Jannati: Mousavi and Karroubi Deserve Serious Trial, Not Freedom

Continuing the attacks by close associates of the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic against the leaders of the Green Movement, the Secretary of the Guardian Council considered the actions of Mir Hossein Mousavi and Mehdi Karroubi as 'deserving serious trial.' The Deputy of the Judiciary also stated that 'if it were not for Islamic clemency,' their punishment would be similar to that of the Mojahedin-e Khalq group. According to Fars News Agency, Ahmad Jannati, Secretary of the Guardian Council and Chairman of the Assembly of Experts, in a statement on Wednesday, January 8, referred to the protesters of the 2009 presidential election as the 'foot soldiers' of the United States, Israel, and Britain. He emphasized that 'the elements of sedition not only do not deserve freedom and removal of house arrest but their actions deserve serious trial, and they must also answer for their rebellion against the Islamic ruler in the court of divine justice.' Some close associates of the Supreme Leader and officials of the Judiciary have previously referred to the actions of the Green Movement leaders as 'rebellion against the Islamic government.' The Supreme Leader and his associates also refer to the protests against the 2009 presidential election as 'sedition.' Jannati's statement was released on the anniversary of the government supporters' rally on December 30, 2009. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic, and other officials of the Islamic Republic refer to this rally as the day the 'sedition' ended, and the anniversary ceremony is held every year by various government or government-affiliated institutions. However, Ali Motahari, the Deputy Speaker of Parliament, has previously deemed this rally 'unnecessary.' Three days before December 30, 2009, coinciding with Ashura, one of the bloodiest protests against the results of the 2009 presidential election took place in Tehran and several other cities. On the anniversary of the December 30 rally, state television and media affiliated with the Revolutionary Guards have published many reports and news about this rally. In recent days, several close associates of the Supreme Leader have emphasized that Mir Hossein Mousavi and Mehdi Karroubi 'should be executed' and are only 'enjoying themselves' in their homes due to 'Islamic compassion.' Meanwhile, Hamid Shahriari, the Deputy of the Judiciary, said on Wednesday that 'Islamic clemency has included the seditionists,' otherwise their punishment would be like that of the Mojahedin-e Khalq group, which, according to him, 'broke their allegiance and rose against the Islamic Republic and deserved a decisive verdict' from Ayatollah Khomeini. Shahriari did not refer to the details of Ayatollah Khomeini's verdict regarding the Mojahedin-e Khalq group, but his reference could be to the former leader's verdict regarding political prisoners in 1988, which led to their mass execution. In recent months, the release of an audio file of Ayatollah Montazeri regarding this issue has also made headlines. Mir Hossein Mousavi, Zahra Rahnavard, and Mehdi Karroubi, leaders of the protests against the results of the 2009 presidential election, have been under house arrest without trial since February 2011. Mehdi Karroubi, after three years of 'house arrest' in a 'safe house' of the Ministry of Intelligence, was transferred to his home in Jamaran in February 2014 but remains under house arrest. These three leaders of the Green Movement have repeatedly called for their trial in a public court, but as Ali Motahari, a member of Parliament, and some other officials of the Islamic Republic have stated, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the Supreme Leader, has opposed their trial or lifting of their house arrest.