Ebrahim Yazdi's Letter to the Minister of Intelligence Regarding the Ministry's Policy

Ebrahim Yazdi, the Secretary-General of the Freedom Movement of Iran, on Friday, December 19, sent a letter to Mahmoud Alavi, the Minister of Intelligence, posing three questions regarding the ministry's actions to lift the house arrest of the leaders of the 2009 election protests, the release of political prisoners, and the reactivation of reformist parties. According to the 'Neday-e Azadi' website, which publishes news related to the Freedom Movement of Iran, Yazdi also inquired whether there is a unit within the ministry to file complaints against 'misbehaving' agents or if complaints should be directed to other 'legal authorities' in the country. Yazdi referred to a post on the Ministry of Intelligence's website dated June 18, 2012, questioning what changes have been made under Alavi's management if the ministry does not accept the previous government's analyses regarding the Iranian opposition and what signs indicate these changes. The Ministry of Intelligence had stated in a post titled 'Analysis of Anti-Regime Groups and Opposition' that any action aimed at overthrowing the ruling system, whether it is a statement, speech, interview, or an act of terrorism or bombing, is considered an activity against the ruling regime. Yazdi asked the minister whether reformist parties, including the Freedom Movement of Iran, which have been unlawfully inactive since 2009 due to the ministry's orders and threats, should continue to be deprived of their legal rights. Following the 2009 presidential election, the activities of the Participation Front, the Mojahedin of the Islamic Revolution Organization, and the National Trust Party were halted, and some officials declared these parties 'illegal.' Reports indicate that the National Trust Party has resumed some of its activities. Many members of the Freedom Movement of Iran, including Yazdi, have been repeatedly arrested and imprisoned since the election. Yazdi continued in his letter, asking what actions have been taken regarding political prisoners who are imprisoned solely for expressing legal opinions and regarding the lifting of house arrest for the 2009 election candidates. The letter concluded with a question about whether there is a unit within the ministry to address complaints against agents who have committed multiple violations or if complaints should be directed to other legal authorities. Numerous requests have been made to President Hassan Rouhani and government officials to lift the house arrest of Mir Hossein Mousavi, Mehdi Karroubi, and Zahra Rahnavard, who have been under house arrest since February 2011, but none have received a response. In this context, Mustafa Pourmohammadi, the Minister of Justice, stated on Tuesday, December 16, that the National Security Council of Iran is the decision-making body in this matter, and the government and judiciary 'cannot pursue this issue alone.' Yazdi, in the introduction to his questions, stated that contrary to the analysis published on the Ministry of Intelligence's website, not every individual, group, party, or ideology that opposes or criticizes the ruling system is necessarily an enemy of the system or an overthrowist. He categorized the opposition into 'two types': the first type opposes the Islamic Republic but is against overthrowing it. Yazdi referred to the 'other type' of opposition as 'loyal opposition,' which is loyal to the Islamic Republic but considers the right to change rulers, recognized by the constitution, an undeniable right of the nation. He emphasized that the effort to change rulers does not mean changing the system and stated that the greatest tragedy for any system occurs when those in power equate themselves with the system, viewing the transfer of power through constitutionally recognized means as a quiet, legal overthrow and using their power to suppress their opponents. In another part of his letter, Yazdi referred to the Supreme Leader's invitation for those who, according to him, do not accept the Islamic Republic to vote, adding that not all individuals and groups opposing the system are of the overthrowist type. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the Supreme Leader, stated on Wednesday, June 12, 2013, that 'someone may not want to support the Islamic system for some reason, but they want to support their country. Everyone should come.' After the 2009 presidential election, Yazdi was arrested multiple times and was eventually released on bail on March 19, 2011, due to poor health. The Revolutionary Court of Iran sentenced him to eight years in prison and five years of deprivation of social rights on December 10, 2012.