Reactions to Physical Altercation with Ali Motahari in Parliament

While some reformist political figures condemned the 'attack' on Ali Motahari, a representative from Tehran, during the Iranian Parliament session on Sunday, January 21, 2023, Hossein Shari'atmadari, the representative of the Supreme Leader in the Kayhan newspaper, severely criticized Mr. Motahari. Mr. Shari'atmadari also compared Mir Hossein Mousavi and Mehdi Karroubi, two leaders who protested the results of the 2009 presidential election, to Shimmer and Yazid, whom Shia Muslims in Iran refer to as the killers of their third Imam. In his editorial on Tuesday, January 22, in Kayhan, he questioned why supporters of Shimmer and Yazid are not allowed to defend themselves during the commemoration of the third Imam of Shia Islam, adding that 'their wickedness and malice... is so obvious and evident that it needs no proof.' Mr. Shari'atmadari continued: 'Yesterday Mr. Ali Motahari... ignored the tangible reality that the leaders of the American-Israeli sedition of 2009, as evidenced by hundreds of undeniable documents, acted under the direct management of the triangle of America, Israel, and England with the aim of overthrowing the regime, committing treason and crimes.' He asserted: 'Are the leaders of the sedition not deserving of multiple executions for even a small portion of all these crimes?' Mr. Shari'atmadari has previously declared the 'crime' of Mir Hossein Mousavi and Mehdi Karroubi as 'an evident crime' that does not require trial. Mir Hossein Mousavi, Zahra Rahnavard, and Mehdi Karroubi have been under house arrest without trial since February 2011 based on a resolution by the Supreme National Security Council. The representative of the Supreme Leader in the Kayhan newspaper further wrote: 'Mr. Ali Motahari, without attributing to his honorable and martyr father, has no significance in the media and circles that cheer for him.' He added: 'Mr. Ali Motahari, apart from studying the works of martyr Motahari - if he has studied them! - what other channel does he have to understand the views of that great man? Since his age does not allow him to benefit from the direct presence of the master.' According to Fars and ILNA news agencies, on Sunday, the 'attack' by some parliament members on Ali Motahari, following his repeated request for the lifting of the house arrest of Mir Hossein Mousavi and Karroubi during his speech, led to a temporary suspension of the public session of Parliament. According to Abed Fattahi, a representative from Urmia, after the temporary suspension of the session, a 'wave' of representatives 'attacked' Mr. Motahari, resulting in a slight injury to his hand. Reactions from critics regarding the treatment of Ali Motahari in Parliament Meanwhile, on Sunday and Monday, some reformist figures and parliament members condemned the attack on Mr. Motahari. Among them, Gholamhossein Karbaschi, the Secretary-General of the Construction Workers Party, wrote in a note in the Etemad newspaper on Tuesday: 'The incident yesterday in the Islamic Consultative Assembly was not unexpected; similar behaviors have occurred in Parliament before, which is truly regrettable.' He added: 'Some are still looking to insult and speak ill, trying to free themselves from the burden of guilt that has arisen from their unreserved support for the previous government. However, this issue remains in the nation's memory, and I doubt anyone can forget the events that have occurred in recent years.' Masoud Pezeshkian, a representative from Tabriz, also reacted to the events of Sunday in Parliament, stating: 'When we cannot even tolerate hearing opposing views, how can we establish a trial and court that is fair and free, allowing the other side to speak?' Fatemeh Chahalamirani and Zhila Badihiyan, the wives of Hamid Bakri and Mohammad Ebrahim Hemmat, two prominent commanders of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps who were killed in the Iran-Iraq War, also wrote a letter to Ali Larijani, the Speaker of the Iranian Parliament, asking him to 'raise the cultural level and viewpoints of the Parliament.' According to the Kaleme website, close to Mir Hossein Mousavi, they emphasized in their letter: 'It is true that some in Parliament do not understand his words or will take time to understand them, or it is not in their interest to understand, but we expect you to elevate the cultural level and viewpoints of the Parliament to be worthy of an Islamic Parliament.' The letter continued: 'Explain to the representatives how much of the people from their electoral constituencies they genuinely represent, so they do not get too carried away. Because many live in this country and do not agree with the interpretation of Islam by this group.' In this context, 'physical altercation' with Motahari in Parliament 'physical altercation' with Ali Motahari in the open session of Parliament Motahari's response to the judiciary: The content of my letter could not be denied The Iranian judiciary accused Ali Motahari of 'spreading falsehoods.'