On February 14, the U.S. State Department called for the immediate release of 2009 presidential candidates and opposition leaders Mehdi Karroubi and Mir Hossein Mousavi. The former speaker of parliament and former prime minister, as well as Mousavi’s wife, have been under house arrest for four years for leading Green Movement protests after the disputed 2009 election. But they have not been formally charged with any crimes. The following is the full text of Spokesperson Jen Psaki’s statement.
Four years ago today, the government of the Islamic Republic of Iran placed former senior Iranian officials and 2009 presidential election candidates Mehdi Karroubi and Mir Hossein Mousavi, as well as Mousavi’s wife, women’s rights advocate Zahra Rahnavard, under house arrest without formally charging them with any crimes. We join the international community in condemning their continued detention and the harassment of their family members, and in calling for their immediate release.
Iran’s constitution, its laws, and its international obligations guarantee its citizens human rights and fundamental freedom and provide that no one shall be subject to arbitrary arrest or detention. The United States renews its call on every government, including the government of the Islamic Republic of Iran, to respect their international obligations and to release all prisoners of conscience in their custody.