Iranian reformist parties defy charges against them

The two major Iranian reformist organizations, Islamic Iran Participation Front and Mojahedin of Islamic Revolution announced that they will continue their activities according to the law and demanded a public hearing in order to defend all their activities.

The Article 10 Commission of political parties has called for the dissolution of the two reformist organizations through the judiciary.

Leaders of the two organizations have independently written to the Commission maintaining that the actions against their organizations lack “legal justification.”

The Commission accuses the said organizations of “libel and spreading of rumours”, “violating national unity”, “activities to create and exacerbate differences amongst the people” and “violation of the Islamic principles of the Islamic Republic.”

Secretary General of Islamic Iran Participation Front expressed his disappointment that the Commission did not call on any party representative to defend the organization against the said accusations, and called for a public and official court to process the case.

Following the controversial presidential elections last June, numerous prominent political figures including many senior members of the two reformist organizations, Islamic Iran Participation Front and Mojahedin of Islamic Revolution were arrested and sentenced to long prison terms.

The two parties had supported MirHosein Mousavi in the elections and disputed the outcome of the elections claiming the ballot was rigged.

The Supreme Leader, who has supported the re-election of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad despite all protests against it, announced recently that those who have refused to accept the demands of the majority “are not eligible to remain in the framework of the Islamic regime.”