Iran indicts 250 Ashura Day detainees

Tehran Prosecutor-General, Abbas Jafari Dowlatabadi

Tehran Prosecutor General announced today that 250 Ashura Day detainees have been indicted adding that reports regarding a confirmed execution sentence for Mohammad Amin Valian were false.

Abbas Jafari Dowlatabadi told reporters today that detainees whose files are complete or their charges are not backed by necessary evidence will be gradually released.

On Ashura Day, which fell on December 27, election protesters took to the streets to once more protest the allegedly rigged presidential elections in June. Security forces and police confronted protesters in full force causing seven deaths and over 700 arrests.

Twenty-year-old Mohammad Amin Valian is a student at Damghan University who has been charged with “Enmity against God” which is an offence that carries the death penalty.

Reformist websites reported this week that Valian’s was handed the death sentence by the appellate court and was in imminent danger of hanging. However, Mr. Dowlatabadi refuted the reports.

ILNA reports that Tehran Prosecutor General announced that Mohammad Amin Valian’s preliminary sentence has been issued and is at the stage of pronouncement. He added that the accused has until March13 to appeal the sentence.

Yesterday Valian’s lawyer also refuted the news about a confirmed death sentence for his client.

Reports of his imminent execution stirred great concern nationally. Reformist cleric Ayatollah Sanei issued a pronouncement regarding the charge of “enmity with God” (Moharebeh) concluding that Valian’s actions could in no way be equated with moharebeh.

Internationally, human rights groups as well as the US urged the Islamic Republic to release Valian.