Opposition Leader Mehdi Karroubi Allowed to Visit With His Family For the First Time in 8 Months

Opposition Leader Mehdi Karroubi Allowed to Visit With His Family For the First Time in 8 Months
By Banooye Sabz
October 8, 2011

Saturday October 8th, 2011 – [Kaleme] Mohammad Hossein Karroubi, incarcerated opposition leader Mehdi Karroubi’s son, describes an unexpected visit by his father last night, on his facebook page as follows:

Last night my mother and my brothers had gathered at my house to celebrate father’s birthday and the fact that my daughter had been accepted to university. Just as we were about to serve dinner the door bell rang and an agent confirmed that they had brought father to the house. We could not believe our ears and were elated that they had brought father to the house so unexpectedly.

My father arrived at our doorsteps accompanied by six security agents. Though he had lost some weight, he was nevertheless in great spirits. By his own accord, the weight t loss is a result of the more than two hours he walks in the apartment he is currently being held. When we inquired about his health he responded that he had been taken to a medical center a few days ago where he had undergone a complete medical checkup.

At the end of this one hour visit, the security agents allowed the family to take a group photo. It is worth mentioning that the security agents recently assigned to my father have promised my father that his situation will improve and that they plan to transfer him to a house in the area of Shemiran within the next ten days. They have also promised that the family members will be allowed to take turns and visit with him once a week. When inquiring whether father would be allowed access to books and newspapers, the security agents responded that the authorities would have to approve that first.

Although the six security agents were present at all times during father’s short visit, it goes without saying that seeing him after 8 months transformed our small family gathering into a memorable and auspicious night.

I am hopeful that rather than managing the world affairs and providing guidance for the Islamic world, after 8 months, now that the authorities have decided to slightly improve my father’s conditions and uphold his basic rights as a prisoner, that they will act likewise and improve the conditions of our prisons, upholding the rights of all prisoners. This has always been and will continue to be the minimum demand by their families.

Let us not forget that despite the conditions in Iran, in our neighboring country Turkey, a country that Iranian officials refer to as having implemented a liberal form of Islam, a political prisoner announced his candidacy for the elections from inside prison. In all fairness, Turkey has been at the forefront of establishing a positive reputation of Islam in the eyes of the international community and the world at large.

Mohammad Hossein Karroubi

Source: Kalame: http://www.kaleme.com/1390/07/16/klm-75852/

Mohammad Hossein Karroubi’s Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/hoseinkaroubi

Banooye Sabz
http://banouyesabz.wordpress.com/2011/10/08/opposition-leader-mehdi-karroubi-allowed-to-visit-with-his-family-for-the-first-time-in-8-months/