By Ben Turner
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

ZANJAN, Iran – A female student who alleged that she was molested by the vice-chancellor of the university has been arrested.  It is unclear what charges she is being charged with, but the prosecutor in the case has been quoted as saying that publicizing certain crimes is worse than the crimes themselves.

After the initial allegations were made, large demonstrations broke out all over the university’s campus.  Sit-ins were staged and students grabbed the vice-chancellor and handed him over to authorities.  The woman alleged that the vice-chancellor harassed her after she went to discuss a problem with him.  Both the victim and the vice-chancellor are currently in custody.

For more information, please see:
AKI – Iran: University Protests Over Sexual Abuse – 20 June 2008

BBC – ‘Harassed’ Iran Student Arrested – 20 June 2008

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BAQUBA, Iraq – A female suicide bomber killed 15 people and wounded 39 others at a government building in the northern Iraqi city of Baquba.  Among those dead are eight police officers, two women and one child.

The attacker stepped out of a car and walked toward a group of police officers and detonated the explosives she was wearing.  The attack marks the second time this year that a suicide bomber apparently intent on killing police officers attacked the crowded downtown area of Baquba.

The attack also follows a recent trend of increased use of women as suicide bombers.  Female suicide bombers have carried out at least 21 suicide attacks this year in Iraq, up from eight in all of 2007.

For more information, please see:
Washington Post – At Least 15 Killed by Female Bomber in Iraq – 23 June 2008

BBC – Suicide Bombing Rocks Iraqi City – 22 June 2008

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BAGHDAD, Iraq – Iraqi council member Raed Hmood Ajil opened fire on U.S. soldiers after a meeting in a town just south of Baghdad.  Two U.S. soldiers were killed and three U.S. soldiers and an Iraqi interpreter were wounded.

The councilmen came out of his car with an assault rifle and shot at American soldiers until he was killed by return fire.  The attack occurred after U.S. soldiers and Iraqi officials had attended a ceremony to open a new park.

For more information, please see:
Washington Post – Two U.S. Soldiers Killed as Iraqi Council Member Opens Fire After Meeting – 24 June 2008

CNN – Iraqi Councilman Kills U.S. Soldiers – 23 June 2008