TEHRAN (AFP) – Opposition leader Mehdi Karroubi is to face legal action over his charge that several of the protesters who took to the streets after Iran’s June election were raped, Tehran’s prosecutor said on Tuesday.

The reformist Karroubi, as a cleric, will be tried by a special court of the clergy, Abbas Jaffari Doulatabadi said, according to the ILNA news agency.

“Mr Karroubi is a cleric and his comments should be dealt with by the special court of the clergy,” that is part of the Islamic republic’s overall judicial system, Jaffari Doulatabadi said.

“But the report of the judiciary panel has been given to us and we are investigating it. Some people have been summoned in this regard. As soon as we have more information, we will tell the people.”

The judiciary panel set up to look into Karroubi’s allegation that several male and female protesters who charged the presidential election in June was rigged were raped in custody concluded last month that the charge was baseless.

“These allegations have been made without any proof, and all the documents given by Karroubi are baseless. These allegations were aimed at distracting public opinion,” it said.

The report recommended that action be taken against Karroubi and those airing rape allegations.

“This commission proposes … sending its report to the judiciary so it can act with determination against those who are responsible for spreading such allegations which harm the regime,” the panel said.

Karroubi has been vociferously alleging that protesters were abused, beaten in custody and some even raped, despite repeated denials by Iranian officials.