Tense situation in Iranian Universities
SMCCDI (Information Service)
Nov 17, 2003
A tense situation is existing in most Iranian Universities, such as Tehran, Mashad, Esfahan, Oroomiah (former Rezai-e) and Hamadan due to the constent harassements made by the regime's security apparatus and so-called "Bassij Students".
The already existing repressive conditions have increased with the Islamic month of Ramadan and the desperate try of the regime to force the students for the observance of religious rituals. Students are questionned and even threaten to be ban if they "eat food" outside the "religious time frame" starting at the beginning of the night, caught listening music or discussion with opposite sex.
Sporadic strikes, refusal to eat food during the religious hours and open crtics of the regime and the religion, despite the heavy presence of the regime's men, are taking place on daily basis.
The regime's men and the universities managements are becoming very nerveous as especially rumors of wider strikes are being heard in many sectors of the Iranian economy and services and as the official "student Day" is approaching.
http://www.daneshjoo.org/generalnews/article/publish/article_3613.shtmlSynagogue Suicide Bomber Trained in Iran - Report
The Scotsman
Nov 17th, 2003
Two Turks, including one who travelled several times to Iran for bomb training, have been identified as the suicide bombers who killed 24 people in attacks on two Istanbul synagogues, a Turkish TV reported tonight.
Istanbul police would not immediately comment on the report.
Just minutes earlier, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said DNA tests on the suspected drivers of the pick-up trucks that had been packed with explosives, which could establish identities or at least nationalities, were expected to be ready tomorrow.
With the retrieval of a body today in one of the synagogues, the death toll in the two attacks on Saturday rose to 24, including the two bombers, authorities said.
“DNA tests are continuing. The final report has not reached us yet. I think it will be finalised tomorrow,” the prime minister said, adding: “Things will be clearer with test results.”
Earlier reports said police had been questioning a Turk believed to be the brother of one of the drivers. The man questioned was brought to Istanbul from south-eastern Turkey for questioning because one of the pick-ups had been purchased using documentation belonging to him.
NTV said DNA testing on the suspected suicide driver’s remains and on the brother indicated they were related, helping to identify the driver as a Turk.
NTV said the driver had travelled six times to Iran for bomb training. He was suspected, along with the other suicide driver, of having links with the al-Qaida terrorist network, NTV said.
Earlier the same TV station had reported that police found pieces of a Turkish passport and a Pakistani passport that were believed to belong to the attackers.
NTV did not explain why it said both drivers were Turks even though one of them purportedly had a Pakistani passport.
Two Arabic-language newspapers received separate statements on Sunday claiming Osama bin Laden’s al-Qaida network was responsible for the synagogue attacks.
http://www.news.scotsman.com/latest.cfm?id=2187912