Strong criticism for head of Munich Security Conference: "A Nuclear Iran must not be accepted!”

Will Germany again undermine new EU sanctions against Iranian regime?

Press release STOP THE BOMB:  January 23rd, 2012

Today's Iran sanctions concluded by the European Union increase the pressure on Germany to finally comply fully to existing export control measures.

The import ban on Iranian oil - despite fully coming into effect as on July 1st - is an important step to restrict the main financial source of the Iranian regime.
Oil and gas revenues form 50% of the Iranian state budget and 80% of Iran's export gains. Also according to US sources, Iran sells sanctioned Syrian oil and therefore supports the murderous fight of the Assad regime against the Syrian opposition.[1]

In Germany there is a growing scandal over the Iran business of the German company Hansa Group AG. Jonathan Weckerle, the spokesman of the STOP THE BOMB campaign, an NGO which is active against Iran's nuclear program, explains: "The German administration neither is willing nor is capable of effectively controlling Iran sanctions. Shipments of more than 150 Million Euros have been approved by the German export control office BAFA, although the involvement of a covert Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) company had became evident."[2] The IRGC have already been sanctioned by the EU.

"German companies and administrative offices have jointly cooperated in undermining international sanctions efforts. The standpoint of BAFA to see the responsibilty to adhere to sanctions solely with the exporting companies means in practice to open the floodgates to breach sanctions and to put the fox in charge of the henhouse" so Weckerle.

According to recent media reports the BAFA (Bundeamt für Wirtschaft und Exportkontrolle) still has no Iran expert among its employees [3], and 2011 German export of dual-use goods with a possible military utilization has even increased in comparison to the previous year. [4]

The prospect of newly promised negotiations with Iran over the nuclear program should not lead to a delay or a reduction of sanctions, as Tehran could possibly demand as a precondition and a sign of goodwill. [5]

"The Iranian regime again and again has used negotiations and diplomatic initiatives as delaying tactics to avoid more pressure and to win time to advance its nuclear program" so Weckerle for the STOP THE BOMB campaign.


[1] online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970203735304577169191656832540.html
[2] Alle Informationen dazu finden Sie hier: de.stopthebomb.net/de/d-iran/hansa.html
[3] www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,15678959,00.html
[4] www.handelsblatt.com/politik/international/die-iran-connection/6072186.html
[5] www.jpost.com/International/Article.aspx

German export control agency BAFA for months approved Iran deals despite warnings

STOP THE BOMB press release, December 21, 2011

The German Export Control Agency (BAFA) approved exports for the development of the South Pars gas field, a project of the sanctioned Iranian Revolutionary Guards. The agency ignored warnings about Iranian front companies. STOP THE BOMB publishes the correspondence with the export control agency and is calling for the dismissal of its president Dr. Arnold Wallraff.

The Wall Street Journal reported on December 17, 2011, that the German Hansa Group AG since June 2010 brokered exports for the Iranian energy sector worth 150 Million Euros. Iranian partner was the Iranian company PetroKish, established in April 2010, which assumed the contracts and personal of Sepanir, an Iranian Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) company sanctioned by the UN in June 2010. Thus, the deals and technology deliveries for the Iranian projects could continue seamlessly. [1] The deals with PetroKish have been approved by the Federal Office of Economics and Export Control (BAFA), but according to documents leaked to STOP THE BOMB by an informant, the BAFA had for over half a year clear signs for a German-Iranian deception maneuver in order to circumvent sanctions.

Already on May 26, 2011, the BAFA received an export application by the Minimax GmbH & Co. KG, which included documents with the logos of the sanctioned IRGC companies Sepanir and Khatam al-Anbia. On July 14, 2011, STOP THE BOMB spokesperson Jonathan Weckerle informed the BAFA about evidences that PetroKish was an IRGC front company. On August 8, 2011, STOP THE BOMB sent documents to the BAFA with clear evidence for the likely roles of Hansa Group AG as intermediary, of PetroKish as Iranian front company and of Sepanir and Khatam al-Anbia as Iranian business partners. The BAFA was, among other things, asked to check the documents and to hitherto stop all deals that involved the Hansa Group AG. The BAFA answered that the documents were “currently checked”, but, as the Wall Street Journal reports, continued to approve the exports. [2]

Until today, we know of no steps by the BAFA to legally binding stop the deliveries to PetroKish and to cancel the export permissions. The BAFA until now declines to comment on the case. The Wall Street Journal only mentioned a “request” by BAFA to the Hansa Group AG, asking for a stop of the deliveries to PetroKish, referring to informal deliberations about future Iran sanctions at the EU minister meeting on December 1, 2011.

STOP THE BOMB spokesperson Jonathan Weckerle comments: “Companies that greedily seek and use every opportunity to circumvent sanctions, officials that close both eyes despite clearest evidence for deception maneuvers and until today have failed to draw clear consequences – this is how Germany acts in face of the nuclear armament of the Islamist and anti-Semitic dictatorship in Iran. The German Sonderweg [special path] to block Western Iran sanctions is thus not only taken on the diplomatic scene, but also on the administrative level. Human rights in Iran, Israel’s security and the international anti-proliferation efforts are all subordinated to German export interests.” [3]

Hansa's trade with Iran known to STOP THE BOMB consists of deliveries for the development of the South Pars gasfield, the central project of the Iranian energy industry. The energy sector is of singular economic and political importance for the Iranian regime, and it is in great parts controlled and run by the sanctioned Revolutionary Guards. The energy sector is thus the focus of the international sanctions efforts. [4] As long as deliveries are not completely banned, they should have to undergo the sharpest controls by specialists. Jonathan Weckerle comments the policy of the BAFA as follows:

“The Federal Office of Export Control has for months approved export applications for well-known projects of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards and thereby subverted international sanctions. When documents and explicit evidences for dangerous and illegal deals with Iran are ignored, one can no longer speak of incompetence. It is the German government’s responsibility to finally stop the circumvention of international sanctions against Iran by imposing a complete embargo on exports for the energy sector and by establishing an effective control system. STOP THE  BOMB calls for the dismissal of the responsible BAFA president Dr. Arnold Wallraff as well as investigations against the Hansa Group AG and its German business partners.”

[1] David Crawford, Sanctions Hit—and Miss—in German Trade With Iran, Wall Street Journal, Dec. 17, 2011.

[2] The correspondence with the BAFA is documented below. The documents leaked to STOP THE BOMB can be reviewed by journalists upon request.

[3] Two recent studies by Matthias Küntzel show how Germany blocks sanctions against the Central Bank of Iran:
http://www.matthiaskuentzel.de/contents/what-about-the-european-union
http://www.matthiaskuentzel.de/contents/sanktionen-gegen-teheran-warum-zaudert-die-europaeische-union (German)

[4] Find an overview of the role of the Revolutionary Guards in the Iranian energy sector here: http://www.defenddemocracy.org/media-hit/irans-energy-partners/
The deals are related to delivieries for the development of the phases 13, 15-16 and 22-24 of the South Pars gas field. In 2010, the sanctioned Revolutionary Guards business empire Khatam al-Anbia transferred the development of the phases 15 and 16 to the Iran Shipbuilding & Offshore Industries Complex Co (ISOICO) (http://www.payvand.com/news/11/mar/1019.html), a subcontractor of the Industrial Development and Renovation Organization of Iran (IDRO) (http://www.iranwatch.org/suspect/records/Industrial-Development-and-Renovation.html), which is on the EU sanctions list. The phases 22-24 are being developed by Khatam al-Anbia. (http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5hO8-2zc6BnKaP-2LaqMckSMDa1dg)

German export control agency BAFA for months approved Iran deals despite warnings

STOP THE BOMB press release, December 21, 2011

The German Export Control Agency (BAFA) approved exports for the development of the South Pars gas field, a project of the sanctioned Iranian Revolutionary Guards. The agency ignored warnings about Iranian front companies. STOP THE BOMB publishes the correspondence with the export control agency and is calling for the dismissal of its president Dr. Arnold Wallraff.

The Wall Street Journal reported on December 17, 2011, that the German Hansa Group AG since June 2010 brokered exports for the Iranian energy sector worth 150 Million Euros. Iranian partner was the Iranian company PetroKish, established in April 2010, which assumed the contracts and personal of Sepanir, an Iranian Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) company sanctioned by the UN in June 2010. Thus, the deals and technology deliveries for the Iranian projects could continue seamlessly. [1] The deals with PetroKish have been approved by the Federal Office of Economics and Export Control (BAFA), but according to documents leaked to STOP THE BOMB by an informant, the BAFA had for over half a year clear signs for a German-Iranian deception maneuver in order to circumvent sanctions.

Already on May 26, 2011, the BAFA received an export application by the Minimax GmbH & Co. KG, which included documents with the logos of the sanctioned IRGC companies Sepanir and Khatam al-Anbia. On July 14, 2011, STOP THE BOMB spokesperson Jonathan Weckerle informed the BAFA about evidences that PetroKish was an IRGC front company. On August 8, 2011, STOP THE BOMB sent documents to the BAFA with clear evidence for the likely roles of Hansa Group AG as intermediary, of PetroKish as Iranian front company and of Sepanir and Khatam al-Anbia as Iranian business partners. The BAFA was, among other things, asked to check the documents and to hitherto stop all deals that involved the Hansa Group AG. The BAFA answered that the documents were “currently checked”, but, as the Wall Street Journal reports, continued to approve the exports. [2]

Until today, we know of no steps by the BAFA to legally binding stop the deliveries to PetroKish and to cancel the export permissions. The BAFA until now declines to comment on the case. The Wall Street Journal only mentioned a “request” by BAFA to the Hansa Group AG, asking for a stop of the deliveries to PetroKish, referring to informal deliberations about future Iran sanctions at the EU minister meeting on December 1, 2011.

STOP THE BOMB spokesperson Jonathan Weckerle comments: “Companies that greedily seek and use every opportunity to circumvent sanctions, officials that close both eyes despite clearest evidence for deception maneuvers and until today have failed to draw clear consequences – this is how Germany acts in face of the nuclear armament of the Islamist and anti-Semitic dictatorship in Iran. The German Sonderweg [special path] to block Western Iran sanctions is thus not only taken on the diplomatic scene, but also on the administrative level. Human rights in Iran, Israel’s security and the international anti-proliferation efforts are all subordinated to German export interests.” [3]

Hansa's trade with Iran known to STOP THE BOMB consists of deliveries for the development of the South Pars gasfield, the central project of the Iranian energy industry. The energy sector is of singular economic and political importance for the Iranian regime, and it is in great parts controlled and run by the sanctioned Revolutionary Guards. The energy sector is thus the focus of the international sanctions efforts. [4] As long as deliveries are not completely banned, they should have to undergo the sharpest controls by specialists. Jonathan Weckerle comments the policy of the BAFA as follows:

“The Federal Office of Export Control has for months approved export applications for well-known projects of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards and thereby subverted international sanctions. When documents and explicit evidences for dangerous and illegal deals with Iran are ignored, one can no longer speak of incompetence. It is the German government’s responsibility to finally stop the circumvention of international sanctions against Iran by imposing a complete embargo on exports for the energy sector and by establishing an effective control system. STOP THE  BOMB calls for the dismissal of the responsible BAFA president Dr. Arnold Wallraff as well as investigations against the Hansa Group AG and its German business partners.”

[1] David Crawford, Sanctions Hit—and Miss—in German Trade With Iran, Wall Street Journal, Dec. 17, 2011.

[2] The correspondence with the BAFA is documented below. The documents leaked to STOP THE BOMB can be reviewed by journalists upon request.

[3] Two recent studies by Matthias Küntzel show how Germany blocks sanctions against the Central Bank of Iran:
http://www.matthiaskuentzel.de/contents/what-about-the-european-union
http://www.matthiaskuentzel.de/contents/sanktionen-gegen-teheran-warum-zaudert-die-europaeische-union (German)

[4] Find an overview of the role of the Revolutionary Guards in the Iranian energy sector here: http://www.defenddemocracy.org/media-hit/irans-energy-partners/
The deals are related to delivieries for the development of the phases 13, 15-16 and 22-24 of the South Pars gas field. In 2010, the sanctioned Revolutionary Guards business empire Khatam al-Anbia transferred the development of the phases 15 and 16 to the Iran Shipbuilding & Offshore Industries Complex Co (ISOICO) (http://www.payvand.com/news/11/mar/1019.html), a subcontractor of the Industrial Development and Renovation Organization of Iran (IDRO) (http://www.iranwatch.org/suspect/records/Industrial-Development-and-Renovation.html), which is on the EU sanctions list. The phases 22-24 are being developed by Khatam al-Anbia. (http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5hO8-2zc6BnKaP-2LaqMckSMDa1dg)

Iranian regime is being courted in Germany

Cooperation with Iran in Afghanistan is doomed to fail

STOP THE BOMB Press Release, December 5, 2011

The NGO STOP THE BOMB condemns the invitation of the Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi to Germany. The second international conference on Afghanistan ended in Bonn on Monday evening. The Federal Government had invited Salehi to Bonn under the assumption that the Islamic Republic of Iran could help to "create conditions for a free, secure and successful Afghanistan". [1]
 
The German government still relies on cooperation with Tehran in Afghanistan. STOP THE BOMB spokesman Michael Spaney says: "There are no common interests between the West and the Iranian Islamists, not even in Afghanistan. Neither the stabilization of the country nor the improvement of the human rights situation is possible as long as the Iranian regime has a considerable influence at the Hindu Kush. The strategy of co-operation with Iran in Afghanistan has failed."

Recent reports of ISAF's military intelligence services have demonstrated that the Iranian regime is cooperating with the Pakistani intelligence service ISI in arming and training the Taliban. The report states that the aim of the Iranian leadership is to control the fate of Afghanistan. To achieve this goal, Iranians are cooperating with Pakistan; both countries support the insurgents with training, weapons and money. [2]

While the German Federal government still relies on a double track policy of diplomacy and sanctions, Iran's leaders follow a policy of confrontation: The regime crushes any opposition. In foreign policy, it is working steadfastly on the atomic bomb and threatens Israel with annihilation. The incursion of the British embassy in Tehran and the plans to assassinate the Saudi ambassador on U.S. soil demonstrate how the regime systematically uses terrorist means in foreign policy.

Iranian foreign minister Salehi, a close confidant of Ahmadinejad, formerly was the head of Iran's nuclear program and Vice President of the Islamic Republic. In 2009 he was put on the sanction's list of the European Union. Michael Spaney comments: "The visit of Salehi to Germany is another slap in the face of the Iranian Freedom Movement. The federal government is once again betraying the opposition in courting Salehi. Now is the time for an immediate oil embargo and sanctions against Iran's central bank. A complete diplomatic boycott should follow. The German government should establish serious and close contacts with the Iranian opposition. The Iranian regime is destabilizing the entire region. Without a regime change in Iran there will be no stability in Afghanistan. "

[1] http://www.auswaertiges-amt.de/DE/Aussenpolitik/RegionaleSchwerpunkte/AfghanistanZentralasien/Bonn_Konferenz_2011/111205-Konferenz-node.html

[2] www.spiegel.de/politik/ausland/0,1518,801521,00.html

After the embassy incursion: Germany must not block financial sanctions against Iran tomorrow

US expert: The Central Bank is Iran’s most important remaining connection to the international markets

STOP THE BOMB Press Release, November 30, 2011

On Thursday, December 1, the EU foreign ministers will meet to discuss further sanctions against Iran. There are reports that Germany wants to block sanctions against the Central Bank of Iran (CBI). By contrast, France supports sanctions against the CBI and the UK already adopted them on November 21, 2011. [1]

Avi Jorisch, former Policy Advisor at the US Treasury Department's office of Terrorism and Financial Intelligence, comments: „Germany must support the initiative of its Western allies to sanction the Central Bank of Iran. The CBI is Iran’s most important remaining connection to the international markets. Sanctioning it would greatly decrease the regime’s ability to acquire crucial financial and technological resources. Now is the time for a strong sign of international unity and determination against the global threat of a nuclear-armed Iranian regime.”

The oil sanctions supported by German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle would be an important measure, but they must not be played out against sanctioning the CBI. Iran ranks only on place 14 of Germany’s oil suppliers [2], while Germany is still Iran’s most important Western trade partner and technology provider. Michael Spaney, spokesperson for the campaign STOP THE BOMB, adds: “It looks as if Germany still refrains from drastically increasing the pressure on the Iranian regime. Germany has still exported goods worth 2.3 billion Euros to Iran this year until September.”

Especially the outrageous storming of the British embassy in Tehran must be followed by a determined European reaction. The violent riots were obviously tolerated or initiated by the regime and were aimed against new sanctions. Any sign of weakness and disunity after this provocation would signal Tehran that violence works, and that it can continue not only with its nuclear program, but also with brutally oppressing the Iranian opposition and supporting international terrorism.

[1] http://www.welt.de/print/wams/politik/article13737433/Die-deutsche-Iran-Connection.html

[2] Until September Germany has imported oil worth roughly 339 million Euros from Iran in 2011. http://www.bafa.de/bafa/de/energie/mineraloel_rohoel/energieinfo_rohoel/2011/september.html

Iranian Anti-Semite in German Banks Foundation

STOP THE BOMB calls for the expulsion of anti-Semitic board member of the German Banks Foundation "Schloss Neuhardenberg"

STOP THE BOMB Press Release, 24 November 2011

The campaign STOP THE BOMB is calling on the Foundation Schloss Neuhardenberg, a foundation of a German trustee saving's bank association, to split up with its board of trustees member Mostofa Dolatyar, deputy foreign minister a.i. of the Islamic Republic of Iran. The representative of the Iranian regime attracted attention for his anti-Semitic remarks. Board of Trustee members of the Foundation Schloss Neuhardenberg include among others Matthias Platzeck (SPD), minister president of the Land Brandenburg, and Bernd Neumann, German federal commissioner for culture and media. [1]

In June 2010 Dolatyar told an Iranian news agency: "We hope that the prophecy of the Imam [Khomeini] regarding the downfall of this regime [Israel] will occur very soon and that we will be witnesses of it." [2]

STOP THE BOMB spokesperson Michael Spaney says: An anti-Semite, who welcomes the annihilation of Israel, is simply out of place as a board member in a democratic foundation. As a representative of a regime that brutally oppresses the brave resistance of its people in their own country, Dolatyar should also be intolerable for a Foundation, which claims to work in an „ethical tradition“ of a „consistent, ethically justified resistance against dictatorial rogue regime.“ [3]

The Iranian regime suppresses dissidents, women, homosexuals, Baha'is and members of other religious groups, tortures and murders them. [4] It is official state policy to deny the Holocaust, to announce the destruction of Israel and to work on a nuclear weapons program. Moreover, the Iranian regime, whose defense minister himself is an internationally wanted terrorist [5], is the world's largest sponsor of terrorist groups.

In October, the Foundation Schloss Neuhardenberg had to cancel a planned meeting with Iranian Ambassador Alireza Sheikh Attar and the philosopher Rüdiger Safranski due to massive protests. [6] Sheikh Attar was, according to Iranian human rights groups personally involved in violent crime during his term as provincial governor and remains under suspicion of being the procurement activities for the Iranian nuclear program, as well as responsible for the surveillance and intimidation of dissident Iranian exiles. [7]

The protests against Dolatyar take place in a time when the emergence of the Iran-question splits the EU. [8] While Britain and France continue to restrict their business with Iran, Iranian lobby groups in Germany increased their promotion for the expansion of economic relations between Germany and Iran. In October an „expert discussion“ took place in Berlin with the Vice Minister for Economic Affairs of Iran in the premises of the German Foundation DGAP [9]. Recently a German-Iranian economic conference in cooperation with the largest Association of Medium-Sized Companies in Germany (BVMW) took place in Berlin as well. [10]

Michael Spaney: "The protests against Dolaytar's position in the board of trustees refer once again to the fact that the question of dealing with an anti-Semitic dictatorship can not only be solved alone by the federal government, it is a matter of all democratic institutions. Especially German democratic institutions should be aware of their responsibility towards anti-Semitism and dictatorship. The Foundation Schloss Neuhardenberg stands with its board of trustees for the legitimization and subsidy of the anti-Semitic Islamist dictatorship in Iran."

[1] http://www.schlossneuhardenberg.de/service/kontakt/kuratiorium_der_stiftung.html
[2] http://www.mehrnews.com/fa/NewsDetail.aspx?NewsID=1095347
[3] http://www.dsgv.de/de/gesellschaftliches-engagement/kunst-und-kultur/schloss-neuhardenberg.html
[4] http://www.un.org/ga/search/view_doc.asp?symbol=a%2F65%2F370&Lang=E
[5] http://www.europeandemocracy.org/media/european-media/iran-s-defence-minister-german.html
[6] http://www.digberlin.de/dig/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Pressemitteilung_Absage_Hafiztag-2.pdfPress Release of the Foundation Schloss Neuhardenberg regarding the cancellation of the event with Sheikh Attar and Rüdiger Safranski
[7] http://de.stopthebomb.net/de/attar.html#c1347
[8] http://www.matthiaskuentzel.de/contents/what-about-the-european-union
[9] http://de.stopthebomb.net/de/dgap.html
[10] http://de.stopthebomb.net/de/d-iran/eivent.html

Protests against the German Business Association BVMW and German-Iranian Business Congress in Berlin

Berlin, November 8, 2011

A conference to promote German-Iranian business relations took place under protests today in Berlin. The Congress with the title "Iranian Women Business Power" was attended by the Iranian ambassador Sheikh Attar. The event was promoted with the support of the Association of Medium-Sized Companies (BVMW).

The BVMW published a press release yesterday and rejected any responsibility for the event. The association claimed that the BVWM was neither the promoter nor the organizer of the conference. The European campaign STOP THE BOMB, which is directed against the Iranian nuclear program, criticizes the BVMW: "The press release of the BVMW is a shameful statement. The association does not act according to its responsibilities. The connections between the BVMW and the conference organizer EIVENT are very close and well documented. While the most recent IAEA report shows that the regime in Tehran is building the atomic bomb and is active in all essential areas of the construction of nuclear weapons, the German middle-sized companies with the BVMW at the top continues to expand its business with the Iranian regime. This is irresponsible, and German politicians must finally find an effective strategy to prevent its medium sized companies from supporting the Iranian regime." [1]

In a letter to the members of the political advisory council of the BVMW, STOP THE BOMB had urged the politicians to take steps to prevent the event. Members of the political board of the BVMW are Wolfgang Gerhard (Liberal Party FPD), Dagmar Wöhrl (Christian Democrats, CSU), Brigitte Zypries (Social Democrats, SPD) and Cem Özdemir (Green Party) and others.

The Simon Wiesenthal Center also issued a press release critical of the conference. "Every German politician who visited the congress violates the sanctions against the Iranian regime, which were established by Germany, the EU, the United States and the United Nations," the Center said.

Seminars such as this conference aim at promoting closer business ties with Iran, particularly in the energy sector, an area targeted by EU sanctions. This became evident in a recent event with the Iranian ambassador in Berlin, which took place at the German Foundation on Foreign Relations (DGAP). STOP THE BOMB had protested against this event, too.

About 40 people demonstrated at the conference in front of the Seminaris Hotel in Berlin and demanded tougher sanctions against Iran. STOP THE BOMB urged the Board and the Advisory Council of the BVMW to cut its ties to lobbyists like Mir Durandish and the organization EIVENT immediately and stop advertising business with Iran.

---------

[1] The newspaper of the BVMW called "Der Mittelstand" stated in its most recent edition 4.2011: "The BVMW and Iran's ambassador Ali Reza Sheikh Attar want to strengthen economic relations." Compare: www.eivent.de/pdf/bvmwanz1.pdf. The article also states: "The BVMW with four employees in its Tehran office supports interested companies with information and free initial consultation, explained Mir Durandish." EIVENT organizer Mir Durandish is speaking at various events for the promotion of business in Iran speaking for the BVMW, see for example an event in September 2011 in the German city Senftenberg www.bvmw-lausitz.de/de/veranstaltungen/2011/september/rh0709/info.html

German business alliance cooperates with Iranian regime, event covered as women empowerment

STOP THE BOMB press release November 4th, 2011

Next Tuesday the Seminaris Campus Hotel in Berlin will host the „Business Congress - Iranian Business Women Power” aimed at initiating new Iran business. [1]

The event is organized by the business association European-Iranian Ventures (EIVENT) in cooperation with the Federal Association of Mid Tier Business [Bundesverband mittelständiger Wirtschaft] (BVMW). [2] Among the members of it’s political board of advisers are the leading German politicians Wolfgang Gerhardt (FDP), Brigitte Zypries (SPD) and Cem Özdemir (Green Party).[3] The BVMW represents ca. 55.000 small and midsize companies and freelancers and calls itself the biggest organized force of the German mid tier business. A key figure for the promotion of Iran business is Mir Durandish, head of the Iranian representation of the BVMW. He also maintains close ties with EIVENT.[4]

„The congress is about initiating new German-Iranian business despite sanctions“, says Jonathan Weckerle, spokesman of the campaign STOP THE BOMB. „The propagandistic title ‚women-power‘ is used to whitewash the situation of women in the Islamic Republic and the ruthless business interests of German companies“, Weckerle continues.

The BVMW counters the international efforts to raise the pressure on the regime. Last week officials from the US treasury tried to convince European governments of sanctioning the Central Bank of Iran. [5]

The ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Ali Reza Sheikh Attar, is expected as a guest of honor at the congress. Attar is a confidant of Ahmadinejad, a member of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards and a long time regime functionary. According to Iranian opposition circles, Attar during his time as governor of the provinces Kurdistan and West-Azerbaijan was personally responsible for the terror against the opposition. [6] The press reported that ambassador Attar is also involved in proliferation activities for the Iranian nuclear program. [7]

The exiled Iranian cultural scientist Nasrin Amirsedghi comments: „Using alleged achievements in womens’ rights to advertise this event is a humiliating mockery for the women in Iran. The Islamic Republic stands for coerced headscarves, gender apartheid and a legal system where women count only half. Iran does certainly not stand for ‘women power’.”

STOP THE BOMB will hold a protest rally against the congress on November 8th, 8.30 am, at the Seminaris Campus Hotel in Berlin, Takustr. 39.

[1] http://www.eivent.de/wp.html
[2] http://www.eivent.de/pdf/anmeldU.pdf
[3] http://www.bvmw.de/der-bvmw/politischer-beirat.html
[4] See Factsheet: http://de.stopthebomb.net/d-iran/eivent.html
[5] http://www.handelsblatt.com/politik/international/usa-draengen-europa-zu-sanktionen-gegen-iran/5713620.html
[6] http://jungle-world.com/artikel/2009/23/35188.html
[7] http://daserste.ndr.de/panorama/archiv/2009/panoramairan106.html

Cancel the visit to Iran by European parliamentarians!

STOP THE BOMB Europe, October 26, 2011

The chair of European Parliament's delegation for relations with Iran, Traja Cronberg (Green Party, Finland), has announced that a delegation consisting of five members of the European parliament will pay an official visit to Iran from October 30th to November 4th 2011. It is reported that the visit is a result of an initiative led by German MEP Kurt Lechner (CDU) and Barbara Lochbihler (former chair of European Parliament's delegation for relations with Iran, Green Party Germany). The European coalition STOP THE BOMB demands to cancel the trip and asks Jerzy Buzek as president of the European parliament to denounce the renewed courting of the Iranian regime, which has been already criticized by several EU parliamentarians.

STOP THE BOMB spokesperson Simone Dinah Hartmann opposes any steps that could be understood as support by the Iranian regime: "Instead of giving legitimacy to the Iranian regime by visiting them and offering dialogue - a legitimacy which the regime has lost amongst its people, the European parliament should call for tougher sanctions, especially against Iran's Central Bank and its oil and gas exports. The Iranian nuclear program and the export of terrorism have to be stopped."

German-Iranian author Saba Farzan views this trip as a slap into the face of every freedom loving Iranian. "If Mrs. Lochbihler and her delegation are not even interested in the Iranian freedom movement, at least they should consider the taxpayers money. Tax revenues pay for the scheduled talks with the murderers in Teheran namely. The only right position to take is to cancel the visit and reside with the freedom loving people of Iran."

Protest against the invitation of the Iranian Vice Minister for Economic Affairs to the German Foundation DGAP

Islamic Republic of Iran not a partner in Afghanistan - STOP THE BOMB is calling for the cancellation of an event with Mohammad Reza Farzin and Rainer Stinner (FDP)

Berlin, October 24, 2011

The partly state-sponsored German Foundation DGAP is holding an event called „Experts Talk“ with Mohammad Reza Farzin, Vice Minister for Economic Affairs of Iran and Rainer Stinner, foreign policy spokesman of the Free Democrats (FDP), the junior partner in Germany's ruling coalition this Wednesday, 26 October 2011.[1]

It is announced that the talks will address a possible "energy cooperation" with Iran as well as possibilities to partner in „problem solving in Afghanistan“.

„STOP THE BOMB is shocked that members of the German Bundestag in this way are undermining EU sanctions against the Iranian regime, which are aiming particularly at the country's energy sector", says Michael Spaney, spokesperson of the Campaign STOP THE BOMB. „We are calling for a cancellation of the event. Given the recent murder complot of the Iranian regime in the United States this invitation is a dangerous signal of giving in to terrorist methods", Spaney adds. 

STOP THE BOMB warns against the assessment that the West had shared interests with the Iranian regime in Afghanistan. "We consider this to be a dangerous illusion, particularly on the eve of the Afghanistan Conference scheduled for December in Bonn," says Michael Spaney. "The Wikileaks revelations were only the latest proves demonstrating that the Iranian regime is responsible for the killing of soldiers of the ISAF troops in Afghanistan. The regime is also involved in drug trafficking and supports Islamist terror groups in Afghanistan like the Taliban and Al Qaeda." [2]

Paolo Casaca, executive director of the South Asia Democratic Forum (SADF), who is currently accompanying a major delegation of leading Afghan women through European countries to make their voices heard, warns of this approach. "There are no common interests with Islamist forces in Afghanistan. Instead of stabilizing the influence of the Iranian regime in Afghanistan, Western countries should support and strengthen democratic forces inside the country. The significant improvements in the rights and social situation of women and girls in Afghanistan are likely to be reversed if Islamist forces are allowed to have any role in Afghanistan's future", says Casaca.

STOP THE BOMB asked the DGAP to cancel the invitation and will protest against the event on October 26, in front of the DGAP, Rauchstraße 17/18 in 10787 Berlin.

 ***

<sub>[1] STOP THE BOMB criticized Rainer Stinner in July 2010, when he travelled to Iranrtly after the passing of European sanctions against Iran. STOP THE BOMB stated that Stinner undermined the sanctions by signalling that there is still time for dialogue. See de.stopthebomb.net/de/stinner.html. The German weekly "Die Zeit" stated: "The liberal foreign policy spokesman Rainer Stinner is visiting Iran. In this way he is torpedoing the Iran sanctions of the EU", see www.zeit.de/politik/ausland/2010-08/rainer-stinner-iran-atomstreit.

[2] The DGAP itself states that there is a "financial support of operative Al-Qaeda cells" by the Iranian regime in its recent paper discussion U.S. policy towards Iran: http://www.dgap.org/2011/10/18/von-der-eindammung-zur-entspannung-am-golf/ (p. 16). Information on the Wikileaks revelations: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703700904575391664183556930.html and http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/dec/02/afghan-mps-scholars-iran-payroll?intcmp=239, with links to central Wikileaks documents. In May 2011 the so-called "human rights commissioner" of the Iranian regime, Mohammad Javad Larijani threatened to allow free transit for the smuggling drugs to Europe should the West not stop to criticize human rights violations in Iran. (http://www.welt.de/politik/ausland/article13371692/Iran-droht-Westen-mit-Transit-von-Drogen-nach-Europa.html)</sub>

Matthias Platzeck, Rüdiger Safranski and the Iranian Regime

German companies are undeterred by Iran sanctions

STOP THE BOMB, October 7, 2011

Despite international sanctions, there will be two events next week initiating German Iran-business. In Dresden the governor of the oil-rich Iranian province Khuzestan will promote investments and technology transfer for the energy sector, while representatives of the sanctioned EIH bank will “help in word and deed” at a business diner in Hamburg. Considering the progressing Iranian nuclear weapons program [1], the massive Iranian support for the crackdown on the Syrian opposition and a wave of executions in Iran [2], the activities of the German-Iranian business lobby are cynical.

The Struppen (Saxony) based EIVENT (European Iranian Ventures) organizes a business congress at a disclosed venue in Dresden on October 10, 2011. Seyed Jafar Hejazi, governor of the Iranian province Khuzestan, together with a high-level Iranian business delegation will initiate German deals with Iran. Khuzestan is a center of the Iranian oil industry, vast new oilfields are being developed, and obviously, they count on technology made in Germany. The invitation to the congress promises “high credit-worthiness and big opportunities for cooperation and investments” in the fields of oil, gas, refinery and petrochemistry, despite the fact that the Iranian energy sector is sanctioned since autumn 2010. [3]

Four days later, on October 14, the German-Iranian Chamber of Commerce [4] invites to a business diner with three “honored guests” from the European-Iranian Tradebank (EIH), who will “help in word and deed”. The EIH, a bank in Hamburg in the hands of the Iranian regime, has been put on the EU sanctions list in May 2011 after massive international pressure and protests from the campaign STOP THE BOMB. In August 2011, the bank went to the European Court of Justice against this decision. [5]

Michael Spaney, spokesperson of the campaign STOP THE BOMB: „The activities of the business lobby are ridiculing international sanctions efforts against the Iranian regime. German Iran deals are openly initiated in cooperation with representatives of the regime. Especially German technology transfers and investments for the Iranian energy sector, which is the economic pillar of the regime, are obviously still not effectively restricted by the German government.”

[1] www.spiegel.de/international/world/0,1518,790042,00.html

[2] www.ncr-iran.org/en/news/human-rights/11317-iran-international-call-to-stop-hundreds-of-planned-executions

[3] www.eivent.de

[4] www.dihkev.de

[5] de.stopthebomb.net/de/d-iran/eih.htm

After EU Sanctions against Syria: Stop Iranian Oil Imports

Tehran endangers democracy movements in the Middle East

Sharp Criticism against German Talks with Iran

STOP THE BOMB, 8 July 2011

STOP THE BOMB strongly protests against new talks of German politicians with representatives of the Iranian regime.[i] Members of the German Bundestag hosted a delegation of the Iranian parliament (Majlis) last week and two prominent Iranian representatives, Iranian ambassador to the IAEA Ali Asghar Soltanieh and the Iranian ambassador in Germany Alireza Sheikh Attar, spoke at a conference in the German Foreign office. The conference was organized as the 59. Pugwash Conference on the premises of the Foreign Office from July 1-4 and was also sponsored by the ministry.[ii]

With two events in one week Germany is again leading among Western democracies regarding talks with Iran. Michael Spaney, Spokesperson of the STOP THE BOMB Campaign, is criticizing this policy: "While German politicians are hesitant in supporting the Iranian freedom movement, they are leading in dialogue with official representatives of the anti-Semitic and authoritarian regime. This suggests that there is a possibility to reach substantial results in these talks, which is simply not true. The dialogue is used by the Iranian propaganda for their aims."

Members of the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee who were invited to the Bundestag at the same time wrote a sharp protest letter criticizing the talks. This pseudo parliament would only cover the brutal suppression of protesters while the regime is calling for genocide and developing weapons to erase Israel of the map, the letter states.[iii] Referring to this letter, Ruprecht Polenz, head of the German foreign policy council, defended the talks stating that sanctions would not exclude talks.[iv]

"Polenz is ignoring the threats emerging from the Iranian regime and its nuclear program for the Iranian people, for Israel and the whole region. These threats are described clearly in the letter as well as in recent statements of the IAEA", says Michael Spaney. "Members of the German Bundestag are thus misleading the public about the nature and the total lack of results of the dialogue with members of a pseudo-parliament without democratic legitimacy." [v]

The talks are particularly cynical because they are taking place while Iranian Revolutionary Guards and Iran controlled Hezbollah terrorists are murdering Syrian protesters fighting for a democratic Syria. [vi]

Engagement with Iranian representatives and their integration in international entities is only legitimizing the expansionist policy of the Iranian regime.

STOP THE BOMB therefore demands more pressure on the regime: diplomatic isolation and economic sanctions which should include further goods like machinery.[vii] In spite of a decline of German exports to Iran during the last months Germany still is the most important Western exporter to Iran. In the first four months of 2011, exports to Iran amounted to almost 1 billion Euros. [viii]

 ---

[i] The recent meeting of members of the Iranian Majlis is but one example for several events of similar nature. STOP THE BOMB criticized the trip of Rainer Stinner, foreign policy spokesman for the German liberal party FDP in July 2010, the trip of members of the committee for culture of the Bundestag headed by chairman Peter Gauweiler in October 2010, of Elke Hoff, member of the liberal FDP in November 2010 and foreign minister Guido Westerwelle in February 2011.
http://de.stopthebomb.net/en/elke-hoff/open-letter.html
http://de.stopthebomb.net/en/press/press-releases.html#c1967

[ii] http://www.pugwash.org/reports/pic/59/media.htm Iranian ambassador to Iran, Alireza Sheikh Attar is an intimate of Ahmadinejad. From 1980 to 1985, he was governor in Kurdish Iran and responsible for murder and human rights violations in this area. http://de.stopthebomb.net/lehrerkonferenz.html#c1071

[iii] "We, the members of the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, on an official visit to Berlin, firmly protest the visit of Iranian Majlis members in Berlin and express our deep disappointment in their acceptance by German officials, including the German parliament. The Iranian Majlis is a façade of a parliament that covers a murderous regime that oppresses its people and tortures young students and protesters. They support and export terror, aid Assad’s regime in repressing protests against him, deny the Holocaust – all while manufacturing nuclear weapons and missiles in order to commit genocide against the Jews and erase our only state from the map. (…) We cannot stand by while German representatives hold a dialogue with a regime that calls for genocide”. Vgl. http://www.jpost.com/LandedPages/PrintArticle.aspx?id=227372

[iv] http://www.ruprecht-polenz.de/lokal_1_1_994_Polenz-Sanktionen-schliessen-Gespraeche-nicht-aus.html

[v] The last round of talks between Iran and the five permanent members of the UN Security Council plus Germany yielded no results. After Catherine Ashton, High Representative for Foreign Affairs of the EU, tried to initiate new talks with a letter to Tehran, but the unsatisfying answer of Dr. Saeed Jalili of the Iranian National Security Council only caused disapproval. See http://iipdigital.usembassy.gov/st/english/article/2011/05/20110517154728nehpets0.8738367.html#axzz1RL0k40cE

[vi] http://www.zeit.de/politik/ausland/2011-04/syrien-armee-meuterei-soldaten

[vii] Michael Tockuss, head of the German-Iranian chamber of commerce, said in an interview that one must not forget that two thirds of the Iranian industry is equipped with German machinery and technology and that Iran therefore is dependent on German spare parts. http://www.focus.de/finanzen/news/deutschland-iran_aid_104866.html

[viii] The precise number is 999.796.131 Euro. Source: Eurostat.

Press Release: German Companies are Undermining EU Sanctions against Iran's Energy Sector

Berlin, April 13, 2011

In Tehran starts the „Iran Oil Show 2011“  on Saturday, April 16. The Oil Show is an industry exhibition for companies that are active in the energy sector. A high number of German companies will participate, presenting their technology for the sanctioned Iranian energy sector.[1] The campaign “STOP THE BOMB – No Deals with the Iranian Regime!” condemns the participation of the German companies. Those companies are strongly suspected to violate EU sanctions. STOP THE BOMB calls on the responsible authorities to actively investigate against these companies. STOP THE BOMB has compiled and analyzed a list of the represented German companies.[2]

The range of products of the German companies include all kinds of products for the energy sector, including pumps, pipes and construction machines and specialized measuring instruments. Exporting these products to Iran violates the letter and spirit of the EU sanctions.[3] With the Iran Oil Show the Iranian regime promotes business in the Iranian energy sector, and it exploits the growing participation of European companies for its propaganda.[4]

Deals in the Iranian energy sector support the Iranian regime. The German companies that are active in this sector are therefore responsible for the fact that the regime can go on with its policy of human rights violations, its nuclear program and the export of terror against the will of the Iranian people and in spite of massive protests against the regime. Revenues from the energy sector made up nearly 50% of the state budget and 80% of the export income in 2009/2010.[5] The biggest part of the Iranian energy sector is state owned.[6] Business partners in Iran are mostly companies connected to the economic empire of the Revolutionary Guards, who run the majority of the projects in the energy sector.[7] The Revolutionary Guards are on the US terror list and since July 2010 also on the EU sanctions list.

"The results of the German Iran policy are disastrous. Despite EU sanctions, Germany is the most important Western business partner of Iran, with an annual export volume of 3.8 billion Euros. Only China has more companies participating at the Iran Oil Show. Furthermore, the German government refuses to shut down the EIH bank. The bank is essential for the financing of Germany's Iran business. There are no serious efforts to put effective pressure on the Iranian regime”, says STOP THE BOMB spokesperson Jonathan Weckerle.[8]

Prof. Gert Weisskirchen, foreign policy spokesperson for the SPD in the Bundestag from 1999 till 2009, comments: „Whoever circumvents the EU sanctions not only violates international law. By supporting an oppressive regime against the will of the EU, one also threatens the hopes of many young people in Iran for democracy.”

[1] http://www.iranoilshow.com/

[2] http://de.stopthebomb.net/en/d-iran/iran-oil-show-2011.html#c2001

[3] The energy sector is at the same time the Achilles’ heel of the regime, this is why this sector is in the center of the international sanction efforts. Additionally to UN sanctions the US, the EU, Canada, South Korea and Japan have issued sanctions against deals that benefit the Iranian energy sector. See an overview of the international sanctions: www.iranenergyproject.org/topics/1/sanctions

[4] http://www.irxp.com/news/217/

[5] Central Bank of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Annual Review 1388 (2009 / 2010), p. 15 and 18. (http://www.cbi.ir/page/7575.aspx)

[6] List of companies belonging to the Iranian Ministry of Petroleum: http://www.iranoilgas.com/companies/whoiswho/

[7] RAND Corporation, The Rise of the Pasdaran, 2009, p. 59 ff. (http://www.rand.org/content/dam/rand/pubs/monographs/2008/RAND_MG821.pdf)

[8] The Wall Street Journal reported on April 4, 2011, that the German government still refuses to take action against the European-Iranian Trade Bank (EIH), which facilitates the bulk of the German and a big part of the international Iran business. Transactions via the Tehran dependence of the EIH cannot be controlled by the German Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin), and the claimed supervision of the deals via the EIH can be circumvented.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703841904576256711528931504.html?mod=googlenews_wsj. See also: http://de.stopthebomb.net/en/d-iran/eih.html

Mina Ahadi: Do only lives of German citizens count for Westerwelle?

German Foreign Minister Westerwelle ignores the imminent execution of the Iranian lawyer of Sakineh Ashtiani and lets the Iranian regime bank EIH continue to operate in Hamburg.

STOP THE BOMB press statement, Feb. 28, 2011

The hanging of Houtan Kian, the lawyer of Sakineh Ashtiani, is imminent, according to information from the International Committee against Stoning and Execution. Ashtiani is an Iranian woman threatened to be stoned. [1] Kian was arrested together with the two German journalists Jens Koch und Markus Hellwig on October 10, 2010, in his office in Tabriz. The journalists have been released on February 19, 2011, during an Iran journey by the German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle, where Westerwelle met with Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and the Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi.

Mina Ahadi, spokesperson of the International Committee against Stoning and Execution, yesterday talked about Kian on a rally in Hamburg:  “Do only lives of German citizens count for Westerwelle? Instead of promoting political and economic ties with the regime at the expense of human rights, the German government should speak out on Iran as clearly as on Libya, and ostracize and isolate the dictatorship in Iran.”

Mina Ahadi spoke at a protest rally against the Iranian EIH bank in Hamburg. The EIH bank is one of  the most important loopholes in the international Iran sanctions. It can continue to operate despite being involved in deals for the Iranian nuclear weapons program and massive international protests. [2]

“The announced execution of the human rights lawyer Houtan Kian shortly after Westerwelle’s trip to Iran demonstrates how useless human rights appeals to the rulers in Tehran are. To the contrary, the announcement by the German Foreign Minister in Tehran to expand the German-Iranian relations and cooperations only emboldened the regime to continue the current wave of executions”, said Jonathan Weckerle, spokesperson of the campaign STOP THE BOMB, who organized the rally.

A broad coalition of exile-Iranian, Jewish, Christian and secular political organizations demanded together with STOP THE BOMB the immediate closure of the Iranian regime bank in Hamburg, and called for a “stop of the German soft line approach towards the Iranian regime”. It was time to isolate the Iranian torture regime politically and economically and to massively support the Iranian freedom movement.

But Germany undauntedly continues its policy of dialogue with the unscrupulous Islamist rulers in Iran.

Directly following the Iran trip of Westerwelle, Kazem Jalali traveled to Germany last week. Jalali is the Spokesman for the National Security and Foreign Policy Commission of Iran's Parliament. In Germany he met with Barbara Lochbihler from the Green Party, who is chairwoman of the Iran delegation of the European Parliament. Westerwelle and Lochbihler in their meetings with the representatives of the Iranian regime talked about further dialogue meetings, cooperation in many sectors and even the extension of the economic ties. [3]

[1] http://stopstonningnow.com/wpress/4328

[2] http://de.stopthebomb.net/de/d-iran/eih.html (For Westerwelle in Iran see http://de.stopthebomb.net/en/press/press-releases.html#c1962)

[3] http://www.presstv.ir/detail/166606.html and http://www.tagesschau.de/ausland/iran1382.html

Close Hamburg's Iranian terror bank

STOP THE BOMB press release, February 23, 2011

Hamburg - Center of German-Iranian Networking

STOP THE BOMB, November 22nd, 2010

A protest rally took place today in front of the Marriott Courtyard Airport Hotel in Hamburg, organized by the STOP THE BOMB Campaign and other groups. STOP THE BOMB protested against the "Iran Business Forum", an event to promote German-Iranian trade. The "Iran Business Forum" was organized by the IPC Company in cooperation with the Iranian Embassy in Germany. This event was an affront against the democratic Iranian opposition and the international efforts to sanction the Iranian regime.
 
The event was attended by about 100 people. With this event, the city of Hamburg again proved to be the centre of German support for the Iranian regime. The German Iranian Chamber of Commerce is also located in the city. This institute continuously offers seminars for companies which want to expand their business in Iran. The „Islamic Centre of Hamburg“ is an instrument of the Iranian state, according to the 2008 report of the Office for the Protection of the Constitution. Hamburg is also domicile of the European-Iranian Bank of Commerce (EIH), a bank which is on the sanctions list of the US Treasury, because it is involved in financing Iran's nuclear program. The EIH Bank is financing many European business transactions because other banks withdrew from Iran. Hamburg therefore is leading in financing German and European business with Iran.

The Iranian regime is working on expanding its influence in the city. The "Alliance of Iranian Entrepreneurs in Hamburg"(BIU) under the leadership of Kourosh Pourkian is busy with planning a new "Iran-House" in Hamburg. Pourkian also held a speech at the "Iran Business Forum" at the Marriott hotel today. Pourkian is vice chairman of the “Hafis-Foundation”. Reinhard Stuth, the current Senator for Culture in Hamburg, was the chairperson of this foundation until September 2010.

STOP THE BOMB-Speaker Jonathan Weckerle says: "Alireza Beyghi, who spoke at the "Iran Business Forum" is the governor of the Iranian province East Azerbaijan. He is responsible for the imminent execution of Sakineh Ashtiani, and the imprisonment of two German journalists who are charged with „espionage", because they wanted to conduct an interview with Sakineh's son. The Prosecutor General of the Iranian province East Azerbaijan just announced that Sakineh's case is moving through the legal stages in a Tehran court and, if the sentence is ratified, she will be executed by stoning. The German-Iranian Business Forum demonstrates: Contrary to the situation in the US, the hangmen of the Iranian regime are not added to terror lists and excluded from entering Germany, but they can move freely and do business as usual."

Because the Marriott Courtyard Hotel group did not cancel the event in spite of information and protest letters, but decided to host criminals who committed crimes against humanity in Iran and lobbyists of the Islamic dictatorship, the hotel chain will be added to UANI's list of the companies which support the Iranian regime.

International Protests against Iranian Propaganda Event at the Marriott Courtyard Airport Hotel in Hamburg / German MP Elke Hoff promotes expansion of German-Iranian Cooperation in Iran

STOP THE BOMB, November 20, 2010

An event to promote German business in Iran with the title "Iran Business Forum – Possibilities to invest in Iran's North-Western provinces" will take place on Monday, November 22, on the premises of the Marriott Courtyard Hotel in Hamburg. One of the invited speakers is Alireza Beyghi, governor of the province Eastern Azerbaijan. This is the province where Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani is threatened with execution and in which two German journalists are detained, charged with „espionage“, because they wanted to conduct an interview with Sakineh's son.[1]

The event, officially held by the IPC GmH, is organized in cooperation with the Iranian Embassy, according to a telephone conversation with Nils Drescher, manager of the hotel in Hamburg.[2] According to the schedule of the event, the Iranian Ambassador, Ali Reza Sheikh Attar will be the first speaker. Sheikh Attar, member of the revolutionary guards, which are on the terror list in the United States, is responsible for the assassination of hundreds of members of the opposition in Iran, and also for the persecution of Iranians in German exile.[3]

The coalition STOP THE BOMB will hold a protest rally in front of the Marriott Hotel in Hamburg on Monday, November 22.[4]

Elke Hoff, member of the Bundestag for the FDP (Liberal Democrats) and also board member of the Near and Middle East Association (NUMOV), which lobbies against sanctions and promotes trade with Iran, is in Iran today and promotes the expansion of German-Iranian cooperation in different fields, including the official and parliamentary level. [5]

The destiny of the two arrested German journalists, whose names are still not known in the public, shows what Germany gets for its close relations with the Iranian regime. Hardly one journalist in Germany dares to report on the case of the arrested journalists.[6] Meanwhile, the Iranian regime is conducting a campaign against Mina Ahadi, who managed to draw the international attention to the case of Sakineh with a campaign against stoning. Mina Ahadi got several death threats. A public event with Mina Ahadi as a speaker in Berlin that was scheduled for tonight had to be cancelled due to security reasons after the German police refused to provide protection for the event.

Jonathan Weckerle, spokesperson of STOP THE BOMB, comments: „Right now the Iranian regime has taken the offensive and tries to blackmail the German government with the imprisoned journalists. This is also a result of the ongoing events promoting trade with Iran and of the uncritical journeys to Iran by German members of the parliament, by which the German side undermines the sanctions and signals weakness and indetermination. STOP THE BOMB demands that events promoting trade with Iran and trips to Iran like the one of the liberal democrat’s member of parliament Elke Hoff are stopped immediately.”

The US organization UANI – United Against A Nuclear Iran has also protested against the event in Hamburg. In a letter to J.W. Marriott, head of the Marriott chain, Mark D. Wallace, president of UANI and former UN ambassador for the USA, writes:

"By providing accommodations for the Iranian Ambassador at an event singularly conceived for the purposes of promoting increased trade between Germany and Iran, the Marriot is facilitating the Iranian regime's ability to counter the effects of multilateral sanctions intended to isolate an illegitimate dictatorship that engages in conduct that threatens international peace and security, and is an egregious human rights violator." [7]

German Parliamentary Committee legitimizes the Executioners of the Iranian Opposition

STOP THE BOMB condemns the journey by the subcommittee on foreign culture and education policy to Iran.

STOP THE BOMB, October 15, 2010

The coalition STOP THE BOMB, which is active against the nuclear armament of Iran, strongly condemns the journey of the subcommittee on foreign culture and education policy to Iran, scheduled for 16-22 October, 2010. Heading the delegation is the head of the committee, Peter Gauweiler (CDU/CSU), accompanied by fellow committee members Günter Gloser (SPD), Lukrezia Jochimsen (Left Party) and Claudia Roth (Green Party). (1)

According to the Iranian news agency Fars News, the initiative for the trip was a letter from the Head of the German parliamentary committee, Peter Gauweiler, to the head of the committee on culture of the Iranian mock parliament, Gholam Ali Hadad Adel. (2)

Hadad Adel is a close confidant of supreme leader Khamenei. He personally sent a threat to the Queen of England that the author Salman Rushdie will be killed. Hadad Adel said: “Salman Rushdie has been sentenced to death by the historical fatwa of Imam Khomeini, and bestowing of titles cannot bring this corpse back to life.” (3)

According to Fars News, a meeting with the speaker of the Iranian parliament and holocaust denier Ali Larijani is also planned. (4)

“This kowtowing by German parliamentarians to the killers and anti-Semites in the Iranian regime is another slap in the face of the Iranian democratic opposition and to civilized people worldwide”, says Michael Spaney, spokesperson of STOP THE BOMB in Germany. “Germany legitimizes the totalitarian dictatorship in Iran and goes against the sanctions of the US and the EU.”

The US recently imposed travel bans on eight leading officials of the regime because of human rights violations. (5) Mahammed Mostafaie, one of the lawyers of Sakine Mohammadi Aschtiani, an Iranian woman sentenced to death, just called on the European Parliament to take stronger measures against the Islamic Republic. Besides economic sanctions, political sanctions would be necessary as well. For example, the EU could impose travel bans on Iranian politicians and officials. (6)

“While there is an often diffuse debate about integration and Islam in Germany, leading German politicians flatter the main exporters of Islamic terrorism”, says Spaney. “Especially the role of the Green Party, which always likes to portray itself as friends of the Iranian opposition, cannot be called other than hypocritical.”

STOP THE BOMB demands an immediate end to the dialogue with the Iranian terror regime, consequent economic and political sanctions and the banning of Hizbollah as henchman of the Iranian regime in Germany.

[1] http://www.bundestag.de/presse/pressemitteilungen/2010/pm_101015.html
[2] http://www.farsnews.com/newstext.php?nn=8907120168%EF%BB%BF
[3] http://diepresse.com/home/politik/aussenpolitik/312887/index.do
[4] http://www.focus.de/politik/deutschland/muenchner-sicherheitskonferenz-laridschani-verteidigt-holocaust-leugner_aid_368978.html
[5] http://www.treas.gov/press/releases/tg877.htm
[6] www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5gFSGKG46VUhr9t5sJkYIENn1AHQw

Swiss Iran policy under fire

STOP THE BOMB, October 8, 2010

STOP THE BOMB Campaign Protests Against Swiss Iran-business

Zurich: rally, Monday October 11th, 2010, 4 pm

in front of Staatssekretariat für Wirtschaft SECO Zurich, Stauffacherstrasse 101, Zurich

Berlin: rally, Monday, October 11th 2010, 4 pm

Otto-von-Bismarck-Allee 4a, between the Swiss Embassy and the German Chancellery, 10557 Berlin

Düsseldorf: rally, Monday, October 11th 2010, 4 pm

near the EGL subsidiary in Düsseldorf, Hammerstraße 19, 40219 Düsseldorf

Vienna: rally, Monday, October 11th 2010, 4 pm

Prinz-Eugen-Straße in front of the Swiss Embassy, 1040 Wien

London: rally, Monday October 11th, 2010, 3 pm

Montagu Place, London W1H 2BQ

Monday, October 11th, the STOP THE BOMB campaign will demonstrate in several European cities against the Swiss-Iran policy. The Berlin rally, which takes place between the Swiss embassy and the German Chancellory, will coincide with actions in Duesseldorf, Zurich, London and Vienna.  In Dusseldorf the place of protest is in font of a branch of the Swiss company EGL, which has signed a billion-dollar deal with Iran. The protest in Berlin and Düsseldorf addresses both the Swiss business with Iran and the continuing German exports.

STOP THE BOMB Germany spokesman Michael Spaney criticizes the Swiss government in Bern: "If the Swiss government does not join the European regulations, it is a loophole for business with Iran, undermining the EU sanctions imposed in July. The Swiss assistance to Iran's application for membership to the WTO is as great a scandal as the billion euro deal of the Swiss company EGL."

Although EGL announced that they would not use Iranian gas in the initial phase of the Trans-Adriatic gas pipeline, the supply contract with Iran remains upright.

"Therefore STOP THE BOMB calls for the full cancellation of the billion dollar gas deal of EGL with Iran" said Michael Spaney

Calmy-Rey spoke against the recent EU sanctions. Switzerland´s position was "neutral and impartial" and should "open doors in Washington and Tehran" [2]. Since 2008, Switzerland is criticized by the U.S. The gas deliveries would violate the UN sanctions and undermine the sanction policy against Iran [3]. Furthermore, Switzerland supports the accession of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the World Trade Organization [4].

The so-called "human rights dialogue" between Switzerland and Iran as well as the inconsistent actions of the German Federal Government cover the crimes of the regime in Tehran, according to Spaney.

Despite EU sanctions, German trade with Iran was rapidly increasing by 14 percent in the first half of 2010 [5]. In many of these trade-relations the Hamburg-based European-Iranian Trade Bank (EIH) is involved, which is owned by the Iranian regime.

For this reason the STOP THE BOMB campaign protested on September 23rd 2010 for the immediate closure of the EIH [6]. On September 8th it became public that the EIH was put on the sanctions list of the U.S. Treasury. The EIH is deeply involved into the nuclear weapons program in Iran, according to Stuart Levey of the U.S. financial authorities [7].

1] http://diepresse.com/home/meinung/gastkommentar/592947/index.do
[2] http://www.jpost.com/International/Article.aspx?id=188050
[3] http://www.nzz.ch/nachrichten/schweiz/calmy-rey_verteidigt_besuch_in_iran_1.691566.html
[4] http://www.sonntagonline.ch/index.php?show=news&id=796
[5] http://www.jpost.com/International/Article.aspx?id=184997
[6] http://www.jpost.com/LandedPages/PrintArticle.aspx?id=189087
[7] http://www.treas.gov/press/releases/tg847.htm

Rally for the immediate closure of the European-Iranian Trade Bank (EIH) in Hamburg, Germany

German government protects terror bank

STOP THE BOMB September 9, 2010

The Hamburg-based Europäisch-Iranische Handelsbank (EIH) has been blacklisted for sanctions in the U.S. as the American Treasury Department reported yesterday.

Previous news reports suggest that Germany did protect the Iranian-owned bank before the EU sanctions against the Islamic Republic of Iran were issued on July 26th.[1] The New York Times reported on a phone call by U.S. President Obama to German chancellor Merkel, who refused to sanction the EIH.[2]

According to U.S. Treasury Department official Stuart Levey, EIH is responsible for support in the Iranian nuclear program.[3]

„We urge chancellor Merkel to ban EIH. Germany has to get active regarding Iran sanctions. The claim of the German government to prevent Iran from getting nuclear, while intensively sustaining trade relations with Iran, is just lip service“, said Michael Spaney, spokesman for the STOP THE BOMB coalition against nuclear armament of Iran.

German trade volume with Iran increased extensively in the first months of 2010 despite sanctions.[4]

Until today the European Union has yet failed to determine precise regulations enforcing the imposed sanctions.

BAFA, the export control authority of the German Economy Ministry said in a phone call that a date for the commencement of EU sanctions hasn't been set yet. There is either the day of their announcement, July 26th, 2010 or the not yet defined date when the regulations of the sanctions will be issued by the EU.

Therefore STOP THE BOMB demands from the German government and all EU-heads of government to set the enactment date of EU sanctions to July 26th and not on the coming date of the regulating order.

Similar to the case of EIH, Stuart Levey from US-Treasury put several German companies on his sanctions list.[5] Mainly the Dusseldorf based Ascotec and IFIC as well as some subsidiaries of them are subject to the US ban. It is not known if the German authorities have started to investigate the involvement of these companies in Iran's nuclear weapons program

IFIC also holds 4, 5 % of Germany's steel giant ThyssenKrupp which has considerable exports to the now sanctioned Iranian energy sector.[6]

A vast amount of German engineering exports to Iran is still not affected by the current EU sanctions. To exert decisive pressure on Iran a ban on these businesses is necessary says the STOP THE BOMB campaign.

Protest against Iran trip of Rainer Stinner (FDP)

Foreign policy speaker of Westerwelle's FDP wants to travel to Iran - Protests arise also in the FDP

STOP THE BOMB, July 30, 2010

The German member of parliament Dr. Rainer Stinner, foreign policy speaker of the FDP, has announced that he wants to travel to the Islamic Republic of Iran tomorrow (Saturday, July 31), to talk about the „nuclear program“ and the „situation in the region“. (1) 

„That the foreign policy speaker of foreign minister Guido Westerwelle’s party wants to travel to Iran is a fatal political signal. The just imposed UN- and EU sanctions against the Islamic Republic of Iran would be undermined und weakened by Germany. Instead of further isolating and pressuring the illegitimate and criminal regime in Iran, such a visit would strenghten the regime diplomatically and flatter it as a partner for dialogue. Stinners visit would also be exploited by the Iranian regime media in order to discourage the opposition. The visit has to be urgently canceled“, says STOP THE BOMB spokesperson Jonathan Weckerle.

Criticism of Stinners travel plans arises also in the FDP. Dr. Nikoline Hansen, head of the FDP Berlin Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg, writes in a protest letter: 

„In my opinion your trip to Iran is in the long run not positive for the German economy, that tries every way to bypass the santions policy. Because someone who does business with the ardent enemies of Israel in the end acts against his own interests.“ (2)

In an answer to a protest letter from the German-Iranian publicist Saba Farzan, also a member of the FDP, Stinner writes: „Who denies talking, accepts shooting. I’m an independent parlamentarian and I draw conclusions on my own. I don’t rely on the Iranian propaganda, not on propaganda from elsewhere, and I don’t exclusively rely on your opinion.“ 

Saba Farzan states: „As a German-Iranian publicist and member of the Free Democratic Party I'm outraged about this planned trip. The critical dialogue with this regime is fortunately over now – actually it never really existed. This week Iran's largest trade partner, the European Union, has passed finally very tough sanctions. Travelling now to Iran and playing little Chamberlain is extremely dangerous and shows a lack of analytic expertise.“

Stinner self description as „transmission belt between politics and economy“ arouses the suspicion that for him the export interest of the German economy are more important than the dangers posed by the Iranian regime. Stinner in the end of 2009 already spoke out against putting the Iranian Revolutionary Guards on the EU terror list because of their economic power: „If you would put he Revolutionary Guards on the EU terror list, this would factically mean a broad economic embargo, which in this form is neither wished by Germany or the other EU member states.“ (4) 

After protests Stinner explained in an email that he wants to meet „among others“ UN officials in Iran, to talk with reference to Afghanistan about drugs, crime and refugees. But these topics don’t justify the visit of a regime that has no shared interests in Afghanistan and which instead arms the Taliban and maintains contacts to al-Qaeda, as the recently published documents on WikiLeaks show. (5)

Stinners trip, which would not take place without knowledge and approval of the German government, once again shows the German unwillingness to break with a regime that uses „dialogue“ only to gain time for its nuclear program, that continues to support Islamist terror worldwide, that steadily threatens Israel with destruction and which inmidst of its hardest internal crisis uses brute force against any opposition. Just a month ago an Iran trip of the head of the foreign affairs committee of the German Bundestag Ruprecht Polenz (CDU) has been canceled after protests, officially for health reasons. (6)

(1) http://www.facebook.com/rainer.stinner
(2) http://davongekommen.blogspot.com/2010/07/dialog-mit-dem-iran.html
(3) www.rainer-stinner.de
(4) Answer to an email request from Stephan Grigat, December 17, 2009.
(5) http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703700904575391664183556930.html
(6) http://de.stopthebomb.net/en/start/germany/press/press-releases.html#c1428

Germany wants to weaken Iran sanctions of the European Union

STOP THE BOMB, July 20, 2010

Amidst negotiations for additional EU sanctions to be implemented against the Islamic Republic of Iran on July 26, the German negotiators are trying to enforce terms that would rob the sanctions of their penetrating power.

According to information obtained by the STOP THE BOMB campaign, Germany is pushing for financial sector exemptions in this new sanctions package despite resistance from other EU partners.

Germany is trying to weaken British and French sanction demands, which target Iranian banks in Europe and the European banks doing transactions with them.

If Germany has its way, German banks operating with Iranian financial institutions wouldn’t be heavily affected by these sanctions.

A recent study found that five German banks continue to act with Iranian partners which were placed on the UN Security Council sanctions list on June 9. As of June 30, four major Iranian banks, which the Security Council or the US treasury department sanctioned, are still active in Germany.

The Europäisch-Iranische Handelsbank AG (EIH) is very important in this context. The Hamburg based bank is owned by Iranians and has rapidly increasing business figures.

On June 14, 2010 at the EU foreign ministers meeting in Luxembourg, it became clear that Germany is trying to weaken the sanction plans of other EU nations. According to press reports, the German delegation at this meeting tried to remove the gas sector off the sanctions list.

This German attempt to mitigate the Iran sanctions has been successfully countered. On June 16, EU leaders agreed on sanctions that will include the gas sector.

"If the German federal government was to strip the sanctions of their potential crippling effects, it would undermine the international efforts to stop the Iranian policy of aggression," said Michael Spaney, spokesman for the STOP THE BOMB campaign. "Germany's leading role in trading with Iran and its years of appeasement has made the Iranian regime an ever growing danger. If sanctions do not succeed in preventing Iran's nuclear bomb, then it is to a large extent the fault of Germany. "

With annual exports reaching 4 billion euros, Germany is at the forefront of exporters to Iran. In particular, the German high-tech exports to Iran in the energy sector cannot be replaced by other countries. STOP THE BOMB sees this German-Iranian business relationship as essential support for Ahmadinejad's regime.

In the first four months of this year, German exports to Iran increased 13%, according to the German-Iranian Chamber of Commerce.

Appeals from Paris and London for tougher Iran sanctions have been rejected repeatedly by Berlin. After the bloody suppression of the Iranian opposition in the summer of last year, a British attempt to impose diplomatic penalties was blocked by Chancellor Angela Merkel. Britain wanted to withdraw the European ambassadors from Iran. Merkel objected to these proposals. The international community views Germany's role in the Iran issue with increased criticism.[i]

In an online-petition the independent STOP THE BOMB campaign in Germany calls for tougher sanctions against the Iranian regime and for supporting the democratic and secular opposition.

STOP THE BOMB July 20, 2010

Important articles on the issue:

Matthias Küntzel: „47 Tage, auf die es ankommt“, Hamburg, Juni 22, 2010 (in German)
Stuart E. Eizenstat: "Iran Sanctions: Where We Go From Here", Wall Street Journal, Juli 2, 2010
Eli Lake: "Germans still bank with Iran", Washington Times, Juli 14,  2010

STOP THE BOMB calls for cancellation of German Foreign Affairs Committee trip to Iran

A visit would only support the Iranian regime

STOP THE BOMB, June 30, 2010

The campaign "STOP THE BOMB - No business with the Iranian regime" calls for the cancellation of the trip to Iran, from July 2- July 6 2010. The trip was announced for members of the Foreign Committee of the German Bundestag, and to be headed by Committee Chairman Ruprecht Polenz (CDU).
 
According to Iranian press reports the German committee was invited by Alaeddin Boroujerdi, chairman of the "Commission on National Security and Foreign Policy Iran”. [1]
 
"The trip of Ruprecht Polenz and other senior German politicians to Iran must be cancelled. A regime that oppresses its people, supports worldwide terrorism, is pushing a illegal nuclear weapons program, and wants to destroy Israel cannot be a dialogue partner of the German government. The journey of a high-level German delegation to Iran would thwart the efforts for international sanctions. Moreover, the trip would give the inhuman dictatorship, including the government of Ahmadinejad, legitimacy that it has lost to the Iranian majority long ago," said Jonathan Weckerle, spokesperson for STOP THE BOMB.
 
The Iranian host, Alaeddin Boroujerdi, has recently made clear in a statement that the regime is not interested in negotiating Iran’s nuclear program.[2] The regime press stressed that the Foreign Committee of the German Parliament was an institution that “works behind closed doors“  and that “it oversees the government’s foreign policy, above all in the run up to important foreign and security policy decisions.” [3]

Weckerle said: "Diplomatic  visits, such as those by Polenz, are seen by the regime as a an attempt to undermine the international sanctions front, and the regime takes advantage of this ‘opportunity’ to prolong  sanctions by exploiting the trip for propaganda purposes. The regime cannot and will not meet Western demands on human rights issues or the nuclear conflict, it aims only to gain time. Domestically, political repression remains as the only option for the rulers, and in it’s foreign policy it sees the nuclear program as it’s only lifeline. Instead of visiting the illegitimate Islamist regime, German parliamentarians should seek dialogue with representatives of the secular Iranian democracy movement and support them."

[1] http://www.mehrnews.com/en/NewsDetail.aspx?NewsID=1108781 (Siehe auch
http://www.ruprecht-polenz.de/1_3_Aktuelles_Termine.html )
[2] http://german.irib.ir/nachrichten/politik/item/112467-boroudjerdi-neue-verhandlungsbedingungen-irans-sind-reaktion-auf-us-vorgehen
[3] http://www.mehrnews.com/en/NewsDetail.aspx?NewsID=1108781

Despite Islamist threats: Daryush Shokof shows film

STOP THE BOMB, June 22, 2010

STOP THE BOMB is now presenting Iran Zendan, the latest film of the recently kidnapped exiled Iranian filmmaker Daryush Shokof on its website.

Daryush Shokof and his films made headlines when Shokof was kidnapped in Cologne/Germany on May 24, 2010 and was kept imprisoned for 13 days. The kidnappers accused Shokof of insulting "Islam, the Islamic Republic and Khomeini" in his films. Before being released on June 6, Shokof was threatened with death if he showed these films anywhere in the world. Daryush Shokof declared: „This abduction only made me stronger and more committed to fight the uncivilized, backward and barbaric regime of the Islamic Republic of Iran. These two films are dedicated to the peace loving Iranians and their struggle for freedom.“

The premiere of Daryush Shokof's two latest films Iran Zendan ("Prison Iran“) and Hitler’s Grave took place in Berlin, Germany this year on May 9th. Iran Zendan shows torture, rape and execution in Iranian prisons. The film relentlessly reveals the brutal character of the thirty-one year old Iranian regime. Shokof's films contain both fictional and non-fictional sequences.  Iran Zendan also shows images of last year's revolt and its repression.

The initiative STOP THE BOMB supports Daryush Shokof with Iran Zendan's internet premiere. "To censor films with threats and force is not acceptable. Since Khomeini's fatwa against Salman Rushdie on February 14, 1989,  the Iranian regime has been threatening free speech and the arts worldwide with murder and threats of murder. One has to firmly counter the Islamists' intimidation attempts - in this case by showing and spreading Shokof's films“,  Jonathan Weckerle said, speaking for STOP THE BOMB.

You can watch Iran Zendan in full length at de.stopthebomb.net/en/start/germany/shokof.html. Starting on Friday, June 25, 2010 this film can be embedded into other websites. STOP THE BOMB calls on the international community to spread this film, which is an accusation against the Iranian regime which has turned into a living hell for anybody who opposes it. Spreading the film is an act of solidarity with the Iranian opposition.

More information about Iran Zendan and the kidnapping of Daryush Shokof hier de.stopthebomb.net/de/start/deutschland/shokof.html.

Iranian attack feared on disappeared Daryush Shokof

STOP THE BOMB, June 4, 2010

STOP THE BOMB is deeply concerned about the whereabouts and well-being of the for 11 days missing exile-Iranian artist and filmmaker Daryush Shokof. STOP THE BOMB calls on the responsible official bodies in Germany to investigate the disappearance of Shokof, and to especially consider the possibility of a politically motivated act by Iranian or Islamic forces.

STOP THE BOMB demands that the German government issues a public statement on the case of Shokof, and that it ensures with all available political means and security forces the safety and the possibility of free political and artistic activites for everyone who fleed from the Iranian terror regime. 

„The Iranian agencies control a network of agents and institutions loyal to the regime, who can still act undisturbed in Germany. For example, the Iranian ambassador to Germany Ali Reza Sheikh Attar belongs to the terrorist Iranian Revolutionary Guards“, says Jonathan Weckerle, speaker of STOP THE BOMB.

Thus, the Iranian Nobel laureate Shirin Ebadi is absolutely right when she holds the German government responsible for Shokof’s security.[1] 

On Monday, May 24, 2010 Shokof was seen for the last time at the main train station in Cologne, where he wanted to board a train to Paris. Apart from this it is only known that he didn’t keep any of his appointments in Paris.

Shokof is known as one of the harshest critics of the Islamic Republic among the Iranian artists in exile. In his latest two movies, „Iran-Zendan“ (Iran-Prison) and „Hitler’s Grave“, which had their premiere on May 9, 2010 in Berlin, Shokof sharply criticizes the regime’s crimes and it’s ideology. „In Shokof’s movies many tabooed topics are adressed, tortuture and rape in the prisons are shown as well as a woman from a islamic family, who throws away her headscarf and marries a Jewish man. Shokofs work attacks the ideological foundations of the Islamic Republic and thus is a threat to the rulers in Iran. Especially because of the upcoming anniversary of the election fraud it is possible that the regime tries to intimidate the opposition in Iran and exile with an action against one of the regime’s critics“, says Weckerle. 

At least 162 assassinations of oppositional Iranians in exile have been ordered by the rulers in Tehran since 1979.[2] Since the start of the massive protest movement last year the exile Iranian opposition has been threatened increasingly and persecuted, especially in Germany.[3]

Massoud Jazayeri, deputy commander of Iranian armed forces threatened in November 2009 that many protesters inside and outside Iran had been identified and will be dealt with at the right time. As targets he lists “enlightened secularists, journalists, student activists and artists outside the country”.[4]

More information about Daryush Shokof as well as any news can be found on this special page: http://de.stopthebomb.net/en/start/germany/shokof.html