Motahari Accuses 'Some' Members of Fars Security Council in Attack Against Him

In the ongoing case regarding the attack on Ali Motahari in Shiraz, this parliamentary representative accused 'some members of the provincial security council' of Fars and 'their subordinates' of being 'creators of insecurity' in Shiraz and 'disturbing the security' of the city. On the other hand, the Khabar Online website, close to Mir Hossein Mousavi, reported that 'well-known figures' from the IRGC and Basij in Shiraz were 'among the attackers' on the vehicle carrying Ali Motahari at Shiraz Airport. Ali Motahari traveled to Shiraz on March 9, 2015, to give a speech at Shiraz University, but before reaching the university, he was attacked by 'plainclothes forces' at the airport and was beaten by them, ultimately being forced to return to Tehran. In another development related to this case, Mostafa Torkhamdani, Motahari's lawyer, announced on Sunday, April 5, that despite his lack of complaint, officials from Shiraz University have been identified as defendants in the case of the attack on his client. This point has also been confirmed by Mr. Motahari, who, in an interview with the Etemad newspaper published on Thursday, April 9, stated that the reason for summoning the Shiraz University officials was, according to the court, their 'non-compliance' with the resolution of the Fars Security Council. He also quoted Shiraz University officials as saying that the Fars Security Council's opinion regarding the opposition to Mr. Motahari's speech 'was not communicated to them as a resolution, but rather as a recommendation, leaving the decision to the university.' Regarding the opposition of the Fars Security Council to his speech, Mr. Motahari stated: 'Some members of the Security Council, who themselves and their subordinates are the creators of such obstacles and insecurities and play a role in such incidents, say that if so-and-so comes here, insecurity will be created, and in fact, they say that if so-and-so comes, our people will confront them.' He emphasized regarding the identity of the attackers: 'It is very clear and evident where these individuals have been organized from. Therefore, the position of some members of the Security Council in these matters is a fallacy and a logical fallacy. They say security is not established, while their subordinates are undermining security.' Previously, Ali Motahari had also stated about the perpetrators of the attack: 'Apparently, there was an accepted principle; these individuals, whose equipment such as heavy motorcycles and pepper spray indicated where they received their orders from.' 'Heavy motorcycles' are usually used by military institutions and Basij forces in Iran. Meanwhile, the Khabar Online website accused the Fars IRGC of 'exerting influence' in Mr. Motahari's case. This website, referring to the summoning of Shiraz University officials as defendants, emphasized: 'The Fajr IRGC of Shiraz and the Tharallah Basij Resistance Zone, whose well-known figures were among the attackers on the vehicle carrying Ali Motahari at Shiraz Airport, ... intend to portray university officials and student activists as responsible to absolve their forces.' According to Khabar Online, even the taxi driver carrying Mr. Motahari, whose vehicle sustained serious damage during the attack, 'has been summoned to judicial authorities and interrogated.' Meanwhile, Akbar Safavi, the deputy of Shiraz University, on April 5, strongly protested the summoning of the university president and two officials and the secretary of the organization inviting Ali Motahari to court, stating that 'political and security friends' in Fars province are aware of the identity of the attackers against Mr. Motahari. According to the Ensaf News website, he emphasized: 'This process will lead university officials, who have more to say on this matter, for example regarding the knowledge and awareness of those responsible for ensuring Dr. Motahari's security, to express their views.' Regarding the identity of the attackers against Mr. Motahari, different opinions have been expressed by principlist political figures. Mohiuddin Haeri Shirazi, a member of the Assembly of Experts and former Friday prayer leader of Shiraz, stated that the attackers against Mr. Motahari 'were not thugs, but young, prayerful, loyal individuals ready to sacrifice for Islam.' Meanwhile, Hamid Rasai, a representative from the Steadfast Front in Parliament, stated: 'The incident that occurred in Shiraz was not the work of Hezbollah youth, and if someone who did this claims so, like those who speak of moderation, they are lying.' In his interview on Thursday with Etemad newspaper, Mr. Motahari also referred to his meeting with Abdolreza Rahmani Fazli, the Minister of Interior, adding: 'He said in this meeting that the report is complete and ... it will be given to the President on Wednesday so that, as he ordered, this report will be discussed in the Cabinet.' He added: 'Naturally, this report has various aspects. The executive apparatus of the province has also been negligent, and the police have also been definitely at fault, and those who were direct perpetrators are also clearly identified as criminals.' After the attack on Mr. Motahari, President Hassan Rouhani instructed the Ministers of Intelligence and Interior in a letter to identify 'lawbreakers' and 'the behind-the-scenes actors' of this incident, as well as to hold accountable the security officials of the province who were negligent or at fault in this matter. In this context, the Friday prayer leader of Mashhad referred to the attackers against Ali Motahari as 'value-oriented people.'