Posted on 10/15/2007 9:05:33 PM PDT by humint
TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — The head of an Iranian human rights group was arrested on charges of violating national security, official media reported on Sunday.
The state-run Islamic Republic News Agency said members of Emadeddin Baghi's family had taken part in meetings that were arranged by the opposition to topple Iran's Islamic regime.
"Baghi was doing his activities against national security under the cover of defending prisoners' rights," IRNA quoted an unnamed official as saying.
Baghi is the head of a prisoners' rights group and has accused authorities of mistreating inmates.
In 2003, he was sentenced to three years in prison on similar charges of violating national security. He served two years and one year was suspended.
"Now, the suspended term will go into force," the official was quoted as saying. IRNA did not provide more details.
Calls to Baghi's office, his family and judicial officials were not immediately returned.
Iran recently released three Iranian-Americans after they spent about four months in prison on accusations of trying to stir up a revolution in the Islamic Republic.
A fourth Iranian-American whose passport had been confiscated also was allowed to leave the country. All four were charged with endangering national security — allegations they and their employers denied.
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