Middle East

In the latest attack on free speech in Turkey, three academics who signed a peace petition in January 2016 have been jailed by an Istanbul court on suspicion of “making terrorist propaganda,” Human Rights Watch said today. The three were…

Russia to withdraw from Syria: The beginning of the end? By Dr. Farhang Jahanpour Oxford University & TFF Board member On Monday 14 March, in a surprise move and without any warning to Western leaders, President Vladimir Putin ordered the withdrawal…

When the leaders of 28 European states enjoy again this week their exclusive flights, luxurious suites and official limousines, to meet for a new summit in Brussels to adopt a final decision on their proposed plan of using refugees as…

On Sunday night, the Palestinian teacher Hanan Al-Hroub won the one million dollar Global Teacher Prize amongst ten teachers nominated from all over the world. About a month ago, the prize, organized by the Varkey Foundation, has chosen ten finalists…

Recep Tayyip Erdogan has been clamping down methodically on the media in Turkey for years, first as prime minister and now as president. The persecution of journalists across the political spectrum is growing in ferocity and includes arrests, threats and…

Human Wrongs Watch By Baher Kamal* 29 February 2016 (IPS) –  When the tsunami of panic around Iran’s potential capability to develop nuclear weapons reached its peak some three years ago, a combined diplomatic, media campaign warning that a Gulf…

A ceasefire was declared in Syria brokered by the US and Russia which is a good thing. The twin rogue regimes of Israel and Saudi Arabia are not happy. The former rattled its military wares and killed a few more…

Hi folks, My interview with conservative Iranian publication Javan was published today.- it touches on the shifts in regional alliances as ground developments change the face of the Mideast. Iran and Russia – who would have thought? Tension on the…

Almost at the same time that the European Parliament was declaring a ban on arms sales to Saudi Arabia in protest for the indiscriminate bombing of Yemen’s civilians – after the UN raised the issue (1) – David Cameron, UK…

Iran’s elections and the nuclear deal By Dr. Farhang Jahanpour TFF Board member Two general elections are to be held in Iran this coming Friday the 26th – to the parliament (Majles) for the next 4 years and to the Assembly of…