Intervention of 'Self-Directed Individuals Linked to a Specific Institution' in Attack on Motahari

Ali Motahari's lawyer, Mustafa Torkhamdani, announced that after 'finding evidence' of the involvement of 'self-directed individuals linked to a specific institution' in the attack on his client in Shiraz, the IRGC command has filed a complaint regarding some of these individuals. He did not mention the name of this specific institution. According to the state news agency IRNA, Torkhamdani stated on Wednesday, April 16, that the 'preliminary investigations' of the case are 'coming to an end' and that 'soon' an indictment will be issued for the accused. Torkhamdani said, 'After our complaint, evidence has emerged indicating that self-directed individuals linked to a specific institution were involved in this incident.' He added, 'Therefore, the IRGC command has sent a representative to announce its complaint regarding some self-directed individuals and is pursuing the case.' Previously, Torkhamdani had mentioned that the IRGC in Fars Province has 'filed a complaint' against the assailants without revealing their identities and that an officer has been assigned to follow up on the matter. On March 9, 2015, Ali Motahari traveled to Shiraz for a speech at Shiraz University but was attacked by 'plainclothes forces' at the airport before reaching the university and was ultimately forced to return to Tehran. Motahari had previously implied that some of his attackers were affiliated with the IRGC. On April 9, he accused 'some members of the security council of Fars Province' and their 'subordinate individuals' of being 'creators of insecurity' in Shiraz and undermining the city's security. He had also stated about the assailants: 'It was apparently an accepted principle; these individuals, as indicated by their equipment such as heavy motorcycles and pepper spray, showed where they received their orders from.' 'Heavy motorcycles' are typically used by military institutions and Basij forces in Iran. Additionally, the Khabar Online website, close to Mir Hossein Mousavi, reported on Tuesday, April 18, that 'well-known figures' from the IRGC and Basij in Shiraz were among the attackers on the vehicle carrying Ali Motahari at Shiraz Airport. Torkhamdani also mentioned on Wednesday that the investigator of the case reported that the preliminary investigations are nearing completion and that an indictment will soon be issued for those found guilty. He added, 'This case will go to court after the issuance of the indictment and the prosecution's charges.' On April 27, Motahari described the 'interrogation of 12 individuals' and the 'arrest of three individuals' involved in the attack on him in Shiraz as a 'miracle' and noted that 'this had not happened in previous cases.' The promise of issuing an indictment for the attackers comes at a time when the 'Student Basij Positioning Council' of Mashhad universities threatened Motahari on Sunday, April 13, demanding that he cancel his trip to Mashhad. In the statement from this group affiliated with the IRGC, it was emphasized: 'If you are going to once again act as a defense attorney for the seditionists and question the justice of the leadership, we revolutionary students will not remain silent.' Reports indicate that despite this threat, Motahari delivered a speech at Azad University in Mashhad on Tuesday, April 14.