IRAN

TEHRAN — Iranian authorities carried out 93 executions between 31 July and 30 August, prompting concern from UN experts over the sharp increase in executions last month. The experts have called for an immediate halt to the practice. UN experts highlighted that this figure more than doubles the 45 executions…

LONDON — According to a blacklist published on the British government website, the United Kingdom has imposed sanctions on Unit 700 of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Quds Force, which is responsible for smuggling supplies and equipment. Three members of the Quds Force — Abdolfatah Ahvazian, Behnam Shahriyari, and…

VATICAN / TEHRAN — As fears mount over a potential Iranian military response against Israel following the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh, the leader of Hamas, in Tehran, Vatican Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin reached out to newly elected Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Monday morning. In the phone call,…

TEHRAN — The History and Antiquities Group at the Iranian Humanitarian House will host a seminar on 10 August focusing on the history of Beth Nahrin (Mesopotamia), the Syriac (Aramean–Assyrian–Chaldean) people, and the Assyrian Kingdom. The seminar aims to conduct an extensive study of the various epochs of the Assyrian…

TEHRAN — Following the assassination of Hamas political bureau leader Ismail Haniyeh in Iran, questions have emerged regarding Tehran’s potential response to Tel Aviv, which was immediately accused by Iranian authorities of orchestrating the killing. News media reported that Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has ordered a direct attack on…

TEHRAN — The assassination of Ismail Haniyeh, head of the Hamas Political Bureau, in Iran by Israel has sparked reactions from countries around the world. Haniyeh was in Iran to attend the inauguration ceremonies of the new Iranian president. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas condemned the assassination, calling on Palestinian factions…

KERMANSHAH, Iran / KOBANE, North and East Syria — In a continued crackdown on freedom of thought and opinion, the Iranian authorities have executed 27 prisoners in the cities of eastern Kurdistan since the beginning of July, according to reports published by the Iranian Human Rights Organization. Human rights organizations…

NINEVEH, Iraq — Following the decisions issued by the Nineveh Provincial Council about changing the majority of Administrative Units Heads in the Nineveh Governorate, 5 political parties of Chaldean-Syriac-Assyrian people in Iraq, namely the Bethnahrin Patriotic Union in Iraq (Huyodo Bethnahrin Athroyo, HBA), Assyrian National Party, the Chaldean–Syriac–Assyrian Popular Council,…

MOSUL, Iraq — Painful events in Mosul, Iraq remain deeply embedded in minds. On 10 June, 2014, the Islamic State (ISIS) declared an Islamic caliphate in Mosul and began enforcing Islamic law. On 17 July, Christians were forced to choose between leaving the city, paying a jizya (tax), or facing…

ERBIL —  On 28th anniversary of its founding, the Bethnahrin Patriotic Union Party in Iraq (Huyodo Bethnahrin Athroyo, HBA) stated that it struggled with all faith and strength, along with all national groups of the Iraqi people against injustice and dictatorial approach. The HBA indicated that today it is struggling…