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Mir Hossein Mousavi and Mehdi Karoubi condemned the recent executions and invited people to participate in Feb 11th rally

Mir Hossein Mousavi and Mehdi Karoubi met with each other this morning. In this meeting Mir Hossein Mousavi and Mehdi Karoubi while objecting to the continuation of the current situation and the execution sentences issued for some of the political prisoners without the proper judiciary procedure, expressed deep sorrow over the hasty execution of two of the political prisoners. Additionally in this meeting the Green leaders invited all people to participate in the February 11th rally (which will be held on the 31st anniversary of the Islamic Republic)

Mehdi Karoubi and Mir Hossein Mousavi in a meeting that was held in Mehdi Karoubi’s home on Saturday morning, while expressing sorrow over the execution of some of the citizens, demanded legal investigations about the situations of the political prisoners. Mousavi and Karoubi by pointing out the cases of the two political prisoner who were executed recently stated: “It seems like the [two] prisoners who were executed [recently] were arrested months before the election and their cases had nothing to do with the post-election events and according to their lawyers they could only have a short meeting with their clients and the legal procedures were not completed for them. It seems like such actions is only to scare people and discourage them from participating in February 11th rally.”

Mousavi and Karoubi emphasised: “The widespread arrests of the political figures, journalists and academia with the charges of protesting in order to defend their rights is illegal and this is while the process of obtaining confessions from these prisoners is also in contradiction to Islamic principles and the constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran.”

Karoubi and Mousavi by pointing out the sermons delivered by Ahmad Janati, Secretary General of the Guardian Council and the Imam of Tehran, in this week’s Friday Prayer while expressing regret for the comments made by an Imam in a Friday Prayer said: “Unfortunately instead of using the Friday Prayer’s podium to invite people to good, the Friday Prayer Imam by suggesting to the head of the judiciary that if they had not shown weakness on the events of July 9th (18 Tir ) and if the judiciary would have had executed some then, the events of Ashura would have not happened; encourages the authorities to repress and kill people and also justifies the actions of the authorities in executing some citizens with vague and fabricated charges. This is a very sad situation that the platform of Friday Prayer has become a podium for encouraging violence and inviting authorities to execute the citizens!”

Mousavi and Karoubi announced that the only way to resolve the current crisis and returning peace to the country is in releasing all political prisoners, opening the free media, letting the parties to become active again and holding free election and stressed that: “Now the majority of the people are present in the scene without any fear in order to regain their rights, and their demand is to hold free elections but it seems like unfortunately the voice of the majority of the people is not being heard [by authorities].”

Karoubi and Mousavi announced that the continuation of the current situation will result in harming the foundations of the Islamic Revolution and the Islamic Republic which have been the outcome of the efforts and sacrifices of many brave Iranians and added: “It seems like there is an illusion of conspiracy to overthrow the system among some authorities, and this trend of thoughts will make the country fall and will endanger the foundations of the system.”

Mousavi and Karoubi emphasised: “The majority of the people only want to regain their rights and are not seeking to overthrow the system but it seems like the rulers are even feeling danger by this justice seeking voice of the people while the only way to end the crisis is to listen to the voice of the majority and respond to it [appropriately].”

It is also important to note that Mousavi and Karoubi invited all the people to participate in February 11th rally.

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Letter by Participation Front to Head of Judiciary about Executions here.

The commemoration ceremony of the 40th day anniversary of the passing of Grand Ayatollah Montazeri was held today (Jan 29th) with the participation of thousands of devoted people. Despite the heavy security restrictions, communication limitations and the refusal of governmental media in spreading the information regarding the memorial ceremony, thousands of the people of the holy city of Qom and other cities participated in the memorial ceremony for late Grand Ayatollah Montazeri. The ceremony was held at Ayatollah’s home and office due to restrictions. In this ceremony in addition to reading Quran some highlights of Grand Ayatollah Montazeri’s views and ideas were read by the host and at some times the audio of some of Grand Ayatollah’s remarks regarding the necessity of releasing political prisoners, the importance of inviting others to good deeds and preventing from bad deeds and the teachings of Imam Ali about honoring people’s rights regardless of their views, were played and for the devoted followers who have not heard his voice these were emotional moments. Dr. Adib, university professor, gave a passionate eulogy for Grand Ayatollah Montazeri and praised him for his resistance and justice seeking efforts during his life. The ceremony was held under heavy security restrictions and some Basij and plain clothes militia were also present among the crowd but due to calmness and wisdom of the people they did not find any excuse to create tension. The security forces were present and were controlling the events. They were constantly filming the people. Some of the students and young attendees were arrested which according to reports two of them were released but there is no further information about the rest of them till this moment. Many senior and prominent religious and political figures attended this ceremony including Grand Ayatollahs Saanei and Bayat-Zanjani.

In the fifteen episode of The Week in Green, Dr. Moshen Kadivar, visiting professor at Duke University, discusses the role of Islam in the course of the Iranian people’s quest towards a democratic society.  YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9vUzVnQ2gw0