IRAN: TEHRAN MAYOR KARBASCHI CORRUPTION TRIAL
(22 Jul 1998) Natural Sound
Indicted Tehran Mayor Gholamhossein Karbaschi will return to court on Thursday, ready to hear the verdict in his trial.
Although Karbaschi has been on trial for corruption, this trial has not been so much about Tehran's mayor, but the battle between hardliners and the more moderate government supporters.
It has also exposed the serious cracks in the justice system and highlighted human rights abuses within the country.
A-P-T-V looks back at the highlights of the trial.
The corruption trial of the popular mayor of Tehran has gripped the nation.
For the first time - as a result of President Mohammad Khatami's liberalising of the press - the media have been allowed to cover this trial.
The proceedings have also been broadcast by state TV, provoking heated debate among the residents of Tehran.
The charges against Gholamhossein Karbaschi have been brought by Iranian hardliners hostile to Khatami's more relaxed regime - and are being seen as a conservative backlash against the reforms.
But as a result of the more liberal press, the people are able to watch the proceedings.
SOUNDBITE: (Farsi)
"This trial is a first as it takes place when the Iranian press is enjoying a greater period of freedom so we can convey everything to the people."
SUPERCAPTION: Hengameh Fahimi, photographer for Zanan newspaper
The trial has also made good viewing with lots of drama and emotion.
At the end of the case, Karbaschi started crying as he spoke about the letters of support he had received.
Throughout the trial there has been nothing to implicate Karbaschi for the corruption and embezzlement charges that he adamantly denies.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"There were some who were saying that before the trial, alright the man is innocent, he hasn't committed any crime, but may be he has violated some rule or regulation, maybe he has manipulated and the trial, he managed to show, he managed to demonstrate that he hadn't manipulated any rules or regulations whatsoever."
SUPER CAPTION: Sadegh Ziba Kalam, professor of political sciences at the University of Tehran
More importantly, the trial has exposed the shortcomings of the Iranian justice system leading to questions about the impartiality of the judge.
Rather than presiding over the trial, the judge has been playing prosecutor, judge and jury.
From the Islamic hardliner camp, judge Gholamhassan Mohseni was relentless with Karbaschi.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"But what we saw in this trial was something that was very bizarre, was very surprising, you had public prosecutor who at the same time was judge, now that was baffling everybody."
SUPER CAPTION: Sadegh Ziba Kalam, professor of political sciences at the University of Tehran
The trial has also exposed human rights violations within the country.
Karbaschi's financial manager Qobeh told the court that he was put into solitary confinement for 191 days and beaten up.
But when he started to talk about his ordeal, he was cut short by the judge.
Karbaschi isn't the only person on trial here.
This is a battle between Iranian hardliners and moderates.
But for the people of Tehran it is important as it has exposed serious flaws within the justice system.
Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork
Twitter: Twitter: AP_Archive
Facebook: Facebook: APArchives
Instagram: Instagram: APNews
You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...
Indicted Tehran Mayor Gholamhossein Karbaschi will return to court on Thursday, ready to hear the verdict in his trial.
Although Karbaschi has been on trial for corruption, this trial has not been so much about Tehran's mayor, but the battle between hardliners and the more moderate government supporters.
It has also exposed the serious cracks in the justice system and highlighted human rights abuses within the country.
A-P-T-V looks back at the highlights of the trial.
The corruption trial of the popular mayor of Tehran has gripped the nation.
For the first time - as a result of President Mohammad Khatami's liberalising of the press - the media have been allowed to cover this trial.
The proceedings have also been broadcast by state TV, provoking heated debate among the residents of Tehran.
The charges against Gholamhossein Karbaschi have been brought by Iranian hardliners hostile to Khatami's more relaxed regime - and are being seen as a conservative backlash against the reforms.
But as a result of the more liberal press, the people are able to watch the proceedings.
SOUNDBITE: (Farsi)
"This trial is a first as it takes place when the Iranian press is enjoying a greater period of freedom so we can convey everything to the people."
SUPERCAPTION: Hengameh Fahimi, photographer for Zanan newspaper
The trial has also made good viewing with lots of drama and emotion.
At the end of the case, Karbaschi started crying as he spoke about the letters of support he had received.
Throughout the trial there has been nothing to implicate Karbaschi for the corruption and embezzlement charges that he adamantly denies.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"There were some who were saying that before the trial, alright the man is innocent, he hasn't committed any crime, but may be he has violated some rule or regulation, maybe he has manipulated and the trial, he managed to show, he managed to demonstrate that he hadn't manipulated any rules or regulations whatsoever."
SUPER CAPTION: Sadegh Ziba Kalam, professor of political sciences at the University of Tehran
More importantly, the trial has exposed the shortcomings of the Iranian justice system leading to questions about the impartiality of the judge.
Rather than presiding over the trial, the judge has been playing prosecutor, judge and jury.
From the Islamic hardliner camp, judge Gholamhassan Mohseni was relentless with Karbaschi.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"But what we saw in this trial was something that was very bizarre, was very surprising, you had public prosecutor who at the same time was judge, now that was baffling everybody."
SUPER CAPTION: Sadegh Ziba Kalam, professor of political sciences at the University of Tehran
The trial has also exposed human rights violations within the country.
Karbaschi's financial manager Qobeh told the court that he was put into solitary confinement for 191 days and beaten up.
But when he started to talk about his ordeal, he was cut short by the judge.
Karbaschi isn't the only person on trial here.
This is a battle between Iranian hardliners and moderates.
But for the people of Tehran it is important as it has exposed serious flaws within the justice system.
Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork
Twitter: Twitter: AP_Archive
Facebook: Facebook: APArchives
Instagram: Instagram: APNews
You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...
همه توضیحات ...