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| Axis of Evil |
| Iran Outlaws Opposition Party |
| 2002-07-27 |
| A hard-line court Saturday outlawed Iran's leading reform-minded opposition party - the Freedom Movement - and gave its leaders jail terms of up to 10 years and fines of more than $6,000. The Tehran Revolutionary Court also banned the party's leaders and members from any political activity for 10 years. "Bubble, bubble, toil and trouble..." Thirty-three party leaders received jail terms ranging from four months to 10 years, while eight others were ordered to pay fines of up to $6,250. Eleven were acquitted. The court also dissolved parties close to the Freedom Movement. Takes care of that problem, doesn't it? The Freedom Movement leaders were convicted of ''acting against national security for the purpose of overthrowing the establishment ... having contacts with foreigners, including diplomats of foreign countries, propagating against the Islamic republic through public speeches, collecting classified information and insulting the authorities,'' IRNA reported. "Overthrowing the establishment"? Horrors! "Contacts with foreigners"? How depraved! The verdicts, which can be appealed within 20 days, come months after about two dozen members of the party were tried behind closed doors. Yasss... No sense in having those unpleasant disruptions that can come with a trial in public. |
| Posted by:Fred Pruitt |