University Officials in Shiraz Charged in Attack on Ali Motahari

Ali Motahari's lawyer, Mustafa Torkhamdani, announced that despite Motahari not filing a complaint, officials from Shiraz University have been charged in connection with the attack on his client. Reports indicate that the assailants have been released on bail. Torkhamdani stated, "It raises questions for me and my client that officials from Shiraz University are also considered defendants." He added, "We believe Shiraz University has acted according to regulations and has not committed any wrongdoing to be charged as defendants." Torkhamdani emphasized that the main perpetrators of the incident are other individuals who misused a letter from the provincial security council to attack Motahari. Motahari, a Tehran representative in parliament, was assaulted by plainclothes forces at Shiraz airport on March 9, 2015, when he traveled there to give a speech, forcing him to return to Tehran. Following this incident, several parliament members and political figures criticized the Fars governorate for failing to address the attackers and for canceling Motahari's speech. For instance, Mohammad Reza Sadegh, a media advisor to the Iranian president, stated that if the Fars governor cannot deal with those responsible for the Shiraz events and the attack on Motahari, he should resign. However, Fars Governor Mohammad Ahmadi defended his actions, blaming Shiraz University officials for not adhering to the provincial security council's directive and for not notifying the governor's office of Motahari's arrival time. In contrast, Majid Irshad, the president of Shiraz University, claimed that the security council's recommendation against holding Motahari's speech was discussed and rejected by the student organizations oversight committee. Meanwhile, on March 17, 2015, Motahari denied claims regarding the security council's opposition to his speech in a letter to Hossein Zolfaqari, the deputy security minister. Torkhamdani further revealed that he visited the Shiraz prosecutor's office and learned that those arrested in connection with the case had been released on bail after being informed of their charges by the revolutionary court. He noted that the investigation is still in its preliminary stages, and while the identities of the defendants have been established, their affiliations cannot be disclosed due to confidentiality. Zolfaqari announced on April 1 that nine individuals involved in the attack on Motahari had been summoned and detained by the Fars judiciary, and bail had been set for them. There have been differing opinions regarding the attackers. Mohiuddin Haeri Shirazi, a member of the Assembly of Experts and former Friday prayer leader of Shiraz, stated that the attackers were not thugs but rather "devout youth ready to sacrifice for Islam." Conversely, Hamid Rasai, a member of the Stability Front in parliament, claimed that the incident in Shiraz was not the work of loyalist youth and that anyone making such a claim is lying. However, Motahari remarked that it appeared there was an accepted principle; the attackers, equipped with heavy motorcycles and pepper spray, indicated where they received their orders from. Heavy motorcycles are typically used by military and Basij forces in Iran. Torkhamdani also mentioned that he reported an attack on his vehicle to the Shiraz police but had not yet had the opportunity to file a complaint. On March 15, 2015, Motahari's lawyer reported that during his trip to Shiraz to file a complaint against the attackers, his car was vandalized by "unknown individuals," with the words "first warning" spray-painted on it. The attack on Motahari occurred after he had repeatedly called for the lifting of house arrest on Mir Hossein Mousavi and Mehdi Karroubi, two candidates who contested the results of the 2009 presidential election. On January 10, 2015, an attack by some parliament members on Motahari and a physical altercation following his renewed request to lift the house arrest of Mousavi and Karroubi during a speech temporarily suspended the parliament session.