حزب مردم بلوچستان Balochistan People’s Party بلوچستانءِ اُستمانءِ گــَل
United States Department of State
Bureau of Consular Affairs
Washington, DC 20520
September 15, 2008 ; travel.state.gov
The Department of State continues to warn U.S. citizens to carefully
consider the risks of travel to Iran. Dual national Iranian-American
citizens may encounter difficulty in departing Iran. This Travel Warning
supersedes the Travel Warning for Iran issued January 3, 2008.
Some elements of the Iranian regime and the population remain hostile to the
United States. As a result, American citizens may be subject to harassment
or arrest while traveling or residing in Iran. In 2007, Iranian authorities
prevented a number of Iranian-American citizen academics, journalists, and
others who traveled to Iran for personal reasons from leaving for several
months, and in some cases detained and imprisoned them on various charges,
including espionage and posing a threat to national security. Americans of
Iranian origin should consider the risk of being targeted by authorities
before planning travel to Iran. Iranian authorities may deny dual nationals
access to the United States Interests Section in Tehran, because they are
considered to be solely Iranian citizens.
The Iranian regime continues to repress its minority religious and ethnic
groups, including Bahai, Arabs, Kurds, Azeris, and others. Consequently,
some areas within the country where these minorities reside, including the
Baluchistan border area near Pakistan and Afghanistan, the Kurdish northwest
of the country, and areas near the Iraqi border, remain unsafe. Armed
attacks on the road between Bam and Kerman in May 2007 also render this area
unsafe.
Large-scale demonstrations have taken place in various regions throughout
Iran over the past several years as a result of a sometimes volatile
political climate. U.S. citizens who travel to Iran despite this Travel
Warning should exercise caution.
The U.S. government does not have diplomatic or consular relations with the
Islamic Republic of Iran and therefore cannot provide protection or routine
consular services to American citizens in Iran. The Swiss government, acting
through its Embassy in Tehran, serves as protecting power for U.S. interests
in Iran. Neither U.S. passports nor visas to the United States are issued in
Tehran. The Iranian Government does not recognize dual citizenship and
generally does not permit the Swiss to provide protective services for U.S.
citizens who are also Iranian nationals. U.S. citizens of Iranian origin who
are considered by Iran to be Iranian citizens have been detained and
harassed by Iranian authorities. Former Muslims who have converted to other
religions, as well as persons who encourage Muslims to convert, are subject
to arrest and prosecution.
Americans who travel or reside in Iran despite this Travel Warning are
strongly encouraged to register through the State Department's travel
registration website, https://travelregistration.state.gov. If they are in
Tehran, American citizens may also register in person at the U.S. Interests
Section of the Swiss Embassy at Africa Avenue, West Farzan Street, no. 59,
Tehran. The local telephone numbers are 021-8878-2964 and 021-8879-2364, fax
021-8877-3265, e-mail: tie.vertretung@eda.admin.ch.
U.S. citizens should also consult the Department of State’s Country Specific
Information for Iran, and the current Worldwide Caution, which are located
on the Department’s Internet web site at http://travel.state.gov. American
citizens may also obtain updated information on travel and security
conditions by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll-free in the United States and
Canada or, from outside the United States and Canada, 1-202-501-4444.
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19-09-2008
According to reports from the members of
Balochistan Human Rights Watch (BHRW), Ebrahim Mehrnehad, the baloch civil
activist and the younger brother of Ya’qoub Mehrnehad has been sentenced to
a term of imprisonment for 5 years (3 years unconditional and 2 years
conditional imprisonment). He was convicted, in Zahedan, to be guilty in
being a national threat in first degree while he had no privilege of having
any lawyer.
According to the investigation report performed by (Y.GH.) the reporter of
Radio Balochi FM (Voice of BHRW) in Sarawan, Ebrahim has been subjected to
uttermost torture methods, both physically and psychologically. Amongst he
has been subjected to burning.
One of the most terrible torture method which has been committed against
Ebrahim, was to experience how his brother, Ya’qoub was subjected to torture
which has made a major negative impact on his physical and psychological
state. An impact which has resulted in worsening his general health
condition to uttermost critical. Therefore it is crucially important that he
receives an urgent necessary medical care and aid.
We in ‘’Balochistan Human Rights Watch’’ are deeply concerned about his
physical and psychological health condition, and consider the concerned
authorities in Islamic Republic of Iran responsible for his life and fate.
However, in our opinion Ebrahim was convicted unfairly and received an
unlawful and a wrongful sentence. Quite so because he has not committed any
crime, even under shadow of Iranian official constitutional circumstances.
He has only performed civil activities for gaining the legal rights. That is
exactly therefore crucially important that the Islamic Republic of Iran
understands that the unfair convicting of civil activists with such a wrong
basis, consequently, results in providing a very dangerous platform in civil
society for more uncivil resistant activities and unrest. This,
undoutedfully, will in long term be more harmful for the region, as a whole.
‘’Balochistan Human Rights Watch’’ calls therefore for an immediate
uncondional release of Ebrahim.
It is worth mentioning that Ebrahim , once in 26.04.2007, his brother
Ya’qoub and a number of other young civil activists were taken in custody in
connection with a public meeting. The main mission of mentioned public
meeting was only the interrogation of responsible authorities in Sistan and
Balochestan about their doings. They were released all, except Ya’qoub
Mehrnehad after 70 days of beeing in custody. Ya’qoub was chairman of “the
association of youth’s justice voice”, and he unfortunately, despite of many
calls from several international human rights watch groups and
organizations, was sentenced to death defenseless, and the regime executed
the sentence on 4 August 2008
Balochistan Human Rights Watch / Radio Balochi FM
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IAEA shows photos alleging Iran worked on missile
21-09-2008
VIENNA (AFP) — The UN nuclear watchdog has shown its members documents and
photographs suggesting that Iran secretly tried to modify a missile cone to
carry a nuclear bomb, diplomats said.
Diplomats who attended a special briefing Tuesday said the IAEA's head of
inspections in the Middle East, Herman Naeckerts, had shown them new proof
indicating that Iran tried to refit the long-distance Shahab-3 missile to
carry a nuclear payload.
The US envoy to the IAEA, Gregory Schulte, said Naeckerts showed photos and
diagrams of Iranian work on re-designing a Shabab-3 "to carry what would
appear to be a nuclear weapon.
"The Secretariat told us the information they have is, in their words, 'very
credible', unquote, and they have asked Iran to provide 'substantive
responses', unquote", Schulte said.
Iran has refused IAEA requests to interview engineers involved in the work
and visit their ostensibly civilian workshops.
For its part, Iran continued to assert that the intelligence was forged.
Iranian ambassador Ali Asghar Soltanieh complained Tehran was being
pressured to disprove the allegations by revealing information vital to its
national security.
"No country would give information about its conventional military
activities," he said.
"I said in this briefing: 'Who in the world would believe there are a series
of top secret documents US intelligence found on a laptop regarding a
Manhattan Project-type nuclear (bomb programme) in Iran and none of these
documents bore seals of 'high confidential' or 'secret'?" he said.
"This matter is over, as far as we are concerned."
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Iran general killed
in clashes with rebels
19-09-2008
TEHRAN
(AFP) — Four members of the Iranian security forces, including a general,
have been killed in clashes with rebels in the southeast, the semi-official
Fars news agency said on Friday quoting a police official.
"During clashes with armed rebels on Thursday night, Brigadier General
Mohammad Sar-Golzaie was killed" in Sistan-Baluchestan province, a local
police commander, Salah Asgari, said.
He said the general was killed during mopping up operations in the
Nosratabad area northwest of the provincial capital Zahedan.
He said three other soldiers had been killed in fighting in recent days
without specifying where. "Several rebels were also killed," he added.
Sistan-Baluchestan has seen a spate of attacks by Sunni Muslim militant
group Jundullah (Soldiers of God) in recent years.
The province is home to a large ethnic Baluch community, who, unlike most
Iranians, are Sunnis.
The province also borders Afghanistan and Pakistan and is a major drug
trafficking route.
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Balochistan/Pakistan: Nine die in fresh Dera Bugti gun battle
dawn.net ; Sunday, 28 Sep, 2008
QUETTA: At least seven militants and two FC personnel were killed and four others suffered injuries in a gunbattle between security forces and militants in Dera Bugti district on Saturday. According to reports, over two dozen people have been killed from both sides. However, official sources confirmed the killing of only nine persons, including two security personnel of the Frontier Corps in the day-long battle. “Two FC men were killed and four injured in the fighting,” a senior official told Dawn, adding that they had information about the killing of seven militants.
The security forces said they destroyed two militant camps and recovered a huge cache of arms and ammunition. Sources said the fighting started in Ganz Nallah area of the district early Saturday morning when FC men, who were on a routine patrol, came under attack. Spokesman for the banned Baloch Republican Army Sarbaz Baloch claimed responsibility for the and said that 17 FC man had been killed in the fighting. FC troops with reinforcements have moved into Gandoai and Toba Nokhani area.
“Heavy weapons are being used by both sides
against each other,” sources said, adding that the fighting was continuing
till late in the night. An FC source also confirmed the ongoing clash. The
clash between the Baloch militants and security forces come after 25 days
when the three baloch militant organiations, including the banned Baloch
Liberation Army, Baloch Republican Army and Baloch Liberation Front
announced their joint unilateral ceasefire on 1st September this year.
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Balochistan Human
Rights Watch: A report concerning recent mass- arrest in ‘’Shouro-Hajiabad
and Gourog’’ villages in Zahedan – Balochistan - Iran.
According to reports from the members of "Balochistan Human Rights Watch" (BHRW)
a group of security forces from the Iranian regime attacked the ‘’Shouro’’
village in Zahedan at the early morning hours of Tuesday 23 September 2008.
Ataullah Shahbaksh (son of Wali Mohammad) was arrested during this attack
and transferred to Zahedan.
To Balochistan Human Rights Watch’s knowledge, Ataullah lost his sight
entirely 2 years ago ( 2006), because his eye was injured in connection with
a mine explosion. Another person (Gholam Mohammad Shahbakhsh son of Yar
Mohammad) was killed in the mentioned incident.
However, the family of Ataullah Shahbakhsh has not been able to find out,
what has happened to him after his arrest, or where he is held as prisoner,
despite serious attempts and efforts.
It must be mentioned that the ‘’Shouro’’ village and other surrounding
villages are part of a nomenclature area where the largest part of this area
has been subjected to the mine placement by the regime (1-2) , while many
people have lost their lives and many injured because of the striking the
mines.
Another person, Faghir Mohammad Shahbakhsh (known as Molla Pakir) son of
Khodadad was arrested in September 2008 in ‘’Haj Abad’’ village by the
security forces as well, and transferred to an unknown place. This village
is geographically suited in the neighborhood of ‘’Shouro’’ village.
His relatives have not been succeeded either to find out what has happened
to him since he was arrested. They are though convinced that the reason for
his arrest is that he is a close relative to ‘’Haj Shahbakhsh’’ who is one
of the leader of armed groups in the region.
In the same report which has been obtained recently, it says that the
security forces the attacked people living in the area where ‘’Gourok’’
village is suited in last week. In this attack, many persons were arrested
and transferred to a yet unknown place. This attack was performed right
after being involved in an almost battle between the security forces and an
unknown armed group.
Balochistan Human Rights Watch / Radio Balochi FM
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Iranian
prosecutor escapes assassination
28-09-2008
TEHRAN (AFP) — Gunmen shot and wounded an Iranian public prosecutor in the
restive province of Sistan-Baluchestan, the Fars news agency reported on
Sunday.
Fazlollah Shahabzi, public prosecutor in the town of Khash, was slightly
wounded in the attack on Saturday, the agency said, adding that the
"terrorists" escaped after the shooting.
Sistan-Baluchestan, which lies in southeastern Iran, has seen a spate of
attacks by Sunni Muslim militant group Jundullah (Soldiers of God) in recent
years.
The province is home to a large ethnic Baluch community, who, unlike most
Iranians, are Sunnis. The restive area borders Afghanistan and Pakistan and
is a major drug trafficking route.
In another incident, gunmen assassinated a Sunni Muslim prayer leader in the
northwestern city of Mahabad, the ISNA news agency reported.
"Haj Mamousta Molla Abdolrahim Tina was going home from the mosque after
morning prayers and two motorcyclists shot him in the middle of the road,"
the local public prosecutor, Samad Hazrati, was quoted as saying.
"It has not been clear yet if this was because of political differences or
personal issues," Hazrati added.
The report did not specify when the incident happened.
The Kurdish-majority city of Mahabad in West Azerbaijan province has
witnessed clashes between police and rebels from the Kurdistan Workers'
Party (PKK) over the past two years.