Iran’s opposition websites report that Mehdi Karroubi and his wife have been taken to an unknown location by Islamic Republic security forces.
Jaras writes that the opposition leader and his wife were taken from their home Friday night, and their fate remains unclear.
The report adds: “An eyewitness had gone to the alley were Mehdi Karroubi’s home is located and noticed that not only were the lights completely off and there was no sign of anyone’s presence, but also that there was no longer any sign of security vehicles or the plainclothes forces who used to patrol the area.”
MirHosein Mousavi and his wife Zahra Rahnavard, were similarly put under house arrest after Mousavi and Karroubi called for rallies on February 14 to show solidarity with recent Arab uprisings. They also have been completely cut off from the outside world, and there is no word of their situation.
The International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran quoted an unknown source today saying the opposition leaders are no longer in their homes but have been taken to a “safe house outside the city of Tehran.”
Following the February 14 protests, the head of Iran’s judiciary Ayatollah Sadegh Larijani announced that the two opposition leaders had been taking advantage of the “tolerance of the regime” by issuing frequent critical announcements over the past year. From now on, he said, the two will be prevented from issuing announcements.
The head of the Guardian Council, Ahmad Jannati, echoed Ayatollah Larijani’s sentiments and advocated strict house arrest for both men, with no outside contact.
The opposition maintains that the restrictions imposed on the two opposition leaders is illegal. They have not been charged, put on trial or sentenced; therefore, the unofficial house arrest is in violation of their civil rights.
The opposition has called for protesters to take to the streets on March 1 to demand the release of the opposition leaders and their wives.
