January 2004
Guardian Council Approves 600 Candidates for Parliamentary Elections
The Guardian Council has approved 600 candidates for the upcoming parliamentary elections, amidst widespread disqualifications. Reformist President Mohammad Khatami condemned the disqualifications and called for…
Under the Microscope: The Guardian Council's Approach to Ongoing Sit-ins - 2004-01-29
Dr. Alireza Noori Zadeh analyzes the Guardian Council's response to ongoing sit-ins and the support expressed by various groups and officials for the protesters. This…
Governor of Kerman: Investigations into Recent Clashes in Khatunabad Have Begun
Investigations have begun into violent clashes in Khatunabad, resulting in 4 deaths and 25 injuries, sparked by protests from workers at a copper smelting plant…
IRNA: Mohammad Khatami Did Not Accept Resignations of Government Officials - 2004-01-27
President Mohammad Khatami rejected the resignations of several senior officials who protested the disqualification of thousands of candidates for upcoming elections. This situation highlights tensions…
Clashes Between Security Forces and Protesters in Kerman Province - 2004-01-26
Clashes occurred in Babak city, Kerman province, resulting in 4 deaths and 20 injuries during protests by workers over job losses at a copper smelting…
The United Nations Will Send a Delegation to Assess the Possibility of Elections in Iraq - 2004-01-25
The United Nations is sending a delegation to Iraq to evaluate the potential for elections before June 30, as the U.S. aims to end its…
Clashes in Shahrebabak, Kerman Province; Possible Civilian Casualties
Workers at the Khatunabad Copper Smelting Company in Shahrebabak, Kerman Province, went on strike due to layoffs, leading to violent clashes with riot police who…
Renewed Debate Over Iraq War Justifications in Britain - 2004-01-24
David Kay's resignation has led to renewed scrutiny of the UK's decision to go to war in Iraq, with former Foreign Secretary Robin Cook calling…
Gathering to Protest the World Economic Forum in Davos - 2004-01-24
A protest against the World Economic Forum took place in Chur, Switzerland, with around one thousand participants opposing economic globalization. While most protests were peaceful,…
Interview with Omid Abbasali Nejad, Member of the Central Committee of the Democratic Council - 2004-01-23
Omid Abbasali Nejad discusses the dire conditions in Iranian prisons, the ongoing protests and sit-ins by reformists, and the upcoming elections. This interview highlights the…
Ayatollah Sistani Calls for Temporary Halt to Protests in Iraq
Ayatollah Sistani has called for a temporary halt to protests against a US-backed plan for a temporary government in Iraq until the UN decides on…
Airport and Hospital Workers in France Go on Strike - 2004-01-22
Airport and hospital workers in France have gone on strike in protest against government plans to privatize parts of the Paris airports organization. Their demands…
Strike of French Workers - January 21, 2004
French railway workers have gone on strike, complicating commutes for citizens, in solidarity with electricity production workers demanding higher wages. They are also protesting against…
End of the Fourth World Social Forum in India - 2004-01-21
The Fourth World Social Forum took place in Mumbai, India, concluding with a large march and deemed a success by organizers. It gathered over 100,000…
Iranian Teachers Protest Economic Hardships, Leading to School Closures
Iranian teachers have initiated strikes due to unpaid wages and ongoing labor issues, leading to the closure of numerous schools in major provinces. This protest…
Tens of Thousands in Iraq Demand the Execution of Saddam Hussein - 2004-01-20
Tens of thousands of protesters in Iraq, led by young Shia cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, demanded the execution of Saddam Hussein, currently held by U.S. forces.…
Temporary Suspension of New Fuel Tax in Nigeria - 2004-01-20
The Nigerian government has temporarily suspended a new fuel tax following a court order, just before a planned nationwide strike against rising fuel prices. Labor…
Guardian Council: We Have Begun Reviewing the Cases of Disqualified Candidates
The Guardian Council has started reviewing the cases of candidates disqualified for the upcoming parliamentary elections due to protests from various officials and groups. The…
Nigerian Labor Union Leaders Call for Protests Against Fuel and Diesel Prices - 2004-01-19
Nigerian labor union leaders are mobilizing the public for a nationwide strike against a new tax on fuel and diesel prices. The government is attempting…
Opponents Disrupt Pervez Musharraf's Speech
Opponents of President Pervez Musharraf disrupted his speech in Parliament, marking his first address there in over four years. Musharraf called for a fight against…
Head of Parliamentary Election Organizing Committee in Iran Threatens Resignation
The head of the election organizing committee in Iran has threatened to resign if candidate bans are not lifted, amid a political crisis following the…
Protests Against France's Decision to Ban Hijab - 2004-01-17
Protests erupted in London and Paris against France's proposed ban on hijabs in public schools, with thousands participating, including veiled women. French President Jacques Chirac…
President Bush Laid a Wreath at Martin Luther King’s Grave
President Bush laid a wreath at Martin Luther King's grave in Atlanta, coinciding with what could have been King's 75th birthday. This act was met…
Thousands Protest in Iraq for Direct Elections - 2004-01-15
Thousands of protesters in Basra, Iraq, rallied for direct elections led by Shia leader Ayatollah Ali Sistani, opposing a U.S.-backed transitional government plan. U.S. officials…
Protests by Parliament Representatives as a Clear Example of Election Boycott and Demand for Referendum - 2004-01-13
Islamic Parliament representatives protested against the disqualification of some members by the Guardian Council, leading to calls for an election boycott and a referendum. This…
U.S. Soldiers Kill at Least Two Iraqis in Fallujah - 2004-01-13
U.S. soldiers killed at least two Iraqis in Fallujah following a rocket attack on their position, with additional injuries reported. In a separate incident, Ukrainian…
Under the Microscope: Meeting of Iranian Governors with Ayatollah Khamenei - 2004-01-13
Iranian governors met with Ayatollah Khamenei to protest the Guardian Council's disqualification of numerous parliamentary candidates. Dr. Ali Reza Nourizadeh analyzes this meeting, highlighting its…
Threat of Resignation by Iranian Governors - 2004-01-12
Governors in Iran have threatened to resign if the disqualification of 80 reformist lawmakers is not reconsidered. This situation arises from the Guardian Council's decision,…
Ayatollah Sistani Rejects US Proposal Again - 2004-01-12
Ayatollah Sistani has rejected a US proposal for a temporary Iraqi government without elections, emphasizing the need for direct elections to ensure true representation of…
Khamenei Does Not Intervene in Guardian Council's Decision to Disqualify Candidates - 2004-01-12
Ayatollah Khamenei has refused to intervene in the Guardian Council's decision to disqualify reformist candidates for the upcoming parliamentary elections, stating that legal procedures must…
British Soldiers and Iraqi Police Open Fire on Protesters in Southern City of Amara - 2004-01-11
In Amara, British soldiers and Iraqi police fired on armed protesters frustrated by unemployment, resulting in at least 5 deaths. The violence escalated after protesters…
Guardian Council Rejects Qualifications of Many Reformist Parliamentarians for Next Month's Elections
The Guardian Council has disqualified many reformist parliament members from the upcoming elections, leading to protests in parliament. President Mohammad Khatami has urged calm and…
Investigation into the Crash of a U.S. Black Hawk Helicopter Near Fallujah - 2004-01-10
A U.S. Black Hawk helicopter crashed near Fallujah, likely due to ground fire, killing all nine soldiers aboard. Danish troops found suspicious mortar shells leaking…
Hezbollah Rally Against Renaming Khaled Islambouli Street
Hezbollah supporters in Tehran protested the renaming of Khaled Islambouli Street to Intifada, which they view as a concession to improving Iran-Egypt relations. The name…
Protests in Front of the French Embassy in Beirut - 2004-01-08
Thousands of Muslim women and girls protested in Beirut against France's proposed ban on headscarves in public schools. The protest was organized by Hezbollah and…
Mikhail Saakashvili Moves Towards a Major Victory in the Georgian Presidential Election - 2004-01-07
Mikhail Saakashvili is poised for a significant victory in the Georgian presidential election, having received 96% of the votes counted so far. His leadership during…
Baghdad Protesters Call for Jihad Following U.S. Soldiers' Attack on Mosque - 2004-01-03
In Baghdad, hundreds protested against U.S. forces following an attack on a mosque, demanding jihad due to alleged desecration of the Quran. The U.S. military…
One American Soldier Killed in Attack on Military Base in Central Iraq - 2004-01-03
An American soldier was killed and two injured in a mortar attack on a military base in Iraq. The incident coincided with protests in Baghdad…
Meeting of Egyptian Presidential Advisor with Yasser Arafat - 2004-01-01
An Egyptian presidential advisor met with Yasser Arafat to discuss a potential ceasefire between Palestinian militants and Israel, expressing hope for future peace negotiations. Meanwhile,…