TEHRAN: Iran will put on trial five people who were arrested in December following anti-government unrest during the Shiite religious commemoration of Ashura, the ISNA news agency reported today.

“Five people were indicted regarding the Ashura riots and their case files were sent to the revolutionary court,” ISNA said, quoting a statement from the prosecutor’s office.

“The crimes of the defendants will be soon dealt with in the presence of their lawyers and a representative of the prosecutor,” it added.

On December 27, eight people were killed after clashes erupted between security forces and opposition supporters who staged fresh protests during the commemoration of Ashura.

Security forces arrested hundreds of people during the protests, at least 300 of whom are still being held in Tehran, police say.

The prosecution office said the indictments

were based on “explicit testimony” made by the defendants.

ISNA also quoted Tehran prosecutor Abbas Jafari Dolatabadi as saying that those who commit crimes such as “arson are considered ‘moharebs’” — or enemies of God, whose punishment under Islamic sharia law is death.

The report did not give more information about the defendants.

President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, whose disputed June re-election has triggered numerous protests, has accused the US and Israel of staging the protests.