News

"In a meeting this morning, Mir-Hossein Mousavi and Mehdi Karroubi voiced deep sorrow and raised questions about the "hasty" executions of Mohammad-Reza Ali-Zamani and Arash Rahmanipour, who were hanged Thursday morning in a move widely interpreted as an attempt to intimidate Iran's opposition movement ahead of anticipated confrontations during Feb. 11 celebrations coinciding with the 1979 birthday of the Islamic Republic."

"The pair, who have emerged as the leading figureheads of Iran's Green movement, condemned the recent mass arrests of activists, journalists and scholars and the call Friday by Ayatollah Ahmad Jannati urging officials to quickly put arrested opposition supporters to death by likening them to the "Jews" who defied the prophet Mohammad.

"It is regrettable to see the Friday Prayers tribune has turned into a venue for inciting violence and encouraging more executions," they were quoted as saying.

Mousavi and Karroubi "invited" people to turn out massively on Feb. 11, risking the wrath of authorities who already have placed them under strict surveillance in conditions that resemble house arrest."

"Ayatollah Ali Akbar Hashemi-Rafsanjani, a relatively moderate cleric believed to be sympathetic to the opposition, also called on Iranians "of all groups and camps" to turn out en masse for the holiday, but warned that any violence will serve the interests of Tehran's "enemies."