Kayhan’s charges against Khatami and Mousavi were voiced after the two reformist figures protested the Guardian Council’s validation of the June election, referring to the event as a ‘velvet coup’ against the people.

Shariatmadi, who is known by many people arrested in Iran in recent years to have aided the interrogators in their interrogations, also identified Mousavi in the July 4 editorial as the “executer of a mission dictated from the outside,” condemning him for “openly cooperating with foreigners and acting as America's fifth column.” 

The leader’s representative at Kayhan also described Mousavi’s recent announcement of establishing an opposition party inside Iran as “fire under the ashes,” claiming, “The political party that Mr. Mousavi intends to establish according to his recent statement cannot be legal, because its main members, such as Mousavi and Khatami, were accused of committing the aforementioned crimes.”

Shariatmadari went on to point out that it was not unlikely for Mousavi and his colleagues to establish such a political party without permission, claiming, “In that case, its real name must be the enemy’s fifth column and fire under ashes for seditious purposes.”  Shariatmadari called on the judiciary and security apparatus to take preventative measures and to blind the “eye of sedition.”

Calls for putting Mousavi and Khatami on trial are made by the leader’s representative in Kayhan at a time when several of Ahmadinejad’s close affiliates have accused the reformists and opposition forces of “Moharebeh,” or enmity with God, a charge punishable by death. 

A lawmaker supportive of Ahmadinejad, Mehdi Kouchakzadeh, said, “The judiciary must implement Islamic law without mercy, as it seems that certain people arrested in recent disturbances must be treated as Mohareb [enemy of God] and Mofsed Fel-Arz” [spreaders of corruption on earth, punishable by death].

He also accused several reformists who have been arrested in recent weeks of organizing the popular protests, noting, “The calculated decision of arresting radical internal forces who organized and led the disturbance has resulted in calm and resolved the issue.” 

Detainees Charged with Acting against National Security

Meanwhile, the attorney for several of the detainees announced on Saturday that his clients are charged with “acting against national security.” 

Saleh Nikbakht told the French news agency, that several of his “clients, including Maziar Bahari, the detained Newsweek reporter, are charged with acting against national security.”  He added, “I have not yet been able to meet with him, despite repeated requests submitted to the judiciary.” 

According to Nikbakht, the Newsweek reporter Maziah Bahari, and several reformist leaders who have been behind bars will be tried in court for acting against national security.  Among Nikbakht’s clients are Mohammad Ali Abtahi, deputy to former Iranian president Mohammad Khatami; Behzad Nabavi, deputy speaker of the sixth Majlis; Mohsen Safai Farahani, former president of the Iranian Football Federation and representative in the sixth Majlis; Mohsen Aminzadeh, former deputy foreign minister; Abdollah Ramezanzadeh, former president Khatami’s spokesperson; and Maziar Bahari, reporter for Newsweek.

Absolsamad Khoramshahi, who represents one of the British embassy staff in Tehran, also announced on Saturday that his client is charged with “acting against national security.”

The condemnations come even after ayatollah Jannati announced on Fridaay during Tehran’s Friday prayers that confessions were gradually being extracted from the detainees and that the public would be informed of appropriate parts.

No System Can Permit Violence Towards the Public

In response to recent clashes, ayatollah Sanei released a statement addressed to “all forces that must protect order and the public’s lives, liberty and honor,” noting, “No command or order can permit or excuse aggression towards peoples rights, let alone their beating, injuring or murder, which is befitting of punishment in this world and hereafter.”  This Shia source of emulation (or Marjae Taghlid as they are formally titled and called) addressed the police, security and military officers in his statement, declaring the beating and killing of people as “haram” [forbidden by Islamic law]. 

In a separate development, meeting with a group of political activists and members of Mir-Hossein Mousavi’s campaign, ayatollah Bayat Zanjani condemned the beating, injuring and killing of people by the police and military, adding, “Certainly, confessions that are extracted today using strange, puzzling and unfortunate methods, lack any kind of legal or moral legitimacy and cannot be used in any court of law.  Those who extract these confessions will be responsible and accountable to God.”

Confessions Accelerate Regime’s Demise

Coinciding with these visits and remarks, the Association of Researchers and Teachers of Qom Seminary School – an influential clerical body - released a statement calling on “Clerics and elders to take proper action once again in line with the sense of responsibility that they have always had.”

This clerical association also called on the judiciary to immediately release the individuals arrested during peaceful rallies and identify and punish those responsible for beatings and murders and savage attacks on the Tehran University dormitories and other areas.

The student group Adva-e Tahkim Vahdat  also released a statement expressing concern about the incessant plot of publishing confessions extracted from detained political activists in state-owned media outlets, noting, “The directors, writers and executers of these dangerous plots must know that lost credibility cannot be restored through discredited confessions extracted in hidden detention facilities, which lack any legal or moral value.  In addition, they will not be able to question the independence and indigenousness of the popular movement by reverting to such suppressive methods.”

Advar-e Tahkim’s statement also stated that the administration which has come to power through fraud puts no value on the lives, property and security of its citizens, emphasizing, “The security regime’s policies in attempting to extract confessions from detained political and civil society activists will not only fail to strengthen the foundations of tyranny but will  serve as the beginning of the disintegration of the system of oppression and lies.”

The opposition group known as “Nationalist-Religious Front” also released a statement declaring television confessions to be worthless, adding, “Insistence on continuing defunct practices not only seriously contradicts legal, religious and human rights principles, but also adds to the existing crisis of legitimacy.”

This group also expressed concern about the well-being of detained individuals: “Some judiciary officials as well as human rights organizations have repeatedly condemned such methods for conflicting with the Constitution and human rights principles.  Public opinion will under no circumstances accept the confessions broadcasted on television and do not have the least bit of trust towards the discussed issues.”

Mehdi Saharkhiz, the journalist’s son made the announcement last night on Facebook and Twitter e-social networks.  Independent journalists have confirmed the report of the arrst. Issa Saharkhiz began his career as a journalist at the Islamic Republic News Agency and was soon promoted to head the Domestic Press division at the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance during pro-reformist Mohammad Khatami’s first term in office, when Ahmad Bourghani served as the ministry’s under-secretary in press affairs.

That era, according to many journalists and press experts, is referred to as the “Press Spring” in Iran, when new publications flourished.  That spring, did not last long and autumn set in with the suspension and ban of several publications and the detention of many journalists.  Ahmad Bourghani and Issa Saharkhiz both resigned in protest.  Afterward, Saharkhiz resumed his writing and published analysis of social and political evens in several reformist dailies.  His directness and clarity which characterized his writing style and interviews sometimes worried his colleagues, who encouraged him to tone his writing down and to be more conservative. But he did not. Not even with his recent writings that he published on the Rooz website.  Saharkhiz also is among the pioneers of freedom of the press in Iran, awarding an annual prize to a journalist who has paid a price for freedom of speech in Iran.  During the eight-year Iran-Iraq war, Saharkhiz was a regular visitor to the fronts, as a volunteer Bassiji.

Each of these statements and the positions in it can be the groundwork for the creation and evolution of the ‘Green Front of Hope’. The immediate goal of this front at the moment is the disruption of the dictatorial outcome of the June 12 election and the undermining of the administration appointed by ayatollah Khamenei.

Iranian freedom fighters whose numbers are rising and influence rising every day will have a more focused and clear task in such a movement. The members of this front who are in Evin prison and other known and secret detention centers of this country, and even in the major capitals of the world, are standing up to the “Black Front of Coup”, displaying an amazing, creative and progressive resistance to the world.

Perhaps the immediate task of the members of this Green Front of Hope is now to announce its birth and presence through congratulatory messages to the government of hope of Mir-Hossein Mousavi so that he can more comfortably and swiftly create and announce his “shadow government” and thus be ready for the day-after the fall of Ahmadinejad.

I remember that in the days when extensive efforts were underway to encourage seyed Mohammad Khatami to run in the presidential race, a group of his friends said this to him: “You know that we are not engaging in this to receive political posts, because we believe we shall be the first victims of the new order and shall end up in prison.” Even though Khatami did not run in the race and was replaced with Mousavi and Karoubi, that prediction is now coming close to realization since the implementation of the “velvet coup” as most of the members of that group and the media are now either in Evin prison or in other permanent or temporary detention centers, or even held secretly, going through a difficult temporary phase.

The goal of the Green Front of Hope is now clear: Following on Mousavi’s call to “Continue your hope. If we lose hope, Ahmadinejad’s government will gain credibility, so hope in the future is our clearest protest posture”, they must continue their hope and preach patience, in the spirit of the words of the Creator. The Black Front of Coup led by ayatollah Khamenei has separated itself from the people for a long time and has embarked on the practice of staying in power through oppression of people by the most violent means. The only force that is aloof is the “Middle Front” which has till now not clarified its specific direction, or identified its proximity to right or wrong. The members of this group, which includes political and social personalities in the country, must clarify whether they are mediators, like Hashemi Rafsanjani, or opportunists.

--

* Saharkhiz was arrested two days after writing this article.

Mohammad Reza Nasab Abdollahi, a blogger and journalist based in <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Shiraz</st1:place></st1:city>, published photographs of the discovered ballot boxes at the Shiraz Central Library construction cite on his blog, noting that the provincial governor asked journalists who were present on the scene not to report the discovery.  He referred to the ballot boxes as "national treasures." 

Following the publication of photographs of the ballot boxes found at Shiraz Central Library's construction cite, the government's official news agency, IRNA, published an interview with the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Fars</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Province</st1:placetype></st1:place> governor to explain the discovery. 

Without commenting on his orders to local journalists not to publish reports of the discovery of the four ballot boxes, the governor claimed that the ballot boxes were being kept at the library because they are "national treasures." 

Mohammad Reza Rezazadeh's remarks were published while, according to the election law, all ballot boxes must be returned to the interior ministry through local government offices after they are counted, to be eventually destroyed after the election results are validated and all the complaints have been addressed.

The statement of the “Mourning Mothers” read, “The silent and peaceful mourning of mourning mothers that took place on June 27^th was unfortunately met with insults, beatings and arrest of a number of mothers and young women at the hands of law enforcement and military forces. Despite police efforts to prevent women from entering Laleh Park and to disperse them, more than 500 mothers succeeded in gathering in the various corners of the park and mourn their lost children who had been martyred while participating in peaceful protests following the tenth presidential election [on June 12^th, 2009]. Following the initial call to mourning mothers, we declare that we shall gather every Saturday between 7 and 8pm in Laleh Park and other parts to mourn until violence is ended, all prisoners who have been detained because of protests against election fraud and particularly mothers who have been arrested in Laleh Park are released, and the murderers of our children are punished.”

The statement directly addresses members of law enforcement forces and reads, “To our brothers and sons in the law enforcement and military services! We as your mothers treat you with respect and in a motherly manner, and [call on you to] keep our respect and not engage in violence against your mothers so that you are not cursed by them.”

Azadeh Hajizadeh reported on the first gathering of mourning mothers in <st1:placename w:st="on">Laleh</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Park</st1:placetype> to the Change for Equality website in these words: “Following the invitation, a group of mourning mothers went to <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Laleh</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Park</st1:placetype></st1:place> to hold a peaceful march at 7pm on Saturday evening around the pool of the park. Some mothers came with black ribbons or black candles. Starting from 5pm, the police began preventing women from sitting on the park benches around the pool and directed them to leave the park. When some women protested and would not leave, they told the others to leave, and said that they would deal with the ones who stay behind. A woman wearing a black veil protested and said ‘tell me that there is martial law and then I would leave’. But the agents used such filthy language that everybody was shocked.”

“While the invitation said the gathering would begin at 7pm, women, mostly middle aged, began arriving at 5pm and filled all the benches around the pool, particularly the second rows. As more women kept coming, they were prevented from entering the park, particularly those who wore black. Then they brought police cars into the park. One agent began taking a video film of the faces of the women which is when the women cried out in unison as a protest. The police then led the women to a side street and began beating them. They arrested some and broke up the gathering,” the statement reads.

The report said that more than 20 women had been arrested, pointing out that some may have been taken to the <st1:street w:st="on"><st1:address w:st="on">Vozara street</st1:address></st1:street> detention center. There was no news from other detention centers in the city. According to the report, those arrested included women who were in the area by accident and had nothing to do with the gathering.

 Two days after the results of <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Iran</st1:country-region></st1:place>’s elections for its tenth president were officially certified, Mir-Hossein Mousavi issued a statement in which he calls Ahmadinejad’s administration to lack political legitimacy, while another reformer and former two-time president Mohammad Khatami called the event a “coup d’etat against republicanism.”

In his statement, Mousavi mentions that the Guardian Council had ignored the massive evidence of violations and fraud perpetrated during the election and warns, “The state cannot replace the trust of a people [that it needs] with a para-security force,” adding, “We shall now have a government that has the worst relations with the public, as a majority of the populace, including myself among them, do not accept its political legitimacy.”

To his supporters, Mousavi advised to keep alive their hopes in their hearts and stressed, “All the efforts that are undertaken these days in opposing you are for the purpose of making you hopeless in achieving the fruits of your legal protests, because until we become hopeless, this government shall not enjoy true credibility.”

To those who have been pressuring him to stop him from pursuing his rights, Mousavi said, “I forewent my personal right from the beginning, but I cannot compromise the usurped rights of the people.”

Mousavi concluded his statement by stressing, “A group of elite are planning to pursue the lost rights of the people in the election by forming a legal association and publishing documents and records indicating the [election] fraud and cheating that took place, pursuing these in courts of law and publicly announcing the results to the people. I will be joining this group.”

At the same time, seyed Mohammad Khatami, former 2-time president of <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Iran</st1:country-region></st1:place> and a staunch supporter of Mousavi recently spoke in public and called the recent elections a “soft coup against the public and the republicanism of the system”.

Addressing the protestors, he called them “Iran and state lovers” while criticizing the Ministry of Interior for not issuing permits to those official and revolutionary based groups who desired to hold public gatherings, and the closure of all communication channels between the reformists and the public, adding, “What was the government’s response to this massive people’s movement: Bloodshed, turning society into a security atmosphere and launching accusations against those well-wishers of the system.”

Khatami also strongly criticized state-run radio and television networks for its one-sided propaganda and the government for limiting access to the Internet and the press. He  ridiculed the government’s questioning of people’s interest and turn to foreign news sources for information when they were kept in the dark by the government about the tens of arrests and detentions of the security forces.

“Millions of people came into the streets to protest while all legal communication channels had been closed to them, tens got killed and hundreds were beaten up! Where is the national television to show this to the country?” Khatami asked.

Addressing ayatollah Shahrudi, the head of Iran’s judiciary, Khatami said, “It was your duty as the head of the judiciary to intervene in these incidents strongly right from the beginning and forced those who resorted to arrest, mistreated prisoners, denied defense attorneys, engaged in interrogations, and broke the law to obey the law.”

He also called on the government to respect all the rights of the citizens and those who have been arrested and said, “Individuals whose actions are not officially held accountable by anyone arrested and pressured people who love the system and <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Iran</st1:place></st1:country-region>, while the judiciary and intelligence agencies of the country officially express ignorance of these events.”

“If you want peace in society, those who perpetrated this violence and illegal arrests must be quickly identified to the public and judicial officials and the ugly security atmosphere must be lifted,” Khatami said, adding, “Those who are expected and tasked to be the defenders of people’s rights, but who have in fact humiliated the public, are the criminals, and not those who have been imprisoned for defending people’s rights including those of self determination and the people’s votes.”

Pointing to the public’s distrust and rejection of the announced election results said, “If this infected atmosphere continues, in view of what has taken place and the unilateral announcement, I must say that a velvet coup has taken place against people and the republicanism of the state.”

Mousavi’s statement and Khatami’s remarks came at a time when supporters of the ninth administration have accused Mousavi of committing a color coup and have engaged in attacking him and his supporters while a group of Majlis representatives are reported to have filed complaints against Mousavi. On Wednesday, a Basiji group wrote a letter to the attorney general of the country asking it to prosecute Mousavi.

In his statement, Mousavi mentions that the Guardian Council had ignored the massive evidence of violations and fraud perpetrated during the election and warns, “The state cannot replace the trust of a people [that it needs] with a para-security force,” adding, “We shall now have a government that has the worst relations with the public, as a majority of the populace, including myself among them, do not accept its political legitimacy.”

To his supporters, Mousavi advised to keep alive their hopes in their hearts and stressed, “All the efforts that are undertaken these days in opposing you are for the purpose of making you hopeless in achieving the fruits of your legal protests, because until we become hopeless, this government shall not enjoy true credibility.”

To those who have been pressuring him to stop him from pursuing his rights, Mousavi said, “I forewent my personal right from the beginning, but I cannot compromise the usurped rights of the people.”

Mousavi concluded his statement by stressing, “A group of elite are planning to pursue the lost rights of the people in the election by forming a legal association and publishing documents and records indicating the [election] fraud and cheating that took place, pursuing these in courts of law and publicly announcing the results to the people. I will be joining this group.”

Velvet Revolution Against the People

At the same time, seyed Mohammad Khatami, former 2-time president of <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Iran</st1:country-region></st1:place> and a staunch supporter of Mousavi recently spoke in public and called the recent elections a “soft coup against the public and the republicanism of the system”.

Addressing the protestors, he called them “Iran and state lovers” while criticizing the Ministry of Interior for not issuing permits to those official and revolutionary based groups who desired to hold public gatherings, and the closure of all communication channels between the reformists and the public, adding, “What was the government’s response to this massive people’s movement: Bloodshed, turning society into a security atmosphere and launching accusations against those well-wishers of the system.”

Khatami also strongly criticized state-run radio and television networks for its one-sided propaganda and the government for limiting access to the Internet and the press. He  ridiculed the government’s questioning of people’s interest and turn to foreign news sources for information when they were kept in the dark by the government about the tens of arrests and detentions of the security forces.

“Millions of people came into the streets to protest while all legal communication channels had been closed to them, tens got killed and hundreds were beaten up! Where is the national television to show this to the country?” Khatami asked.

Security Atmosphere

Addressing ayatollah Shahrudi, the head of Iran’s judiciary, Khatami said, “It was your duty as the head of the judiciary to intervene in these incidents strongly right from the beginning and forced those who resorted to arrest, mistreated prisoners, denied defense attorneys, engaged in interrogations, and broke the law to obey the law.”

He also called on the government to respect all the rights of the citizens and those who have been arrested and said, “Individuals whose actions are not officially held accountable by anyone arrested and pressured people who love the system and <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Iran</st1:place></st1:country-region>, while the judiciary and intelligence agencies of the country officially express ignorance of these events.”

“If you want peace in society, those who perpetrated this violence and illegal arrests must be quickly identified to the public and judicial officials and the ugly security atmosphere must be lifted,” Khatami said, adding, “Those who are expected and tasked to be the defenders of people’s rights, but who have in fact humiliated the public, are the criminals, and not those who have been imprisoned for defending people’s rights including those of self determination and the people’s votes.”

Pointing to the public’s distrust and rejection of the announced election results said, “If this infected atmosphere continues, in view of what has taken place and the unilateral announcement, I must say that a velvet coup has taken place against people and the republicanism of the state.”

Mousavi’s statement and Khatami’s remarks came at a time when supporters of the ninth administration have accused Mousavi of committing a color coup and have engaged in attacking him and his supporters while a group of Majlis representatives are reported to have filed complaints against Mousavi. On Wednesday, a Basiji group wrote a letter to the attorney general of the country asking it to prosecute Mousavi.

In his letter he writes, “In view of the extensive commentary about this painful incident and the wide-ranging propaganda by foreign media and other evidence, the interference of those who oppose the Iranian nation or are inimical to it for the purpose of using this event for political purposes and to destroy the image of the Islamic republic is definitively clear.”

While the difficult and cold conditions that are prevalent in Iran today may appear that pondering on this letter may not be appropriate, there are quite a few issues in it that deserve comment.

1-As the highest executive official of the country, is Ahmadinejad aware of other killings that took place after the tenth presidential election?

2-Do the deaths of a number of Iranian citizens deserve the creation of a special investigative committee?

3-Does Ahmadinejad know the perpetrators of the other deaths, or those who may have ordered them?

4-From Ahmadinejad’s perspective, did the people who lost their lives following the June 12 election deserve to die or where these homicides?

5-Is Ahmadinejad’s letter to Hashemi Shahrudi to clarify the facts over the murder of Neda Agha Soltan or to confirm the view and his determination about the “involvement of the opposition” in this regard for political purposes?

6-Had not been “extensive commentary” and “wide-ranging propaganda” over Neda Agha Soltan’s heartbreaking murder, as Ahmadinejad believes there was, would he still have called for an investigation on this?

7-Why is it that Ahmadinejad calls for investigating the violation of basic rights of Iranians only when the issue is covered widely in the media or takes a global perspective?

8-More fundamentally, what is Ahmadinejad’s clear position on the violent street crackdown and actions against those protesting the results of the election in the days after June 12th, and the wide arrests, mistreatment of those detained, etc?

There are many questions that exist for Mahmoud Ahmadinejad are not few, and without being presumptuous, one can be patient and wait to receive a response.

But sooner or later, real and truthful answers will emerge, even if they don’t come from Ahmadinejad, and they will be recorded in history and in books, where they will remain intact.

While Iran’s powerful Guardian Council confirmed ayatollah Khamenei’s position on the elections, after “recounting” some of the ballots, the publication of photographs showing the “recount” process by IRNA state-run news agency.

These photos show a stack of new and “unfolded” ballot slips some of which bear the name of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad written with the same handwriting. The unfolded slips raise questions because normally when a person writes his candidate of choice on the ballot slip, he folds the slip to drop it into the ballot box.

The accidental airing of these unfolded ballot slips by government news agencies became such a hot news item rapidly spreading around the country that the spokesperson of the Guardian Council which is responsible for organizing national elections in Iran, had no choice but to raise the issue at his press conference who said, “just because ballot slips had not been folded is not sufficient proof to show that violations took place. Other evidence must also be presented as proof.”

Earlier, Omidvar Rezaei, a member of Iran’s parliament, the Majlis, and the brother of another defeated candidate Mohsen Rezaei revealed for the first time in a press conference that a close look at some of the ballot boxes showed that “70 to 80 percent of the cast votes had used the same pen to write the name of the candidate of choice and in addition displayed the same handwriting in different ballot boxes.” Omidvar’s remarks were soon confirmed by the display of photographs by the state run news agency IRNA, showing the recount process.  In response to the publication of these images – which seems to have happened accidentally - the spokesperson of the Guardian Council Abasali Kadkhodai, mentioned the remarks of Omidvar Rezaei about the handwriting and called on the judiciary to pursue those who questioned the election.

During Tuesday’s press conference of the spokesperson of the Guardian Council, reporters addressed the official and said that there were “reports that the ballot boxes had a hidden compartment between a second hidden casing which contained pre-written ballots.” Kadkhodai refrained from addressing that question and said, “This claim, like the earlier ones, is like saying since there are no reporters in this room, we may conclude that it is empty of any people.”  Reporters at the session then asked Kadkhodai whether the council could be considered “impartial” as required by law, after some of its members had publicly expressed their support for Ahmadinejad. The official replied that, “while it was possible that some members of the Council possessed personal opinions, but in their work and the activities regarding the elections their personal opinions had no role.”

Nowruz news website belonging to reformist Mosharekat (participation) front published a table on Tuesday to show that the announced results of the election by the Ministry of Interior were fake by pointing out that at least in 78 towns of the country, the results that were officially announced on June 15 differed from those that were announced on June 23td.

This site also said that 60 towns and 192 districts around the country had recorded over a 100 percent participation in the elections and some cases there was a 211 percent cast vote. In 125 towns around the country, there was 95 percent participation, according to the site’s report.

In his statement addressed to the Iranian people, Mehdi Karoubi writes, "Given the mechanisms at work before the election and acts conducted by the administration, Guardian Council and certain other public institutions, as well as the manner of administering the election, the government's interference and the Guardian Council's recount charade, and events that transpired afterward, I believe that the election was invalid and, on this basis, I consider the government derived from it to lack legitimacy and credibility and will not participate in any program, including it's inauguration and swearing in ceremonies." 

Karoubi is a former Majlis Speaker and the head of the reformist Etemad Melli party, who ran in the presidential race in 2005 as well.

In his statement, Karoubi noted his efforts and discussions to annul the elections results, which were in vain: "I have not ignored any opportunity including getting in touch with, speaking with and sending confidential notes with grand ayatollahs, the person of the supreme leader and every other influential figure, and I tell you in all honesty that I have done what has been in my power." 

Recounting his reasons for running for the presidency, Karoubi wrote, "We had come forward for change, some power groups prevented such change in the executive branch.  Nevertheless, after the election a huge change took place in the country's conditions and people's mentality and awareness, and I admit that this change was far more extensive than what I imagined." 

This presidential candidate went on to denounce the post-election violence and the crackdown of protestors that followed: "Forces attacked people's lives and property with boots and batons, hundreds of mobilized forces attacked student dormitories and tore apart a young girl's heart with bullets; they shot people from mosque rooftops with bullets and arrested hundreds of people in their homes and on the streets and beat people to death." 

Karoubi then shared his suggested solutions after the Guardian Council formally certified the results of the presidential election: "I announce my readiness to cooperate in any way with individuals and political groups seeking change," adding, "I will stay fateful until I live to this people and the Islamic Revolution and will continue to pursue the nation's demands in every possible way and will continue my fight under any circumstance and using every resource." 

This protesting cleric resigned in 2002 from his position as Isfahan's Friday prayer leader and issued a frank public statement criticizing the policies of the Islamic republic.  In his latest statement Taheri, who supported Mir-Hossein Mousavi in the recent presidential election, blasted the regime's senior officials for supporting a particular candidate during the election: "Did the imam [Khomeini] believe that those who are supposed to be impartial should formally and official support a particular candidate?  Can the Guardian Council, several of whose members publicly supported and continue to support Mir-Hossein Mousavi's rival, address electoral complaints?"

Isfahan's former Friday prayer leader then made an implicit comparison between Ayatollah Khomeini and the present supreme leader, asking, "Did the imam [Khomeini] allow the public property of Muslims to be used by one candidate without any limits….and has religion given you such permission? Why does the protection of law only apply to you and your friends, and [why] do religion, law and the imam only become dear when you can benefit from them… where does your totalitarianism end?”

In the conclusion to his statement, Taheri writes, "I thought that in light of the interests of the nation, revolution and country, perhaps the regime's officials would address irregularities that occurred prior to and during the election in a fair and just manner, but it is obvious that officials are not willing to address the fraud and rather intend to suppress the protesters using security and terror tactics.  I, as a minor clergyman, in unison with the majority of people who lost their vote, consider this election to be manipulated and null, and consider the reappointment of the head of the government for a second term, to be illegitimate and a usurpation." 

I had put my head between my hands and began to cry. I did not understand this, hadn’t seen such things during the Shah’s years.

Soon many others were brought to the same scene, who did and said exactly the same things. And there were many: Ayatollah Shariatmadari, Nooreddin Kianouri, Ezatollah Sahabi, Ali Afshari, Ramin Jahanbegloo, Haleh Esfandiary, and the list goes on.

Now that we have seen so many people appear on Islamic republic’s television, and heard their identical “confessions”, we also know what the source for these TV shows is. Now we know that right from day of the victory of the revolution in February 1979, a mafia gang has been advancing its creeping coup, and with every step forcing new people to make “confessions” to advance its cause. Now we realize that all these inhuman shows were to advance the agenda of the command center of the coup.

Ahmad Janfeshan Vazife was the first person, but seyed Amir Hossein Mahdavi, a member of Mir-Hossein Mousavi’s election campaign, who confessed recently, shall not be the last. The command center of the coup lives through blood and repression.

The story is now very clear. The “brothers” infiltrated and entrenched themselves in all military, economic, and security institutions since February 1979. They planned today’s coup right then. With every step they conspired to move one of their chess players on Iran’s political scene forward, and moved one step closer. The story line of these events has remained the same: Arrest of Western and Eastern mercenaries, their torture at the hands of the “brothers” in solitary cells, “guidance” and then “confessions.”

In other words as we looked at the fall of a pawn or a bishop on the chess set, the key coup perpetrators moved another chess piece forward, and scored another victory.

Things moved on until it was Mahmoud Ahmadinejad military-mafia’s turn. God knows whose turn will be next. Until these gentlemen will declare their checkmate.

But the problem with this plan is that these “brothers” believe that the game of politics has only one round. You win once, sit back, and get ready for the next move. Till now, these gentlemen have successfully advanced their “creeping” coup d’etat. But only in the absence of the principal player: people. The people who are in the streets with one voice, Neda’s, or in their houses full of pain.

Elham Sohrabi (Sohrabi): He was my younger brother, born in 1989, very smart and full of potential for education and sports.  He was extremely kind and compassionate.  Despite his young age, he made very wise decisions.

Rooz: Where were you on the day of the event?

Sohrabi:  My mother and I were at our house.  Ashkan had just returned from the gym.  He told us people were protesting on the streets and that fires were burning everywhere.  He said he had trouble getting home as anti-riot guards had closed off all surrounding streets and were dispersing people.  My mother asked me not to let Ashkan return to the streets.  I tried my best to distract Ashkan with things other than the street, but the crowds on our streets (Azadi) continued to get bigger.  People sought refuge in alleys and homes.  We heard different chants and the sound of bullets and smell of tear gas were everywhere.  I asked Ashkan not to go to the street.  But he said his last words to me and left the house: "Don't worry, I'll come back."

Rooz:  And that is the last time you saw Ashkan?

Sohrabi:  Yes.  The last time I saw him was when he left the house. 

Rooz:   When was he martyred? 

Sohrabi:  I don't exactly know, but two hours later they brought the news of his death to us.

Rooz:  Where was he shot?

Sohrabi:  They had shot our Ashkan three times in the chest. 

Rooz:  Who was shooting at Ashkan?

Sohrabi:  I did not see Ashkan's killer but the protesters didn't have any weapons.  They just threw rocks.

Rooz:  Were you easily able to retrieve Ashkan's body from the hospital?

Sohrabi:  It's better not to talk about that. 

Rooz:  Were security forces present at the memorial service?

Sohrabi:  Yes, two police cars [were there].

Janati’s letter was read out at 9pm Monday night from the country’s state-run national television. In his letter, the cleric rejected the claims of electoral fraud and violations raised by the three other presidential candidates, Mir-Hossein Mousavi, Mehdi Karoubi, and Mohsen Rezaei. “Minor violations had taken place in the elections, but they can be disregarded,” the letter read, stressing that “The Guardian Council has finally confirmed the results of the presidential election according to article 79 of the Election Law after rejecting the complaints and objections.”

The leader of the Islamic republic had earlier and before the final certification and approval of the Guardian Council which is legally tasked to confirm the election results, publicly put his stamp of approval on the initial results of the election on June 13 and 19^th. This lead to uproar and massive countrywide bloody protests, which in turn lead to a warning that he issued over the continuation of the turmoil and asked everyone to end the matter.

New Evidence on Violations

The officially defeated candidates Mir-Hossein Mousavi, Mehdi Karoubi and Mohsen Rezaei wrote separate letters to officials and presented their evidence and documentation to prove their claims of wide violations in the elections. One of the issues was that according to an announcement of the Ministry of Interior there was a 95 to 140 turnout in 170 election precincts around the country!

The spokesperson Abbas-Ali Kadkhodai later confirmed the issue but said this had happened on about 50 cities, and not over a 100 as reported earlier.

Among the new documents and evidence that was presented by Mohsen Rezaei’s brother, Omidvar Rezaei, who is himself a member of the national assembly, the Majlis, is that “through the unofficial recount” it became evident that “a single clear handwriting had been used on 70 to 80 percent of the cast ballot slips in favor of one specific candidate.”

According to Omidvar, “It was agreed that the high-level statistics of the Guardian Council and the Ministry of Interior for the votes would be sent to us because a comparison would have helped us in the recount confirmations. Since we were not given this information, we have been unable to pursue our protests.”

In a related report, Tabnak website, which is close to Mohsen Rezaei, published the final government result of the election votes in 38 cities on Monday which showed that Mousavi, Karoubi and Rezaei each received zero votes while incumbent Mahmoud Ahmadinejad received 100 percent of the votes.

The judiciary's spokesperson, Alireza Jamshidi, told reporters that the head of the judiciary had established a committee composed of attorney general Dorri Najafabadi, judiciary's deputy chief Ebrahim Raeisi and head of the National Accounting Agency, Mostafa Pourmohammadi to coordinate efforts with the head of Tehran's judiciary and Tehran's general prosecutor Saeed Mortazavi "in order to expedite investigations in determining the fate of recent detainees in respect of their citizenship rights and to provide systematic reports to the head of the judiciary in this regard."

On Monday evening, however, only hours after the judiciary spokesperson's announcement regarding the establishment of a special committee by the head of the judiciary, the intelligence minister, who is currently visiting Qom, said, "Counter-revolutionary elements will not be released, and agitators and ringleaders have not been released yet."

Gholamhossein Mohseni Ezhei also divided the detainees into three categories, noting that the detainees "belong to the three categories of decision-makers, executers and counter-revolutionaries."  He added, "There were some who came out and damaged private and public property.  The police arrested some of them on the scene.  A large number of these individuals have been released and others may be released as well."  Ezhei insisted, "Counter-revolutionary forces who were involved in disturbances will not be released."

The intelligence minister also noted that a segment of reformists had joined the "enemy" and warned Mir-Hossein Mousavi that "the responsibility of many of the events that have transpired are on his shoulder and people like him."  Ezhei added, "He acted against the law and it will get worse if he continues." 

In Tehran, the police had lined up in large numbers on Vali Asr avenue that connects the northern part of the city with the south and tried to prevent people from gathering and expressing their rejection of the election result that entrenches Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in the presidency for another four years.

As in the past days, government forces disabled all mobile phones around mid day which continued till night. In addition, land telephone lines were also disabled in the city’s districts around Enghelab and Vali Asr circles, both in the center of the capital. This was the first time that land lines too were disabled. Electricity too was cut in a large part of Tehran during the day.

There were other aspects that had turned the capital into a fortress. The police in most parts of the city was escorted by police cars many of which had replaced their glass windows with metal sheets. Similar cars had been used in the past to round up and transfer protestors to prisons.

People in Tehran began to gather in the streets and walk in a chain formation towards Vali Asr avenue. Anti riot police were all over the city and stepped in to disrupt any gatherings. Streets were completely jammed around 5pm and no traffic could pass through the streets and avenues. Those who had walked to the center and southern parts of the city from districts in the north said that no person or cars could move around and government agents too were immobilized along with the regular people. At about five thirty Enghelab circle in the central district of Tehran was the scene of thousands of people who continued to pour in from Vali Asr avenue.

Because of this massive influx, this thoroughfare too was soon blocked completely. Those who had reached Enghelab circle chanted slogans, just as those who had reached Azadi circle, all demonstrating their protests and rejection of the election results. Other major circles in Tehran, such as Vanak and the suburb of Tajrish too were the scenes of similar massive gatherings.

When people came in contact with the police and security forces, they broke up into smaller groups, something that government agents did not expect, and so did not know how to respond to this. They did not know where to take up positions or what to do. Their rapid re-alignment attested to this.

So by unexpectedly concentrating in numerous groups rather than one large mass, protestors effectively denied the police with the initiative they needed. Informed sources attribute the lower number of arrests and injured that took place in this gathering and march to this dispersion into groups.

The meeting was called to commemorate the “martyrs of 7 Tir”, when about 100 political personalities in the Islamic republic were killed as a result of an explosion at a meeting of the now-defunct Islamic Republican party in Tehran in 1981. Mir-Hossein Mousavi and his wife were both scheduled to participate in the gathering, but apparently could not get to the mosque because of the large number crowds who had come to remember those who had died a quarter of a century ago. Mousavi sent his message through the telephone which was broadcast for the public outside the mosque. The message stressed the pursuit of the votes of the people and the need to remain peaceful.

According to the most recent reports, the event was scheduled to start at 6pm, but as early as 2pm government’s security forces had taken full alert posture around all the streets leading up to the mosque. And as in previous gatherings, there was a large contingent of motorcyclists near the mosque who were expected to intervene to disrupt and harm the demonstrators if necessary. And this is precisely what did happen as the gathering proceeded, as a result of which many people were hurt and injured because the bike riders rammed into them and beat them up with the goal of breaking up the crowds.

The thousands of protestors who challenge the official outcome of the June 12 presidential elections and had gathered around the mosque gradually began their chants. The police and security agents initially tried to disperse the large crowds outside the mosque. But this did not produce their desired results and people showed their determination to stay, the agents turned to violence. By this time however, the crowds were so large that one could not see their end and all the sidewalks on the streets leading up to the mosque were full of people. Government agents soon began firing into the air to disperse the crowds, but the crowds of people were so large that they could not leave the scene even if they wanted to. Then came tear-gas that was used to break up the gathering. But again to no avail. Officials had brought hot water canons to the scene to be used in case of need, and this was their moment. Hot water was sprayed on the gatherers, but this too did not lead in the public leaving the streets.

It was at this time that word spread that Mir-Hossein Mousavi and his wife Dr Zahra Rahnavard had arrived, soon to be joined by cleric Mehdi Karroubi, as people welcomed and cheered them.

Reports indicated that the violence that erupted at the gathering injured and hurt many participants, but fortunately did not lead to any deaths despite the shootings and use of force.

Mehdi Karoubi's suggestion to the Guardian Council is made after ayatollah Khamenei, the supreme leader of the Islamic republic approved the election results in a public note on June 13 and referred to Ahmadinejad as the "president elect." 

Despite the protests of the other three presidential candidates and the publication of evidence exposing the incidence of widespread fraud, the leader of the Islamic state approved the election results for the second time a week later, during Tehran's Friday prayers.  While voicing his support for Ahmadinejad, the leader threatened the other candidates, especially Mir Hossein Mousavi, that they would be held responsible for the murder of street demonstrators if they continue to protest the election results. 

Election Results "Ridiculous"

Referring to his previous letter to the Guardian Council, in which he had written, "The only way to restore people's trust regarding their right to self-determination is to annul the election," in his latest letter Karoubi wrote, "Prior to the election, we held the belief that the people's widespread presence can render fraud ineffective, without knowing that people will be acting in a pre-designed show by participation in the election."

Addressing the members of the GC, Karoubi denounced the election results as "ridiculous," adding, "The ridiculous results inflicted such a shock on society that the people's trust in the regime was seriously undermined." 

Karoubi insisted, "One cannot ignore the presence of millions of people who demand their rights in a peaceful and civil manner and, by calling them thugs and agitators, unleash the irresponsible rogue and plain-clothed agents to suppress the people using the most insulting remarks and most savage behaviors that the pen is unable to describe." 

The remark was made while the judiciary has not till today revoked the current activity permits that these parties have.  The Ministry is barred by law from unilaterally revoking an organization's permit, but it can do so if a party is convicted in a court of law. 

On Saturday, security officials published the forced confessions of Amir Hossein Mahdavi, a reformist journalist, on state-run media, according to whom street protests had been planned by officials at the Participation Front and the Mojahedin of the Islamic Revolution prior to the June 12 presidential election. 

Mojahedin of Islamic Revolution's Statement

The Mojahedin of the Islamic Revolution organization released a statement yesterday blasting the state’s organized efforts to confront reformist parties and denounced the "forced confessions project." 

The statement notes, "While condemning the exertion of physical and psychological pressure on arrested individuals to extract forced confessions, and the repeat of the ridiculous and repetitive confessions and repentance programs, we warn against organized efforts to confront political parties and associations, and demand the immediate release of all detained individuals." 

This reformist organization added, "The planners and executers of this defunct program must know that eliminating republicanism and establishing dictatorship over Iran's informed society is a dream that will never be realized.  The organization also voices its deep concern for the condition and fate of detained students, journalists and political activists and condemns their lack of access to their most basic rights, including the right to a lawyer, which is in clear violation of the law." 

Another section of the organization's statement notes, "The tenth presidential election, in effect, was the climax of the clash between social and political forces defending republicanism with the autocrats who wish to turn the Islamic Republic into a dictatorial regime under one individual's rule." 

The statement adds, "Confronting political activists and convicting them to long-term prison sentences, as well as banning independent political parties, which are, in reality, the last remnants of democracy in the Iran, are effectively moves to complete the last stage of the coup to establish a dictatorial Islamic government under one individual's rule." 

Currently, several members of the Mojahedin of the Islamic Revolution organization (including Behzad Nabavi, the organization's main strategist) and the Participation Front's central committee (including party chief Mohsen Mirdamadi and vice-president Abdollah Ramezanzadeh) are in detention and have not communicated with their families over the past few days.  The Association of Combatant Clergy is another party that is under government attack.  It has notable members such as Seyed Mohammad Khatami, Mousavi Khoeiniha and Majid Ansari.  The party began operating in 1987 with Ayatollah Khomeini's explicit consent.