Iran holds fifth trial over election unrest

          
          Iran l'iolds fifth t'lal over election unrest Reuterscom lttp://www.reuterscom'articlePrlnt?articleld—USTRE58DOVtJ2009O914
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          Iran holds fifth trial over election unrest
          Mon Sep 14, 2009 6:00am EDT
          By Reza Derakhshi
          TEHRAN (Reuters) - Iran began a fifth trial on Monday of people accused of
          fomenting street unrest after a disputed presidential election three months
          ago, official media reported.
          The charges against student activist Abdollah Momeni, one of six people in
          the dock, included spreading propaganda against the Islamic Republic and
          distributing false statements aimed at acting against national security.
          Iran started four mass trials last month of more than 100 people, including
          senior reformers and former government officials, charged with
          orchestrating opposition protests after the vote in a bid to undermine the
          Islamic Republic.
          The opposition has denounced them as “show trials” and reformist former
          President Mohammad Khatami said last month trial confessions by
          moderates were made in “extraordinary conditions” and were invalid.
          The official I RNA news agency said Momeni accepted the charges against
          him and that his actions could not be defended.
          “I admit that I have made huge mistakes and my political activities and
          behavior caused mistrust and pessimism about the system among the
          youth, particularly among students,” state broadcaster IRIB quoted him as
          saying, giving only his initials.
          Prosecutor Ahmad-AJi Akbari told the court: “The accused has confessed
          that the election was an excuse for disruptive actions and attacks on the
          pillars of the system.”
          The election, which was followed by huge opposition protests, plunged Iran
          into political turmoil and exposed deepening divisions within its ruling elites.
          Defeated presidential candidates Mirhossein Mousavi and Mehdi Karoubi
          say it was rigged to secure President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's re-election.
          The authorities deny it.
          RAPE ALLEGATIONS REJECTED
          Rights groups say thousands of people were arrested after the poll, though
          most have been freed. Hardliners have portrayed the protests as a foreign-
          backed bid to undermine the Islamic government system.
          Among the others in the dock Monday, identified only by their initials, was a
          computer company manager developing websites and a journalist charged
          with insulting the leadership.
          An indictment read out at the trial appeared to focus on “false reports”
          spread via the Internet in a bid to stir unrest.
          “The Islamic revolution of Iran has always been facing psychological
          warfare and destructive propaganda ... by internal and external enemies,” it
          said, suggesting U.S. financial support for such activity.
          The opposition says more than 70 people were killed in the unrest. Officials
          estimate the death toll at up to 36 people including members of the Islamic
          Basij militia, which helped the elite Revolutionary Guards quell the protests.
          Iran's top prosecutor has suggested Karoubi could face legal action over his
          “baseless” allegations that some detained protesters were raped in jail, in
          comments carried by IRNA in a separate report Monday.
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          Iran l'iolds fifth tial over election unrest Reuters ,com lttp://www.reuterscom'articlePrlnt?articleld—USTRE58DOVt. 120090914
          Prosecutor-general Gholamhossein Mohseni-Ejei is a member of a judicial
          committee which last week rejected Karoubis accusations and called in a
          report for libel charges to be considered against anyone making the claims.
          This committee has offered to submit its report to a court to deal with all
          those who disturbed public opinion ... by spreading lies and raising baseless
          allegations which hurt the prestige of the system,' he said.
          Karoubi, who finished fourth in the vote, said this month that he had handed
          over films and other material about abuse of three detainees to a
          parliamentary investigative committee.
          (Additional reporting by Hossein Jaseb; writing by Fredrik DahI; Editing by
          Richard W illiams)
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          2 of 2 10/26/2009 2:22 PM