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| Syria-Lebanon-Iran |
| Iran MP says rape of vote detainees proven |
| 2009-08-28 |
| [Al Arabiya Latest] Some Iranian reformers jailed after the disputed presidential election were raped in prison, a member of a parliamentary investigation said on Thursday. "Raping of some detainees with a baton and soda bottle has been proven to us," the Parlemannews website quoted the unidentified lawmaker from the investigative committee as saying. Iran's defeated presidential candidate, Mehdi Karroubi, had said some imprisoned protesters were raped and abused in jail, a charge government officials rejected as "baseless." But parliament speaker Ali Larijani said last week he would be ready to consider any documents or other evidence submitted by Karoubi to back up his claims. Larijani had ordered the formation of the parliamentary committee to investigate the plight of detainees, most of whom were held during mass protests following the results of the June 12 election. Karroubi, a moderate, had said four people were ready to testify to parliament that they were sexually abused in jail if their security was guaranteed. The pro-reform cleric has angered some hardliners in power for raising the allegations and they suggested Karoubi should be jailed or lashed if he failed to prove his claims. Another moderate, losing candidate Mirhossein Mousavi, backed Karroubi and accused "establishment agents" of raping and abusing detainees. Iranian moderates say the June vote was rigged to secure President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's re-election, a charge the authorities deny. |
| Posted by:Fred |