Statement from Over 100 Political and Civil Activists for Lifting House Arrest

More than 100 political and civil activists and the Union of Iranian Nation Party, in separate statements, called for the lifting of house arrest on the leaders of the Green Movement as a "national demand," and 31 Islamic Student Associations also urged the "highest authorities of the country" to issue orders for their release "as soon as possible." Meanwhile, Fatemeh Karroubi, the wife of Mehdi Karroubi, announced that over time, "no change has occurred in the status" of her husband's house arrest, and "the restrictions have increased." According to the Kalemeh website, over 100 political and civil activists pointed out the physical condition of Mehdi Karroubi and Mir Hossein Mousavi, stating that the leader of the Islamic Republic "stands against the people's demand for lifting the house arrest." The signatories of this statement emphasized that Hassan Rouhani has not fulfilled his promise to lift the house arrest, and the Ministry of Intelligence continues to "harass and intimidate" the leaders of the Green Movement. These political and civil activists referred to the lifting of the house arrest of the Green Movement leaders as a "national demand" and urged Hassan Rouhani to "take action to realize it and share the existing obstacles with the people." Notable signatories include Nosrat Amiri, Behrouz Bayat, Nira Touhidi, Mohammad Ali Tofighi, Fatemeh Haqiqatjou, Behrouz Khaligh, Mehrdad Darvishpour, Taghi Rahmani, Sohrab Razaghi, Hassan Shari'atmadari, Kazem Alamdar, Reza Alijani, Mehdi Fattapour, Jamileh Kadivar, Mohsen Kadivar, Sedigheh Vosoughi, and Hassan Youssef Ashkouri. Previously, some groups and political figures, including the Society of Teachers of Qom Seminary, the Islamic Medical Society, and several Islamic Student Associations, along with thousands of political, social, and civil activists in Iran, have called for an end to the house arrest of the Green Movement leaders. The demand for lifting the house arrest of these three individuals has increased following reports about their poor physical condition. Recently, the daughters of Mir Hossein Mousavi announced that during their last visit with their parents, they noticed their father was suffering from "severe blood pressure fluctuations and severe dizziness." Mehdi Karroubi was also transferred to the hospital on Sunday, August 8, due to low heart rate and remains hospitalized after angiography. He had been hospitalized on Tuesday, August 2, due to a heart condition and was transferred back to his house arrest after a few days, while his family stated that his treatment was "incomplete." In recent days, several members of parliament, city council representatives, political activists, and student activists have visited the hospital to see Mr. Karroubi, but security agents did not allow them to meet, and they met with Fatemeh Karroubi instead. Meanwhile, the Union of Iranian Nation Party, in a statement referring to the demand for lifting the house arrest by "many national officials, members of parliament, and political and civil activists with diverse ideological tendencies," stated that the house arrest of these three individuals is a "self-created problem for which no justification or acceptable response has been provided regarding the reasons for its continuation." This party referred to the lifting of the house arrest as a "national demand" that, if realized, would strengthen "national unity and cohesion." Mir Hossein Mousavi and Mehdi Karroubi, leaders of the Green Movement, and Zahra Rahnavard, Mr. Mousavi's wife, have been under house arrest since February 2011 without trial. Previously, some political figures in Iran, including Ali Akbar Nategh Nouri and Ali Motahari, have stated that lifting the house arrest of the Green Movement leaders is only possible with the order of the Supreme Leader. Meanwhile, 31 Islamic Student Associations in Iran, in a statement noting that the house arrest of the Green Movement leaders contradicts several principles of the Constitution, urged the "highest authorities of the country" to act "as soon as possible" to lift their house arrest and take a "significant step towards national solidarity and unity." Fatemeh Karroubi, Mehdi Karroubi's wife, in a letter to the Minister of Intelligence last March, protested the "deliberate irresponsibility" of that ministry regarding her husband's life, stating that security agents are not allowed to contact emergency services during an incident involving Mr. Karroubi and must only contact the Ministry of Intelligence's hospital. Meanwhile, according to Saham News website, Fatemeh Karroubi recently told a group of people who intended to visit her husband that "due to the arbitrary decisions of security agents, we are witnessing the loss of Mr. Karroubi's health day by day." According to Mrs. Karroubi, over time, "no change has occurred in the status" of Mr. Karroubi's house arrest, and "the restrictions have also increased." Hassan Rouhani mentioned the promise to lift the house arrest of the Green Movement leaders during the 2013 and 2017 presidential election campaigns, and previously, the families of Mir Hossein Mousavi and Mehdi Karroubi criticized the unfulfillment of these promises.