Iranian Court Sentences 3 to Death for Involvement in Post-Election Unrest

An Iranian official says three people have been sentenced to death for involvement in unrest that developed after Iran's disputed presidential election in June.

The ISNA news agency quotes the court official as saying the three people were convicted of ties to an anti-government Iranian monarchist group - the Kingdom Assembly of Iran - and an exiled Iranian opposition group - the People's Mujahedeen Organization of Iran).

The official says the death sentences are not final and can be appealed in a higher court.

On Friday, an international human rights group expressed concern that more election protesters could be sentenced to death in Iran.

Amnesty International relayed that concern after reporting that Iranian opposition activist and convicted anti-government monarchist Mohammad Reza Ali Zamani had been given a death sentence.

It is unclear if Zamani was one of the people sentenced to death on Saturday.

Massive street protests broke out in Tehran following the re-election of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in June.

Thousands of protesters were arrested during the street demonstrations, and rights groups say many remain in jail. Dozens of people, including many protesters and security forces, were killed in the unrest.

Opposition leaders and protesters say the election was rigged, but authorities deny this.

The exiled Iranian opposition group, the People's Mujahedeen Organization of Iran, is based in Iraq. The United States lists the group as a terrorist organization, but the European Union has removed that designation.


Some information for this report was provided by AFP and Reuters.