Iran detains journalists outside Tehran

[maddezmom]

TEHRAN, Iran - Iran's Intelligence Ministry detained several journalists outside of the capital city for allegedly receiving money from abroad, the official Islamic Republic News Agency reported Sunday.

The ministry said in a statement that the journalists, who were arrested in an unspecified province, allegedly confessed that they had received money from abroad to publish materials deemed against national security interests, according to IRNA.

The news agency did not say how many journalists were arrested or exactly where the arrests occurred but referred to the journalists as "separatists."

The state-run agency also accused the U.S. as being behind plots to "sow discord among various ethnic groups" in Iran.

more:http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070304/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iran_journalists_arrested

[Eugene]

1. It looks more and more like a general crackdown.

Also today:

(BBC News)

Last Updated: Sunday, 4 March 2007, 14:18 GMT

Iran women arrested over protest

Iran's authorities have arrested more than 32 women activists protesting
outside a courthouse in Tehran.

The protesters were showing solidarity with five women on trial for organising
a protest last June against laws they say discriminate against women.

The five have been charged with endangering national security, propaganda
against the state and taking part in an illegal gathering.

-snip-

'Intimidation'

The BBC's Frances Harrison, reporting from the demonstration, says almost
all the leaders of Iran's women's movement were arrested.

-snip-

Full article: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/6416789.stm

Last week: Student rebels in Iran expelled and earmarked for army - The Guardian

[maddezmom]

4. Iran releases all but 3 detained women

Iran releases all but 3 detained women By NASSER KARIMI, Associated Press Writer
4 minutes ago



TEHRAN, Iran - Iran has released all but three of 31 women detained during a peaceful protest in Tehran earlier this week, a lawyer said Thursday.

Those released were ordered not to attend a rally outside the Iranian parliament later Thursday to mark International Women's Day, said Mohammad Ali Dadkhah, a lawyer for two of the released women.

Most were freed on bails ranging from $11,000 to $55,000.

One woman still in custody, Jila Baniyaghoob, is a reporter, the lawyer said. "Her job requires her to attend gatherings."

more:http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070308/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iran_activists_released

[Kagemusha]

2. We can thank Bush for making such Iranian allegations plausible.

The US paying journalists to write stories contrary to Iran's national security interests? Chicken feed, so it's quite believable, even if these specific charges against these specific journalists might well be complete garbage.

[ohio2007]

3. Iran's paranoia leadership is a loose cannon in the Sunni neighborhood

At least the little fiefdoms "that have" could find themselves paying tribute to the 'have nots'.

Iran poised to strike in wealthy Gulf states


<snip>
Politically disfranchised Shia communities exist throughout the region. Teheran has backed their claims for more power ever since the Iranian Islamic revolution in 1979, but could now also mobilise them as a way of deterring the Gulf's Sunni rulers from supporting American efforts to stop Iran's nuclear programme. Although most of the Gulf states oppose US intervention against Iran, privately they fear that a nuclear-armed Teheran would dominate the Middle East.

Allegations of Iranian agents operating in the Gulf have surfaced before, but it is rare for them to be spelt out in detail by a former regime official. Mr Assadinia named a hospital in Dubai - which The Sunday Telegraph has not identified for legal reasons - as one place where many doctors and nurses also worked for Iranian intelligence.

<snip>
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/03/04/wiran04.xml

Arab rulers do not want to see a nuclear powered Persia.