Not part of the jurisdiction argument this week, but will Iran argue that it can hold hostages and commit terrorism under the treaty of friendship? “Tehran tells World Court U.S. sanctions breach friendship treaty,” SwissInfo.com, September 16, 2020.
“The German government-funded athletic organization said in a statement that “the killing of Navid Afkari by the Iranian regime is a terrible act against humanity and an intolerable violation of the human rights of an athlete. This act cannot remain without consequences for Iran. Its government instrumentalizes sports for its purposes and has made an example of Navid Afkari, a protesting athlete. Iran is not the only country in international sports that disregards human rights, but with the killing of the 27-year-old wrestler Navid Afkari it has crossed a line.” Iran’s regime executed Afkari on Saturday, triggering a global outcry over the murder of a reportedly innocent wrestler for protesting the regime’s corruption in 2018. The Iranian authorities claim Afkari killed a water company security guard during the nation-wide protests. But overwhelming evidence, including a widely-confirmed forced confession, show Iran’s regime likely framed Afkari to silence the social and labor unrest unfolding in Iran.” See “German athletes association urges Iran be banned from Olympics,” Benjamin Weinthal, Jerusalem Post, September 16, 2020.
“Justice Department indicts two Iranians accused of stealing sensitive data in multiple countries,” Maggie Miller, The Hill, September 16, 2020.
“Iran’s annual butter production capacity at over 70,000 tons,” Tehran Times, September 16, 2020.
Hmm. “Iran’s Islamist leaders have a history of carrying out assassinations beyond their country’s borders, as well as taking hostages, since seizing power following a popular uprising in the late 1970s, Politico reported. In recent decades, Iran has generally avoided directly targeting US diplomats, although Iranian-backed militias have long attacked US diplomatic facilities and personnel in Iraq.” See “Iran denies seeking vengeance in South African plot,” Dave Makichuk, Asia Times, September 16, 2020.
“A new look at Iran’s complicated relationship with the Taliban,” Barnett Rubin, War on the Rocks, September 16, 2020.
All you need to know. “Iran’s Revolutionary Courts and the judiciary are known for their lack of due process, forced concessions, and for denying detainees access to lawyers. As Human Rights Watch’s Deputy Middle East Director Michael Page explained: “Iranian authorities have a history of targeting dissidents’ family members on bogus charges and, after nearly two months, they have failed to provide an iota of evidence against Younesi and Moradi. The prolonged solitary confinement, lack of access to a lawyer, and the judiciary’s history of coerced confessions signal that there’s almost zero chance that the due process rights of these two students will be respected.”” See “Iran regime’s paranoia over future widespread protests,” Majid Rafizadeh, op-ed, Arab News, September 16, 2020.