Amnesty Wants Observers at Iran Trials
By VOA News
12 August 2009
Human rights group Amnesty International is asking Iran to allow international observers into trials of more than 100 people charged with being involved with protests following the June presidential elections.
Amnesty Secretary General Irene Khan said in a statement Wednesday it is vital to have an international presence to uphold the rights of the defendants.
She says compelling evidence has been presented by defeated presidential candidate Mehdi Karroubi, who alleged that some of the protesters were raped in detention by security officials. Iran's parliament speaker denied the claims of detainee abuse.
Iranian authorities arrested thousands of demonstrators who say the June 12 reelection of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was fraudulent. The government maintains the election was fair.
Amnesty wrote a letter to the head of Iran's judiciary, Mahmoud Hashemi Shahroudi, requesting outside observers, but has so far not received a response.
Some information for this report was provided by Reuters.
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