Regime's forces kidnapped a Baloch

human-rights According to the reports obtained by activists in Balochistan Human Rights Watch, the security forces of Iranian Islamic Republic in Zahedan, attacked a home in Zahedan Thursday 27th November 2008 at 8:00 and arrested two men ‘’Bahman Rigi’’ and ‘’Mohammad’’ son of Chakar from Berahoui tribe. Mohammad was beaten almost to death and unconsciousness while family members were witness to the brutality. The men were taken away and moved to an unknown place. The family members, while extremely worried for the destiny of Mohammad, addressed the authorities for the reason why he was arrested and where he had been moved to. As it is commonly used procedure by the security forces, the family received no information about the case nor about the background. 4 days after the arrest Monday 1st December, the security forces contacted the family and explained that Mohammad was a ‘’Crystal’’ drug addict, and he has passed away because he had no access to the drug while he was in detention. The family was ordered to hurry up for taking his body, otherwise the body would be buried without further notice. Mohammad’s family refuse all false claims from the security forces saying that he was a drug addict, and are sure that he died because of being subjected to extreme torture. Mohammad was 37 year old and father of 4 children. The family of Mohammad, flowingly, received the body. There were clear and extensively obvious physical traces on his body proving that he was tortured, such as cranial fracture, holes under his feet, bruise on his body and fractures between the fingers. The security authorities, in addition, explained that Mohammad was involved in the ‘’episode of Ahmad-Abad Boulevard in Zahedan’’ (1) where several persons belonging to Jerizahi family of Rigi tribe were wounded and killed. As the security authorities have claimed, they received the intelligence report from Rigi tribe saying that Mohammad was involved in the episode, while the head members of Rigi tribe have denied any link between Mohammad and the mentioned episode, and in this regard, they consider it as a false accusation and as a tool and factor used by the regime for making conflicts between different Baloch families and tribes(2). We in ‘’Balochistan Human Rights Watch’’ condemn the barbaric act of killing of innocent Mohammad and would like to draw the attention of all freedom fighter/seeker individuals and organizations to an urgent call for acting against the Islamic republic of Iran’s deliberate policy making more and more conflicts between different tribes and families in Balochistan.

2008-12-11T20:55:05-07:00

The Security forces in Islamic Republic of Iran’s regime kidnapped a Baloch man from Berahoui tribe from his home and returned his tortured and dead body to the family 12 true

2008-12-11T20:55:05-07:00

Balochistan Human Rights Watch / Radio Balochi FM Regime's forces kidnapped a Baloch

2010-03-06T20:38:51-07:00

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human-rights <a class="editaudiovideo" onclick="dcsMedia(event);" href="http://www.voanews.com/mediaassets/uspolicy/2008_11/audio/Mp3/Editorial%20VO%202%2026%20014619%20112408%20Rights%20Violations%20In%20Iran_0.Mp3">Rights Violations In Iran - Download (MP3) <img src="http://www.voanews.com/voanews_shared/images/editorial_audio_icon.gif" border="0" alt="audio clip" width="12" height="9" /> </a> <a class="editaudiovideo" onclick="dcsMedia(event);" href="http://www.voanews.com/uspolicy/figleaf/mp3filegenerate.cfm?filepath=http://www.voanews.com/mediaassets/uspolicy/2008_11/audio/Mp3/Editorial%20VO%202%2026%20014619%20112408%20Rights%20Violations%20In%20Iran_0.Mp3">Rights Violations In Iran - Listen to (MP3) <img src="http://www.voanews.com/voanews_shared/images/editorial_audio_icon.gif" border="0" alt="audio clip" width="12" height="9" /></a> The Center for the Defense of Human Rights in Iran, headed by lawyer and Nobel peace prize winner Shirin Ebadi, has issued its quarterly report on human rights for the period ending in September 2008. The Center reports that in Iran "the realm of private freedoms is becoming more limited day-by-day, and possible and desirable venues for political and social activities are becoming more restricted." The report cited government harassment, including arrest and jail sentences for university students, journalists, teachers, and political and social activists.  It also warned of a worsening situation for religious minorities in Iran. The Center for the Defense of Human Rights reported an increase in human rights abuses involving the Sunni inhabitants of Sistan va Baluchistan province, the arrest of Friday prayer leaders of Sunni mosques, and the demolition of religious schools and centers. It also spoke of the continuing harsh repression of members of Iran's Baha'i community. Recently Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said that all ethnic and religious minorities coexist peacefully in Iran. The Center for the Defense of Human Rights report belies that assertion. President George Bush says that a key to safeguarding freedom –- including religious freedom -- "is to aid the rise of democracy": "One of the defining features of any democracy is that it makes room for people of all backgrounds and all faiths. Democracies allow people with diverse views to discuss their differences and live in harmony." Mr. Bush says that the U.S. has a message for those in Iran and elsewhere who suffer because of their beliefs: “You are not alone ... We work for the day when we can welcome you into the family of free nations. We pray that you and your children may one day know freedom in all things."

2008-12-11T21:34:04-07:00

The Center for the Defense of Human Rights reported an increase in human rights abuses involving the Sunni inhabitants of Baluchistan 13 true

2008-12-11T21:34:04-07:00

http://www.voanews.com Rights Violations In Iran

2010-03-08T22:14:24-07:00

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human-rights Document - Iran: Further Information on Fear of torture. New concerns: Possible prisoner of conscience/ unfair trial <a href="http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/asset/MDE13/168/2008/en/b819363c-b5b9-11dd-ac5c-8b29f29265d7/mde131682008en.html">AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL</a> PUBLIC AI Index: MDE 13/168/2008 18 November 2008 Further Information on UA 68/08 (MDE 13/047/2008, 12 March 2008) Fear of torture New concerns: Possible prisoner of conscience/ unfair trial IRAN Ebrahim Mehrnahad (or Mehrnehad) (m), aged 16 Fazlorahman Jahras (m), aged about 16 Abdollah Salarzahi, (m), leading member, Voice of Justice Young People’s Society (VJYPS) Asadollah Shahbaksh, (m) student, VJYPS member Ebrahim Mehrnehad, a member of the Baluchi minority in Iran, has been sentenced to five years’ imprisonment, two of them suspended. Fazlorahman Jahras, Abdollah Salarzahi and Asadollah Shahbaksh, members of the Baluchi minority, have been released. Ebrahim Mehrnehad was arrested in March 2008, and held in Zahedan Central Prison in Sistan and Baluchistan Province, south-eastern Iran. On or around 16 September, a court in Zahedan sentenced him on charges of ‘acting against national security’ and ‘spreading propaganda’. These charges may relate to his public condemnation of the death sentence imposed on his brother, Ya'qoub Mehrnehad, who was subsequently executed in August. Ebrahim Mehrnehad was not given access to a lawyer and according to reports, he has been tortured, including by being burnt. He may be a prisoner of conscience, detained solely on account of the peaceful exercise of his rights to freedom of expression and association. Baluchi journalist and civil society activist Ya'qoub Mehrnehad was executed on 4 August 2008 (see UA 38/08, MDE 13/038/2008, 12 February 2008 and follow-ups). Ya'qoub Mehrnehad was the head and co-founder of Voice of Justice Young People’s Society (VJYPS), which organizes events such as concerts and educational courses for young Baluchi people, and raises funds to help the poor. After a meeting of VJYPS, in May 2007, he was arrested and released after three months. Fazlorahman Jahras was released in August. Abdollah Salarzahi, spokesperson and Central Council member of the VJYPS, and Asadollah Shahbaksh, a member of the VJYPS and geography student at Azad University in Zahedan, were both released at the end of August. Amnesty International has no further information relating to their cases.   BACKGROUND INFORMATION Iran’s Baluchi minority is believed to constitute one to three per cent of the country’s total population of around 70 million. Most ethnic Baluchis live in Sistan-Baluchistan province, with smaller numbers in Kerman province. However, Baluchis have migrated elsewhere in Iran, particularly Tehran, to find work. Baluchis in Iran mostly speak Baluchi as a first language, with a minority speaking Brahoui. Most are Sunni Muslims, although the majority (around 90 per cent) of Iranians are Shi’a. An estimated 20,000 of the 1.7 million inhabitants of Sistan-Baluchistan province are said to be nomads. There has been an increase in human rights violations on the Baluchi minority by the Iranian government following a number of attacks on Iranian officials, as well as hostages taken and killed by the Baluchi armed group, the People's Resistance of Movement of Iran (PRMI), formerly known as Jondallah. This has included widespread arrests and concurrent marked rise in the number of executions of ethnic Baluchis, often after grossly unfair, summary trials. For further information please see: Iran: Human Rights Abuses against the Baluchi Minority, MDE 13/104/2007, September 2007; at http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/info/MDE13/104/2007. RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please send appeals to arrive as quickly as possible, in Persian, French, English or your own language: - welcoming the release of Fazlorahman Jahras, Abdollah Salarzahi and Asadollah Shahbaksh; - urging the authorities to release Ebrahim Mehrnehad if he is being detained solely for the peaceful exercise of his rights to freedom of expression and association; - asking to be informed in detail of the charges brought against him; - calling on the authorities to ensure that any appeal procedure conforms to international standards for fair trial; - urging the authorities to ensure that Ebrahim Mehrnehad has access to his family and a lawyer of his choice and to any medical treatment he may require; - urging the authorities to ensure that he will not be tortured or otherwise ill-treated while in detention; - reminding the authorities that the use of confessions extracted under duress is prohibited by Article 38 of the Constitution of Iran. APPEALS TO: Head of the Judiciary His Excellency Ayatollah Mahmoud Hashemi Shahroudi Howzeh Riyasat-e Qoveh Qazaiyeh / Office of the Head of the Judiciary Pasteur St., Vali Asr Ave., south of Serah-e Jomhouri, Tehran 1316814737, Islamic Republic of Iran Email: info@dadgostary-tehran.ir (In the subject line write: FAO Ayatollah Shahroudi) Salutation: Your Excellency Minister of Intelligence Gholam Hossein Mohseni Ejeie Ministry of Intelligence, Second Negarestan Street, Pasdaran Avenue, Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran Salutation: Your Excellency Governor of Sistan - Baluchistan province Mr Dahmarde, Governor Fax: +98 541 3231990 E-mail: info@sb-ostan.ir Salutation: Dear Sir COPIES TO: Leader of the Islamic Republic His Excellency Ayatollah Sayed ‘Ali Khamenei, The Office of the Supreme Leader Islamic Republic Street - Shahid Keshvar Doust Street Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran Email: info@leader.ir Salutation: Your Excellency Director, Human Rights Headquarters of Iran His Excellency Mohammad Javad Larijani Howzeh Riyasat-e Qoveh Qazaiyeh (Office of the Head of the Judiciary) Pasteur St, Vali Asr Ave., south of Serah-e Jomhouri, Tehran 1316814737, Islamic Republic of Iran Fax: +98 21 3390 4986 (there are problems with this line, please try three times) Email: int_aff@judiciary.ir(In the subject line: FAO Mohammad Javad Larijani) and to diplomatic representatives of Iran accredited to your country. PLEASE SEND APPEALS IMMEDIATELY. Check with the International Secretariat, or your section office, if sending appeals after 30 December 2008.

2008-12-11T21:45:21-07:00

Ebrahim Mehrnehad, a member of the Baluchi minority in Iran, has been sentenced to five years’ 14 true

2008-12-11T21:45:21-07:00

AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL Amnesty International:The urgent action update on Ebrahim Mehrnehad who was sentenced to five years

2010-03-06T23:20:49-07:00

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human-rights 22 November 2008 ; Balochistan National Movement-Iran On Wednesday 19th Nov 2008, five innocent Baloch, Hafiz Salah-uddin Saeidi, Molavi Khalil-ullah Zarahi, Molavi Abdulmajeed Salahzai, Sofi Obid-ullah Machkowri and Haji Aabid Gwahramzai were put on trial by the Iranian authorities in Zahidan and charged with serious but unfounded allegations such as collaboration with Rigi group, anti-state activities, being at war with God, possession of fire arms, planting road-side bombs, creating terror and so on. The trial was held after 5 months of degrading imprisonment with torture. They were arrested in Mohammad-Abad of Iranshar in Khordad(3rd month of Iranian calendar). The Iranian authorities claimed that the trial was openly conducted, but we obtained credible reports which reveals that the trial was far from any international norms. Only few members of families of the accused were allowed to observe some part of the trial on the conditions that they refrain themselves from reporting any part of the trial. It is noteworthy to state that none of the family members have any knowledge or familiarities with law and legal matters and procedures. It is reported that Father of Sofi Obid-ullah Machkowri, Haji Karimbax was refused access to observe his son’s trial and forced out of the building by the security. The prosecution demanded that the five accused Baloch should receive maximum sentence. In Iran unfortunately it means death by execution. Since the five accused Baloch pleaded not guilty, and stated to the court that there is no evidence to link them to those allegations. They refused to accept possession of fire-arms, links with Rigi group, planting bombs and creating terror among the population. They stressed that since they are religious scholars, in no way they can be deemed to be at war with God. As Sunni religious scholars, they are very popular with the public; and it is a fact that they posed no threat to anyone. They accepted that in their daily life they may have done such civil activities to support their religious and civic rights, but always were within the law of the land. The five innocent Baloch when arrested, they did not want anyone to highlight their arrest and ordeal in the hope that it will end with less collateral damages. But now it is feared that the authorities are sentencing them without any reliable or concrete evidence with capital punishment of death by execution. We appeal to all people of the world and humanitarian organisations, democratic institutions and states to help these innocent Baloch from imminent executions, as life is sacred and beautiful. Please, Please write to Mr Sharodi, the head of Iranian Judiciary, and also directly to Mr Mahguli, the presiding judge in Zahidan, and ask for reconsideration of the trial and ultimate release of them as the charges are purely circumstantial and bear no evidence. PS. Please write to: · Professor Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu Secretary General of the Organization of the Islamic Conference · The Islamic Human Rights Commission · United Nations Human Rights Council · Amnesty International · Human Rights Watch · Liberty

2008-12-11T21:51:15-07:00

Five innocent Baloch were put on trial by the Iranian authorities in Zahidan 15 true

2008-12-11T21:51:15-07:00

Balochistan National Movement-Iran Appeal to save lives of 5 innocent Baloch from imminent execution

2010-03-05T18:39:18-07:00

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human-rights 20.11.2008 According to the Islamic Republic of Iran’s news agencies (1-2) , five young Baloch were put on “trial" Thursday 20th November 2008 in Zahedan. They were alleged to having link to ‘’Jundullah group’’. The reports say that they made confessions to conducting the allegations while they described their activities which they defended as well. Furthermore, the reports say that the counsels for the defense defended their clients and they asked the court for being lenient with the clients, since the clients have confessed to the crime while regretting. The convicted have confessed to conducting militant activities such as teaching, hiding and utilizing various military devices and being guilty in terror activities. It is not first time nor the last time that the regime attempts to cover its real plan against innocent Baloch people, and once more tries to justify and legalize the mass arrestations. Commonly used tool by the regime is to come with false allegations such as having link to ‘’Jundullah group’’. Using this trick against the Baloch while subjecting them to the most inhuman barbaric torture methods is becoming more or less an everyday occurrence. We in ‘’Balochistan Human Rights Watch’’ are convinced that once again the regime wants to cover the real background for the arrastations in Balochistan and therefore we are deeply concerned about the fate and the life of mentioned 5 young Baloch. We draw the attention of all freedom fighter/seeker individuals and organisations, the Amnesty International in particular to an urgent call for saving the life of these innocent persons. Balochistan Human Rights Watch / Radio Balochi FM 1. http://sb.isna.ir/mainnews.php?ID=News-19914 2. http://www.farsnews.net/newstext.php?nn=8708300459

2008-12-11T22:02:17-07:00

The life of five young Baloch is in danger – Possible conviction to death sentence 16 true

2008-12-11T22:02:17-07:00

Balochistan Human Rights Watch The life of five young Baloch is in danger

2010-03-06T11:16:10-07:00

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human-rights Tuesday, 28 October 2008 Tehran, Iran, Oct. 28 – Iranian authorities have hanged two men in the restive province of Sistan-va-Baluchistan, south-east Iran, state media reported. Authorities hanged the men, identified only by their initials A. M. and Kh. N., in a prison in the provincial capital Zahedan on Monday, the government-run news agency Fars reported. The report said that both men had been convicted of drug smuggling. Iranian authorities routinely execute dissidents on bogus charges such as armed robbery and drug trafficking. Sistan-va-Baluchistan Province is home to Baluchis, a predominantly Sunni Muslim ethnic minority. Iran has witnessed escalating unrest since 2006 in areas populated by Baluchis, who complain of discriminatory and repressive policies by the theocratic regime. Since 2006, Iranian authorities have stepped up executions in the restive province in what many Baluchis believe is a response to a spate of attacks by dissidents on government and security officials.

2008-12-11T22:08:43-07:00

Iran has witnessed escalating unrest since 2006 in areas populated by Baluchs, who complain of discriminatory and repressive policies by the theocratic regime 17 true

2008-12-11T22:08:43-07:00

Iran Focus Two haned in Balochistan

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iran-federal Announcement 03-03-2006 The resumption of uranium enrichment by the Iranian government with the objective of achieving the full scientific nuclear capability was in direct defiance of the international community’s efforts to reach a resolution through negotiations. The Iranian leadership wants to keep the focus exclusively on nuclear issues to keep the limelight off potentially more explosive issues such as economic and social problems, violations of human rights, tyranny against oppressed nations, and discrimination against women. The international community in the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) showed a united front in its decision to report Iran to the UN Security council on the 6th of March if Iran refuses to cooperate fully and will not halt all nuclear research. A lack of cooperation by Iran could lead to economical sanctions, or at worst, to a military confrontation between Iran and the international community. The Iranian government’s policies and its confrontational approach to international issues, especially its lack of cooperation with IAEA, makes it the sole party responsible for any definitive outcome. Punishing the Iranian government will hurt the Iranian peoples (especially oppressed nationalities within Iran) whom are already discriminated against in all spheres of life. This makes it urgent for all democratic forces in Iran to unite in the struggle to change the regime so as to avoid more difficulties for the people of Iran. In the other hand, the international community’s focus on the nuclear issue and its lack of emphasis on gross human right violations and suppression against oppressed nationalities has not been useful in rounding up the support of the Iranian people. The best way to hinder Iran’s extremist government from achieving its nuclear goals is to support and cooperate with the democratic forces that are struggling for people’s sovereignty and for a secular, democratic, and federal structure in Iran. Unlike in previous years, there is now a united opposition against the Iranian government. The Congress of Nationalities for a Federal Iran, consisting of eight political parties and organizations that are struggling to establish a federal and democratic government, can serve as a catalyst and organizer for united opposition to overthrow the government, which supports terrorism and extremism. The Congress of Nationalities for a Federal Iran 1- Azerbaijan Cultural Society 2- Balochistan National Movement - Iran 3- Balochistan People’s Party 4- Balochistan United Front of Iran 5- Democratic Party of Kurdistan - Iran 6- Democratic Solidarity Party of Ahwaz 7- Komela Party – Iran 8- Organization for Defence of the Rights of the Turkmen People

2008-12-11T22:15:41-07:00

The best way to hinder Iran’s extremist government from achieving its nuclear goals is to support and cooperate with the democratic forces that are struggling for people’s sovereignty and for a secular, democratic, and federal structure in Iran 18 true

2008-12-11T22:15:41-07:00

Congress of Nationalities for a Federal Iran Congress of Nationalities for a Federal Iran Iran’s Stand-Off with the United Nations

2010-03-09T11:24:23-07:00

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press-releases <img title="BPP_LogoTra.gif" src="/eng/images/69.gif" alt="BPP_LogoTra.gif" width="60" height="58" />   17-05-2006 Since Monday 15th of May 2006 the Islamic Republic has launched a massive military operation against Baloch people in Bam and Nusrat Abaad Zahedan (Dozaap) areas of Northern Balochistan and pushing forward towards Iranshahr the Central Balochistan. The Iranian Army using helicopter gun ships and air strikes to bomb villages in mountain areas. According to the news media reports and our credible Baloch sources within the area, more than 18 people have died and some have been injured, majority of them are shepherds and farmers in remote areas. The operation is still going on. Besides these innocent Baloch killings, the Iranian secret agencies have also either kidnapped or detained hundreds of Baloch people. The current army operation is triggered by the murder of 12 people near the Kerman-Bam highway by unidentified elements. The Iranian regime accused a Baloch militant organization named Jundallah which repeatedly has been denied and strongly denaonced by Jondollah organization. The Iranian clerical regime exploiting this incident and taking revenge on the oppressed Baloch people as it has always done in the past incedents. For more than half a century political oppression, economical and social injustice against Baloch people has been institutionalized in Iran. Baloch in Iran are continuously being harassed and suffering from this clerical regime, where regime's brutal operations have always aimed to punish Baloch people collectively. Balochistan People’s Party believes that the killing, extrajudicial detention, torture and kidnapping of Baloch people in Iran, are grave human rights violations and ask the world community to pressure the Iranian regime, his military and secret agencies to stop the current army operation against the Baloch people. Nasser Boladai Spokesperson for Balochistan People's Party Nasser.Boladai@BalochPeople.org http://www.balochpeople.org/eng/         Balochistan People’s Party, P.O.Box 13022, 103 01 Stockholm, Sweden Tel: +46 739343724, Fax: +46 8 43 75 97 37 www.ostomaan.org ; www.balochpeople.org

2008-12-11T22:38:21-07:00

Balochistan Peoples Party believes that the killing, extrajudicial detention, torture and kidnapping of Baloch people in Iran, are grave human rights violations and ask the world community to pressure the Iranian regime, his military and secret agencies to stop the current army operation against the Baloch people 20 true

2008-12-11T22:38:21-07:00

Balochistan Peoples Party Away bombardment of civilian in Balochistan by Iranian Military

2010-03-07T01:42:04-07:00

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press-releases 19, April 2006 On behalf of BPP (Balochistan People’s Party) we would like to draw your attention to the deteriorating situation in Western or Iranian held Balochistan where the Iranian military and intelligence forces are involved in killing of three Baloch Sunni clerics and their two associates. On Monday 10th of April 2006, three Baloch clerics, Molavi Nea'matulla Mirbalochzahi, Molavi Abdul Hakim Gamshadzahi, Molavi Abdullah Narooi and their two associates in a mysterious car accident have been killed. The so called accident has happened in a way that the target car traveling from Zahidan (provincial capital) has been hit by an empty unmarked bus which only was occupied by its driver and his assistant traveling from Kerman 500 kilometers away from Zahedan. Having experienced many times this way of opponents killings by the Iranian regime since a decade ago, the Baloch people are questioning this so called accident and holding the Iranian Intelligence services responsible for this dubious killing. When a journalist asked Mr. H. A. Sharyari who is a well known anti Baloch MP from Zhahidan of peoples suspicious about this accident, he replayed why should they use a bus to kill them while there are other easy methods to do such things (please see the web links below) It seems that this killing is linked with the threat of the Iranian interior Minister Mr. M. Pour Mahomadi and Mr. H. A. Sharyari who both are Shia Hezbollahi extremists and well known anti Baloch and anti Sunni figures which both recently have threatened and accused via Iranian official media the Baloch people for the killing of more then 22 Iranian high ranking intelligence officials by a militant Jondullah group. He even asked the interior Ministry and security forces to be tougher on Baloch people which seems that the interior Minister Mr. Pour Mahomadi has listened and sent extra 1500 of his loyal fighters to the region recently. The Iranian regimes politic in Balochistan is based on divide and rule policy. It has always during crisis situation used religious card to destabilize Balochistan. Since some of the Zabolis (Sistanis) in Balochistan are Shia, it has been always the policy of Iranian regime to play Shia and Sunni card in Balochistan in order to muddle the situation for the enforcement of the divide and rule policy. It discriminate Sunni Baloch in the job market and treat Shias with privileges, in all social spheres. Mr. M. Pour Mahomadi in a recent speech has said that because Zabolis are educated and loyal to the system are being used in high ranking position in Balochistan. Mr. Minister and his regime deliberately forget that in a civilized world it is the responsibility of the state to provide equal opportunities to all of her citizens regardless of religious and ethnical backgrounds. This is not the first time that Iranian regime is involved in the killing of Baloch politicians and Baloch clerics, the list is long one but we would like to be mentioned a few of recent era: * On February the 15th 1996 the disappearance and alleged execution of Molavi Ahmed Sayyad. * On March 4th 1996 Molavi Abdul Malek Mollahzadeh son of Molavi Abdulaziz, the most prominent Sunni cleric in Western Balochistan along with an associate Molavi Jamshidzahi were assassinated by agents of the Iranian regime in Karachi, Pakistan. * Molavi Ebrahim Damoni a well known anti regime cleric immediately after his release from a long held imprisonment killed in an arranged accident in Iranshahr. * Another Sunni cleric and high school teacher, Molavi Abdurrahman Alahverdi was arrested by the authorities in the Balochi town of Sarawan, so far his fate remains unknown. Nasser Boladai Spokesperson for Balochistan People's Party Nasser.Boladai@BalochPeople.org CC: Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization (UNPO) Amnesty International (London) Humanis Rights Watch Balochistan People’s Party, P.O.Box 13022, 103 01 Stockholm, Sweden Tel: +46 739343724, Fax: +46 8 43 75 97 37 www.ostomaan.org ; www.balochpeople.org

2008-12-12T10:25:15-07:00

On Monday 10th of April 2006, three Baloch clerics, Molavi Nea'matulla Mirbalochzahi, Molavi Abdul Hakim Gamshadzahi, Molavi Abdullah Narooi and their two associates in a mysterious car accident have been killed 22 true

2008-12-12T10:25:15-07:00

Balochistan Peoples Party Balochistan Peoples Party Mysterious Car Accident And Killing Three Sunni Baloch Clerics In Balochistan

2010-03-09T13:24:11-07:00

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press-releases <img title="BPP_LogoTra.gif" src="/eng/images/69.gif" alt="BPP_LogoTra.gif" width="60" height="58" />  04-06-2006   Since the Taasoki incident where some Iranian high ranking intelligence agents have been killed. The Iranian regime has launched a massive military operation against Baloch people in Balochistan, specially around the provincial Capital Zahedan (Dozaap). Iranian regime has brought more then 30000 fresh forces to Balochistan.   According to regimes own data the secret agencies and para military forces either kidnapped or detained hundreds of Baloch people. The figure of killed and injured people due to the regime's armed forces restriction and not having access to the roral area are unknown.   During these operations no encounters between Baloch resistance forces and the Iranian army have taken place but confirmed reports by eye witnessed and some of regime's own sources there have been indiscriminate bombardment using helicopter gunships and jet fighter of the innocent farmers, shepherd and nomadic people living in mountaines, killing them and their livestocks.  Iranian regime internationaly is well-known for using variouse cruel methodes including extrajudicial killing and execution.   Last week more then 10 Baloch executed in Zahedan prison whom the regime accused of helping the Baloch armed resistance and in some cases as always under the drug dealing accusations .    Three of above executed young persons are named by the regime as:    1- Masood Naroui  2- Abdol Vahid Naroui  3- Abdol Hamid Naroui    Balochistan People’s Party believes that these cases of extrajudicial detention, torture and execution of Baloch people in Iran, are grave human rights violations and we Condemn this barbaric act by the Iranian regime and appeal to human right and international organization to condemn these executions and military operation in Balochistan by pressuring the regime and international condemnation.    Nasser Boladai  Spokesperson for Balochistan People's Party  Nasser.Boladai@BalochPeople.org  http://www.balochpeople.org/eng/   Balochistan People’s Party, P.O.Box 13022, 103 01 Stockholm, Sweden Tel: +46 739343724, Fax: +46 8 43 75 97 37 www.ostomaan.org ; www.balochpeople.org

2008-12-14T23:54:56-07:00

According to regimes own data the secret agencies and para military forces either kidnapped or detained hundreds of Baloch people. The figure of killed and injured people due to the regime's armed forces restriction and not having access to the roral area are unknown 24 true

2008-12-14T23:54:56-07:00

Balochistan People’s Party Balochistan People’s Party Balochistan People’s Party Condemns the executions of Baloch in Iran

2010-03-05T11:48:40-07:00

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opinions-and-news Police clashed with militants on Monday night near the town of Mirjaveh in Sistan-Baluchestan Province which borders Afghanistan, IRNA reported. The Iranian forces identified the militants while patrolling the border area. There are, however, no immediate reports available regarding the number of casualties among the militants or further details about the incident. AR/SME

2008-12-17T22:25:12-07:00

Border clashes with militants have left one Iranian police officer killed and two others injured in the south-east of the country. 25 true

2008-12-17T22:25:12-07:00

http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=78668&sectionid=3510212 Iran police officer killed in border clash

2010-03-09T05:35:15-07:00

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opinions-and-news  Addressing at a news conference here on Wednesday, president PFF Faisal Saleh Hayat said that to promote football in the areas affected by terrorism, a programme ‘Football for Peace’ is being launched under which the players would be provided training of the game besides education facilities. He said that the high commissions of the United States and the European countries would cooperate with monetary assistance for this programme. The PFF president said that the AFC ahs offered to hold the youth qualifying round in Pakistan for which the federation requires the government cooperation and Rs 20 million. Faisal Saleh Hayat said that the government has approved the grant of Rs 20 million for the PFF while the federation needs further Rs 60 million for the activities during the next year. He said that the FIFA’s fourth goal post project would be given to Quetta and the fifth project would be awarded to Islamabad.

2008-12-17T22:32:36-07:00

ISLAMABAD: President Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) Makhdoom Faisal Saleh Hayat said that the federation would provide football coaching to more than 2,000 youth every year in the terrorism-affected areas of FATA, NWFP and Balochistan. 26 true

2008-12-17T22:32:36-07:00

http://www.thenews.com.pk/updates.asp?id=62695 ‘Football for Peace’ in FATA, other affected areas

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opinions-and-news Mr Obama was awarded the title "for having the confidence to sketch an ambitious future in a gloomy hour," said the US-based magazine. It said he showed "the competence that makes Americans hopeful he might pull it off". Recent winners have included Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, the American soldier and the online public.  Time told readers it was "unlikely that you were surprised to see Mr Obama's face on the cover". <div class="qboxflr" style="text-align: justify;"><a class="lp" href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/talking_point/default.stm">HAVE YOUR SAY</a> <div class="qbox"> <blockquote>I hope Time named Obama because he inspired thousands to take back responsibility in deciding who will run America</blockquote> <div class="info">Shelia Bumgarner, USA</div>  <div class="links"><a href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?forumID=5824&sortBy=2&edition=2&ttl=20081217151250">Send us your comments</a></div> </div> </div> "He has come to dominate the public sphere so completely that it beggars belief to recall that half the people in America had never heard of him two years ago. "He hit the American scene like a thunderclap, upended our politics, shattered decades of conventional wisdom and overcame centuries of the social pecking order." Mr Obama has featured on the magazine's cover 15 times in the past two years.  <div class="videoInStoryB" style="text-align: justify;"> <div id="bbccom_companion_7710040" class="bbccom_visibility_hidden"> <div class="bbccom_companion_text">Advertisement</div> </div>  Barack Obama addresses supporters after winning the presidential election </div>  "We would have had to have had some pretty compelling reasons to not chose President-elect Barack Obama," Michael Elliot, Time's international editor, told CNN. "His is an extraordinary story which has captured the imagination of people from Jakarta to Dublin to Iowa to New Hampshire. "There is a degree of excitement surrounding Barack Obama which we tried to capture in our choice," Mr Elliot said. Controversial Time began selecting a "Man of the Year" in 1927 and has selected a man, woman or group every year since. In one year it chose the computer for the title.  <table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="231" align="right"> <tbody> <tr> <td width="5"><img src="http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/shared/img/o.gif" border="0" alt="" width="5" height="1" /></td> <td class="sibtbg"> <div class="sih">TIME'S 'PERSON OF THE YEAR'</div> <div class="mva"> <div class="bull">Time says its award recognises 'the most powerful individuals and forces shaping the world'</div> <div class="bull">Many US presidents have been named Person of the Year, including George W Bush and Bill Clinton</div> <div class="bull">Controversially, Adolf Hitler, Joseph Stalin and Ayatollah Khomeini have also been given the title</div> <div class="bull">In 2006, the magazine gave the award to everyone who had used or created online content that year</div> </div> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table>  In 1999, the title was changed to "Person of the Year" to be more inclusive. The BBC's Andy Gallacher in Washington says receiving the accolade is usually considered an honour. But is has also been awarded to Adolf Hitler and Joseph Stalin in the past, for less honourable reasons. Four runners-up for this year's title were also announced, as well as 17 "people who mattered". The runners-up were US Secretary of the Treasury Henry Paulson, French and current EU President Nicholas Sarkozy, Republican vice-presidential candidate and Alaskan governor Sarah Palin and Zhang Yimou, creative director of August's Olympic opening ceremony in Beijing. Among the "people who mattered" were released Colombian hostage Ingrid Betancourt, Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe, the former CEO of the collapsed bank Lehman Brothers and Tina Fey, the actress who impersonated Mrs Palin during the US election campaign.

2008-12-17T22:39:07-07:00

Time magazine has given its annual Person of the Year award to US President-elect Barack Obama. 27 true

2008-12-17T22:39:07-07:00

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7787887.stm Obama named 'Person of the Year'

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opinions-and-news <table class="contentpaneopen" border="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td colspan="2" valign="top"> Responding to a question by Sheikh Salahuddin during the Question Hour he said that an amount of Rs 400 million allocated for Gwadar Deep Water Port Project, Phase‑I including deepening of channel from PSDP 2007‑08 had been released to Gwadar Port Authority. To a question he said that major works of the project had been completed and the sanctioned amount was utilized during the financial year 2007‑08. Remaining minor works were likely to be completed by June 2009. Responding to another question by Abdul Qadir Patel, he said that no compensation had been paid to the fishermen for the losses suffered by them after grounding of Tasman Spirit in July 2003 as the matter was sub judice. Answering a question from Belum Hasnain, Minister for Environment Hameedullh Jan Afridi told the House his ministry had taken several steps to control air pollution in the country. He said the powers to implement Pakistan Environment Protection Act 1997 had delegated to provincial EPAs for effective monitoring of air pollution. Four environmental tribunals under section 20 of the of the act had been notified for trying cases of violation through emission caused by the factories, the Minister said. He told the House that customs duty on import of anti‑pollution equipment had been completely abolished. The EPAs were monitoring the major air polluting industries on regular basis. These industries included sugar,cement,iron and steel sector. To a question from Nafisa Shah, Hameedullah Jan Afridi said that Pakistan was one of the 12 countries where snow leopards were found and there estimated population here was 200 to 300. To a question from Rana Mehmoodul Hassan he said that his ministry does not allocate special funds for National Tree Planting Campaign. Rather the provincial forest departments utilized their respective allocated budgets to implement the Spring and Monsoon Tree Plantation campaigns. </td> </tr> </tbody> </table>

2008-12-17T22:45:27-07:00

ISLAMABAD, Dec 17 (APP): Minister for Ports and Shipping Nabeel Gabol told the National Assembly on Wednesday that the Gwadar Port was fully functional and six ships carrying urea would dock at the port this month. 28 true

2008-12-17T22:45:27-07:00

http://www.app.com.pk/en_/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=62294&Itemid=2 Gwadar Port fully operational, six ships to dock this month: NA told

2010-03-09T23:48:22-07:00

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opinions-and-news IF PAKISTAN’S leaders had ever united against Islamist militancy as they have against India over the past three weeks, their country would not be the violent mess that it is. Ever since India alleged, with subsequent corroboration from America and Britain, that Pakistani terrorists carried out last month’s mass murder in Mumbai, the country’s politicians, generals and fire-breathing journalists have been declaring themselves ready for war—if that’s what India chooses. India’s government, despite huge pressure from its own bellicose media, has been more restrained. It has said it does not intend to attack its neighbour. But it has demanded that Pakistan dismantle an anti-Indian militant group, Lashkar-e-Taiba (LET), that has carried out numerous atrocities in India, apparently including the outrage on Mumbai. It has so far relied on diplomacy, particularly through America and Britain, to make this point. But India is frustrated. Pakistan has taken some steps against Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JUD), an Islamist charity that is a front for LET, which was formally banned by Pakistan, under American pressure, in 2002. But it is not clear at this stage how far they go. On December 11th, a day after the UN Security Council banned JUD, Pakistan said it had also banned it. It has since arrested the group’s leaders, including Hafiz Saeed, a professor of engineering, who founded LET and JUD in the 1980s. It has also arrested many JUD activists, sealed scores of the charity’s offices and stopped publication of at least six JUD newspapers. Initially, it also said it would take over the group’s many hospitals and schools—allegedly including over 170 schools in Punjab province alone. But it has since seemed to backtrack on this. According to one minister, the government will set up a new charity to run these services. According to a senior official in Punjab, some of JUD’s facilities may be left in the same Islamist hands. They may include a vast jihadist citadel that JUD operates in Muridke, a town close to the Indian border (its entrance is shown in our picture). It contains two schools, for 1,000 children, an Islamic college and a hospital that sees 100 outpatients a day. The campus’s manager, a courteous Islamist called Abu Ehsan, said 66 local villages depend on the services it provides, and he trusted that the government would not disrupt them. Shortly after JUD was banned, local police turned up on the campus. But they soon left and Mr Ehsan said he had heard no more from them. So, for now at least, the schools at Muridke remain free to teach what Mr Saeed has preached for two decades: jihad against Hindu India, especially to drive it from the contested region of Kashmir. It was for this purpose that LET was founded, with support from the army’s Inter-Services Intelligence agency (ISI). For two decades, as the army’s proxy, it has waged an insurgency in Indian-held Kashmir that has cost over 40,000 lives. Though the ISI appears to have cut back its ties to LET since it was banned, its armouries and military training camps in Pakistan-held Kashmir have remained in place. The bearded and purposeful men who patrol the campus in Muridke with pyjama trousers hitched halfway up their shins might be graduates of these camps. They have an imposing bearing not usually acquired during teacher training. On the campus, a 12-year-old boarding student, Hamza Nazir, says he likes his school, “because we get Islamic education and we learn how to deal with our enemies.” Asked to elucidate, he offers an Urdu proverb: “A hint’s enough for a wise man.” Foolishly, then, many Pakistanis, including some of the country’s most senior officials, are claiming that JUD is being victimised. “No JUD office is recruiting people for jihad,” says one of those responsible for closing the group down. Many also say they fear a violent backlash. Others fret that it will be difficult to make a case against JUD’s detained leaders, even if India supplies Pakistan with the evidence of their responsibility for the Mumbai attacks that it claims to have. These are legitimate worries. Yet, especially to Indian ears, they are starting to sound like familiar excuses. In the current spirit of nationalism, it is hard to avoid an impression that many Pakistanis are relieved to be unified against the one enemy they can all agree on, India. By contrast, many remain deeply sceptical about their need to tackle terrorism and a Taliban insurgency at home, despite over 50 suicide bomb blasts in Pakistan last year. To explain these conflicts—though it is a stretch—it has become increasingly fashionable in Pakistan to blame them on India. The army seems convinced that India is supporting the Taliban. This makes Pakistanis especially loth to crack down on LET, historically at least their trustiest weapon against India. This is worrying. So far, Pakistan should consider itself fortunate to have received such gentle handling after Mumbai. In the event of another catastrophic attack, India might be less cautious. Even as it is, great damage has been done. Pakistan really cannot afford anything less than peace with its neighbour. Facing a long war on its north-western border, it cannot keep up its decades-old readiness on the eastern one. Moreover for its moribund economy to grow, it needs urgently to improve trade and investment relations with India. Asif Ali Zardari, Pakistan’s commercially minded president, seemed to recognise this. He had been trying to coax life back into the once successful but now stagnant diplomatic effort to normalise relations between the two countries. But on December 14th India’s prime minister, Manmohan Singh, suggested that so long as Pakistan’s vicious sometime proxies remain unchecked, this will be impossible.

2008-12-28T13:16:05-07:00

Pakistan has made a modest start against the likely culprits of the Mumbai killings. But fulminating against India is more fun 29 true

2008-12-28T13:16:05-07:00

The Economist print edition United against the wrong enemy

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human-rights One Baluch was killed and another one was arrested on 20.12.08 by the Iranian security forces, the Iranian Fars News Agency reported. (1) This Baluch was killed when he was travelling in Kerman province. The report suggested that there was an armed clash between the two sides but did not say anything about the government casualties.    The Iranian government recently issued a directive in which the public relations departments of different government organizations and the news media were ordered to show the strength of the security forces in their dealings with the Baluch insurgents. It strictly ordered to media to stop the publication of the government casualties.    Baluchistan Human rights Watch reported that 31 Baluch and Sunnis have been killed by the Iranian governments in the last 30 days. (2) Another report by Students News Agency confirmed that 12 Baluch have been arrested and 20 cars have been confiscated on 15th of December 08. (3) The Baluch people are getting arrested for different reasons and one different excuses. Once they are arrested they usually lose everything. Their cars would be confiscated, their bank accounts would be closed and their savings would be confiscated by the government. With the arrest of one Baluch, his family will be completely destroyed. The judicial system usually acts as a tool of the government and does not administer justice.    The same news agency reported that the police chased a land cruiser car and arrested its owner on charges of carrying few alcoholic drinks. (4) The Iranian corrupt police identify the new expensive cars and stop them for no reason at all. They usually plant some drugs or alcohol bottles in the car and arrest the owner on charges of smuggling illegal products. After torturing them and accusing them of drug trafficking they usually get huge bribes and take their car away. It is a kind of Brazilian way of kidnapping the people who belong to the middle classes and extracting money from them.    The innocent Baluch people, who see themselves as the helpless victims, give in and surrender whatever livelihood they have in order to save their lives.    Another news agency reported that 537 men were arrested in Baluchistan. These are mostly Afghan refugees who live and work in Iran. The security forces confiscate their properties and deport them back to Afghanistan. These refugees usually lose everything before getting deported. A lot of Baluch people who have been refused identity card by the Iranian authorities are also getting deported to Afghanistan as aliens. Ayatollah Danishmand, who works for the office of Iranian leadership, recently advised the authorities in Baluchistan and other Sunni dominated areas to refuse to issue identity cards for those Sunnis whose parents have more than two children. (5.)    Although the video of this speech was released recently, it has been the unofficial policy of the Iranian regime to withdraw the identity cards of many Baluch people and deport to Afghanistan and Pakistan.

2008-12-28T13:23:34-07:00

Baluchistan Human rights Watch reported that 31 Baluch and Sunnis have been killed by the Iranian governments in the last 30 days. (2) Another report by Students News Agency confirmed that 12 Baluch have been arrested and 20 cars have been confiscated on 15th of December 08. (3) The Baluch people are getting arrested for different reasons and one different excuses 30 true

2008-12-28T13:23:34-07:00

Reza Hossein Borr Baloch Culture Yahoo Group 31 Baloch killed in the last 30 days in Iran

2010-03-08T13:27:11-07:00

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opinions-and-news  The Iran-Pakistan-India (IPI) gas pipeline has been discussed for almost a decade, with its proponents arguing that it will promote our energy security. After 26/11, the project is dead. No Indian government can proceed with a deal that will give Pakistan a knife at India's energy throat. Far from promoting our energy security, it would be a source of immense national insecurity. Just suppose the pipeline was complete and functioning today. The pipeline contract would have required Pakistan to ensure the safety of supplies. But Baluch insurgents have been bowing up gas pipelines in Pakistan for ages, so Islamabad could easily connive in the blowing up of the India section of the pipeline, claiming it did not control non-state actors, and indeed is opposed to them. Just as it did after 26/11, Pakistan could claim that it was itself a victim of sabotage, that India must not indulge in finger pointing, and that Islamabad would investigate the incident provided India provided enough evidence! Wouldn't a pipeline deal include insurance against disruption of gas supplies? Well, maybe some brave global insurance company would come forward initially, but it would surely have charged premiums so hefty as to undercut the entire economic rationale of the pipeline, which was supposed to be cheaper than the alternative, which is supply through tankers carrying liquefied natural gas from Iran. Besides, insurance contracts have "force majeure" clauses protecting the insurance company from liability in the event of war or civil conflict. So, the IPI pipeline would be an insecure project.    Why then have so many politicians and ideologues been canvassing the IPI pipeline with such vigour and passion? For two reasons. One, some naïve, optimistic politicians view India and Pakistan as natural partners separated by unwarranted mistrust, and they saw the pipeline as a way of building economic linkages, trust and friendship. Second, the entire left saw the pipeline as a way of spitting in the face of the US, and asserting India's independence in foreign policy.    The US opposed the pipeline on the ground that it would strengthen Iran's economy and enable that country to escape some of the economic sanctions penalties that the US has sought to impose on it. When India went slow on the IPI pipeline after the Bush-Manmohan Singh agreement of 2005, the left was livid at what it saw it as a foreign policy surrender of a junior partner in an unequal relationship. So obsessed was the Left with the need to combat US imperialism that it failed to see the threat that the pipeline would strengthen Pakistan.    At the time, most analysts agreed that the risk of an Indo-Pak war was remote. In the absence of war, many analysts felt that Pakistan was unlikely to cut the pipeline, for commercial and foreign policy reasons.    This analysis ignored risks involved in conflict at levels lower. Both countries have become nuclear powers, so open warfare is virtually impossible. For that very reason, each country needs to focus on strategies and pressure points other than war, which can be used as bargaining counters or for covert retaliation. So, the pipeline in its current form must be viewed as dead. Yet the fact remains that India will need massive gas imports in the future. Iran is not a reliable supplier-it reneged on an earlier low-cost LNG deal with India, so we must find alternative suppliers. Yet Iran is too big to be totally ignored.    So let's consider a different sort of pipeline. This will be a shallow offshore pipeline taking gas from Iran to the maritime boundary between India and Pakistan off Kutch. At this point, the pipeline can divide into two, with one section going north to Pakistan and the other going west to Kutch. Any sabotage of the main pipeline will hit Pakistan as badly as India -it will mean mutually assured destruction (MAD) of gas supply. The section going to each country from the maritime boundary will be in the territory of that country, under its own control.    In the Cold War, MAD was the basis of global security. By analogy, India and Pakistan need a MAD pipeline for security. Neither side will be able to hurt the other without hurting itself.

2008-12-28T13:38:07-07:00

Just suppose the pipeline was complete and functioning today. The pipeline contract would have required Pakistan to ensure the safety of supplies. But Baluch insurgents have been blowing up gas pipelines in Pakistan for ages, so Islamabad could easily connive in the blowing up of the India section of the pipeline, claiming it did not control non-state actors, and indeed is opposed to them. Just as it did after 26/11, Pakistan could claim that it was itself a victim of sabotage, that India must not indulge in finger pointing, and that Islamabad would investigate the incident provided India provided enough evidence! 31 true

2008-12-28T13:38:07-07:00

Swaminathan S Anklesaria Aiyar Times of India IPI gas pipeline, RIP

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opinions-and-news  "Channel Four has handed President Ahmadinejad a propaganda victory. It has given him a prime-time slot in which he poses as a defender of justice and peace, while ignoring his own human rights abuses. His regime executes children, journalists, gay people, and political, religious and ethnic dissidents. There are no apologies for these crimes against humanity in the President's broadcast. It is pure propaganda," said Peter Tatchell, human rights campaigner and human  rights spokesperson for the Green Party of England. "This programme is an insult to the 100,000 Iranian people who have been murdered since the Islamic fundamentalists seized power in 1979," he said.  Mr Tatchell was commenting on the decision by Channel Four Television to broadcast the Iranian President delivering The Alternative Christmas Message on Christmas Day. It was transmitted after the Queen delivered her traditional Christmas Message to the nation.    Mr Tatchell had called on Channel Four to:    "Pull the plug on this criminal despot, who ranks with Robert Mugabe, Omar al-Bashir of Sudan and the Burmese military junta as one of the world's most bloody despots. "Channel Four executives would not have given Ahmadinejad this propaganda coup if it was their partners or children who were being  tortured in Evin prison, Tehran.    "This Christmas, thousands of Iranian families are grief-stricken. Their loved ones have been jailed, tortured and executed. Instead of inviting them to deliver The Alternative Christmas Message, Channel Four is giving airtime to the man responsible for their loved ones' suffering," he said.    President Ahmadinejad' s broadcast included the following statements:    "Jesus, the Son of Mary, is the standard bearer of justice, of love for our fellow human beings, of the fight against tyranny, discrimination and injustice... .  "If Christ were on earth today, undoubtedly He would hoist the banner of justice and love for humanity to oppose warmongers, occupiers, terrorists and bullies the world over.... "I pray for the New Year to be a year of happiness, prosperity, peace and brotherhood for humanity."    "Ahmadinejad' s apparently reasonable words are pure propaganda. His actions are devoid of love, justice, humanity and brotherhood. They involve the brutal repression of his own people," commented Mr Tatchell.    "Trade union, student and women's rights activists are imprisoned and tortured. His government is pursuing a racist, ethnic cleansing policy against Iran's minority nationalities, such as the Arabs, Kurds and Baluchs.    "According to Human Rights Watch, in March this year an Iranian parliament member, Hossein Ali Shahryari, confirmed that 700 people were awaiting execution in Sistan and Baluchistan province, which is only one of Iran's many provinces. Many of those on death row are Baluch political prisoners. This staggering number of death sentences is evidence of the intense, savage repression that is taking place under the leadership of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.  http://hrw.org/ wr2k8/pdfs/ iran.pdf    "In 2004, in the city of Neka, a 16 year old girl, Atefah Rajabi Sahaaleh, who had been raped and sexually abused by men for many years, was convicted of "crimes against chastity." She was hanged by the method of slow, painful strangulation, hoisted by a crane in a public square. http://news. bbc.co.uk/ 1/hi/5217424. stm    "Ahmadinejad' s regime exports terrorism. Many of the death squads in Iraq are trained, armed and funded by Tehran. They murder political and religious dissidents. Instead of putting the Iranian President on Channel Four he should be put on trial at The Hague. ," said Mr Tatchell.    Further information:    Peter Tatchell - 020 7403 1790      Statement format:    Peter Tatchell, human rights campaigner    Channel Four has handed President Ahmadinejad a propaganda victory. It has given him a prime-time slot in which he poses as a defender of justice and peace, despite his own human rights abuses. His regime executes children, journalists, students, gay people, political activists and ethnic minorities. There are no apologies for these crimes against humanity in the President's broadcast. It is pure propaganda - an insult to the 100,000 Iranian dissidents who have been murdered since the Islamic fundamentalists seized power in 1979. Channel 4 should pull the plug on this criminal despot, who ranks with Robert Mugabe, Omar al-Bashir of Sudan and the Burmese military junta as one of the world's most bloody despots. The channel's executives would not give Ahmadinejad this propaganda coup if it was their partners or children who were being tortured in Evin prison, Tehran. This Christmas, thousands of Iranian families are grief-stricken. Their loved ones have been jailed, tortured and executed. Instead of inviting them to deliver The Alternative Christmas Message, Channel 4 is giving airtime to the man responsible for their loved ones' suffering. Ahmadinejad may talk of peace and justice, but these apparently reasonable words are pure propaganda. His actions are devoid of love, mercy, justice, humanity and brotherhood. They involve the brutal repression of his own people. Trade union, student and women's rights campaigners are imprisoned and tortured. His government is pursuing a racist, ethnic cleansing policy against Iran's minority nationalities, the Arabs, Kurds and Baluchs. According to Human Rights Watch, in March this year 700 people were awaiting execution in Sistan and Baluchistan province, which is only one of Iran's 30 provinces. Many of those on death row are Baluch political prisoners. This staggering number of death sentences is evidence of the intense, savage repression that is taking place under the leadership of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Instead of putting him on  Channel Four he should be put on trial at The Hague.    Ends    --  Peter Tatchell is the Green Party parliamentary candidate for Oxford East www.greenoxford. com/peter and www.petertatchell. net    PETER TATCHELL HUMAN RIGHTS FUND    Donations are requested to help Peter Tatchell's campaigns promoting human rights, democracy and global justice. Peter is unpaid and receives no grants. He depends on donations from friends and supporters.    Please make cheques payable to: "Peter Tatchell Human Rights Fund".  Send to: PTHRF, PO Box 35253, London E1 4YF  To download a donation form or a standing order mandate, go to Donations at: www.tatchellrightsf und.org  For information about Peter Tatchell's campaigns: www.petertatchell. net

2008-12-28T14:52:32-07:00

Insult to 100,000 murdered Iranians "Pull the plug on President Ahmadinejad' s propaganda" 32 true

2008-12-28T14:52:32-07:00

Peter Tatchell www.petertatchell. net Channel 4 colludes with Iran tyranny

2010-03-07T11:42:42-07:00

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opinions-and-news TEHRAN — Employing a tactic not seen in <a title="More news and information about Iran." href="http://topics.nytimes.com/top/news/international/countriesandterritories/iran/index.html?inline=nyt-geo">Iran</a> before, a suicide bomber affiliated with a Sunni militant group killed four people and wounded 12 in an attack early Monday in Saravan, a southeastern city, the official IRNA news agency reported. The group, Jundallah, has attacked Iranian armed forces and <a title="More articles about the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps." href="http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/organizations/i/islamic_revolutionary_guard_corps/index.html?inline=nyt-org">Revolutionary Guards</a> in the past. But this was the first time it had used a suicide bombing similar to those in Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan. “This group has killed many innocent and defenseless civilians in the past, and the security forces have killed their members,” IRNA reported without providing further information. The news agency did not disclose details about the attack, but according to unofficial news Web sites in Iran, a suicide bomber drove into a security forces headquarters in Saravan around 7:30 a.m. local time. Jundallah claimed responsibility for the attack, IRNA reported. It was not clear whether the casualties were civilians or members of the security forces. Jundallah said in a statement posted by one of the Web sites that the attack was in retaliation for the authorities’ destruction of a Sunni religious school in Zabol, a southeastern city. It also said the suicide bomber was Abdol-ghafoor Rigi, the brother of the group’s leader. Iran says the group, led by Abdolmalek Rigi, is a terrorist organization with links to <a title="More articles about Al Qaeda." href="http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/organizations/a/al_qaeda/index.html?inline=nyt-org">Al Qaeda</a>. The group has claimed responsibility for previous attacks, including one on a bus carrying members of the Revolutionary Guards in 2007. Early this month, the authorities said that the group killed all 16 of the border guards it kidnapped in June. Jundallah had demanded the release of 200 of its prisoners in return for the border guards. The authorities have accused Britain and the United States of supporting Jundallah to destabilize the Islamic Republic. The first deputy chief of judiciary, Ebrahim Raisi, said this month that Iran had documents showing that “Britain and America supported Rigi’s terrorist group with arms and information,” IRNA reported. The group is active mostly in a southeastern province, Sistan va Baluchestan, near the border with Afghanistan and Pakistan, where the majority of people are Sunni Muslims. Iran is predominantly Shiite. Jundallah says it is fighting discrimination against Sunnis by the Iranian authorities.

2008-12-30T11:52:56-07:00

Jundallah said in a statement posted by one of the Web sites that the attack was in retaliation for the authorities’ destruction of a Sunni religious school in Zabol, a southeastern city. It also said the suicide bomber was Abdol-ghafoor Rigi, the brother of the group’s leader. 33 true

2008-12-30T11:52:56-07:00

NAZILA FATHI The New York Times Rare Suicide Bombing in Iran Kills 4

2010-03-06T17:52:51-07:00

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opinions-and-news QUETTA: Iranian authorities closed the border with Pakistan on Monday after a suicide bomb blast on the Iranian side of the border killed around 45 people in an attack on a police checkpost, sources said. The bomber struck the joint headquarters of the Iranian police and anti-narcotics in the Iranian border town of Saravan early on Monday morning. Saravan, a district in the Iranian province of Sistan and Balochistan, is a predominantly Baloch-populated area where the entire population is Sunni Muslim unlike the dominant Shia sect of Islam in rest of the country.

2008-12-30T11:58:07-07:00

The bomber struck the headquarter of the Iranian police 34 true

2008-12-30T11:58:07-07:00

Malik Siraj Akbar http://www.dailytimes.com.pk Iran closes border after suicide attack

2010-03-07T15:34:49-07:00

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opinions-and-news <a id="articleLocation" title="Click to view map" href="http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/12/29/news/ML-Iran-Militants.php#">TEHRAN, Iran</a>: Iran's state news agency says that rebels from Jundallah armed group, believed to have links to al-Qaida, have killed four members of the security forces in southeastern Iran near the border with Pakistan. IRNA says another 12 border guards were also injured in Monday's attack, part of a low-level insurgency taking place in the country's lawless southeast. The extremist group are members of Iran's ethnic Baluchi minority, which can also be found in Pakistan and Afghanistan. The group claims to fight for the rights of Sunni Muslims oppressed by Iran's Shiite government. The group said in a statement posted on its Web site Monday that it has killed 150 members of the elite Revolutionary Guards.

2008-12-30T12:01:38-07:00

The group claims to fight for the rights of Sunni Muslims oppressed by Iran's Shiite government. 35 true

2008-12-30T12:01:38-07:00

The Associated Press Rebels kill several border guards

2010-03-08T01:55:43-07:00

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opinions-and-news QUETTA, Dec 29: A large number of Iranian security personnel were killed and scores of others injured in a suicide attack on the headquarters of the Iranian security force in Sarwan district of Sistan-Balochistan on Monday. Iran’s deputy consul-general in Quetta Aqai Mohammad Ali Rushdai said: “The incident took place in Sarwan and a large number of security personnel were killed and injured in the attack.” He said Jundullah, a religious outfit, had claimed responsibility for the attack. According to agency reports, the suicide attacker hit an explosive-laden truck near a building of Iranian security forces about 130 km away from the Pakistan border town of Washak. The building was blown up in the attack. “Security agencies had been receiving threats of an attack for some time,” Aqai Rushdai said.

2008-12-30T12:09:01-07:00

Iran’s deputy consul-general in Quetta Aqai Mohammad Ali Rushdai said: “The incident took place in Sarwan and a large number of security personnel were killed and injured in the attack.” 36 true

2008-12-30T12:09:01-07:00

Saleem Shahid http://www.dawn.com Suicide attacker kills several Iranian troops

2010-03-07T17:02:27-07:00

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opinions-and-news A fascinating study of a sub-nationalism in which tragedy and farce are closely intertwined. The British were dismayed at Jinnah’s legal advice to Kalat. It was never independent, nor was Hyderabad. The Khan of Kalat acceded to Pakistan only on March 20, 1948, when his intrigues with New Delhi and Kabul were exposed. However, in mid-July the Khan’s brother returned from Afghanistan where he had fled with a lashkar (army). Pakistan’s army had to engage them. Unfortunately, successive governments neglected Balochistan and its sensitive part, Kalat, fuelling Baloch nationalism. The book is an excellently researched study of that early phase until 1955. Policies pursued thereafter were no wiser, especially by Z.A. Bhutto and Zia-ul-Haq. The author is a German political scientist who did laborious field work in Sindh, the North West Frontier Province and the Iran-Pakistan transborder region of Balochistan. He is currently engaged in research on the evolution of Baloch nationalism and the role of the province’s rich natural resources as cause and target of the current conflict in the region. President Asif Ali Zardari, significantly, remarked that Balochistan has the first claim on its resources. The Baloch ethnic identity’s “transformation” to Baloch national identity is an arresting phrase. It can be used for upsurge in any region. The pioneer in the field was Innayatullah Baloch’s book The Problem of Greater Balochistan: A Study of Baloch Nationalism (1987) published in Germany. The author had worked at the University of Heidelberg. The Khan of Kalat, Mir Ahmad Yar Khan, also wrote his memoirs, Inside Baluchistan, which were published in 1975. Once the States of Kharan, Makran and Las Bolo acceded to Pakistan, his territory was diminished. The ones he considered to be his feudatories acted independently. Worse, he lost the precious seaboard. The author holds that the roots of the present crisis lie in the period from 1930 to 1955 and portrays the evolution of Baloch national identity as a reaction to the territorial, political and cultural inclusion on the part of the All India Muslim League and the Pakistan movement. He argues that the birth of the Baloch nation was a consequence of the birth of the state of Pakistan in August 1947 and a result of the annexation of the Baloch proto-state of Kalat by that new state in March 1948. “Annexation” is surely a wrong word to use. It reveals the author’s approach, if not, indeed, his pro-Baloch bias. There was nothing inevitable about the troubles that arose. They were the result of bad policies. The author has delved into the archives of Balochistan extensively. The narrative is written in a lucid style. In March 1952, the government of Pakistan announced the merger of Kalat and the other three States in a “Balochistan States Union”. After a promising start, the Union was dissolved and all four States were merged with Pakistan. Their rulers were pensioned off. Unlike the Nizam of Hyderabad, the Khan of Kalat tried desperately to revive his demand for independence. He failed miserably but served as Governor of Balochistan from 1974 until his death in 1977. Pakistan used high-handed methods most of the time to quell unrest in Balochistan. But the Khan had ceased to be a symbol of popular aspirations. On June 24, 1963, Nawab Khair Bukhsh Narri complained on the floor of the National Assembly of Pakistan that “people working for the Khan of Kalat had gone to the gallows while the Khan himself had returned, was forgiven and had become a patriot”. This is a fascinating study of sub-nationalism in which tragedy and farce were closely intertwined.

2008-12-30T20:36:23-07:00

KALAT was Pakistan’s Hyderabad. Both princely states refused to accede to the Union of the country to which they properly belonged. Both received Mohammad Ali Jinnah’s legal advice that on the lapse of British paramountcy on August 15, 1947, they become independent sovereign states. There were standstill agreements in both cases. Hyderabad had to be brought into the Indian Union by armed action on September 13, 1948. 37 true

2008-12-30T20:36:23-07:00

http://www.frontline.in/stories/20090116260107400.htm The taming of Kalat

2010-03-08T18:49:48-07:00

301 A.G. NOORANI

opinions-and-news The officials said the government was doing its best to ensure that the Muharram-ul-Haraam passed peacefully, and for the purpose ìfoolproofî security measures were being taken. In all, 5,000 policemen, 2,000 men of the Balochistan Constabulary and 1,000 Frontier Corps troops will be on guard on the 9th and 10th of Muharram, the officials added. The chief minister has already given directives to ensure peace during the Muharram-ul-Haraam. Meanwhile, a meeting of the Peace Committee, Quetta district, on Tuesday reviewed the security arrangements for Muharram. The religious scholars were urged to avoid delivering provocative speeches and play an effective role in promoting peace, brotherhood and harmony among the Muslims. The meeting was informed that a district Control Room would be set up in the office of EDO (Revenue), where presence of representatives of different departments/agencies, including civil defence, fire brigade, QESCO, WASA, PTCL, health department, police and district government would be ensured. The Control Room would have the numbers 081-2820729 (telephone) and 0300-5791090 (mobile phone). It was also stated that close circuit cameras would be installed to monitor the routes of the procession. Moreover, additional deployment of the police would also be made to prevent any untoward incident, it was further stated.

2008-12-30T20:42:33-07:00

QUETTA: Eight thousand troops of different law-enforcement agencies, including the paramilitary force (Frontier Corps), would perform security duty on the ninth and tenth of Muharram in Quetta with the Army at standby, officials said on Tuesday. 38 true

2008-12-30T20:42:33-07:00

http://www.thenews.com.pk/print1.asp?id=154656 8,000 troops to guard Quetta on Ashura

2010-03-07T23:35:20-07:00

257 By By Muhammad Ejaz Khan

opinions-and-news He said an in interview, on the one side the federal government announces fund for the province on the basis of population but on the other hand increase in population is banned, which is clear contradiction. He demanded of the government to give fund to the province on the basis of population so that it could resolve its problems. The Governor said all funds, including NFC are given to the province on the basis of population but the population has been spread at far flung areas, had various issues and the federal government should give funds, including NFC on population basis or allow us to increase population. Magsi said dearness is not the issue of Balochistan but the whole country and poor and rich both are worried how to meet their basic needs. “How a man will make budget in salary of 7000/- per month”, he questioned. “Being a governor of the province I could not provide employment to the people and end price hike and I am responsible for it”, he claimed.—NNI

2008-12-30T21:50:37-07:00

Quetta—Governor Balochistan Nawab Zulfiqar Ali Magsi has expressed dissatisfaction over the prevailing law and order in Balochistan and said “I have nothing with any miscreants, fighting for the province’s rights”. 39 true

2008-12-30T21:50:37-07:00

http://pakobserver.net/200812/31/news/topstories14.asp ‘Zulfiqar Magsi’ not satisfied with Balochistan situation

2010-03-08T03:28:51-07:00

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opinions-and-news ISLAMABAD: A whopping Rs 14.154 billion Central Zakat Fund (CZF) lapsed during the fiscal 2006-07, says the Auditor General of Pakistan (AGP) report. The Central Zakat Council (CZC), overseen by the Religious Affairs, Zakat and Ushr Ministry, manages the CZF created for distribution of Zakat to Northern Areas, Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT), nationwide health institutions, national level calamity/emergency relief services etc. Punjab’s share in the CZF is 57.36 percent, Sindh’s 23.71 percent, NWFP’s 13.82 percent and Balochistan’s 5.11 percent. During the year 2006-07, the CZF totaled Rs 19.509 billion out of which the total disbursements/ expenditures were of Rs 5.354 billion. This way, Rs 14.154 billion Zakat funds remained unutilized and thus, lapsed, the AGP report says. The auditors also pointed out irregularity of Rs 16.707 million in purcha<img style="float: left; margin: 11px;" title="rupee.jpg" src="/images/189.jpg" alt="rupee.jpg" width="460" height="183" />se of medicines by the health welfare committees (HWCs) of Chandka Medical College and Hospital, Larkana; Jinnah Postgraduate Medical College and Hospital, Karachi; Services Hospital, Lahore; Khyber Teaching Hospital, Peshawar; Fauji Foundation Hospital, Rawalpindi; and Sindh Institute of Urology and Transplant, Karachi without open competitive bidding/tenders. The AGP detected an unlawful expenditure of Rs 3.5 million by the HWC of Chandka Medical College Hospital on treatment of patients without determining their istehqaq (being deserving) by the Local Zakat Committees (LZCs). It was also observed that during the year 2006-07, the HWCs of Chandka Medical College and Hospital, Larkana; Lahore General Hospital, Lahore; and Punjab Institute of Cardiology, Lahore unjustifiably adjusted Rs 1.328 million medicine bill in the next fiscal year. The auditors said the HWCs of Lahore General Hospital and Mayo Hospital, Lahore irregularly purchased Rs 0.618 million worth of medicines without availability of sufficient Zakat funds for the purpose. The expenditures were to be adjusted in the next year, they said. They also observed that the HWC of Civil Hospital, Karachi, illegally transferred Rs 0.1113 million Zakat funds to its accounts; the HWC of IRNUM Hospital, Peshawar paid Rs 0.218 million to a medicine supplier in cash instead of crossed cheque, as has been prescribed in the rules; the HWC of Civil Hospital, Sibi, retained unspent balances of Rs 0.202 million to the CZF, and the HWC of Civil Hospital, Karachi didn’t return the unutilized medicines to the supplier resulting in an irregularity of Rs 0.156 million. The AGP recommended that the principal accounting officers (PAOs) concerned get the unspent balances refunded to the CZF by the hospitals, check payment of Zakat bills of one year from the budgetary allocations of the next year and ensure refund of the funds illegally transferred to the hospital accounts. The auditors also pointed out that the HWCs didn’t properly maintain record like register of deserving patients and cash books and that Zakat administration’s internal audit departments are understaffed, short on qualified and experienced auditors, without audit plans, reporting channels and follow-up mechanism. They also complained that in certain cases the record was not produced before the auditors, response to audit paras was slow, and the administrations didn’t arrange meetings of the Departmental Accounts Committees (DACs) on time. The auditors asked the PAOs to ensure creation of a mechanism of management controls to prevent unauthorized practices and improper use of Zakat Funds, enforcement of regulatory frameworks in the organizations, capacity building of the staff to effectively implement Zakat system, arrangements for prompt refund of Zakat fund and regular internal audits before statutory audit.

2008-12-30T22:24:26-07:00

ISLAMABAD: A whopping Rs 14.154 billion Central Zakat Fund (CZF) lapsed during the fiscal 2006-07, says the Auditor General of Pakistan (AGP) report. Punjab’s share in the CZF is 57.36 percent, Sindh’s 23.71 percent, NWFP’s 13.82 percent and Balochistan’s 5.11 percent. 40 true

2008-12-30T22:24:25-07:00

By Jamila Achakzai http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2008%5C12%5C31%5Cstory_31-12-2008_pg7_38 Rs 14bn Central Zakat Fund lapsed during fiscal 2006-07

2010-03-06T18:49:45-07:00

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opinions-and-news This was conveyed by visiting Iranian Energy Minister Parviz Fattah during a meeting here with President Asif Ali Zardari. They held discussions on matters related to the region and bilateral ties. Fattah said Iran is keen to proceed with the project to provide 1,000 MW for Gwadar and adjoining areas. Zardari appreciated Iran's assistance in this regard, said a statement issued by the presidency. Iran is ready to play a role in defusing tension in the region, Fattah said. He also renewed President Mahmood Ahmedinijad's invitation to Zardari to visit Iran.

2008-12-30T23:11:15-07:00

Islamabad (PTI): Iranon Tuesday signalled its keenness to proceed with a project to supply 1,000 MW of electricity to the southern Pakistani port of Gwadar and its adjoining areas, for which a memorandum of understanding has already been signed. 41 true

2008-12-30T23:11:15-07:00

http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/001200812302133.htm Iran keen to supply power to Pakistan port

2010-03-07T22:42:48-07:00

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opinions-and-news Nawaz has demanded Bugti's killing be investigated after his meeting with Jamhoori Watan Party chief, Talal Akbar Bugti, the Daily Times reported. The PML-N chief also said that the former president Pervez Musharraf had committed injustices against the people of Balochistan. Talal reportedly said that people of Balochistan "have found like-minded people in other provinces" and "a collective struggle will bring change." Earlier, Talal had said that his father, Akbar Bugti's murder could have been avoided had the Chaudhry brothers so desired. But they were hungry for power and money. They didn't stop Pakistan''s former president General Parvez Musharraf from the `extreme action to remain in power. (ANI)

2008-12-30T23:20:52-07:00

Pakistan's former Prime Minister, Nawaz Sharif has asked the government to set up a commission to investigate Baloch nationalist leader, Nawab Akbar Bugti's murder case. 42 true

2008-12-30T23:20:52-07:00

http://www.topnews.in/nawaz-calls-commission-probe-bugti-s-murder-2102295 Nawaz calls for commission to probe Bugti’s murder

2010-03-09T14:47:07-07:00

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baloch-culture The skeletons have been eroded and no artifacts have been found inside the graves. “Up to now ten different types of burials have been found in Burnt City, seven of which are extremely rare with only three or four examples of them in the area,” said head of the archeology team, Seyyed Mansour Seyyed Sajjadi. “These rare burials may have belonged to emigrants, who were buried according to their own rituals,” he added. Over 400 prehistoric sites have been excavated in Burnt City and archeologists expect the number to reach 1000. The 5000-year-old Burnt City is located near the city of Zabol  and spans an area of over 300,000 hectares. Four civilizations have lived in the city which was burnt down three times and not rebuilt after the last fire. The world's oldest animated picture, dice and backgammon set, the earliest known caraway seed and artificial eyeball have been found in Burnt City. TE/HGH

2008-12-31T10:47:47-07:00

A brick-walled quadrangular grave was found at the site, which is believed by archeologists to be unique among the discoveries of the past 30 years. 43 true

2008-12-31T10:47:47-07:00

http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=80041&sectionid=351020105 Iran's Burnt City yields ancient graves

2010-03-06T18:55:51-07:00

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opinions-and-news Addressing a large group of local people of the city of Zahedan, capital of the southeastern province of Sistan and Baluchestan, he said, "Tel Aviv regime and its allies should know that this illegitimate regime has reached its end and even the big powers' support can not prevent its collapse." Warning the Israeli allies against their unconditional support for the regime, Ahmadinejad said, according to IRNA, "You think that the Zionists can continue their life with crimes and killing people and you can amend your prestige among the regional states." © 2008 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)

2008-12-31T10:53:39-07:00

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said on Wednesday that Israel is on the verge of collapse and that nothing can help it survive. 44 true

2008-12-31T10:53:39-07:00

Source: http://www.albawaba.com/en/countries/Iran/238988 Ahmadinejad: Israel Set To Collapse

2010-03-09T20:13:28-07:00

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