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Iran opposition leaders jailed: reports

By Aman Kakar

[JURIST] Iranian opposition leaders Mir-Hossein Mousavi [BBC profile; JURIST news archive] and Mehdi Karroubi [NYT profile; JURIST news archive] and their wives were arrested [Kaleme post, in Persian] and jailed in Heshamatiyeh prison on Monday, according to Mousavi's website Kaleme [website, in Persian]. Judicial authorities denied the arrest [Fars News report, in Persian], stating that both Mousavi and Karroubi were only under house arrest. Prosecutor General Gholam Hossein Mohseni Ejeie warned the opposition movement [AFP report] earlier on Monday against holding protests on Tuesday demanding Mousavi and Karroubi's release from house arrest. Ejeie also stated that the opposition movement had transformed itself from "sedition to anti-revolution." Calls for Tuesday's protest were issued by the Green Path of Hope, an umbrella group for the Iranian opposition that was also responsible for protests held on February 14 and February 20. The opposition group has stated demonstrations will be held on March 15, if Mousavi and Karroubi remained in house arrest beyond March 1.

Earlier this month, Karroubi called for his own trial to be set up in a public court in an open letter to the head of the Supreme Judicial System of Iran [GlobaLex backgrounder], Ayatollah Sadeq Larijani [official website, in Farsi]. Also in February, Iranian lawmakers called for Karroubi and two other opposition leaders, Mir-Hossein Mousavi and former reformist president Mohammad Khatami [BBC profile] to face trial and death [JURIST report] after the February 14 clash with security forces. Thousands of Iranians protested on February 14 in solidarity with Egypt's revolt against ousted president Hosni Mubarak [Al Jazeera profile]. Pro-government legislators demanded [AP report] the men be held responsible for the protests, which resulted in one death and numerous injuries. Karroubi was placed under house arrest [JURIST report] prior to the protests, according to his website Saham News [website, in Persian].

Full post as published by JURIST - The Paper Chase on March 01, 2011 (boomark / email).