Police have blocked all access to the home of Iranian opposition leader MirHosein Mousavi and his wife Zahra Rahnavard to prevent them from joining the proposed opposition rally today.
Kaleme website reports that since yesterday Mousavi and Rahnavard have been completely cut off from outside contact. All telephone communication to their home was severed since yesterday.
Iranian security forces with a van and several cars have blocked the entrance to the cul-de-sac where Mousavi and Rahnavard’s home is located, Kaleme adds.
The other opposition leader, Mehdi Karroubi, has been under a similar house arrest since Thursday and his phones have also been cut off.
The two opposition leaders had requested a permit from the ministry of interior to march today in support of the recent Arab protests.
Iran has applauded the Arab protests, but yesterday the interior ministry announced that no permit will be issued for today’s rally. It accused the opposition leaders of trying to cause disruptions similar to the anti-government protests that followed the disputed re-election of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in 2009.
Even though the permit was denied, several opposition groups have backed the rally and said they will take part in the proposed march today.
The authorities have stepped up security measures by blocking access to internet sites and jamming satellite news channels.
An eyewitness told Zamaneh at 1:30 p.m. local time that black police vans are combing the streets while people in small scattered groups are looking for a chance to gather.
Karroubi’s Saham News also reports that a young girl has climbed a tall crane in central Tehran with a green scarf around her neck holding the picture of a father and son.
The report adds that she has chanted slogans in support of the opposition today’s rally and threatened to kill herself if officials tried to approach her.
