Report: Iran releases political activist on bail in mass trial over election unrest

Iran frees activist on bail in mass trial

TEHRAN, Iran — Iran’s official news agency reports a political activist and former head of the Tehran municipal council has been released on bail in the mass trial of opposition figures accused of fomenting the post-election unrest.

Mohammad Atrianfar headed the council in late 1990s. He was a close ally of Mahdi Karroubi, one of the losing candidates in disputed June presidential election who became a leader of the opposition afterward.

The Tuesday report by IRNA quotes the Tehran prosecutor, Abbas Jafari Dolatabadi, as saying Atrianfar was released on $500,000 bail. He did not say what he was sentenced for.

Atrianfar, who has been in jail since June, was one of several former officials among more than 100 people on trial over post-election protests.