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No football for women

The live broadcast of Euro 2012 in cinemas has been stopped by Iranian police because of the presence of women in the audience. Women in Iran are being banned from watching live public screenings of Euro 2012 football games because of an “inappropriate” environment where men could become rowdy. I am sure the officials had good intentions though. They simply want women to stay back in a safe place and prepare food for their rowdy men when return home from the screenings.

Cyberspace

Iranian computer experts have tracked an April cyber-attack on the Ministry of Oil computers to two IP addresses in the US. Iranian Police claims that the US authorities should share the identities of the IPs to Iran so that the country can identify those who have embarked on the act of sabotage and file a lawsuit against them.

Iran's cyber police force is poised to launch a new crackdown on Virtual Private Networks.

"It has been agreed that a commission (within the cyber police) be formed to block illegal VPNs,” said the head of the specialised police unit, Kamal Hadianfar. He claimed "about 20 to 30%" of Iran's 36 million web users employ VPNs. Hadianfar added legal VPNs would only be used by "the likes of airlines, ministries, (state) organisations and banks" – and these would be monitored.

Prisoners of conscience  

Student activist Omid Rezaei has been sentenced to two years on charges of insulting the Leader and propaganda against the regime.

Human rights attorney Abdolfattah Soltani has been sentenced to 13 years in prison for "propaganda against the system, forming an illegal group, and conspiring against the regime". He was initially given an 18-year sentence on 4 March 2012

Iran’s on your case  

Iran approves a law to reveal cases of US and UK human rights violation. President Ahmadinejad has told authorities to press cases against human rights violations by the US and Britain. The Iranian Parliament has passed legislation, approved by the Guardian Council, to inform the global community about the violations. To this end, $20 million is allocated for this which designates a working group, supervised by the Ministry of Intelligence, to produce annual reports. Don’t say we never warned Mr. Obama and Mr. Cameron.

Morality police comes to rescue

Morality Police forbids Iranians who use satellite TV programmes to air their wedding films. “Any form of collaboration or activity by any Iranian with satellite TV channels, including the forwarding of documentaries and such, has to be approved by the Ministry of Guidance and Culture,” says the head of Morality Police. Those who do so are in breach of the law and will face prosecution. I can’t believe I am saying this, but for once the morality police is doing people a favour.

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