DATE=5/3/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-248894
TITLE=IRAN TORTURE TRIAL (L)
BYLINE=SCOTT BOBB
DATELINE=CAIRO
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: IRAN'S SECURITY POLICE CHIEF HAS GONE ON TRIAL ON CHARGES
OF TORTURING CONFESSIONS FROM CITY OFFICIALS AS PART OF A
CORRUPTION INVESTIGATION OF THE FORMER MAYOR OF TEHRAN. V-O-A
MIDDLE EAST CORRESPONDENT SCOTT BOBB REPORTS THE TRIAL IS SEEN AS
YET ANOTHER CONFRONTATION BETWEEN REFORMIST AND CONSERVATIVE
FACTIONS IN THE IRANIAN GOVERNMENT.
TEXT: POLICE GENERAL GHOLAMREZA NAQDI PLEADED NOT GUILTY TO
THE CHARGES MONDAY, AS HIS TRIAL OPENED BEHIND CLOSED DOORS AT A
COURTHOUSE IN TEHRAN.
THIRTY-ONE PEOPLE, INCLUDING SEVERAL SENIOR CITY OFFICIALS, HAVE
ACCUSED THE GENERAL AND TWO SUBORDINATES OF TORTURING THEM IN
ORDER TO EXTRACT CONFESSIONS. THE CONFESSIONS WERE USED IN PART
TO CONVICT THE FORMER MAYOR OF TEHRAN, GHOLAMHOSSEIN KARBASCHI,
ON CHARGES OF CORRUPTION.
THE FORMER MAYOR IS A REFORMIST POLITICIAN AND CLOSE ALLY OF
PRESIDENT MOHAMMED KHATAMI. WHILE MAYOR, HE SOUGHT TO CLEAN UP
AND REVITALIZE THE IRANIAN CAPITAL. HIS IMPROVEMENTS WERE
POPULAR AMONG MANY RESIDENTS, BUT THE TAXES HE LEVIED TO PAY FOR
THEM ANGERED THE CITY'S WEALTHY MERCHANTS.
FOLLOWING A HIGHLY PUBLICIZED TRIAL, HE WAS CONVICTED ON CHARGES
OF CORRUPTION AND SENTENCED TO TWO YEARS IN PRISON. IN ADDITION,
HE WAS ORDERED TO PAY A HEAVY FINE AND WAS FORBIDDEN FROM
PARTICIPATING IN PUBLIC LIFE FOR 10 YEARS.
MR. KARBASCHI IS APPEALING THE VERDICT, SAYING HIS TRIAL WAS
POLITICALLY MOTIVATED. HOWEVER, HE HAS BEEN ORDERED TO BEGIN HIS
PRISON TERM THIS WEEK.
POLITICAL OBSERVERS SAY THIS LATEST TRIAL IS ANOTHER ROUND IN THE
ON-GOING STRUGGLING BETWEEN CONSERVATIVES, WHO CONTROL THE
JUDICIARY AND NATIONAL ASSEMBLY, AND REFORMISTS WHO CONTROL THE
EXECUTIVE SINCE PRESIDENT KHATAMI'S ELECTION TWO YEARS AGO.
LAST SATURDAY, THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY TRIED TO DISMISS IRAN'S
CULTURE MINISTER ON CHARGES OF UNDERMINING RELIGIOUS MORALS IN
SOCIETY BUT THE PROPOSAL WAS NARROWLY DEFEATED.
THE ASSEMBLY LAST YEAR DISMISSED IRAN'S INTERIOR MINISTER,
ABOLLAH NOURI, ON GROUNDS OF ALLOWING TOO MUCH FREEDOM IN THE
NEWS MEDIA. MR. NOURI WAS ELECTED TO TEHRAN'S CITY COUNCIL IN
LOCAL ELECTIONS IN FEBRUARY, BUT ONLY AFTER THE PRESIDENT
OVERRULED AN ATTEMPT BY A RELIGIOUS SUPERVISORY BOARD TO
DISQUALIFY HIM. (SIGNED)
NEB/SB/JWH
03-May-99 12:51 PM EDT (1651 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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