Mir Hossein Mousavi Protests 'Neglect' of Zahra Rahnavard's Medical Condition

The Khabar Online website close to Mir Hossein Mousavi, one of the candidates who protested the 2009 presidential election, reported that Mr. Mousavi strongly protested the security agents' neglect of his wife Zahra Rahnavard's medical condition during a recent family visit. Mr. Mousavi and Ms. Rahnavard, along with Mehdi Karroubi, another leader of the 2009 election protesters, have been under house arrest since February 25, 2011. Khabar Online reported on Sunday, December 7, that security agents have obstructed medical care for Zahra Rahnavard over the past three weeks, to the extent that during the recent family meeting, Mr. Mousavi expressed strong objections to the 'neglect and negligence' regarding his wife's medical situation. According to Khabar Online, details of the problems that security agents have created for Ms. Rahnavard and Mr. Mousavi in recent weeks have been communicated to the government-appointed physician and the family. In this situation, the family's ignorance about the condition of the detained individuals, given that they are not allowed to make phone calls during the week, has reduced their ability to learn about the detainees' status to one and a half hour weekly meetings, which has increased the family's anxiety. Meanwhile, Zahra Rahnavard, who has been under house arrest for over three years at the order of the highest-ranking officials of the Islamic Republic, expressed regret during her last family visit about witnessing the phenomenon of acid attacks and increasing violence against women in Iran, especially during the week of combating violence against women. Khabar Online reported that security agents have refused to deliver some of the books that the Mousavi family prepares for Mir Hossein Mousavi and Rahnavard. The agents claim that they first review and read the books and then provide those they deem appropriate to Mir Hossein Mousavi and Zahra Rahnavard. On the other hand, Mehdi Karroubi's eldest son stated that even if the house arrest ends, Mr. Karroubi will point out any injustice he sees. Hossein Karroubi, on Saturday, December 6, explained his father's situation, who has been under house arrest for 1,388 days, saying: 'We expected that during these 16 months, at least newspapers would be made available to the detainees, not that after 16 months, only 20 days ago, Mr. Mousavi was given a newspaper.' He added that their second expectation was to at least normalize family visits with these two individuals, rather than maintaining the same conditions that existed during Mr. Moslehi's (former Minister of Intelligence) time. Regarding his father's positions after the end of house arrest, he said: 'Mr. Karroubi considers himself part of the initial forces of the revolution and a citizen of the country; if the house arrest ends, he will point out any injustice he sees and encourage any positive points; it is not the case that he will not take a political stance.' Hossein Karroubi mentioned that Mehdi Karroubi is aware of the significant pressure exerted on Mr. Rouhani by 'powerful factions.' Fatemeh Karroubi, Mehdi Karroubi's wife, stated on October 23 that 'apparently, house arrests and illegal imprisonments are not a priority for government friends.'