An Iranian government spokesman has announced that the Rohani administration is working to end the house arrest of reformist figures and bring about the release of political prisoners.
In an interview with Etemad Newspaper on Thursday, Mohammad Baqer Nobakht said the public should maintain its confidence in Hassan Rohani’s promises to open up the political scene, adding that the administration prefers to work hard at matters rather than merely make statements.
“As the public demands an end to house arrests and the opening of the political atmosphere of the country, that is on the government’s agenda,” he said.
MirHosein Mousavi, Mehdi Karroubi and Zahra Rahnavard have been under house arrest for more than a thousand days with no official charges brought against them.
Despite some hope that the leaders might be released from house arrest, hardliner Ahmad Jannati recently said the leaders are guilty of fomenting unrest and should be thankful they were not given the death penalty.
Nobakht stressed that the president is working hard to satisfy public demand for the release of the leaders and political prisoners and he needs the support and confidence of the people to do so.
