hriran

CNN - Around 5 a.m. last September 21, police officers escorted Alireza Molla-Soltani to a public square in the city of Karaj, 12 miles west of Tehran. It was dark, but a large crowd was waiting there. The officers hoisted Molla-Soltani, who was blindfolded with his hands cuffed behind his back, up on a stool. He slipped a few times, but then managed to keep his balance. As the officers placed a noose around his neck, he began to sob and beg for mercy. A couple of minutes later, a crane slowly lifted Molla-Soltani by his neck. He was pronounced dead several minutes later.

Radio Zamaneh - The first phase of Iran’s “national internet” has been launched in 28 provinces, and the remaining provinces will also have access by the end of the month.

Shahrzad New - Dutch-Iranian citizen Zahra Bahrami was arrested in Iran in 2010 and executed the following January on charges of drug-smuggling and endangering national security. Family and friends say she took part in an anti-regime demonstration in Tehran on Ashura, a day of religious mourning, and was arrested by security forces later the same day. Bahrami’s lawyer Nasrin Sotoodeh was also arrested and is still in prison.

The International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran - Mohammad Sadiq Kaboudvand, a prisoner of conscience who ended his 60-day wet hunger strike on July 27, told his family during his visit with them on August 27 that if the authorities do not address his requests, he will start a hunger strike and will not break it again. Kaboudvand ended his last hunger strike after authorities promised him that if he breaks his hunger strike they would review his request for furlough to be with his sick son.

Amnesty International - Writer Arzhang Davoodi, who is facing fresh charges after being imprisoned in Iran for nearly nine years, must be released immediately and unconditionally, Amnesty International said.

Radio Zamaneh - Iranian children’s rights activist Saeed Shirzad has begun a hunger strike in prison after being arrested on Tuesday while volunteering for relief efforts in Eastern Azerbaijan.

WebProNews - There was talk a few months ago of Iran wanting to create its own Internet, free of Western influence and open communication. It would be a severe blow to the efforts of citizens who relied on an Internet connection to the outside world during the massive protests that rocked the country in 2011. Silence on the issue since made us think that they gave up on those aspirations, but a recent development suggests that the country is starting up their own Internet.

Persian2English - Gholamreza Khosravi, a political prisoner during 1980′s [when the Islamic Republic detained, tortured, and executed Iranians in masses], was initially sentenced to six years in prison by an appeals court but an execution sentence was [illegally] issued to him. The death sentence has been sent to the Execution of Sentences Circuit Office in Evin prison. According to unofficial reports, the death sentence is due to be carried out in September.