The Iranian judiciary says the opposition leaders will definitely have to face trial for recent actions that cannot be overlooked.
Iranian media quote GholamHosein Mohseni Ejei, Iran’s prosecutor, saying the protests of February 14 were “seditious activities of the U.S. and the Zionist regime,” calling them an extension of the “seditious movement” of the past year.
The Iranian establishment refers to the post-election protests against the allegedly fraudulent re-election of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad as “sedition.”
“Those who participated in this day, especially the main perpetrators of the events, must be punished because they invited people to the streets in order to create disturbances again and to set fire to public property,” Mohseni Ejei was quoted as saying.
On Monday, tens of thousands of Iranians responded to a rally call from the opposition leaders to demonstrate on the streets of Tehran and other major cities.
Iran’s prosecutor insisted the opposition leaders have failed to heed the establishment’s “warnings and concerned advice” and it is now only fair that they stand trial.
Iranian hardliners have been calling for the prosecution and severe punishment of the opposition leaders since yesterday, in Iranian parliament and on all state media.
However, before the recent protests, the head of Iran’s judiciary had said that only the Supreme Leader could initiate the prosecution of the opposition leaders.
In reference to Monday’s arrests, Iran’s prosecutor said: “In such events some people get arrested. Some are immediately released after quick investigation. Therefore, the exact number of arrests cannot be determined yet.”
He claimed that “a group of armed rioters” took part in the demonstrations and blamed them for the death of Saneh Jaleh.
The opposition, however, claims that Saneh Jaleh was killed by government forces.
