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Iran Imposes Death Sentences on Two Prison Abuse Suspects


An Iranian court has sentenced to death two people charged with killing three anti-government protesters in prison.

The court announced the verdicts Wednesday for the unnamed suspects. Nine other people were sentenced to flogging or prison terms. A tenth person was acquitted.

The case stems from protests by political opposition groups, who said prisoners were abused, tortured and killed in the Kahrizak prison during the post-election unrest that followed President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's disputed re-election last year. Many of those arrested during the protests were held at the facility.

In December, Iranian authorities acknowledged for the first time that Kahrizak prison officials beat to death at least three detainees arrested during post-election unrest. The acknowledgment followed months of denials.

The detainees killed included Mohsen Rouhalamini, the son of a prominent politician.

Kahrizak prison has been closed since last August on the order of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who said the facility was not up to required standards.

Opposition and human rights groups say Iran arrested hundreds of protesters in the aftermath of the election.

Some information for this report was provided by AP and AFP.

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