Zimbabwe Elections v Islamic Republic Elections

This item comes to us from Potkin. It begs the question - are flawed elections better than no elections at all:

Zimbabwe Elections v Islamic Republic Elections

Iran Arrests Prisoners' Rights Activist

TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — The head of an Iranian human rights group was arrested on charges of violating national security, official media reported on Sunday.

The state-run Islamic Republic News Agency said members of Emadeddin Baghi's family had taken part in meetings that were arranged by the opposition to topple Iran's Islamic regime.

"Baghi was doing his activities against national security under the cover of defending prisoners' rights," IRNA quoted an unnamed official as saying.

Baghi is the head of a prisoners' rights group and has accused authorities of mistreating inmates.

In 2003, he was sentenced to three years in prison on similar charges of violating national security. He served two years and one year was suspended.

"Now, the suspended term will go into force," the official was quoted as saying. IRNA did not provide more details.

Calls to Baghi's office, his family and judicial officials were not immediately returned.

Iran recently released three Iranian-Americans after they spent about four months in prison on accusations of trying to stir up a revolution in the Islamic Republic.

A fourth Iranian-American whose passport had been confiscated also was allowed to leave the country. All four were charged with endangering national security — allegations they and their employers denied.

Ahmadinejad calls Israel 'insult to human dignity' on Al-Quds Day

"Iran condemns fabricating such a pretext (the Holocaust) for the Zionist regime to commit genocide against the Palestinian nation and occupy Palestine," Ahmadinejad said.

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Tyranny in Tehran

Outstanding article from Robert Tait in Tehran.  My nomination for the upcoming Media Awards is herewith made.  An absolute must read.

Baiting Bush, denying the Holocaust... Iran's hardline president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, has also been busy dealing with simmering unrest within his own borders. Now, Iran's leaders have launched a ferocious crackdown after accusing their opponents of conspiring to topple the Islamic system in a velvet revolution. Robert Tait reports from inside Iran

Sunday September 30, 2007
The Observer

FULL STORY