Former Iranian vice-president jailed

The Iranian appellate court on Wednesday confirmed Marashi's original sentence by the initial court, and ordered the execution of the sentence on Thursday.

The 51-year-old Marashi is a relative of ex-president Akbar Hashemi-Rafsanjani and the spokesman of the moderate Kargozaran party, which is close to Rafsanjani.

Marashi also served as vice-president to the former reformist leader, and as head of the heritage and tourism organization.

In June's presidential election, Marashi and the Kargozaran party supported Mir-Hossein Moussavi, the leader of the opposition Green Movement.

Following the election, Marashi joined the opposition in refusing to acknowledge President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's re-election and accusing the government of fraud.

Another former vice-president, Mohammad-Ali Abtahi, was sentenced in November to a six-year jail term for his involvement in the post-election unrests.

Scores of demonstrators were killed and thousands arrested in the political unrests after the disputed election.

More than a hundred are still in jail, some of them serving heavy sentences on charges of propaganda against the Islamic establishment.

At least 10 have reportedly been sentenced to death and are currently going through the appeals court.

Those on death row have been convicted of plotting against the establishment and committing "moharebeh," or acting against God.

Two members of monarchist groups were hanged in January for conspiring to topple Iran's Islamic establishment.


/Trend News/