Tuesday, February 14, 2012

Iran

Three Iranian Shi'ite Pilgrims Freed In Iraq

(RFE/RL)

12 February 2006 -- Three Iranians who were among a group of Shi'ite pilgrims kidnapped north of Baghdad were freed late on 11 February.

TEXT SIZE - +

February 12, 2006

Salahuddin Governor Hamid Hammud Shightay said the three women were found after they were set free outside a remote village, Ain al-Faras.

He said the whereabouts of their seven male Iranian companions remains unknown.

The governor said the group was traveling in a minibus between Balad and Samarra to visit Shi'ite holy shrines when they were abducted by gunmen on 9 February.

He added that the attackers killed the bus driver and one of the Iranian pilgrims.

Thousands of Iranians traveled to Iraq to attend this week's religious festival of Ashura, which marks the martyrdom of Imam Hussein.

(Reuters, AP)

Iraq In Transition

THE COMPLETE STORY: RFE/RL's complete coverage of events in Iraq and that country's ongoing transition.

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

Web-savvy Iranian oppositionists are renowned for their ability to use proxies and other means to circumvent Tehran

Explainer: Iran's National Internet

Reports that Iran has stepped up its Internet censorship in recent days -- as evidenced by a general slowdown of the web, Internet blackouts, and the blocking of sites such as Google -- has raised speculation that the country might be testing its controversial "national Internet." More

A cardboard Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini arrives in Tehran to mark the 33rd anniversary of his triumphant return to Iran following the Islamic Revolution.

Iran's 'Cardboard Khomeini' Faces Criticism, Condemnation

Iran's "Cardboard Khomeini" is fueling a firestorm of criticism in the Middle Eastern country after cutouts of the Islamic republic's founder appeared at a number of events, and photos mocking the mock-up went viral. More