Fallahian to be questioned over serial killings
TEHRAN, Sept 27 (AFP) - The head of Iranian intelligence during the
1998 murders of several dissidents and intellectuals has been asked to
appear before parliament about the case, the state news agency IRNA said
Wednesday.
Ali Fallahian has been invited to "discuss" the killings,
which authorities blamed on "rogue" intelligence agents, before
parliament's national security committee, it said.
Committee chief Mohsen Mirdamadi said Fallahian, "if he thinks
he can defend these events, which happened while he headed the intelligence
ministry, should appear and defend himself."
He said Fallahian's predecessor Ghorbanali Dorri-Najafabadi had appeared
before the committee on Tuesday, IRNA reported.
Meanwhile the Aftab-e Yazd paper said Wednesday that imprisoned journalist
Akbar Ganji, who has focussed on the role of former president Akbar Hashemi
Rafsanjani in the killngs, has also been asked to appear.
The murder of the victims, including opposition leader Daryush Foruhar
and his wife Parvaneh, shocked Iranian society and set off a wave of protests
both here and abroad.
The intelligence ministry acknowledged that the rogue agents had been
involved but denied top officials were aware of the plan. More than 20
people have already been acquitted of involvement for lack of evidence.
State radio said earlier this month that 18 suspects in all have been
informed of the charges which will be made against them and that the trial
in Tehran's military court will begin "soon."
Said Emami, said to be the lead agent behind the killings, reportedly
committed suicide in prison.
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