Islamic revolution

PARIS/LONDON: Iranian Nobel Peace Prize winner Shirin Ebadi said she first had doubts about the 1979 Islamic Revolution when members of the Shah's regime were executed on the rooftop of a school housing its leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini.She has emerged as one of the most outspoken critics of Iran's clerical leadership, 40 years after Khomeini returned from exile in Paris on a special Air France flight to ecstatic crowds on Feb 1, 1979.But as Iran commemorates the rise of Khomeini, who won the support of millions opposed to the US-backed Shah's lavish lifestyle and ruthless secret police, her criticisms of its current rulers are compounded by frustrations about US policy.US sanctions designed to undermine Iran's ruling theocracy have only hurt ordinary Iranians who face widespread hardships, said Ebadi, a human rights lawyer and former judge who has been living in exile in Britain since 2009."The economic sanctions are not to the benefit of the people. They make the … [Read more...] about Ebadi urges world action to weaken Iran rulers on revolution anniversary

DUBAI: A large number of prisoners in Iran will be pardoned on Thursday (Feb 7) in honour of the 40th anniversary of the revolution that toppled the U.S.-backed Shah, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said on his Twitter account.The number of prisoners that will be pardoned by Khamenei was not announced, but Iranian media earlier said around 50,000 prisoners will enjoy "the Islamic clemency".The country is holding official celebrations for the anniversary of the 1979 Islamic Revolution that will culminate next Monday in a nationwide rally.It was not immediately clear whether those who will be pardoned will include some of the hundreds of prisoners that human rights groups say have been jailed for political offences.Several dual nationals from the United States, Britain, Austria, Canada and France have been detained by Iran's security forces in past years and have been kept behind bars on charges including espionage and collaborating with hostile governments.Khamenei has the final … [Read more...] about Large number of Iranian prisoners to be pardoned for revolution anniversary: Khamenei

TEHRAN: Iran announced the “successful test” of a new cruise missile with a range of over 1,350km yesterday, coinciding with celebrations for the country’s 1979 Islamic revolution. “The test of the Hoveizeh cruise missile was carried out successfully at a range of 1,200km and accurately hit the set target,” Defence Minister Amir Hatami said, quoted on state television which broadcast footage of its launch. “It can be ready in the shortest possible time and flies at a very low altitude,” he said. Hatami described the Hoveizeh as the “long arm of the Islamic Republic of Iran” in defending itself. It is part of the Soumar group of cruise missiles, first unveiled in 2015 with a range of 700km, according to the minister. The Hoveizeh unveiling was part of an arms exhibition dubbed “40 years of defensive achievements” and held in Tehran. Friday marked the beginning of 10 days of celebrations of the Islamic revolution that … [Read more...] about Iran in ‘successful test’ of new cruise missile on revolution anniversary