Today, the Mullahs' Foreign Ministry Spokesman attacked Amnesty International and said that the human rights group should "appreciate" Iran's policies.

In its 1997 report on Iran, Amnesty International said: "Thousands of political prisoners were held during the year, including prisoners of conscience. Some were held without charge or trial; others were serving long prison sentences after unfair trials. There were continuing reports of torture and ill-treatment. The judicial punishments of flogging and amputation were implemented. Several 'disappearances' and suspected extrajudicial executions were reported. At least 110 prisoners were executed, including political prisoners, some after unfair trials."

Imprisoned Journalist in "Very Poor" Conditions, Iran Zamin News Agency, Sept. 3

The German daily Tageszeitung said Tuesday that the family of imprisoned Iranian Journalist Faraj Sarkuhi visited him in a prison in Shiraz.

Sarkuhi's mother said that he was in a very poor physical and psychological condition. She added that her conversation with her son lasted for only eight minutes and that they were separated by a window.

The journalist's mother requested the prison staff to allow them a longer visit, but the request was denied. Tageszeitung reported that Sarkuhi cried after expressing concern for his wife and two children.

Not Even in Former Soviet Union, The Christian Science Monitor, August 28

 [Excerpts from an article by Marshall Ingwerson, who recently visited Iran.] 

…We have been warned repeatedly by Iranian officials that we must be careful. We can never tell exactly what that means….

One official at the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance warns us darkly of the dangers of taking our female translator on excursions outside Tehran. He insists, in fact, that we go with a translator he has selected. The difference turns out to be that his translator, who barely speaks English, pays half the $200 fee to the official. But since the same official is the only one who can stamp and seal our film so we can take it out of the country, he has us….

It is late when we return to Tehran. Our assigned translator takes our film to the apartment of the ministry official to seal and stamp. And pays the $100 cut.

Few officials, even in the former Soviet Union, would be so brazen.

Mullahs Cannot Be "Indifferent" toward Israel, State-run News Agency (IRNA), Sept. 3 

TEHRAN—…Regarding the military cooperation between Turkey and the Zionist regime, the Foreign Ministry Spokesman stated that such cooperation are a source of crisis in the region and set Turkey against the world of Islam….

The spokesman further condemned the scheduled joint maneuver between Turkey and the Zionist regime and called it a threat to Arab states as well as the whole region….

''The Islamic Republic of Iran has time and again voiced its utmost concern over the increasing influences of the Zionist regime in the region and cannot be indifferent towards these developments.''…

Arafat Will Lose Immensely If Agrees to "Devil's Will", State-Run News Agency (IRNA), September 3 

The English-language Iran daily Wednesday commented on the upcoming visit to the region of the U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, saying she is expected to try to revitalize the morbid peace process, especially on the ostensibly hopeless Palestinian-Zionist track….

It is expected that the U.S. secretary of state will try to cajole and coerce a vulnerable Yasser Arafat to "fight terrorism" on behalf of Israel.

It further said that Arafat would lose immensely if he chose or unwillingly agreed to do the devil's will….

Former Revolutionary Guards' Official Appointed as Health Minister in Charge of Research, State-run News Agency (IRNA), September 2 

Minister of Health Mohammad Farad here on Tuesday appointed Ahmad Ali Nourbala as his deputy in charge of research.

Nourbala previously served as official in charge of Islamic Republic Guard Corp's health brigade….

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