generalspeaking

Riots, Looting and Sacking

"It is time to rebuild."

"Rebuild the city, rebuild our justice system and rebuild the relationship between law enforcement and those they're charged to protect."

Tim Walz, state governor, Minnesota

"We cannot continue to allow this destruction to continue. It is very much complete chaos, or it was."

"It's very much a spiralling situation."

"It's disrupting innocent people's lives. It's putting innocent people in harm's way."

Andrea Jenkins, Minneapolis City Council

"This shouldn't be 'normal' in 2020 America. It will fall mainly on the officials of Minnesota to ensure that the circumstances surrounding George Floyd's death are investigated thoroughly and that justice is ultimately done."

"But it falls on all of us to work together to crate a 'new normal' in which the legacy of bigotry and unequal treatment no longer infects our institutions or our hearts."

Former President Barack Obama

Video shows Minneapolis officer kneeling on black man's neck

George Floyd #5, (left) with other teammates and his coach, George Walker (far right)

Beijing Protecting Hong Kong From Terrorism

"Hong Kong has flourished as a bastion of freedom."
"[The security law would ] curtail the Hong Kong people's liberties, and in doing so, dramatically erode Hong Kong's autonomy and the system that made it so prosperous."
Joint statement, United Kingdom, United States, Australia, Canada

"This is the death knell for Hong Kong, make no mistake of it, this is the end of 'one country, two systems' ...the Hong Kong that we loved, a free Hong Kong'.
Dennis Kwok, pro-democracy lawmaker

The National People's Congress, voting in the Great Hall of the People, just west of Beijing's Tiananmen Square, loudly approved and applauded the vote that took place on Thursday, a tally that indicated 2,878 votes supported moving forward with legislation, with one vote opposed and six abstentions. While the world has been distracted and busy attempting to ward off the worst advances of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, Beijing has immersed itself in finalizing the death knell of autonomous Hong Kong, cancelling the formula that recognized its unique status since 1997.

The imposition of a new security law on Hong Kong will now criminalize any such activities like protesting and criticizing Beijing. Either of which is analogous in Beijing's opinion to secession and the detested 'splittism'. As the Communist Party elite explain it to any who might not understand, the purpose of the legislation is to cope with secession, subversion, terrorism and foreign interference in Hong Kong. The plan had sufficed to instill fear into Hong-Kong's pro-democracy factions, triggering large protests.

And those protests brought out the riot police in huge numbers even while its own lawmakers engaged in debating an entirely other piece of legislation with a like purpose, to criminalize disrespect of China's national anthem. Police made 360 arrests while thousands of Hong Kongers marched in protest in the streets over the anthem bill and the national security legislation. It is abundantly clear that Beijing is imposing its authority, eroding the autonomy of Hong Kong in the process.

China’s National People’s Congress  Photograph: Andrea Verdelli/Getty Images

An assurance was issued by China's Premier Li Keqiang, that the "one country, two systems" formula is meant to remain a national policy, but the new law would provide for Hong Kong's long-term stability and prosperity. Enactment of the law is anticipated prior to September, as details are being drawn up in the coming weeks. But no threat exists to the city's autonomy, Chinese authorities claim, backed by the Hong Kong, Beijing-approved government.

According to Hong Kong's leader Carrie Lam, the legislative work would be completed as soon as possible as she works with Beijing: "The law will not affect the rights and freedoms enjoyed by Hong Kong residents". Somehow, the pro-democracy element finds her statement as reassuring as that emanating out of Beijing.

"We urge China to step back from the brink", stated British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab.
Britain plans to change the status of British national overseas passport holders, should China not suspend the new law, enabling such BNO passport holders to come to the United Kingdom for periods in excess of six months, an effective pathway to eventual citizenship.

Anti-government demonstrators in Hong Kong scuffle with riot police Wednesday during a protest as the second reading of a controversial national anthem law takes place. (Tyrone Siu/Reuters)

China's Misdeeds Haunt Canada

"On the question of law posed, I conclude that, as a matter of law, the double criminality requirement for extradition is capable of being met in this case."
"It is important to note that these allegations are unproven but must be taken as true for the purpose of this application [for extradition]."
"She [Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou] is said to have made false statements to HSBC in 2013, significantly understating Huawei's relationship with Skycom Tech.Co.Ltd., a company based in Iran."
"Although Huawei had sold its shareholding in Skycom some years before the August 2013 meeting, and Ms.Meng had resigned from Skycom's board, Huawei in reality continued to control Skycom and its banking and business operations in Iran."
B.C.Associate Chief Justice Heather Holmes, 23-page extradition decision

Meng Wanzhou leaves B.C. Supreme Court after losing bid to stop her extradition  CBC

"The purpose of the United States is to bring down Huawei and other Chinese high-tech companies, and Canada has been acting in the process as an accomplice of the United States."
"The whole case is entirely a grave political incident."
Chinese Embassy statement, Ottawa

"Huawei continues to stand with Ms.Meng in her pursuit for [sic] justice and freedom."
"We expect that Canada's judicial system will ultimately prove Ms.Meng's innocence. Ms. Meng's lawyers will continue to work tirelessly to see justice is served."
Huawei statement

Meng poses with friends and family on the steps of the B.C. Supreme Court building in downtown Vancouver days before a judge ruled on her extradition case. (Ben Nelms/CBC)

So, there it is. The judgement that will mean two innocent Canadians who just happened to be in China conducting business at the time that Huawei's executive Meng Wanzhou was arrested in December 2018 at the Vancouver airport on an extradition warrant issued by the United States with which Canada has a longstanding extradition agreement, made them handy as victimized hostages for Beijing, designating the two men, Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor, as engaged in espionage against China.

They sit mouldering in extremely onerous situations for all this time, while Meng, who was speedily given bail, and lives in the interim in either of her two luxury mansions in Vancouver, awaits the process that will send her to the United States for trial on the charges brought against her. The suspense over whether she would be freed and allowed to return to China, her lawyers having argued that the charges brought against her would not be crimes in Canada, now over, their claims having been rejected.

Her extradition case continues and it is expected that as Meng, remaining on her $10-million bail conditions, and her lawyers will appeal this ruling it will take years before the Supreme Court, if it agrees to hear the case, will be able to sit in judgement; she can wait that time out in leisure and luxury. Canada's Beijing CCP hostages remain in their dire confinement, without access to consular services, ostensibly as a protective measure against COVID.

Ms. Meng is a high-tech princess in China -- her father, Ren Zhengfei, founder of Huawei, a company linked with the Chinese military apparatus, just as he was himself at one point a high-placed military functionary -- and as such she has the weight of the Chinese government behind her. A government that has relentlessly punished Canada for its 'error' in honouring its extradition agreement with its neighbour to the south.

Kidnapping Canadians for the ransom of Ms.Meng's release, punishing Canadian trade by cutting back its imports of canola and pork, though both are hugely popular and needed products in China, to extract maximum pain from Canada, in a humiliating situation where Canada is helpless to exert real pressure to force Beijing to release two innocent Canadians.

In a situation where Canada's prime minister continues to step on eggshells around China, barely able to contain his disappointment at the fading hopes for a free trade agreement with the trading behemoth. A prime minister who should put a stop to ingratiating himself with China.

A good beginning would be by stating unequivocally that it is Canada's choice not to allow Huawei to be involved in Canada's future 5G upgrade. And go on from there to make it clear that Beijing's interference in Canada must stop, outlawing the presence of Beijing's outreach arm, its soft-power tool, the United Front.

Canada and the world at large have been gifted by China entirely too much. Its coersive techniques, its threatening tactics, its scolding of those who criticize its lack of respect for human rights, its nagging of opponents, urging them to admit their errors and reverse them -- to China's benefit. We watch as Hong Kong's hopes for continued autonomy are brutally set back, as Taiwan is blacklisted by China. As Beijing reaches further for territorial advantage, threatening its neighbours.

As the world is overwhelmed by a viral plague that China failed to warn the WHO of in good time, and even as its epidemic proportions spread in China, Beijing allowed it to be exported through its borders kept open for Chinese to travel abroad, while expressing its contempt for 'racists' who felt they should close their borders to Chinese travelers. Beijing closed its borders only when it feared that the SARS-CoV-2 virus was returning courtesy of Chinese returning home from Europe, left a raging volcano of COVID infection.

Meng Wanzhou leaves B.C. Supreme Court after the court loss in Vancouver on Monday. (Ben Nelms/CBC)

No Strings Attached to Qualify : Free For All!

"Many of these individuals through no fault of their own are unable to have their SINs and/or work permits renewed during this health emergency."
"At the same time many have lost their jobs or have experienced significant reduction in hours of work."
"Many were or are vulnerable to evictions."
Debbie Douglas, executive director, Ontario Council of Agencies Serving Immigrants

"It's truly astonishing. the person could potentially be overseas if the payment is going to a Canadian bank account. That is extremely troubling."
"That money is not free. That money is going to have to come out of someone's pocket at some point."
"It is going to be the taxpayers of Canada, citizens or not."
Sergio Karas, immigration lawyer, Toronto

New steps have been announced by the federal government for the purpose of easing application processes for international students and temporary foreign residents in Canada so they may receive emergency benefits; financial payments received on a monthly basis, deposited directly to bank accounts, ostensibly for the purpose of tiding people over during the novel coronavirus pandemic which has caused such an upheaval of business closures and lost employment.

Henceforth, declared the government of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, short-term immigrants need expend their energies no further than to give verbal assurances that they are in possession of a valid work permit or have applied for a renewed permit to enable them to qualify for the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB). This, according to yet another memorandum forwarded to staff employed in vetting claims.

The requirement had been for applicants to email Employment and Social Development Canada an image of a valid work or work/study permit or a confirmation that they had applied for a renewal of their expired permit. The new memo, however, received by officials handling CERB applications informs that those conditions have been waived "effective immediately". So that agents "are only required to verbally obtain work permit details." An honour system on steroids.

Anyone holding a "900-series" social insurance number which includes people ranging from students to refugee claimants, to temporary foreign workers and executives from other countries transferred to work in Canada is included. None of whom are either Canadian citizens or permanent residents of Canada.

People with valid permits would typically email proof within a few minutes, hardly impacting to slow the process, according to a source familiar with the system. Now, however, staff is left unable to verify whether someone making application is in fact legally in the country. Moreover, should an applicant leave the country after successfully applying and receiving the $2,000-monthly payment, recovery of the funds would be impossible.

"There is a big, big opening for fraud, left right and centre", stated the inside source. One immigrant advocate considered this new ruling to be "excellent" policy to aid temporary residents in need, while an immigration lawyer appears to think otherwise, characterizing the situation as indicating an "astonishing" disregard for taxpayer funds. The program provides $500 weekly to people who "have stopped working" due to COVID-19's impact on the economy.

These announcements made in favour of speeding up the process of applying for the benefit and seeing the funds moving out of official coffers and into people's personal bank accounts, has come under increasing public scrutiny, highlighted by news stories about the fund's management. A regular conveyance of loosening restrictions and informing those approving applicants that no suspicions will be honoured; that applications are to be expedited.

Overlooking people voluntarily choosing to leave jobs, or being fired for misconduct, despite contradicting the CERB rules. A Toronto immigration lawyer has helpfully pointed out that the new, unquestioning policy leads to situations where even an individual who is facing a deportation order, or one who had already left the country could now make successful application for the CERB payments.

Confusingly, the memo makes note that eligibility for benefits means a temporary resident "must prove they are legally allowed to work in Canada". However, due to COVID-19 the 900-series SIN procedures have been 'simplified'; proof no longer required.Thus far, $39 billion has been paid out by this government to over eight million claimants up to a week ago.

The Righteous, Injured Party

China's top diplomat, Wang Yi

"Regretfully, in addition to the raging coronavirus, a political virus is also spreading in the United States. This political virus is using every opportunity to attack and smear China."

"Some politicians have ignored the most basic facts and concocted too many lies about China and plotted too many conspiracies."

"I want to say here: Don't waste precious time any longer, and don't ignore lives."

"What China and the United States need to do the most is to first learn from each other and share their experience in fighting against the epidemic, and help each country fight it."

Wang Yi, State Councillor and Chinese Foreign Minister

The Jury Has Declared Its Finding

"Hydroxychloroquine or chloroquine, often in combination with a second-generation macrolide, are being widely used for treatment of COVID-19, despite no conclusive evidence of their benefit." "Although generally safe when used for approved indications such as autoimmune disease or malaria, the safety and benefit of these treatment regimens are poorly evaluated in COVID-19."
"Urgent confirmation from randomized clinical trials is needed."
"We were unable to confirm a benefit of hydroxychloroquine or chloroquine, when used alone or with a macrolide, on in-hospital outcomes for COVID-19. Each of these drug regimens was associated with decreased in-hospital survival and an increased frequency of ventricular arrhythmias when used for treatment of COVID-19."
"We found no evidence of benefit of hydroxychloroquine or chloroquine when used either alone or with a macrolide. Previous evidence was derived from either small anecdotal studies or inconclusive small randomised trials. Our study included a large number of patients across multiple geographic regions and provides the most robust real-world evidence to date on the usefulness of these treatment regimens. Although observational studies cannot fully account for unmeasured confounding factors, our findings suggest not only an absence of therapeutic benefit but also potential harm with the use of hydroxychloroquine or chloroquine drug regimens (with or without a macrolide) in hospitalised patients with COVID-19."
Professor Mandeep R.Mehra, MD, Sapan S.Desaj, MD, Professor Frank Ruschitzka, MD, Amit N.Patel, MD -- The Lancet

Associated Press

According to a large study published in the medical journal The Lancet, on May 22, malaria drug hydroxychloroquine has been linked with increased risk of death in hospitalized COVID-19 patients. The world is very well aware that U.S.President Donald Trump personally gave assurances that the anti-malarial drug is effective against COVID-19, praising its merits as a "game-changer" and unabashedly and casually stating that he uses the drug himself. He would do so, as president of the United States, under the careful administration of a medical specialist.

This, despite other than for a discredited brief study undertaken by a French physician lauding the drug for its perceived usefulness in defending against the SARS-CoV-2 virus, most medical scientists believe it to be potentially harmful, and that its imputed beneficial effects have never been proven. The two anti-malarial drugs are currently undergoing rigorous research in a number of studies across the world, just to leave no potential 'stones' unturned.

The Lancet study took in over 96,000 people who were hospitalized with COVID-19. And those treated with hydroxychloroquinte or the related chloroquine were seen to have a higher risk of death than those patients not prescribed the medicines. Whether taking the drug resulted in benefit in coronavirus patients, the authors stated they were unable to confirm. Patients hospitalized with COVID are there because they have acquired a severe case of COVID.

The drugs' proponents view the medicines a treatment for the disease in the belief that the drugs may require use at an earlier stage, to be effective. Ongoing, randomized, controlled clinical trials studying the drugs' effectiveness in preventing infection by the novel coronavirus, along with treatment of mild to moderate COVID are proceeding with the expectation that results of those trials may be available within weeks.

Illustration by Alex Castro / The Verge

In the interim, demand for hydroxychloroquine has mounted, influenced in large part by Mr. Trump's cavalier and enthusiastic statements of belief in its miraculous powers of resistance against COVID. "What have you got to lose?",he speculated. Perhaps only their lives. The authors of The Lancet study suggested not to use the medicines in treatment of COVID-19 other than in clinical trials, until the ongoing studies confirm safety and efficacy for COVID patients.

Hydroxychloroquine, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, should be used only for hospitalized COVID-19 patients or those taking part as subjects in clinical trials, since the drug has been linked with dangerous heart rhythm conditions. Data from 671 hospitals where 14,888 patients were given either chloroquine or hydroxychloroquine along with or without an antibiotic, and 81,144 patients not treated with those drugs were included in The Lancet study.

In laboratory settings, both the drugs indicated evidence of effectiveness against the coronavirus, yet studies of the drugs in patients have been inconclusive. And while several small studies in Europe and China, criticized for their lack of scientific rigour, spurred interest in the use of the drugs in COVID-19, several more recent studies showed no indication the drugs could be viewed as an effective treatment for the disease.

Playing Police : Mass Murder

"The retired RCMP officers related to the gunman have been interviewed as part of the investigation. The origin of all police-related items is still under investigation."

"We respect the Court's decision to release the redacted documents. Because the unsealing of the ITOs is a matter before the courts and in consideration of our ongoing investigation, the RCMP is not currently in a position to provide additional details."

RCMP Constable Hans Ouellette

"I've been a police officer for 30 years now and I can't imagine a more horrific set of circumstances than looking for someone who looks like you."

RCMP Superintendent Darren Campbell 

The gunman torched several homes including his home in Portapique, N.S. (Steve Lawrence/CBC)

A Halifax regional police investigator is seen in a suite above the Atlantic Denture Clinic April 20, 2020 in Dartmouth, N.S. The clinic was owned by the gunman, Gabriel Wortman. (Tim Krochak/Getty Images)

RCMP investigators search for evidence at the location where Const. Heidi Stevenson was killed along the highway in Shubenacadie, N.S. on Thursday, April 23, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Andrew Vaughan

Little remained of Wortman's Portapique home after he set it on fire. (Steve Lawrence/CBC)

COVID-19's Changing Uncertainties

"The longer period during which infected patients show no symptoms has created clusters of family infections."
Qiu Haibo, critical care physician, China

"In theory, some changes in the genetic structure can lead to changes in the virus structure or how the virus behaves." 
"However, many mutations lead to no discernible changes at all."
"[It’s likely that the observations in China don’t have a simple correlation with a mutation and] very clear evidence [is needed before concluding that the virus is mutating]."
Keiji Fukuda, director and clinical professor, University of Hong Kong’s School of Public Health

"People should not assume the peak has passed or let down their guard." 
"It’s totally possible that the epidemic will last for a long time."
Wu Anhua, senior infectious disease doctor, China

The coronavirus is being seen by doctors in China to be manifesting its presence differently among later patients in a new cluster that has broken out in the northeast region in comparison to the outbreak that originally occurred in Wuhan. It would seem to health professionals in China that the pathogen, as long warned, and as is typical for such viruses, has been changing, complicating the campaign to crush the epidemic. This is a virus whose presentation and properties affecting human viscera and respiratory system is already a vexing mystery.

Now, it seems that new patients in a new sweep of infectious in the provices of Jilin and Heilongjian seem to carry the SARS-CoV-2 virus causing COVID for a longer duration while taking longer to test negative. this, from one of China's elite critical care doctors, Qiu Haibo.  The one to two weeks that it took for people to develop symptoms after infection in Wuhan is no longer standard for the recently identified northeast patients. It is becoming more difficult due to this delayed onset for authorities to  locate cases before spread occurs.

An expected, but worrying resurgence of infections that broke out in the past several weeks spread across three cities in two provinces; modest in number but worrying in their divergence from what was already known about the disease symptoms. Worrying enough to persuade Chinese authorities to impose a new lockdown over a region of 100 million people.

It is not fully understand yet by scientists whether the virus is undergoing change in vital ways and whether the differences seen by Chinese doctors could be the result of being able to observe patients more thoroughly and from an earlier stage than was true for Wuhan.

In Wuhan, when the outbreak first alarmed authorities, the local health-care system was soon overwhelmed to the point that only the most seriously infected were being treated. The new outbreak is far smaller than Hubei's, which ultimately made over 68,000 people ill with the virus. Remaining uncertainty regarding the manner in which the virus manifests will restrain governments' initiatives to curb the virus spread, and reopen their bruised economies.

The concern among worldwide researchers is whether the virus is mutating significantly on the way to becoming more contagious, even though early research suggests the possibility of its becoming more contagious has come under scrutiny as being overblown. In China, officials are convinced that the new cluster originated from contact with infected arrivals from Russia.

Accountability Investigation of WHO/China

"There was a failure by this organization to obtain the information that the world needed, and that failure cost many lives."
"We must be frank about one of the primary reasons this outbreak spun out of control."
"There was a failure by this organization to obtain the information that the world needed, and that failure cost many lives."
Alex Azar, U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services

"[I welcome] a stepwise process of impartial, independent and comprehensive evaluation [of the WHO's response to the global pandemic]."
"WHO sounded the alarm early, and we sounded it often. We notified countries, issued guidance for health workers within ten days, and declared a global health emergency -- our highest level of alert -- on the [30th] of January."
"At the time, there were less than 100 cases and no deaths outside China."
"We want accountability more than anyone. We will continue providing strategic leadership to coordinate the global response."
Dr.Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director general, World Health Organization

Before the World Health Assembly, the decision-making body of the WHO, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus declared the WHO's willingness to approve a proposal put forward by over 120 countries that had been tabled by the European Union and Australia, unsupported by China, for an investigation into how the World Health Organization responded to the emerging epidemic of a strange new virus in Wuhan, China, and how it had alerted the world, finally declaring SARS-CoV-2 a global pandemic.

The WHO itself, according to Mr. Tedros planned to launch its own enquiry: "an independent evaluation at the earliest appropriate moment". According to The U.S.Secretary of Health and Human Services, the WHO had failed in its primary duty of alerting the world of a pandemic that had "spun out of control", and represented a costly "failure" by the WHO. The WHO's own independent oversight body had produced an early report into the handling of the crisis by the WHO, concluding it had "demonstrated leadership". Its performance should be reviewed, it elaborated, but not during the "heat of the response".

The WHO assembly was addressed by videolink by Chinese President Xi Jinping of his intention to support a "comprehensive review" of the pandemic once it had been brought under control. Responding to critics asserting that Beijing had covered up the outbreak at its emergence in Wuhan, Xi responded that his country had behaved with "openness, transparency and responsibility", having given data to the WHO and other countries in a "timely fashion".

He took the opportunity to mollify some of his critics through the announcement of a $2-billion investment in support of ongoing research into the source of the virus, while pledging that vaccines would be globally available when possible, while encouraging sharing best practices. The U.S., still the WHO's major financial supporter, has seen President Donald Trump threatening to withdraw funding while accusing the organization of mismanaging its response to the pandemic, including bias on its part toward China.

According to Chinese state media, other nations are maligning China by insisting on an investigation for political reasons, and slamming the U.S. for using China as a political punching bag, in trying to distract from its inadequate internal reactions to the outbreak that has caused more cases in the United States and a greater number of deaths there, than China itself had experienced.

People's Liberation Army soldiers stand at attention in front of photo of Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing on May 20. Kevin Frayer/Getty Images

State Punishment for Dissenters, Government Critics

"What keeps me on my feet -- is my love for the honourable, but tormented, people of this country. I pledge to speak the truth, defy tyranny and defend the oppressed until my last breath."
Narges Mohammadi, Iranian human rights campaigner; incarcerated

"[I have been teaching other prisoners about] truth and reconciliation commissions. This fundamental aspect of survival."
"I specifically extend my hand to American citizens. Our governments have been rivals for years, with little regard for us."
Nasrin Sotondeh, Iranian human rights campaigner; incarcerated

Iran human rights activists Narges Mohammadi and Nasrin Sotoudeh who have been denied furlough from prison despite the risk of contracting coronavirus.

The two women now languishing in the notorious Evin prison have spent their lives fighting for the Islamic Republic of Iran's most vulnerable of its citizens. Eventually, themselves becoming politically-vulnerable, in the cross-hairs of the Iranian ayatollahs. Their human rights agitation, their protests, their support of dissidents and critics of the regime earned the ire of the despotic fundamentalist Shiite regime.

Aged 48 and 56, the two women are serving a combined 54 years in prison for the crimes of defending human rights, and as political prisoners charged for their affiliation with human rights and peace groups, along with launching an organization meant to gradually succeed in abolishing the death penalty in the country, where even juvenile offenders continue to be executed.

The UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Iran  released a report that documented how overcrowded and unhygienic conditions in the prison are, causing the spread of infectious diseases such as tuberculosis, HIV and hepatitis C. When March arrived, COVID-19 made the list. Which is when the women's ward holding Sotondeh and Mohammadi in Evin prison, ran out of medical and cleaning supplies.

Iran is being smothered with COVID cases, and a growing number of deaths related to COVID. A worst-case scenario of 3.5 million deaths in the country was predicted through a study by Iran's Sharif University; an utterly unthinkable death count. Public trust at an all-time low, it is doubtful that state instructions will be followed. The public has lost its trust in a system that orchestrated atrocities affecting Iranians.

Iran's death toll, according to an independent report by the country's own parliament, may be close to double the number officially declared, and cases ten times greater than declared. Which if true may see Iran becoming the hardest affected country in the world. And numbers are well understood to be even worse within Evin Prison.

In November security forces cracked down on mass protests in the street, killing 1,500 people in under two weeks. And two months later, the public was told lies as the leadership concealed its shooting down by members of the Republican Guard Corps of the Ukrainian airliner Flight 752,    when all 175 passengers perished.

The population now remains skeptical of their government's own figures on the extent of the pandemic, as they see journalists arrested and hospitals ordered not to list coronavirus as a cause of death. Moreover, Iranian authorities claim that the United States is responsible for the emergence of the disease in Iran. The government decided to release thousands of prisoners to curb the spread, particularly within the prison system.

Nasrun Sotonde

Judiciary Chief Ebrahim Raisi remarked furloughs would continue should prisoners not pose a threat to society. Remaining in prison are hundreds of people, identified as political prisoners whose status the authorities consider "national security" risks. The suspicion abroad is that by leaving political prisoners to languish in a prison considered to be a hot spot for the spread of the COVID threat, these prisoners are deliberately being left in the hope they will become infected; an extrajudicial punishment.

Judiciary  Chief Raisi is the same official responsible for serving on the death commissions in 1988 when five thousand political prisoners were sentenced to death by firing squad or hanging. He now oversees Iran's investigation into the bombing of Flight752. On being sworn in as Judiciary Chief a year ago, the man seen as a possible successor to the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, issued a 38 year and 148 lashes sentence for Nasrin Sotoudeh.

With her history of severe respiratory conditions, as well as a blood clot in her lungs, Narges Mohammadi is serving a 16-year sentence. She is currently suffering from "a severe cough, sore throat, and chest pain", according to her mother. She has been brutally beaten and transferred to a more dangerous facility as punishment for staging hunger strikes and sit-ins in solidarity with other prisoners and victims of the November crackdown.