TEHRAN, Nov 11: The closed-door trial of 60 Iranian liberal dissidents began at Tehran’s revolutionary court on Sunday in the biggest such political case since the clergy seized power in 1979.

Summoned for the first session, which lasted just a bit over three hours, were a total of 31 internal opposition figures, five of whom were hauled to the court from prison.

Another defendant, whose identity was not revealed and who is currently in jail, was also scheduled to be present at the trial, but did not appear. No reasons were given by the court.

All of the accused, imprisoned after a crackdown on the opposition in March, are accused of attempting to “overthrow the regime and actions against state security,” which if proven, could lead to sentences of up to 10 years in prison, or even the death penalty.

A large number of the accused were released on bail over the past few months, while others still remain in jail.

The trial received scant media coverage on Sunday , with the official state news agency making brief mention of the high-profile case’s opening session.

Reporters and even family members of the accused were not permitted to enter the court room or even to wait near the chamber.

The public prosecutor was to present the court with a long list of accusations levelled against the defendants, and is scheduled to continue reading the charges in a second session on Monday.—AFP