Karroubi expresses regret over unjust executions

GVF -- Opposition leader Mahdi Karroubi has expressed regret over the recent unjust and sudden execution of five political activists by Iranian authorities.

According to the official website of the National Trust Party, in a meeting with the family of imprisoned journalist Ali Malihi, party chairman Mahdi Karroubi said “we never thought that we would reach a point where such conduct would be considered normal in the country.”

During the meeting which was reported on Saham News website, Ali Malihi’s father explained how following the election, one of his sons had initially been beaten up and arrested instead of Ali himself.

Regarding the sudden execution of Kurdish teacher Farzad Kamangar, Karroubi said “the execution of this person took place while no one was aware of the details of the case and their crime had not been demonstrated to anyone as they did not enjoy a public court hearing and judicial as well as legal norms were not respected.” The former parliament speaker criticised the fact that the individuals were hung without having their lawyers or families notified. He said that this was a sign that justice had been “extinct and the proceedings were not at all in accordance with religious and judicial standards.”

“Has human life become so cheap that it can be taken away with such ease and without the slightest amount of legal care while the public is kept in the dark?”

Karroubi maintained that such acts would be anticipated in a country where street protesters were shot at for simply opposing the results of last June’s rigged presidential election.

“They have not yet resolved the cases of Kahrizak prison and the sexual abuses, while the ambiguities surrounding that case still exist and they are increasing,” he said.

The 2009 presidential candidate added that the state and judiciary’s concerns were different from that of the people. “Lack of trust it at its lowest point ever, and the regime’s behaviour is such that an unprecedented crack has emerged between the people and the state.”

“I swear to God we never thought country’s fate would turn out to be this way ... The people are moving in one direction and the state in another.”

Reacting to recent comments by Guardians Council member Gholamhossein Elham during which he called Mousavi a “Mohareb”—a charge punishable by death—Karroub the comments "worthless."