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An Iranian protestor demands the release of political prisoners
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Amnesty urges Iran to lift protester death ruling
Amnesty urges Iran to lift protester death rulingAmnesty International on Friday urged Tehran to lift the death sentence given to a monarchist arrested in the protests following Iran's disputed presidential election.
Mohammad Reza Ali Zamani, who belongs to the Kingdom Assembly of Iran, was among scores of people arrested over mass demonstrations against the June 12 re-election of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, reformist website mowjcamp.com reported.
London-based human rights group Amnesty condemned such "show trials" as a "mockery of justice", it said in a statement, claiming that more than 100 people were standing trial before a Tehran Revolutionary Court for their part in the protests.
"Amnesty International fears that Zamani's death sentence will pave the way for more death sentences against those being tried on similar offences.
"Amnesty International is calling on the Iranian authorities to immediately halt all scheduled executions and to commute all death sentences.
"Amnesty International continues to urge the Iranian authorities to impose an immediate and comprehensive moratorium on executions, as a first step towards ending the use of this punishment."
Under Iranian law, convicts may appeal their sentences, which must be upheld by both the appeals court and the supreme court before they are carried out.
Massive street protests broke out in Iran following Ahmadinejad's re-election in what his leading opponents claimed was a rigged poll.
At least 30 people -- and by opposition accounts 72 -- were killed in the protests.
About 4,000 people were initially arrested and 140, including senior reformers and journalists, have stood trial on charges of seeking a soft overthrow of the regime and inciting protests.
-Agencies-
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IA
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