Wishful Thinking

Mousavi and Karoubi are under arrent and are transfered to Heshmatiyeh prison (A prison in Shargh of Tehran, in a miltary complex tat was established during Shah, and wish is in the same "complex" as teh Revolution Court is). That's what the heavy artillery in Tehran streets meant. That's what the appearance of the minister of intelligence on TV meant. He really had no evidence against the 'crimes' of these men. They have been digging and digging to find 'dirt' on them and have not. So they abducted them. And then said: It's the orders of the supreme leader!

Last week, when the rumors of their arrest was taking a more serious tone, Ayatollah Montazeri's son wrote a public letter to Khamenei and asked him to hold a 'friendly' meeting with Mousavi, Karoubi, Khatami, and Hashemi to discuss matters in the spirit of old days when they were all colleagues. After all, these five men were the pillars on which the Islamic republic of Iran stood for over 25 years; before the virus, Ahmadinejad took over.

Also, Ali Motahari made a public suggestion that the state television should invite Mousavi and Karoubi and give them a chance to explain themselves and express their concerns to the people.

Since two days ago, more and more religious leaders have come out to condemn the house arrest of these men; and a total black out in their homes: not only the lights of their houses have been off, but also their children are in absolute dark about the fate of their parents. Ayatollahs Dastgheyb, Bayat Zanjani, and Sane'i, all "grand Ayatollahs" with their own followers have condemned the illegal detention of the these men and their spouses.

Iranians have pledged to pour out in the streets and protest the illegal and unexplained abduction of their leaders.

On the other hand, pressures on Hashemi have been increasing.

Last week his daughter came under attack by thugs who shouted at her, called her a whore, a bastard and pledged to rape her! (Yes, these are the men of the Islamic Republic we are talking about--and no, they are not the ones hired from Lebanon Hezbollah. Those just beat and take pictures. If this happens to a private citizen like me, the IRI security forces have the right to arrest the man shouting such obscenities. In fact,. they have a lot of patrols to make sure such men do not harass women. However, when this happens to teh daughter of Hashemi, the attorney general states that "persecution of the individuals needs Ms Hashemi to file an official complaint!".

Hashemi's candidacy to run for the head of The Assembly of Experts (a body that is in charge of watching over the supreme leader's "justice to rule') has also come under attack. Reportedly, 60 members of the Assembly have signed a petition for Mahdavi Kani to run for the position. Despite pressure, Hashemi has not back tracked and has maintained that it is his duty and obligation to the country and the Revolution to run and serve in the assembly.

However, poor Hashemi is getting it from both sides!

While under pressure ( I mean belligerent threats that either condemn before next week or await a similar fate) from hardliners (who had already detained Mousavi and Karoubi), Hashemi condemned the Feb 14 unrest. It was a mild condemnation but it didn't take the Greens to come out in mass and express dismay and hatred for him. Someone wrote: The extremists on both sides give Hashemi Shit while inviting him to join their camp!. However he has so far maintained his independence from both camps, a strategy, that in my opinion is right.

Already, a large number of Greens hate Hashemi; and Hashemi is well aware of that the hatred of the populist bases of Ahmadinejad is fueled by his personal wealth, and by never proven allegations of the corruption of his sons. So, if he sided with the Greens, in my view he will have damaged them more than keeping a distance with them. However, Hashemi has never back-tracked from the position he announced upon the start of the mayhem.

With that overview, what is my wishful thinking?

Well, only that they are not going to kill them or slit their throats as the thugs had promised. Ironically, the conservatives admitted that Mousavi, Karoubi and their wives (a doctor and a university professor) have been "moved to a safe house outside Tehran", implying that their staying out of prison was "unsafe" for them!!! Of course, it is not because the state is worried about these "mohareb"s (combatants against the regime) getting killed. One of their idiots in charge had admitted that they were taken in a safe house because the green movement was looking for their martyrdom to find extra excuse for rebellion!!!

Have they killed them already? Are the reports of their bloody bodies dragged into the prison and moving Karoubi in a body bag in the trunck of a car true?I hope not.

Would Khamenei meet with these men in private? Will he make deals and concessions with them? Everytime the regime takes a "carrot" posture after a sticky one, they bring up the prosecution of Ghazi Mortazavi, the corrupt judge responsible for the rapes and killings in Kahrizak. Would Khamenei STOP this madness ... will he stop this madness ... this madness ...

I guess I am thinking wishfully ...

Update: Tehran is on rooftops with Allah o Akbar; and Fars News is denying the arrests, although it was the attorney General, Mohseni Ejehi (the man who bit a journalist, Eesa Saharkhiz, in the parliament, literally with his teeth!!)