Mahdi Karroubi Returns to House Arrest; 'Prison Guards Are Stationed Outside the Home'

Fatemeh Karroubi, the wife of Mahdi Karroubi, announced his return to house arrest after his heart condition was confirmed by the doctor at Shahid Rajaei Hospital and confirmed the exit of prison guards from their home. The Saham News website, close to Mahdi Karroubi, reported on Wednesday, September 8, in an interview with Fatemeh Karroubi, that her husband was discharged from the hospital after the stitches from his surgery were removed and his heart condition was confirmed by the treating physician. Mrs. Karroubi also mentioned that the exit of the prison guards from the house was a condition for Mahdi Karroubi to end his hunger strike, stating that 'security forces exited our home in the seventh year of house arrest with the establishment of facilities in Kuye Chubineh.' She thanked what she called the 'sympathetic actions of the system's officials' for the exit of the prison guards from Karroubi's home, adding that 'the government fortunately fulfilled its commitment and promise.' In response to the denial of the exit of security agents from their home by Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei, the spokesperson of the judiciary, Fatemeh Karroubi said: 'Why Mr. Ejei insists on denying it is better to be asked of him, as he is a judicial authority.' Mahdi Karroubi had announced in August that if the security agents who have practically lived with him for these years did not leave his home, he would go on a hunger strike. He had also demanded a public trial for his prosecution, and after being discharged from the hospital and the continued presence of agents in his home, he went on a hunger strike on August 25, which led to a deterioration in his health and his transfer to the hospital. Shortly after, the Karroubi family announced the exit of security agents from their home, and Mohammad Baqer Nobakht, the government spokesperson, also confirmed this matter. However, the spokesperson of the judiciary, in response to a question about the realization of Mr. Karroubi's second demand for a public trial, stated that 'the Ministry of Intelligence forces have not left Mahdi Karroubi's home, and this is a complete lie.' Saham News continued the interview by asking about Mahdi Karroubi's 'mental state,' and she responded that this leader of the 'Green Movement' has been deprived of access to sunlight and fresh air at various times during these seven years, has faced communication restrictions, his basic rights have not been respected, his residential home has been occupied by prison guards, there have been cameras and listening devices in the house, and his peace has been disrupted due to the arbitrary enforcement of prison guards' instructions. Mrs. Karroubi added that although Mahdi Karroubi has suffered 'irreparable damages' physically over the years, he has remained 'steadfast' and pays 'the price for his thoughts and beliefs, no matter how heavy it may be.' She further discussed the presidential elections of 2005 and 2009, stating that in these two elections, 'events and interventions occurred that Mr. Karroubi and many others believed were no longer the true votes of the people, and this deviation is both significant and dangerous.' Fatemeh Karroubi characterized her husband's protests against this process, alongside other segments of society, as 'violent repression and the filling of prisons with elites and activists, ultimately leading to arbitrary house arrest and imprisonment that continues to this day.' She added that Mahdi Karroubi has 'always insisted' and 'continues to insist' that 'this important issue be addressed in a public court according to Article 168 of the Constitution, with whatever composition the ruling authority considers for the jury and judges, so that he and his lawyers can respond to the charges raised and this turmoil can come to an end.' Earlier, according to ISNA news agency, Abbas Jafari Dolatabadi, Tehran's prosecutor, announced on Tuesday, September 6, the judiciary's readiness to prosecute Mir Hossein Mousavi, Zahra Rahnavard, and Mahdi Karroubi, contingent upon 'the provision of conditions.' However, he did not provide further explanation on this matter. Subsequently, Mohammad Baqer Nobakht, the government spokesperson, on Wednesday, September 7, reported discussions about the house arrest of the leaders of the protests against the results of the 2009 presidential election in the Supreme National Security Council and expressed hope that with the exit of security forces, 'subsequent steps' would also be taken. According to Saham News, Fatemeh Karroubi expressed hope that one day 'reason and wisdom would cast a shadow over all branches of the system and the country would not face unsolvable issues.' Mahdi Karroubi, Mir Hossein Mousavi, and Zahra Rahnavard have been under house arrest since February 2011, following protests against the results of the 2009 presidential election, and according to Ali Motahari, the deputy speaker of parliament, the view of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the leader of the Islamic Republic, is to continue this situation. Although Hassan Rouhani mentioned the promise to lift the house arrest in both the eleventh and twelfth presidential elections, he has yet to fulfill this promise. Meanwhile, the crowds attending his speeches before the presidential election on May 29 of this year repeatedly called for an end to the house arrest of Mr. Mousavi, Mr. Karroubi, and Mrs. Rahnavard. Additionally, several political and religious figures have also called for the end of the house arrest.