Iran 'executes two' over election unrest
Iran 'executes two' over election unrest
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By Matt Hallam. |  |
Thursday, 28, Jan 2010 11:04
By Richard James.
Iran is reported to have hanged two men over the widespread protests that swept the country following controversial elections last June.
Reports in the Iranian media claim the men were convicted of being members of the illegal pro-monarchist group, the People's Mujahideen, and accused of being involved in attempts to topple the Islamic establishment.
The alleged executions are believed to be the first linked to the outbreak of violence in the wake of the disputed elections last year.
Millions of people took to the streets of Tehran during the second half of last year in protest at the re-election of president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, with allegations of widespread vote-rigging and fraud.
At least 30 people are said to have been killed in the clashes since the result was announced last summer, although opposition supporters claim the actual figure is much higher.
Tehran has since imposed a crackdown on international media operating in Iran, claiming western governments were siding with the opposition groups.
The Iranian news agency ISNA reported two men, Mohammad Reza Ali Zamani and Arash Rahmani Pour, had been hanged on Thursday morning over the protests.
Around 4,000 people are believed to have been arrested by Iranian officials in the massive crackdown launched in the weeks following the outbreaks of violence.
Tehran has come in for severe criticism of its handling of the protests, with US president Barack Obama referencing the plight of the opposition supporters in his Nobel peace prize acceptance speech.