FDI's Weekly Newswire

FDI WEEKLY NEWSWIRE NO 10

June 24, 1996

CONTENTS

* Clinton offers to negotiate with Tehran

* Crackdown on Shirazi followers...

* ...and on INP Youth Organization

* Iranian hard-liners... in St. Louis

* Mahdavi-Kani supports Hezbollahi

* Rev. Guards Missile Sight Inaugurated

* Jody Foster to Iran?

* "We Fought Video, and We Lost"

* Planes and choppers planned

* Women's Cycling Banned In Chitgar Park

* Two Executed in Zarin Shahr

* Three Executed in Mashad

* Jewish businessman found murdered

* Tehran Mayor, Rafsanjani, challenge Bazaaris

* Appliance prices skyrocket

* Marzieh's son assaulted by Mujahidin

Clinton offers to negotiate with Tehran

President Clinton has made a gesture of reconciliation to the Islamic Republic of Iran only three days after the House of Representatives unanimously passed tough new legislation that would tighten the economic screws on Tehran.

In an interview appearing in an Arabic-language weekly published in London on Saturday, President Clinton said the United States was "prepared at any time to have a full and frank dialogue" with the Tehran regime. "Our only condition is that such a dialogue must be with an authoritative, official representative of the Iranian government," he added. Unofficial Iranian intermediaries continue to ply the State Department and the White House with proposals, despite the increasingly hostile public rhetoric between the two countries.

In the interview with As Sharq al Awsat, which has not been released by the White House in English, Clinton said that the United States "does not seek to overthrow the government of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Nor do we seek a military confrontation with Iran."

Senior administration officials argue that such comments do not constitute a deviation of U.S. policy. "The U.S. has called for a frank dialogue with Iran on many occasions in the past, but Iran has always refused" the U.S. offers, one official said.

Clinton also restated U.S. opposition to objectionable "behavior" by the Tehran regime, including its support for international terrorism and its alleged nuclear weapons program, and said that U.S. sanctions were intended to maintain pressure on Iran to change this behavior. "My administration continues to urge others to take similar actions," the newspaper quotes the President as saying.

Tehran newspapers reacted triumphantly to President Clinton's statements. Kayhan daily ran a banner headline on its front page on Saturday: "Clinton requests negotiations with Tehran." After translating the interview, the state-run paper commented that Clinton was behaving "like a drunk bastard shouting in the street... He should be treated like a thug."

Iranians in close contact with the Tehran regime warn that Clinton's statements, which seem to be intended to mollify the regime in Tehran, may have just the opposite effect. "It's not what he said, but when and where he said it," said one well-informed Iranian observer. "Tehran has interpreted these statements as a show of weakness by President Clinton and the U.S. administration. I believe that as result we are going to see more assassinations of Iranian dissidents in exile, a crackdown on the regime's political opponents at home, and attacks on U.S. and Israeli citizens overseas. This will only embolden the regime." [Iranfax 6/23; Washington Times 6/24]

Crackdown on Shirazi followers...

The regime has launched a crackdown on followers of Grand Ayatollah Mohammad Shirazi, arrested his 21-year old son, Seyed Mehdi Shirazi, on June 19, and other followers in separate arrests. On June 21, Grand Ayatollah Shirazi's representative in Tehran, Hojjat-ol eslam Sheikh Azizollah Hassaini, was arrested at his home by armed security agents. At the same time, armed security agents surrounded Grand Ayatollah Shirazi's Tehran home, leading to fears that further arrests may be imminent.

These latest moves are "part of a consistent pattern of harassment against followers of Grand Ayatollah Shirazi and other dissident religious leaders by the authorities of the Islamic Republic," a statement issued by the FDI board said. [See Action Memorandum 015 [HOT LINK TO HUMAN RIGHTS PAGE].

...and on INP Youth Organization

In a statement released in Tehran on June 20, 1996, the Youth Organization of the Iran Nation's Party, a banned but tolerated opposition group, announced that two of its activists had been arrested in Kermanshah on June 10 on accusations of "reading opposition books" and transmitting them to others. The two, identified as Reza Bakhtiari and Parviz Youssef Shahi, were engaged in non-violent political activities, the INP said. During a search of their houses, the authorities seized hundreds of newspapers and magazines, as well as a photocopier and a typewriter. [See Action Memorandum 015 [HOT LINK TO HUMAN RIGHTS PAGE].

Iranian hard-liners... in St. Louis

The London-based "Supporters of Iranian Muslim Nation," which has ties to many of Iran's dissident Grand Ayatollahs, regularly warns about what it calls the "travesty of Islam" perpetrated by the Islamic Republic

When the group sent some of their anti-regime statements to another Iranian Islamic Group in St. Louis, Missouri recently, they seem to have been expecting a warm response. Instead, they received a pro-Khomeini letter, laced with threats, from the head of the St. Louis Islamic Shiite Society, a certain Dr. Mohammed Shahriari. Clearly the dispute between pro-and anti- regime religious leaders has spilled over from Qom and Mashad to the outside world.

Dr. Shahriari denounced the London group for their criticism of the regime's behavior toward dissident Shiite clerics, many of whom have been jailed, tortured, and in some cases executed over the past ten years. Shahriari accused the London group of collaboration with "Hypocrite B.B.C. radio, Zionist propaganda tools, and Saudi agents.

Shahriari vowed that anti-Khomeini and anti Islamic Republic groups would fail in their attacks on the Islamic Republic, because "God will save the Koran and Islam." [FDI documents].

Mahdavi-Kani supports Hezbollahi

Ayatollah Mohammad Reza Mahdavi-Kani, who resigned as head of the main Combatant Clergy Association five months ago and who has long been regarded as a "moderate" cleric, has come out publicly in support of Ansar-e Hezbollah, saying their action is "based on Islamic values and Islamic law."

In comments made to students at Imam Sadeq University, where he serves as rector, Mahdavi-Kani said there were some influential circles "who say Islam has nothing to do with force. This is wrong. We can't put aside Hezbollahi on the pretext that they are ruining Islam. We can't step on all Islamic matters for the sake of some people who want to solve problems in peaceful ways,"

Mahdavi-Kani accused liberals of having made a huge mistake in seeking to separate the clergy from the government. "We should not let them destroy our Islamic values, in the name of freedom or liberalism... These kind of statements are against Islamic values. These people want to separate Islam from politics." He also took a crack at the visit of three members of the European Parliament, who had asked to visit Grand Ayatollahs Sadegh Rouhani and Mohammad Shirazi in Qom. [Ettelaat 6/20]

Mahdavi Kani's remarks were reprinted in official newspapers, apparently to demonstrate his support for Khamenei's order to Islamize Iranian universities. "We should only let those people enter universities who are morally and religiously fit to attend," he said.

Ayatollah Yazdi, the head of Judiciary, announced last week that new legislation for the Islamization of the universities will be sent to Majlis soon. [Ettelaat 6/20]

In an unrelated move on Saturday, the Combatant Clergy Association elected Ayatollah Emami Kashani to replace Mahdavi-Kani as the leader of their group. [Resalat 6/22]

Rev. Guards Missile Sight Inaugurated

The first Rev. Guards missile training sight was recently inaugurated in an undisclosed location, to train new recruits of the Rev. Guards College of Artillery and Missiles.

Several Rev. Guards commanders attended the inaugural ceremony, including R.G.General Amin Sharifi, Substitute to the commander of the Rev. Guards Ground Forces commander, who emphasized on the necessity of increasing the fire power of artillery and missile units of Rev. Guards. [Resalat 6/2]

Jody Foster to Iran?

UNESCO Director General Federico Mayer has accepted a proposal from newly-elected Majlis deputy Faezeh Hashemi, to organize an international seminar, called "Cinema and Women" next fall in Tehran. Ms. Hashemi is the daughter of President Hashemi-Rafsanjani.

Sobh, a hard line weekly close to Ali Khamene'i, quoted "Media sources" as saying that Hollywood stars including Jody Foster were expected to take part. "Jody Foster has played role in many "stale" Hollywood films," Sobh commented. The tone of Sobh's commentary suggested that Rafsanjani's opponents do not intend to give his daughter an easy ride in the Majlis. [Sobh weekly, 6/5]

"We Fought Video, and We Lost"

"We fought video and we lost, and our fight with satellite TV antennas will be lost too," Mr. Hasan Ghafouri-Fard, an adviser to President Rafsanjani and a deputy in 5th. Majlis told Iran daily recently. "Banning satellite antennas is useless in the face of technological advances. It may buy us time, but we should search for a real solution to fight western 'cultural assault'. This is the main challenge of the 5th Majlis," he said.

Gafouri-Fard was broadly critical of many policies of the government.

Iran's tiny national research budget, which he estimated at $267 million per year, or "35 times less that of Westinghouse Co., which spends $7 B. a year," was the main reason "why we can't export anything but raw materials," he said.

He blamed high prices on the government's repressive economic policies. "From the day we started to punish 'profiteers' as a means of fighting high prices, all prices have risen steeply. Our problem is not greed of shopkeepers, but the low productivity and high costs of industrial production."

"It is very nice that we are now producing more and more steel and cement, but these products so flood the world that many industrial countries have stopped producing them," he said.

He also took aim at the Islamic Republic's population policies, which have caused a population explosion "These young people will be entering the universities and the labor market, and this is our main challenge, because they need housing, health, etc...." [IRAN daily 6/5]

Planes and choppers planned

Mr. Ali-Mohammad Nourian, the head of the state-owned Iran Aircraft Industries, announced on June 4 that his company will soon build pilot-training aircraft, a 12-passenger commuter aircraft, and a helicopter. He was speaking at the test flight of an Iranian-built glider aircraft at Imam Khomeini airport in Tehran..

Nourian told IRNA that the twin pilot plane had been designed and built by Iranians during in a 5 months period, and would be built as a joint venture between "Pars Par Avar" and the Revolutionary Guards Imam Hussein University.

"Six of these planes will be produced this year. We have already signed contracts with the Iranian Center of Aeronautic Technology and the Basij Aviation Club, who want to buy ten of these aircraft." [Jomhouri-e Eslami 6/5]

Women's Cycling Banned In Chitgar Park

The only public park in Iran that had allowed women cycles has now declared the sport off limits, the anti-corruption police have said. The reason: because such behavior creates a "non-Islamic atmosphere" in the park, despite the fact the women are required to wear full Islamic veils while on their bikes.

The Chitgar Park near Tehran became famous a few months ago when Faezeh Hashemi, the daughter of president Rafsanjani, came out in support of the women cyclists, who had come under attack from Hezbollahi assailants. The women were accused of "sending sexual signals" to men while on their bikes, and of trying to fight the Islamic regime through western behavior.

Once Ms. Rafsanjani backed off in her support of women sports activities, the LEF stationed troops in the park, physically separating women from men, while an Islamic Revolutionary Court was set up to punish "Corrupters" on the spot. But even this was not enough for the Ansar-e Hezbollah group, which has since ordered women out of the park. [Jomhouri-e Eslami 6/5]

Two Executed in Zarin Shahr

Two men, identified as Reza Yaqoubi and Aref Lotfi, have been hanged in Zarin Shahr on charges of homicide. "They were found guilty by a court, and their sentences confirmed by the Supreme Court," Hamshahri reported. The paper gave no details about the date of their crimes, trial, or execution. [Hamshahri 6/6]

Three Executed in Mashad

Three men were hanged in Mashad on charges of homicide, theft, and "Acts insulting to women in public places," Kayhan reported.

Khalil Qasem-Zadeh Tehrani, Mostafa Firouzi and Mohammad Porouzi, were said to be members of a gang called "Scorpion" created six years ago. The paper said the three were sentenced to death by a revolutionary court in Mashad, with the sentence approved by the Supreme Court in Tehran. The paper published no details about the exact date and circumstances of the crimes, nor of their trail and the judicial procedures.

In its account, Kayhan tried to give the hangings an "anti-Western" bent, to provide a moral lesson to its readers. "Just before his execution, Khalil said the reason he had descended into crime was the "corruption and immoral behavior of my parents, seeing corrupting Western films and videos, and going to parties," Kayhan stated. The paper did not say when or where Khalil made such statements. [Kayhan 6/9]

These executions bring to 42 the total number of executions during the current Iranian year, which began on March 21. The execution of 56 persons have been reported since Jan. 1, 1996 [FDI data base].

Jewish businessman found murdered

A Jewish businessman was found dead under suspicious circumstances on June 15, in his office in downtown Tehran. Mr Saeid Lameh as the owner of a medical equipment company and shop in Valli-e Asi Avenue in Tehran.

The LEF told the family his death was a criminal act probably carried out by thieves, some reports suggest he was killed because he was a Jew. [INP statement, 6/22]

Tehran Mayor, Rafsanjani, challenge Bazaaris

Tehran's controversial Mayor, Gholam-Reza Karbaschi, ordered police to close the business offices and stalls of well-known bazaaris on June 15, in a dramatic challenge to the influential support networks of Nateq-Nouri and the ruling conservative clerics.

Police shut hundreds of booths and stalls in the Tehran's different open air markets. Karbaschi demanded that the Bazaaris dismantle the shops, which he claimed had been occupied "illegally." The municipality also announced it would confiscate land the Bazaaris had for parking lots. [Resalat 6/17]

Karbaschi's men were said to have locked up the booths while hundreds of workers were still inside. According to the conservative dailies, many employees remained inside for two days.

On Sunday evening, Rafsanjani joined the fray, accusing the Bazaaris and their Hojerehs (import-export offices) of "trying to torpedo the economic policies of the government," and promised "tough new measures against the Bazaaris." [Resalat 6/18]. Rafsanjani was said to have been particularly angry with Bazaari attempts to prevent his newly-created Refah food chain stores from spreading, since the stores were directly competing with the traditional food distribution networks of the Bazaar.

In response, hundreds of Bazaaris staged a demonstration in front of the main fruit and vegetable market (Sabzeh Maydan) on Sunday evening, shouting hostile slogans against Rafsanjani and Karbaschi.

The standoff came to an end when Interior Minister Besharati ordered The Law Enforcement Forces to intervene against Karbaschi's men, opening the booths and freeing those trapped inside. [Abrar 6/18]. Once the Bazaar had reopened, the Bazaaris remained unrepentant, and in an unprecedented move announced on Wednesday, June 19, that they would not pay taxes claimed by the Tehran municipality. [Salam 6/20].

Appliance prices skyrocket

The price of Iranian-made household appliances has risen by 60% in few weeks, major papers reported, following a 70% increase in International Telephone rates announced on June 12

Quoting the public relations office of Iran's Central Bank, IRNA said that prices have risen 44.2% in a single month, from March 21 to April 20. Consumer goods were up 60% over the past year, and the price of a refrigerator now costs the equivalent of two years salary for a government employee. [Salam, Jomhouri-e Eslami 6/18]

Marzieh's son assaulted by Mujahidin

Iranian exiles who attended a concert in London last Friday evening reported that the son of the famous Iranian diva Marzieh was physically assaulted by Mujahidin guards, when he attempted to address his mother on the concert stage. He called to her to "sing for the nation of Iran, not for the Mujahidin," eye-witnesses said, before he was beaten back by security guards.