MONTAZERI’S SON-IN-LAW AND TWO AIDES ARRESTED
TEHRAN 24 June (IPS) On orders from the leader-controlled Clergymen’s Special Tribunal (CST), Hojjatoleslam Hadi Hashemi, Grand Ayatollah Hoseinali Montazeri’s son-in-law, Hojjatoleslam Mohammad Hasan Moosavi-Savoji and Hojjatoleslam Ali Asqar Kimia’i, followers of the dissident cleric, were arrested early Friday morning in their residence in Qom, informed sources reported Saturday.
The arrests, not confirmed by the authorities at the time this item was put on the internet, came exactly one day after a hundred of reformist MMs (Members of the Majles) wrote a letter to Ayatollah Ali Khamenehe'i, urging him to end the restriction imposed on the Grand Ayatollah, Iran’s and the world’s 200-250 million Muslim Shi’as most senior authority.
Analysts said the arrests was the response of Mr. Khamenehe'i and the conservatives he leads to the "audacity" showed by some MMs who "dared" to openly call for the release of the dissident Grand Ayatollah, Mr. Khameneh’is arch ‘enemy.
According to the Majles internal laws, 145 and more signatories are needed for a petition or bill to apply for public debate.
The 79 years-old combative Montazeri was placed under strict house arrest conditions on orders from Mr. Khamenehe'i in October 1996 after a speech in which the senior cleric openly criticised the lamed and contested leader on both his lavish "kingly" life style and lack of political maturity.
Once named as his successor, Grand Ayatollah Montazeri was suddenly demoted by Grand Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini months before his death on August 1989, following a series of protests addressed directly to Mr. Khomeini in relation with the "mass executions" of political prisoners.
In his memories published last year on internet, Mr. Montazeri confirmed that the execution of some 2.500 to 3.500 prisoners of conscience, most of them leftists, was carried on direct order issued by Mr. Khomeini himself.
Iranian opposition sources put the number of the executions between 10.000 to 15.000.
The publication of the "Memoirs" was devastating for the ruling conservatives who consistently deny the existence of the reported mass execution, attributing it to "enemy’s propaganda".
Notwithstanding the restrictions, Mr. Montazeri would continue his bitter criticism of the poor way the present leaders, including President Mohammad Khatami, conduct the affairs of the State.
Though he claims in his book that it was he, and not Mr. Khomeini, as the conservatives insists, who introduced the concept of "velayat faqih", or the rule of a learned and authoritative religious figure, into the Iranian Constitution, Mr. Montazeri has made a kind of mea cupla and distanced himself from the present system, suggesting a "soft secularism" instead.
In a recent open letter, Mr. Montazeri said the transformation of velayat faqih into the absolute, undisputed rule of the leader and Mr. Khamenehe'i intervening constantly in the responsibilities of the president, Islam itself was in danger, as more and more people, mostly the young ones, blame the religion and the religious for the misconduct of the officials, the widespread corruption and the inefficiency of the system in solving their most urgent problems.
A source close to Mr. Montazeri’s household told Iran Press Service that the three men were arrested at about six in the morning and transferred to an undisclosed prison in Tehran.
"Their houses were searched by plainclothes agents claiming to be acting on orders from the CST, taking away computers, books and many documents as well as personal belongings", the source added.
He said though the agents provided no explanation for the arrests, but he too is of the opinion that it must be related to the MMs petition to Mr. Khamenehe'i.
"The re-election of Mr. Khatami had triggered some hopes in the society that the other side (the conservatives) would take heed of the realities and adopt a more logical attitude. It was on the same kind of assumption and wishful thinking that some deputies signed the petition. The arrest of the Grand Ayatollah’s son-in-law and two close associates is also a warning to Mr. Khatami that not to repeat the same mistake", he commented.
Meanwhile, in a letter to President Khatami, Mr. Montazeri’s four daughters called on him to free their brother, Hojjatoleslam Sa’id Montazeri and "restore his rights as a true servant of Islam and revolution".
The younger Montazeri was arrested more than six months ago, charged of "activities against national security, propaganda against the Islamic Republic and insulting the leader".
He was detained after he helped publication of his father’s "Memoirs" on internet and since then, he had remained incommunicado. ENDS MONTAZERI AIDES ARRESTED 24601