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IRAN-TRIAL-FRANCE
Iran opposition figure goes on trial: report
TEHRAN, Feb 10, 2020 (BSS/AFP) – An Iranian opposition figure who had been
living in exile before being arrested in a Revolutionary Guards operation
went on trial in Tehran on Monday, Fars news agency said.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps announced the arrest of Ruhollah Zam
in October, describing him as a “counter-revolutionary” who was “directed by
France’s intelligence service”.
It did not specify where he was arrested.
Zam, who reportedly lived in Paris, ran a channel on the Telegram messaging
app called Amadnews.
He was accused by authorities of playing an active role in anti-government
protests sparked by economic hardship during the winter of 2017-18.
Telegram shut down Amadnews in 2018 after Iran demanded it remove the
account for inciting an “armed uprising”.
At Monday’s court hearing, the prosecution read Zam’s indictment containing
15 counts, said Fars, which is close to ultra-conservatives.
Iranian state television announced meanwhile that it would broadcast a
“documentary” about Zam on Monday evening.
Amnesty International has repeatedly called on Iran to stop broadcasting
videos of “confessions” by suspects, saying they “violate the defendants’
rights”.
BSS/AFP/RY/1850 hrs