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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2009
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9

Iran: Protesters Were Tortured

Prosecutor general blamed Basij, Revolutionary Guard for 'painful accidents'

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(Newser) – The Iranian prosecutor general admitted today that protesters arrested in the wake of the disputed presidential election were tortured, the New York Times reports. The comments by Qorbanali Dori-Najafabadi were the first official acknowledgments of torture made by an Iranian government official. Dori-Najafabadi blamed what he called a few “painful accidents” on the Basij militia and Revolutionary Guard, which made many of the arrests.

The judiciary took charge of the arrest and detention of protesters last month and has since sought to humanize the treatment of prisoners, Dori-Najafabadi said. He called for those involved in torture “to be punished,” singling out in particular the “Kahrizak incident,” in which several detainees were killed at Kahrizak detention center in Tehran.

Local staff member of the French Embassy in Tehran, Nazak Afshar, weeps at the court room in Tehran, Iran, Saturday, Aug. 8, 2009.
Local staff member of the French Embassy in Tehran, Nazak Afshar, weeps at the court room in Tehran, Iran, Saturday, Aug. 8, 2009.   (AP Photo/ILNA, Hanif Shoaee)
Anti-government Iranian protesters chant slogans as a public trash dumpster is set on fire during a protest in Tehran, Iran, Thursday, July 30, 2009.
Anti-government Iranian protesters chant slogans as a public trash dumpster is set on fire during a protest in Tehran, Iran, Thursday, July 30, 2009.   (AP Photo)
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Maybe there were cases of torture in the early days after the election. But we are willing to follow up any complaints or irregularities that have taken place.
- Qorbanali Dori-Najafabadi, Iranian prosecutor general

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9 comments
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Reader60610265
Aug 9, 09 11:30 AM CDT
Iran are we going to make it better now since you've been caught. You don't want to look bad in front of the world .Question How many of the tortured were disposed of ? So much for iranian freedoms .Now they can get back to making the BOMB. Reply
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Shannonals
Aug 9, 09 12:47 PM CDT
Does it really matter how many were tortured? We have issues to fix at home versus running around the world taking care of people who will turn on us in a heartbeat. Reply
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Reader60610265
Aug 9, 09 1:31 PM CDT
Probably not ,it was just and observation . I'm quite aware that there are many problems hear at home that need dealt with . I agree we need to fix our problems first instead of being the world police department or father confessor . Reply
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jagerhans
Aug 9, 09 3:02 PM CDT
if it is only about torture who is without sin cast the first stone ! hail the brave Iranian people. My heart is with you . never give up, you're struggling for the good of your sons and daughters. Reply
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LiberalJesus
Aug 9, 09 6:09 PM CDT
No way can we ever have the moral high ground on torture now that the neo-con republicans and GW Bush have sullied our fine reputation as a non torture country. See...this is what happens when we dont uphold the international laws against torture. Other countries like Iran can point to us and say "We are only doing what the USA allowed"..And God help any American service personnel ever lost in combat who become POWs....they will suffer because Bush and the neocons gave all enemies the green light on torture. This was one of the most profound reasons not to torture as it would come back on our own personnel. What part of that statement do these pro torture nitswits not understand? Reply
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