Relatives Of Detained Iranian Protesters 'Beaten By Police'

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February 16, 2011
Some relatives of demonstrators who were arrested during protest rallies in Tehran on February 14 have been beaten by special police units, RFE/RL's Radio Farda reports, citing a rights blogger.
Rights activist Kouhyar Goudarzi told Radio Farda the beatings took place in front of Police Station No. 148 on Enghelab Avenue, where rally was held, and in front of the Tehran Prosecutor's Office. The beatings were carried out during the night from February 14 to 15 and again on February 15.
Goudarzi also said officials of the revolutionary court read off a list of some 1,500 names of those arrested during the protest and said they had all been transferred to Tehran's Evin prison.
That figure could not be independently confirmed.
So far, other witnesses have spoken only of "dozens" of arrests during the February 14 protests.
Goudarzi said an unknown number of people had also been arrested in the cities of Shiraz, Esfahan, and Tabriz.
Goudarzi, a journalist for the Committee of Human Rights Reporters, was himself released several weeks ago after spending a year in jail on charges of heresy, propaganda against the regime, and participating in illegal gatherings. He is a past winner of the John Aubuchon Freedom of the Press Award from the U.S. National Press Club.

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