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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