http://www.rferl.org/

HEARD THIS WEEK IN IRAN ON RADIO FARDA JULY 9, 2009

Detained Election Protesters Reportedly Tortured July 7 -- A protestor recently released from a Tehran detention center told Radio Farda that Iranians arrested during post-election protests are being beaten with batons and given electric shocks. "Those whose bodies were burned during the protests were forced to lie naked on hot asphalt in the sun," he said. "They begged for water, and although there was a tap nearby, they were not allowed to drink." [read in Farsi] Crackdown on Journalists Continues July 6 -- Isa Saharkhiz, a prominent Iranian journalist, was beaten and arrested by authorities, according to Reporters Without Borders. Two weeks ago, Saharkhiz told Radio Farda that Iranian security forces raided his home and office. Another well-known journalist, Massoud Bastani, was arrested after going to prison to visit his pregnant wife, fellow journalist Mahsa Amrabadi. [read in Farsi] Scholar: People and Clerics United Against Government July 7 -- Religious scholar Javad Akbarin told Radio Farda that Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's description of election protesters as a "depressed minority" is "political suicide" for the supreme leader. [read in Farsi] Iranian Women's Rights Activist Wins Prestigious Award July 4 -- Narges Mohammadi, vice president of the Defenders of Human Rights Center, has won the 2009 International Alexander Langer Award. "No regime can build a wall around its people on the pretext of 'national security' and do whatever it wants," she told Radio Farda. Nobel Peace Prize laureate Shirin Ebadi accepted the award in Italy on behalf of Mohammadi, who is barred from leaving Iran. [read in Farsi] Analysts: Election Reaction Means Trouble for Iran's Leaders July 3 -- Political analysts and academics from the US, Canada and Sweden discussed Iran's disputed presidential election, the resulting protests, and the rifts among Iran's leadership during Radio Farda's weekly roundtable, "Viewpoints." [read in Farsi] Listeners Send Messages to Radio Farda One visitor to Radio Farda's Web site commented that Iran's current, illegitimate government is intimidated by the peaceful solidarity of its people. Another wrote that, although security forces may succeed in disbanding street assemblies, infighting within the government will weaken--and possibly destroy--the regime.