Iranian Regime Tightens House Arrest for Mir-Hossein Mousavi

Mir-Hossein Mousavi and his wife Zahra Rahnavard in March 2019. (Kalameh website)

Iranian authorities have tightened house arrest restrictions on reformist leader Mir-Hossein Mousavi.

Kalameh website, which is close to Mousavi, reported that his confinement became more restricted after he released a statement in support of the “Women, Life, Freedom Movement”, and called for a referendum to establish a new political system in Iran.

The website said authorities introduced new restrictions starting last Sunday, the 13th anniversary of when authorities first imposed the house arrest on Mousavi, his wife, reformist activist Zahra Rahnavard, and their ally, reformist leader Mehdi Karroubi.

Kalameh did not disclose the details of the new restrictions but added that it will publish more information soon.

Mousavi, who was a presidential candidate in the 2009 disputed election and has been under house arrest since 2011, said in a statement earlier this month that Iran needs “fundamental change” based on “Woman, Life, Freedom” movement.

The movement was launched in wake of the death in custody last year of Mahsa Amini, an Iranian Kurd, who was arrested by the morality police for not adhering to the country’s strict dress code for women.

In his statement, released to mark the 44th anniversary of the 1979 revolution, Mousavi also called for constitutional change.

The reformist camp has long demanded easing the strict house arrest imposed on Mousavi and his wife, arguing that their health is deteriorating.

Iranian authorities have never pressed any charges against Mousavi or Karroubi, but that might change after Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei described the latest protest movement as “sedition.”

Mousavi’s call for change was backed by several of his reformist supporters, as well as religious and political figures critical of the regime.

Authorities have, however, put pressure on dozens of political activists to withdraw their support for Mousavi.

Mousavi’s ally, former President Muhammad Khatami, issued a statement in which he implicitly distanced himself from his proposals, stressing that the overthrow of the regime “is not possible.”