Iran Executions

Iran executed two men yesterday alleged to be members of the opposition group Mujahedin Khalq, which is reportedly involved in a mosque bombing in 2008 which killed 13 people. “Iran executed two alleged government opponents Thursday, sentenced nine others to death as ‘enemies of God’ and warned of more public trials of opposition supporters in an apparent attempt to intimidate a widespread protest movement challenging the nation’s hard-line establishment. Mohammad-Reza Ali-Zamani, 37, and Arash Rahmanipour, 20, were hanged before dawn as members of an outlawed monarchist group, the Kingdom Assembly, Iranian news reports said. The government has stepped up legal pressure on the opposition movement with another round of confrontations possible Feb. 11, the 31st anniversary of the founding of the Islamic Republic. Protesters have vowed to turn the annual march into an antigovernment rally.”