Iran's opposition urges to release arrested politicians

Families of Iranian opposition leaders Mehdi Karroubi and Mir Hossein Mousavi appealed to the Iranian people to speed the word for the world on how the politicians are being treated, opposition websites Sahamnews and Kalame reported.

In their statements, the families also urged for all political prisoners in Iran to be released. The statements are timed to Feb. 14 - anniversary of the uprisings in Egypt and Tunisia.

Karroubi and Mousavi had called for a rally to support the popular uprisings in Egypt and Tunisia in 2011. The authorities of Iran refused permission, calling it a political move.

After the protesters took it to the streets of Iranian cities, local police interfered and restored order, as a result of which 2 people were killed.

Karroubi andMousavi have later been taken under house arrest since February 14, 2011. They are prohibited from contacting the outside world, except for their families.

Iran's tenth presidential election was held on June 12, 2009 with incumbent Mahmoud Ahmadinejad running against three other candidates. The next morning IRNA announced Ahmadinejad's decisive victory in the elections with two-thirds, or 62 percent, of the votes.

A while after, Mousavi and Karoubi issued a statement and called their supporters to protest the decision.


/Trend/