Iran and Vietnam update

IRAN - 9th MAY 2006 

Iran ban on women at sporting events upheld

08.05.06

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4751033.stm

The supreme leader of Iran has vetoed a ruling by President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad that would have allowed women to attend major sporting events.

Fear growing for Iran’s Jews: report in The Scotsman

07.05.06

http://www.ncr-iran.org/content/view/1428/71/

Since Mahmoud Ahmadinejad came to power last June, life for Iran's 25,000 Jews has become even more precarious as the president defiantly pursues a nuclear policy while declaring Israel should be "wiped off the world map".

Leading intellectual and journalist arrested

05.05.06

http://www.rsf.org/article.php3?id_article=17574

Reporters Without Borders voiced outrage today at the imprisonment of pro-reform intellectual and journalist Ramin Jahanbeglou, who was arrested at Tehran airport on 28 April after criticising the Iranian government in a series of interviews for Canadian, Spanish and French newspapers in recent weeks. He was transferred yesterday to Evin prison.

54 young people flogged for partying

06.05.06

http://www.ncr-iran.org/content/view/1425/1/

Anti-vice police flogged 54 young boys and girls for attending a celebration in the northern province of Mazandaran, a state-run daily reported.

EU Presidency condemns state of human rights in Iran 06.05.06

http://www.ncr-iran.org/content/view/1423/1/

The statement by EU states expressed "serious concern" over the state of human rights, in particular "the general increase in executions" in Iran.

52 Sufis sentenced to flogging

http://www.ncr-iran.org/content/view/1422/69/

The Iranian regime has in the past few days intensified a crackdown on members of the Iranian dervish community.

Belgian parliament supports removal of People’s Mojahedin from terror list

04.05.06

http://www.ncr-iran.org/content/view/1417/70/

Iran launches Islamic dress drive

21.04.06

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4929504.stm

21.04.06

http://www.ncr-iran.org/content/view/1361/69/

The Iranian regime's state-controlled media reported that 15 prisoners were sentenced to death in Gohardasht Prison in Karaj (west of Tehran) yesterday and that death sentences for three other prisoners in Fars Province (southern Iran) had been upheld.

VIETNAM - 9th MAY 2006 

EU Commissioner urged to request cyber-dissidents’ release

20.04.06

http://www.rsf.org/article.php3?id_article=17263

http://www.vietnamhumanrights.net/website/RWB_042006.htm

Reporters Without Borders wrote to European commissioner for external relations Benita Ferrero-Waldner today asking her to raise the issue of five imprisoned Internet users during a three-day official visit to Vietnam: Ferrero-Waldner claims to have raised the issue with Vietnamese officials.

Vietnam recommended by US Commission on International Religious Freedom for ‘Countries of Particular Concern’ status again for 2006 (see also Iran link)

03.05.06

http://www.uscirf.gov/countries/countriesconcerns/index.html

http://www.vietnamhumanrights.net/website/USCIRF_050306.htm

One of the most significant human rights acts of the U.S. government is the designation of

“countries of particular concern,” or CPCs, for ongoing, egregious violations of religious freedom. CPC designation is not an end point, but the beginning of focused diplomatic activity required by the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 (IRFA).

Court gives death sentence for fraud

Autocratic Gen-Sec Nong Duc Manh reappointed as Vietnam’s party leader

Vietnam's Communist Party has announced that Nong Duc Manh will be re-appointed as its general secretary for another five year term.