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| Torture claim against Iran trial | Torture claim against Iran trial |
| (3 days later) | |
| Defeated Iranian presidential candidate Mir Hossein Mousavi says opposition detainees put on trial have been subjected to "medieval torture". | Defeated Iranian presidential candidate Mir Hossein Mousavi says opposition detainees put on trial have been subjected to "medieval torture". |
| He denounced the trials, which started on Saturday, as fraudulent and said the prisoners had been forced to confess. | He denounced the trials, which started on Saturday, as fraudulent and said the prisoners had been forced to confess. |
| Earlier, ex-President Mohammad Khatami said the hearings were "show trials" that would harm the establishment. | Earlier, ex-President Mohammad Khatami said the hearings were "show trials" that would harm the establishment. |
| The comments came ahead of a ceremony to endorse Mahmoud Ahmadinejad as the winner of June's presidential election. | The comments came ahead of a ceremony to endorse Mahmoud Ahmadinejad as the winner of June's presidential election. |
| More than 100 people have been put on trial on charges including conspiracy. | More than 100 people have been put on trial on charges including conspiracy. |
| Ten more people were brought before the court on Sunday, reports said. | Ten more people were brought before the court on Sunday, reports said. |
| The detainees, all held in the wake of the disputed elections on 12 June, include several leading reformers. Some are accused of rioting and vandalism, as well as the more serious conspiracy charges. | The detainees, all held in the wake of the disputed elections on 12 June, include several leading reformers. Some are accused of rioting and vandalism, as well as the more serious conspiracy charges. |
| Mousavi said detainees had been forced to confess to crimes | Mousavi said detainees had been forced to confess to crimes |
| They were among thousands of Iranians who rejected the official declaration that Mr Ahmadinejad had won the election. | They were among thousands of Iranians who rejected the official declaration that Mr Ahmadinejad had won the election. |
| On Monday, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is due to officially endorse Mr Ahmadinejad as the winner of the vote. | On Monday, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is due to officially endorse Mr Ahmadinejad as the winner of the vote. |
| He will be formally sworn in on Wednesday. | He will be formally sworn in on Wednesday. |
| The BBC's John Leyne says that once the president is sworn in, his challenge will be to assemble a credible team of ministers that will be endorsed by parliament. | The BBC's John Leyne says that once the president is sworn in, his challenge will be to assemble a credible team of ministers that will be endorsed by parliament. |
| Mr Khatami, in comments on his website, expressed hope that Saturday's trial would not "lead to ignorance of the real crimes", the Associated Press reports. | Mr Khatami, in comments on his website, expressed hope that Saturday's trial would not "lead to ignorance of the real crimes", the Associated Press reports. |
| The AFP news agency quotes Mr Khatami, who was president from 1997 to 2005, as making more outspoken criticism of the trial. | The AFP news agency quotes Mr Khatami, who was president from 1997 to 2005, as making more outspoken criticism of the trial. |
| "What was done yesterday is against the constitution, regular laws and rights of the citizens," his office quoted him as saying. | "What was done yesterday is against the constitution, regular laws and rights of the citizens," his office quoted him as saying. |
| KEY DEFENDANTS Mohammad Ali Abtahi (left): former vice-president, member of the Assembly of Combatant Clerics Mohsen Mirdamadi (centre): leader of the biggest reformist party, the Islamic Iran Participation FrontBehzad Nabavi (right): member of the central council of the Organisation of the Mujahideen of the Islamic Revolution, former industry minister and former vice speaker of parliamentMohsen Aminzadeh: former deputy foreign minister, served under reformist president Mohammad Khatami, member of Islamic Iran Participation Front | KEY DEFENDANTS Mohammad Ali Abtahi (left): former vice-president, member of the Assembly of Combatant Clerics Mohsen Mirdamadi (centre): leader of the biggest reformist party, the Islamic Iran Participation FrontBehzad Nabavi (right): member of the central council of the Organisation of the Mujahideen of the Islamic Revolution, former industry minister and former vice speaker of parliamentMohsen Aminzadeh: former deputy foreign minister, served under reformist president Mohammad Khatami, member of Islamic Iran Participation Front |
| Mr Mousavi's comments went even further, accusing the authorities of forcing the detainees to confess to the crimes. | Mr Mousavi's comments went even further, accusing the authorities of forcing the detainees to confess to the crimes. |
| "The teeth of the torturers and confession-extorters have reached to the bones of the people," he said. | "The teeth of the torturers and confession-extorters have reached to the bones of the people," he said. |
| "Witnessing such trumped-up trials, the only judgment that the conscience of humanity can make is the moral collapse and discredit of its directors." | "Witnessing such trumped-up trials, the only judgment that the conscience of humanity can make is the moral collapse and discredit of its directors." |
| Mohsen Rezai, the only conservative to have challenged Mr Ahmadinejad in the election, also criticised the trial, saying people who had attacked the protesters should also be put on trial. | Mohsen Rezai, the only conservative to have challenged Mr Ahmadinejad in the election, also criticised the trial, saying people who had attacked the protesters should also be put on trial. |
| Earlier Fars news agency reported that a group of Iranian MPs had filed a complaint against Mr Mousavi several weeks ago, calling for him to be put on trial for "directing recent riots". | Earlier Fars news agency reported that a group of Iranian MPs had filed a complaint against Mr Mousavi several weeks ago, calling for him to be put on trial for "directing recent riots". |
| Hardliner Mohammad Taghi Rahba said Mr Mousavi and Mr Khatami were the main culprits behind the unrest. | Hardliner Mohammad Taghi Rahba said Mr Mousavi and Mr Khatami were the main culprits behind the unrest. |
| Key defendants | Key defendants |
| At Saturday's trial, defendants in prison uniforms were seated flanked by guards. | At Saturday's trial, defendants in prison uniforms were seated flanked by guards. |
| IRAN UNREST 12 June Presidential election saw incumbent Mahmoud Ahmadinejad re-elected with 63% of voteMain challenger Mir Hossein Mousavi called for result to be annulled, alleging poll fraudMass street protests saw at least 30 people killed and foreign media restricted Profile: Mahmoud Ahmadinejad Q&A: Election aftermath | IRAN UNREST 12 June Presidential election saw incumbent Mahmoud Ahmadinejad re-elected with 63% of voteMain challenger Mir Hossein Mousavi called for result to be annulled, alleging poll fraudMass street protests saw at least 30 people killed and foreign media restricted Profile: Mahmoud Ahmadinejad Q&A: Election aftermath |
| They included supporters of opposition leaders Mr Mousavi and Mehdi Karroubi, and aides of Mr Khatami. | They included supporters of opposition leaders Mr Mousavi and Mehdi Karroubi, and aides of Mr Khatami. |
| The semi-official Fars news agency reported that former deputy foreign minister Mohsen Aminzadeh, former government spokesman Abdollah Ramazanzadeh, former senior lawmaker Mohsen Mirdamadi and former Industry Minister Behzad Nabavi were among those on trial. | The semi-official Fars news agency reported that former deputy foreign minister Mohsen Aminzadeh, former government spokesman Abdollah Ramazanzadeh, former senior lawmaker Mohsen Mirdamadi and former Industry Minister Behzad Nabavi were among those on trial. |
| The BBC's Kasra Naji says the timing and scale of the trial came as a surprise and suggests Iran's leadership wants to send a message to stop any more protests. | The BBC's Kasra Naji says the timing and scale of the trial came as a surprise and suggests Iran's leadership wants to send a message to stop any more protests. |
| Foreign media, including the BBC, have been restricted in their coverage of Iran since the election protests turned into confrontations with the authorities in which at least 30 people were killed. | Foreign media, including the BBC, have been restricted in their coverage of Iran since the election protests turned into confrontations with the authorities in which at least 30 people were killed. |
| Opposition groups alleged widespread vote-rigging. Post-election protests saw the largest mass demonstrations in Iran since the 1979 revolution, which brought about the current Islamic system of government. | Opposition groups alleged widespread vote-rigging. Post-election protests saw the largest mass demonstrations in Iran since the 1979 revolution, which brought about the current Islamic system of government. |