Tuesday, February 14, 2012

Iran

NGO Concerned Over Violence Against Iranian Workers

Washington, 13 May 2005 (RFE/RL) -- The International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU) has written to Iranian President Mohammad Khatami to express concern over recent violations of workers' rights, Radio Farda reported on 12 May, citing the ICFTU's website.

TEXT SIZE - +

May 13, 2005

The ICFTU expressed concern in its letter over the arrest and disappearance of a state car factory worker, Parviz Salarvand, his "allegedly brutal" interrogation in a factory basement, and the fact that he "has not been heard of for 25 days."

The ICFTU has also asked Khatami to order an inquiry into an attack in Tehran on 9 May on a meeting of a bus company union activists. The attack was carried out by 300 members of the state-affiliated trade union, the House of Labor, and others from the Vahed bus firm, ICFTU said. They reportedly smashed the meeting place as state security agents watched and filmed their attack, while one assailant tried to cut the tongue and neck of Mansur Ossanlu, one of the founding members of the bus company union.

Iran has stepped up its pressure on activists using the Internet

Iranian Activists, Journalists Receive Threatening E-mails

A number of Iranian activists and journalists based inside and outside the country have told RFE/RL’s Radio Farda they have been threatened in anonymous e-mails. More

A vendor in the central Bosnian town of Zenica sells heart-shaped cushions with proclamations of love for 1 euro each.

Love It (Or Hate It), It's Valentine's Day

Valentine's Day, the Western holiday celebrating love, has become a global phenomenon over the past two decades. The fall of communism and the emergence of the Internet have helped February 14 become something of an unofficial international day of romance. However, not all the passions the holiday stirs are related to love. While some countries have openly embraced the holiday, others are attempting to ban it or replace it with local customs. More

Many Iranians have been claiming that their access to social networks and Internet-based e-mail sites has been blocked in recent days.

Iran Tightens Internet Control

Iranians are reporting that their access to Facebook and Internet-based e-mail sites like Gmail has been blocked, without any explanation from the government. Not even the strongest antifiltering programs have penetrated the firewall, they say. Some speculate the move is related to Iran's plan to launch a national internet, which might sever Iranians' ability to access the World Wide Web. More