Iranian interior ministry announced that Baran Foundation, founded by former Iranian president Mohammad Khatami, is an “illegal” entity and its activities must be banned.
The statement appears to be the latest in the wave of government attacks against the reformist president, who is considered one of the top three leaders of the post-election protests in Iran.
Head of the political branch of the interior ministry contended that Baran Foundation has not gone through the proper procedures for licensing.
“The so-called reform government at the end of its mandate prior to the transfer of power, quickly tried to create a number of organizations to further its agenda,” Mahmoud Abbaszadeh Meshkini declared.
He goes on to add that Baran Foundation was registered and issued a permit in haste without going through the required procedures.
Baran Faoundation was established in 2005 by Mohammad Khatami and a number of his cabinet ministers and colleagues and describes its mission as promotion of freedom, growth and development in Iran.
In september a member of Article 10 Commission, the government body that issues permits for political parties, also announced that Baran Foundation is strictly a cultural organization and forbidden from any political activity.
In the past year, the Article 10 Commission has also dissolved the two major reformist parties of Iran, the Islamic Iran Participation Front and the Mojahedin of the Islamic Revolution.
Following the controversial re-election of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and allegations of the reformists faction about vote rigging, the political arena has become progressively tighter for Iranian reformists with many of them behind bars and many others dismissed from their government positions.
