Iranian military court releases lawyer on bail

TEHRAN, Iran (Reuters) -- An Iranian lawyer representing the families of two secular writers murdered by secret agents in late 1998 was released on bail by a military court, Hambastegi newspaper said on Thursday.

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Naser Zarafshan had been detained earlier this month after he was accused of publicly commenting on court cases in which ranking intelligence ministry personnel and their accomplices are accused of ordering and carrying out the serial murders of dissidents.

Zarafshan was released on 200 million rials ($25,300) bail pending further investigations, Hambastegi said.

Iran's judiciary chief Mahmoud Hashemi Shahroudi issued a decree last month banning discussion of the case.

Seventeen "rogue" secret agents are due to stand trial on December 23 for the killing of four intellectuals and writers in the autumn of 1998.

Zarafshan, President Mohammad Khatami's brother Mohammad Reza and other reformers, some of whom have been subsequently jailed, have said the number of victims well exceeds the official count of four, dating back 10 years.

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