Opposition leader condemned by imprisoned reformist

Saeed Hajjarian

IRNA state news agency published an interview with reform leader Saeed Hajjarian who has been imprisoned from the first days of the recent protests in June. Mr. Hajjarian, who by many accounts is regarded as the architect of the reform movement in Iran, was a member of the Islamic Iran Participation Front that supported MirHosein Mousavi in the June presidential elections.

The interview published in IRNA’s website last night, portrays Hajjarian criticizing Mousavi and his actions in the post-election events.

Hajjarian, who has been severely disabled since he was shot in the head in an assassination attempt in 2000, was paraded in the mass trial of protesters in August recanting all his reformist theories and his support for Mousavi and even withdrawing his membership from the IIPF. Mr. Hajjarian, who can barely walk or talk, had his statement in court read by a fellow party member.

Opposition forces and Mr. Hajjarian’s family have repeatedly maintained that he is under severe torture and the statements that he has made in trial are all results of coercion.

IRNA’s published interview is basically a reiteration of the statement read in court. Mr. Hajjarian is said to have described Mr. Mousavi’s rallying people to protest tampering with the votes, as an illegal act promoting a wave of hatred and causing the consequent crisis that has gripped the country since. The imprisoned reformist is said to have once more recanted all his theories and writings especially citing his reading of Western theories and the study of humanities as the source of his errors.

According to IRNA, Mr. Hajjarian claimed his change of heart concerning the Velayat-e Faqih, represented by Ayatollah Khamenei at present as the Supreme Leader, is not a tactical move because “there is no form of harshness or contention between me and my investigators.”

Opposition forces claim the by publicizing these so-called recantations and confessions from prominent political figures, the State is trying to intimidate and silence protesters at large.