German Deputy Speaker in Tehran: House Arrest Must Be Lifted

Claudia Roth, the Deputy Speaker of the German Parliament, has called for an end to the house arrest of the leaders of the Green Movement, stating that "if this happens, people will be more satisfied." According to Fars News Agency, Ms. Roth made this request during a meeting with Mohammad-Reza Aref, a member of the Expediency Discernment Council, on Sunday, January 25. The Deputy Speaker of the German Parliament expressed hope that the house arrest would be lifted and described the protests against the results of the 2009 presidential election in Iran as signs of the "desire for freedom among the youth and students." Mir-Hossein Mousavi and Mehdi Karroubi, two candidates who protested the results of the tenth presidential election, along with Zahra Rahnavard, Mr. Mousavi's wife, have been under house arrest since winter 2010. Claudia Roth also referred to the criticisms from Iranian officials regarding human rights violations by the U.S. in Guantanamo and Abu Ghraib, stating that "one must first correct human rights reforms at home before criticizing Guantanamo and Abu Ghraib." Ms. Roth also commented on the elections for the Islamic Consultative Assembly, saying, "I have heard that everyone can run as a candidate in Iran, but they must pass through the Guardian Council's filter, and I have also heard that some have not been able to pass this filter." The request for the release of filmmaker Jafar Panahi and imprisoned lawyer Abdolfattah Soltani was another focus of the Deputy Speaker's remarks, as reported by Fars News Agency. The report added that Mr. Aref, in response to the comments made, criticized the "theatrical and selective actions of other countries regarding terrorism," stating that some actions by European countries are contrary to human rights. Claudia Roth's remarks have sparked an angry reaction from conservatives. Saeed Jalili, a member of the Expediency Discernment Council and the Supreme National Security Council, stated, "Those who are the greatest violators of human rights cannot and are not in a position to speak for other countries." According to ILNA, Mr. Jalili added, "We have our own defined human rights, and they have their own defined human rights." Fars News Agency also reported that Fatemeh Alia, a member of the Social Commission of the Islamic Consultative Assembly, condemned the "interventionist remarks" of the Deputy Speaker of the German Parliament, saying, "It would have been better if her trip had ended after these interventionist remarks." Mohammad Hossein Farhangi, a member of the Assembly's board, also described Ms. Roth's comments as "an obvious interference in Iran's affairs" and called for an "appropriate response" to her remarks.