Advisor to the Guardian Council Secretary: The System Has Shown Favor to Mousavi and Karroubi

The senior advisor to the former Secretary and spokesperson of the Guardian Council described the house arrest of Mir Hossein Mousavi and Mehdi Karroubi, leaders of the protests against the 2009 presidential election results, as "the system's favor" towards them. Abbasali Kadkhodai stated in an interview with the Fars News Agency that the house arrest is not "illegal" and that a body has taken temporary measures for various interests, including the protection of individuals' lives and public order, to restore calm to the country. Mousavi, Zahra Rahnavard, and Karroubi have been under house arrest without trial since February 2011. In recent months, several political parties and figures, including the Society of Teachers and Researchers of Qom Seminary, former President Mohammad Khatami, and Tehran MP Ali Motahari, have called for the lifting of the house arrest of Mousavi, Karroubi, and Rahnavard. In this context, Justice Minister Mostafa Pourmohammadi stated that the decision-making body regarding the house arrest of Karroubi, Mousavi, and Rahnavard is the Supreme National Security Council, and the government and judiciary cannot pursue this issue alone. He emphasized that he has no special responsibility regarding the house arrest of these individuals. Kadkhodai also mentioned that a competent court should be established to address the accusations against these individuals. He noted that the crimes defined in law against national security carry severe penalties, including the death penalty, and questioned why they led people to the streets unlawfully. Alireza Zakani, a conservative MP, referred to the 2009 protests as a full-fledged Israeli-American coup that led to comprehensive sanctions. Supporters of the Supreme Leader refer to the protests as a sedition and label Mousavi and Karroubi as the "leaders of sedition." Mehdi Taeb, head of the Ammar Headquarters, stated that if a court is to be formed, the verdict for Mousavi and Karroubi would be "more severe than house arrest." He claimed that their rebellion had been proven to the members of the Supreme National Security Council. Previously, Ayatollah Ahmad Jannati, Secretary of the Guardian Council, emphasized that the punishment for Mousavi and Karroubi would be execution and that they have been granted a favor by being placed under house arrest. In response, Ali Motahari accused Jannati of fearing the trial of Mousavi and Karroubi and being worried about the revelation of certain truths that could undermine years of propaganda. Motahari also mentioned that during a meeting with Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, Khamenei described the crimes of Karroubi and Mousavi as significant and indicated that heavy sentences await them if they are tried. Motahari insisted that house arrest without a judicial order is "oppression."