Thousands of Iran-backed fighters converge on Aleppo amid deadly Syria airstrikes 

Fox News- September 26, 2016 - As deadly airstrikes pounded Aleppo, Syria over the weekend, a major foreign ground force was also converging on the region. As many as 3,000 Iranian-backed fighters have arrived in Aleppo supporting the Syrian regime in its fight to crush the rebellion, two U.S. officials confirm to Fox News.

There are an estimated 250,000 Syrian civilians trapped in Aleppo facing an onslaught of Russian and Syrian bombs, according to reports. The Iranian-backed Shiite militias include fighters from neighboring Iraq as well as Afghanistan, officials say. Many of those fighters had already been in Syria but recently descended on Aleppo.

The Pentagon is not currently conducting any operations in Aleppo city, Capt. Jeff Davis toldreporters Monday. To date, U.S. policy has been to avoid getting entangled in Syria’s civil war, instead focusing on airstrikes against Islamic State targets largely in central and eastern Syria.

One year ago this week, Russia launched airstrikes in Syria in defense of President Bashar al-Assad. Russia took over a Syrian airport along the Mediterranean coast and deployed dozens of fighter jets and attack aircraft including helicopter gunships. President Obama said Russia and Iran's military actions in Syria in support of Assad would lead to a "quagmire."

Rescue workers said the weekend airstrikes were the worst Aleppo had seen in five years. More than 200 civilians have been killed in the past week, according to opposition activists.

Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem said in a TV interview broadcast Monday that an internationally-brokered cease-fire was still viable. Al-Moallem, in the interview on Mayadeen TV from New York, also said Assad's administration was prepared to take part in a unity government, incorporating elements from the opposition, an offer that has been rejected in the past by his opponents.

The United Nations Security Council convened an emergency meeting Sunday but failed to take any action because of deep divisions between Russia and the Western powers. "What Russia is sponsoring and doing is not counter-terrorism, it's barbarism," said U.S. Ambassador Samantha Power. "It's apocalyptic what is being done in eastern Aleppo."

Britain's ambassador to the U.N., Matthew Rycroft, accused Russia of partnering with Syria to carry out war crimes, Sky News reported.

Al-Moallem accused the U.S., Britain, and France of convening the Security Council meeting in order to support "terrorists" inside Syria. But he said ongoing communications between U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov meant a truce agreement brokered two weeks ago is "not dead."
Syria's military declared the cease-fire ended one week ago. The spokesman for Russian President Vladimir Putin said the cease-fire in Syria was ineffective, but that Moscow was not losing hope for a political solution to the country's crisis.
However, Dmitry Peskov told reporters Monday that the Kremlin is concerned that "terrorists are using the cease-fire regime to regroup, to replenish their arsenals and for obvious preparations to carry out attacks."
Peskov also took issue with harsh criticism by the United States and Great Britain over Russia's actions in Syria. He said Russia considers the tone of the criticism unacceptable and "such rhetoric is capable of causing serious harm to the resolution process" in Syria.
Al-Moallem's comments came as a second group of rebel gunmen and their families began evacuating from an opposition neighborhood in central Syria this month.
Some 120 gunmen and their families are expected to leave the al-Waer neighborhood in the central city of Homs as part of an agreement to restore the government's authority over the neighborhood, Homs Governor Talal Barazi said.
The developments further signal Assad's determination to settle the country's 5-1/2 year long war on his own terms, securing surrenders through sieges and staying in power at least through an interim period to steer the country out of crisis.
Pro-government forces have kept the al-Waer neighborhood under a steadily tightening siege since November 2013, prohibiting food and medical supplies from reaching the remaining 75,000 residents, down from 300,000 before the start of the war in 2011.
In exchange for the evacuations, the government is permitting aid convoys to supply the neighborhood with badly needed food and medical supplies. A Syrian Arab Red Crescent convoy of 36 trucks delivered assistance for 4,000 families in the district Saturday.
U.N. humanitarian officials have condemned the sieges against civilians as "medieval" and in contravention to international law.
In New York, al-Moallem reaffirmed his government's proposed roadmap to end Syria's war, saying Damascus would support a referendum on a new constitution followed by parliamentary elections and the formation of a unity government.
http://www.foxnews.com/world/2016/09/26/thousands-iran-backed-fighters-converge-on-aleppo-amid-deadly-syria-airstrikes.html

Christians in Iran to be Flogged for Celebrating Eucharist 

 INU - In an article by Katie Mansfield in The Express on September 24, she writes about three Christians who face flogging for drinking sacramental wine while celebrating Mass, in what appears to be a continued crack down on non-Islamic religions.

Shockingly, Tehran officials arrested Yasser Mossayebzadeh, Saheb Fadaie and Mohammad Reza Omidi, along with Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani and his wife, and charged them with “acting against national security” for taking part in a “Christian ritual”. The pastor and his wife have since been released, but the three converts remain behind bars. They are due to appear in court next week, and if found guilty, face punishment by flogging.  

Sacramental wine is used when receiving Holy Communion, along with small wafers, known as Sacramental Bread. As such, it is used by billions of Christians worldwide in celebration of the Eucharist. However, drinking alcohol in Iran is forbidden under the country's strict Sharia law. 

Elaheh Azimfar, of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), says that the Christians may be flogged at a police station if found guilty of any crime.  A three foot long whip is usually used to punish offenders, who are likely to be sentenced to anywhere from 10 lashes to 100 lashes across the back. 

Humanitarian Groups have spoken out against the use of the corporal punishment,  saying that the penalty amounts to torture.  Last year, Amnesty International said that courts in Iran "continued to impose, and the authorities continued to carry out, punishments that violate the prohibition of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading punishment.  These were sometimes carried out in public and included flogging, blinding and amputations.” 

Also punishable by flogging in Iran is adultery, kissing in public, homosexual acts, and blasphemy.  

Elaheh Azimfar, of the NCRI, condemned the punishment, saying, “Iran's regime continues to hand down brutal punishments such as flogging under the banner of Islam; whereas in reality this is a medieval punishment that has nothing to do with Islam.” Ms. Azimfar added, “Only a few months ago the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and the German Foreign Ministry condemned the regime for flogging a group of students that had attended a graduation party. However the regime's officials continue to carry out this brutal practice,” and she continued,  “This brutal punishment will have no place in the free Iran of tomorrow. These are not laws or justice; they are sheer brutalities.” 

The regime has recently clamped down on underground churches, and the arrests and potential conviction of Christians increases, but they are not alone. Since President Hassan Rouhani came to power in 2013 the number of people jailed for their religious beliefs has increased, such as the  500 people who were arrested, 480 of whom were tried and convicted within 24 hours, for publicly breaking their fast during Ramadan. The Deputy Prosecutor General in Shiraz announced that most received flogging sentences, administered by the Office for Implementation of Sentences. 

The advocacy charity, Open Doors, said, “While those considered ethnic Christians, such as Armenians or Assyrians, are allowed to practise their faith amongst themselves, ethnic Persians are defined as Muslim, and any Christian activity in Farsi is illegal.”  

“Underground churches are increasingly monitored, which makes some afraid to attend, and at least 108 Christians were arrested in the last year. Interrogation methods in prison can be harsh and sexually abusive.”

Iran: Justice for Victims of 1988 Massacre Committee formed 

The committee of Justice for victims of 1988 massacre announced its formation on Wednesday, September 21, 2016, in Geneva.

The committee, comprised of a number of human rights experts and renowned personalities, urged the UN Human Rights Council to investigate the extensive executions of political prisoners in Iran in summer 1988 in light of the recent documents revealed.
Rama Yade, former Human Rights Minister of France, and Ingrid Betancourt, former senator and presidential candidate from Columbia, are among the members of the London-based Committee. The Justice for Victims of 1988 Massacre Committee urged the UN to form an investigative committee in this regard.
Ms. Ingrid Betancourt told a press conference in Geneva, "Such a step is very important to defend human rights… Those who ordered these killings, are today among prominent officials of the Iranian regime. Considering that these criminals have very important responsibilities in Iran, this shows how problematic the present Iranian government is."
The Justice for Victims of 1988 Massacre Committee also held a meeting in Paris, in August and called for investigation into the massacre. In that meeting, Ms. Rama Yade talked about the significance of attending to the case of the 1988 massacre. She said, "This has been a concealed catastrophe. It has been concealed from us, from history, and therefore it is very important that today, we can pay tribute to the 30,000 men and women who were executed in Iranian prisons, the men and women who were buried in unmarked graves with disrespect."
Ms. Yade described the 1988 massacre as a "double disaster" because "there has been no judicial investigation in this regard. This disaster is actually a manifestation of tremendous injustices done: young men and women, sometimes very young, students, athletes, and various examples of Iranian society were victimized. In fact, a generation was victimized. This is also an injustice to the families, because without an officially identified tomb, the families of the deceased have to carry around the memory of their loved ones who were victims of such injustices from one place to the other."

Iran: Oppressive clothing regulations for female and male students 

According to “Daneshju” state news agency on September 18, one of the forms the admitted students at Beheshti University are obliged to fill out an follow, is the Student Disciplinary Pledge. Failure to comply with these criteria will be considered a disciplinary violation and dealt with according to the university’s disciplinary regulations.
Parts of students’ code of conduct
Compliance with the regulations concerning Islamic clothing, avoiding to gather or stand within the university campus, avoiding any attempt in order to join or cooperate with pagan groups or emerging religions (like Satanism,…) are parts of this code of conduct for female and male students in Beheshti University.
Clothing regulations of female students
Parts of the clothing regulations for female students in the University are as follows:
Clothing should be simple and away from outrageous fashions and different from the clothes worn in other places, like parties, ceremonies or recreational places.
Clothing colors should not be too loud so as to draw attention. Shoes should be simple. High heels (over 5 centimeters), long boots (knee-high boots) and shoes which are worn in parties and special ceremonies are not allowed.
Wearing socks in the university campus is necessary. Jewelry and ornaments worn in the campus should be of acceptable ones (like wedding rings, watches, …).
Wearing strong fragrances is not allowed. Length of nails should be appropriate , wearing nail polish, nail extensions and jewelry is not allowed.
Wearing hats instead of wimples is forbidden. Wearing tight, short or ripped pants and open-front, no-button mantles is forbidden.
Clothing regulations of male students
Parts of clothing regulations for male students in the University are as follows:
Using ties or bowties of any kind is forbidden. Wearing tight, thin or ripped pants is forbidden. Too short clothes like sleeveless shirts or A-Shirts are forbidden. Wearing ornaments like necklaces, chains, wrist bands or bracelets is forbidden.
Wearing hair colors or outrageous hairstyles (curling, braiding, picking eyebrows), and having long hair is forbidden.

No longer provide ransom to terrorists, specifically, the Iranian Regime 

London, 26 Sep - A member of  the United States House of Representatives has written an op-ed for Yellow Hammer, pleading for the US to no longer provide ransom to terrorists, specifically, the Iranian Regime.

Bradley Byrne, who represents Alabama’s 1st Congressional District, quoted a speech by Obama in June 2015 which reinforced the US’s commitment to not making concessions to terrorists. 

However, in January 2016, the US paid $400 million to Iran in order to have release American hostages. It was revealed that, in total, the US paid Iran $1.7 billion, dressed up as an arms sale. Iranian officials have, in fact, claimed that it was a hostage negotiation payment.
Byrne said: “By giving money to Iran, the United States is supporting the world’s leading state sponsor of terrorism. Iran has a clear track record of supporting terrorist groups like Hezbollah and Hamas. Iran is clearly no friend of the United States or our allies.”
He also raises a concern about providing the payment in cash- which is harder to track once out of American hands- given Iran’s support of terrorism and history of money laundering.
Byrne said: “Given all of these concerns, I am pleased to report that last week the House of Representatives passed a bill with bipartisan support that would prohibit any future ransom payments to Iran... [by providing Congress with] an opportunity to review any future payments.”
He said: “Ultimately, we need to stop empowering Iran and instead start weakening them. By putting our foot down, the American people and our allies in the Middle East will be safer and stronger.”

Iran: Three million two hundred thousand children being hindered from education 

NCRI - ISNA news agency has on Saturday September 24 quoted from “Shahindokht Molaverdi”, regime’s vice president, that three million two hundred thousand children are being hindered from education among which girls are the main group.
Regarding the hindered from education, she said: “According to the results of the Parliament’s Research Center, at the moment there are three million two hundred thousand children In Iran who are being hindered from education.”
According to a statistics published in 2015, many of the children hindered from education are from deprived provinces in the country while girls have the majority in the statistics. Last September at the beginning of the 2015 school year, about one million four hundred thirty thousand students didn’t go to school.
“Ali Asghar Fani” Minister of Education, had once said that nationwide, 51 percent of the students are boys and 49 percent of them are girls and that following the Islamic Revolution in 1979, the gap between boys and girls has decreased. But according to “Atlas of  the Status of Women in the Country”, the illiteracy situation among Iranian women and girls is worrying and it is critical in 40 cities.
Cities in Southern Iran are on top on the Girls Illiteracy Table. Sistan and Baluchestan is the first province in this regard, with 11 cities on the list, followed by Khuzestan with three cities. West Azerbaijan is third and East Azerbaijan is fourth on the table.
In Khuzestan province there are 90,000 hindered-from-education children, being dropped out of school before 18.
Among the reasons which hinder children from going to schools are such factors as family poverty (thereby not affording the educational costs), participation of children in the household income ( working children), cultural issues, seasonal immigrations and lack of birth certificate, all of which are more easily accepted when it comes to girls.

UN Welcomes Hassan Rouhani Amidst Protests Against Massacre of 30,000 

London, 23 Sep - On Thursday, the UN welcomed Iranian President Hassan Rouhani to speak before the General Assembly. In her September 23 article for the Toronto Sun, Candice Malcolm quotes former Prime Minister Stephen Harper, as she writes that, the UN is a platform where “democratic leaders sit side by side with despots and dictators.”

Iran’s President Rouhani presents himself to democratic leaders not as a despot, but as a “moderate”, persuading the United States, and other countries to make the Nuclear Deal with him in 2015. Billions of dollars flooded into Iran, who used it to bankroll the Assad regime in Syria.
Instead of concessions on human rights abuses and cessation of military aggression by Iran in the region, Iran continues to perpetuate war, persecution, and a flagrant disregard for basic human rights.
Malcolm writes, “Like every other corrupt tyrant at the United Nations, Rouhani received the royal treatment. He was given a platform to lie and misrepresent his own government.”
Meanwhile, just a few blocks away, Iranian human rights activists hosted a gathering to condemn Rouhani in a large protest, revealing the dark side of the Iranian regime. They demanded justice for those killed by the Iranian regime during the summer of 1988.
Some 30,000 political prisoners were executed during just a few months, that summer. Political prisoners were rounded up, who tended to be people whose sympathies didn’t lie with the regime, and systematically mass murdered.
Malcolm attended the protest, and spoke with Geoffrey Robertson, a human rights lawyer and former appeal judge at the UN Special Court for Sierra Leone. Robertson said that “killing prisoners of war is the worst kind of war crime,” noting that Iran’s massacre was the worst since WWII. He added, “There has been no reprisal, no retribution, unlike the other, similar, atrocities. The people who ordered it, most of them, are still in high command in Iran.”
Actually, Rouhani himself was a senior official in the government that oversaw the massacre.
Former Senator Joe Lieberman spoke at the protest, calling the Iranian regime a “brutal dictatorship.” Lieberman told Malcolm in an interview, that the international community should treat Iran the same way that we treat North Korea. He said that “there is more blood on the hands of the regime in Tehran,” and added, “Rouhani should not be treated as if he was a respectable world leader. He should be treated like Kim Jung Un would be treated if he came here.”
However, Rouhani was welcomed by the international community.
Malcolm notes that, “Canada’s Global Affairs Minister Stephen Dion noted on Twitter that he met with the regime to discuss the status of their relationship and consular cases. Dion failed to note any discussion on human rights, terrorism or justice for those killed in the 1988 massacre.”
The United Nations was founded after the Second World War to promote international co-operation, and to ensure that another such conflict, particularly horrors like the six million Jews being exterminated at the hands of the Nazis, would never happen again. The UN was established to identify, condemn and stop crimes committed against humanity.
“This week, instead of identifying and condemning Iran for its wicked crimes, the United Nations looked the other way and gave a seat of honour to the world’s most despicable leader,” Malcolm concludes.