Shamkhani: The Use of the Term 'House Arrest' is Incorrect

The Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council states that the use of the term 'house arrest' for Mir Hossein Mousavi and Mehdi Karroubi is 'incorrect' and that they can see anyone they wish. News agencies Ilna and ISNA reported that Ali Shamkhani made this statement on Tuesday, November 9, referring to a recent meeting between Ismail Doosti, a member of the National Trust Party, and Mehdi Karroubi, which he considered a sign that the leaders of the protests against the 2009 presidential election results are not under 'house arrest'. Mousavi and Karroubi, along with Zahra Rahnavard, have been under house arrest since February 2011. In another part of his remarks, the Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council stated that 'the house arrest will be lifted when the reasons for its occurrence are resolved' and added that the issues related to Mousavi and Karroubi arose after the 2009 presidential election and that they are 'not under house arrest'. Morteza Sadeghi, a leftist political activist residing in the Netherlands, commented on Shamkhani's statements to Radio Farda, saying, 'It seems that gradually the thirsty for power and wealth in the Islamic Republic are realizing that to maintain their positions and interests, they must even interpret words according to the meanings at the top of the system's hierarchy.' He pointed out that 'in several cases, there was optimism that Ali Shamkhani, due to his background and the unquestionable services he has provided to the Islamic Republic and his loyalty to Mr. Khamenei, would dare to enter the discussion of house arrest and possibly prepare the conditions for its end. However, in a situation where the detainees are not even allowed to choose the time of their visits to doctors, and there has been no change in the scheduling of family visits, and Ms. Rahnavard and Messrs. Mousavi and Karroubi do not have access to the internet or phones, suddenly we are faced with a denial of the entire house arrest based on Mr. Doosti's visit with Mr. Karroubi. It is really impossible to say anything other than the historic phrase of Engineer Mousavi, who said: 'We are faced with people who look you in the eye and lie.' Previously, Hossein Karroubi, Mehdi Karroubi's son, announced on October 19 that the Supreme National Security Council had 'approved' that some individuals could meet with his father, and based on this resolution, Mr. Doosti met with his father. Mr. Karroubi's son added that Ali Shamkhani told several members of the 'Committee for Following Up on House Arrest' in the Hope Faction of the Parliament that 'we want to bring some friends to Mr. Karroubi and Mousavi.' Hossein Karroubi also stated based on his information that the Supreme National Security Council had 'approved that gradually a series of individuals would be able to meet with Mr. Karroubi and Mr. Mousavi.' Previously, some journalists and political activists had suggested a gradual lifting of the house arrest of the leaders of the protests against the 2009 election results. Ali Shamkhani explicitly stated that Mir Hossein Mousavi and Mehdi Karroubi are 'not under house arrest' while no credible news has been published regarding the lifting of their house arrest by responsible officials or their families. Before the Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council's remarks, a group of conservative political activists and some Hezbollah forces on social media have repeatedly claimed in recent years that Mir Hossein Mousavi, Mehdi Karroubi, and Zahra Rahnavard are not 'under house arrest' and have good facilities. Meanwhile, the daughters of Mir Hossein Mousavi and Zahra Rahnavard, in a letter dated October 15, criticized the officials for 'shying away' from pursuing the issue of their parents' house arrest, stating that 'the gradual death of the detainees has become the wish and plan of some.' The lifting of house arrest has been one of the main demands of Hassan Rouhani's supporters in the presidential elections of 2013 and 2017, and he made promises regarding the lifting of house arrest, either explicitly or implicitly, in both elections. However, during the four years of Mr. Rouhani's first government, no practical steps were taken to fulfill this promise, and during his second presidential term, restrictions against Mohammad Khatami, the former president of Iran, have also increased. Messrs. Mousavi and Karroubi and Ms. Rahnavard have been under house arrest without trial since February 2011. Their requests to attend public court have also not been accepted so far, and military and clerical supporters of the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic have threatened them with heavy sentences, including execution. In this context, Mehdi Karroubi's son reported on his insistence on holding a court session. The daughters of Mousavi and Rahnavard wrote letters to 'religious authorities' regarding the situation of their parents. The first meeting of Karroubi with a political activist after seven years of house arrest. Motahari: Some are making decisions behind the scenes and are accountable to no one. The spokesperson for the judiciary: Khatami's restrictions may increase.