Iran Update
Volume: 1 - Issue:  888
 21 November 2010
Iran Update
Dear Friend,
We are delighted to present you with the current issue of Iran Update, a publication of International Solidarity for Democratic Change in Iran (ISDCI).    

America, Iran and a terrorist label

Reuters
Bernd Debusmann
19 November 2010
Who says that the United States and Iran can't agree on anything? The Great Satan, as Iran's theocratic rulers call the United States, and the Islamic Republic see eye-to-eye on at least one thing, that the Iranian opposition group Mujahedin-e-Khalq (MEK) are terrorists...
 
The United States designated the MEK a Foreign Terrorist Organization in 1997, when the Clinton administration hoped the move would help open a dialogue with Iran. Thirteen years later, there is still no dialogue...


On July 16, a federal appeals court in Washington instructed the Department of State to review the terrorist designation, in language that suggested that it should be revoked. But Hillary Clinton's review mills appear to be grinding very slowly.

 

A group of lawmakers from both parties reminded Clinton of the court ruling this week and drew attention to a House resolution in June - it has more than 100 co-sponsors and the list is growing - that called for the MEK to be taken off the terrorist list. Doing so would not only be the right thing, the six leading sponsors said in a letter, it would also send the right message to Tehran. Translation: using the terrorist label as a carrot does not work, so it's time to be tough.  

Nigeria: seized heroin headed from Iran to Europe

AP
20 November 2010
LAGOS, Nigeria -- Nigeria's drug enforcement agency says Europe was the destination for a recent catch of 286 pounds (130 kilograms) of high-quality heroin hidden inside a shipment of auto parts sent from Iran.

Agency chairman Ahmadu Giade says the drugs were worth $9.9 million. He says the U.S. helped Nigerian officials find the illegal shipment but did not give details on the collaboration. He also says arrests have been made but did not elaborate in his statement on Saturday 

U.N. committee slams Iran over human rights record

Reuters
18 November 2010
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - A U.N. General Assembly committee Tuesday accused Iran of serious human rights violations in a move that an incensed Iranian delegate said was orchestrated by the United States and its allies.

 

The resolution on Iran in the General Assembly's human rights committee was sponsored by the United States, European Union, Canada and other Western countries. It received 80 votes in favour -- six more than a similar declaration received last year -- 44 against and 57 abstentions

The resolution said the assembly "expresses deep concern at serious ongoing human rights violations in the Islamic Republic of Iran." Such violations include torture, flogging, amputations, stoning, and "pervasive gender inequality and violence against women."
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Nigeria reports Iran arms seizure to UN Security council


CNN
16 November 2010

United Nations (CNN) -- The seizure in Nigeria of a shipment of arms from Iran, has been reported to the United Nations Security Council, Nigerian Foreign Minister Odein Ajumogobia said Tuesday.

Ajumogobia said the issue would be reviewed by a U.N. sanctions committee that was appointed by the Security Council to monitor the Iranian sanctions regime. U.N. Security Council resolutions prevent Iran from sending weapons abroad.

The 13 containers seized in Lagos held illegal weapons, including rockets, according to Nigeria's security service

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Thank you for your reading Iran Update. We welcome your comments. 
 
 
Sincerely,
 
ISDCI News Group
In This Issue
America, Iran and a terrorist label
Nigeria: seized heroin headed from Iran to Europe
U.N. committee slams Iran over human rights record
Nigeria reports Iran arms seizure to UN Security council
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Putting Human Rights First
We invite you to write to your national government officials to ask them to freeze all commercial and diplomatic ties with the Iranian regime until there is a full stop to repression of protests in Iran, release of political prisoners and respect for human rights as demanded by the UN Human Rights Council. Please support sanctions of economic relations that only benefit Iranian regime's repressive elite, enable its suppressive forces (IRGC), and prolong its illegitimate rule in Iran, and its export of terror and instability to the region and world.
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