May 2023
Filtering Has Not Stopped Iranians' Presence in Cyberspace; Over 50% of People Are Active on Social Media
Despite the filtering of major social media platforms in Iran, millions of users remain active, with significant engagement on Instagram and Twitter. The report highlights…
Open Data Iran: The Number of Religious Seminaries in Iran is 5 Times Greater than Universities
A recent study by 'Open Data Iran' reveals that Iran has five times more religious seminaries than public universities, with significant funding allocated to these…
Sharp Decline in Lira's Value Following Erdogan's Victory in Turkish Elections
Recep Tayyip Erdogan won the Turkish presidential elections, leading to a significant decline in the value of the lira against the dollar. This situation raises…
Lavrov: The US and its allies are playing with fire by supplying F-16s to Ukraine
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov criticized the US and its allies for supplying F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine, claiming it escalates tensions and threatens Russia.…
Continued Harassment of Majid Kazemi's Family; Pension Rights Cut for Father and Sister Fired from Job
The family of Majid Kazemi, executed in the Isfahan House case, faces ongoing harassment from Iranian authorities, including the cutting of the father's pension and…
Iraq's $17 Billion Project to Connect Asia and Europe
Iraq has launched a $17 billion project called the "Development Path" to connect its southern port of Faw to Turkey, aiming to transform its economy…
China's Government Deletes 1.4 Million Social Media Posts
The Chinese government has deleted 1.4 million social media posts and 67,000 accounts as part of a crackdown on misinformation and other issues. This campaign…
Abdolfazl Amirataei, 16-Year-Old Protester, Finally Passed Away After 8 Months of Hardship
Abdolfazl Amirataei, a 16-year-old protester who suffered severe injuries from a tear gas canister during protests, has died after months in a coma. His case…
Analytical Report: Iran's Steel Industry Lags Behind Neighboring Countries
Iran's steel industry, once a regional leader, is now lagging behind neighbors like Turkey, with a 40% lower production capacity. Despite increased domestic production over…
U.S. Expresses Concern Over UN Official's Meeting with Putin's Advisor
The U.S. has expressed serious concerns regarding a UN official's meeting with a Russian advisor accused of war crimes against children. This meeting raises questions…
Reuters Investigative Report; Hacking Group 'Thunderstorm' Targets the U.S.
A Reuters report highlights the hacking group 'Thunderstorm,' which is reportedly targeting U.S. critical infrastructure for espionage. The group is linked to rising tensions between…
Reuters Investigative Report: Climate Challenges Threaten Water and Energy Resources in Asia
A Reuters report highlights the severe climate-related threats to water and energy resources in Asia, affecting nearly 2 billion people across 16 countries. The findings…
Continued Uncertainty Surrounding the Situation of Rouhollah Rasouli, 15-Year-Old Detained in Golestan Province
Rouhollah Rasouli, a 15-year-old Baluch boy, has been detained for over two weeks in Golestan Province due to his media activities and alleged collaboration with…
Exclusive to Voice of America: Training of Ukrainian Forces for Use of Abrams Tanks to Begin in a Few Days
The U.S. is set to begin training Ukrainian forces on Abrams tanks in about a week, with 250 troops traveling to Germany for the program.…
Denial of New Nuclear Facilities in Zagros; Eslami: It's Psychological Operations and Nonsense
Iran's Atomic Energy Organization denies reports of new underground nuclear facilities in the Zagros Mountains, attributing the claims to Israeli psychological operations. This comes amid…
French Citizen Taken Hostage Hospitalized After Release from Islamic Republic Prison
Benjamin Brier, a French citizen recently released from an Iranian prison, has been hospitalized for recovery after a lengthy hunger strike. He expressed concern for…
NATO Parliamentary Assembly Recognizes Russian Crimes Against Ukraine as 'Genocide'
The NATO Parliamentary Assembly has unanimously recognized Russian actions in Ukraine as genocide, marking a significant diplomatic victory for Ukraine. Ukrainian President Zelensky welcomed this…
Airstrikes on the Outskirts of Khartoum; Food Supplies in Sudan Running Low
Airstrikes in Khartoum and surrounding areas have intensified as the conflict between the Sudanese army and Rapid Support forces continues, displacing over one million people…
Poor Physical Condition of Vida Rabani in Evin; Authorities Refuse to Transfer Her to Hospital
Vida Rabani, a freelance journalist imprisoned since October 2022, is in poor health and denied medical care by prison authorities. Despite an amnesty directive applicable…
Life Sentence for Sayfullo Saipov, Attacker of the New York Terrorist Incident
Sayfullo Saipov has been sentenced to life in prison for a 2017 terrorist attack in New York that killed eight people. The court heard from…
Analytical Report: The Annual Cost of Enforcing Hijab Equals the Wages of Millions of Workers in Iran
The Open Data Iran database estimates that enforcing mandatory hijab costs Iranian society between 40 to 45 trillion tomans annually, equivalent to the wages of…
Women's Rights Award at the Geneva Summit for Democracy and Human Rights Presented to Shima Babaei, Human Rights Activist
Shima Babaei received the Women's Rights Award at the Geneva Summit, dedicating it to Iranian activists fighting against government oppression. Her father, Ebrahim Babaei, has…
Increased Suppression of Sexual and Gender Minorities in China; Beijing's LGBT Center Shut Down
The Beijing LGBT Center has been shut down by the Chinese government due to external pressures, marking a significant setback for the rights of sexual…
Amnesty International: 70% of Executions in the Middle East and North Africa in 2022 Took Place in Iran
Amnesty International reported that Iran accounted for 70% of executions in the Middle East and North Africa in 2022, with a significant increase in executions…
China Sentences American Citizen to Life Imprisonment on Charges of 'Espionage'
An American citizen, John Shing Wan Leung, has been sentenced to life imprisonment in China for espionage. This case occurs amid deteriorating U.S.-China relations and…
A Member of Parliament Announced; Water Reserves in Sistan and Baluchestan Only Last for the Next Two Months
A parliamentary member has warned that water reserves in Sistan and Baluchestan will be depleted in two months, risking a humanitarian crisis for the region's…
Zelensky's Meeting with Pope Francis in Vatican; Support for Ukraine's Peace Plan
Ukrainian President Zelensky met with Pope Francis in the Vatican to seek support for Ukraine's peace plan and assistance in returning abducted children. The meeting…
Real Madrid Loses $440 Million Battle to Investment Fund in Abu Dhabi
Real Madrid lost a legal dispute against Abu Dhabi's Mubadala investment fund over a sponsorship agreement related to the Santiago Bernabéu stadium, seeking $440 million…
Benjamin Brier's Family Embraced Him 'After Three Hellish Years'
Benjamin Brier, a French citizen imprisoned in Iran for three years, was reunited with his family, who expressed concern over his weakened state. His family…
UNESCO Honors Maryam Mirzakhani; Her Name Reminds Us of Women's Abilities
UNESCO honored Iranian mathematician Maryam Mirzakhani on her birthday, highlighting her legacy and the achievements of women. Mirzakhani was the first woman to win the…
U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Warns Illegal Immigrants
The U.S. has ended Title 42, which previously allowed for the expulsion of migrants due to COVID-19. Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas warned that strict immigration laws…
Human Rights Watch Condemns Increase in Executions in Iran and Calls for Global Action
Human Rights Watch condemned the increase in executions in Iran, noting over 60 executions since last month, including an Iranian-Swedish citizen. The organization criticized the…
Islamic Republic Announces Release of French-Irish Citizen from Prison in Mashhad
Bernard Filan, a French-Irish citizen arrested in Iran for allegedly gathering security information during protests, has been released on humanitarian grounds. His release follows a…
12 Human Rights Organizations Express Regret Over Appointment of Iranian Ambassador as President of the 2023 Social Forum
Twelve international human rights organizations have expressed deep concern over the appointment of Ali Bahraini, Iran's UN ambassador, as President of the 2023 Social Forum.…
Fact-Checking | Putin: The Victimhood of a War Criminal Under Pursuit
Vladimir Putin characterized Russia as a victim in the Ukraine war during a Victory Day speech, despite ongoing war crimes accusations against him. Analysts suggest…
Poland Changes Name of Kaliningrad Region to Krolowicz
Poland has officially changed the name of the Kaliningrad region to Krolowicz, provoking a strong reaction from Russia. This decision reflects Poland's stance against Russification…
In Response to Increasing Threats, Azerbaijan to Increase Military Budget
Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev announced an increase in the country's military budget due to rising threats, asserting the strength of the Azerbaijani army. This development…
Bloody Unrest Following Imran Khan's Arrest; Pakistani Government Calls for Military Intervention
Imran Khan, former Prime Minister of Pakistan, has been arrested, leading to violent protests and calls for military intervention by the government. At least 5…
New Research: Preventing the Annual Death of One Million Infants by Providing Affordable Services to Pregnant Women
New research indicates that affordable healthcare services for pregnant women could prevent over one million infant deaths annually in developing countries. An international team has…
Arash Sadeghi, Civil Activist Sentenced to 4 Years in Prison
Arash Sadeghi, a civil rights activist, has been sentenced to over four years in prison by the Tehran Revolutionary Court for charges related to gathering…
Iran's Statistical Center: Annual Inflation Rate Reaches Approximately 46 Percent
Iran's annual inflation rate has reached 45.8%, with significant price increases in essential goods like sugar and chicken. The government faces rising public discontent and…
Eighteenth Week of Protests in Israel: Tens of Thousands Gather in Tel Aviv
Tens of thousands of Israelis protested in Tel Aviv for the eighteenth week against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's judicial reforms. Despite Netanyahu's temporary halt of…
Zelensky at the International Criminal Court: I am certain Putin will be convicted in this court
Ukrainian President Zelensky visited the ICC, urging global leaders to hold Putin accountable for war crimes. He is seeking advanced military support from Western nations…
The U.S. Calls Russia's Claim of Involvement in Drone Attack on the Kremlin 'Ridiculous'
The U.S. has dismissed Russia's claims of American involvement in a drone attack on the Kremlin as absurd. John Kirby emphasized that the U.S. does…
Eight-Year Prison Sentence Issued for Journalist in Belarus
Roman Protasevich, a Belarusian journalist, has been sentenced to eight years in prison for conspiracy against the government after being arrested during the forced landing…
Ongoing War in Sudan; Refugees Face Many Challenges in Egypt
The ongoing conflict in Sudan has led to a mass exodus of refugees, particularly to Egypt, where they face severe hardships. The fighting involves the…