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Persian tv weekly highlights 8/4


Reaching Millionsof Television Viewers in Iran Each Week

Washington, D.C. - August 4, 2008. Iran lets the freeze-for-freeze deadline pass with no resolution, Iran executes 29 people prompting human rights outcries around the world, and exclusive interviews with Representative Walter Jones, Republican of North Carolina and Rep. Wayne Gilchrest, Republican of Maryland top this week’s PNN coverage.

Stay-tuned: This week, PNN launches an investigative series on corruption.

EXECUTIONS IN IRAN
News and Views July 28 - PNN reported that 29 people were hanged in Evin Prison on Sunday for crimes that include murder and drug trafficking. Human rights lawyer Abdul Karim Lahiji told PNN that the hangings were the Iranian government’s attempt to let the public know that it has crime under control. The Iranian government believes that these hangings act as a deterrent. Mr. Lahiji disagreed, saying crime and executions are on the rise. Mr. Lahiji also explained that the Iranian public does not trust the system of justice because those hanged were tried and convicted behind closed doors.

Newstalk July 28 - Appearing on Newstalk, PNN’s Human rights stringer Elahe Hicks said that the executed were not allowed attorneys. Family members were also never informed of the charges and were not allowed contact with the prisoners before they were executed. Human rights organizations around the world condemned the hangings. Also appearing on Newstalk, former political prisoner Ahmad Batebi said, “The psychological effects of the executions on prisoners left behind destroys their will to live and scars them forever.”

News and Views July 29 - Kurdish human rights journalist Aso Saleh, told PNN that during the past eight months, executions in Iran exceeded those in 2007, according to Amnesty International. "Iranian authorities will never release the information on public executions, stonings and child executions because that's where it shows how the Islamic punishment is opposed to international conventions," said Mr. Saleh. He added that based on research conducted last year (when the government had launched a series of crackdowns in 2006), it was determined that several social and human rights activists were arrested and accused of hooliganism. These arrests resulted in several hangings in Kurdistan. In the province of Sistan, several people were hanged, based on charges of drug smuggling. Human rights lawyer Dr. Mohammad Safezadeh told PNN, "The authorities have released no information on the latest executions except for the crimes they have been hanged for. But based on the previous experiences we know that none of these people had the chance to have a lawyer, nor were their verdicts sent to the appeals court."

News and Views July 30 - Amnesty International’s Drewery Dyke, a researcher on the Iran desk, told PNN that the Iranian government used the hangings as a scare tactic.

FREEZE FOR FREEZE DEADLINE PASSES
News and Views August 2 - With still no response from the Islamic Republic to the incentive package, PNN Analyst Dr. Bahman Aghai Diba said that the Geneva talks were not fruitful and the next step for the P5+1 (U.S., France, Great Britain, China, Russia plus German) is the intensification of sanctions. He said at the moment, Iran doesn’t feel the threat and believes it could endure more sanctions. He added that the Islamic Republic doesn’t feel vulnerable at the moment, doubting the U.S. would launch any military action against Iran, because of the presidential election and the war in Iraq.

News and Views August 1 - Representative Wayne Gilchrest (R-MD) appeared live on News and Views and said the United States and Iran must “discuss out in the open what our differences are and resolve them in a peaceful way.” Asked about Resolution 362, the pending legislation that would impose more stringent sanctions on Iran, Rep. Gilchrest said, “I think Resolution 362 is moving us in the completely wrong direction.” He said that the Chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee, Rep. Howard L. Berman (D-CA), has been asked not to bring the sanctions resolution to a vote. Rep. Gilchrest went on to say, “I would like to tell my Iranian friends that there has been no vote on the resolution.” He added that as more members of Congress have found what the resolution will do, they have backed away from it and become more concerned. Rep. Gilchrest, who has carried on a dialogue with many Iranians (both in and outside of government), urged a greater understanding between the two countries. He feels strongly that “there is a bond of trust because of our discussions.” He said that he would “continue to work with whoever is the next President to pursue the dialogue.”

News and Views July 31 - PNN reported Iran has signaled it does not intend to meet the latest deadline in ongoing negotiations with world powers over its controversial nuclear program. Iran's foreign minister, Manouchehr Mottaki rejected the notion that any deadline had been set. Iran’s representative to the IAEA said Iran’s proposal is a good base to set the stage for formal negotiations.

News and Views July 30 - Political Analyst Hassan Daee told PNN that Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khameini’s recent speech where he said Iran willingness to push forward with its nuclear program was another example of Iran buying more time in negotiations with the P5+1 countries. He added that he believes the U.S. has lost the propaganda war to Iran, and that Iran has succeeded in depicting itself as peace loving.

News and Views July 30 - On the day that Supreme Leader Khameini said Iran will pursue its nuclear technology despite demands from the West, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice continued to urge Iran to accept the incentive package offered by the P5+1. “No one is questioning the right of Iran to have a peaceful nuclear program. There is wide-ranging civil nuclear cooperation that would be possible with Iran, including trade and economic relations.” After meeting with Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini, Secretary Rice reiterated that she doesn’t accept Iran’s assertion of its peaceful pursuit of nuclear technology. Foreign Minister Frattini told reporters, “The prospect of Iran making a nuclear bomb is simply not acceptable. This is the Italian position, which is very firm. The Iranian public opinion will be aware of the fact that the price of isolation and sanctions will be paid by them.”

News and Views July 29 - Dr. Mohammad Reza Jalili, a political science professor at Geneva’s Institute of International Studies told PNN that Iran continues to insist on enriching uranium and this might lead to a “dead-end” in talks. If Iran were to suspend uranium enrichment, it would create an environment for talks, but Iran is not ready for dialogue.

News and Views July 28 - Dr. Reza Taghizadeh, political science professor at the University of Glasgow, discussed the relationship between India and Iran as the Indian foreign minister partook in talks in Tehran. Dr. Taghizadeh said that India is concerned about maintaining peace in the region because of its close business ties to Iran.

News and Views July 29 - PNN reported on NBC News’ interview with Iranian President Ahmadinejad where he vowed that progress in nuclear talks with the West is possible if Washington genuinely changes its policy toward his country. White House spokesperson Dana Perino dismissed the Iranian president 's remarks, saying “President Ahmadinejad said one thing to the Iranian people on Saturday and another thing to an American journalist on Monday.”

News and Views July 29 - Commenting on the NBC News interview, Speaker of the House Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) said President Ahmadinejad's emphasis on finding common ground represents an opening. In an exclusive interview with PNN, Rep. Walter Jones (R-NC) said, "I am always very cautious as a member of Congress when I see a leader of a nation make statements that he needs for the consumption of the Iranian people. But I am always willing to say let's look past the statements."

U.S. INTEREST SECTION IN IRAN?
News and Views July 30 - In an exclusive interview with PNN’s Capitol Hill correspondent, Rep. Walter Jones (R-NC) said that finding common ground with Iran might take some years but the U.S. will make the effort. Rep. Jones, a member of both the Armed Services and Finance Committees, said the U.S. should engage in a “diplomatic surge” with Iran to help find common ground. “We have to try to develop relationships and not keep either country threatening each other,” said Jones. “Maybe I am a dreamer, but if people don’t dream, there is no hope,” he added. Rep. Jones added that he supports the idea of a U.S. interest section in Iran.

News and Views July 31 - In a live interview on PNN, Ambassador Ronald E. Neumann, President of the American Academy of Diplomacy, said that a U.S. interest section could be opened under any conditions. The question is whether both countries want it. It would be of great help to Iranians trying to obtain visas. He said at this point the Iranians are still suspicious of Americans, which is why there is still no agreement. Regarding the upcoming presidential election in November, Ambassador Neumann said that Afghanistan is more important to American voters than Iran because voters see Afghanistan as the place where terrorism began and where soldiers are losing their lives.

ISRAELI-IRAN RELATIONS
News and Views July 31 - Tainted by ongoing allegations of corruption, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert announced he plans to step down in September once his Kadima party chooses a new leader. Possible replacements include Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni and Transport Minister Shaul Mofaz. Palestinian spokesman Saeb Erekat said both sides would continue talks to reach an Israeli-Palestinian peace agreement by the end of the year.

News and Views July 31 -- Former Radio Israel Persian Service Chief Menasheh Amir told PNN that Mr. Olmert’s resignation hurts the Israeli-Syrian talks and the peace process. The negotiations will go on, but the approach and tactics of a new leader will be different. Kadima is a new party and might not be strong enough to withstand these developments.

News and Views July 28 - PNN reported that Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak was in Washington to discuss Iran and a pre-emptive strike on Iran’s nuclear program, according to a senior Israeli official. Mr. Barak met with Vice President Dick Cheney and National Security Adviser Stephen Hadley. Mr. Barak also met with Secretary of Defense Robert Gates and Secretary of State Rice this week. Mr. Barak said there should be tougher financial and economic sanctions against Iran and that Israel will not take any option off the table.

KARADZIC APPEARS IN THE HAGUE
News and Views July 31 - PNN reported on Former Bosnian Serb Leader Radovan Karadzic’s first appearance before the United Nations War Crimes Court in The Hague. Dzeilana Pecanin of VOA’s Bosnian Service told PNN that the citizens of Sarajevo cannot hide their jubilation on this historic day and said the 11 charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity was long overdue.

CAMPAIGN HEATS UP
Roundtable with You July 28 - Roundtable guest Menashe Amir, a senior analyst for Radio Israel, said the Israeli public is leery of Sen. Obama, calling his views unknown or objectionable. “While Obama's trip dazzled the media, the Israeli public was looking for concrete proposals, addressing the strategic partnership between the two nations.” Referring to Sen. Obama's remark about the wall between Israel and Palestine, Mr. Amir said, “The Berlin wall was erected to block freedom, whereas the wall in Israel is to protect the free-living people from terror.” Mr. Amir called on Iran to accept the Geneva package, “Repeated mistakes yield the same sad results. Iran ought to learn a lesson from this package, whether it is President McCain or President Obama at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.”

News and Views July 28 - PNN reported Sen. Barack Obama’s remarks at the quadrennial "Unity: Journalists of Color" conference where he called for a broader international effort in Afghanistan and a drawdown of U.S. forces in Iraq have the potential to free up money to keep folks in their homes and provide funds for other domestic concerns. “We can't keep spending $10 billion a month in Iraq, at a time when we have pressing needs here in the United States of America,” the presumptive Democratic presidential candidate said. In response, Senator John McCain, the presumptive Republican Presidential candidate, said, “Senator Obama doesn't understand. He doesn't understand what's at stake here and he chose to take a political path that would have helped him get the nomination of his party. I took a path that I knew was unpopular because I knew that we had to win in Iraq and we are winning in Iraq and if we'd done what Senator Obama wanted done it would have been chaos, genocide, increased Iranian influence, perhaps al-Qaeda establishing a base again. Now we have a stable ally in the region and it is not based on any date.”

News and Views July 31 -- PNN broadcasted ABC News’ reporting that White House hopeful Barack Obama believes Israel will launch a military strike on Iran if nuclear sanctions fail. The comment was reportedly made in a meeting late Tuesday between Senator Obama and Democratic members of the House of Representatives. An unnamed source at the meeting quoted Obama as saying, “Nobody said this to me directly, but I get the feeling from my talks that if the sanctions don't work, Israel is going to strike Iran.” Obama's national security spokeswoman stressed, “Senator Obama has always said that Iran must end its illicit nuclear program. He has advocated tough, direct engagement, backed by stronger sanctions to pressure Iran. And, he has made it perfectly clear that Tehran should not wait for a new administration to reach agreement to end its program”. PNN also reported that Sen. Obama said that Iran should not wait for the next U.S. president to be elected to resolve its nuclear dispute with the West.


FREEDOM FLIGHT


Late Edition
July 30 - PNN exclusively traveled with Iranian-American pilot Farhad Rostampour as he flew from Greenville, South Carolina, over the Liberty Bell in Pennsylvania, the Statute of Liberty in New York City and then to Washington D.C. Mr. Rostampour celebrated the first anniversary of his historic “Freedom Flight” when he successfully flew his single engine aircraft around the world, covering 34,000 miles and landing in 21 countries. The purpose of the Freedom Flight was to encourage the young generation in Iran to bring about changes. “My goal is to set this flight as a day where every young Iranian focuses on the power of their ability to achieve. This phenomenon in time could change the course of their future and potentially the faith of our nation,” he said.


HUMAN RIGHTS
News and Views July 28 - Human rights activist Dr. Shirin Ebadi told PNN that the Ministry of Information has substantially increased its surveillance of dissidents, civil society activists, and journalists. She cited the recent arrests of Mohammad Hashemi and Bahare Hedayat, two members of the Central Council of Iranian Students Union. Security entered Ms. Hedayat and Mr. Hashemi's houses and subsequently took them to Evin prison. Security forces inspected Bahare Hedayat's home for 3 hours. Representing Ms. Hedayat, Ms. Ebadi called on the government to make sure her client receives a fair trial and due process protection. Ebadi also attacked the government’s travel ban, saying that the Iranian government should immediately lift these bans used to prevent human rights activists and journalists from attending international forums.

News and Views July 30 - PNN reported on Amnesty International’s report published on Wednesday. Appearing live on PNN, Drewery Dyke, head Iran researcher for Amnesty International, said Iran’s government is failing in its duty to prevent discrimination and human rights abuses against its Kurdish citizens, particularly women. Mr. Dyke said the repression against Kurdish Iranians is escalating. Also according to the report, women and youth in the Iranian Kurdish population are under increasing socio, political and economic pressures.

IRAN’S ECONOMY
NewsTalk July 30 - Analyst Moshen Sazgara predicted oil prices will drop to $70 a barrel. He also said that Iranian oil revenue will drop and Iran will experience a massive deficit. He said with President Ahmadinejad firing his 11th cabinet minister, Iran is on the cusp of a 12th firing which would force the constitutional requirement that the entire cabinet be replaced. PNN Contributor Ali Reza Nourizadeh said cabinet reshuffing is not due to incompetence, but to a lack of leadership and a rampant dictatorship on the part of Ahmadinejad.

REPORTING FROM IRBIL
News and Views July 28 - Three female suicide bombers blew themselves up during a Shiite pilgrimage in Karrada district, in northern Baghdad, killing at least 28 people and wounding more than 117 others, according to PNN’s Irbil stringer who reported live. An explosion in Kirkuk, in northern Iraq, killed 25 people and wounded 187 others who were attending a demonstration against Iraq’s draft provincial election laws. A blast in Diyala province killed four soldiers. PNN’s Irbil stringer also reported that 150 female suicide bombers who have been trained in Syria entered Iraq. Police arrested 5 highly wanted terrorists who have direct links to the Islamic Republic, according to PNN sources.

News and Views July 29 - PNN’s Irbil stringer reported thousands of Kurds turned out on the streets of Irbil to protest the provincial elections bill. Protesters want Kirkuk to remain a permanent part of Kurdistan. The Deputy Speaker of the Parliament of Provincial Government of Kurdistan, Dr. Jamal Kirkuki said heh would present the protesters’ resolution to Iraq’s parliament.

News and Views July 30 - Thousands of Kurds turned out on the streets of northern Iraq's Solaymanieh to protest the 24th provision of the provincial elections bill, according to PNN’s Irbil stringer. Protesters want Kirkuk to remain a permanent part of Kurdistan. Massud Barzani, President of the Kurdistan region, said the approved provincial elections bill is not acceptable. In other news along the Iraq-Iran border, Iran’s military attacked Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) rebel positions in northern Iraq’s Qandil. Turkish fighter jets also bombed PKK targets nine times in northern Iraq’s mountainous region.

News and Views July 31 - According to PNN’s Irbil stringer, Iraqi and US troops are leading an anti-Al-Qaeda security offensive in eastern province of Diyala, arresting more than 189 suspected militants. PNN reported that according to unknown sources, Al-Qaeda militants have been fleeing from Iraq to northern Africa. On the 25th anniversary of the massacre of hundreds of thousands Barzani Kurds by Saddam Hussein, opposition to the draft provincial elections bill continued in northern cities of Kurdistan, according to PNN. Iraqi President Jalal Talabani and the leader of the Kurdistan region, Massud Barzani, have met with Iraqi Prime Minister, Nouri Al-Maleki about the draft provincial election bill.

Roundtable with You July 29 - Societal pressure based on religion makes it hard for people in Iran to keep pets, according to Dr. Payam Mohebi, Vet and Founder of Tehran Pet Hospital, who appeared live on PNN from Los Angeles. Dr. Mohebi said there is no reason to ban pets, explaining that human to human disease is much more rampant than animals to human. But because people aren’t allowed to keep pets in their homes, one million stray cats deposit 10 tons of waste per day, contributing to disease. Dr. Mohebi's animal hospital, the only one in Tehran, is holding 200 malnourished dogs. Private donations are keeping the shelter in business.

Roundtable with You July 31 - Paris-based writer Shahla Shafiq told PNN that prostitution in Iran is a sign of economic distress and a systematic disregard for women’s rights, severe addition and an oppressive system that views women as possessions. Ms. Shafiq said that one in ten women of childbearing age in Tehran work as prostitutes just to keep up with the highest rate of inflation in the world. Ms. Shafiq said the Iranian government is irresponsible in slashing addiction rates and rampant poverty that impacts 45 percent of the country.

Late Edition July 28 -- Late Edition featured a report "Visual Slang", a street art exhibit with works from New York, Bogota, Tel Aviv, Barcelona, and Tehran. The idea behind the exhibit is to bring artists together who choose to work in the streets as their canvas. The Iranian graffiti artist "A1One" was featured in the report. According to the exhibit curator, what these artists share is a questioning of authority especially since artists are often outsiders who risk their lives to get their message out.

Late Edition July 31 -- Dr. Ezzat Mosallanejad of the Canadian Center for Victims of Torture appeared live on PNN and said Iranians are the greatest victims of torture his organization cares for. The Canadian Center for Victims of Torture is a non-profit, registered charitable organization, which aids survivors to overcome the lasting effects of torture and war. Dr. Mosallanejad said the victims been subjected to severe torture or prolonged experiences of victimization at the hands of the Islamic Republic. He said victims include young, old, men, women, political prisoners, student activists, intellectuals, and factory workers. The Canadian Center for Victims of Torture has helped more than 14,000 survivors from 136 different countries. He said the center’s mission is to aid victims of torture through educational programs and informative projects for human rights awareness.

Late Edition August 2 -- Pouyan Torabi and Amir Kazemi, Founders and Directors of Radio Javan, explained that Radio Javan is a 24/7 online radio network for young Iranians. Run by young Iranian-America volunteers, Radio Javan is non-political and caters to those who are interested in Persian music and culture.

Late Edition August 2 -- In the latest installment of the Late Edition Book Club, Nancy Pelosi’s book “Know Your Power: A Message to America’s Daughters” was discussed. This memoir looks at her personal life and the challenges she has faced as she has ascended to the upper echelons of legislative power, the first female Speaker of the House. 8

Today’s Woman August 2 - PNN broadcasted live from the Seventh Biennial Conference of The Society for Iranian Studies in Toronto. Guests included Dr. Shehrzad Mojab, head of the Institute for Iranian Studies at University of Toronto, and Payam Akhawan, lawyer and professor at University of Montréal, Canada. They examined the recent crack down on political prisoners from both human rights and legal perspectives. Dr. Mojab shared her academic research about political prisoners and how they suffered in prison calling upon the outside world to learn about the suffering of political prisoners who are tortured daily in Iranian prisons. Dr. Mojab works on English translations of their memoirs to document these abuses. Mr. Akhawan referred to the murder of political prisoners as human rights abuses. He said that those who commit human rights abuses in Iranian prisons should be tried if arrested outside Iran even though Iran is not a member of International Criminal Court (ICC). Mr. Akhawan also worked on the case of the late Zahra Kazemi, the prominent Iranian-Canadian photojournalist who was killed in Iran.

Today’s Woman August 1 - For a second straight day, PNN broadcast live from the Toronto
Conference, focusing on female-headed households, micro credit and the economic impact of women on Iranian society. Dr. Roksana Bahramitash of the University of Montreal and Mehra Honarbin-Holliday of Canterbury Christ Church University discussed the role of Iranian women in Iranian economy and the importance of using their talents and skills in building the economy. According to Labor Ministry’s data about 1/3 of Iranian women are jobless and financially dependent on their families and husbands. Dr. Bahramitash discussed her latest research from Iran, saying many Iranian women have been affected by the severe economic crisis gripping the country. She used the example of a group of women who save money and jewelry to use in emergencies or for paying off debt. She counseled them to use a small part for investment. Ms. Honarbin-Holliday discussed the current trend to educate young women. She pointed out that Iranian women are pioneers in many aspect of life, even though they have been denied opportunities for higher education. Ms. Honarbin-Holliday explained that these young women are less-educated and have had fewer chances to embark on careers than previous generations.

Today’s Woman July 31 -- The program examined the global role of fashion with Nima Behnood, an L.A.-based Iranian designer who uses Persian prints on his clothing, called fashion a beautiful language that is expressed without words. The significance fashion revolutions have played in history was discussed. “Iran is unique to other Islamic countries because in the past thirty years the required long overcoat (for women) has transformed incredibly. In other Islamic countries there has not been as much,” said Mr. Behnood.

Today’s Woman July 30 - Prof. Ahmad Kazemi Moussavi of the University of Maryland, discussed his recent translation of the book, “ The Guide to Equality in the Family in the Maghreb”. The Guide presents religious, human rights, sociological, and legal arguments for reform to current family laws that are particularly discriminatory towards women, including divorce, child custody, and travel rights.

Today’s Woman July 29 -- The Iranian cultural trait of Tarof was discussed, focusing on its cultural beginnings and international misinterpretation. The show acknowledged both the positive and negative aspects of tarof, and gave examples of common misunderstandings.

Today’s Woman July 28 - Live via telephone from inside Iran, Ms. Narges Mohamadi, Vice President of Human Rights Defenders Committee in Iran, explained the major discriminatory amendments that were implemented by the Iranian regime in a proposed bill that is allowing men to practice polygamy without the consent of their wives. Mr. Mohamadi called the bill a disgrace for men and women, adding that it will cause destruction to the family. 9

This week’s On the Record - Persian News Network’s program featuring executive editor Kambiz Mahmoudi as ombudsman was devoted to PNN’s extensive coverage of both political parties during primary season. In response to an email asking why we cover these events, Dr. Mahmoudi explained that PNN covers all newsworthy events and the primaries which receive both domestic and international media attention. Secondly, PNN’s coverage of the primaries shows democracy at work in the United States. Dr. Mahmoudi pointed out that the people in the United States choose their leader; he or she is not nominated by a so-called supreme leader or ruling party official. Dr. Mahmoudi also explained that in the United States, a candidates’ life is an open book. Extensive reporting is done on candidates’ health records, tax return documents and affiliations. PNN does the same and this is called “transparency”. It shows the media at work in a free and democratic society.

PNN’s Question of the Week was, “Do you think executing 30 people will bring down Iran’s crime rate?” Out of 9,086 respondents, 77 % said no; 21 % said yes, while 2 % did not have an opinion.

This week’s History Channel took a look at one of the world’s most top secret military installations: Fort Knox, the home to an estimated $73 billion in gold. Also profiled, Goldie Hawn, the quirky comedienne whose career took off with her regular appearances on “Laugh-In”. She went on to earn an Oscar nomination for her role in the movie, “Private Benjamin”. The History Channel also took a look at Sean Connery, the quintessential James Bond, who starred in seven 007 movies. The Scot born actor decided to break free of the Bond role and went on to earn an Oscar for his role in the “Untouchables”. Finally, the History Channel featured the lives of the great artists Vincent Van Gogh and Paul Gaugin whose tense friendship and rivalry was the backdrop for their collaborative work in their “Studio of the South”. This episode of the History Channel looked at how their backgrounds impacted their artwork.
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The Persian News Network’s television programming complements its radio broadcasts. VOA has the largest combined radio and television audience of all international broadcasters in Iran, with one in four Iranian households tuning into a VOA show at least once a week. Programs also are streamed on www.voapnn.com.

PNN’s 7-hour program block opens with Today in Washington, a brief look at the latest news developments in Washington, as well as the content of PNN’s upcoming programs. Then we present cultural programming translated into Farsi from A&E Television Network’s The History Channel. We intersperse 30-minutes of newsbreaks throughout our original programming, which includes the following shows: Today’s Woman, PNN’s newest program, had its debut September 27, 2007. The one-hour program features influential women from around the world discussing a full spectrum of topics, including social, medical, human rights, legal, sports and business. News and Views, PNN’s existing flagship, is now 2 hours in length, and features live news coverage of the latest headlines from Washington, Iran and across the globe. Roundtable with You is a talk show with expert guests, featuring discussion of current events, politics, popular culture and global health. Viewers and listeners from Iran and around the world participate in the show via phone calls and e-mails.

Late Edition begins with a wrap up of the day’s news and a close look at the day’s top story. Targeted to a younger demographic, the show also features segments on health, technology, sports, entertainment and culture. Newstalk is a new journalists’ Roundtable discussion program that features a news update followed by an examination of the day’s top stories and an in-depth look at issues relating to Iran.

PNN INSIDER - VIEWER PERSPECTIVES

From Fatemeh Motamedi, Founder of Center for Animal Lovers & Vafa Shelter, a Roundtable with You viewer, “It is really nice and thoughtful of you to care this much for innocent animals of Iran. I am sure programs like this will be very helpful .You have a large audience and I received lots of encouraging emails.”

From a viewer in Iran, “I think it was a great idea to invite Prof. Zibakalam (a political science professor at Tehran University) to your program, it would shut people up who say you take only one side. It would be better to invite more of these people so the Iranian “ignorants” finally get some sense into their thick skull. Also I think what Zibakalam wanted to say but couldn't say was that we have so many idiots in Iran that they believe anything that others put in their heads and we are still far away from having commonsense here.”

Tina from Tehran writes, “I am a college student, representing a number of my classmates. Please invite more the Iranian experts who live inside Iran, and who are not afraid to express their views. We see a better and a more effective impact of the statements made by such guests as Ahmad Ziedabadi (an Iranian journalist) or Babak Dad (an author) than such persons as Dr. Alireza Haghigi, who is in Canada and he does not even dare to oppose the Iranian government.

A freedom-fighter in Khuzestan Province writes, “The other day, in Behbahan city, some unidentified persons abducted one of the critics of the government and beat him up. He is now in critical condition in the hospital. The Behbahan Revolutionary Guard is one of the main suspects. We blame the government for this event and demand an investigation into such a cowardly action.”

From Mahyar in Tehran, “The Islamic Regime of Iran is challenging the Resolutions of Security Council, continues its nuclear program, meddles in Iraq, tries to hinder the Middle East peace process, and, generally, opposes the international order and free market.”

A Today’s Woman viewer writes, “Dear Ladies, regarding your program on May 27th in which you criticized the executions in Iran. I have a question for you! If two men kidnapped your little daughter and raped her and then killed her, would you think imprisonment would be a proper punishment? If not, do not criticize execution!”

From Farhad in Iran, “While most Iranians are living a miserable life, and suffer from power outages and lack of drinking water, the Government helps Sri Lanka, Syria, Venezuela for power and housing.

Mohsen from Arak writes, “In his interview with NBC, when asked why the inflation rate in Iran is 20, Ahmadinejad said this was an internal affairs and should not concern the world community. The Islamic Regime’s real intention is to keep Iranians in monetary poverty so that they may remain in cultural and educational poverty, and hence, it may continue its governance. The only way to save Iranians and the world from this Regime is regime change.

From Sohrab in Shahabad Gharb, “I had heard (from Khomeini) that the Revolution would bring us water and power, as well public transportation, all free of charge. Ahmadinejad also gave us a similar promise. None of them were fulfilled. Instead now we have a despotic regime, suppression, torture and mass execution. Now we have a real example of contradiction of its words and actions.”

A Today’s Woman viewer writes, “In my point of view, in our society, women are always considered less worth than men in every aspect of life. We do not need to go far for a good example. Even Today’s Women program is only 50 min. while your other programs are longer, such as News and Views and a Roundtable and News Talks.”

From Sahar in Iran, “First I want to tell you that Today’s Women program is very popular, even for men. I know many men who are your viewers. I would like to suggest a topic for you. I hope you produce a program about old parents and their problems. I live with my old parents, they are educated, but we cannot communicate and understand each other. If you want I can send you more information about this subject.”

From a doctor inside Iran, “I am a doctor who is working for 4 month in a village in Mazandaran province without payment. I treat many people but the government has not paid me yet. Please tell your audience about the slavery of young doctors in Iran.”

Mahin in Iran writes, “I always watch and enjoy your program and I appreciative your work. Today you had a very incredible interview with a young Iranian man, Nima Behnood. I think in such a sensitive time, when you introduce successful Iranians in your programs, it brings us a sense of pride and honor, and it also encourages our youth! By the way, would you please give me Nima's email to buy his T-shirt!”

A Today’s Woman viewer in Iran writes, “Thank you for your great and educational Today’s Women program. I am a 35 year old girl. I am virgin and I am still not married. I have not found the right person. But at the same time I have not experienced sex and this puts a lot of mental pressure on me. I am depressed. I do not know how long I should wait. Please answer my email. Thank you.”
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