  Five face death over Iran poll riot
Reported by teletext on Tuesday, 17 November 2009 (on November 17, 2009)
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Iran has sentenced five defendants to death in a mass trial of opposition figures accused of stirring unrest after the disputed June presidential election, state television has reported.Iran began the mass trial in August of more than 100 prominent opposition figures and activists, accusing them of a range of charges from rioting to spying and plotting what Iran's clerical rulers have depicted as a foreign-backed plot to oust them from power.The five apparently include three death sentences announced last month.In the weeks following the June 12 election, the opposition led massive street protests that drew hundreds of thousands and supporters clashed with security forces. They claimed fraud after election authorities declared President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad the winner of a second term and their anger unleashed the most serious internal unrest in Iran in the 30 years since the Islamic Revolution.A harsh crackdown ended the demonstrations and a security sweep went far beyond rounding up just protesters on the streets, snatching up rights activists and journalists, as well as pro-reform politicians. Rights groups and opposition figures in Iran have criticised the court proceedings, calling them a "show trial" and saying confessions are coerced.The opposition says 69 people were killed in the crackdown, while the government has confirmed about 30 dead.A Justice Department statement said the five sentenced to death were members of "terrorist and armed opposition groups," state television reported. The statement said courts have sentenced a total of 89 defendants since the process began and 81 of them received prison terms ranging from six months up to 15 years. Three others were acquitted."So far, 89 of defendants were tried and based on their cases, death sentences were issued for five of them," said the statement.It said the 81 sentenced to prison terms were charged with a range of offences from security violations, agitating against the Islamic Republic, violating law and order, damaging public and private property, and assaulting civilians and security forces.Despite the crackdown, the government has stopped short of indicting the most visible opposition leaders, presidential candidates Mir Hossein Mousavi and Mahdi Karroubi, but there have been signs in recent weeks that could change. The opposition maintains Mr Mousavi was the rightful winner of the election.
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