Iranian Activists Condemn 13-Year House Arrest As ‘Gradual Murder’

Hundreds of Iranian activists have emphasized that the 13-year-long house arrest of three Green Movement protest leaders is a gradual form of murder.

The Iranian Green Movement refers to a political movement that arose after the June 12, 2009 disputed presidential election and lasted until early 2010, in which protesters demanded the annulment of the highly controversial re-election of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad .

The green color was initially used as the symbol of Mir-Hossein Mousavi's campaign, but after the election it became the symbol of unity and hope for those who demanded a real and transparent tabulation of results.

Mousavi, a former prime minister and his wife Zahra Rahnavard, the leaders of the movement have been under house arrest, living in seclusion under the control of security forces at their home since 2011, as Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei saw their protest as a challenge to his regime.

Over 570 political, social, cultural, and civil activists released a statement on Saturday expressing concerns about the continuation of the house arrest of Mousavi, Rahnavard, and Karroubi.

They also expressed concern about imprisonments, sudden deaths, and hunger strikes of political and ideological prisoners on the anniversary of Woman, Life, Freedom protests.

“The 13-year-long house arrest of these protesting political leaders, which began with a violation of the law, has continued inhumane methods and, as a result of increasing pressure, is currently leading to a form of gradual murder,” reads the statement.

The signatories of the letter emphasized that it is the government's responsibility to immediately release the three figures who are being held in an unjust manner without trial.