UPDATE: Ahmadreza Djalali is a professor who was arrested and has been threatened with the death penalty for suspected espionage in Iran. He teaches at the European Master in Disaster Medicine (EMDM) in Italy, a joint master by the Università degli Studi del Piemonte Orientale and the Vrije Universiteit Brussel. A petition has been started against the possible execution.

The 45-year-old Djalali was arrested in April 2016 in Iran, while he was visiting his family. He spent no less than seven months in isolation, without ever getting a trial or seeing a lawyer.

‘Since Wednesday some bad news has come to light’, says De Morgen. ‘Djalali told his sister he has been forced to sign a confession, for which he will receive the death penalty. The Iranian governement is calling it a matter of national security. They blame him for collabaration with scientist from foreign, enemy states.

Sign petition:

https://www.change.org/p/hassan-rouhani-urgent-justice-and-freedom-for-ahmadreza-djalali-md-emdm-phd?recruiter=85011719&utm_source=share_petition&utm_medium=copylink

Read more …

http://vubtoday.be/en/content/vub-professor-ahmadreza-djalali-could-be-sentenced-death-iran

De Syrische regering voert op grote schaal buitengerechtelijke executies uit in de gevangenis van Saydnaya. In vijf jaar werden daar 13.000 mensen in het geheim opgehangen. Ook los van de executies is de gevangenis een hellekrocht, waar gedetineerden bijvoorbeeld uitgehongerd worden.

Read more …

http://www.knack.be/nieuws/wereld/amnesty-13-000-in-het-geheim-opgehangen-in-syrische-gevangenis/article-normal-811587.html

‘De Belgische F-16’s hebben in Syrië niets te zoeken.’ Dat was de harde boodschap van de Syrische president Basharal-Assad voor een aantal Belgische journalisten, die hem afgelopen maandag in Damascus konden spreken.

Read more …

http://www.knack.be/nieuws/wereld/knack-sprak-met-bashar-al-assad-de-belgische-regering-is-blind-voor-wat-er-in-syrie-gebeurt/article-interview-811597.html

“What is to be done?” is asked when the political situation gets dangerous.

This group has been set up as a forum to answer this question: What can be done about a Trump presidency when there is strong opposition from every political, religious, ethical, environmental and ethnic group out there?

https://www.facebook.com/groups/373390863014764/