Iran judiciary vows to prosecute opposition leaders

FT.com, The head of Iran’s judiciary, Sadegh Larijani, has vowed to prosecute the leaders of the opposition Green Movement following this week’s anti-government protests, but also indicated that there might not be any immediate arrests.

He said there was little doubt about the betrayal of Mir-Hossein Moussavi and Mehdi Karroubi, the presidential candidates in the disputed 2009 poll, when they ignored an official ban this week and urged their supporters to show solidarity with the uprisings in north Africa.

“The judiciary will surely sue the sedition [opposition] leaders … but will not let them become heroes,” Mr Larijani told a gathering of judges on Thursday.

The regime views the opposition rally on Monday as part of a conspiracy to overthrow the Islamic establishment in co-ordination with the US and Israel.

The Green Movement proved it was still a force with the rally, the biggest street protest in more than a year, which saw tens of thousands of supporters march in Tehran.

Mr Larijani said the judiciary “will close the way for releasing statements” by the opposition leaders so they could not organise more protests. This could mean that the current partial house arrests on the two opposition figureheads will be intensified.

But a co-ordinating committee led by senior aides to Mr Moussavi called on the opposition to march again on Sunday to commemorate two deaths that occurred during the protests on Monday.

This is also to send a message to the regime that the arrest or trial of opposition leaders would not stop their supporters from pursing their democratic rules.

Analysts believe the regime is divided on how to deal with Mr Moussavi and Mr Karroubi.

While some hardliners believe the two should be put on trial and executed, Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, seems uncertain that his regime could afford the public anger such a radical move would unleash.

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