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* Iraqi seeks "alternative" Iraqi Kurdish leadership
* New Hezbollah group formed in Mashad
* Refah government to forge closer relations with IRI
* IRI seeks exiles' return - again
* Crime attributed to Rev. Guards imposters
* Four People Condemned To Death
* Rafsanjani money stake in University dispute
* Submarine building
* Culture Minister wields censor's scissors
* Growing poverty in Iran
* IRI plot rumored in Azerbaijan
* Mujahedin beat Marzieh's son
* Hundreds protest cancelled election in Rafsanjan
* Iranian terrorist suspects to appear in Paris court
Iraqi seeks "alternative" Iraqi Kurdish leadership
The Islamic Republic has invited fundamentalists Iraqi Kurds toTehran to discus new strategies for extending the influence of theIRI into northern Iraq. The pretext for their presence in Iran was aceremony commemorating the seventh anniversary of the death ofAyatollah Khomeini.
"We ask the Iranian regime to continue it's efforts to maintainpeace in Iraqi Kurdistan," said Sheik Ali Abdolaziz , who waspresented in the official press in Tehran as "the leader of theIslamic Movement of Iraq," and the representative of "the leaders ofpolitical parties and tribes of Iraqi Kurdistan."
The group of Iraqi Kurd fundamentalists met with Ali AqaMohammadi, personal representative of the Supreme Leader (AyatollahKhamene'i) in Iraqi Kurdistan and the regime's top Kurdish gun."Western civilization is setting, and the renaissance of Islamiccivilization is near," Mohammadi reportedly told his Kurdishvisitors.
"The request for continued intervention of Iran to help IraqiKurds was presented by their representatives," said Kayhan daily, themouthpiece of the Iranian Ministry of Intelligence and Security(MOIS). "The recent visit to Iraqi Kurdistan by an official Americandelegation failed to convince Kurds to distance them from IslamicRepublic of Iran," Kayhan added [6/6].
According to other press reports Fuad Ma'soum, the representativeof the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan and Sami Abdol-Rahman, from therival Kurdish Democratic Party also came to Tehran with the IraqiKurdish delegation. [Resalat, 6/6]
New Hezbollah group formed in Mashad
A new Hezbollah group was created in Mashad, (the holy capital ofthe Iran's North-Eastern province), to "counter moral corruption,"Sobh weekly reported. "Dozens of Hezbollah supporters in Mashadgathered in a mosque to announce the birth of the organization,Gavvamin-e Hezbollah (Hezbollah's Strengtheners)." Sobh is consideredclose to Ansar-e Hezbollah leader, Ayatollah Ahmad Jannati.
At the first official gathering, Hojjat-ol eslam Sa'eli, anIslamic scholar at Mashad university, announced that the neworganization would punish "all forms of misbehavior, immorality andcorruption, as is Hezbollah's duty," Sobh reported. Sa'eli did notreveal who was behind the establishment of the new group, but did sayhe was working with the founders "as a consultant."
The group's next step, said Sa'eli, was to organize a "hugegathering" of Hezbollahi groups in Mashad. [Sobh weekly,6/11]
Refah government to forge closer relations with IRI
Turkey's Islamic fundamentalist Welfare (Refah) party plans toforge closer relations with the Islamic Republic, according to recentstatements by Refah leaders and by Prime Minister NecmeddinErkaban.
"Iran is Turkey's most stable neighbor, we don't have territorialdispute, and our friendship with Iran is the most natural," saidRefah Deputy Secretary General, Abdollah Gul, in a statement run byIranian papers prior to Refah assuming power last Friday.
"Just because some countries have listed Iran as their enemy,Turkey does not have to do the same thing. By improving relationswith Iran, Turkey's importance will increase in front of Europe, "Gul reportedly said.
Mr. Gul, whose interview in the Turkish paper "Yani Yuz Yip" wasquoted extensively by IRNA, called Israel an aggressor government,and promised that Refah will cancel the recent Turkish- Israelimilitary agreement if it came to power.
"We are against Turkey's full membership in the European Union. Webelieve the world's future will be in Asia, so we can't bind ourdestiny only to Europe. We will try to recreate the Commonwealth OfMiddle East Countries, a legacy of the Ottoman Empire. Our otherpriority will be to improve economic ties with Black Sea countries, "Gul reportedly said.
Turkey's new Prime Minister, Necmeddin Erkaban, backed offslightly from his earlier promise to cancel the security pact withIsrael that was signed last February when presenting his Cabinet onJune 29. Turkey would honor its international commitments, but in areference to the agreement with Israel he said that "permission willnot be given for implementations that are against national securityand national interests." [Jomhouri-e Eslami daily, 6/11; The IranBrief, 7/1]
IRI seeks exiles' return - again
Years after an earlier, failed attempt spearheaded by PresidentRafsanjani, the Islamic Republic is making a new attempt to lureexiled Iranians back home - as long as they transfer their assets toIranian banks.
"One plan that should be considered seriously for thestrengthening and development of the nation's industries is to makeuse of Iranian capital abroad," Industry Minister Mohammad RezaNe'mat-Zadeh told a gathering in Isfahan recently. "Today, Iraniansliving in foreign countries have enormous assets. If a plan could bedevised to bring this capital back into the country, it would be ofgreat help in the development of our industry,"
Ne'mat-Zadeh confessed that the past year had been a dark one asfar as industrial production was concerned. "Because of foreigncurrency policies and harsh governmental controls, productiondiminished in some sectors," he acknowledged. But contrary to mosteconomic predictions, he promised that the current year, whichstarted March 21, would be a "flourishing year for our industry"because many of these restrictions would be removed or reduced.
In earlier attempt to attract wealthy Iranian exiles to reinvestin their country, Rafsanjani sent his Minister of Finance and theGovernor of the Central Bank to New York to appeal to the patriotismof Iranian businessmen. Those who did reinvest in Iran wererepeatedly denounced by the Fourth Majlis.
Given this experience, and the Islamic Republic's growing economicisolation, even pro-government members of the new Majlis haveexpressed skepticism of Ne'mat-Zadeh's proposals. Said Mohammad BaqerNobakht, the new deputy from Rasht, rebuilding the country after the"thousand billion dollars" damages that resulted from the war withIraq "will take a hundred years." He deplored the government'sinability to raise foreign investment capital, saying it has resultedin a situation where the Iranian people "are trapped in a spiral ofever rising prices and inflation." [Resalat 6/6; Hamshahri6/12].
Crime attributed to Rev. Guards impostors
The sharp rise in theft in recent months has got the attention ofthe government, which has pledged it will take new anti-crimemeasures.
Interior Minister Ali Mohammad Besharati said vaguely after ameeting of the National Security Council that the government would"try harder" to prevent crime.
Tehran residents say that apartment break-ins, car-thefts, armedrobbery and muggings have become so common that "nobody feels secureanymore." In many cases recently, apartment burglars have appeareddressed in Pasdaran or LEF uniforms and displayed official documentsto gain entry to private homes. When members of these organizationshave been caught, the authorities pretend they are impostures orsimply former Guardsmen, who have already left their units.
A desperate resident of Behbahan (Khuzestan province) called theSalam "Reader's line" on June 19 and left this message: "Theft andburglary is so widespread in Khuzestan that in a small town likeBehbahan, despite the presence of very great number of LawEnforcement Forces, cases of theft increase daily and LEF officerscan do nothing about it. We ask the authorities to do something todeal with this enormous problem of the people of Khuzestan."
Salam took up this appeal, saying that the paper had called theDeputy for Behbahan in the new Majlis. "He confirmed our reader'sclaim and said the Mayor of Behbahan has acknowledged the very highrate of theft in town, and the inability of the LEF to combat it."[Salam 6/12; Kayhan 6/12]
Four People Condemned To Death
Two men were condemned to death on charges of homicide by a courtin Tangestan (South of Iran). They were identified as AbdolkarimPouladi and Gholam-Reza Bushehri. Because they were also convicted ofcar theft, the court ruled that four fingers of their right hands beamputated in a separate punishment before their execution. Noinformation concerning their trial or the date of their execution wasgiven.
Another man, Abbas Mahmoudi-Nasab, was condemned to death oncharges of homicide in Kerman, without any other information exceptthe name of his victim.
A fourth man, Reza Ya'qoubi, was condemned in Zarrin Shahr to bepunished by "qesas" (a form of blood revenge), after being convictedof having knifed a man to death during an armed robbery. Under the"qesas" ruling, family members of the victim are granted the right tokill the convicted murderer in exactly the same way has he killed hisvictim. The court ruled that after family members inflicts multiplestab wounds on Ya'quobi, he is to be left in a public square to bleedto death. [Kayhan 6/12]
Rafsanjani money stake in University dispute
The growing flap over "Islamization" of Iran's universities mayhave another, purely mercantile angle: President Rafsanjani's hugefinancial interest in Iran's growing private university system. Infact, Rafsanjani and members of his clan are the owners of Iran'slargest university network, known as the Free Islamic University, orDaneshgah-e Azad Eslami.
The Free Islamic University has dozens of campuses across Iran,with an aggregate total of nearly 200,000 students. Complaints havesurfaced in the Iranian press recently that Rafsanjani U lacksqualified teaching staff, lacks equipment, has a low academic level,and sets tuition fees beyond the reach of all but the wealthiestIranian families. Still, as enrollment numbers attest, the FreeIslamic University system is very popular among young Iranians, iffor no other reason than the lack of Hezbollahi activity on itscampuses.
"We don't have to ask permission from The Ministry of Culture andHigher Education to expand our university or change our policies,"said Abdollah Jasbi, rector of the Free Islamic University. He wasresponding to charges leveled by the Deputy Minister of Culture andHigher Education, Hasan Shojai-Fard, who accused the University of"illogical" growth and "profiteering," when "our policy is thathigher education should be state-run and free." Shojai-Fard calledfor an end to the expansion of Free Islamic University and demandedthat any future growth be cleared by his ministry. [Salam,6/12].
At a press conference held to reply to Shojai-Fard's accusations,Mr. Jasbi said that Free Islamic University planned to expandenrollment to accept 650,000 students in the coming years, whereasstate-run universities plan to accommodate only 150,000 studentsduring the same period.
In response to accusations of "licentiousness" on campus, Jasbisaid the university was separating male and female students, "as inother universities." But he returned the charge against the state,saying that moral education began in the high schools. "We know thatthe number of veiled students has dropped in high schools. What can Ido about that? I am not responsible of the whole country." [Salam6/16]
Submarine building
In its last attempt to become a regional military superpower,Islamic Republic has taken to building submarines.
Salam has reported that the new all-Iranian submarine will becalled "Blue robot," and that it has already passed the R&D phaseand is "almost 40% ready." The first prototype is under constructionat the Technical University of Isfahan," the paper said.
Salam criticized the authorities for prematurely disclosing thesekind of secret plans "at a time when the world is afraid of ourmilitary might and intentions." [Salam 6/17]
Culture Minister wields censor's scissors
Culture Minister Mostafa Mir-Salim has personally censored the"Encyclopedia of World Literature," insisting it be retitled "TheEncyclopedia of Cheap [mobtazal] World Literature" if it isto be published in Iran.
The book, translated from English and published by a famousIranian publisher, was at first rejected by the censor at theMinistry of Culture and Islamic Guidance on the pretext of"containing quotations from foreign books and writers carryingNihilistic, apostasy and anti-religious messages."
The publisher protested the decision, but was told by a deputy toMir-Salim that the book "would not be considered a positiveprecedent" in the publisher's record. "This is a Encyclopedia ofCheap World Literature, which shows immoral, stale and unholy aspectsof world literature. So publishing 5500 copies of it is notnecessary."
Sobh praised the Minister's decision this way: "With the dismissalof the Deputy Minister of Cultural affairs and the appointment of Mr.Alireza Barazesh and Mr. Alireza Mokhtar-Pour [to the Censor'soffice], we are witnessing a positive trend in the Ministry. Nowno more harmful, anti-religious, atheistic and immoral books arebeing printed or reprinted." Sobh weekly 6/18]
Growing poverty in Iran
The gap between rich and poor has widened dramatically in Iran,officials say.. Today, the global income of the richest 10% ofIranians is 2322 times more than that of poor people, and most of thecountry's facilities are used by the rich," the head of thegovernmental Trade Expansion Services Company told directors of theTrade Ministry.
"Unfortunately, the living conditions of 40% of the population whoconstitute the middle classes, including government and civilemployees, is more tragic than ever," he added.
At the same meeting Mr. Yahya Al-e-Eshaq, the Trade Ministersaid: "Iran is not a poor country, therefore the existence of povertyin the country is the result of the lack of planning, poor managementand incapability in coordinating economic matters ." Kayhan 6/20]
IRI plot rumored in Azerbaijan
\A previously unknown group called "Freedom Loving Azeris of Iran"(Azarihay-e Azadeh Iran), has launched propaganda activities againstthe Baku government from inside Iran. The first statement by thegroup condemned the government of Azerbaijan for the recent arrest ofreligious opposition figures.
In a second statement, the group protested the arrest of AzeriIslamic opposition personalities including Karbela'i Qolief, "whodied in prison and under torture," the group claimed. The groupclaimed that another detainee had suffered mental damage caused bytorture.
The appearance of FLZI statements in the official Iranian presssuggests that the group is receiving direct support from Tehran, ifit was not in fact created by the Islamic Republic as a tool in itswar of nerves with Baku. [Resalat 6/20]
Mujahedin beat Marzieh's son
Dozens of Mujahedin-e Khalq guards beat the son of Marzieh, thefamous Iranian singer, before thousands of astonished spectators at arecent concert at Earl's Court in London.
The son, Mahmoud Malak- Afzali, had not seen his mother for years,and traveled to London from the U.S. in hopes of being able to reachher. Toward the end of the concert, he tried to approach the stage,but was dragged away and beaten in front of other spectators by theMujahidin guards. Since then, he says, the Mujahidin have said "theywill kill me" if he makes another attempt to see his mother.
In a letter to Mr. Maurice D. Copithorne, Special Representativefor Iran of the U.N. Human Rights Commission, Malak-Afzali wrote thathe had tried to reach his mother for two years but had never receivedany reply from the Mujahidin. "My mother is held hostage by thisgroup," he claimed.
When he heard about his mother's concert in London, he decided tomake one more attempt to see Marzieh.
"Towards the end of the program, I ran towards my mother, tryingto get her attention, and then said loudly, 'Marzieh, sing, alwayssing....but sing for 70,000,000 Iranians..." When Marzieh tried toget close to her son with open arms, "three dozens of trainedmercenary staff of the Mujahedin took me away and beat me to such astate that for 48 hours I had difficulty breathing," he told anaudience on Radio Sedaye Iran, an opposition radio station in LosAngeles.
The Mujahidin claims the incident was stage-managed by the IslamicRepublic, and that Malak-Afzali is not even Marzieh's son.
In his letter to the UN's Copithorne, Malak-Afzali asked for helpbecause the Mujahidin "tell me that they will kill me."
Informed Iranians living in Paris, speaking to FDI, confirmedMalak-Afzali's assertion that Marzieh "lives almost a hostage's lifein the hands of Mujahedin. She can't move freely or see her friendsfreely. She even warns her friends indirectly that her conversationsare controlled." She lives in safe houses with dozens of Mujahedin"companions". An Iranian film maker who was allowed to see Marzieh inParis, on her request, said "she seemed to be very depressed."
Soon after Marzieh joined Mujahedin two years ago, they announcedthe arrest of her daughter, Hengameh, in Tehran by the regime. ButHengameh subsequently surfaced and told the Iranian press theinformation a lie. [Radio Sedaye Iran 6/21].
Hundreds protest canceled election in Rafsanjan
Hundreds of people took to the streets of Rafsanjan on June 21, toprotest the rejection by the Majlis of their deputy's credentials,Salam reported [6/22].
Mr. Hamid Bahrami Ahmadi was elected on the first round ofparliamentary elections on March 8, beating out a relative ofPresident Hashemi-Rafsanjani who had served in parliament for theprevious 16 years.
According to Salam, the demonstration by Mr. Bahrami-Ahmadisupporters was put down by the Law Enforcement Forces, who clubbeddemonstrators. Following the demonstration, any gathering of morethan 3 people was declared illegal.
"The town center was invaded by LEF and soldiers," a localresident told Reuters.
Mr. Bahrami resigned from Parliament on June 16, after a Majliscommittee announced it had rejected his credentials. His resignationwas formally accepted on June 21, sparking the demonstration.According to election regulations, new elections should be held, inwhich Bahrami can - at least in theory - take part.
Salam has subsequently reported that Bahrami is underinvestigation by a Special committee of the Majlis, who have accusedhim of having worked as an informer for SAVAK, the Shah's securityforces. He also stands accused of having had relations in the 1970swith the Mujahidin, and in the 1980s, when he served as an Iranianrepresentative at the International Court in the Hague, of havingvoted in favor of American companies in the series of lawsuits thathas dragged on since 1981 between the U.S. and Iran. [Salam6/27]
Bahrami-Ahmadi is a well-known lawyer, and served asGovernor-General of Kerman province (which includes Rafsanjan) duringthe Barzargan government. He later served as representative ofIslamic Republic of Iran at the Hague court.
Bahrami's background was well known to Council of Guardians, whoapproved his candidature in the elections, making his rejection nowall the more suspicious.
Three month ago, when a radical student's weekly ran aninvestigative news article on the Rafsanjani clan and their hold onRafsanjan, the paper was shut down and its Publisher prosecuted.[Salam 6/22]
Iranian terrorist suspects to appear in Paris court
Two Iranians arrested in Paris for their alleged role in plots toassassinate Iranian opposition leaders in exile will go to trial onSept. 26, according to a statement released by the Flag of FreedomOrganization, an exile group based in Paris.
The two men, Hossein Yasand-Sete and Mojtaba Mashadi, standaccused for their involvement in plans to kill as many as six Iranianexiles and have been in custody since December 16, 1993, judicialsources in France said. The two were arrested after they were caughtattempting to case out the home of Col. Hassan Aghilipour, anotherexile leader, who lives near Paris.[The Iran Brief 7/1]
According to the Flag of Freedom statement, Mashadi was involvedin planning the assassination of Cyrus Elahi, a Flag of Freedommember who was gunned down in Paris on Oct. 23, 1990 and who was alsoa U.S. citizen. Mashadi was also allegedly involved in the plots tokill Shoja'edin Shafa, Reza Mazlouman (who was eventuallyassassinated on May 27 this year in Paris), Ayatollah Mehdi Rouhani(an FDI board member), Princess Ashraf Pahlavi and Manuchehr Gandjiin 1989. The plans were hatched, Gandji's group says, following ameeting in Tehran between Mashadi and Iran's Minister of Intelligenceand Security, Ali Fallahian.
Mashadi succeeded in penetrating Gandji's organization, the FFOacknowledges, through an aide to Dr. Gandji who was subsequentlyarrested by the French for drug smuggling.
In December 1993, Yasand-Sete tried again to hunt down Gandji, buthe was arrested before he could act. [FFO statement6/26].