Iran: mullahs officially cancel this year’s Hajj for Iranians

Iranian people’s religious beliefs taken hostage by ruling mullahs

 Iranian Guidance Minister Ali Jannati announced the official cancellation of this year’s Hajj pilgrimage for the Iranian people, adding Iran will not be sending any pilgrim to Saudi Arabia for this year’ Hajj ceremonies. This comes at a time when Iran had previously agreed and signed a draft agreement on the Hajj pilgrimage rituals in Saudi Arabia.

Jannati in flip-sided remarks claimed there was a deliberate intention seen from the Saudi side to officially prevent Iranian pilgrims from taking part in this year’s traditional gathering, and Iran needed to take a clear stance in this regard.

Iran: more than 70% of architecture graduates are unemployed

Increasing unemployment crisis in Iran – “We youths are unemployed”

More than 70% of Iran’s construction graduates are unemployed, according to remarks made by the chair of the Architect Guild Center.

“We have fallen asleep and lost any sense of time, and our architecture community has lost its effectiveness. If up to last year 60% of our architecture graduates were unemployed, these statistics have now reached above 70%,” said Mohammad Reza Noruzian in an interview with Mehr news agency, associated to Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence.

Iran: mullahs terrified of expanding social media websites

 Iranian regime terrified of growing use of social media

Mullahs in the city of Qom, central Iran, have expressed serious concerns regarding the expanding use of social websites, especially by youths in Iran, and calling for firm measures by the regime’s judiciary.

“Each day hundreds of websites and networks are busy spreading rumors against religious issues, and providing blasphemy to our youths...,” said Mullah Mesbah Yazdi, a known member of Iranian supreme leader Ali Khamenei’s inner circle. “Therefore, we must constantly identify the intellectual dangers threatening our youths, and/or at least hold intimate talks with them to understand their questions and/or provide convincing answers for them.”

Mullah Makarem Shirazi also expressed his concerns over the expansion of social media networks.

Iran: RSF express Distress over fate of journalists in Evin prison

Iran is the biggest prison for journalists

Reporters Without Borders (RSF) is outraged by the lack of transparency and denial of justice surrounding the hospitalization of Mohammad Sedegh Kaboodvand, a journalist on hunger strike since 8 May in protest against his continuing detention and the judicial harassment to which he has been subjected in recent months

Kaboodvand was taken to hospital on 21 May after collapsing in his cell in Tehran’s Evin prison but, after 24 hours of observation, he was returned to his cell. His family was able to visit him today but he was very weak and was unable to remain standing. He is continuing his hunger strike and his condition is very worrying.