Iran Special: Mousavi's Moment Outside House Arrest "The Future is Bright"

Banooye Sabz translates from an article by Kalemeh:

After seven months of house arrest, [opposition figures] Mir Hossein Mousavi and Zahra Rahnavard were finally allowed to visit the home of one of their daughters, spending some time with their three children.

According to reports received by Kalemeh, 200 days after their house arrest, Mousavi and Rahnavard were accompanied by a number of male and female security agents to the residence of one of their daughters.  This sudden and unprecedented visit, with all three of their daughters present, was the first time Mousavi and Rahnavard were allowed to leave the confounds of their house arrest in a period of seven months.

The future is bright…

In the meeting with his three children, Mir Hossein Mousavi made the following statement regarding the current developments in the country: “The future is bright.”  While pointing to the upcoming [Parliamentary] elections, the former Prime Minister during the eight-year holy war against Iraq stated: ”Given the current climate in our country, one cannot be hopeful regarding participation in the upcoming elections.”

While discussing the restrictions imposed upon them, Mousavi stated that he is grateful for the grace of God, emphasising that the pressures and restrictions on himself and his wife are as a result of their ideals and speaking the truth, principles in  which they both strongly believe

It has been reported that during Mousavi and Rahnavard’s long house arrest, they were both very concerned for the life,  well-being and security of their three daughters, particularly as one of the pressure tactics used by security agents was making sure that Mousavi and Rahnavard were in the dark when it came to their children’s well-being.

Presence of a high ranking judicial figure during the family visit and Mousavi’s reaction

It has been reported that a high-ranking judicial authority was also present  during Mousavi and Rahnavard’s first visit in seven months with their three daughters, a visit that took place outside the restricted confines of Pasteur Street [the location of Mousavi's residence].  Mousavi is said to have strongly protested the presence of this individual, demanding to know why he was present and who had authorized him to be there.

Mousavi and Rahnavard denied all communication with the  outside world, their personal artwork confiscated

During the visit with their three daughters, Mir Hossein Mousavi and Zahra Rahnavard reiterated that they have been denied all communication with the outside world, including access to newspapers, radio, and even certain writing materials. They both emphasized that although these tactics are designed to erase their memories, the truth and the  events of the past two years will be etched in their memories for ever.  Mousavi and Rahnavard also stated: ” A large number of our personal art work and paintings were confiscated and taken to an undisclosed location during the interrogations and searches conducted by security agents after the initial days of our  house arrest.”

Mousavi and Rahnavard both in good physical condition and high spirits

Mousavi and Rahnavard’s daughters describe their parents as physically healthy and in excellent spirits. Reportedly, when informed about the lies that had been published regarding his health by a number of pro-Government media outlets, Mousavi was surprised, strongly denying any reports eluding to the fact that he and his wife suffer from any serious illness.

Pressure on the family continued after the visit, all telephone contact once again banned

According to the latest reports received by Kalemeh, after this unprecedented visit outside of the restrictions of Pasteur Street and Mousavi’s explicit statements to the judicial authority present, pressure on Mousavi and Rahnavard once again increased and all telephone contact between Mousavi, Rahnavard, and their daughters was yet again banned.

This is the second time Mousavi’s statements have reached Green media outlets in 2011.  The first such occasion was when Mousavi was  briefly allowed to visit and pay his respects to the body of his late father Mir Esmail Mousavi this past April, and he reportedly repeated to those present: “patience…. patience…. patience…”