 HEARD IN IRAN ON RADIO FARDA october 30, 2009 |
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Iran's Nuclear Statements Hint of High-Level Split October 25 -- There are sign of division among Iranian officials about whether to accept the UN deal intended to reduce fears over the country's nuclear activities. What are Iran's intentions? Is the government really interested in building a stronger relationship with the West? These questions are discussed by Rasool Nafisi, an Iranian affairs analyst, on Radio Farda's weekly roundtable, "Viewpoints." [listen in Farsi or read in English] 50 Workers Arrested in Protest over Wages October 26 -- Fifty employees of a pipe-making factory in southern Iran were arrested after protesting over unpaid wages. According to one of the employees, police surrounded and beat the demonstrators. "They fired tear gas at us, and beat us with batons," he said. "What have we done? We have not been paid for 12 months and we only want our wages." [read in Farsi] Student Unrest Mounts in Iran October 27 -- Despite growing pressure, Iranian students have continued to protest against the government. According to one student activist, unplanned student assemblies have broken out in recent days all across the country. At Azad University in Tehran, more than 1,500 students participated in an anti-government rally, he said. "These assemblies are not organized by activists - they are totally spontaneous." [listen in Farsi] Concern Intensifies for Imprisoned Journalist October 27 -- The wife of jailed journalist Ahmad Zeidbadi has expressed grave concern about her husband's treatment in prison. Despite authorization from a prosecutor, Mrs. Zeidabadi said she had been denied the right to visit or speak with her husband. "The last time I saw Ahmad, he told me his interrogator had tortured him and threatened that he would not let Ahmad leave jail as a hero." [listen in Farsi] Economic Policy Threatens Iran's Stability October 28 -- A Paris-based economist told Radio Farda that the Iranian government's current economic policies - particularly cuts to energy and food subsidies during a time of skyrocketing inflation and unemployment - will only lead to further social unrest. "The Iranian middle class cannot survive without government subsidies," he said. [read in Farsi] |
