Monday, 16 April, 2001, 20:08 GMT 21:08 UK
BBC Iranian affairs analyst Sadeq Saba

Iran's parliament has called a meeting to discuss the brutal murders of several prostitutes in the eastern city of Mashhad after it was reported that extremist religious groups could be behind the killings.

The mysterious serial killings of prostitutes in Mashhad is gradually becoming a political issue in Iran.

The Iranian parliament's National Security Committee has called on intelligence and interior ministers as well as the commander of the national police to appear in the chamber next week to explain why at least 12 women have been murdered in the city in the past nine months.

A deputy representing Mashhad, Ali Tajernia, has told reporters that extremist Islamic groups are active in the city and they may have been involved in the killings.

Mr Tajernia said these religious groups may want to create insecurity in the country and undermine the government of reformist President Mohammad Khatami.

'Corrupt women'

A suspect arrested a few days ago in connection with the murders was quoted as saying Iranian society needed to be cleansed of corrupt women.

But he denied playing any direct role in the murders.

Mashhad is home to an important Shi'a shrine that attracts millions of pilgrims every year.

A hardline newspaper has said that since reports of the murders surfaced, prostitutes rarely come out at night.

Most of the victims had criminal records for drug dealing as well as prostitution. It has also been suggested that Islamic vigilantes may have had access to the police files and they easily found the addresses of  their victims.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/world/middle_east/newsid_1280000/1280469.stm