Iran news in brief, March 6, 2019

Iran news in brief, March 6, 2019

Prominent European Dignitary Publishes New Report on Iranian Opposition MEK

“Ashraf III – Rising from The Ashes” is the title of a new report published by Struan Stevenson, a prominent former member of the European Parliament and a known expert on Middle East affairs, especially Iraq.

The report, presented on Tuesday at a London press conference, provides a detailed explanation on why the mullahs’ regime ruling Iran is escalating its propaganda campaign and terror measures against the People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran, the main member of the Paris-based Iranian opposition coalition National Council of Resistance of Iran.

Third Consecutive Day of Protests by Teachers in Several Iranian Cities

On Tuesday, teachers in at least 25 Iranian cities held the third day of their sit-in protests from early hours in the morning. The teachers, who began their sit-in on Sunday, are fighting for their most basic demands, including low wages, inefficient insurance plans, poor living conditions and very poor management of the education sector.

Mrs. Maryam Rajavi, the president-elect of the National Council of Resistance of Iran, expressed the support of the Iranian Resistance for the demands of the teachers and called on all Iranians to support teachers in their cause.

U.S. Sanctions the Nujaba Militia of Iraq Backed by Iran

The United States has sanctioned Harakat Hezbollah al Nujaba, a radical Muslim militia group of about 10,0000 fighters, as well as its leader Akram Kaabi, the Treasury Department said on Tuesday.

Active in Iraq and Syria, Nujaba, which is known by various names including the "The Movement of the Noble Ones," is also loyal to Iran. Reuters reported in 2017 that it was helping Tehran create a supply route through Iraq to Damascus, and its leaders have publicly acknowledged Iran's support.

U.S. Condemns Appointment of Controversial Cleric to Head Iran's Judiciary

U.S. State Department’s Deputy Spokesperson condemned on Tuesday the appointment of a controversial mullah to head Iran’s all-powerful Judiciary.

Robert Palladino tweeted both in Farsi and in English to say that Ebrahim Raeisi, a conservative Iranian cleric participated in the decision to execute thousands of prisoners in Iran in the late 1980s, and his appointment is a “disgrace”.

 “The regime makes a mockery of the legal process”, Palladino said, adding “Iranians deserve better”.

Iran Urged to Release Ecologists Tried on 'Trumped-Up' Charges

Amnesty International has called on Iran to release eight environmentalists following what the human rights watchdog called a "grossly unfair trial" on "trumped-up" spying charges.

The London-based group issued the call in a March 5 statement, ahead of a verdict in the case expected in the coming days.

"There is evidence that they were subjected to torture and other ill-treatment including through prolonged solitary confinement in order to extract forced 'confessions'," a statement said.

The eight scientists -- all members of a local environmental group, the Persian Wildlife Heritage Foundation -- were arrested in early 2018 and went on trial in a Revolutionary Court in Tehran in January this year.