Asgharoldi Calls for Political Openness

Habibollah Asgaroladi, Iran’s veteran politician and the dean of the Bazaar, has raised hopes this week that Mousavi and Karubi could be freed on Eid-e-Fetr. The Eid marks the end of Ramadan, a month of fasting and prayer, and is expected to fall on 7 August.

Asgaroladi made the remarks during the Iftar on Thursday evening at the Islamic Association of Engineers at Imam Sadeq University. He also said that the two political parties, Mosharekat, and Mujahedeen Enghelab Islami, which were created in the first days of the Islamic revolution but has since been declared illegal, as well as Etemad-e Melli, a newer group, should have the freedom to restart their political activities.

“During a time that (President-elect) Rouhani has unfastened an umbrella under which all Iranian people can gather, why couldn’t different political views (groups) also be among the participants?” said Asgharoldi in response to a reporter’s question whether those parties could restart their activities. (Etemad, 20 July)

Asgharoladi’s remarks are the firmest indications yet that Rouhani’s victory could result in political openness in the country not seen in the past eight years under the hardliners.

File photo: Habibollah Asgaroladi (Zamaneh.com)