The U.S. Calls for the Release of Rahnavard, Mousavi, and Karroubi

On Saturday, February 25, U.S. State Department spokesperson Jen Psaki issued a statement condemning the house arrest of Zahra Rahnavard, Mir Hossein Mousavi, and Mehdi Karroubi, calling for their immediate release. The statement noted, "Four years ago, the Iranian government placed Mehdi Karroubi and Mir Hossein Mousavi, two candidates from the 2009 presidential election and former officials, along with Zahra Rahnavard, Mr. Mousavi's wife and a women's rights advocate, under house arrest without any criminal charges." Psaki added, "As part of the international community, we condemn their continued house arrest and the harassment of their families, and we call for their immediate release." The statement emphasized that "the Iranian constitution and its international commitments obligate the government to guarantee the human rights of citizens and fundamental freedoms, and no one should be arbitrarily detained." Mehdi Karroubi and Mir Hossein Mousavi, candidates who contested the results of the 2009 presidential election, had called for a rally in support of protests in Egypt and Tunisia in February 2011. Since then, Mehdi Karroubi, Mir Hossein Mousavi, and Zahra Rahnavard (Mr. Mousavi's wife) have been held under house arrest without a court order. Meanwhile, figures associated with the Iranian government have stated that they should be executed, and the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic has shown leniency towards them. The head of Iran's judiciary had previously stated that if the National Security Council's resolution changes, the judiciary is prepared to hold a trial for Mir Hossein Mousavi and Mehdi Karroubi. On the same day, the Human Rights Defenders Center called for the immediate and unconditional release of these individuals, stating that the leader and the National Security Council do not have the legal authority to issue a house arrest order. The center has labeled the Iranian judiciary as "guilty" for what it termed "violating multiple constitutional principles through illegal detention and house arrest without trial."