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After seven months' house arrest, Iran's Musavi visits family

September 08, 2011

Iranian opposition politician Mir Hosein Musavi

Iranian opposition leader Mir Hossein Musavi and his wife have visited their children for the first time after seven months of house arrest, according to the opposition Kaleme website.

The report on September 7 did not say when the visit took place.

Referring to the upcoming parliamentary election in March, Musavi said "given the continuation of the current situation, there is no hope regarding the election and participation in it."

But he also said Iran has a bright future ahead of it.

The report follows news last week that another former presidential candidate, Mehdi Karrubi, was allowed a family visit.

Musavi, Karrubi, and their wives have been under house arrest since February, when they called on Iranians to participate in a rally in support of the democratic uprisings in Tunisia and Egypt.

Germany-based political analyst Hassan Shariatmadari told Radio Farda that Musavi has consciously and cleverly taken a forthright position.

Shariatmadari added that while many reformists have shown an interest in participating in the election in order to "remain in the power scene at any price," Musavi stated frankly that participation in the election must depend on there being changes in Iran's current situation.

Musavi is after a fair and free election in which candidates from across the political spectrum can take part, noted Shariatmadari.

In their visit with their children, Musavi and his wife, Zahra Rahnavard, said they had been completely cut off from the world outside. They said they had no access to newspapers, radio, or even stationery for writing.

Iran's chief prosecutor, Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei, recently said that the house arrest of Musavi and Karrubi was "in their own interest."

Link to original story on RFE/RL website

Topics: Opposition,