Mehdi Karroubi Requests Mobile Ballot Box at His Place of House Arrest

Mohammad Taghi Karroubi, the son of Mehdi Karroubi, one of the leaders of the 2009 election protests, announced that his father has requested a mobile ballot box to participate in the elections from his place of house arrest. On Wednesday evening, March 5, Mohammad Taghi Karroubi wrote on his Facebook page: "A few minutes ago, my mother quoted my father as saying that despite the issues I have had since 2009, I will vote on Friday for a more important matter (preserving the republic)." He added: "This afternoon, security officials were asked to arrange for a mobile ballot box to be present at the location of the house arrest for my father to vote on Friday." No reports have yet emerged regarding the decision or reaction of Mir Hossein Mousavi and Zahra Rahnavard to the elections on Friday, but the Kaleme website, which publishes news about this 2009 protest candidate, reported that his daughters have stated they will participate in the voting on Friday, March 7. The three daughters of Mousavi and Rahnavard issued a statement on Wednesday evening saying, "Considering the current necessities and conditions and in light of the conscious presence of the people and with the expectation of improving the current situation and a bright future for the country, despite the shortcomings and pressures, we will vote in the elections on Friday, March 7." Mir Hossein Mousavi, Zahra Rahnavard, and Mehdi Karroubi have been under house arrest for five years due to their protests against what they called the 'engineered elections' of 2009. The unrest and protests following that election were met with widespread suppression by security forces, and dozens of supporters of these two candidates lost their lives in the clashes. Iranian officials have referred to Mousavi and Karroubi as the 'leaders of sedition' and consider the events of 2009 as 'sedition.' Ayatollah Ahmad Jannati, the Secretary of the Guardian Council, announced on Tuesday, March 4, that all individuals with a history in the 'sedition' have been disqualified for the elections on Friday. 12,000 individuals registered for the Islamic Consultative Assembly elections, of which only half were approved. Reformists and supporters of President Hassan Rouhani have submitted a list of 30 plus 16 candidates for both the Islamic Consultative Assembly and the Assembly of Experts elections. In recent days, campaigns have been launched by supporters of reformists and the government on social media to encourage more voters to show up at polling stations and vote in favor of their list.