Thursday, May 23, 2013

News and Features from the Middle East

Amnesty International says abusive governments can no longer use the issue of sovereignty to justify their actions.

Amnesty Report Notes Worldwide Abuses, As Well As Courage Of Activists

In a new report, the global rights group Amnesty International documents abuses in 159 countries and territories that it says were "inflicted by those in power on those who stand in the way of their vested interests."
More
Iranian President Mahmud Ahmadinejad delivers a speech to Iran

IAEA: Iran Expanding Nuclear-Enrichment Technology

A new report by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) says Iran has improved its capacity to rapidly refine uranium by installing hundreds more centrifuges.
More
A man reads a campaign pamphlet in central Tehran ahead of Iran

Vox Pop: Iranians React To Dismissal Of Presidential Hopefuls

RFE/RL's Radio Farda received a flood of comments via e-mail, Facebook, telephone calls, and SMS messages from its audience in Iran that overwhelmingly express disappointment and anger at the Guardians Council's final list of candidates for Iran's June 14 presidential election.
More
The daughter of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini is urging Iran

Khomeini's Daughter Calls On Supreme Leader To Reinstate Rafsanjani

The daughter of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the founder of Iran's Islamic republic, has emerged among those stunned and angered by the exclusion of former Iranian President Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani from next month's presidential race.
More
British Foreign Secretary William Hague

Britain Says Iran, Hizballah Increasing Support For Assad

British Foreign Secretary William Hague says Iran and the militant Shi'ite group Hizballah are giving Syrian President Bashar al-Assad increasing support.
More

Iran's Shortlisted Presidential Candidates

Iran's Interior Ministry has announced the official shortlist of candidates that will be vying to succeed President Mahmud Ahmadinejad in that country's June 14 election.
More
Iranian President Mahmud Ahmadinejad (left) with his top aide Esfandiar Rahim Mashaie (file photo)

U.S. Criticizes Iran Election List

Outgoing Iranian President Mahmud Ahmadinejad has vowed to reverse a decision to disqualify his top aide from the June 14 presidential election.
More
Rejected presidential candidates Esfandiar Rahim Mashaie (left) and Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani

Khamenei Strengthens Hand Ahead Of Poll

The decision by Iran’s powerful Guardians Council to bar former President Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani from running in next month's presidential election paves the way for the country’s establishment to bring a loyalist to power.
More
A combo photo shows Esfandiar Rahim Mashaie (left) and Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani

Reports: Rafsanjani, Ahmadinejad Ally Barred From Iran Election

Former Iranian President Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani and a close aide to outgoing President Mahmud Ahmadinejad have reportedly been barred from running in Iran's presidential election next month.
More
The chairman of the Guardians Council, Ayatollah Ahmad Jannati

Explainer: Iran's Process For Vetting Presidential Candidates

Millions of Iranians will flock to the polls on June 14 to vote for a successor to President Mahmud Ahmadinejad. RFE/RL looks at the vetting process that determines the final list of presidential candidates.
More

More from the Middle East


Iran:


Iraq: