Iran metes out death penalty to 5 protestors

TEHRAN (WJC)–Five people were been sentenced to death and 81 received jail terms in connection with post-election unrest in Iran, prosecutors in Tehran have said.

The Iranian Justice Department said those facing the death penalty were members of “terrorist and opposition groups.” No names were given. The statement released by prosecutors in Tehran on Tuesday was meant to “stop rumours regarding the cases of the post-election detainees”, Iranian Channel 2 TV reported.

“The legal investigations into the cases of these people took place in the presence of their lawyers. So far, 89 of the detainees have been tried, 81 of whom have received jail terms differing from six months to fifteen years,” the statement said.

The disputed presidential election in June sparked mass opposition protests. Opposition supporters say the poll was rigged to ensure the re-election of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

At least 30 protesters have been killed in clashes since the elections, and thousands were detained. Some 200 activists remain behind bars, many of them still facing trial.

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Preceding provided by World Jewish Congress