Court issues indictments against post-vote detainees

At the start of the proceedings at Tehran’s Revolutionary Court, Judge Salavati proclaimed that the court was an “unbiased” party that would rule on the indictment issued based on “law, equity and justice.”

He then called on the Deputy Prosecutor Sepehr to read out a general indictment covering allegations against all detainees, before listing charges brought against each suspect individually.

“Bearing in mind the connection between the influential individuals of this fitna (sedition) and the organized and systematic nature of these crimes we will first have the general matters read out and the supporting evidence presented,” he said.

The indictment read out by Sepehr, included charges of trying to topple the government.

“Several hostile groups tried to create chaos in the country with the excuse that they were protesting against the election results.”

They tried to incite the public and cause a fitna by taking advantage of the coverage that hostile and ruthless media outlets provided and by providing news, pictures, and films to provoke rioters.

By drawing up the vote-rigging plot they sought to turn the elections to a tool for overthrowing the system,” said the indictment.

It also encompassed charges such as making and using hand-made explosives, attacking voluntary Basij forces (militias), damaging public property, distributing “provocative” CDs and notices, and “trying to cause panic and chaos” by carrying offensive weapons such as rifles and knives.

While reading the indictment, Sepher also pointed out that the confessions provided by the suspects showed that “the current plot was orchestrated from several years back and was executed during the recent elections.

“Comments that some of the [presidential] candidates made prior, during and after the elections indicate that they intended to bring down the system,” said the deputy prosecutor.

“Particularly, remarks made by one of candidates during an interview with an American news outlet that included the phrase, ‘there is no way back from this path,’” he added.

The statement read out by the prosecution also said that Iran’s “enemies” were trying to “tarnish the atmosphere to prevent the justice system from punishing elements of the velvet coup”.

The indictment also made reference to charges brought against some of the suspects that included establishing links with groups “hostile” to the Islamic Republic such as the Mujahedin Khalq Organization (MKO).

The indictment added that the rioters had even targeted “places of worship” including the Lolagar mosque in downtown Tehran.

The mosque in southwest of the capital was set ablaze during Iran’s post-election violence. Several people were killed during clashes between protestors and security forces, while about 100 people were reported to be injured.