BRIEF ON IRAN
No. 252
Thursday, September 14, 1995

Representative Office of
The National Council of Resistance of Iran
3421 M Street NW #1032
Washington, DC 20007



Iranian Regime Condemned by U.N. Sub-Committee, Voice of America, September 14

        The Iranian government has again been denounced for its flagrant
violations of human rights.  In a resolution adopted last month, the U.N.
Sub-Commission on Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities
condemned the IranianGovernment for such violations as torture; cruel,
inhuman, or degrading treatment and punishment; the use of excessive force
in suppressing public demonstrations; and harassment and intimidation of
people by street patrols.  The Sub-Commission further condemned Iran for
its failure to meet international standards in the administration of
justice; religious discrimination, notably against Baha'is and Christians;
discrimination against women; and restrictions on freedom of expression and
freedom of the press.
        In addition, the U.N. Sub-Commission on Prevention of
Discrimination and Protection of Minorities demanded that the Iranian
government "cease forthwith any involvement in or toleration of murder and
state-sponsored terrorism against Iranians living abroad and the nationals
of other states."...


Mullahs' Anti-Women Propaganda, Le Figaro, September 12

        One of the women had covered herself in a black veil.  The face of
the other who was wearing a white overcoat could hardly be seen...  Shahla
Habibi, an Iranian woman who is Rafsanjani's advisor, and Ali Mohammad
Othman, Sudan's Representative  to U.N., presented the first super-Islamist
[view] in World Women's Conference.
        Both, who reject the "equality" of women and men, prefer the
"equity" between woman and man.  Both reject the universality of women's
rights which in their opinion is based on "religious, ethnic, cultural,
political, economic, and social," characteristics.
        ... About 20 veiled female representatives that were protected by
heavy bearded men applauded her.  But exiled Iranian women booed her...
        Maryam Mateen Daftari, the daughter in law of Iran's late prime
minister, Mosaddeq, who was interviewed by Le Figaro, described the speech
by her compatriots as "an attempt for hiding stoning, degradation, and rape
of women according to Islamic law, from eyes of foreigners."  She is a
member of the National Council of Resistance of Iran that contains exiled
refugees including Mojahedin-e Khalq...  She escaped Iran 13 years ago...


Khamenei Advises to Keep the Youth at Bay, Tehran Radio, September 12

        The eleventh gathering of country's Friday Prayers' Leaders began
with Khamenei's speech yesterday morning.
        In the opening of this gathering, Khamenei referred to the
propaganda attacks and the cultural aggresion by the enemies of Islam and
the Islamic Republic of Iran as a greater threat than economic
aggression...
        He added: A systematic and effective struggle against the cultural
aggression, more than anything,  requires the knowledge of characteristics
of western culture manifestations and the ways to equip and reinforce the
culture of various sects of the society, particularly the youth, who are
the main target of this aggression...


Blatant Restrictions on Travelling Abroad, Radio Israel, September 12

        The Islamic government once again emphasized on the list of those
who are banned from leaving the country and has implemented a series of
tough regulations to prevent their exit.
        Ettele'at newspaper wrote Ayatollah Mohammad Yazdi, Chief Justice,
has personally made this decision and ordered the complete identification
of those people to be given to Passport Office, security forces, and border
guards.  According to this report, it has been tacitly confirmed that in
addition to Prosecutor General, so far, other organizations and units of
the government also have supplied the Passport Office with their own lists.


Iran Holds Amphibious War Games on Caspian Coast, Reuters, September 13

        Iranian Revolutionary Guards have launched amphibious military
exercises on the Caspian coast, Iran's news agency IRNA said Wednesday...
        IRNA did not say when the exercises had started nor how many troops
were involved.
        Iran's Revolutionary Guards number about 170,000, including a
20,000-strong naval force, according to Western estimates. The country's
army is about 300,000 strong.