Behind the Headlines/July 19

Tonight we will find out how the rising tension between Iran and US is affecting the economic life of the Iranians.

Also, we will look at the consequences of the open letter by the 14 civil rights activists as more Iranians in exile offer their support for their demands.

Reports suggests that a new political channel has been opened in Washington to negotiate with Iran’s Foreign Minister but the White House has not confirmed this.

Our gusts tonight to discuss these issues are Mr Alireza Nourizadeh and Mr Abbas Vahedian Shahroudi, one of the signatories of the open letter, as well as Mr Ghassem Shole Sadee.

Abbas Vahedian:

Sadly two of our colleagues, Mohammad Nourizad and Mahdavifar have been arrested in connection with this open letter. We have not heard from Mr Mahdavifar yet but we believe he is in good health.

Mr Nourizad has been able to speak on the phonewith his family and friends and we are hoping that all our friends will be released along with all other political prisoners in Iran and the day will come when we pass by this regime and Iran will become free.

Dr. Alireza Nourizadeh:

This regime does not respect any human norms and is a mixture of all the ideological pollutions that have entered the pure religion that emerged 1400 years ago in form of presenting itself as the ultimate authority on human life through the despotic rule of the supreme leader.

One hundred years ago our famous poet Aref Qazvini had held a music concert in the holy city of Mashad but today in the 21^st Century cleric Alam Ulhoda bans a concert that has received permission from the central government.

I think this regime has tiptoed itself into absolute power and rule due to our nation’s lack of reaction to its repressive policies.

When our women first protested against the mandatory hijab 40 years ago our men did not support them and we are all now paying the price for that lack of action.

The regime uses honey traps to discredit its opponents and uses the tactics that once used to be employed by the Russiansecret services.

Today is the day when our people must yell at this regime and demand their freedoms in the same way the signatories of the open letter have done.