By Golnaz Esfandiari, RFE/RL
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Ayatollah Ali Khamenei |
Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has
described questioning the country's disputed June 12 presidential vote as the
"biggest crime." Khamenei's comments, reported in Iranian media, appear to
be his strongest warning yet to opposition leaders such as Mir Hossein Musavi
and Mehdi Karrubi, who have on a number of occasions said that the vote was
massively rigged in favor of President Mahmud Ahmadinejad.
The comments could also be intended to create fear within the opposition
movement, which is preparing to return to the streets for a mass protest on
November 4.
"On the day after election day, certain people described this great election as
'a lie without proof': is that a minor offense?" Khamenei asked on October 28,
during a meeting with university students and instructors in Tehran.
Reports say Khamenei added that questioning the June vote is the "biggest
crime."
Green Light For Arrest?
France-based journalist Hossein Bastani, who covers Iran, tells RFE/RL that
Khamenei's comments could be interpreted as a green light for the arrest and
prosecution of Musavi and Karrubi.
"[Khamenei] used the word 'crime'; due to his legal and illegal powers he enjoys
in Iran, some might consider the comments as a call to deal with the crime,"
said Bastani.
Shortly after Khamenei spoke, conservative lawmaker Hamid Reza Rasayi described
the comments as "confirmation" that he concurs with a complaint filed against
Musavi by 100 parliamentarians.
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Mir Hossein
Mousavi (left) hugs Mehdi Karroubi. The two opposition leaders met
this week to discuss the current political situation. |
Reports last week said that the lawmakers called for the prosecution of the
former prime minister, who finished second to Ahmadinejad in the election.
Rasayi called on the judiciary to bring Musavi to justice as soon as possible.
State prosecutor Gholam Hossein Mohseni Ejeyi on October 29 confirmed that he
said that his office is reviewing the lawmakers' complaint. He said the
parliamentarians accuse Musavi of disrupting public order, and of disseminating
propaganda against the establishment.
Karrubi, who like Musavi was a candidate in the June vote, has also come under
official scrutiny. Earlier this month, Tehran prosecutor Abbas Jafari Dolatabadi
said that the Special Court for Clergy is investigating Karrubi, who has accused
security forces of rape and other abuses against those who participated in the
mass protests that followed the election.
A number of conservative officials have called for the arrests and prosecution
of both Musavi and Karrubi, whom they accused of masterminding a "velvet coup"
and harming the Islamic establishment.
President Ahmadinejad said in late August that opposition leaders should be
arrested over the unrest that followed his reelection.
Execution Call
Secretary-general of the conservative Islamic Coalition party, Habibollah
Asgaroladi, has been quoted as saying that some "extremists" have called for the
execution of Musavi and Karrubi.
He has accused Musavi and Karrubi -- both seen as key figures of the 1979
revolution -- of leaving the inner circle of the revolution. But Asgaroladi has
also said the two should be spoken to with "sincerity."
Journalist Bastani suggests that the Iranian establishment has not yet made a
final decision on whether to arrest Musavi and Karrubi, because of the "heavy
price" the regime could stand to pay for targeting the popular political
figures.
"I believe the decision hasn't been made yet, but Khamenei's comment is a
warning that says: 'we' re ready to go this far,'" Bastani said.
Ali Keshtgar, an Iran analyst based in Paris, tells RFE/RL's Radio Farda that
Khamenei's comments reflect the establishment's fear of more protests by the
opposition.
He says Tehran is trying to prevent the opposition protest set for November 4,
the 30th anniversary of the occupation of the U.S. embassy in Iran.
Opposition members have vowed to use the state demonstrations to protest against
the Ahmadinejad's reelection.
"The efforts of Khamenei and his supporters to bring the opposition leaders over
to their side -- have failed,” said Kehstgar. He added that Khamenei has made
the comments to warn people.
Both Musavi and Karrubi have indicated that they will not back down in the face
of threats and pressure.
Karrubi said in a video message issued on October 26 that he stands firm without
any fear.
"Those who betray the Islamic Republic and have deviated from it, those who are
making its Islam meaningless and empty, and those who are destroying its
republicanism and are turning it into just a name -- they should repent," said
the reformist cleric.
Khamenei revealed in his October 28 comments that shortly after the election
results were announced, he sent a message to the "directing elements" of the
unfolding unrest.
Presidential candidates Musavi and Karrubi protested against the election result
-- apparently despite the warning from Khamenei, who has the last say in all
state matters.
Bastani believes the supreme leader's latest warning will also not deter the two
opposition leaders.
"Khamenei lost his status in the first week after the election. Now, moving
against Khamenei's warning is not considered a big red line anymore. Many have
crossed this red line," Bastani said.
In another strong warning to the opposition, the commander of the powerful
Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, Mohammad Ali Jafari, has described Iran's
establishment as "divine," adding that safeguarding it is even more important
than praying.
Jafari added that no one should believe that the "enemy's threat" against Iran
has been removed.
Copyright (c) 2009 RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. www.rferl.org
... Payvand News - 10/30/09 ... --
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