Iranian lawmakers sue opposition leader Moussavi

Oct 20, 2009, 14:38 GMT

   Tehran - Over one-third of the Iranian parliament's lawmakers have sued Iran's opposition leader Mir-Hossein Moussavi for harming the reputation of the Islamic establishment, official news agency IRNA reported.

   Tehran MP Hamid Rassaei told IRNA that the complaint letter was forwarded to the chief prosecutor office for further action.

   The MP added that the number of the signatories of the letter might gradually increase. IRNA said it was signed by 100 of parliament's 290 deputies.

   Moussavi, a former prime minister, is one of the four main opposition figures along with former parliament speaker Mehdi Karroubi and the two ex-presidents Mohammad Khatami and Akbar Hashemi-Rafsanjani.

   The quartet has protested against alleged fraud in the June 12 presidential election which led to Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's re-election and demanded the release of all post-election prisoners.

   Moussavi has the highest number of supporters in Iran and his Green Movement - green stands for change and resistance - has staged several protests demonstrations in Tehran and other Iranian cities.

   Rassaei further told IRNA that the delay in forwarding the letter to the prosecutor's office was out of hope by the MPs that Moussavi would revise his stance. However, he did not and instead continued escalating tensions with his statements, Rassaei alleged.

   Moussavi and Khatami issued a statement last Friday saying that using force could not stop the post-election protests and the national will for democracy.

   A new protest demonstration against Ahmadinejad is planned by the Green Movement for November 4 which is an annual state-organized protest gathering against the United States.

   Legal actions have also started against Karroubi who had claimed that some young post-vote detainees have not only been tortured but also raped in prison.

   The Iranian government, parliament and judiciary have categorically rejected the charges and accused Karroubi of raising unfounded charges without any documented proof.

   Ahmadinejad has already called on the judiciary to prosecute the opposition leaders for having led and orchestrated the political unrest after the election.