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Prominent Opposition Leader in Iran Begins Hunger Strike Prominent Opposition Leader in Iran Begins Hunger Strike
(about 13 hours later)
TEHRAN — One of Iran’s most prominent opposition leaders, under house arrest since 2011, began a hunger strike on Wednesday to demand a public trial, family members said. TEHRAN — One of Iran’s most prominent opposition leaders, under house arrest since 2011, was hospitalized early Thursday, a day after he began a hunger strike to demand a public trial, family members said.
The release of the opposition leader, Mehdi Karroubi, and another former presidential candidate under house arrest, Mir Hossein Mousavi, was a major demand by supporters of President Hassan Rouhani during his re-election campaign. They shouted slogans in support of the two men during every campaign rally in May.The release of the opposition leader, Mehdi Karroubi, and another former presidential candidate under house arrest, Mir Hossein Mousavi, was a major demand by supporters of President Hassan Rouhani during his re-election campaign. They shouted slogans in support of the two men during every campaign rally in May.
The protest by Mr. Karroubi, 79, who has been hospitalized several times in recent months for heart problems, places Mr. Rouhani in a difficult position, as he has long vowed to get the two men released. The protest by Mr. Karroubi, 79, who has been hospitalized several other times in recent months for heart problems, places Mr. Rouhani in a difficult position, as he has long vowed to get the two men released.
It is widely thought that Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, opposes their release and objects to a trial. The two men have never been formally charged.It is widely thought that Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, opposes their release and objects to a trial. The two men have never been formally charged.
Mr. Karroubi, a cleric and a former speaker of Iran’s Parliament, and Mr. Mousavi, a former prime minister, both ran for president in the disputed 2009 election.Mr. Karroubi, a cleric and a former speaker of Iran’s Parliament, and Mr. Mousavi, a former prime minister, both ran for president in the disputed 2009 election.
After the incumbent at the time, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, declared victory, huge street protests rocked Tehran, the capital, and other cities in what became known as the Green Revolution. Mr. Karroubi and Mr. Mousavi emerged as its unofficial leaders. Two years after the protests, when they continued challenging the establishment, both men and Mr. Mousavi’s wife, Zahra Rahnavard, were placed under house arrest.After the incumbent at the time, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, declared victory, huge street protests rocked Tehran, the capital, and other cities in what became known as the Green Revolution. Mr. Karroubi and Mr. Mousavi emerged as its unofficial leaders. Two years after the protests, when they continued challenging the establishment, both men and Mr. Mousavi’s wife, Zahra Rahnavard, were placed under house arrest.
Mr. Karroubi’s son, Mohammad Taghi Karroubi, announced the hunger strike in a Twitter posting, saying his father demanded that security guards leave his apartment and that a date be set for a public trial in accordance with Iran’s Constitution. Mr. Karroubi’s son, Mohammad Taghi Karroubi, announced the hunger strike in a Twitter post, saying his father demanded that security guards leave his apartment and that a date be set for a public trial in accordance with Iran’s Constitution.
Mr. Karroubi’s wife, Fatemeh Karroubi, said he was not even drinking water.Mr. Karroubi’s wife, Fatemeh Karroubi, said he was not even drinking water.
“After an advice by a doctor designated by the Intelligence Ministry and my insistence, he only took his heart medication today and refused to eat or drink,” Mrs. Karroubi was quoted as saying by the Saham news website, which is affiliated with the Karroubi family.“After an advice by a doctor designated by the Intelligence Ministry and my insistence, he only took his heart medication today and refused to eat or drink,” Mrs. Karroubi was quoted as saying by the Saham news website, which is affiliated with the Karroubi family.
The hunger strike was seen by political analysts as a move to break the impasse over promises made by Mr. Rouhani, who won in a landslide but has faced strong resistance from hard-line factions in the government.The hunger strike was seen by political analysts as a move to break the impasse over promises made by Mr. Rouhani, who won in a landslide but has faced strong resistance from hard-line factions in the government.
He promised, for example, to appoint three women to his cabinet, but later he said it was “impossible” to do so.He promised, for example, to appoint three women to his cabinet, but later he said it was “impossible” to do so.
“Mr. Karroubi has nothing to lose, he is old, sick and has to put up a fight if he ever wants to be free,” said Farshad Ghorbanpour, a political analyst close to the government. “This might just be the push that those in favor of their freedom need to gain support for their release.”“Mr. Karroubi has nothing to lose, he is old, sick and has to put up a fight if he ever wants to be free,” said Farshad Ghorbanpour, a political analyst close to the government. “This might just be the push that those in favor of their freedom need to gain support for their release.”
In 2016, Mr. Karroubi also tried to bring his predicament to the forefront of Iranian politics by writing a public letter. His opponents, even within the camp that once supported him, nowadays see the issue as a nuisance but say they see no way to break the stalemate that is keeping both opposition leaders under house arrest.In 2016, Mr. Karroubi also tried to bring his predicament to the forefront of Iranian politics by writing a public letter. His opponents, even within the camp that once supported him, nowadays see the issue as a nuisance but say they see no way to break the stalemate that is keeping both opposition leaders under house arrest.