Mohammad Hossein Karroubi, the son of Mehdi Karroubi, one of the leaders under house arrest from Iran's Green Movement, states that although the conditions of the house arrest have improved in recent months, he and his family have no hope that it will be lifted before the presidential elections in Iran in 1396 (2017). In an interview with the electronic newspaper Omid Iranians, Mohammad Hossein Karroubi described his father's health condition as generally 'good.' When asked whether there have been any negotiations by the government or officials to lift the house arrest, he replied: 'No! Based on the news we have, we believe that there will be no change in my father's situation until the presidential elections.' Mehdi Karroubi, Mir Hossein Mousavi, and Zahra Rahnavard have been under house arrest since Esfand 1389 (March 2011) following protests against the results of the 1388 (2009) presidential elections. In 1392 (2013), Hassan Rouhani, the President, repeatedly promised during his electoral campaign to resolve the issue of house arrest. Rouhani stated at that time: 'I believe that the future president should essentially seek to reduce distances and eliminate the security atmosphere in the country so that not only those who are under house arrest are freed, but also those who were imprisoned due to the events of 1388.' Although government officials occasionally tell reporters that the government is not indifferent to the house arrest, Ebrahim Younesi, the President's assistant for ethnic and minority affairs, has explicitly stated that the government does not have enough authority in this regard. On Wednesday, Mohammad Hossein Karroubi also responded to another question about the actions of Mohammad Reza Aref, the head of the Hope faction in Parliament, regarding the house arrest, saying: '... the family is still not aware of any actions, but the fact that he keeps the issue of house arrest alive in his interviews and speeches is a significant and commendable effort.' According to Hossein Karroubi, four newspapers—Kayhan, Ettelaat, Jumhuri-ye Islami, and Arman—are provided to Mehdi Karroubi, and he also has access to the news from state television. Hossein Karroubi states that his father is 'satisfied with Mr. Rouhani's actions' and believes he will win again in the presidential elections.
Mehdi Karroubi's Son: We Have No Hope for Lifting House Arrest Before Elections
Mohammad Hossein Karroubi, son of the detained Iranian opposition leader Mehdi Karroubi, expresses skepticism about the lifting of his father's house arrest before the upcoming presidential elections. He notes that while his father's health is good, there have been no significant negotiations from the government regarding his release. This situation highlights ongoing political tensions in Iran and the challenges faced by opposition figures.
👥 Key Players
📰 What Happened
Mohammad Hossein Karroubi expressed doubt that his father's house arrest will be lifted before the upcoming presidential elections, despite improved conditions. No significant government negotiations have been reported to change the situation.
- Mehdi Karroubi has been under house arrest since March 2011.
- The government claims limited authority to change the house arrest situation.
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
The Green Movement emerged in 2009, challenging the legitimacy of the presidential election results and calling for greater political freedoms.
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