PourMohammadi: House Arrest is a Political and Security Decision, Not a Legal Issue

Mostafa PourMohammadi, Iran's Minister of Justice, on Wednesday, September 2, addressed the issue of lifting the house arrest of the leaders of the 2009 protests, stating that "the issue of house arrest is not a legal-judicial matter" and adding that "without a doubt, the discussions regarding house arrest are considered a political and security issue." According to the Iranian Students' News Agency (ISNA), Mr. PourMohammadi further stated that "the discussion of house arrest may not even be compatible with existing judicial discussions." He emphasized that "this political and security decision occurred after a social struggle; therefore, we cannot explain and clarify the issue of house arrest based on legal-judicial principles. House arrest pertains to a political and security matter." Mir Hossein Mousavi and Mehdi Karroubi, two candidates who protested the results of the 2009 presidential election in Iran, along with Zahra Rahnavard, Mr. Mousavi's wife, have been under house arrest since March 2011. The Minister of Justice's remarks about the non-legal and judicial nature of the house arrest discussion come at a time when individuals advocating for the lifting of the house arrest, including Ali Motahari, a Tehran representative in Parliament, have consistently pursued the matter through legal and judicial channels by sending letters to the judiciary. Ali Motahari has previously emphasized that the continuation of the house arrest of the Green Movement leaders "violates multiple principles" of the Islamic Republic's Constitution. In his continued remarks on Wednesday, PourMohammadi stated that the decision to lift the house arrest "is beyond the decision" of the three branches of government, mentioning that "this discussion is raised and pursued in the Supreme National Security Council." According to ISNA, Mr. PourMohammadi continued, saying that "the Supreme National Security Council consists of the heads of the three branches along with representatives of the leadership and military and security institutions, and the decisions made are security and political in nature." While the Minister of Justice speaks of the decision to lift the house arrest being beyond the decisions of the government and the judiciary, Hassan Rouhani had promised during the 2013 presidential election campaign that if he won, he could create conditions within a year for "not only those under house arrest to be freed but also even those imprisoned due to the events of 2009 to be released." The family of Mehdi Karroubi has previously accused Mr. Rouhani of failing to adhere to his electoral promises regarding lifting the house arrest. In his latest remarks on this issue, on September 28, during a press conference regarding the house arrest of the Green Movement leaders, Rouhani mentioned that "it is not necessary to announce everything" and stated that "no one benefits from turning an issue into a permanent matter in the country." To resolve the issue of house arrest, "the country needs calm," said Iran's Minister of Justice on Wednesday, adding, "Because this is a political and security decision made following chaos and sedition in the country, it is undoubtedly necessary for the country to have calm to resolve it." Mr. PourMohammadi continued, "From the very beginning of the eleventh government, when journalists asked questions, I said to avoid escalating this discussion; because media coverage does not help solve the issue, and in any case, know that house arrest is the result of turmoil and chaos; therefore, the solution to the house arrest issue is calmness and tranquility."