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Abu Dhabi
CNN
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A most sensible Iranian army reputable issued a caution to Saudi Arabia ultimate week as his authorities persisted to stand off towards protesters at house. “You are involved in this matter and know that you are vulnerable, it is better to be careful,” he mentioned on the sidelines of an army drill.
Major General Hossein Salami, the pinnacle of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, used to be regarding what state information shops referred to as a “media war” that they are saying is being waged towards “the Iranian youth and nation” by way of overseas conspirators in search of to create unrest within the nation by way of supporting protesters there.
Then, on Thursday Iran once more warned Saudi Arabia, in addition to the United States and the United Kingdom, to “stop interfering in the country’s internal affairs.”
Iran ultimate week mentioned it sanctioned a variety of media shops in the United Kingdom for “supporting terrorism” and “inciting violence”, reported Tasnim information company The sanctioned entities come with, amongst others, Volant Media, Global Media, and DMA Media, in addition to the “anti-Iranian TV channels” that the firms improve, corresponding to Iran International, reported Tasnim company.
Now of their 6th week, protests have swept throughout the Islamic Republic following the demise of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini, who died on September 16 after being detained by way of “morality police” and brought to a “re-education center,” allegedly for now not abiding by way of the rustic’s conservative get dressed code.
As the protests rage, Iran is popping up the warmth on its adversaries, principally the United States and Israel. But ultimate week, Saudi Arabia discovered itself within the line of fireplace, which dangers additional complicating makes an attempt by way of the 2 regional competitors to fix ties.
Riyadh hasn’t publicly commented at the protests. The kingdom’s overseas minister refused to offer his view when requested to all through an interview with Al Arabiya information channel on October 12.
“Saudi Arabia has a fixed policy of non-interference in the internal affairs of states,” he mentioned. “Surely, we are following [the situation] and we wish Iran and its people the best.”
Iran and Saudi Arabia severed ties in 2016 and each events have sponsored reverse aspects in proxy conflicts around the Middle East. Last yr, they started direct talks in an try to enhance members of the family. Baghdad has hosted 5 rounds of talks up to now, the ultimate of which used to be held in April.
At the guts of Iran’s most up-to-date accusations towards Saudi Arabia could also be Iran International, a Persian-language information channel that declares from London. The channel has turn out to be probably the most go-to resources for lots of Persian audio system searching for information at the protests. It has been at the vanguard of overlaying the demonstrations, getting breaking information and unique photos of the occasions at the floor. Its Twitter account has over one million fans.
Founded in 2017, Iran International has in the past come underneath scrutiny by way of the Iranian authorities. Some say it’s because of their protection of the protests at house, which in contemporary weeks have rocked the Islamic Republic.
Salami didn’t title the channel in his caution, however government-backed Iranian media ultimate week accused Saudi Arabia of investment it. Saudi Arabia has now not addressed the allegations. Karim Sa djadpour, a senior fellow on the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace suppose tank in Washington DC, said on Twitter that Iran has demanded the shuttering of the channel in talks with Saudi Arabia, mentioning a senior Gulf reputable.
In 2018, Iran International launched a observation denying connections to any authorities, together with Saudi Arabia or Iran after The Guardian reported that it used to be funded by way of a company whose director has ties to Saudi Arabia’s de facto ruler, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
Saudi Arabia didn’t remark at the Guardian file. The Saudi authorities didn’t reply to CNN’s request for remark.
“We have heard these accusations before most often promoted by those in whose interests it is to deny a free press,” a spokesperson for Volant Media advised CNN.
“Iran International and its sister channel, Afghanistan International, are editorially independent television channels owned by Volant Media, a company based in London owned by a Saudi Arabian/British citizen; it has no state backing or affiliation,” added the spokesperson.
Azadeh Moaveni, affiliate professor of journalism at New York University, described the channel as “one of the most pernicious and damaging forces to enter the Iranian media sphere,” calling it an arm of Saudi overseas coverage. “I would not describe Iran International as pro-reform, or organically Iranian in any manner,” she advised CNN.
Mohammad Marandi, a professor on the University of Tehran who used to be additionally an adviser to the Iranian nuclear talks negotiating staff, mentioned there’s “no doubt” that Iran International is funded by way of Saudi Arabia. A outstanding determine on state-funded Iranian shops, Marandi added that Iran International spreads rumors, ethnic and sectarian strife “and it tries to use misinformation to create fear, chaos and promote violence.”
Saudi Research and Marketing Group, a media conglomerate with ties to the Saudi ruling circle of relatives, has run the Persian language site of the United Kingdom’s Independent newspaper since 2018. Its account on Instagram, the place many Iranians get their information, has over 600,000 fans.
CNN’s guardian corporate is Warner Bros. Discovery, which has a partnership with Saudi Research and Media Group, a Saudi joint inventory corporate.
Saudi Arabia has for years accused Iran of doing the similar with its personal Arabic-language information channels: focused on Arab audiences with propaganda. State-run Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting runs Al Alam TV, an Arabic information channel that has interviewed Saudi opposition figures and has been blocked by way of Arab states. Iran-backed Hezbollah’s Al Manar channel has additionally been blocked.
“It’s about time Iran gets a taste of its own medicine,” mentioned Ali Shihabi, a Saudi creator and analyst. “Iran has spent decades inciting and funding instability in the Arab world so having them pay the price of such behavior themselves is certainly a source of satisfaction to a lot of people,” he advised CNN.
The channel “is making an impact on public behavior in Iran and they are nervous about their domestic situation,” added Shihabi.
Analysts say that Iran’s tight grip on home media shops and its loss of freedom of expression have created “fertile ground” for anti-establishment platforms corresponding to Iran International to flourish.
“It is not so much the broadcasters themselves, but the situation in Iran has provided the possibility for broadcasters outside of Iran to gather a certain degree of popularity in the Iranian context,” mentioned Gholam Khiabany, a reader in media and communications at Goldsmiths, University of London.
Harun Najafizada, a former journalist at Iran International who’s now a director on the sister Afghanistan International information channel, mentioned the guardian corporate Volant Media is privately funded however “I don’t care as long as they do not influence my editorial take,” including that shareholders by no means intervene in determination making.
Iran International stood out from different Western-backed Persian language information shops “by taking the side of the disenchanted, oppressed, voiceless people,” whilst competitor Persian channels within the West have been involved in bringing stability by way of giving the Iranian authorities a voice, he advised CNN.
“They have a vision, of course – they don’t do it for God,” mentioned Najafizada, regarding the shareholders. “That vision is democracy.”
Just two days after Salami’s first caution, then again, Ali Akbar Velayati, a most sensible adviser to Iran’s excellent chief, used to be quoted pronouncing that the 2 nations will have to reopen their embassies to facilitate a rapprochement, in keeping with the semi-official Iranian information company ISNA.
“We are neighbors of Saudi Arabia and we must coexist,” he used to be cited as pronouncing by way of ISNA. “The embassies of the two countries should reopen in order to solve our problems in a better way.”
Business homeowners and manufacturing facility staff in Iran’s Kurdish area went on strike over the weekend as anti-government protests persisted.
Video shared with CNN by way of pro-reform activist outlet IranCord presentations Sanandaj, the capital of the Kurdish area, quiet initially of the paintings week as shops stay close.
The Norway-based Iranian rights team Hengaw mentioned shopkeepers have been on strike in Bukan, Sanandaj and Saqez, in addition to Marivan. Strikes and protests have turn out to be commonplace in towns and cities throughout Iran as other folks unite towards the regime.
The national protests are actually of their 5th week, prompted by way of the demise of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini, who died 3 days after being arrested by way of the rustic’s morality police and brought to a re-education middle.
Here’s the newest in this creating tale:
- Iran will record a lawsuit towards the United States claiming america had direct involvement in contemporary riots, Kazem Gharibabadi, the deputy head of the Iranian judiciary and secretary of the rustic’s High Council for Human Rights, mentioned on Saturday, in keeping with state information company IRNA.
- The Coordinating Council of Iranian Teachers’ Trade Associations (CCITTA) on Saturday referred to as for a national strike in protest on the contemporary deaths and detention of scholars within the nation, in keeping with a observation revealed on Telegram. The council additionally introduced a length of public mourning for college students who’ve died in contemporary weeks from Thursday thru Saturday, and referred to as for a sit-in on Sunday, October 23 and Monday, October 24.
- Protests came about in central Berlin on Saturday, with as regards to 80,000 other folks status in team spirit with Iran, German state broadcaster RBB reported, mentioning police officers.
Israel and Lebanon may just signal maritime border settlement on Thursday, Biden power adviser says
Senior US adviser for international power safety Amos Hochstein mentioned on Sunday that Israel and Lebanon may just signal their ancient maritime borders settlement as early as Thursday.
- Background: “We’re going to have a deal. We’re going to sign it hopefully this Thursday,” Hochstein mentioned on CBS’ “Face the Nation.” “And I hope that this continues our commitment to stability in the region and prosperity for both countries,” he added.
- Why it issues: The US-brokered settlement settles a years-long maritime border dispute involving primary oil and gasoline fields within the Mediterranean. Still technically at conflict, Lebanon and Israel each have a lot to realize. Not simplest does the settlement quiet down contemporary safety tensions, it additionally permits Israel to start out drilling and exporting gasoline to Europe and provides attainable financial reduction to Lebanon.
Human Rights Watch says LGBTQ other folks subjected to arrest and mistreatment in Qatar forward of World Cup
Human Rights Watch (HRW) has accused Qatar’s safety forces of arbitrarily arresting lesbian, homosexual, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) other folks and subjecting them to ill-treatment in detention forward of the FIFA World Cup.
- Background: HRW mentioned in a file issued Monday that it documented six instances of “severe and repeated beatings and five cases of sexual harassment in police custody between 2019 and 2022,” the newest of which came about in September. Security forces arrested other folks in public puts founded only on their gender expression and unlawfully searched their telephones, the HRW file mentioned, including that as a demand for his or her free up, safety forces mandated that transgender ladies detainees attend “conversion therapy sessions” at a government-sponsored “behavioral healthcare” middle. Homosexuality is prohibited in Qatar and punishable by way of imprisonment. A Qatari reputable advised CNN that the HRW allegations “contain information that is categorically and unequivocally false.”
- Why it issues: Ahead of the FIFA World Cup, which begins November 20, Qatar has mentioned it could welcome LGBT guests, after considerations have been raised from the LGBT neighborhood over how secure they are going to be on the match.
Egypt has ordered the discharge of outstanding activist, presidential pardon committee member says
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi on Monday pardoned a outstanding activist and previous parliamentarian, Zyad el-Elaimy, in keeping with a presidential pardon committee member.
- Background: Jailed since 2019, el-Elaimy used to be probably the most key members within the 2011 uprisings that ended in the downfall of former longtime ruler Hosni Mubarak. His free up is “in response to calls by political parties and forces,” presidential pardon committee member Tarek el-Khouly wrote on Facebook. Young individuals of political events, politicians and the presidential pardon committee additionally coordinated to lend a hand safe his free up, added el-Khouly. El-Elaimy used to be given a five-year sentence ultimate yr on fees of spreading false information.
- Why it issues: The free up comes two weeks forward of November’s COP27 summit in Egypt. The nation has are available in for sharp complaint in contemporary months, with activists denouncing international leaders’ attendance within the mild of Sisi’s questionable human rights document. Egypt has been selling strikes to enhance its rights document, however activists and critics have described contemporary reforms as most commonly beauty.
United Arab Emirates: #Diwali
Also referred to as Deepavali, the vacation is broadly trending throughout social platforms within the United Arab Emirates, with many flooding Twitter with colourful pictures of candles and wishing pleasure and prosperity to the sector.
Some also are posting pictures of themselves in conventional celebratory clothes. Diwali is among the maximum necessary gala’s in Hinduism, the biggest faith in India. This yr, it falls on October 24.
India and the UAE percentage a powerful political and financial dating, one who has grown nearer in recent times.
The Indian expatriate neighborhood within the UAE is round 3.5 million, in keeping with the Indian embassy within the UAE, including that it’s reportedly the biggest ethnic neighborhood within the oil-rich Arabian Gulf state. Approximately 15% of the diaspora are within the emirate of Abu Dhabi, added the Indian embassy, whilst the remaining are in six northern Emirates, together with industry hub Dubai.
The UAE additionally accounts for 33% of overseas remittances to India, at greater than $20 billion a yr.
Diwali could also be important for Sikhs and Jains. It is well known in India, Nepal, Malaysia, Singapore and different nations with South Asian diasporas.
