Iranian opposition leaders have criticised what they describe as the “security state” imposed in the country after the controversial June elections. They also called for the release of people detained during mass protests that followed the vote. Runner-up Mir Hossein Mousavi’s website said the call was backed by fellow defeated candidate Mehdi Karoubi and former President Mohammad Khatami. The strongly worded statement on the Ghalamnews website followed a meeting between the three opposition and reformist figures, as well as a number of supporters. It conveyed their harsh criticism of “attacks against innocent people, dormitories, and houses… and some shocking brutalities carried out by plainclothes forces supported by security forces”.
