مهدي خلجي
Summary of Today's BroadcastRFE/RL Persian ServiceThursday, November 07, 2002 - Aghajari gets death sentence - Election law reform and expansion of presidential powers bills - Abdi gets one-want detension - Introducing AIDS education in the schools - Oil Minister Warns of Oil Industry Mafia Hamedan Court Sentences Aghajari to Flogging, Jail and Death * A Hamedan court sentenced professor Hasehem Aghajari, board member of the leftist Mojahedin of the Islamic Revolution Organziation (MIRO), to 10 years ban from teaching, two years jail in Zabol, five years jail in Gonabad, 74 lashes and execution, according to his lawyer, who said Aghajari's family have been shown the verdict. Aghajari was arrested last June after he questioned the clerical rule and the Shiite principle of emulating a religious leader. (Fereydoun Zarnegar) Majles Approves Outlines of Election Reform Bill * The Majles approved the outlines of President Khatami's bill to reform election law by reducing the oversight power of the Guardians Council in vetting applicants for candidacy in parliamentary elections. But Gholamhossein Elham, Guardians Council head of research said the bill, and President Khatami's other bill to expand presidential powers would not be approved. Vice president for legislative affairs Mohammad-Ali Abtahi criticized Elham for second guessing the Guardians Council. Reformist MP Kouzehgar said the presidential powers bill, which should be either withdrawn or shelved, overshadows the election reform bill. Some reformists have asked the government to resign if the Guardians Council rejects the bills. (Mehdi Khalaji) Press Court Detains Abbas Abdi * The press court issued a one-month detention warrant for Abbas Abdi, nearly a week after he was arrested for his link to the public opinion polling agency Ayandeh. Abdi, a former US Embassy hostage-taker and a board member of the pro-reform party Jebheh-ye Mosharekat (Participation Front), is accused of receiving 450 million rials ($52,000) from the Gallup Organization to conduct the opinion poll that showed 74 percent of respondents favor relations with the US. Press court judge Said Mortazavi said Gallup is a unit of the US Department of State. The daily Keyhan wrote that Gallup is a part of the CIA. (Siavash Ardalan) * Columbia University professor Gary Sick, noting the ironic coincidence of Abdi's arrest and the anniversary of the US Embassy hostage taking, tells RFE/RL that Abdi is clearly linked to extremist elements of the reformist factions and he wonders why he was not arrested earlier. (Homayoun Majd, Washington) Amnesty International, Reporters sans Frontiers Call for Freeing Prisoners * While welcoming the pardon of former interior minister Abdollah Nuri, Amnesty International called for freedom of all political prisoners in Iran. (Golnaz Esfandiari) * Paris-based Reporters sans Frontiers protested against the arrest of Abbas Abdi and called for the freedom of all jailed journalists in Iran. (Jean Khakzad, Paris) Caspian Sea Legal Regime * The Majles national security and foreign relations committee met with Iran's Caspian affairs representatives and independent experts to discuss Iran's position on the Caspian Sea legal regime. Tehran MP Elaheh Kulai said equal, joint ownership of the Caspian Sea would benefit all littoral countries. Caspian Sea expert Piruz Mojtahedzadeh, who took part in the Maljes committee's meeting, tells RFE/RL that Iran seeks equal, joint ownership, but short of that Iran would consider a five-way division of the Caspian. He adds that due to the shape of the Caspian Sea, it cannot be divided equally along the shorelines. (Jamshid Zand) Syria's Concern about Iran-US Cooperation against Iraq * Al-Hayat writes that Syria is worried that Iran might cooperate with the US against Iraq, as it did in the case of Afghanistan. (Jamshid Chalangi, Cairo) Plan to Add AIDS Education in Schools Curricula * Dr. Riaz Qeyratmand, ministry of education's director of health education, said AIDS education would be added to schools' curricula as a preventive measure. Iran reports to have 4,237 AIDS patients. 527 reportedly have died of AIDS in Iran. (Golnaz Esfandiari) Unfinished Development Projects * Mohammad Satari-far, head of planning and management organization said the government has borrowed $2 billion from the central bank to spend on thousands of unfinished development projects that started during Hashemi-Rafsanjani's presidency. Tehran economic commentator Fariburz Raisdana says those projects should be abandoned as un-economical. (Fereydoun Zarnegar) Privatization and Layoffs * The head of Islamic labor councils said more than 75,000 workers have been laid off this year, most of them by privatized factories. Professor Reza Ghaffari tells RFE/RL that the layoffs are a result of the Rafsanjani administration's deal with the International Monitory Fund. He adds that the only active private investors in Iran are people close to the ruling elite. (Bahman Bastani) Oil Minister Warns of Oil Industry Mafia * Oil minister Bijan Namdar-Zangeneh said he is gathering evidence in order to expose the activities of Mafia-type organizations within Iran's oil industry. A few months ago, secretary of the Guardians Council Ayatollah Ahmad Jannati warned against the Mafia-style operations within the oil ministry, but was sued for libel. The oil ministry withdrew the lawsuit after he apologized. Also, the judiciary's investigation on the semi-private Petropars oil contracting company headed by deputy Majles speaker Behzad Nabavi was silenced a few months ago without any result. (Mehdi Khalaji) Agricultural Self-Sufficiency * Minister of the agricultural crusade Mahmud Hojati said he plans to make Iran self sufficient in wheat production. But the policy of agricultural self-sufficiency, adopted after the 1979 revolution, was gradually abandoned after government officials such as former agriculture minister Isa Kalantari questioned its wisdom. Self sufficient in wheat production has no economic benefit for Iran. Economic advisors of the French embassy in Tehran said Iran would benefit more from cultivating fruits and vegetables. However, lack of proper packaging hurts Iran's exports. (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) ARTS AND IDEAS Daily Science Report * A team of Wisconsin University scientists under Dr. Hector Venuka produced a more potent form of Vitamin D that helps fight osteoporosis. (Fatemeh Aman, Washington) Daily medical advice (Dr. Mansur Moslehi, Los Angeles) Daily Internet Report * Hossein Derakhshan, who started a new censorship-free medium last year by publishing a manual on writing web logs in Persian on the Internet, tells RFE/RL that some professional journalists, such as Masud Behnud and Sina Motalebi, have joined more than 8000 who publish web logs about their daily lives or social and cultural issues on the Internet. On the anniversary of the publication of his historic manual, a new Internet portal www.blognama.com went on line that allows users to save personal lists of their favorite web logs. (Behnam Nateghi, New York) Daily Book Review * RFE/RL's Tehran-based book critic Kamran Fani reviews "Principle Steps in Publishing" by Abdolhossain Azarang, published by the union of publishers and booksellers. Daily soccer news and commentary (Mehrdad Masudi, London) Song: Rumi by Shakila Shadi (Afshin Gorgin, Los Angeles) Los Angeles Report * Three Los Angeles based Iranians tell RFE/RL of their frequent trips to Iran. (Fahimeh Barati) WORLD * UN Security Council to vote on the new US draft of resolution against Iraq. (Homayoun Majd, Washington) * France says it would vote for the new US draft of UN Security Council resolution against Iraq. (Jean Khakzad, Paris) * German Chancellor congratulates Republicans victory in US Congress mid-term elections in a phone call to President Bush. (Shahram Mirian, Cologne) * US closes its embassy in Yemen for security reasons. (Farideh Rahbar, Cairo) * Netanyahu criticized Sharon's policy. (Jamshid Chalangi, Cairo) * Amira Haas, Haaretz newspaper's West Bank correspondent tells RFE/RL that Palestinians are more democratic than other Arab countries, but lack of independence may cause them to lose their belief in democracy. (Ahmad Ra'fat, Rome) Caspian Sea's Environment * Igor Kolikov, head of Russia's environment protection department said Caspian Sea littoral state should act to stop its environmental deterioration. (Mani Kasravi, Moscow)
با وجود تصويب كليات لايحه اصلاح انتخابات در مجلس شوراي اسلامي، غلامحسين الهام، رئيس مرکز پژوهش شوراى نگهبان، اظهار داشت با توجه به سوابق شوراي نگهبان لوايح اصلاح قانون انتخابات و لايحه تببين اختيارات رئيس جمهوري در شوراي نگهبان تاييد نخواهد شد. محمدعلي ابطحي معاون حقوقي و پارلماني رئيس جمهوري گفت: پيش از بررسي، داوري درباره لوايح در شان شوراي نگهبان نيست. مطبوعات تندروي محافظه كار دولت را به كودتا تهديد كردند. پاره اي از اصلاح طلبان همزماني طرح اين دولايحه را اشتباه بزرگ دولت مي دانند. كوزه گر، عضو فراكسيون جبهه دوم خرداد، گفت لايحه اصلاح قانون انتخابات، موضوع اصلي است ولي تحت الشعاع لايحه تببين اختيارات رئيس جمهوري قرار گرفته است، كه بهتر است پس گرفته شود يا مسكوت بماند. برخي از اصلاح طلبان توصيه كرده اند كه دولت در صورت عدم تصويب اين لايحه در شوراي نگبهان استعفا دهد. غلامحسين الهام گفت استعفا حق دولت ناتوان است.
Summary of Today's BroadcastRFE/RL Persian ServiceThursday, November 07, 2002 - Aghajari gets death sentence - Election law reform and expansion of presidential powers bills - Abdi gets one-want detension - Introducing AIDS education in the schools - Oil Minister Warns of Oil Industry Mafia Hamedan Court Sentences Aghajari to Flogging, Jail and Death * A Hamedan court sentenced professor Hasehem Aghajari, board member of the leftist Mojahedin of the Islamic Revolution Organziation (MIRO), to 10 years ban from teaching, two years jail in Zabol, five years jail in Gonabad, 74 lashes and execution, according to his lawyer, who said Aghajari's family have been shown the verdict. Aghajari was arrested last June after he questioned the clerical rule and the Shiite principle of emulating a religious leader. (Fereydoun Zarnegar) Majles Approves Outlines of Election Reform Bill * The Majles approved the outlines of President Khatami's bill to reform election law by reducing the oversight power of the Guardians Council in vetting applicants for candidacy in parliamentary elections. But Gholamhossein Elham, Guardians Council head of research said the bill, and President Khatami's other bill to expand presidential powers would not be approved. Vice president for legislative affairs Mohammad-Ali Abtahi criticized Elham for second guessing the Guardians Council. Reformist MP Kouzehgar said the presidential powers bill, which should be either withdrawn or shelved, overshadows the election reform bill. Some reformists have asked the government to resign if the Guardians Council rejects the bills. (Mehdi Khalaji) Press Court Detains Abbas Abdi * The press court issued a one-month detention warrant for Abbas Abdi, nearly a week after he was arrested for his link to the public opinion polling agency Ayandeh. Abdi, a former US Embassy hostage-taker and a board member of the pro-reform party Jebheh-ye Mosharekat (Participation Front), is accused of receiving 450 million rials ($52,000) from the Gallup Organization to conduct the opinion poll that showed 74 percent of respondents favor relations with the US. Press court judge Said Mortazavi said Gallup is a unit of the US Department of State. The daily Keyhan wrote that Gallup is a part of the CIA. (Siavash Ardalan) * Columbia University professor Gary Sick, noting the ironic coincidence of Abdi's arrest and the anniversary of the US Embassy hostage taking, tells RFE/RL that Abdi is clearly linked to extremist elements of the reformist factions and he wonders why he was not arrested earlier. (Homayoun Majd, Washington) Amnesty International, Reporters sans Frontiers Call for Freeing Prisoners * While welcoming the pardon of former interior minister Abdollah Nuri, Amnesty International called for freedom of all political prisoners in Iran. (Golnaz Esfandiari) * Paris-based Reporters sans Frontiers protested against the arrest of Abbas Abdi and called for the freedom of all jailed journalists in Iran. (Jean Khakzad, Paris) Caspian Sea Legal Regime * The Majles national security and foreign relations committee met with Iran's Caspian affairs representatives and independent experts to discuss Iran's position on the Caspian Sea legal regime. Tehran MP Elaheh Kulai said equal, joint ownership of the Caspian Sea would benefit all littoral countries. Caspian Sea expert Piruz Mojtahedzadeh, who took part in the Maljes committee's meeting, tells RFE/RL that Iran seeks equal, joint ownership, but short of that Iran would consider a five-way division of the Caspian. He adds that due to the shape of the Caspian Sea, it cannot be divided equally along the shorelines. (Jamshid Zand) Syria's Concern about Iran-US Cooperation against Iraq * Al-Hayat writes that Syria is worried that Iran might cooperate with the US against Iraq, as it did in the case of Afghanistan. (Jamshid Chalangi, Cairo) Plan to Add AIDS Education in Schools Curricula * Dr. Riaz Qeyratmand, ministry of education's director of health education, said AIDS education would be added to schools' curricula as a preventive measure. Iran reports to have 4,237 AIDS patients. 527 reportedly have died of AIDS in Iran. (Golnaz Esfandiari) Unfinished Development Projects * Mohammad Satari-far, head of planning and management organization said the government has borrowed $2 billion from the central bank to spend on thousands of unfinished development projects that started during Hashemi-Rafsanjani's presidency. Tehran economic commentator Fariburz Raisdana says those projects should be abandoned as un-economical. (Fereydoun Zarnegar) Privatization and Layoffs * The head of Islamic labor councils said more than 75,000 workers have been laid off this year, most of them by privatized factories. Professor Reza Ghaffari tells RFE/RL that the layoffs are a result of the Rafsanjani administration's deal with the International Monitory Fund. He adds that the only active private investors in Iran are people close to the ruling elite. (Bahman Bastani) Oil Minister Warns of Oil Industry Mafia * Oil minister Bijan Namdar-Zangeneh said he is gathering evidence in order to expose the activities of Mafia-type organizations within Iran's oil industry. A few months ago, secretary of the Guardians Council Ayatollah Ahmad Jannati warned against the Mafia-style operations within the oil ministry, but was sued for libel. The oil ministry withdrew the lawsuit after he apologized. Also, the judiciary's investigation on the semi-private Petropars oil contracting company headed by deputy Majles speaker Behzad Nabavi was silenced a few months ago without any result. (Mehdi Khalaji) Agricultural Self-Sufficiency * Minister of the agricultural crusade Mahmud Hojati said he plans to make Iran self sufficient in wheat production. But the policy of agricultural self-sufficiency, adopted after the 1979 revolution, was gradually abandoned after government officials such as former agriculture minister Isa Kalantari questioned its wisdom. Self sufficient in wheat production has no economic benefit for Iran. Economic advisors of the French embassy in Tehran said Iran would benefit more from cultivating fruits and vegetables. However, lack of proper packaging hurts Iran's exports. (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) ARTS AND IDEAS Daily Science Report * A team of Wisconsin University scientists under Dr. Hector Venuka produced a more potent form of Vitamin D that helps fight osteoporosis. (Fatemeh Aman, Washington) Daily medical advice (Dr. Mansur Moslehi, Los Angeles) Daily Internet Report * Hossein Derakhshan, who started a new censorship-free medium last year by publishing a manual on writing web logs in Persian on the Internet, tells RFE/RL that some professional journalists, such as Masud Behnud and Sina Motalebi, have joined more than 8000 who publish web logs about their daily lives or social and cultural issues on the Internet. On the anniversary of the publication of his historic manual, a new Internet portal www.blognama.com went on line that allows users to save personal lists of their favorite web logs. (Behnam Nateghi, New York) Daily Book Review * RFE/RL's Tehran-based book critic Kamran Fani reviews "Principle Steps in Publishing" by Abdolhossain Azarang, published by the union of publishers and booksellers. Daily soccer news and commentary (Mehrdad Masudi, London) Song: Rumi by Shakila Shadi (Afshin Gorgin, Los Angeles) Los Angeles Report * Three Los Angeles based Iranians tell RFE/RL of their frequent trips to Iran. (Fahimeh Barati) WORLD * UN Security Council to vote on the new US draft of resolution against Iraq. (Homayoun Majd, Washington) * France says it would vote for the new US draft of UN Security Council resolution against Iraq. (Jean Khakzad, Paris) * German Chancellor congratulates Republicans victory in US Congress mid-term elections in a phone call to President Bush. (Shahram Mirian, Cologne) * US closes its embassy in Yemen for security reasons. (Farideh Rahbar, Cairo) * Netanyahu criticized Sharon's policy. (Jamshid Chalangi, Cairo) * Amira Haas, Haaretz newspaper's West Bank correspondent tells RFE/RL that Palestinians are more democratic than other Arab countries, but lack of independence may cause them to lose their belief in democracy. (Ahmad Ra'fat, Rome) Caspian Sea's Environment * Igor Kolikov, head of Russia's environment protection department said Caspian Sea littoral state should act to stop its environmental deterioration. (Mani Kasravi, Moscow)
با وجود تصويب كليات لايحه اصلاح انتخابات در مجلس شوراي اسلامي، غلامحسين الهام، رئيس مرکز پژوهش شوراى نگهبان، اظهار داشت با توجه به سوابق شوراي نگهبان لوايح اصلاح قانون انتخابات و لايحه تببين اختيارات رئيس جمهوري در شوراي نگهبان تاييد نخواهد شد. محمدعلي ابطحي معاون حقوقي و پارلماني رئيس جمهوري گفت: پيش از بررسي، داوري درباره لوايح در شان شوراي نگهبان نيست. مطبوعات تندروي محافظه كار دولت را به كودتا تهديد كردند. پاره اي از اصلاح طلبان همزماني طرح اين دولايحه را اشتباه بزرگ دولت مي دانند. كوزه گر، عضو فراكسيون جبهه دوم خرداد، گفت لايحه اصلاح قانون انتخابات، موضوع اصلي است ولي تحت الشعاع لايحه تببين اختيارات رئيس جمهوري قرار گرفته است، كه بهتر است پس گرفته شود يا مسكوت بماند. برخي از اصلاح طلبان توصيه كرده اند كه دولت در صورت عدم تصويب اين لايحه در شوراي نگبهان استعفا دهد. غلامحسين الهام گفت استعفا حق دولت ناتوان است.
