November 30, 2009

Source:

A number of families of political prisoners along with a group of women political activists visited Mehdi Karoubi at his home. In this meeting they praised Karoubi for his courage and bravery and discussed their concern with him.

According to Norooz news agency since the shutdown of Karoubi’s offices and his party’s office he has been hosting his visitors in his home to keep in touch with people and communicate with them. Karoubi thanked the reformist women activists and the families of political prisoners for visiting him in his home and repeatedly emphasised that he is determined to have similar discussion and meeting in future. After welcoming his guests Karoubi expressed deep sorrow regarding the horrible events that happened after the election and said: “It is devastating that the spouses of some who are present in this meeting today, who have been loyal revolutionaries and from families of Martyrs and veterans have been imprisoned unjustly.”

He pointed out the important role of women throughout the history and added: “Women have palyed an important role during the revolution and war. I had always asked women Members of the parliament to study the history and the role of women in Iranian society. At the times that there were discussion for expanding the participation of women, during Ayatollah Hashemi-Rafsanjani (presidency) I always insisted that instead of having “Office of Women’s Affairs” , there would be a “Deputy in Women’s Affairs” so that at least one women could enter the cabinet and as a result the barrier against women’s political participation would be broken.”

Karoubi by pointing out to the critical conditions of the society said: “For sure we will get over these hard and bitter times and although I try not to bring up the subject of elections but there has been an election which some are objecting to it and a large number of people took to the streets [in protest]. The fact that they arrested some in advance and then saying that they were anticipating some events is not right. Unfortunately they have sunk so low that now they accuse the revolutionary figures of such charges that is not in stature of the Revolution.”

He continued: “Many of the conservatives are also unhappy with this situation. The fact is that when they falsely accuse senior figures and destroy their credit and damage people’s trust, If someday a misfortunate event occurs and they would want to inform the nation of that and ask for their support, God forbidden, people would not believe that and wont trust [them]. There should not be such actions that cause people to lose trust.”

Karoubi reinstated: “My belief is that people should be talked to honestly and clearly. For instance regarding the death of the young physician who was working in Kahrizak prison truth must be told so that there would not be opportunities for rumours because in lack of information, rumours will spread and will attack attentions.”

Karoubi emphasised that: “I am saying that the citizen right of all the people of Iran should be respected. We should try to express our views and thoughts within the boundaries of revolution and Islamic Republic. When we are saying Islamic Republic, we mean the Islamic Republic that 98% of people voted for it, not the Islamic Republic that some don’t even believe in its foundations, and are now mentioning.”

He added: “ In these situation one must warn that some are trying hard for the people to give up from the reform movement and turn in to violence, so that they can repress that [even more]. We should draw the lines so that there would be no justification for oppressing and using violence against people. Many senior figures who care are [also] unhappy from these situation but some with no roots in the revolution have seized the power and have no intentions to give it up no matter what, and this is harmful for the society”

Karoubi added: “I am saying that we are all members of one family and different views should be tolerated and violence should be avoided in the society.” He also added: “Mr. Mousavi and I have also talked about the issues that there should be no violence in the society.”

At the end of this meeting Karoubi prayed for the release of all political prisoners and thanked the family members of political prisoners and women reformist activists for their visit and expressed hope that the concerns mentioned by them would be discussed further in future meetings.