Tuesday
Sep082009
UPDATED Iran: Mousavi HQ Raided by Security Forces
Tuesday, September 8, 2009 at 5:55
Iran: Ahmadinejad Chooses Confrontation Over Compromise and Governing
Iran: Green Wave Resurgent?
The Latest from Iran (7 September): Countdown to 18 September Begins
Receive our latest updates by email or RSS SUBSCRIBE TO OUR FEED
Buy Us A Cup of Coffee? Help Enduring America Expand Its Coverage and Analysis
UPDATE 8 September: An EA correspondent brings new information and the probable reason for the security forces' raid.
The offices involved are not the main Mousavi headquarters but those of a special committee, established by Mousavi staff and led by Alireza Beheshti, the Committee for the Tracking of Prisoners.
The immediate cause of the raid is probably the committee's provision of the names and description of 72 people killed in post-election violence, published in Norooz last weekend (and an English translation in Enduring America yesterday). The regime was punishing Mousavi's staff for their actions, but it also may be trying to identify those who have been providing information to the opposition. In other words, this is both a blatant political move and a clumsy attempt to acquire intelligence.
A relatively quiet day in Iran and then (from Norooz via the Facebook page of Mir Hossein Mousavi):
"At 4:30 p.m. (GMT +3:30) Security Forces attacked the Staff office of Mir Hossein Mousavi which was responsible for following the issues of the detainees, without any legal permission. All documents were confiscated and taken out to... an unknown destination. When Staff members asked for receipt, security forces answered that no documents will be given back, thus there will be no receipt!!"
The initial interpretation, from this entry, is that the regime is trying to get rid of material that may incriminate officials over the issue of detainee abuse. There is, however, the possibility that security forces are on a "fishing expedition", looking for documents that could be give pretext for a court case against Mousavi staff members and advisors.
Iran: Green Wave Resurgent?
The Latest from Iran (7 September): Countdown to 18 September Begins
Receive our latest updates by email or RSS SUBSCRIBE TO OUR FEED
Buy Us A Cup of Coffee? Help Enduring America Expand Its Coverage and Analysis
UPDATE 8 September: An EA correspondent brings new information and the probable reason for the security forces' raid.
The offices involved are not the main Mousavi headquarters but those of a special committee, established by Mousavi staff and led by Alireza Beheshti, the Committee for the Tracking of Prisoners.
The immediate cause of the raid is probably the committee's provision of the names and description of 72 people killed in post-election violence, published in Norooz last weekend (and an English translation in Enduring America yesterday). The regime was punishing Mousavi's staff for their actions, but it also may be trying to identify those who have been providing information to the opposition. In other words, this is both a blatant political move and a clumsy attempt to acquire intelligence.
A relatively quiet day in Iran and then (from Norooz via the Facebook page of Mir Hossein Mousavi):
"At 4:30 p.m. (GMT +3:30) Security Forces attacked the Staff office of Mir Hossein Mousavi which was responsible for following the issues of the detainees, without any legal permission. All documents were confiscated and taken out to... an unknown destination. When Staff members asked for receipt, security forces answered that no documents will be given back, thus there will be no receipt!!"
The initial interpretation, from this entry, is that the regime is trying to get rid of material that may incriminate officials over the issue of detainee abuse. There is, however, the possibility that security forces are on a "fishing expedition", looking for documents that could be give pretext for a court case against Mousavi staff members and advisors.
Reader Comments (5)
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Enduring America, A Hunt and Rebecca Fletcher. Enduring America said: #IranElection Live Blog Urgent: We are chasing story of raid by regime forces on #Mousavi HQ http://bit.ly/VBuqN #iran #politics [...]
I hope they don't use the information to further traumatize those who were abused.
Surely Mousavi's staff have some kind of backup system to retain the info-- scans, photocopies, offsite system data storage. Not downplaying or excusing the forced entry and theft... just hope they haven't lost vital data.
[...] Iran Urgent: Mousavi HQ Raided by Security Forces Posted by: Scott Lucas in Middle East & Iran Iran Urgent: Mousavi HQ Raided by Security Forces | Enduring America A relatively quiet day in Iran and then (from Norooz via the Facebook page of Mir Hossein Mousavi): “At 4:30 p.m. (GMT +3:30) Security Forces attacked the Staff office of Mir Hossein Mousavi which was responsible for following the issues of the detainees, without any legal permission. All documents were confiscated and taken out to… an unknown destination. When Staff members asked for receipt, security forces answered that no documents will be given back, thus there will be no receipt!!” The initial interpretation, from this entry, is that the regime is trying to get rid of material that may incriminate officials over the issue of detainee abuse. There is, however, the possibility that security forces are on a “fishing expedition”, looking for documents that could be give pretext for a court case against Mousavi staff members and advisors. [...]
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Error-Fix ♥, Free Iran and Maliheh. Error-Fix ♥ said: UPDATED Iran: Mousavi HQ Raided by Security Forces | Enduring America http://bit.ly/eTyWk [...]
[...] Originally Posted by Enduring America UPDATE 8 September: An EA correspondent brings new information and the probable reason for the security forces’ raid. The offices involved are not the main Mousavi headquarters but those of a special committee, established by Mousavi staff and led by Alireza Beheshti, the Committee for the Tracking of Prisoners. The immediate cause of the raid is probably the committee’s provision of the names and description of 72 people killed in post-election violence, published in Norooz last weekend (and an English translation in Enduring America yesterday). The regime was punishing Mousavi’s staff for their actions, but it also may be trying to identify those who have been providing information to the opposition. In other words, this is both a blatant political move and a clumsy attempt to acquire intelligence. A relatively quiet day in Iran and then (from Norooz via the Facebook page of Mir Hossein Mousavi): “At 4:30 p.m. (GMT +3:30) Security Forces attacked the Staff office of Mir Hossein Mousavi which was responsible for following the issues of the detainees, without any legal permission. All documents were confiscated and taken out to… an unknown destination. When Staff members asked for receipt, security forces answered that no documents will be given back, thus there will be no receipt!!” The initial interpretation, from this entry, is that the regime is trying to get rid of material that may incriminate officials over the issue of detainee abuse. There is, however, the possibility that security forces are on a “fishing expedition”, looking for documents that could be give pretext for a court case against Mousavi staff members and advisors. UPDATED Iran: Mousavi HQ Raided by Security Forces | Enduring America [...]