گلناز اسفندياري
Summary of Today's BroadcastRFE/RL Persian ServiceSunday, November 03, 2002 - A son of bin Laden arrested in Iran - FT: Power Struggle Nears Climax - Contaminated meat investigation - Lawyers form human rights defense organization - New bad check law Iran Arrests Bin Laden's Son * The Iranian security forces arrested at least one of Osama bin Laden's sons along with several hundred people suspected of having links to the al-Qaeda terrorist network, reported the Financial Times, quoting an unnamed Iranian officials, who said the unnamed bin Laden was handed over to Saudi Arabia. (Golnaz Esfandiari) Power Struggle Nears Climax * While Defense minister rear admiral Ali Shamkhani warns that Iran should be ready for a possible US attack, the ruling clerics recognize that the main danger comes from the ranks of their own people, increasingly disaffected with economic hardship, social restrictions and corruption at all levels, writes Guy Dinmore of the Financial Times. Revolutionary Guards and Basij militia are being prepared to deal with the civil strife that is expected to erupt if the conservative establishment rejects two key pieces of legislation that would extend presidential powers. (Shahran Tabari, London) Italy's Speaker of Parliament Returns Home from Iran * Italian Parliament Speaker Pierferdinando Casini retuned home from his trip to Iran one day early to attend meetings over two volcano eruptions and an earthquake. During his visit to Tehran he said if Iran does not respect human rights, there would no grounds for continuing EU-Iran trade talks. (Ahmad Ra'fat, Rome) Court Summons Six for Distribution of Contaminated Meat * A court in Tehran summoned six - three buyers and three importers - in its on-going investigation behind closed doors about the distribution of at least one hundred tons of contaminated meat in Iran. Meanwhile, authorities in Mahshad discovered hundreds of kilograms of donkey meat packaged for sale through butcheries and department stores. Tehran journalist Nasser Shahla tells RFE/RL that people ask why the judiciary is investigating the contaminated meat case behind closed doors. (Baktash Khamsehpour) Iran Ranks First the World in Per Capita Death from Traffic Accidents * The government statistics show that on an average day, 53 people die in Iran in traffic accidents. In fact, Iran ranks first in the world in per capital deaths from road accidents. Tehran-based transportation journalist Masud Mohajer tells RFE/RL that human error is the cause of more than 75 percent of fatal accidents. (Baktash Khamsehpour) Majles to Cancel Criminal Aspect of Post Dated Checks * A bill approved in the Majles judicial and legal committee would eliminate criminal punishment for issuing bad checks. Tehran lawyer Said Mohebi tells RFE/RL that Iranian law bans issuing post dated checks, but post dated checks and signed blank checks are being used as a means to obtain credit. He adds that if the new bill becomes law, thousands who are in jail for bouncing checks would be released. (Mahmonir Rahmi) Lawyers Form Human Rights Defense Organization * A group of Tehran lawyers convicted to jail terms and suspension of their law licenses formed a new non-governmental organization for defense of human rights. Tehran lawyer Mohammad-Ali Dadkhah tells RFE/RL that unlike the Islamic human rights commission, which is a unit of the judiciary, the new outfit will operate independently of the government. (Amir-Mosaddegh Katouzian) Cologne Demonstrations in Support of Political Prisoners in Iran * Several participants of today's demonstrations in Cologne in support of political prisoners in Iran tell RFE/RL that they are concerned about rising prison population and the increasing number of public hanging of convicted people. (Shahram Mirian, Cologne) MPs Seek End to Stoning * As EU criticizes the increasing number of death by stoning sentences in Iran, a group of reformist Majles MPs calls for abolition of stoning and replacing it with other forms of punishment. (Golnaz Esfandiari) France to Cooperate with Iran and Ukraine on Antonov Planes * In a three-way agreement signed today at Kish Island's international aviation trade fair, France agreed to cooperate with Ukraine and Iran to modernize the Russian-designed Antonov-140 passenger jets, which Iran and Ukraine plan to produce under the new name Iran-140. (Mani Kasravi) Symposium on Persian Literature * At Leiden University's symposium on Persian literature Asghar Seyed Ghara and Amir-Hossein Afrasiabi describe for RFE/RL their papers on the impact of classic literature on today's Iran. (Shahram Mirian, Cologne) Export Problems of Iranian Saffron * Iran earns little from its Saffron exports, even though it supplies 60 percent of all saffron used in the world. Spanish and Dubai traders buy Iranian saffron in bulk and sell it at 10 times markup in deluxe packaging. (Fereydoun Khavand, Paris) RFE/RL Roundtable: Political Parties * In an open letter criticizing President Khatami's bill to reform the election law, Ebrahim Yazdi, secretary general of the nationalist opposition party Freedom Movement of Iran (FMI) proposed a role for political parties in vetting candidates for election to the Majles. He wrote that political parties institutionalize democracy and guarantee political stability. Former Tehran mayor Golam-Abbas Tavasoli, an FMI member, Tehran journalist and editor of Mardomsalari (Democracy), a reformist daily, and Berlin-based commentator Ahmad Tahmasbi comment on Yazdi's letter. (Amir-Mosaddegh Katouzian) Sholehsadi on the Third Force * Tehran University professor and former two term Majles MP Qasem Sholehsadi, who talked of the formation of a third force in Iran's politics during a speech in foreign press center in Paris, tells RFE/RL that the third force is a concept he put forward after the left and right factions of the regime - which now call themselves reformists and conservatives - proved ineffective during the third and fourth terms of the Majles. (Jean Khakzad, Paris) ARTS AND IDEAS Daily Internet Report * Through its website, the Iranian Civil Society Organization Resource Center offers support for non-governmental political and social activism in Iran. (Behnam Nateghi, New York) Daily medical advice Daily Book Review * RFE/RL's Tehran-based book critic reviews "The Story's Labyrinth: Elements of Short Story Writing" collected and translated into Persian by Nasrin Mohajerani. Daily Science Report * Dr. Blinda Chang of New York's Rockefeller University tells RFE/RL about her research on dinosaurs' genes. (Fatemeh Aman, Washington) Gay Games in Australia * More than 11,500 gay athletes compete in 31 fields at 45 arenas. (Jamshid Adili, Sydney) Song: Zendegi (Life) * RFE/RL's Frankfurt-based music critic Mahmud Khoshnam plays Zendegi (Life), by Jahanbakhsh Pazuki, performed by the 1960s popular singer Pouran. WORLD * Turkish voters go to polls to elect a new parliament. (Golnaz Esfandiari) * US and Kuwait hold military maneuvers. (Farideh Rahbar, Cairo) * Israel's joint chief of staff Saul Mofaz agrees to join Sharon's government as defense minister. (Jamshid Chalangi) * Pakistan parliament to convene with seats equally divided between the pro-government and opposition parties. (Fariba Mavedat, London) * Italy mourns the earthquake victims. (Ahmad Ra'fat, Rome) * Princess Di's butler is acquitted after Queen Elizabeth testifies on his behalf. (Shahran Tabari) * US and Israel charge an Egyptian TV series with misrepresenting Jewish history. (Farideh Rahbar)
ماموران انتظامي جمهوري اسلامي يكي از پسران اسامه بن لادن، رهبر شبكه تروريستي القاعده را در ايران بازداشت كردند. اين خبر كه براي نخستين بار در پايگاه اينترنتي روزنامه فايننشال تايمز لندن منتشر شد، هنوز از سوي جمهوري اسلامي تائيد نشده است. عبدالله رمضان زاده، سخنگوي دولت جمهوري اسلامي امروز (يكشنبه) گفت از صحت اين خبر بي اطلاع است اما درستي آن را غيرمحتمل مي داند. مقاله فايننشال تايمز حاكي است كه پسر بن لادن همراه با چند صد تن از مظنونين به عضويت در القاعده هنگام فرار از خاك افغانستان به ايران دستگير شد.
Summary of Today's BroadcastRFE/RL Persian ServiceSunday, November 03, 2002 - A son of bin Laden arrested in Iran - FT: Power Struggle Nears Climax - Contaminated meat investigation - Lawyers form human rights defense organization - New bad check law Iran Arrests Bin Laden's Son * The Iranian security forces arrested at least one of Osama bin Laden's sons along with several hundred people suspected of having links to the al-Qaeda terrorist network, reported the Financial Times, quoting an unnamed Iranian officials, who said the unnamed bin Laden was handed over to Saudi Arabia. (Golnaz Esfandiari) Power Struggle Nears Climax * While Defense minister rear admiral Ali Shamkhani warns that Iran should be ready for a possible US attack, the ruling clerics recognize that the main danger comes from the ranks of their own people, increasingly disaffected with economic hardship, social restrictions and corruption at all levels, writes Guy Dinmore of the Financial Times. Revolutionary Guards and Basij militia are being prepared to deal with the civil strife that is expected to erupt if the conservative establishment rejects two key pieces of legislation that would extend presidential powers. (Shahran Tabari, London) Italy's Speaker of Parliament Returns Home from Iran * Italian Parliament Speaker Pierferdinando Casini retuned home from his trip to Iran one day early to attend meetings over two volcano eruptions and an earthquake. During his visit to Tehran he said if Iran does not respect human rights, there would no grounds for continuing EU-Iran trade talks. (Ahmad Ra'fat, Rome) Court Summons Six for Distribution of Contaminated Meat * A court in Tehran summoned six - three buyers and three importers - in its on-going investigation behind closed doors about the distribution of at least one hundred tons of contaminated meat in Iran. Meanwhile, authorities in Mahshad discovered hundreds of kilograms of donkey meat packaged for sale through butcheries and department stores. Tehran journalist Nasser Shahla tells RFE/RL that people ask why the judiciary is investigating the contaminated meat case behind closed doors. (Baktash Khamsehpour) Iran Ranks First the World in Per Capita Death from Traffic Accidents * The government statistics show that on an average day, 53 people die in Iran in traffic accidents. In fact, Iran ranks first in the world in per capital deaths from road accidents. Tehran-based transportation journalist Masud Mohajer tells RFE/RL that human error is the cause of more than 75 percent of fatal accidents. (Baktash Khamsehpour) Majles to Cancel Criminal Aspect of Post Dated Checks * A bill approved in the Majles judicial and legal committee would eliminate criminal punishment for issuing bad checks. Tehran lawyer Said Mohebi tells RFE/RL that Iranian law bans issuing post dated checks, but post dated checks and signed blank checks are being used as a means to obtain credit. He adds that if the new bill becomes law, thousands who are in jail for bouncing checks would be released. (Mahmonir Rahmi) Lawyers Form Human Rights Defense Organization * A group of Tehran lawyers convicted to jail terms and suspension of their law licenses formed a new non-governmental organization for defense of human rights. Tehran lawyer Mohammad-Ali Dadkhah tells RFE/RL that unlike the Islamic human rights commission, which is a unit of the judiciary, the new outfit will operate independently of the government. (Amir-Mosaddegh Katouzian) Cologne Demonstrations in Support of Political Prisoners in Iran * Several participants of today's demonstrations in Cologne in support of political prisoners in Iran tell RFE/RL that they are concerned about rising prison population and the increasing number of public hanging of convicted people. (Shahram Mirian, Cologne) MPs Seek End to Stoning * As EU criticizes the increasing number of death by stoning sentences in Iran, a group of reformist Majles MPs calls for abolition of stoning and replacing it with other forms of punishment. (Golnaz Esfandiari) France to Cooperate with Iran and Ukraine on Antonov Planes * In a three-way agreement signed today at Kish Island's international aviation trade fair, France agreed to cooperate with Ukraine and Iran to modernize the Russian-designed Antonov-140 passenger jets, which Iran and Ukraine plan to produce under the new name Iran-140. (Mani Kasravi) Symposium on Persian Literature * At Leiden University's symposium on Persian literature Asghar Seyed Ghara and Amir-Hossein Afrasiabi describe for RFE/RL their papers on the impact of classic literature on today's Iran. (Shahram Mirian, Cologne) Export Problems of Iranian Saffron * Iran earns little from its Saffron exports, even though it supplies 60 percent of all saffron used in the world. Spanish and Dubai traders buy Iranian saffron in bulk and sell it at 10 times markup in deluxe packaging. (Fereydoun Khavand, Paris) RFE/RL Roundtable: Political Parties * In an open letter criticizing President Khatami's bill to reform the election law, Ebrahim Yazdi, secretary general of the nationalist opposition party Freedom Movement of Iran (FMI) proposed a role for political parties in vetting candidates for election to the Majles. He wrote that political parties institutionalize democracy and guarantee political stability. Former Tehran mayor Golam-Abbas Tavasoli, an FMI member, Tehran journalist and editor of Mardomsalari (Democracy), a reformist daily, and Berlin-based commentator Ahmad Tahmasbi comment on Yazdi's letter. (Amir-Mosaddegh Katouzian) Sholehsadi on the Third Force * Tehran University professor and former two term Majles MP Qasem Sholehsadi, who talked of the formation of a third force in Iran's politics during a speech in foreign press center in Paris, tells RFE/RL that the third force is a concept he put forward after the left and right factions of the regime - which now call themselves reformists and conservatives - proved ineffective during the third and fourth terms of the Majles. (Jean Khakzad, Paris) ARTS AND IDEAS Daily Internet Report * Through its website, the Iranian Civil Society Organization Resource Center offers support for non-governmental political and social activism in Iran. (Behnam Nateghi, New York) Daily medical advice Daily Book Review * RFE/RL's Tehran-based book critic reviews "The Story's Labyrinth: Elements of Short Story Writing" collected and translated into Persian by Nasrin Mohajerani. Daily Science Report * Dr. Blinda Chang of New York's Rockefeller University tells RFE/RL about her research on dinosaurs' genes. (Fatemeh Aman, Washington) Gay Games in Australia * More than 11,500 gay athletes compete in 31 fields at 45 arenas. (Jamshid Adili, Sydney) Song: Zendegi (Life) * RFE/RL's Frankfurt-based music critic Mahmud Khoshnam plays Zendegi (Life), by Jahanbakhsh Pazuki, performed by the 1960s popular singer Pouran. WORLD * Turkish voters go to polls to elect a new parliament. (Golnaz Esfandiari) * US and Kuwait hold military maneuvers. (Farideh Rahbar, Cairo) * Israel's joint chief of staff Saul Mofaz agrees to join Sharon's government as defense minister. (Jamshid Chalangi) * Pakistan parliament to convene with seats equally divided between the pro-government and opposition parties. (Fariba Mavedat, London) * Italy mourns the earthquake victims. (Ahmad Ra'fat, Rome) * Princess Di's butler is acquitted after Queen Elizabeth testifies on his behalf. (Shahran Tabari) * US and Israel charge an Egyptian TV series with misrepresenting Jewish history. (Farideh Rahbar)
ماموران انتظامي جمهوري اسلامي يكي از پسران اسامه بن لادن، رهبر شبكه تروريستي القاعده را در ايران بازداشت كردند. اين خبر كه براي نخستين بار در پايگاه اينترنتي روزنامه فايننشال تايمز لندن منتشر شد، هنوز از سوي جمهوري اسلامي تائيد نشده است. عبدالله رمضان زاده، سخنگوي دولت جمهوري اسلامي امروز (يكشنبه) گفت از صحت اين خبر بي اطلاع است اما درستي آن را غيرمحتمل مي داند. مقاله فايننشال تايمز حاكي است كه پسر بن لادن همراه با چند صد تن از مظنونين به عضويت در القاعده هنگام فرار از خاك افغانستان به ايران دستگير شد.
