Monday, February 11, 2013

Mousavi's Daughters Arrested--Iran

Then Released!

By: Jabbar Fazeli, MD

Two daughters of the Iranian opposition leader Mir Hossein Mousavi have been arrested after security forces raided their homes in the capital, Tehran.(1)

This comes as part of a wider security crack down in preparation for the presidential elections due in June of this year. The recent arrests spree included journalists and tighter control of the media.

A prominent conservative member of the parliament, Ali Motahari, has admitted that the recent arrests of journalists was related to the upcoming elections.

UPDATE:
ILNA reports that the Mousavi daughters have been released after a few hours of questioning.(3,4)



References:
(1) http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-21409666
(2) http://irnanews.ir/?p=19813
(3)http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle_east/daughters-of-irans-opposition-leader-returned-home-after-brief-summons-by-prosecutors/2013/02/11/f2ba6882-7464-11e2-9889-60bfcbb02149_story.html
(4) http://ilna.ir/news/news.cfm?id=46042

Photo credit: Globalpost.com

9 comments:

Surenas said...

She has been released:

http://news.yahoo.com/iran-releases-daughters-opposition-leader-160405363.html

Unknown said...

Thanks. post updated.

Mark Pyruz said...

The top photo is a NAJA special operations unit, armed in that manner they are usually on an anti-drug or anti-terrorism operation (or training or parade).

Even so, it's likely the detaining of these figures was carried out by investigative agents of VEVAK.

Unknown said...

Thanks Mark.

The purpose of the top photo was to convey the sentiment that Iran is becoming a "Police State".

My guess would be that the regime used plain clothed agents to arrest these two unarmed women in their own home at 8 in the morning today.

We are both speculating of course as the IR has not published any photos or operation details relating to this event.

Surenas said...

NAJA or NOPO; they are all involved in cracking down on protestors or political activists. According to Amir-Farshad Ebrahimi, a former Ansar-e Hezbollah who defected to the USA:

[quote]''It was then that the foundations of the "NOPO" forces were built. On the Leader's direct order to the head of police intelligence at the time, Brigadier-General Masoud Sadroleslam, a special force was formed called NOPO, which stands for "Special Forces to Guard Velayat [leadership]." A section of Ansar forces became a part of the police in a very organized way and worked under the police intelligence. These were the poeple who took part in the events of July 9, 1999 and the attack on the university dormitories. Right now, in the attacks on the protesters to the election results, you can distinguish NOPO forces by their gray vests.''[/quote]

http://translate4iran.wikispaces.com/Interview+with+Amir+Farshad+Ebrahimi

Unknown said...

@anon 3:59
Please Repost your comment minus the intentional misspelling of blogger name and it will be published. Sorry

Nader Uskowi said...

Narges Mousavi is quoted in news sites after her release as saying: “I am more determined that ever to pursue the violated legal rights of my parents.”

Let’s wish her the best of luck and let’s hope her parents and Mr. Karrubi are freed immediately. Their continued detention is shameful for the regime and for the country.

Anonymous said...

The day will come that even NOPO wouldn't be able to save the leadership.

Anonymous said...

and yet again, the swine of the theocratic dictatorship use the ignoble and cowardly tactic of arresting a man's children.

happily they weren't taken to Evin and beaten and sexually abused or killed ...this time.