TEHRAN, Aug. 30 (Xinhua) -- Over 100 members of the Mujahedin-e Khalq Organization (MKO) will be tried in absentia, with public defenders soon to be appointed by the court, the Mizan news agency of the Iranian judiciary reported Wednesday, citing a senior Iranian judiciary official.
Kazem Gharibabadi, the Iranian judiciary chief's deputy for international affairs, said that despite the MKO's "numerous crimes," the court had previously called for the accused to introduce their own lawyers through newspaper announcements, said the report.
However, as the deadline lapsed without any lawyer introductions, the court will now appoint public defenders.
Gharibabadi emphasized Iran's commitment to eliminating terrorist groups, highlighting the trial of MKO members as a priority.
He noted that a lawsuit had been filed against 107 senior MKO members accused of causing "the deaths of thousands of innocent Iranians."
The Iranian official said these accused MKO members, "who are moving freely across European countries," have received indictments and notifications of the upcoming trial via email.
Iran considers the MKO, headquartered in Albania, a terrorist organization. ■
