The Los Angeles Times published an article headlined “Iran's execution binge.” It says that human rights abuses are increasing as Tehran's leaders use public executions to send a message to dissenters. The lesson Iran learned from the uprisings of 2009 — and the one it is trying to impart to other leaders in the region — is that the way to quash peaceful dissent is through a public display of brute force, terror, intimidation and humiliation. The proper response to that from the international community must be resolute and firm: Iran's behavior is unacceptable and far outside the boundaries of civilized society. Civilized nations, and the businesses based in them, should never be complicit.
The Turkish information agency Hurriyet reported that. with his newly announced Cabinet, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has consolidated the power and authority of the government under himself and a small group of other key players, namely four deputy prime ministers. While preserving a majority of the previous Cabinet, Erdoğan had a few surprises in the “master Cabinet” that he announced on Wednesday, which saw six new additions but left largely untouched the executive ministries that contributed to the ruling party’s 50 percent election win last month. The four deputy prime ministers, Bülent Arınç, Ali Babacan, Beşir Atalay and Bekir Bozdağ, will head the country’s most crucial and significant institutions.The same information agency published an article subtitled “Ahmadinejad calls on Iran colleges not to segregate sexes.” It says that President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said on Wednesday plans to segregate male and female students at Iranian universities must be halted, drawing another battle line in his ongoing tussle with traditionalist rivals. As part of a wider drive to assert Islamic values at Iran's colleges, the minister in charge of higher education has said male and female students must be taught separately when classes begin again in September. But in a message on his website, Ahmadinejad said the policy must be stopped.
The Iranian information agency Press TV reported that UN Under-Secretary General Sergio Duarte has welcomed Iran's initiative to extend an invitation to the body's nuclear chief for visiting Islamic Republic's nuclear facilities. The UN's high representative for disarmament affairs said, “Inviting Amano to visit Iran's nuclear facilities is a positive development and can prepare grounds for continuing mutual cooperation.” In June, the head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI), Fereydoun Abbasi, invited the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Amano, to visit the country. The IAEA chief had referred to an “appropriate time” to visit Tehran.
