Police Firing on Basij? – Basij Tageting Women – Enghelab Square

There are unconfirmed reports that in areas of Tehran police began firing on Basij militia. Currently these claims cannot be confirmed.

There are also reports that women have become the main target of the Basij. Women have taken a large part in the protests following the June 12th election, which opposition figures and protesters are calling illegitimate.

There are also reports of increased violence around Enghelab Square, as well as many other places.

Prisoners Beat, Tortured, and Raped in Iran – At Least 11 Killed Tuesday

There are reports from Iran that people  in Iranian prisons, such as the notorious Evin prison, were beat, tortured, and even raped. Medical examinations of people released have proven all three of these claims. This report comes as the government cracks down on dissidents throughout all of Iran.

The Guardian article on this is here: http://bit.ly/15pnac

There are also reports that at least 11 people were killed Tuesday 30 June 2009.

It may well be that in the future the officials of the current regime will be tried at the hague for crimes against humanity.

Dramatic Interview with Woman who saw ‘a massacre’

This is one of the most dramatic portrayals of ‘massacres’ in Tehran. This is from 24 June 2009:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mEtVRgZ3Szw&feature=player_embedded

CNN aired this today 24 June 2009

Mousavi Under House Arrest

There are reports that Mousavi is under house arrest, though some sources don’t use the phrase ‘house arrest’, but rather say he is ‘under 24 hour guard.’ Either way he is cut off from all his supporters. The government likely thinks that this will result in the protesters becoming less organized and that they will lose heart without their ‘leader.’

Netherlands Response to Taking Injured

I emailed the Netherlands and got an email back from the Ambassador. While it seems as if it was a generic email sent to many people it still answers their status on accepting wounded Iranians:

Dear sir/ madam,

Thank you for your message of concern about persons wounded in the
ongoing unrest in Teheran.
We share your concern and the Netherlands calls on all parties to
refrain from further violence and address the current situation in a
peaceful manner.
The embassy is not equipped to deal with wounded persons and neither do
we have the staff to do so.
It is obviously the duty of licensed doctors and hospitals in Tehran to
help wounded persons in need of medical care.
The embassy is therefore only in a position to refer to the relevant
medical institutions.

Sincerely,

Radinck Jan van Vollenhoven
Ambassador of the Netherlands
Tehran, 22 June 2009

Response to Emails Inquiring About Canadian EmbassyTaking Injured

Response from Canadian Foreign Ministry:

Response from the CEC re: Embassy not open to injured iranians

Hello,

In response to your concerns regarding the situation in Iran, we would like to share the following with you:

Reports on Saturday that the Canadian Embassy in Iran was turning away people seeking sanctuary are false. The Embassy was closed Saturday and there were no Canadians at the Embassy when the protests began.

We have been advised by other Embassies in Tehran that they did not provide shelter to injured Iranians, as has been alleged.

Embassy staff has made every attempt to ensure services, particularly consular, remain unaffected by the situation. Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada, including the Canadian Embassy in Tehran, continues to provide consular assistance to Canadian citizens in-person, on the phone and through email.

In case of emergency consular assistance regarding Canadian citizens in Iran, please contact the Embassy of Canada in Tehran at +98 (21) 8152-0000 or the Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada’s Emergency Operations Centre by calling collect to 613-996-8885 or by sending an email to sos@international.gc.ca.

Regards,

Operations Officer/Agent des opérations (CEC)
Emergency Services Division/Direction des services d’urgence
Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada /
Affaires étrangères et du Commerce international Canada
sos@international.gc.ca

Peer Pressure May Encourage Embassies to Assist Injured

Quite a few embassies have told callers that they are no embassies are taking injured Iranians under their wing, but eye witness reports indicate otherwise. Why is it that some countries refuse to take the injured in? Maybe they just don’t want to be the first? They don’t want to step forward.

What Tehran needs is brave men and women from across the world to step out from their embassies and embrace the Iranian activists as the brothers and sisters that they are. Maybe if some embassies step forward and take the ultimate risk it will lead other, less audacious countries’ embassies to step out from the shadows and condemn that which should be condemned.

Michael Ignatieff Statement on Liberal Party of Canada’s Stance

The Liberal press office just now released a statement from Michael Ignatieff on the situation in Iran.

“We mourn each life lost as a result of the Government of Iran’s unjust actions, and share the anguish and outrage of Canadians of Iranian origin at the suppression of peaceful protest and the apparent denial of fully free and fair elections. Canada should join other countries in keeping our embassy open for the humanitarian needs of the people of Iran.
This from
“The Iranian government cannot hide the truth from their own citizens or from the rest of the world.  By answering the call for open and transparent elections with a violent disregard for the rights of its citizens, the Iranian government has further alienated itself from the international community. The Liberal Party of Canada strongly affirms the rights of Iranians and people everywhere to freely express themselves and associate with others, without threat to their life or liberty.  We call on the Iranian government to cease the violence and continue to call for open and transparent elections.”

Basij Tehran HQ Destroyed

There are reports that the Basij headquarters in Tehran has been destroyed. The BBC aired this video and confirmed it:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cGyZo2jOOYY

Canadians Petition to Open Embassy Doors

Below is the link to the official petition to Prime Minster Harper of Canada for the opening of the Canadian Embassy in Tehran to injured Iranian activists.

http://www.petitiononline.com/cndnemb/petition.html

Anyone who wants to sign this petition should click on the link and take the short time necessary to sign it.