Paris, June 22: Four Iranian exiles were placed under judicial investigation by a Paris court for alleged links to terrorism, as part of a large-scale French crackdown on Iran's opposition based in France.
An examining magistrate yesterday ordered the members of the Iranian People's Mujahedeen Movement to be probed for "conspiring with a terrorist organisation."
Their identities were not revealed, but at least two were women, one of whom was admitted to hospital after being arrested by police on Tuesday, legal sources said.
The ruling followed the arrest during the last week of 200 people, including the figurehead leader of the People's Mujahedeen Movement, Maryam Rajavi.
She and 16 others appeared before Paris anti-terrorist magistrates late yesterday.
The 10 men and seven women were arrested in a massive swoop on addresses near Paris linked to the People's Mujahedeen.
The dragnet prompted 10 self-immolation protests in European cities by People's Mujahedeen supporters that left one woman burned to death in France.
Rajavi renewed a call yesterday to sympathizers to refrain from further self-immolation.
The Paris prosecutor applied for Rajavi, the wife of Massoud Rajavi, the military leader of the People's Mujahedeen, and 11 others to be remanded in custody.
Being placed under judicial investigation in France is the first legal step before formal charges.