 Khamenei orders closure of jail holding detainees arrested during the post-elections unrest; Over 50 arrested during mourning for activist Neda Soltan; Trial begins for 100 moderates charged with spying and attempts to over-throw the regime
  • Share
  • Tweet
  • Email
  • Whatsapp
  • Linkedin
  • Print

    • The Secretary of Iran’s National Security Council Saeed Jalili stated that Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei ordered the closure of a jail holding protesters detained after the last month’s presidential election, in order to “ensure that there is no injustice committed against anyone in the aftermath of the recent events.” Reports noted that up to 2,000 protestors, political activists and journalists were detained in the aftermath of the elections1.

    The Tehran police authorities arrested about 50 people who had gathered to mark the 40th day after the death of opposition protestor Neda Agha Soltan, who was shot dead in Tehran on June 20 in the post-election unrest2.

    Meanwhile, the trial of about 100 moderates arrested shortly after Iran’s disputed June
    presidential election and charged with trying to overthrow the government, began in Tehran. Reports indicated that this was the first time since the 1979 Islamic revolution that dozens of senior officials, including former ministers, vice-presidents and lawmakers, have been put on trial. Under the country’s Islamic law, acting against national security - a common charge against dissenters in Iran, is punishable by the death penalty3.

    President Ahmadinejad on his part denied reports that there were differences between
    himself and the country’ Supreme Leader. Conservative commentators have accused Ahmadinejad of showing insufficient respect for Khamenei while deciding on cabinet posts4.

    Top