Accessibility links

Breaking News

Watchdog

Iranian oppositionist Mehdi Karrubi (file photo)
Iranian oppositionist Mehdi Karrubi (file photo)

Iranian opposition figure Mehdi Karrubi, under house arrest since February 2011, has called on President Hassan Rohani to ask the “autocratic” Iranian establishment for a court hearing.

Iranian authorities put Karrubi and his fellow opposition figures Mir Hossein Musavi along with his wife Zahra Rahnavard under house arrest after they repeatedly challenged Iranian leaders over the 2009 disputed reelection of Mahmud Ahmadinejad.

The three also criticized a post-election state crackdown.

Karrubi, a former parliamentary speaker, and Musavi, a former prime minister, ran as presidential candidates in the 2009 vote. Karrubi was also a presidential candidate in the 2005 presidential election.

In a letter to Rohani, published by an opposition website on April 9, Karrubi said that he’s ready to show that the 2005 and 2009 elections that Ahmadinejad won were rigged.

He also said that he would shed light on the plight of prisoners held in Iran’s “legal and illegal” detention centers.

Karrubi said he’s aware that Rohani does not have the authority to end his house arrest.

Rohani promised in his 2013 election campaign that he would work to end the house arrest of opposition figures.

Iranian hard-liners have accused Musavi and Karrubi of harming the Islamic republic.

Iranian filmmaker Mostafa Azizi
Iranian filmmaker Mostafa Azizi

Toronto-based Iranian filmmaker Mostafa Azizi who was sentenced to eight years in prison in Iran, has been released, his son, Arash Azizi, said.

Azizi wrote on Twitter on April 9 that his father had been freed from prison after being included in an amnesty.

Azizi was reportedly convicted of charges that included spreading propaganda against the Iranian establishment and insulting Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei.

The filmmaker had returned to Tehran from Canada to visit his ailing father, and was considering staying when he was arrested in February 2015, his son said.

Rights groups had called for his release.

Based on reporting by AFP and Radio Farda

Load more

About This Blog

"Watchdog" is a blog with a singular mission -- to monitor the latest developments concerning human rights, civil society, and press freedom. We'll pay particular attention to reports concerning countries in RFE/RL's broadcast region.

Subscribe

Latest Posts

Journalists In Trouble

RFE/RL journalists take risks, face threats, and make sacrifices every day in an effort to gather the news. Our "Journalists In Trouble" page recognizes their courage and conviction, and documents the high price that many have paid simply for doing their jobs. More

XS
SM
MD
LG