Who Should be Punished?
The Tehran prosecutor's office announced the imminent trial of those arrested for tearing up of a picture of the founder of the Islamic Republic Ayatollah Khomeini during anti-government prostests in mid-December. In an interview with Radio Farda, Nobel Peace Prize laureate Shirin Ebadi asked, " Who should be punished? The people who allegedly insulted one of the Islamic Republic figures, like Ayatollah Khomeini, or those who killed people in Kahrizak detention center and shot them on the streets?" [read in Farsi]
Baha'is Arrested
Baha'i International Community spokesperson Diane Ala'i told Radio Farda that nine Baha'is were arrested in Tehran on January 3. Ala'i said eight Baha'i faithful were first detained; the wife of one of the detainees was arrested later after she went to the Intelligence Ministry to inquire about her husband. [read in Farsi]