BRIEF ON IRAN	
No. 598
Friday, February 21, 1997

Representative Office of
The National Council of Resistance of Iran
Washington, DC


European Parliament Condemned Violations of Human Rights in Iran, Terrorist
Attack Mojahedin in Baghdad, Iran Zamin News Agency, February 20

	The European Parliament adopted a resolution today condemning the Khomeini
regime for attacking the Mojahedin's office in Baghdad on January 8 with
320mm super mortars and described the assault as "an act of extraterritorial
terrorism." 
	The European Parliament condemned "the repeated violations of human rights
in Iran" and expressed concern about "the high number of executions" in that
country.
	Members of the European Parliament also condemned "the continuing
discrimination against women in Iran", "the recent widespread arrests" of
people during recent demonstrations throughout the country and "torture of
prisoners of conscience", "the outlawing of oil workers' organizations", the
fatwa against the British author Salman Rushdie, and "the arrest of Iranian
writer Faraj Sarkuhi". 
	The European Parliament also expressed deep concern about "the threats made
against the judicial officials of [Germany] which has accused the leaders of
the Iranian regime of direct involvement in the assassinations of Iranian
opponents in exile"....


Iran Issues Stricter Islamic Dress Code for Women, Agence France Presse,
February 20

	TEHRAN - Iran issued on Thursday a new stricter Islamic dress code for
women as part of its campaign to turn back encroaching Western influences.
	The conservative newspaper Resalat published the guidelines laid out by the
Martyr Ghodusi judicial center, which specializes in fighting signs of
"decadent" Western culture.
	Islamic law, as interpreted here, calls for prison terms of three months to
one year, or fines and up to 74 lashes of the whip for the following offenses:
	Any woman wearing a "thin or short scarf in a way that it doesn't cover her
entire hair and neck," according to an article provided by judge Abolfazl
Haj-Ismaeli.
	Women dressed in "modish outfits such as suits and skirt without wearing a
long overcoat on top."
	Iranian women have been required to wear a raincoat-like outfit over their
regular dress and a scarf under the Islamic dress code enforced after the
1979 Islamic revolution.
	But the regulations ban any mini or short-sleeved overcoat or those "flashy
ones with fashionable cuts, decorated with any exotic insignia."...
	The ban includes wearing any "depraved, showy and glittery objects on hats,
necklaces, earrings, belts, bracelets, glasses, headbands, rings, neckscarfs
and ties."...


Cultural Aggression of Enemy!, state-controlled Kayhan, February 18

	Rahim Safavi, Deputy Commander of Revolutionary Guards in Tehran's Sarallah
base said:  The cultural aggression by the enemy could turn into a security
threat.  	Safavi, who was speaking in the opening ceremony of the first
period of civil defense, added that after 18 years from the victory of the
Islamic revolution, the essence and form of domestic and foreign enemies of
[mullahs'] system has changed.
	He emphasized:  Today, the enemy is trying to encounter the holy system of
Islamic Republic in cultural front utilizing the latest facilities and
technology. 
	Citing the widespread cultural aggression by "World's Arrogance" [usually
referred to U.S.] and "prosaic broadcasts" via satellite and Internet..., he
stressed on extensive measures to fend off these threats...
	[It is worth mentioning that on February 13, Agence France Presse reported
that the Iranian Resistance has began a TV broadcast into Iran via satellite.]


Fearful for Security in Tehran, state-controlled Etela'at, February 18

	In Islamshahr [southwest Tehran], security authorities have set up two
control and inspection posts on Waavan three-way intersection to provide
"more security" in this region of Tehran province.  Also, in Payaneh "Iran
Par" a security center has been established to prevent the "infiltration of
saboteur elements."...
	[On April 6, 1995, The New York Times and several news agencies reported
that on April 5 of that year, Islamshahr was the scene of one of "the most
serious" riots against government.  In this widespread riot, the government
utilized helicopter gunships to suppress the protests from spreading to
other parts of Tehran.] 


Iranian Diplomat Gunned Down in Attack on Cultural Center, Agence France
Presse, February 20

	MULTAN, Pakistan - An Iranian diplomat and six Pakistanis were killed
Thursday when unidentified gunmen attacked the Iranian cultural center in
this major central Pakistan city, police said....
	The incident came a month after an arson attack on an Iranian cultural
center in the Punjab capital of Lahore by a mob of Sunni militants and ahead
of a visit to Islamabad next week by Iranian Foreign Minister Ali  Akbar
Velayati....