برای خواندن این مطلب به فارسی اینجا را کلیک کنید
A protest gathering held on Thursday, February 13 (25 Bahman) in front of the University of Tehran—marking the 14th anniversary of the house arrest of Mir Hossein Mousavi, Zahra Rahnavard, and Mehdi Karroubi—led to the detention of dozens of protesters. Mousavi, Rahnavard and Karroubi, who disputed the results of the 2009 (1388) presidential election, have been confined under house arrest since early 2011 (late 1389).
Security forces had already arrested Rahim Qomeishi, Naser Daneshfar, and Akbar Danesh Sararoudi—central members of the “Campaign to Lift the House Arrest”—prior to the demonstration. According to the “Kaleme” news website, many protesters, including Mahmoud Dardkeshan and his son, Javad Dardkeshan, were also detained on the day of the protest. Additionally, Abdolrahim Soleimani Ardestani was reportedly placed under house arrest. Meanwhile, Saeed and Saeedeh Montazeri—children of the late Ayatollah Hossein-Ali Montazeri—were arrested on Enghelab (Revolution) Street. Although most of those detained were released by the end of the day, several remain in custody, including Rahim Qomeishi and Naser Daneshfar. Organized by a group of Iran-Iraq War veterans and civil activists, the gathering resulted in a heavy security presence around the University of Tehran and surrounding streets.
In the midst of these events, Mohammad Baqer Bakhtiar, a former IRGC commander, posted a video taken from inside his car, describing the security situation near the university before he joined the protest. Pointing to the wartime and military backgrounds of many participants, he remarked, “These individuals know exactly what forces they are confronting and how many divisions are present.” Bakhtiar stated that he holds Ayatollah Ali Khamenei personally responsible for the current state of the country.
Eyewitness reports cited by the “Avaye Kherad” Telegram channel estimate that between 400 and 500 protesters were initially taken to a police station near Enghelab Square. Sources indicate they were held outdoors in cold conditions before being grouped for questioning, during which they faced a set list of prepared questions.
Hossein Loqmanian—a former representative in the 6th Parliament and a war veteran who lost a leg defending the country—was detained alongside his brother during the protest in front of the University of Tehran. Loqmanian had previously been arrested multiple times following the 2009 (1388) protests and served a prison term under harsh conditions in Hamedan, which raises further concerns for his welfare given his physical condition.
Qomeishi, a key organizer of the campaign, was arrested at his Tehran home by seven security agents just before the protest on Wednesday, February 12 (24 Bahman). A veteran of the Iran-Iraq War who was imprisoned for years by Saddam Hussein’s forces, Qomeishi had previously declared, “The February 13 gathering is by no means cancelable. Even if the ‘house-arrested’ are freed, we will still gather to meet them and to say that political prisoners must also be freed. We want to address the people’s economic conditions. We want to say that no illegal action is permissible in this country, whoever it may be from, and that this country belongs to all the people of Iran—not just a select few.” Shortly after his arrest, reports of the arrest of other —another key organizers, Sararoudi and Daneshvar, followed.
Also on the eve of her 14th year under house arrest, Zahra Rahnavard released a statement titled “Coercive Kidnapping,” detailing how security forces blindfolded, gagged, and chained both her and Mir Hossein Mousavi before driving them to a remote basement on the first night of their detention. She wrote, “Now we are labeled the ringleaders of sedition—a term created in 2009 (1388) by the leader of tyranny.” Recently, images surfaced of Mohammad Reza Aref, a former first vice president, meeting with Mehdi Karroubi, prompting speculation of a possible pardon from the Supreme Leader. However, government spokesperson Fatemeh Mohajerani did not confirm any such reports.
The National Iranian American Council (NIAC) strongly condemns the arrest of peaceful protesters seeking to exercise their free expression, and the ongoing and arbitrary house arrests of Mir Hossein Mousavi, Zahra Rahnavard, and Mehdi Karroubi. NIAC urges the Iranian government to immediately and unconditionally release all who have been unjustly detained, respect the right to peaceful assembly, and end the protracted house arrest of former political figures.
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