TEHRAN — Mehdi Karroubi, a white-turbaned cleric, is an unlikely enemy of the Iranian state. He was a confidant of the Islamic Republic’s founder, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, and served seven years as speaker of parliament.
But in the wake of Iran’s disputed presidential elections, Karroubi, 72, has emerged as the fiery heart of a protest movement that has shaken the republic’s foundations.
“I feel I am obliged to defend the rights of people,” Karroubi said Monday during a rare interview with a Western news outlet at his sparse north Teh ran office. “I want it to be remembered in the future by coming generations that somebody someday from the clerical establishment stood up for his stances and principles to defend the people.”
On Tuesday, government authorities raided his party’s headquarters in western Teh ran. They seized documents, computers and photographs and arrested Mohammad Davari, editor of Karroubi’s website, according to a party spokesman. Karroubi’s popular daily newspaper was shut down weeks ago.
But Karroubi continues to defy authorities, calling for the opposition to join street rallies Sept. 18 during Quds Day celebrations, an annual march in support of Palestinians.
