Ministry of Intelligence Declares National Front Illegal

The head of the Executive Board of the National Front of Iran announced on Tuesday, September 3, that the Ministry of Intelligence of the Islamic Republic summoned him and informed him that this political organization is considered illegal and is not allowed to operate. Hossein Mousavian stated in an interview with Radio Farda that two summonses were issued on August 10 and September 2, during which it was explicitly stated that the meetings of the National Front must be suspended and it should not have any publications. According to Mousavian, the Ministry of Intelligence also announced that holding meetings even in the private homes of the members of this organization would lead to the formation of a case and its referral to the Revolutionary Court. He had previously reported that 'agents of the Ministry of Intelligence' threatened on May 5, one day before a meeting of the National Front's central council at the home of one of its members, repeating the claims of apostasy and illegality of this political group, stating that if the meeting took place, all members of the central council would be 'arrested.' Despite these threats, the National Front's website reported that the group held its central council meeting on May 21 with an agenda of internal elections. The National Front has not published any reports about subsequent meetings after May of this year. Following the National Front's protest against the implementation of the Qisas law in 1981, Ayatollah Khomeini, the then-leader of the Islamic Republic, declared this group 'apostate.' Since Khomeini's remarks, the National Front of Iran has always faced significant restrictions on its political activities. The Ministry of Intelligence under Hassan Rouhani's government had previously prevented some political and cultural groups critical of the Iranian government, including the Iranian Writers' Association, from holding meetings. Meanwhile, the Kaleme website, close to Mir Hossein Mousavi, reported on September 5, 2014, about the 'role' of the Ministry of Intelligence under Hassan Rouhani's government in 'summoning and threatening civil activists.' Ali Younesi, the Minister of Intelligence in Mohammad Khatami's government, had previously stated that the Ministry of Intelligence had not yet been 'captured' by Hassan Rouhani's government. Younesi said on October 6, 2014, that by 'captured,' he meant that the government had not yet fully 'taken control' of the Ministry of Intelligence.