Iranian woman MP in court

Another pro-reform member of the Iranian parliament, a woman deputy, Fatemeh Haqiqat-Joo, has been appearing before a Tehran court.

She is accused of inciting public opinion and insulting the judiciary after she alleged that violence had been used during the arrest of a journalist.

She has also accused the judiciary of torturing a prominent jailed reformist, Ezzatollah Sahabi.

Mrs Haqiqat-Joo had refused earlier summons to appear in court, arguing that parliamentary deputies are entitled to immunity from prosecution.

Another Tehran MP has also been appearing in court on similar charges, brought by the former chief of police.

Since the beginning of the year, more than 15 deputies have been summonsed to court, mainly over statements critical of the judiciary and other institutions which conservatives control.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service