By Nykoel Dinardo
Senior Desk Officer, Middle East

TEHRAN, Iran – On December 31, Prosecutor General Gholam Hossein Mohseni Ejei stated that opposition leaders Mir Hossein Mousavi and Mehdi Karrubi would be put on trial if they do not denounce the anti-government protests that took place earlier in the week.  Ejei’s statement was published in the state-owned newspaper.

The Prosecutor stated that the anti-government leaders would be charged with “supporting apostates,” meaning that they would be charged with aiding those that go against God. 

Iranian police continue to actively hunt for the protesters.  Police posted over 100 pictures to their website and called upon others in the community, asking them to identify and report those in the pictures.  The police urged others to distance themselves from the protesters.  The police stated that they will be detained on suspicion of “damaging public property and insulting sanctities.”  There has not yet been any statement by the prosecutor regarding trials for detained protesters. 

Meanwhile, Pro-government ralliers have gathered outside the offices of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in a display the Iranian state news service called “splendid”.  The protesters wear white funeral shouds bearing red ink with statements like “May My Life Be Sacrificed for the Health of the Leader,” and “Khameneie is the Prophet’s Offspring, His Enemy is Impotent.”  Their shrouds symbolize their willingness to die if necessary to defend Iran’s clerical rulers. 

For more information, please see:

Business Week – Iran Prosecutor Threatens to Try Opposition Leaders – 31 December 2009

Chicago Tribune – Rally Backs Iran’s Leaders – 31 December 2009

Islamic Republic News Agency – Mass Rally of Pro-Leader Ralliers in Tehran Splendid – 31 December 2009

Tehran Times – Police Chief Urges Critics to Distance Themselves from Rioters – 31 December 2009

The Washington Post – Iran Opposition Leaders Face Threat of Prosecution – 31 December 2009