RoozOnline conducted an email interview with detained Green Movement leader Mehdi Karoubi’s son, Hossein Karoubi, who says that he himself is in hiding and that conditions cannot get any worse, adding that the government cannot continue to run the country in this manner and that it will eventually have to heed to the demands of the people. Read on for the excerpts.
Rooz: It is now several weeks since there was any news of Mr. Karoubi and Fatemeh (his wife). Do you have any news of them and have they told you how long this is going to last, aside meetings under controlled situations? Have they announced any conditions for a change?
Hossein Karoubi (Karoubi): No conditions have been announced. My parents are apparently in the hands of the Ministry of Intelligence. But it is not for the ministry to set any conditions. One should note that when the head of the judiciary says that dealing with the leaders of the “sedition” (the term the Iranian regime uses for the massive post-2009 disputed presidential election protests) is not in his jurisdiction, meaning that it is not the judiciary that is responsible for what happens to my parents beyond their detention and that it is higher authorities (in the regime) that make the decisions on this. On the other hand, is there something like conditions set when someone is in detention? What I mean is that an unlawful and inhuman act has taken place, so I do not think conditions make any sense.
Rooz: Some believe that authorities in the Islamic republic have come to believe that the way to deal with the Green Movement is to completely cut the relations between Messrs. Mousavi and Karoubi with the people, and so this current situation achieves that. What do you think? Has the Green Movement been curtailed?
Karoubi: Just the opposite. Having no relations with people is both a blessing and a threat for them. It is an opportunity for the movement and a threat to the regime. Both Messrs. Karoubi and Mousavi had repeatedly said that people have found their way and are vigorously pursuing their demands, and are getting more determined in this by the day. On the other side of the spectrum, the regime has only succeeded in managing the country through more controls while becoming so incapable that it fears something as simple as a memorial service for a former Majlis representative, or the burial ceremony of a mother person affiliated to this movement, let alone the father Mr. Mousavi’s father who passed away recently. My father had told us that when ayatollah Saeedi died in prison during the Shah’s reign, a grand memorial service was held for him and that regime did not create any obstacles in this. This shows that the Shah’s regime had confidence in itself, while these gentlemen do not. On the other hand, the movement enjoyed special and specific conditions through the presence of Messrs. Karoubi and Mousavi. Now things have changed and will change even more.
Rooz: What is your opinion on the continuation of the movement?
Karoubi: What people want is very clear. The more violent the regime acts, the greater will the demands of the people become. To manage these demands is an art. I have personally witnessed the difference in the morale and postures of the two in June 2009 and February 2010. They strived to lead the movement based on the various demands of the comprising groups and individuals in society. So whoever leads this movement must not be too extremist or too timid. Any weakness in announcing the views of the public could lead to their oppression. This is so because the movement does not belong to a party or a group, but to all people.
Rooz: What did Mr. Karoubi think of the future of the Green Movement? Was he optimistic about the final outcome?
Karoubi: One day before his complete detention, Mr. Karoubi send a short video message through a smuggled out video from his house in which he expressly promises victory. Even before that, he always used to tell us that the regime’s manner of government was not maintainable and eventually the regime would have no choice but to cede to the demands of the nation because it faces an opponent that is much larger than itself, i.e., the nation which has serious doubts about the legitimacy of the regime. It is not surprising that those in power have been trying to rebuild their lost legitimacy by coming up with different stories every day. One day they attribute their new subsidies to the missing imam while in another they issue this cheap CD about the imminent arrival of the missing imam (a reference to the Shiite’s 12th imam who is considered to be in occultation). What they are really trying to do is connect themselves to this and that (i.e., some credible sources) and improve their credibility. But I think this attitude and their games with people’s beliefs and values will bring about a colossal harm.
Rooz: Did Mr. Karoubi foresee such days prior to his siege? If so, then what did he think about the leadership of the movement?
Rooz: First of all these four are not under siege. They are in detention. Yes, Mr., Karoubi had prepared himself for any eventuality and had predicted such an outcome. He believed that the future had tough days ahead and believed that the movement had to be in the hands of individuals who had initiative and who were prepared to pay any price for its goals. Individuals who would behave according to the interests and needs of people, while remaining steadfast, so that the movement did not fall into hands of weak or opportunist individuals.
Rooz: Last question. What is the condition of Mr. Karoubi’s children?
Karoubi: When our contacts were cut, and we dispersed, my brother Ali was arrested on the comical charges of being a spy for Persian Gulf countries. After a few weeks they released him on bail. Other than banning my two brothers from leaving the country, they have not imposed any other problems. But I am in hiding to decide what I plan to do about myself and what God determines for us.
