Abdul Fadl Ghadiani Criticizes Political Climate: Rouhani Has Broken His Promise

Abdul Fadl Ghadiani, a member of the Central Council of the Mojahedin of the Islamic Revolution Organization and a former political prisoner, has accused Hassan Rouhani, the President of Iran, of 'breaking his promise' to voters regarding the 'removal of the security atmosphere from the country.' In a note published by the Khabar Online website on Sunday, July 7, Mr. Ghadiani added that in Rouhani's 'Hope Government,' 'there has not even been a change in perspective in the security areas under his jurisdiction, let alone a change in behavior.' This political prisoner referred to the events following the 2009 presidential election, noting the 'intensification of confrontations with political and civil activists in recent months' and its coincidence with 'the government and politicians becoming increasingly involved in issues surrounding the nuclear negotiations' as a sign of 'the religious tyranny's warning to politically active elements who aspire for freedom and democracy.' According to international human rights organizations and relevant officials, the overall human rights situation in Iran has not only not improved since Hassan Rouhani took office compared to Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's government, but has worsened. In the recent annual report by the U.S. State Department on human rights worldwide, the Islamic Republic of Iran is still named as one of the largest violators of human rights in the world. The report lists severe restrictions on freedom of expression, religion, and the press as major human rights violations in Iran. Iran has always denied these accusations. In his new note, Mr. Ghadiani severely criticized the Ministry of Intelligence and its minister, stating that 'the fact that civil and professional rights proposals of citizens are still considered security issues during the era of moderation and prudence is, of course, a breach of the promise that Mr. Rouhani made to voters two years ago, namely the removal of the security atmosphere from the country.' The Central Council member of the Mojahedin of the Islamic Revolution Organization further referred to the recent actions against individuals such as Narges Mohammadi, Ahmad Zeidabadi, Bahareh Hedayat, Ahmad Hashemi, Mostafa Tajzadeh, and Abdolfattah Soltani, labeling them as 'hostages in the hands of self-willed autocrats.' He emphasized that 'in conditions where it seems that the IRGC barracks are the main decision-making and governance centers in every region of Iran, returning to pre-reform tactics and strategies, which were not very effective even in the 1990s, will lead nowhere.' Hassan Rouhani, the President of Iran, on July 7, called for clarification on the definitions of political and security crimes in Iran and expressed hope regarding the submission and approval of a political crime bill during his presidency.