Masoud Pezeshkian, the Deputy Speaker of the Islamic Consultative Assembly, criticized the house arrest of the leaders of Iran's Green Movement, stating that the continuation of this situation is contrary to the country's interests. According to ILNA, Pezeshkian stated on Friday, August 18, "To create unity and cohesion in the country, we must resolve this issue. Sometimes, for the country's interests, we must show mercy and compassion and compromise on certain issues to solve problems." He further remarked, "Certainly, the continuation of this trend cannot be in the country's interest and unifying... and in the current global situation, if division and conflict in society increase, we harm ourselves." The issue of the house arrest of Mir Hossein Mousavi, Zahra Rahnavard, and Mehdi Karroubi, which has lasted for six and a half years, has once again become a focal point in Iranian news following Karroubi's announcement of a hunger strike on Wednesday. Karroubi's demands include the withdrawal of security forces from his home and the holding of a public trial to address the accusations made against him by the Iranian government. A day after this event, Iranian government officials stated that they had agreed to the withdrawal of security forces from Karroubi's home and that the government is working to fulfill his second demand, which led Karroubi to end his hunger strike. Karroubi, who is 80 years old, is currently hospitalized in the CCU due to heart problems. Meanwhile, the Deputy Speaker of Parliament stated that the government and parliament are following up on Karroubi's situation. Pezeshkian noted, "Sometimes issues cannot be publicized because resolving certain matters requires calmness and preventing a tense atmosphere." On Thursday, Mahmoud Sadeghi, a member of the Hope faction in the Islamic Consultative Assembly, also tweeted that "the representatives [of the parliament] are following up on Mr. Karroubi's request without publicizing the matter and are working to create the conditions for lifting the house arrest." Iranian officials acknowledge that the house arrest of the leaders of the Green Movement was ordered by Ali Khamenei, the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic.
Iran's Deputy Speaker of Parliament: Continued House Arrest is Not in the Country's Interest
Masoud Pezeshkian, Iran's Deputy Speaker of Parliament, criticized the ongoing house arrest of Green Movement leaders, stating it is against national interests. The issue gained renewed attention after Mehdi Karroubi's hunger strike, leading to discussions about lifting the house arrest. This situation reflects the tensions within Iran's political landscape and the government's response to dissent.
👥 Key Players
📰 What Happened
Iran's Deputy Speaker of Parliament criticized the ongoing house arrest of Green Movement leaders, highlighting it as detrimental to national interests. This follows Mehdi Karroubi's hunger strike, which prompted government concessions.
- Karroubi's hunger strike led to the withdrawal of security forces from his home.
- The government is considering a public trial for Karroubi, addressing his demands.
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
The Green Movement emerged after the disputed 2009 presidential election, advocating for political reform and transparency. Its leaders have been under house arrest since 2011, symbolizing ongoing political repression in Iran.
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