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English Journal is published on Fridays PDF-English Journal-30November 2025-No39 In Lebanon, the government is now openly pursuing a declared effort to disarm Hezbollah. Dismantling Hezbollah—something that only a few years ago seemed almost unthinkable—is of vital importance not only for Lebanon’s political and social recovery but for the wider region. Last week, Ali Akbar Velayati, an adviser to Iran’s supreme leader, travelled to Lebanon to try to obstruct this policy, but he clearly hit a wall. Responding to Velayati’s claim …

English Journal is published on Fridays PDF-English Journal-30November 2025-No39 The criminalisation of virginity examinations and the issuing of virginity certificates -approved by the Swedish parliament some weeks ago – will come into force on 1 December. With this legislation, Sweden has taken a necessary step towards protecting women’s rights and dignity. The law, which also covers all medical interventions aimed at “restoring” virginity, is not merely a medical prohibition; it is a direct challenge to one of the oldest mechanisms …

English Journal is published on Fridays PDF-English Journal-30November 2025-No39 Human Rights Day on 10 December is approaching. We mark it this year in the wake of the 25 November International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, during which street actions were held across the world – especially in Iran. On that day, numerous messages from women’s and children’s rights activists – from the streets to inside prisons -were published, and organisations representing women, students, teachers and workers issued …

English Journal is published on Fridays PDF-English Journal-30November 2025-No39 On Monday 24 November, Mehdi Daneshmand, a cleric aligned with the Iranian government, said: “I wish some people were only unveiled. We no longer have unveiled women; we have shameless ones. Do not be shameless; do not wear your sleepwear in the street.” These remarks – uttered in the path of their Prophet Mohammad and the bloody history of Islam – came just one day before 25 November, the International Day …

English Journal is published on Fridays PDF-English Journal-30November 2025-No39 According to French news agencies, on Saturday 22 November—۱ Azar in the Iranian calendar—thousands marched across France demanding action against violence towards women. In Paris alone, organisers estimated the turnout at 50,000. Violence against women is a deep-rooted, multi-dimensional phenomenon, shaped by cultural, economic, social and political forces. In many societies, structural discrimination and long-standing gender inequality create conditions in which violent behaviour can take root. The normalisation of violence against …

English Journal is published on Fridays PDF-English Journal-15 November 2025-No38 Elon Musk, CEO of car manufacturer Tesla, has, with the approval of shareholders, secured the largest executive pay and compensation package in history, amounting to one trillion dollars. The approval of a trillion-dollar reward package for Elon Musk by Tesla’s shareholders is not a prize for technological genius, but a fitting tribute to the services he has rendered to capital and its ruthless logic. On paper, this pay package is …

English Journal is published on Fridays PDF-English Journal-15 November 2025-No38 For the first time in the history of the Tehran Symphony Orchestra, its baton has been handed to a woman. Paniz Faryousafi, a musician and conductor, is appearing as guest conductor for the ensemble’s latest programme, ‘Land of Simorgh’, on 11 and 12 November at Vahdat Hall. This is not merely an artistic event; it is a symbol of a profound transformation at the heart of Iranian society – a …

English Journal is published on Fridays PDF-English Journal-15 November 2025-No38 On Monday 8 November, Ahmad Shar’a met Donald Trump at the White House – a meeting that marks a turning point in the astonishing trajectory of Ahmad Shar’a, the former ISIS member. In Washington, he announced that he is “willing, prepared and intends” to join the international coalition against ISIS. Ahmad Shar’a’s decision to join the anti-ISIS coalition has strategic regional consequences, especially in Syria and Turkey. Syria’s joining the …

English Journal is published on Fridays PDF-English Journal-15 November 2025-No38 Some time ago, through friends, we got in touch with the sister of political prisoner Saman Mohammadi Khiyareh. After thirteen years in prison, Saman was executed on 3 October 2024 in Ghezel Hesar prison. His sister, her voice choked with tears, spoke of the injustice inflicted on her brother and their family, and asked us not to let their cry for justice be silenced. She told us that her brother …

English Journal is published on Fridays PDF-English Journal-15 November 2025-No38 There are numerous signs indicating a rising likelihood of a U.S. military attack on Venezuela. The United States has placed a fifty-million-dollar bounty on the arrest of Venezuela’s president and, over recent months, has gradually deployed a large military force in the Caribbean. As a warm-up, the U.S. has so far destroyed 19 Venezuelan civilian vessels on charges of drug trafficking and has killed 76 innocent civilians—without evidence and without …