Ejei's Account of the National Security Council's Decision: "The House Arrest Will Remain"

Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei, the spokesperson for the judiciary, acknowledged that he was not present at the National Security Council meeting regarding house arrest, stating that based on what he has heard, the council decided to maintain the house arrest. According to news agencies, Mr. Ejei claimed in his press conference on Sunday, September 3, that "I have heard that this topic was not on the agenda of the recent meeting, but it is raised, and it is decided that the house arrest will remain in place." The legal basis for the house arrest of Mehdi Karroubi, Mir Hossein Mousavi, and Zahra Rahnavard, leaders of the protests against the results of the 2009 presidential election, has become a challenge between the government and the judiciary in recent years. Judiciary officials claim that the house arrest of these three was enacted by a resolution of the National Security Council, while Hassan Rouhani, the President and head of this council, denies the existence of such a resolution. Nonetheless, the judiciary spokesperson stated on Sunday that "Resolution 544 of the National Security Council approved the house arrest, and this resolution stipulated that the Ministry of Intelligence should take actions regarding the detainees under the supervision of the judiciary." Mehdi Karroubi, Mir Hossein Mousavi, and Zahra Rahnavard have been under house arrest since February 2011. Prior to the judiciary spokesperson's remarks about the National Security Council's decision to continue the house arrest, Mohammad Baqer Nobakht, the government spokesperson, had reported on September 28 that discussions regarding the house arrest of the leaders of the 2009 election protests were held in the National Security Council. According to ISNA news agency, he expressed hope that with the withdrawal of security forces, "next steps" would also be taken. Mr. Nobakht, without referring to these "steps," mentioned the hunger strike of Mehdi Karroubi and the withdrawal of security forces from his home, stating: "The Minister of Intelligence reported that this has happened regarding the withdrawal of security forces." The withdrawal of security agents from Mehdi Karroubi's house was one of his two demands during his hunger strike, and although Mr. Karroubi's son had reported that the relevant authorities agreed to this, Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei called this matter a "complete lie" two weeks ago. In this regard, Mr. Ejei said in the press conference on Sunday that "the family of Mr. Karroubi stated that individuals who visit the house are upset by the presence of those stationed downstairs for security. I said it is not necessary for them to be inside the house. I also say now that they did not leave the house by Mr. Karroubi's condition, but it was a request that was reviewed and approved, and the individuals left the house last Wednesday." He added: "A commitment was taken from his family that ensuring these matters is your responsibility, and if anything happens at home, it is your responsibility. An arrangement has been made outside the house, and these same forces provide security." In recent weeks, following reports of the poor physical condition of Mr. Karroubi, Mr. Mousavi, and Ms. Rahnavard, numerous requests have been made to lift the house arrest of these three by several political and religious figures as well as on social media. Among those who have called for the end of the house arrest of Mr. Karroubi, Mr. Mousavi, and Ms. Rahnavard is Mohammad Khatami, the former President of Iran. Nevertheless, the judiciary spokesperson stated on Sunday: "Those who think that now with media pressure and atmosphere, the National Security Council's resolution will be invalidated are seriously mistaken because the National Security Council does not make decisions based on media pressure, neither then nor now, and neither does the judiciary, and perhaps in similar cases, media pressures have made things worse." Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei also said: "Even if one day the National Security Council's resolution does not exist, the judiciary will carry out its work."