TEHRAN, July 31 (Mehr News Agency) - The Tehran police chief has said that about 50 people
were arrested in the gatherings in the Beheshte Zahra cemetery and the Mossalla
prayer venue on Thursday.
An Iranian riot police officer raises a baton toward
protesters during the mourning ceremony at the Behesht Zahra
Cemetery on July 30. |
"Last day, 50 people who intended to cause disorder in the city of Tehran were
identified and arrested by police," Azizollah Rajabzadeh told the Mehr news
agency on Friday.
He said all those detained on Thursday will be
handed over to judicial institutions.
|
Neda Agha-Soltan's grave at Behesht Zahra cemetary |
The people had gathered to mark the 40th day after the death of Neda Agha Soltan
who was shot dead in Tehran on 20 June following the post-election unrest.
Rajabzadeh said a number of policemen were also injured by people who had
gathered in Vali-Asr, Motahari, Khorramshahr, and surrounding streets.
The general dismissed rumors that a number of citizens were killed in Tehran on
Thursday, saying, "No particular incident that would lead to the killing of
citizens has been reported."
He also flatly rejected reports that some policemen were involved in breaking up
cars' windshields, saying any policeman found doing such an act will be dealt
with accordingly.
IRGC denies backing
Ahmadinejad, hits out at Reformists
Press TV - A top
IRGC commander rejects allegations that the force backed Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in
the elections and accuses the Reformists of having links to the West.
In a recent interview with Press TV, IRGC Brigadier Yadollah Javani said that
the force supported no specific candidate in the June 12 elections.
"The roots of these allegations lie in IRGC efforts to raise awareness among the
Guards and Basij forces so that they would participate in the elections with a
high level of understanding about [the country's] political groups and
movements," said Brig. Javani.
|
Supreme Leader Khamenei with IRGC
commanders (file photo) |
Javani, who heads the political bureau of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps,
went on to say that the IRGC made such efforts to raise political awareness in
the society as the enemy seeks to orchestrate a velvet revolution in Iran.
The commander also said that certain political groups in the country - capable
of participating in the elections because of their past accomplishments -- were
targets of US aid, as they did not have "strong faith" in the Islamic
establishment and were leaning toward the West.
Javani cited the Reformist camp and Reformist figures such as Akbar Gangi
Mehrangiz Kar, Hassan Youssefi-Ashkevari among the factions and figures "leaning
toward the West" and opposing the values of the Islamic Revolution.
The Iranian brigadier drew parallels between aspects of the recent opposition
movement in Iran with the past velvet revolutions in former Soviet states.
He said the use of the color green as a campaign symbol for the first time since
the 1979 Islamic Revolution, along with US plans to fund "pro-democracy and
human rights groups" inside Iran bore certain similarities to the previous
revolutions in former Soviet states.
Khatami urges parliamentary probe into election
Press TV - Former two-term Iranian president
Seyyed Mohammad Khatami calls for a thorough parliamentary investigation into
the election and the post-election violence.
A scene showing security forces inside a home (file photo, June 2009) |
In a Thursday meeting with the Reformist minority block of Iran's Parliament (Majlis),
Khatami spoke about disputes linked to the recent presidential election and its
aftermath and about ways of finding a just way out, the Iranian Labor News
Agency (ILNA) reported.
Pointing to an order to shut down the Kahrizak detention facility outside
Tehran, Khatami said that "it is not enough to say that a sub-standard detention
center has been shut down. What does 'sub-standard' mean?"
The Kahrizak detention center was shut down earlier this week following a report
that it did not meet the required standards.
"Does it mean that a ventilation fan was faulty or its washrooms were not clean?
Lives have been lost and our dear youth, women and men have been subjected to
certain treatments," Khatami said.
"On the issue of detainees... Of course, they must be released, but that is not
enough," he added.
Iranians went to the polls on June 12, following which Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was
re-elected as president by a landslide. In objection to the result, supporters
of the defeated candidates took to the streets and violence ensued. At least 20
people were killed and many protestors were jailed.
Khatami condemned the post-election conduct "as contrary to religion, customs
and laws regarding those in detention and their families."
"All of these harm the Revolution and the society and are against law and
fairness," he said. "It is necessary to deal with those responsible for such
behaviors and acts according to the law and to compensate for the violated
rights and limits."
"Every brutal act perpetrated against anyone must be dealt with, but more
importantly is the harm that has been done to the public trust, and this is what
must be mended," Khatami was quoted by ILNA as saying.
He went on to lament the accusations against some of the detained Reformist
activists, who were said to have "confessed" to various offences while in
detention, according to media reports.
"If an offense has been committed, then first there must be precise and clear
evidence, not claims that are bandied about and rumors of extracted confessions.
Afterwards there must be an open and just court with the participation of a jury
and defense attorney to consider the allegations," explained Khatami.
Commenting on the position of the Parliament, he said, "In our system, and under
our constitution and also the pronouncements of the late Imam Khomeini, the
Majlis (parliament) has the highest of places. It can investigate any issue,
question ministers and even decide on the eligibility and the competence of the
president. Nevertheless, we see that it is prevented from investigating certain
issues such as the attack against [Tehran University's] student dormitories, or
the conditions of detainees. This means subverting our system."
He emphasized that today the Parliament "can put the investigation of the
election process on its agenda, and, if a truly independent committee takes over
this task, then the results can greatly clarify the events."
... Payvand News - 07/31/09 ... --
