A small group of reformist members of Iran's parliament want the government to release imprisoned journalists and political activists before the Persian New Year on March 21, RFE/RL's Radio Farda reports.
Amin Shabani, a member of the reformist faction, described the request in an interview with the "Etemad" newspaper on February 25. He said the parliament should ask the judiciary to release those arrested during postelection unrest in cases where the judiciary has no evidence against those being held.
"The continuation of these people being held in custody without any clear evidence against them will increase concern within society," Dariush Ghanbari, the spokesman for the reformist deputies, said.
Since Iran's disputed June election, authorities have launched a crackdown on journalists and political activists. It is estimated that hundreds remain in custody waiting to be charged.