Archive for March 2020

Iran furloughs imprisoned US Navy vet amid virus concerns

March 21, 2020 Home Comments Off on Iran furloughs imprisoned US Navy vet amid virus concerns

March 20.2020 – AP – By ERIC TUCKER- WASHINGTON (AP) — Iran has granted a medical furlough to a U.S. Navy veteran who has been imprisoned in for more than a year, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced Thursday.

Michael White of Imperial Beach, California, is now in the custody of the Swiss Embassy and must remain in Iran as a condition of his furlough, which was granted as the Islamic republic works to curb the spread of coronavirus. The U.S. government will seek his full release, Pompeo said, as he called on Iran to free other Americans who remain jailed there.

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Iran to pardon 10,000 including ‘security’ prisoners

March 19, 2020 News Comments Off on Iran to pardon 10,000 including ‘security’ prisoners

Announcement follows temporary release of 85,000 to ease pressure on prisons amid coronavirus crisis

03.18.2020- Guardian – Iran is to pardon 10,000 prisoners including political ones in honour of the Iranian new year on Friday, according to state TV.

It was not stated whether the pardons would include the British-Iranian aid worker Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe – who was released on Tuesday for two weeks, when 85,000 were let out temporarily because of coronavirus – or the British-Australian academic Kylie Moore-Gilbert, who was not known to have been released.

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Iran Releases 85,000 Prisoners But Not Siamak Namazi

March 19, 2020 News Comments Off on Iran Releases 85,000 Prisoners But Not Siamak Namazi

March 18, 2020  – npr – Iran has released tens of thousands of prisoners because of the coronavirus outbreak. NPR’s Steve Inskeep talks to Babak Namazi, whose brother is still detained.

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Where Is Iran’s Supreme Leader?

March 18, 2020 News Comments Off on Where Is Iran’s Supreme Leader?
Senior leaders are sick with the coronavirus.

MARCH 17, 2020-Atlantic – Last week, I proposed that Iran’s coronavirus problem is much greater than commonly acknowledged, and that the true number of cases is perhaps hundreds of times greater than the official number. More signs of uncontrolled infection have emerged, and I fear I was optimistic.

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Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe released from Iran prison

March 18, 2020 Human Rights Comments Off on Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe released from Iran prison

Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe has been temporarily released from prison in Iran because of the coronavirus outbreak, her husband says.

17 March 2020 – BBC – The British-Iranian charity worker will be required to wear an ankle tag and remain within 300m (984ft) of her parents’ home in Tehran.

“The issue now is to make it permanent,” her husband Richard Ratcliffe said.

He added: “It is hard to relax just yet.”

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COVID-19: Iran warns that ‘millions’ could be killed

March 18, 2020 News Comments Off on COVID-19: Iran warns that ‘millions’ could be killed

The death toll in Iran saw another 13% increase Tuesday.

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS | March 17, 2020- The Mercury News- By Nasser Karimi and John Gambrell | Associated Press

TEHRAN, Iran — Iran issued its most dire warning yet Tuesday about the new coronavirus ravaging the country, suggesting “millions” could die in the Islamic Republic if people keep traveling and ignore health guidance.

A state TV journalist who also is a medical doctor gave the warning only hours after hard-line Shiite faithful on Monday night pushed their way into the courtyards of two major shrines that were finally closed due to the virus. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei issued a religious ruling prohibiting “unnecessary” travel.

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