Source: Radio Zamaneh

Iranian opposition leader, Mir Hossein Mousavi dismissed the effectiveness of recent government efforts to isolate him by restricting his visitors.

 
Mir Hossein Mousavi

Kaleme website reports that government forces have intensified pressure on Mir Hossein Mousavi visitors in an attempt to isolate the opposition leader.

The reformist website reports: "In the past weeks, people are being prevented from visiting the office of Mir Hossein Mousavi and some visitors are arrested and interrogated or forced to give signed consent that they will never return."

The report indicates that on the day that Mir Hossein Mousavi was to meet with reporters "a security van was stationed in front of Mousavi's office arresting the reporters one by one. They interrogated the reporters, insulted them and forced them to sign commitments not to return."

Similar treatments have been reported in the past days with visiting political figures and victims of the post-election violence.

Mousavi told Kaleme: "These illegal restrictions on people visiting me date back to the elections of 2009. However, the people's movement has strong roots and will not be affected by restrictions on my person or even by my omission", the opposition leader added.

Mousavi warned the establishment that the policies of threats and intimidation will not help them survive and said: "The continuous loss of the government's legitimacy and the piling of dissent have created a particular situation in the country... they should fear the ever-increasing rage of the people not us."

Interview with Mousavi: Police Force Will Not Solve The Problems of Those Who Hold the Power

Source: www.kaleme.com (with special thanks to Negra Irani for English translation)

On many levels, the regime is moving towards Machiavellism and is willing to justify any means to achieve this goal. This is one of the main characteristics of a ruling power that forbids individuals to ask questions. Under such conditions, the rights of human beings are easily ignored and even killing an individual is justified as a means to gain political control and remain in power. Deceit becomes a means for remaining in power and the line between personal and national interests is easily crossed.

The Green Movement will not be stopped because of increased security measures or the elimination of its followers

In an interview with Kaleme, Mir Hossein Mousavi reiterated that the security restrictions surrounding him are nothing new and have been prevalent since the 10th presidential elections when illegal restrictions were first imposed upon him.

Mousavi stated that when lies and deceit become the main means to govern a country and individual interests take the place of national interests, we stoop to levels where when a Marja keeps quiet, the government will leave the Marja alone; if a Marja eulogies and praises the powers that be, they are referred to as grand spiritual leaders, their images shown on the government owned television station IRIB; the level of attention received, is directly proportional to the level of praise given to the ruling powers. On the other hand, for example, if the same Marja criticize the powers that be, or expresses an opposing opinion, he is immediately disowned, reduced to nothing, rendered disqualified as a spiritual figure, accused and slandered, his offices, home and mosque raided and his followers attacked by so called rogue forces.

The complete content of Kaleme's discussions with Mousavi with regards to the recent security restrictions is as follows:

It has been reported that there has been an increase in the security restrictions surrounding you? What is your opinion regarding this issue?

The illegal restrictions against me and this type of behavior and inconvenience dates back to the 10th presidential elections and began when my election headquarters were attacked on the afternoon of June 12th, 2009. Of course, in addition to existing evidence and plenty of documentation pointing to the aforementioned fact, the objective of those who engaged in these fraudulent actions became very clear to all when they attacked the election headquarters of opposition candidates before the votes were counted, and arrested revolutionary and political figures on the day after the elections and the days that followed. Fortunately because of their mishap and the publishing of the content of two tapes in which "commanders in charge" spoke of what had happened, the public was able to judge for themselves. In any event, the restrictions you refer to began then and continue until this day.

Are you then confirming the report that you now face stricter security restrictions?

Yes the reports regarding increased security restrictions are true. Recently these limitations have become even more severe because the security forces are fearful of people coming to the streets. When you add to that the fact that the head of my security has been prevented from performing his duties, the issue becomes controversial and alarming to say the least. Though he was the head of my security for over 20 years, he was removed from his post. Who knows what the intentions were behind this move.

Do you think that their [ruling government] hope is to limit the activities of the movement through these types of restrictions?

If this is their goal, then they are sorely mistaken. The roots of this movement are strong enough that it will not be stopped because of security restrictions or by eliminating me from the picture. Continuous dissatisfaction and the lack of legitimacy of this government led to our nation's current situation. If the slogan "Where is my Vote" was able to bring together millions of peaceful citizens on June 15th, 18th and 20th of last year, today, the oppressive policies of this government over the past year and the unacceptable living conditions of our citizens coupled with international pressure have only led to an increase in strength of a movement that was unexpected. I myself, brother Karroubi and others are but humble companions of the people. They should be fearful of the people's anger and not fearful of us.

Is it your opinion then that the importance of the election fraud has faded now that there is increased dissatisfaction in our society?

Absolutely not! On the contrary, the disastrous and made up policies, coupled with lies and oppression have made our citizens much more aware of the importance of free and fair elections. With the passing of every day, people become more convinced that the roots of this crisis lie in authoritarianism and the lack of attention to their right to determine their own destiny. Our people see that in the name of Islam, their government creates differences between them when in reality they are governing against the principles of Islam.

In my opinion, justice and freedom are becoming more important in the eyes of people with the passing of each day. For this reason those in power are certainly aware of the strategic significance of the written complaints by the seven Green warriors, considered amongst our country's most educated in reference to the remarks by one of the officers of the IRGC. Rather than the extensive security maneuvers we witnessed on the day before Qhods in the streets of Tehran, or the attacking of the homes of Marajeh so dear to the nation in the Qom and Shiraz, I must stress that the only means out of the current crisis is dealing fairly and unequivocally to this public complaint. The arrest of Dr. Mohammad Reza Khatami and our dear artist Dr. Habib Sadeghi in front of my offices will not help matters and will do nothing to resolve this crisis.

Do you believe that the current restrictions are related to the attacks on the Marajeh who have voiced criticism of the government as of late?

We must pay attention to the root of the problem. On many levels, the regime is moving towards Machiavellism and is willing to justify any means to achieve this goal. This is one of the main characteristics of a ruling government in which individuals are forbidden to ask questions. Under such conditions, the rights of human beings are easily ignored and even the killing of an individual is justified as a means to gain political control and remain in power. Deceit becomes a means for remaining in power and the line between personal and national interests is easily crossed. When lies and deceit become the main means to govern a country and individual interests take the place of national interests, we stoop to levels where when a Marja keeps quiet, the government will leave the Marja alone; if a Marja eulogies and praises the powers that be, they are referred to as grand spiritual leaders, their images shown on the government owned television station IRIB; the level of attention received, is directly proportional to the level of praise given to the ruling powers. On the other hand, for example, if the same Marja criticize the powers that be, or expresses an opposing opinion, he is immediately disowned, reduced to nothing, rendered disqualified as a spiritual figure, accused and slandered, his offices, home and mosque raided and his followers attacked by so called rogue forces. Ayatollah Dastgheyb's opinion is respected only if turns a blind eye to the oppression by these gentlemen, or when he does not criticize the wrong doings of the Assembly of Experts. Otherwise the mosque in which he prays, a mosque with such reputation, is turned over to another Friday prayer Imman who creates harm, is disrespectful to millions of citizens, and refers to the well known, well liked, Ayatollah Dastgheyb with a deep routed family in Shiraz, the cradle of civilization and culture, as a Friday prayer Imman who is incompetent.

Do you not think that these measures are taken in order to distract the people from the real political and economic crisis engulfing the country?

The crisis we are experiencing today is not just limited to political and economic issues. The attack on the Marajeh and their seminaries and attacks on universities and dormitories is one of the most shocking realities within this crisis. A regime, whose legitimacy is rooted in the hierarchy within its seminaries and clergymen, is now engaged in destroying the seminaries and universities. On the one hand, one of its ministers threatens to annihilate one of our universities, and on the other hand the homes of the Maraje who are critical of the oppressive policies of the regime are raided, they are physically attacked and the ruling powers engage in their character assassination.

Those who engage in these types of plots should know that this type of behavior will do nothing to keep them in power. They should continue to engage in this type of behavior if they believe that past oppressors were successful in staying in power using such tactics. If an individual wishes to focus on our country's national interests rather than his own personal interests, then he must return to the principles of law and justice, even if this means losing his power and position.<span> </span>Mousavi stated that when lies and deceit become the main means to govern a country and individual interests take the place of national interests, we stoop to levels where when a Marja keeps quiet, the government will leave the Marja alone; if a Marja eulogies and praises the powers that be, they are referred to as grand spiritual leaders, their images shown on the government owned television station IRIB; the level of attention received, is directly proportional to the level of praise given to the ruling powers. On the other hand, for example, if the same Marja criticize the powers that be, or expresses an opposing opinion, he is immediately disowned, reduced to nothing, rendered disqualified as a spiritual figure, accused and slandered, his offices, home and mosque raided and his followers attacked by so called rogue forces.

... Payvand News - 09/14/10 ... --