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The London-based human rights group Amnesty International said in a 2013 report on Iran that women in the country "faced discrimination in law and practice in relation to marriage and divorce, inheritance, child custody, nationality and international travel". … [Read more...] about Iran women’s podcast gives voice to victims of abuse

Iranian judges can spare under-18s the death penalty if they do not understand the nature of their offence. This was not investigated in Ms Sekaanvand's case, although an official examination found she was suffering from a "depressive disorder" characterised by insomnia and difficulty making decisions. … [Read more...] about Iran hanging: Fears for child bride Zeinab Sekaanvand

The crucial moment comes when Panahi’s feisty niece reveals she has to make a short film for a school project; she accidentally films a boy taking money that isn’t his and dramatically intervenes in the situation. Could Panahi be playfully showing the authorities how film-makers are a force for good? She informs the bemused Panahi that her teacher has given her rules for making a film which is “distributable” in Iran: at all costs you must avoid “sordid realism”. It’s advice that will amuse any follower of the kind of Iranian film which has found favour on the foreign film-festival circuit – they do indeed, mostly, avoid sordid realism, and offer coded commentary couched in childlike fables. However, Panahi’s films have not avoided realism. … [Read more...] about Berlin 2015 first-look review: Taxi – a ridealong career selfie from banned director Jafar Panahi

There was an awkward response from the Iranian government’s film arm, the Cinema Organisation, whose Hojjatollah Ayyubi celebrated Panahi’s win and even his flouting of his film-making ban, while simultaneously accusing the festival of spreading “misunderstandings”. “I regret that you wish to drive everybody in a taxi of new misunderstandings about the Iranian people by screening a film made by a director who has been banned by law from making films,” Ayyubi said. “But nevertheless, he has done exactly that. I am delighted to announce that the director of Taxi continues to drive in the fast lane of his life, freely enjoying all of its blessings.” … [Read more...] about Jafar Panahi asks for Golden Bear winner Taxi to be shown in Iran

Amin Nasser, the president and chief executive of Aramco, blamed “reduced demand and lower oil prices” for its financial results in the second quarter, in which global oil demand fell to 25-year lows and market prices plunged by three-quarters. … [Read more...] about Saudi Aramco to keep $75bn dividend despite dive in profits