Mahdi Karroubi's Son Reports His Father's Insistence on Holding a Public Trial

Mahdi Karroubi's son reacted to the readiness of the deputy commander of the Tharallah Headquarters in Tehran to hold a press conference for the 'apology' of the leaders of the Green Movement, stating that his father remains 'committed to his previous positions and emphasizes the need for a public trial.' Hossein Karroubi said on Sunday, September 24, in an interview with ISNA news agency: 'Instead of holding a press conference, the minimum demand of my father, which is the holding of a public trial, should be fulfilled.' He emphasized that officials should pressure the judiciary to hold a public trial instead of predicting a death sentence. Hossein Karroubi reminded that Mir Hossein Mousavi also has such a position and demand. On Sunday, Ismail Kowsari, the deputy commander of the Tharallah Headquarters in Tehran, in response to calls for lifting the house arrest of Mir Hossein Mousavi and Mahdi Karroubi, told Tasnim news agency that 'lifting the house arrest means a trial. I am not a judge, but if they are tried, their sentence will be very severe.' He added that the purpose of the house arrest is for Mir Hossein Mousavi and Mahdi Karroubi to 'come to their senses and retreat from their positions.' Mr. Kowsari also said that if they 'wish to apologize, we will hold a press conference for them.' Previously, some close associates of the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic had threatened that if the leaders of the Green Movement were tried, their sentences would be 'death or life imprisonment.' According to Ali Motahari, the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic had previously opposed the request for a trial for Mir Hossein Mousavi and Mahdi Karroubi, stating that their sentence would be 'heavy' if a trial were held. Mir Hossein Mousavi and Mahdi Karroubi, who have been under house arrest since February 2011, have repeatedly called for a public trial, but in response, judicial officials have opposed this demand, claiming that their house arrest was decided by the Supreme National Security Council. In recent weeks, the topic of the recent meeting of the Supreme National Security Council regarding the house arrest of Mir Hossein Mousavi, Mahdi Karroubi, and Zahra Rahnavard has made headlines. In this regard, while the government spokesman spoke of Hassan Rouhani's 'explicit, transparent, and courageous' positions in this meeting, the judiciary spokesman announced that no new decisions were made in this meeting and that 'the house arrest remains in effect.' Subsequently, Keyvan Khosravi, spokesman for the Supreme National Security Council, announced that the issue of house arrest was not on the agenda of the recent council meeting, and only a report on 'the openings created in the situation of the house-arrested individuals' was presented, and 'no new decision regarding the main issue of house arrest was made.' Meanwhile, Ali Motahari, the deputy speaker of the Iranian parliament, expressed hope that the Supreme National Security Council would address this issue and vote on it. In an interview with the French newspaper Le Monde, he referred to the health problems of Mir Hossein Mousavi and Mahdi Karroubi, stating that 'the situation has changed' and that the Supreme Leader's opposition to lifting their house arrest 'may have changed.' According to Article 176 of the Constitution, the resolutions of the Supreme National Security Council are only enforceable with the approval of the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic. Meanwhile, some political figures, including Ali Akbar Nategh Nouri, have stated that the decision regarding lifting the house arrest is solely at the discretion of the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic. Mir Hossein Mousavi, Zahra Rahnavard, and Mahdi Karroubi, leaders of the protests against the results of the 2009 presidential election, have been under house arrest without trial since February 2011, and the families of these three have repeatedly expressed concern about their health status. Mahdi Karroubi went on a hunger strike on August 16, which led to a deterioration in his health and his transfer to the hospital. The withdrawal of security forces from his home and a trial were his two conditions for ending the hunger strike. Ultimately, Mr. Karroubi ended his hunger strike after the security forces left his home, and according to his family, security forces are now present outside his house. Lifting the house arrest has been one of the main demands of Hassan Rouhani's supporters in the two presidential elections in 2013 and 2017, and in both elections, Mr. Rouhani made promises explicitly or implicitly regarding lifting the house arrest. Although during the four years of Mr. Rouhani's first government, no public action was taken to fulfill this promise, the restrictions on figures such as Mohammad Khatami were also increased. Meanwhile, a group of national-religious activists inside the country recently stated in a letter that the President, in his capacity as head of the Supreme National Security Council, has 'sufficient authority' to intervene in this matter and 'to persuade the high-ranking officials of the system.' In this context, Motahari regarding the house arrest of the Green Movement leaders: the Supreme Leader's opinion may have changed. Najat: The sentence for Mousavi and Karroubi will be death or life imprisonment. A senior commander of the IRGC: Hassan Rouhani had no objection to the house arrest of the Green Movement leaders. Mahdi Karroubi returns to the house arrest location; 'the jailers are stationed outside the house.' Nobakht: The issue of house arrest has been raised in the Supreme National Security Council. The Tehran prosecutor announced the judiciary's readiness to try the leaders of the 2009 protests.