Amnesty warns of a wave of death sentences in Iran (Roundup)

Oct 10, 2009, 9:32 GMT

London - Amnesty International warned Saturday that there could be a wave of death sentences handed down in Iran related to protests that followed June's disputed presidential election.

The warning came after the first such sentence became known. Mohammad-Reza Ali-Zamani, a monarchist and member of an exiled opposition group, had been sentenced on Thursday, Amnesty said.

In a statement marking Saturday's World Day Against the Death Penalty, the human rights group said Zamani, 37, was sentenced by a Tehran Revolutionary Court.

He had been convicted of 'enmity against God for membership of and activities to further the aims of the terrorist grouplet Anjoman-e Padeshahi-e Iran'.

   He was also convicted of 'propaganda against the system,' 'insulting the holy sanctities,' 'gathering and colluding with intent to harm national internal security' and leaving the country illegally to visit Iraq, where he was alleged to have met US military officials, Amnesty said.

Amnmesty said the sentencing opened the way for further death sentences to be passed. More than 100 people are standing trial because of the protests that followed the June 12 election, which the opposition said the government rigged to result in the re-election of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

   Zamani is accused of belonging a group that wants to end the Islamic Republic of Iran and re-establish a monarchy.