Mousavi, Karrubi, And Khatami Stand Firm Against Government

July 1, 2009 by Jonathan Movroydis | Filed Under Iran 

Via CNN:

Presidential candidate Mehdi Karrubi wrote a letter in his party’s newspaper, saying he would not recognize the government and vowing to “stand by the people and the revolution, until the end of my life.”

His statement prompted Iran’s government to block publication of the newspaper.

Ahmadinejad’s main political rival, Mir Hossein Moussavi, also released a statement Wednesday criticizing the government and its crackdown on the media, which he said has created a “bitter, coup d’etat atmosphere” in Iran.

“We will stand firmly in order to preserve this valuable accomplishment [revolution],” Moussavi said. “Unless we succeed in this, this government will not have legitimacy. The system and the heritage of the Islamic revolution are the fruits of our 200-year-old struggle against oppression.”

Iran’s former reformist President Mohammad Khatami called on Iranians to keep up the struggle, noting that “all doors are not yet closed.”

“We must not lose our social capital this easily,” Khatami told progressive Iranian newspaper Tahile Rouz. “I know Moussavi as one of the faithful, original and valuable capitals of our revolution, and considered his return to the political scene as a great chance.”

In his statement, Moussavi called for the release of jailed reformists and said he will participate in the creation of a “legal organization” that will release proof of fraud in the June 12 presidential election, and take its case to the courts.

He said the current political issue is a “family dispute” and cautioned against asking for outside help, warning, “We will regret it.”

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