A hardline Iranian cleric yesterday called for the execution of “rioters” in a sign of the authorities’ determination to stamp out opposition to the June 12 presidential election result.
Iran’s top legislative body, the Guardian Council, said it had found no major violations in the election, which it called the “healthiest” vote since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
The council had already rejected a call for the annulment of the vote by former Iranian prime minister Mirhossein Mousavi, who has led mass protests since he was declared a distant second behind incumbent Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
‘WITHOUT MERCY’
“I want the judiciary to ... punish leading rioters firmly and without showing any mercy to teach everyone a lesson,” Ahmad Khatami told worshippers at Tehran University.
Iranian state TV said on Thursday that eight Basij militiamen were killed by “rioters” during the protests. State media previously said 20 people were killed in the marches.
Iranian authorities have accused Mousavi of being responsible for the bloodshed.
Khatami, a member of the Assembly of Experts, said the judiciary should charge the leading “rioters” for being mohareb, or one who wages war against God.
“They should be punished ruthlessly and savagely,” he said.
Under Iran’s Islamic law, punishment for people convicted as mohareb is execution.
Mousavi’s supporters planned to release thousands of balloons yesterday with the message: “Neda you will always remain in our hearts,” in memory of Neda Agha Soltan, the young woman killed last week who has become an icon of the demonstrations.
Khatami said Neda was killed by the rioters themselves for propaganda purposes.
“By watching the film, any wise person can understand that rioters killed her,” he said.
‘MURDERED’
Britain’s Times newspaper quoted Arash Hejazi, an Iranian who appeared on Internet videos helping Neda, as echoing charges the student was killed by a government militiaman.
“She was just a person in the street who was against the injustice going on in her country, and for that she was murdered,” he said.
Hejazi said that after the protest he left Iran for Britain, where he is resident, fearing arrest.
The authorities have used a combination of warnings, arrests and the threat of police action to drive large demonstrations off Tehran’s street, with small gatherings being dispersed with tear gas and baton charges.
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