NEWS))))))


Iranian prisoners to protest conditions through hunger strike
CNN iReport, April 16, 2010: A group of recent Iranian detainees have announced that they will go on a “hunger strike” until their “legal” demands for just and rightful treatment are met by the authorities. According to a statement published on Jaras website, the prisoners are planning to start their “hunger strike” on April 21 and if their demands are not met, it will continue until the anniversary of the disputed presidential elections in June. The prisoners are demanding 'annulment and reduction of sentences handed to political prisoners, immediate release of all detainees on bail until their trial date and complete adherence to the article 168 of the constitution” which states that all political and media charges will be dealt with in a public trial in the presence of a jury.
The prisoners also demand a review of the “illegal and unjust interrogation, trial and sentencing procedures in all levels and an improvement of the prisoners’ diet, hygiene, well-being and leisure conditions.” Addressing the “Iranian nation”, the statement carries on to say: “Thousands of your children who supported reformist candidates in the presidential elections have been continuously arrested since the day after June 12 over baseless charges and been transferred from their homes or workplaces to some known and some unknown detention centres and prisons.” The statement goes on to maintain that after long term imprisonment under “special conditions” and being interrogated “under fierce physical and mental pressure”, the detainees have been sentenced to long term and unjust imprisonment terms in “show trials.” They contend that many of them have been languishing in prison for close to a year without any trial in complete judicial limbo. They maintain that these prisoners are “deprived of all their legal, Islamic and Human rights” behind bars.

Iraqi forces attack Ashraf residents in support of Iranian regime
Secretariat of the National Council of Resistance of Iran said in a statement on April 16 that on Thursday evening, at about 23:30 local time, in a failed attempt, Iraqi forces attacked Ashraf residents and tried to overtake some of installations inside the camp. The assault took place in support of the agents of the Iranian regime’s Ministry of Intelligence and Security (MOIS) and the terrorist Quds Force stationed at the entrance of Ashraf for the past 66 days. NCRI added: The agents, with full support of the Iraqi army battalion and the clerical regime’s embassy in Baghdad, using high powered amplifiers and loudspeakers they have been threatening to “set fire” and “close down” Ashraf and “kill” PMOI members residing in the camp and to “pull their tongues out of their throats.” The agents have been disrupting peace for the camp residents. At about mid-night Thursday evening, an Iraqi colonel and a captain by the names of Ali and Jawad entered the camp and said that the loudspeakers by the Ashraf residents should be turned off under the orders of the Iraqi government to allow the voice of the loudspeakers of the regime agents be heard. In an attempt to neutralize the disturbing screaming of agents, Ashraf residents were playing music at some of their buildings.
The Iraqi colonel threatened that if the residents’ loudspeakers were not turned off in 10 minutes, the Iraqi forces, under the orders of the government, would enter the camp and take over the buildings at the entrance of the camp by force. But the residents said that their music would be turned off provided that the agents turned off their loudspeakers that had been disturbing and depriving them from getting rest and sleep. When the Iraqi forces faced with Ashraf residents’ defiance who refused to give in to their intimidation and threats to shoot and kill, they started attacking the residents with electric batons and iron bars. Five Ashraf residents were wounded in the attack.
The Iraqi forces also attacked a woman resident of Ashraf in a bid to take her hostage, but failed when faced with her resistance and protests by other residents.