Assault on Motahari: Another Test for Rouhani's Government

On Sunday, March 15, Hassan Rouhani, the President of Iran, published a letter to the Ministers of Information and Interior, in which he ordered that the attack on Ali Motahari, a member of parliament during his trip to Shiraz, be investigated and that the perpetrators and instigators be identified. Rouhani also instructed that security officials in the province who were negligent or at fault in this incident be prosecuted. Hours after the letter was released, the governor of Fars announced that the main perpetrator of the incident had been identified. In a letter written by Mohammad Nahavandian, the head of the President's office, to the Ministers of Interior and Information, a copy of which was provided to the ISNA news agency by Ali Motahari, Rouhani's postscript to Motahari's letter was also included. In this postscript, Rouhani acknowledged that he had read Motahari's report and referred to him as a representative who, according to Rouhani, is exemplary and highly favored by the people in terms of compassion, freedom of expression, and defense of the country's interests. Rouhani continued that this incident indicates a new planning by what he referred to as 'deviant and detestable extremists against security and freedom,' which is intolerable for the people and the government. Ali Motahari, a member of the Islamic Consultative Assembly, who traveled to Shiraz on March 9 for a speech at Shiraz University, was attacked and beaten by private forces upon exiting the airplane at the airport. Reza Alijani, a political analyst in Paris, told Radio Farda: 'Although the tone of Motahari's report and Rouhani's language can be described as even harsh and angry, it should be hopeful for pursuing this matter, but I have serious doubts that this issue can reach a conclusion. Because this kind of behavior is not serious and this policy and this approach are not something that happens in one city or in one corner. In recent months, we have seen several attacks on individuals, and speakers have been returned from the airport. Even the judiciary officially canceled concert permits issued by the Ministry of Culture. In any case, these types of attacks are based on the forces of the IRGC and Basij and stem from a policy that is led and supported at high levels, which is to prevent the opening of the internal space. Mr. Rouhani has also somewhat compromised on this issue since the beginning of his administration, and Mr. Motahari also pointed this out regarding the Minister of Interior, prioritizing only economic and international issues. Now, with the delay, they must spend more cost and energy on this issue.' On Sunday, Mohammad Ahmadi, the governor of Fars, announced that in the last moments of Saturday, March 14, the main perpetrators of the attack on Ali Motahari had been identified and introduced to the judicial authorities of the province. The President of Iran, in a letter to the Ministries of Interior and Information, instructed that in addition to the perpetrators of this incident, the supporting forces and behind-the-scenes instigators also be identified and handed over to the judiciary. Reza Alijani stated: 'I hope that Mr. Rouhani can pursue this issue. Unfortunately, his Ministry of Information is aligned with these currents and is not under the supervision and oversight of the government. However, if Mr. Rouhani wants to be active in relation to internal political promises, at least now that the issues and problems of the nuclear negotiations are nearing completion, he should position the social base against this noisy and powerful minority so that in the upcoming elections, one of which is the parliament, the composition of the parliament changes in favor of the government... If they want to be effective in this regard, they must be able to stop the pressure groups to open space for the movements of moderates, reformists, and transformationalists who support the government. Otherwise, Mr. Rouhani will face serious problems in fulfilling his promises, even for the continuation of his government's existence.' The attack on Ali Motahari, a member of parliament from Tehran in Shiraz, has so far faced multiple reactions. On Sunday, Ali Larijani, the Speaker of the Islamic Consultative Assembly, described this attack as an inappropriate and ugly act that, according to him, should be seriously pursued in light of the President's and the judiciary's orders.