A leading Iranian reformist journalist declared that he feared for his life Saturday during his trial along with 17 others charged with endangering state security by attending a conference in Berlin.
"My denunciatory remarks against certain religious and law enforcement officials could cost me dear," journalist Akbar Ganji, 47, told the revolutionary court during his third and final hearing.
On Friday, Ganji had declared his innocence and accused several government figures, including former intelligence minister Ali Fallahian, of murdering reformists and intellectuals in 1998.
He described his act as "playing with death" and warned Iranian security forces not to strike any blow against him. "I am not the type to commit suicide in prison and this is why the regime carries responsibility to guard my life," he told the court.
Taunting the court and the Iranian regime, he added that he would not "bend before these earthly gods."
Earlier in the day, Ganji's attorney clashed with the Revolutionary Court judge, Hassan Ahmadi-Moqadessi, over whether a document found at Ganji's home was classified.
The "confidential document was destined for the Ministry of Information and for Justice and should not have been found" at the home of journalist and defendant, Akbar Ganji, said Judge Ahmadi-Moqadessi.
The classified document contained information from foreign press reports concerning the murder of Iranian reformists and intellectuals in 1998. The court said that it had been compiled by the Ministry of Culture.
Ganji attorney Gholamali Riyahi challenged the judge, claiming the paper was not an official document.
According to press reports, the document had also been found in the home of Ezatollah Sahabi, an influential reformist, who is also on trial for attending the Berlin conference.
The government has labeled the Berlin conference, which Ganji attended, as hostile to Iran's government. The court has alleged that anti-Islamic behavior occurred at the conference, including a woman dancing with bared arms.
The conference was sponsored by the Heinrich Boell Institute, an organization with close ties to the German Green Party.
Ganji, who is also facing charges in the press court relating to articles he wrote, could be accused of "waging war against God", which carries the death sentence.
Khalil Rostam-Khani, a militant communist, was also scheduled to appear before the court on Saturday -- TEHRAN (AFP)
© 2000 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
