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Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Glamorous ex-president sounds off in furious speech before being hauled to jail
Argentina's former president unleashed an all-time rant after the country's highest court upheld her six-year prison sentence on corruption charges - ripping into everyone from the current Argentine president to Donald Trump and Elon Musk. Cristina Kirchner greeted thousands of supporters outside her party's headquarters in Buenos Aires on Tuesday night and slammed the Supreme Court 's three-judge panel decision. The 72-year-old was found guilty in 2022 of awarding 51 public contracts for public works to companies that were tied to a close friend and convicted construction magnate. The agreements were priced 20 percent above the standard rate in a scheme that cost the South American nation tens of millions of dollars, the government found. Kirchner's administration carried out 'an extraordinary fraudulent maneuver' that harmed the interests of the government and resulted in the embezzlement of roughly $70 million at the current exchange rate. In March, Kirchner, who served as president from 2007 to 2015 and was Vice President from 2019 to 2023 under President Alberto Fernandez, asked the court to review her sentence. On Tuesday, judges Jorge Gorini, Rodrigo Giménez Uriburu and Andrés Bass – whom were all appointed by Kirchner, rejected her petition because the prison sentence 'does nothing more than to protect our republican and democratic system,' according to the resolution that was obtained by the Associated Press. Kirchner spoke out against their decision as the crowd got riled up and shouted an expletive-laden chat directed at the judges. 'They are three puppets who respond to natural commands far above them,' Kirchner said. 'Let no one be confused because the worst thing is not the opposition either, it is the economic power concentrated in the Republic of Argentina.' Kirchner did not stop there, going after current Argentine President Javier Milei and taking a thinly veiled shot at Trump, whom she accused of pandering to Elon Musk. 'He (Milei) is there because he was voted in, but when this puppet falls like the other puppet in the north, the friend of the chainsaw-wielding Elon Musk - look at the embarrassment and the mess, these things finally explode.' Kirchner, whose husband Nestor Kirchner was president from 2003 to 2007, has been given five business days to show up in court and turn herself in. The court also asked Argentina's security ministry to set up a detention center, where she is expected to be held. 'Being imprisoned is almost a certificate of political and personal historical dignity,' Kirchner said during the rally. A supporter gestures holding a banner outside the house of former President Cristina Kirchner after Argentina's Supreme Court upheld her guilty verdict for defrauding the government Kirchner's lawyers have asked the court to consider allowing her to serve her six-year sentence under home confinement because of her age and health condition. The court ruling also means that Kirchner will be banned from running in this fall's Buenos Aires legislative elections just days after she launched her campaign. Supporters of Kirchner and her political movement, known as 'Kirchnerism,' blocked main roads into Buenos Aires and stormed the offices of Argentina's two main cable networks that are widely considered critical of the ex-leader, Channel 13 and Todos Noticias, smashing televisions, vandalizing cars and shattering windows. There we no injuries reported.
Memri
21-02-2025
- Politics
- Memri
Ahwazi State Executive Conference In Germany: 'A Significant Step Toward Internationalizing The Cause And Exposing Iran's Reality'
The Executive Body of the State of Ahwaz, in collaboration with the European International Organization for Human Rights in Germany, the Arab-European Center for Human Rights in Brussels, and the Rafidain Justice Center in Switzerland, held an international conference on February 7, 2025, in Germany. Amb. Alberto Fernandez, Vice President of the Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI), spoke at the event and focused on Iran's destructive role, highlighting its continued support for terrorist organizations to spread chaos and weaken states in the region. He emphasized that the Executive Body of the State of Ahwaz has become a key regional player in confronting Iranian influence, warranting international support to curb Iran's expansionist ambitions that threaten global security and stability. (Source: Click below to view footage from the conference. Following is a summary of the event: [1] Countering Iran's Threats To Regional Security And Stability "The conference addressed key issues related to security and peace in the Middle East, focusing on Iran's interventions and threats to regional stability, as well as its negative impact on development and peace. It also highlighted Iran's role in destabilizing the region through its support for terrorist groups and its military and political interventions, particularly in the Arab State of Ahwaz, which continues to suffer from human rights violations at the hands of the Iranian authorities. "Participants reviewed Iran's crimes against the peoples of the region, especially in Arab countries, with a focus on the atrocities committed against the Ahwazi people. The conference also discussed the experiences of Arab nations in confronting Iranian interference and explored ways to counter Iran's threats to regional security and stability. "The event featured the participation of prominent policymakers, researchers, and academics from various Arab and international countries, as well as representatives of non-Persian ethnic groups within Iran's geographical boundaries. They shared their insights and expertise on the best strategies to confront Iran's growing threats, enhance Arab cooperation in combating terrorism, and support human rights. "Among the attendees were the Secretary-General of the Baluchi National Solidarity Party and his accompanying delegation, the head of the Turkish-Azerbaijani Center Party and his delegation, as well as Ms. Fariba Mohammadi, Deputy Secretary-General of the Kurdish Komala Party, along with her delegation. "The conference was inaugurated by Dr. Aref Al-Kaabi, President of the Executive Body of the State of Ahwaz. In his speech, he outlined Iran's interventions and their negative impact on regional and international security and peace. "Al-Kaabi stressed that Iran's destabilization efforts are not limited to supporting armed groups but extend to threatening global security, particularly with Iran nearing the production of a nuclear bomb. He emphasized that this poses a danger not only to the Middle East but to the entire world. "He called for serious and decisive steps to counter Iran's growing interference." Curb Iran's Expansionist Ambitions "In his speech, Mr. Kurt De Boff, advisor to the Belgian Prime Minister, spoke about the importance of international security and Iran's negative role in global instability through its continuous interventions. He urged the international community to support the aspirations of the Ahwazi people, affirming that these aspirations align with international human rights standards and the right to self-determination. "Alberto Fernandez, Vice President of the Middle East Media Research Institute U.S. , focused on Iran's destructive role, highlighting its continued support for terrorist organizations to spread chaos and weaken states in the region. He emphasized that the Executive Body of the State of Ahwaz has become a key regional player in confronting Iranian influence, warranting international support to curb Iran's expansionist ambitions that threaten global security and stability. "Gabriel Soma, advisor to former U.S. President Donald Trump, discussed 11 policy recommendations submitted to the new U.S. administration, all related to supporting the Executive Body of the State of Ahwaz. He stated that these recommendations reflect the United States' commitment to supporting just causes and the right of peoples to self-determination. He also emphasized that the Ahwazi issue is gaining increasing attention on the international stage. "German MP Sevim Yozgolin welcomed the conference's presence on German soil, stating that Germany fully supports the right of peoples to self-determination. She stressed the need for the Ahwazi cause to receive adequate attention within international efforts to protect human rights and uphold the dignity of oppressed communities. "Mahim Sarkhosh, leader of the Baluchi National Solidarity Party, highlighted Iran's systematic oppression of non-Persian ethnic groups, including economic marginalization, political repression, forced Persianization, and the denial of cultural and linguistic rights. "Sarkhosh explained that non-Persian peoples in Iran endure systematic oppression, including restrictions on education in their native languages, political disenfranchisement, and violent security crackdowns against activists and dissidents. He praised the role of the Executive Body of the State of Ahwaz in organizing this international conference, considering it a crucial platform to expose the suffering of non-Persian ethnic groups in Iran and a reflection of national efforts toward justice and recognition of minority rights. "Dr. Saleh Kamrani, Secretary-General of the Azerbaijani Center Party, addressed the marginalization and injustices faced by non-Persian ethnic groups in Iran. He asserted that the Iranian regime employs repressive policies aimed at erasing these communities' identities and depriving them of their fundamental rights in education, political representation, and economic opportunities. "Kamrani emphasized that internationalizing the Ahwazi cause is a necessary step to expose Iranian crimes and violations before the global community. He praised the efforts of the Executive Body of the State of Ahwaz in this regard and stressed the importance of strengthening cooperation among non-Persian ethnic groups to resist these discriminatory policies and amplify their voices." The Dangers Posed By Iranian Interventions And The Urgent Need To Confront Them Firmly "In his speech, Mohamed Al-Shammari, Head of the European Center in Brussels, stated that human rights are not privileges granted by states but inherent rights that cannot be infringed upon. He underscored that the systematic oppression and persecution of the Ahwazi people by Iranian authorities constitutes a flagrant violation of all international conventions. "Al-Shammari highlighted the political, cultural, and economic restrictions imposed by the Iranian regime on the Ahwazis, stating that international silence regarding these violations is unjustifiable. "He commended the Executive Body of the State of Ahwaz for bringing the plight of the Ahwazis to international forums, making their cause a prominent issue in human rights and political circles. "Al-Ahmed, President of the European Human Rights Commission in Germany, focused on Iran's human rights violations, stating that arbitrary arrests, executions, and the denial of basic rights in Ahwaz constitute clear violations of international law, the Geneva Conventions, and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. "He called for concrete international actions to hold the Iranian regime accountable for these crimes, praising the Executive Body of the State of Ahwaz for successfully elevating the Ahwazi cause from a local issue to an international human rights concern. "Almaarouf, the Deputy Chairman of the Rafidain Justice Center described the dire humanitarian conditions faced by the Ahwazi people, emphasizing that the situation in Ahwaz is no longer merely a political crisis but a humanitarian emergency requiring urgent international intervention. "He pointed out that Iran employs various methods to suppress the Ahwazis, from oppressive laws to brutal security crackdowns and systemic discrimination in rights and services. He noted that the Executive Body of the State of Ahwaz has successfully shed light on these crimes and has become the voice of the Ahwazi people in international forums, prompting numerous human rights organizations to take an interest in the issue. "The speeches delivered at the conference reflected a broad international consensus on the dangers posed by Iranian interventions and the urgent need to confront them firmly. "The event also emphasized the Ahwazi cause as a crucial issue requiring extensive international support, recognizing it as part of broader efforts to promote security and stability in the region." [1] February 20 2025.
