Wednesday, 16 February 2011

Thousands attend funeral of man killed in Iranian protests

By the CNN Wire Staff
February 16, 2011 -- Updated 0929 GMT (1729 HKT)
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Iranian lawmakers condemn protests
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
  • Iran says the victim was shot to death by members of an outlawed group
  • Crowd at the funeral is mostly made up of government supporters
  • Lawmakers call for the prosecution of two opposition leaders

Tehran, Iran (CNN) -- Thousands of people, many of them Iranian government supporters, turned up in Tehran on Wednesday for the funeral of a man killed in anti-government protests.

The gathering near Tehran University comes amid tension in the nation following a crackdown on anti-government protests.

Government officials said 26-year-old Sana Jaleh was shot to death Monday by members of an outlawed group called the People's Mujahedeen of Iran. The group, which is also known as the Mojahedin-e Khalq Organization, has opposed the Iranian government for decades.

Many in the funeral procession were shouting anti-American slogans. Some in the crowd held signs calling for the prosecution of opposition leaders Mehdi Karrubi and Mir Hossein Moussavi.

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Iranian lawmakers have accused Karrubi and Moussavi of inciting Monday's anti-government protests, and called for their execution.

Last week, the Iranian government rounded up activists after Karrubi and Moussavi called for supporters to gather at Azadi Square -- the site of mass protests by Iran's opposition movement after the disputed 2009 presidential elections.

Despite the security crackdown, tens of thousands of demonstrators marched in Tehran on Monday.

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