough) translation of excerpts from the first part of Taraf newspaper’s two-part interview with Ayşe Sarıoğlu, a 27-year-old graduate student at Istanbul University, who was on board the Mavi Marmara.

Sarıoğlu begins the interview by explaining that although she is sympathetic to the Palestinian cause, she participated in the expedition to Gaza as a journalist.