U.S. outraged over execution of Jewish woman and her Armenian husband in IranMay 12, 2011 - 11:45 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - A Jewish woman and her Armenian Christian husband were executed in Iran for undisclosed reasons, a top U.S. State Department official said. Michael Posner, the assistant secretary of state for human rights, testified Wednesday, May 11, at a U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing on Iran's human rights. Posner said human rights in the Islamic Republic had deteriorated in the first part of 2011. He listed as examples mass executions; the killing of protesters in Tehran and among ethnic Arabs; harsh prison sentences for Baha'i leaders; tough prison conditions for political detainees; and that "a Jewish woman and her Armenian-Christian husband were reportedly executed based on undisclosed charges." Mrs. Adiva Mirza Soleiman Kalimi, a Jewish Iranian, and her husband, Varoujan Petrosian, an Armenian Iranian along with one other woman and two men, whose identities remain unknown, were secretly executed in Evin Prison. According to the Iranian Christian News Agency Mohabat News and based on reports from the human rights activists in Iran, the 28th divisional court of the Revolutionary Court, located inside the Evin prison, in confirming this execution refused to provide any further details about the surrender of the executed bodies of the prisoners. It is still unknown what those prisoners were charged for. Top stories Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". The earthquake caused a temporary blackout, damaged many buildings and closed a number of rural roads. Partner news | The Power of One Dram to benefit Road of Life charity The companies inform that the May beneficiary of The Power of One Dram is the “Road of Life” charitable organization. Ucom General Director gives lecture at French University in Armenia The General Director of Ucom Ralph Yirikian delivered a lecture at the French University of Armenia. Kazakhstan welcomes Yerevan, Baku’s agreement to meet in Almaty Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has welcomed the agreement of Baku and Yerevan to hold negotiations in Almaty. Armenia offers to temporarily host, preserve Gaza manuscripts The Armenian Foreign Minister has said Yerevan is ready to help preserve manuscripts from the conflict zone in Gaza. |