Iran Roundtable

Be part of conversation

sharif behruz

 “Given Iran’s ethno-cultural compositions, such distinction by the UN Rights System is imperative that reporting of rights abuses should be impartial and neutral and so should be the sources and media outlets.  For example, major human rights organizations only highlight and focus on right abuses that occur in the center, merely because their upbringing culture is the same as those of the oppressors. Therefore, they rarely touch on issues that are dear to the hearts of many in Kurdistan and other deprived and neglected areas of Iran.”.
~ Sharif Behruzالمزيد

Sharif Behruz discusses Syria, US and Iran with BBC World Service - Newsday 

Sharif Behruz: Unfortunately, with this policy, the US will eventually concede to the will of the Russians and Iran to keep Assad’s reign in place. The Saudis and the Turks already know this, and they are trying to mend fences with Bashar Al-Assad through Russia and other Assad allies.

Iran’s clerical rulers will not view the American invitation to the Syria talks as a gesture on the part of the US, rather as a sign of US weakness in the wake of Iran’s increased support for its allies, Assad, Houthi...المزيد

Mustafa Hejri with KDPI forces

It was reported yesterday that the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) attacked the Kurdistan Democratic Party of Iran (PDKI) Peshmerga on the border between Iraqi and Iranian Kurdistan, killing one PDKI Peshmerga member.   In an exclusive interview with Rachel Avraham of the Jerusalem OnlineSharif Behruz, the former US Representative of the PDKI and the...المزيد

Mr. Behruz speaks about the Iran Nuclear Deal, commenting on his article, published in November 2014, titled “Deal or no Deal, Iran is the winner…” For him, “negotiations with the regime have been futile (since 2003)” and affirms that the Iranian leaders ” are betting on time…,” waiting to see “the changing alliances, the coalitions,” and the players,” the Europeans and the Americans…” Shrewd negotiators, and playing on the weaknesses of the West (they need Iran’s assistance against ISIS, in Iraq, Yemen, Afghanistan and Syria!), the Iranians are now demanding “the total lifting of economic...المزيد

The Municipal authorities of Iran’s capital city, Tehran, closed and sealed off the only prayer house – not a mosque – for Sunni Muslims in Tehran, . 

The Municipality acted on the closure a week after the Greater Tehran Police barred the Sunni worshipers from entering this Sunni prayer site in Tehran on January 9, 2015, preventing them from holding congregational Friday prayers. 

Of the 12 million Tehran province population, approximately 1 million are Sunni Muslim, making up roughly 10% of the province’s population. However, the Sunni community in Tehran is prohibited to...المزيد

The Iraqi Kurdish leadership often prides itself on being in the forefront of the fight against terrorism.  This status was well attested following the recent surge of Islamist militants to their south, infamously known as the Islamic State (ISIS). They proved themselves as willing and capable, which consequently led to unprecedented international support and recognition. However, they have displayed little desire to counter the threat of terrorism emanating from the east of their semi-independent region, the Islamic state in Iran.المزيد

The United Nations wants us to remember human rights 365 days a year, in fact. One group that needs attention: 29 Kurds on a hunger strike in Iran’s Orumiyeh prison.

Today, December 10, marks United Nations Human Rights Day, first proclaimed in 1950 “to bring to the attention ‘of the peoples of the world’ the Universal Declaration of Human Rights as the common standard of achievement for all peoples and all nations.”

Today also marks the 20th day of a hunger strike by 29 political prisoners in Iran’s Orumiyeh Central Prison, which mainly houses Kurdish political prisoners.  ...المزيد

When the Joint Action Plan was agreed upon back in 2013 to reach a deal by this past July on Islamic Republic of Iran’s controversial nuclear program, the parties involved in the negotiation, P5+1(5 Permanent members of the Security Council plus Germany) and Iran agreed to extend the talks till November 24 to reach a deal.  As no deal reached this around and the talks are extended for another seven months, one wonders if there is any possibility that any deal will ever be struck.  
Negotiations with this regime on its nuclear debacle date back to 2003, when now the President of Iran,...المزيد

The Universal Periodic Review (UPR) a mechanism of the Human Rights Council which works on reviewing the human rights record of UN member states reviewed the regime of Islamic Republic of Iran’s human rights record on Thursday, October 31.

In this session of the Council, 102 countries commented on the report provided by Iran’s representative on the regime’s human rights record and overall human rights situations under the Islamic state.  The Council was split along the lines of repressive, undemocratic and/or opportunist regimes commending Iran’s ‘progress in human rights’, while...المزيد

 

This resourceful depiction by Foreign Policy magazine is by far the best in its kind in exploring the political dynamics and landscape in Syria's Kurdistan and of course US involvement.
As the Islamic State terrorists continue to consolidate terrorists in Iraq and Syria, and as the fight for Kobane reaches the...المزيد

Pages

Subscribe to sharif behruz