Iranian MP Ali Motahari said in a speech at Qazvin University that the house arrest of MirHosein Mousavi and Mehdi Karroubi should not be allowed to turn into “a dark mark in the history of the Revolution.”
The Kaleme website reports that Motahari referred to the three-year-plus house arrest of Mousavi, Zahra Rahnavard and Karroubi as “illegal and against religious Sharia”, adding: “The continued house arrest of Mousavi and Karroubi after such a long time is neither logical nor of benefit to the system.”
He stressed that demanding that someone recant when he believes in his actions is also illogical. “Both sides have to accept their mistakes or else both of them will continue being punished,” Motahari said.
Some reports indicate that hardliners have called for the two opposition leaders to denounce their role in the 2009 election protests and their challenging of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s victory.
Motahari also made reference to the age of Mousavi and Karroubi, saying the regime would be held accountable if they should pass away while under house arrest.
Mousavi, Karroubi and Rahnavard have been under house arrested since February of 2011.
