Parliament president condemns arrest of Green leaders

The President of the European Parliament, Jerzy Buzek, made the following statement on the news regarding the arrest of Green Movement leaders Mir-Hossein Mousavi and Mahdi Karoubi, last night, by the Iranian authorities:

"I am deeply concerned by the arrest of the Iranian opposition leaders Mir-Hossein Mousavi and Mehdi Karoubi yesterday night. Different reports concur that both candidates of the 2009 presidential election were taken by security forces to an unspecified location, together with their wives.

I firmly condemn this attempt at the personal integrity of the highest representatives of the democratic opposition in Iran. Their arrest is unfounded and unjustified by all standards. This attempt at intimidation is a grave violation of the most basic principles of democracy and justice.

In a republic, the peaceful expression of the people's aspirations should be self-evident. The heavy-handed crackdown on the democratic opposition shows once again the true face of the Iranian regime. The nervous reactions of the authorities are the best proof that the democratic movements in Egypt and Iran are driven by the same aspirations - freedom instead of authoritarian rule.

No regime can afford to disregard the people's will in the long run. Opposition leaders should be allowed to act freely in representing the views of their supporters. Mir-Hossein Mousavi, Mehdi Karoubi and their families should be released unconditionally and the Iranian authorities should provide explanations regarding their arrest with full transparency."

Source: GVF