Another 18 protesters indicted by Islamic Republic

Ashura Day in Tehran

Iranian judiciary has indicted another 18 detainees of Ashura Day events in Tehran. According to the judiciary report, following the “completion of investigations and based on official reports and detainee confessions,” the accused are charged with “assembly and collaboration against national security and propaganda against the regime.”

On Ashura Day, December 27, Iranian election protesters had planned another mass demonstration. Intervention of police along with pro-government forces in plain clothes led to widespread violence and over five hundred protesters were arrested in Tehran.

On Monday, the first court session in the case of five Ashura Day detainees accused of “moharebeh” (enmity with God) which carries the death penalty, took place.

Fars news agency reports that one of the detainees is accused of membership in the dissident group, People's Mojahedin Organization.

Iranian authorities claim that exiled opposition groups such as PMO and monarchists had systematically organized the Ashura events to insult the sanctities of the holy day.

The opposition denies any such plans and claims that it is in fact the government who has desecrated the sanctity of the holy day by pouring innocent blood. The government has confirmed that seven people were killed in altercations with police and other government forces.

Another 16 Ashura day detainees were indicted last week. Iran Revolutionary court also announced that six Ashura Day detainees were sentenced to imprisonment and fines for “assembly and collusion against security, insulting senior military officials and disturbing public order.”