[QODLink]
Middle East
Death sentences in Iran prison case
Two suspects to be executed over killing of anti-government protesters last year.
Last Modified: 30 Jun 2010 21:06 GMT
Many protesters were held in Kahrizak prison, which was shut after three people were killed there [AFP]

An Iranian military court has sentenced two people to death over the torture and killing of three anti-government protesters in jail.

The verdict in the case, which had added to widespread criticism over the government's treatment of those arrested during demonstrations last June, was announed by the judiciary on Wednesday.

Those killed included 24-year-old Mohsen Rouhalamini, the son of a prominent conservative figure, whose death sparked an outcry even among government supporters.

The two other victims were identified as Amir Javadi and Mohammad Kamrani.

The two other victims were identified as Amir Javadi and Mohammad Kamrani.

A report on the Iranian judiciary's website said the military court had also sentenced nine other suspects in the case to flogging or prison terms, while one person was acquitted.

No details were released on the identities of the suspects or when the verdict was handed down.

Widespread anger

Authorities initially denied the abuse claims, accusing the opposition of running a campaign of lies against the ruling system.

But in August, influential figures in the clerical hierarchy condemned the mistreatment of detainees.

The outrage forced Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran's supreme leader, to order the immediate closure of the Kahrizak prison where they had been held.

Last December Iran said that it had charged 12 officersimplicated in the Kahrizak case.

Their trial was later reported to have started in March.

Iran's military courts are the ones that usually try policemen and military personnel.

A parliamentary investigation later found Saeed Mortazavi,a former Tehran prosecutor, responsible for the torture deaths of the three in Kahrizak.

More trials

There has been no word of any action to punish Mortazavi, who became the head of a government body tasked with fighting smuggling of goods.

The judiciary said that the court has studied cases of more than 60 other people over separate cases of mistreatment of protesters, and that 33 of them would go on trial.

Hundreds of protesters and opposition activists were arrested in the government crackdown following the disputed June 2009 election, which the opposition says Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the president, won through massive vote fraud.

The opposition says more than 80 protesters were been killed in the post-election crackdown, but the government has confirmed around 30 deaths.

More than 100 protesters, activists and pro-reform opposition have been on trial, accused of fuelling the protests and being part of a plot to overthrow the government.

Source:
Al Jazeera and agencies
Topics in this article
People
Country
City
Organisation
Featured on Al Jazeera
An interactive dashboard examines the history, successes and challenges facing the group.
Series on the Palestinian 'catastrophe' of 1948 that led to dispossession and conflict that still endures.
Fallout from rare strike at Arabtec Construction continues.
A four-part series that gives a rare insight into the country on the move, with history in tow.
Featured
News and analysis of 2013 presidential contest as Ahmadinejad finishes second term.
A four-part series that gives a rare insight into the country on the move, with history in tow.
Two years since the start of the uprising, rebels and Assad's forces remain locked in conflict.
Fallout from rare strike at Arabtec Construction continues.
Series on the Palestinian 'catastrophe' of 1948 that led to dispossession and conflict that still endures.
join our mailing list