Six execution sentences for Iran's Ashura Day detainees

ILNA-Tehran's Prosecutor General Abbas Jafari Dowlatabadi

Abbas Jafari Dowlatabadi, Tehran’s Prosecutor-General announced that Iranian judiciary has issued execution sentences for six of the Ashura Day detainees.

Fars News Agency reports that after meeting with Ayatollah Nouri Hamadani in Qom, Tehran’s Prosecutor-General declared that these sentences have been issued and are now in the appeals court.

Tehran Prosecutor’s Office had announced earlier that it has issued execution sentences for eleven Ashura Day detainees who have been accused of “enmity with God” (Moharebeh).

On Ashura Day, December 27, election protesters took to the streets of Iran to protest against the presidential elections in June which they claim was fraudulent. Security forces and the police confronted people with fierce violence which according to official reports led to seven deaths and over 700 arrests.

Jafari Dowlatabadi said that 250 of that day’s detainees have been indicted and put to trial.

He also added that the accused are being treated in the “framework of the Islamic Republic regulations” by the officials and they “enjoy the privilege of family visits and making phone calls and having face to face visits.”

Tehran Prosecutor-General maintained that the Revolutionary Court has only put the members of “anti-Revolutionary groups and organizations” to trial and those who have “expressed regret” regarding their actions have been released.

He added that “today at the height of power, the Islamic regime has forced back those who oppose the system and people will no longer allow these events to be repeated.”

The Revolutionary Court had announced earlier that six Ashura Day detainees had been sentenced to imprisonment and fines for the charges of “assembly and colluding against the security,” "insulting senior government officials” and “disturbing public order.”

The Islamic Republic has already executed Mohammadreza Ali-Zamani and Arash Rahmanipour for the charge of “enmity with God” in the post-election events. Their lawyers claim however that they were arrested prior to the election and the post-election events should have had no bearing on their case.