Amnesty Warns Of Execution Risk For Iranian Minority Detainee

Javad Nikbin, a member of the Cultural committee of the Iranian Parliament, made the connection, which also followed recent comments by another parliament member, Jalal Rashidi Kouchi, who estimated that the financial turnover of VPN sellers in Iran amounts to approximately 800 million to 1 billion dollars annually.

Additionally, another lawmaker, Mohammad Hassan Asafari, has previously alluded to the infiltration of government organizations by these VPN companies.

Since September 2022, Iran has witnessed an increase in censorship measures, often accompanied by internet shutdowns, in response to protests. It was anticipated that with the subsiding of these protests, popular messaging apps used by citizens would have their filters lifted. However, this did not occur.

Instead, the market for VPNs and circumvention tools designed to bypass filtering has thrived. According to parliament members, the income generated by the sellers has skyrocketed to hundreds of millions of dollars each year.

Reports from the Ministry of Communications in 2019 indicated that at least 28 domestic companies were engaged in the business of selling VPNs. Despite the awareness of judicial and security authorities regarding this matter, no action has been taken against these activities. The revelation of these connections between filtering advocates and VPN producers raises concerns about the implications and potential for further regulatory action in Iran's online space.

Gholamreza Jamshidiha claims male and female students were "kissing" and "shaking hands". Jamshidiha said on Wednesday that, "When I saw female and male students shaking hands and kissing each other as if this is not a university, I got angry and upset."

He went on to add, "Perhaps I said something in anger, and the students wanted me to apologize to them. I told them I don't apologize to you. The student who had violated the rules actually had no objection, but other students supported the situation. They gathered in front of my office and chanted slogans in protest."

Iran's Student Union Council reported that a group of students from the faculty visited the university's administrative office to retrieve their disciplined friend’s ID card after learning about the alleged kissing incident. In the initial confrontation, Jamshidiha insulted and physically attacked the students in the presence of several staff members and board members, shouting, "I came here today to fight!" He used offensive language, referring to the faculty as a "brothel" and the students as "prostitutes," even threatening to expel them.

The incident comes amidst high tensions between students and pro-regime staff and security apparatus. However, the recent skirmish is unprecedented, seeing the head of a faculty engaging in such insulting and threatening behavior towards students.

The surprising statement by Yadollah Javani, the political deputy of the IRGC came during an organizational meeting held on Tuesday night in East Azerbaijan province.

Javani raised concerns about the use of terms like "conquering the streets," "a new revolution," and other similar phrases by opposition groups.

Notably, this is the first instance of a senior official within the IRGC publicly acknowledging support for the Pahlavi regime and the desire for Reza Pahlavi's return to Iran during a public speech. The exiled prince is widely considered the most viable alternative to the Islamic regime and remains a positive figure on the world stage.

The regime's smear campaign against the Pahlavis aligns with its evolving tactics in the realm of 'soft warfare,' as coined by Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. In recent times, Khamenei has employed this term to describe endeavors in the media and on social platforms, aimed at presenting alternative interpretations in an attempt to portray the regime more favorably than its actual nature.

Thai citizens were killed and abducted during an assault on southern Israeli communities in a terror raid by Hamas on October 7. Foreign workers, many from Thailand, have long been employed in Israeli farms bordering Gaza, contributing to various agricultural tasks.

Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin has assured that the hostages in Gaza are safe and will soon be freed. However, details regarding the negotiations and the mediators involved have not been disclosed.

Israeli Channel 12 reported on Monday that the Thai government recently made a donation of 3 million baht, equivalent to approximately $85,000, to the United Nations' agency for Palestinian refugees. Questions have risen regarding whether the donation is linked to the ongoing negotiations.

Channel 12 has also revealed that Iran is playing a pivotal role in the negotiations for the release of the captured Thai nationals. If an agreement is reached, the captives may be transferred to Egypt and then to Tehran before being repatriated to Thailand.

Moreover, Channel 12 showcased a photograph of a Thai delegation, led by the country's deputy prime minister, meeting in Tehran with Iran's Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian a few days ago.

During the October 7 onslaught, which marked the beginning of the Israel-Hamas war, 32 Thai citizens were killed, and 23 were abducted, according to official Thai government figures.

The toll from the attack resulted in the loss of approximately 1,400 lives, with the majority being civilians, and over 240 individuals kidnapped.

Simiari faces a series of charges, including "collusion and conspiracy to act against the country's security, setting bombs in public places, and disrupting public order."

On May 18th, Simiari was taken into custody by Intelligence agents of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and transferred to a detention center within Evin Prison.

Following her arrest, authorities conducted a search of her residence, seizing personal belongings, including identification documents, mobile phones, a computer, money, gold, watches, and clothing belonging to her and her family.

After enduring two months of interrogation and detention in a separate cell, Simiari was moved to another solitary cell. A source close to Simiari's family revealed that prior to her transfer, she was coerced into a forced confession to camera.

Despite being transferred to the women's ward of Evin Prison in October, Simiari remains in detention without a court hearing or a verdict. It has been a recurring practice in the Islamic Republic to force detainees to provide forced confessions, subsequently leading to verdicts against political prisoners, a practice strongly criticized by human rights organizations.

Born in 1988 in Tehran, Simiari holds a degree in architecture and operated a women's beauty salon in Tehran before her detention. Her story underscores the ongoing concerns regarding human rights and due process in Iran's judicial system.