Reformist group holds government responsible for the many dead

The Islamic Revolution Mojahedin Organization of Iran, an influential reformist organization, claimed the ninth government of Iran along with the ministries of interior, intelligence and justice were responsible for the atrocities committed after the presidential election. Many members of this Organization have been detained in the aftermath of the elections. The Organization likened Kahrizak Detention Centre to Guantanamo Prison and added that the country faces a heavy reckoning for the violence committed against the people. They condemned the silence of all civil organizations that in the past, they said, has also caused the deaths of Zahra Kazemi, the Iranian-Canadian photojournalist that died in Evin Prison in 2002, and Zahra BaniYagoub, a physician that died in Hamadan prison. They called on the representatives of the parliament to refrain from mere publicity ploys with issuing fake warnings. Reportedly, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has pleaded for the detainees with the Head of Judiciary and asked for the release of all prisoners whom he claims have been incited by “a handful of individuals and political movements.” Speaker for the Special Committee in charge of investigation of the recent detention centres reports that 140 detainees have been released on bail and another 150 are still in custody charged with carrying weapons and vandalism.