Thursday
Sep022010
Iran Urgent: Breaking News with Video on Day 5 of Karroubi "Siege"
Thursday, September 2, 2010 at 21:10
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v5l4Adu6m_Y[/youtube]
UPDATE 3 September: Student Supporters of Karroubi and Mousavi have issued a statement calling for a demonstration of support on Saturday at around 7:30 p.m. local time in front of Karroubi's residence..
UPDATE 2045 GMT: Saham News says that Special Guards units are now at the Karroubi house and attackers are retreating into alleys around the home. There are reports that the Guards are trying to move Karroubi to another location for his safety but the cleric is refusing to leave.
The Karroubis live on the 5th floor of the apartment complex.
UPDATE 2030 GMT: The full statement of Mehdi Karroubi's son Hossein as he talked to Radio Farda before the family's phone was cut off:
Hossein Karroubi added that the attackers were trying to enter the home by setting it on fire so Mehdi Karroubi’s bodyguards fired warning shots, injuring some of the attackers
Hossein Karroubi said that his father was reading the Quran and his mother, Fatemeh Karroubi, is with her sons and daughter-in-laws.
Hossein Karroubi addresed the Supreme Leader:
UPDATE 2000 GMT: Saham News reports that one of Mehdi Karroubi's bodyguards, "Mr Yari", has been taken to hospitaland is in a coma.
The website says that water pipes around Karroubi's complex are destroyed, and electricity has been cut. Security forces have abandoned the scene.
Karroubi's son Hossein says, according to an activist, that his father's bodyguards did not fire into the air but at assailants as they tried to enter the house. Rah-e-Sabz says that the phone was cut off as Radio Farda talked to Hossein: amongst his statement, in a reference to Qods Day tomorrow, was "Here is Palestine".
Fatemeh Karroubi, Mehdi Karroubi's wife, tells BBC Persian that tonight's attack is "different" and that the crowd is trying to kill her husband (video at top of entry).
UPDATE 1850 GMT: A fifth consecutive night of harassmant has begun, with the pro-regime crowd reportedly throwing Molotov cocktails and Karroubi's bodyguards firing shots into the air. The entrance --- whether to the house or to the residential complex --- was broken as the crowd tried to get into the house.
UPDATE 1500 GMT: Saham News has posted images of the damage done to Mehdi Karroubi's residential complex.
Alleged video has also emerged:
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TvdtteMwOHI[/youtube]
UPDATE 1100 GMT: In a phone call to Mehdi Karroubi, Grand Ayatollah Sane'i condemned the ongoing, "inhuman" attacks on Karroubi's home. Sane'i wished Karroubi patience and perseverance to follow the people's rights and to reform the corrupt system.
UPDATE 2 September: Saham News reports that, despite the open letter of protest to Ayatollah Khamenei by Mehdi Karroubi's wife Fatemeh (see update below), the Karroubi residence was surrounded by a pro-regime crowd for a fourth consecutive night.
The group, which gathered from about 10 p.m. Tehran, chanted slogans against Mehdi Karroubi and in support of the Supreme Leader, threw rocks, and sprayed paint on the walls of the residential complex. The crowd broke windows and vandalised the building's security cameras. Chants included "If only Khamenei would give us the order to fight" and "We congratulate the union of the United States and Karroubi".
UPDATE 1 September: Fatemeh Karroubi, the wife of Mehdi Karroubi, has written to the Supreme Leader to condemn the attacks on her home and family by pro-regime crowds.
Fatemeh Karroubi asks the Leader: “What do the disagreements between you and my husband over issues, that are evident to all by now, have to do with our right to live?”
She pulls no punches as she describes the crowd chanting “derogatory words” against Mehdi Karroubi and “writing slogans on the walls of the residential complex and the neighbours' houses": “These obvious crimes are taking place with your support and in front of the security forces who do not dare to approach these attackers.”
So, noting the policy of “attacking the family and neighbours of political opponents”, Fatemeh Karroubi asks Ayatollah Khamenei if he condones such “unethical acts". (cross-posted from Iran LiveBlog)
UPDATE 1610 GMT: Fatemeh Karroubi, the wife of Mehdi Karroubi, first spoke to Fereshteh Ghazi of Rooz Online at 11 p.m. local time on Monday (English summary via Negar Irani). She said that those surrounding her residence carried tear gas, batons, and weapons, and although the police were also present, they were no more than spectators. During the interview, there were chants such as "Karroubi is illiterate and a puppet in the hands of Mossad" and "even the army of the entire world can't stand against us". According to Mrs. Karroubi, Mehdi Karroubi was in his room, meditating and reading the Qu'ran.
When Ghazi contacted the house an hour later, the crowd had dispersed, although they vowed to be back on Friday morning.
Fatemeh Karroubi said, "We are...truly distressed by the fact that the regime has reduced itself to a level of governing in this manner, that in these nights of Ramadan, they have chosen to inflict such stress and anxiety on the families and neighbours living in our area....We are concerned about the foundations upon which this regime was based and the rights of the people....
Fatehmeh Karroubi confirmed that Karroubi would participate in Qods Days ceremonies this Friday, and asked, "Does this decision frighten and terrorize them so much that they need to gather so many people to insult, threaten?" She continued, "Mr. Karroubi's crime was that he had the audacity to say that if rape and torture is taking place in the prisons, then the government should put an end to it right away."
Fatemeh Karroubi concluded, "My children and I will continue to stand with [Mehdi] Karroubi. We are ready to face anything."
---
For the second night in a row, Mehdi Karroubi's house was surrounded by a pro-regime crowd --- on Monday, Karroubi's son Hossein spoke to Deutsche Welle:
LATEST Iran Video and English Summary: Mehdi Karroubi after 5th Night of Pro-Regime Siege (3 September)
Iran Breaking: Karroubi on Election Fraud; House Surrounded by Pro-Regime Crowd
UPDATE 3 September: Student Supporters of Karroubi and Mousavi have issued a statement calling for a demonstration of support on Saturday at around 7:30 p.m. local time in front of Karroubi's residence..
UPDATE 2045 GMT: Saham News says that Special Guards units are now at the Karroubi house and attackers are retreating into alleys around the home. There are reports that the Guards are trying to move Karroubi to another location for his safety but the cleric is refusing to leave.
The Karroubis live on the 5th floor of the apartment complex.
UPDATE 2030 GMT: The full statement of Mehdi Karroubi's son Hossein as he talked to Radio Farda before the family's phone was cut off:
The home is completely blockaded. Our neighborhood is now just like the desert of Karbala (where Imam Hossein was martyred after being denied water for days) and occupied Palestine. The building is completely surrounded. There were gun shots fired directly at the building. The bodyguards in return fired some warning shots. All windows of the building are broken. They shot out all the street lights in the alley. Apparently some [assailants] were injured and ambulance has taken them [to hospital].
The situation is very chaotic now and the attackers are continuously chanting slogans and their attack word is “We are responding, O Khamenei”.
Hossein Karroubi added that the attackers were trying to enter the home by setting it on fire so Mehdi Karroubi’s bodyguards fired warning shots, injuring some of the attackers
Hossein Karroubi said that his father was reading the Quran and his mother, Fatemeh Karroubi, is with her sons and daughter-in-laws.
Hossein Karroubi addresed the Supreme Leader:
You think of yourself to be just like Imam Ali [Shia's first Imam]. Is this the way of Imam Ali? Is this the way of Ali, that you want to confront someone, have attacked the home of a 73-year-old man and have blockaded his home and set it on fire?
UPDATE 2000 GMT: Saham News reports that one of Mehdi Karroubi's bodyguards, "Mr Yari", has been taken to hospitaland is in a coma.
The website says that water pipes around Karroubi's complex are destroyed, and electricity has been cut. Security forces have abandoned the scene.
Karroubi's son Hossein says, according to an activist, that his father's bodyguards did not fire into the air but at assailants as they tried to enter the house. Rah-e-Sabz says that the phone was cut off as Radio Farda talked to Hossein: amongst his statement, in a reference to Qods Day tomorrow, was "Here is Palestine".
Fatemeh Karroubi, Mehdi Karroubi's wife, tells BBC Persian that tonight's attack is "different" and that the crowd is trying to kill her husband (video at top of entry).
UPDATE 1850 GMT: A fifth consecutive night of harassmant has begun, with the pro-regime crowd reportedly throwing Molotov cocktails and Karroubi's bodyguards firing shots into the air. The entrance --- whether to the house or to the residential complex --- was broken as the crowd tried to get into the house.
UPDATE 1500 GMT: Saham News has posted images of the damage done to Mehdi Karroubi's residential complex.
Alleged video has also emerged:
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TvdtteMwOHI[/youtube]
UPDATE 1100 GMT: In a phone call to Mehdi Karroubi, Grand Ayatollah Sane'i condemned the ongoing, "inhuman" attacks on Karroubi's home. Sane'i wished Karroubi patience and perseverance to follow the people's rights and to reform the corrupt system.
UPDATE 2 September: Saham News reports that, despite the open letter of protest to Ayatollah Khamenei by Mehdi Karroubi's wife Fatemeh (see update below), the Karroubi residence was surrounded by a pro-regime crowd for a fourth consecutive night.
The group, which gathered from about 10 p.m. Tehran, chanted slogans against Mehdi Karroubi and in support of the Supreme Leader, threw rocks, and sprayed paint on the walls of the residential complex. The crowd broke windows and vandalised the building's security cameras. Chants included "If only Khamenei would give us the order to fight" and "We congratulate the union of the United States and Karroubi".
UPDATE 1 September: Fatemeh Karroubi, the wife of Mehdi Karroubi, has written to the Supreme Leader to condemn the attacks on her home and family by pro-regime crowds.
Fatemeh Karroubi asks the Leader: “What do the disagreements between you and my husband over issues, that are evident to all by now, have to do with our right to live?”
She pulls no punches as she describes the crowd chanting “derogatory words” against Mehdi Karroubi and “writing slogans on the walls of the residential complex and the neighbours' houses": “These obvious crimes are taking place with your support and in front of the security forces who do not dare to approach these attackers.”
So, noting the policy of “attacking the family and neighbours of political opponents”, Fatemeh Karroubi asks Ayatollah Khamenei if he condones such “unethical acts". (cross-posted from Iran LiveBlog)
UPDATE 1610 GMT: Fatemeh Karroubi, the wife of Mehdi Karroubi, first spoke to Fereshteh Ghazi of Rooz Online at 11 p.m. local time on Monday (English summary via Negar Irani). She said that those surrounding her residence carried tear gas, batons, and weapons, and although the police were also present, they were no more than spectators. During the interview, there were chants such as "Karroubi is illiterate and a puppet in the hands of Mossad" and "even the army of the entire world can't stand against us". According to Mrs. Karroubi, Mehdi Karroubi was in his room, meditating and reading the Qu'ran.
When Ghazi contacted the house an hour later, the crowd had dispersed, although they vowed to be back on Friday morning.
Fatemeh Karroubi said, "We are...truly distressed by the fact that the regime has reduced itself to a level of governing in this manner, that in these nights of Ramadan, they have chosen to inflict such stress and anxiety on the families and neighbours living in our area....We are concerned about the foundations upon which this regime was based and the rights of the people....
Fatehmeh Karroubi confirmed that Karroubi would participate in Qods Days ceremonies this Friday, and asked, "Does this decision frighten and terrorize them so much that they need to gather so many people to insult, threaten?" She continued, "Mr. Karroubi's crime was that he had the audacity to say that if rape and torture is taking place in the prisons, then the government should put an end to it right away."
Fatemeh Karroubi concluded, "My children and I will continue to stand with [Mehdi] Karroubi. We are ready to face anything."
---
For the second night in a row, Mehdi Karroubi's house was surrounded by a pro-regime crowd --- on Monday, Karroubi's son Hossein spoke to Deutsche Welle:
Deutsche Welle: Mr. Karroubi, at this moment (12 midnight local time) the house of Mehdi Karroubi is surrounded. Explain what is happening there and who are these individuals? It seems like they are armed.
Hossein Karroubi: It is 10 minutes since these individuals left. I myself was trying to get in to the house for about an hour but could not get in the house. These individuals were cursing and chanting slogans in support for the Supreme Leader. They were threatening that they would come back on Friday morning and would gather ten times more individuals. They will bring them in front on Mehdi Karroubi’s house and will not let him leave the house to go for the Qods Day rally.
Deutsche Welle: Do you think that these events are a continuation of the events that had happened Sunday night to prevent Mr. Karroubi from participating in the Qadr Nights religious ritual?
Hossein Karroubi: It is both to prevent him from participatig in Qadr Nights religious ritual and, what is very important, to prevent him from participating in the Qods Day rally.
Deutsche Welle: Were you able to get into Mehdi Karroubi’s house now?
Hossein Karroubi: Yes, Mr. Karroubi is fine and is in very high spirits. My mother, my brothers, and I are all beside him.
Deutsche Welle: Who were these individuals that were gathered there today? Did they have any specific characteristics?
Hossein Karroubi: These are the plainclothes militias whom the government fully supports. They are armed with both guns and machetes. According to Mr. Karroubi, they wear thick jackets and beneath their jackets they carry all sorts of weapons. These individuals are completely under the order of the Revolutionary Guards.
Deutsche Welle: Mr. Karroubi talked about participating in Qods Day rally. Is he still determined to carry on with his decision?
Hossein Karroubi: Mr. Karroubi is very much determined to carry on with his promise and decision. Today he had a meeting with Mir Hossein Mousavi in Mir Hossein’s house. In fact they are going to invite people to participate in the Qods Day rally.
Reader Comments (12)
[...] to reports out of Iran, former presidential candidate Mehdi Karroubi has been surrounded in his house by a group of [...]
[...] bei Enduring America am 31. August 2010 Quelle (Englisch): http://enduringamerica.com/2010/08/31/iran-the-latest-on-the-karroubi-siege-and-the-qods-day-rally/ Bei Weiterveröffentlichung bitte Link [...]
It is worth remembering that this Qods day rally is about destroying Israel, and killing millions of Jews (and Israeli Arabs).
If Karroubi supports this, he is not a good man.
But they've left Mousavi alone? Hmmm.
Yes, because in this kind of period, when there is a demonstration in the country, he becomes "the invisible man" ! without sound !
GOD has to save Karroubi ! if you exist, you have to !!
I think that the situation is very critical and it's no more possible to continue like this; United Nation has to send solders in order to save iranian people living under this ruthless oppression; it's his OBLIGATION if not I don't understand why it exists; it's a failure to assist injured people .
Seems like they work well together. Karroubi has been a kind but straightforward, persistent and stinging critic. Mousavi speaks with less force but with much thought, and today, he enabled reporting of the entire assault incident in a timely manner for those of us who do not read Persian.
After watching for a year as a foreigner, I deem both of them as rare, regardless of anything else one wants to throw in there. Just MHO ....
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[...] Iran Urgent: Breaking News with Video on Day 5 of Karroubi “Siege … [...]
Go Ahmadinijat take care of Karubi
[...] Karroubi’s home. Apparently, electrical and phone lines have also been cut. According to Enduring America: Student Supporters of Karroubi and Mousavi have issued a statement calling for a demonstration of [...]