Iranian Police Beat Mourners At Cemetery Service

Mousavi blocked from entering "Neda" memorial

What should have been a solemn memorial service for the victims of Iran's post-election unrest became the scene of more violence when a swarm of police descended on mourners with tear gas and batons.

Iranian police beat and arrested protesters at the Tehran cemetery and bounced opposition leader Mir Hossein Mousavi, who defied a ban and tried to attend, The Associated Press reported.

About 500 police officers stood by the crowd of 1,000 mourners, who chanted "death to the dictator," and Mousavi's name as he approached the service, which marked the end of the Islamic 40-day mourning period following the death of Neda and ten others.

Neda Agha Soltan, an unarmed student, was shot and killed at a June 20 rally in protest of Iranian election results, that critics say was rigged in favor of hard-line President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

Her violent death, which was captured on video, became the symbol of the Iranian opposition and the oppressive tactics used to silence them.

Originally, the memorial service was going to take place at Tehran's Grand Mosala, an enormous prayer location that could accommodate tens of thousands of guests.  Iranian officials barred the gathering, forcing mourners to move to the services to a Tehran cemetery.

Neda's mother extended an invitation to Mousavi, which he accepted despite threats from Revolutionary Guards that they would break it up if he showed up, Reuters reported.

Before the crowed gathered, Mahnaz Mohammadi and Jafar Panahi, prominent Iranian filmmakers, were arrested when they tried to lay wreaths at Neda's grave.

Iranian reports indicate that 30 people were killed in the days following the June 12 elections, though human rights advocates say the number is in the hundreds.

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