The latest report issued by Ahmed Shaheed, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Iran, highlights a variety of harsh punishments meted out by the Iranian regime, including executions, floggings, amputations, and even blinding, Benjamin Weinthal, a research fellow at the Foundation for Defense of...

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The Iranian government has jailed two prominent poets and sentenced them to 99 lashes each “for shaking hands with members of the opposite sex,” the Associated Press reported Tuesday. The sentences follow a pattern of arrests and convictions targeting activists, journalists and artists that has served as a grim backdrop to...

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Though the nuclear deal was signed in hopes that it would move Iran into a more constructive relationship with the rest of the world, the conviction of Washington Post reporter Jason Rezaian on espionage charges shows that diplomatic engagement has led to a “stiffening” of Iran’s stance towards the West, Benjamin Weinthal, a...

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The recent vote by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) to declare the Cave of the Patriarchs in Hebron and the Tomb of Rachel in Bethlehem “an integral part of Palestine” without mentioning their Jewish history, as well as to condemn Israel for archaeological digs in the Old...

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The United Nations has taken disciplinary action against at least 22 employees of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) who used social media to promote anti-Semitism, the watchdog organization UN Watch reported Thursday. The employees’ misconduct was initially exposed in reports published by the watchdog organization in September and...

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October 19 was “adoption day,” one of the markers of the nuclear agreement between Iran and world powers in July. It is the date by which Iran says it will voluntary adopt measures governing inspections of its nuclear sites, while the United States and Europe will begin the process of removing nuclear...

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The head of UNESCO, UN’s cultural agency, said that she “deplores” a resolution proposed by Arab country members of the agency’s executive board that would deem the Western Wall to be a Muslim holy site. Irina Bokova said in a statement that the plan, which is scheduled to be voted on today, “could be seen to alter the status...

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Terrorist groups across the Middle East have called for increased violence against Israeli civilians in the past 48 hours. The Gaza-based terrorist group Hamas has called for a resumption of suicide bombings against Israeli civilian targets, while the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) has released five videos glorifying the knife attacks against...

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Iranian state television showed images of underground missiles bases on Wednesday, and featured military leaders saying that they were ready to launch on the order of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei “if enemies make a mistake.” Agence France-Presse reported more: Brigadier General Amir Ali Hajizadeh, commander of the Islamic Republic’s Revolutionary Guards’ aerospace...

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Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas accused Israel of “executing” a teenage Palestinian terrorist who attacked two people on Monday and is currently convalescing in a Jerusalem hospital, The Times of Israel reported. Ahmed Mansara is recovering from injuries he received from being hit by a car as he attempted to flee from authorities....

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