Two members of the Iranian opposition convicted of being "enemies of God" and trying to topple the Islamic system in Iran have been executed in Tehran. It was the first known execution of opposition activists since June's disputed presidential election prompted massive street protests, although the lawyer of one of the two men insisted that her client was arrested at least two months before the election and had not been involved in any demonstrations.
The ISNA news agency said that Mohammad Reza Ali Zamani and Arash Rahmani Pour were "hanged on Thursday morning" after their sentences had been confirmed by a Tehran appeals court.
The regime has tried more than 100 political activists and protesters since August 2009. According to state media reports, five have been sentenced to death and more than 80 to prison terms ranging from six months to 15 years. Reports also suggested that nine more had been sentenced to death in those trials and an appeals court is reviewing their cases.
On Wednesday, Iranian media reported that two German diplomats had been detained by police on 27 December for allegedly taking part in organizing the anti-government protests last month. Germany's Foreign Ministry said it had no knowledge about any diplomats being detained and dismissed accusations that German officials had a hand in the demonstrations, in which eight people were killed.
Meanwhile, a senior Iranian opposition figure was quoted by the British newspaper ‘Financial Times’ as predicting that President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad would be ousted before the end of his four-year term.
Mehdi Karoubi said the weakening economy and popular opposition would lead moderate forces to remove Ahmadinejad before he completes his second term in office. "Considering the political and economic problems plus a controversial foreign policy, I personally believe Mr. Ahmadinejad will not be able to finish his term," he told the paper.
Karoubi, 72, who ran for president in last year’s election but came in only fourth, said he believed Ahmadinejad's populist policies had made Iran "too weak" for people to endure further unemployment and inflation.
