Monday, February 13, 2012

Iran

Prominent Iranian Cleric Released From Jail

Hadi Ghabel (file photo) (ISNA)

October 29, 2007 (RFE/RL) -- Prominent reformist cleric Hadi Ghabel was released from jail today, after being imprisoned for more than a month on security-related charges.

TEXT SIZE - +

October 29, 2007

Ghabel's brother, Ahmad Ghabel, told Radio Farda today that Hadi Ghabel was released on bail of 500 million rials (about $54,000). Ahmad Gabel has also been imprisoned by Iranian officials in the past.

Hadi Ghabel -- an outspoken member of the country's main reformist party, Mosharekat (the Islamic Iran Participation Front) -- was detained in Qom in September. He was reportedly held in solitary confinement.

Ghabel has previously been jailed for criticizing Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

Ghabel's son has said that several sessions of his father's trial took place behind closed doors, and that he was not given access to a lawyer.

Ghabel's brother told Radio Farda that Hadi Ghabel is expecting the Special Court for the Clergy to issue a ruling on his case. "The sessions of his trial were against the law and without a jury; the first three sessions even took place without a lawyer," Ahmad Ghabel said. "Anyway, the trial took place as [officials] are used to doing it. He is expecting the court verdict at any time."

Some observers have said that his arrest is an attempt by the Iranian establishment to silence critics ahead of the parliamentary elections scheduled to be held in March.

RFE/RL Iran Report

SUBSCRIBE For regular news and analysis on Iran by e-mail, subscribe to "RFE/RL Iran Report."

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