The head of Iran's judiciary, Ayatollah Sadegh Larijani, says the Iranian opposition leaders have not been arrested, despite their alleged seditious aims, in order to avoid turning them into "saints."
Iranian opposition leader Mehdi Karroubi
Iranian hardliners have often accused the judiciary of failing
to adequately confront the opposition and others who support the election
protests, which they refer to as "sedition."
"It is unfair to say that the judiciary has been indulging the seditionists,"
Ayatollah Larijani was quoted as saying by Iranian media. "We have processed
more than 1,000 files, and several people linked to the seditious movement have
been sentenced and are currently serving their prison terms."
Iranian opposition leader Mir
Hossein Mousavi
Iranian authorities refer to the mass protests that sprang up
against alleged fraud in the 2009 presidential elections as "sedition." Mehdi
Karroubi and Mir Hossein Mousavi, who ran against Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in the
elections and have disputed the outcome, have been branded "leaders of the
sedition" by the Islamic Republic establishment.
"In terms of the sedition leaders, it is essential to focus on the interests of
the regime," Iran's judicial chief said. "Furthermore, the decision regarding
this matter does not rest with me. The Vali Faqih (Supreme Leader Ayatollah
Khamenei) determines the interests of the regime, so this is an issue that is
beyond the authority of the judiciary."
Ayatollah Larijiani said he agrees with the government's restraint in dealing
with the opposition leaders, "because if we had confronted the leaders of the
sedition, they would have been turned into saints."
Iranian opposition wants to hold a rally on February 14.
February 14 facebook page
The government crushed Iran's election protests of 2009
through violent confrontations in the streets and widespread arrests. Numerous
senior aides and supporters of Mousavi and Karroubi have been arrested and
sentenced, but the two challengers of Ahmadinejad's victory have not been
officially charged with sedition, despite the verbal charges consistently hurled
at them by the establishment.
Mousavi, a former prime minister, and Karroubi, twice speaker of the parliament,
both have a prominent place in the history of the Islamic Republic. The Supreme
Leader has thrown his weight behind Mahmoud Ahmadinejad but so far has steered
away from accusing his opponents of direct involvement in sedition.
Ayatollah Larijani insisted once again that Mousavi and Karroubi were telling "a
big lie" then they alleged fraud in the presidential elections. He rejected the
possibility that Mousavi might have been the actual winner.