IRAN: MAN CONDEMNED TO DEATH OVER ANTI-GOVERNMENT RIOTS

February 9, 2010: an Iranian has been condemned to death for anti-government riots at the end of December, the ISNA news agency reported, bringing to 12 the total number sentenced to death for their role in the troubles.
"Nine leaders of the Ashura troubles have been condemned -- one to capital punishment and eight to prison sentences," said ISNA, quoting the Tehran prosecutor's office and without providing details.
Eight people were killed and hundreds more hurt in the December 27 demonstrations on Ashura, a Shiite Muslim holy day, the latest in a series of protests over what many in Iran believed to have been the rigged re-election of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in June.
Hundreds more people were arrested during or after the Ashura protest.
Meanwhile, senior justice official Seyyed Ebrahim Raissi said another nine people already condemned to death are awaiting the outcome of an appeal.
"Their case is before the appeals court and its decision must be awaited," he said.
Of the 12 people in total condemned to hang, two were executed on January 28. (Sources: Agence France Presse, 09/02/2010)