Iran judiciary stands by widespread arrests

Tehran Prosecutor, Abbas Jafari Dowlatabadi

Tehran’s prosecutor, Abbas Jafari Dowlatabadi announced today that the widespread arrest of the last two days are fully justified and have been carried out by direct order of the judiciary.

Since Sunday, when Iranian election protesters demonstrated en masse on the streets of Tehran, and were violently confronted by government forces resulting in eight deaths and tens of injuries, the government has started a new wave of arrests. Political activists, journalists and people with ties to opposition leader MirHosein Mousavi are targets of these arrests.

With no reference to the number of detainees, Tehran’s prosecutor announced that the detainees were all accused of “activities against national security.”

He added that the body of Ali Mousavi, nephew of MirHosein Mousavi was being held at the coroner’s office for further investigations.

A statement issued by the Police Department says that Ali Mousavi was not killed in the Ashura Day events. It adds that Mr. Mousavi was shot on Shademan Street by the passengers of a car.

The statement adds that the police are in the process of identifying the “terrorist elements.”

Protests against the Ashura Day events persist between supporters and detractors of the government as each camp accuses the other of desecrating the sanctity of the holy day.

Pro-government forces have announced that they will stage demonstrations tomorrow Wednesday, to protest the “disrespect of Ashura Day.”