On December 19, 2009, the Iranian government brought murder charges against 12 prison officials in connection with the deaths of three protestors following mass protests to the results of the country's June 2009 presidential election. The Iranian government had previously acknowledged that detainees had been tortured in August 2009. The murder trial began in March 2010. The military court sentenced two men to death by hanging, nine were given prison terms, and one suspect was acquitted. In December 2009, Amnesty International (AI) labeled the human rights violations committed by the Iranian government following the election among the worst of the past 20 years.

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Learn more about the Iran election protests read commentary about the the government's response to political opposition from JURIST Guest Columnist Neil Hicks in Hotline.

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