Iranian Alert -- August 26, 2004 [EST]-- IRAN LIVE THREAD -- "Americans for Regime Change in Iran"

Last Update: 26/08/2004 11:09

Iran calls for pressure on Israel to sign nuclear treaty

By The Associated Press



MANILA - Israel's alleged arsenal of nuclear weapons is causing instability in the Middle East, and Israel should be pressured into joining the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, Iran's foreign minister said Thursday.
Israel has never confirmed nor denied having atomic weapons, but it is widely believed to be a nuclear power. Meanwhile, Israel and the United States strongly suspect Iran - which has signed the non-proliferation accord - is secretly building nuclear weapons. Iranian Foreign Minister Kamal Kharrazi said his country advocates a nuclear arms-free Middle East, but "the problem is that Israel has full capability in nuclear weapons [and has] a large arsenal of nuclear weapons as well as other weapons of mass destruction." "Every country in the Middle East is feeling insecure because of the capabilities of Israel," Kharrazi told reporters during a visit to Manila. "I believe the international community has to put pressure on Israel to become a member of NPT and... eliminate its existing nuclear weapons." Kharrazi also disputed an Iranian government-owned newspaper report that quoted Defense Minister Ali Shamkhani as saying Iran was producing nuclear defense equipment to protect its citizens in case of any possible attack on its nuclear facilities. Kharrazi said Iran has "never" said it's producing nuclear defense equipment. He repeated earlier statements that its nuclear technology is "only for peaceful purposes" such as energy, medical and agricultural use. Kharrazi also said Iran's nuclear program is under close watch by the International Atomic Energy Agency, whose inspectors "frequently visit Iranian sites" and have found "no evidence" it is diverting nuclear material for weapons production. "Basically, we do not believe nuclear weapons are bringing us security," he said. "That's why we believe that the whole Middle East should be free from nuclear weapons."

Iran executes child for "acts incompatible with chastity"

Amnesty International has issued a sharp rebuke to Iran for what it says was the judicial execution of a 16-year-old girl for "acts incompatible with chastity."

As a party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, Iran is bound not to execute child offenders. Both treaties provide that capital punishment shall not be imposed for offences committed by persons under 18 year of age at the time of committing the offence.

But Ateqeh Rajabi was the tenth child executed by the Islamic state since 1990, according to AI.

More, the human rights watchdog says, it appears the girl never had access to legal representation at any time following her arrest.

AI says the execution was carried out despite reports that Ateqeh Rajabi was not believed to be mentally competent, either at the time of the alleged "crime" or during her trial proceedings.

The organisation has called for Iran to pass legislation removing provision for the execution of child offenders, thereby preventing further execution of child offenders, and bringing Iran into line with its obligations under international law.

Further, the organization is urging authorities to clarify whether Ateqel Rajabi had legal representation and whether a legally approved doctor deemed her psychologically fit to stand trial.

"During her trial, at which she was reportedly not represented by a lawyer, the judge allegedly severely criticised her dress, harshly reprimanding her," AI reports.

The sentencing judge also served as executioner, AI reports.

She was sentenced to death approximately three months ago, by a lower court in Neka in the northern Iranian province of Mazandaran.

The case reportedly attracted the attention of the Head of the Judiciary for the Mazandaran province, who ensured that the case was heard by the Supreme Court. In Iran, all death sentences have to be upheld by the Supreme Court before they can be implemented, AI reports.

The death sentence was upheld by the Supreme Court, and Ateqeh Rajabi was publicly hanged in the city centre of Neka on 15 August.

Her co-defendant in the transgression, an unnamed man, was reportedly sentenced to 100 lashes. He was released after this sentence was carried out.

Although the girl's national identification card stated that she was 16 years old, the Mazandaran Judiciary announced at her execution that her age was 22.

27-Aug-2004

Tens injured and arrested in Guonaveh clashes

SMCCDI (Information Service)
Aug 25, 2004

Violent clashes lead to several injured and arrested in Guonaveh as the angry residents retaliated to the brutal attack of the regime's militiamen against their peaceful protest gathering.

The offices of the governor and several public buildings were burnt and the custom's depots were looted. Several militiamen were injured and their patrol cars heavily damaged by incendiary devices.

The situation of the city is very tense and the regime, in an effort to calm the situation, has qualified its initial decision to transfer a hospital from the city as a "rumor spread by the enemies of the State".

More and more Iranians are resorting to violence in reaction to the repressive Islamic regime despite knowing the heavy price to pay if caught opposing the unpopular theocracy.

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