Insideofiran/2011-02-23 - The International Forum for preservation of Human Rights in Iran, while condemning the violence against the reformists and the Hojatoleslam Sheikh Mehdi Karroubi and his family, in an open letter addressed to the religious authorities who are Independent from the Iranian regime such as Grand ayatollahs Vahid Khorasani, Yusef Sanei, Dastgheib Shirazi, Mousavi Ardebili and Bayat Zanjani, asks them to speak up against the violence committed by the regime’s radical forces against Hojatoleslam Sheikh Mehdi Karroubi and his family.

The following is the translation of the letter from The International Forum for preservation of Human Rights in Iran:

To Grand Ayatollahs who are the religious leader of the country:

The pressure, repression, violence and death threats against Hojatoleslam Sheikh Mehdi Karroubi are a serious threat to the integrity and the independence of the Independent clergy in Iran.

The attackers who are now trying to behead Mehdi Karroubi are also seeking to cut off the head of the independent clergy within Iran.

Your silence in this matter, is in effect an act of suicide, even if your wish to indulge in this form of suicide, you must know that through your silence you are in effect participating in crimes against Hojatoleslam Sheikh Mehdi Karroubi. You are also through your silence are insulting and putting heavy pressure that will lead to a historic destruction of the non affiliated members of clergy within Shiite culture.

Iranian people will never forget the gentlemanly generosity of Mehdi Karroubi in defending the Iranian people’s rights. Mehdi Karroubi could have remained silent and saved his position when faced with Iranian regimes inhuman conduct against its citizens. But he chose not do so, and spoke up at against the regime’s crimes

against its citizens.

Sheikh Mehdi Karroubi did not remain silent against these inhuman acts. Through his actions he revealed the sexual torture of men and women in the Islamic Republic's prisons, and opened the world’s eye to hidden secret truths behind the inhuman actions of Iranian regimes towards its people.

Karroubi has repeatedly defended the rights of vulnerable segments of Iranian society and the Sufis and has cried out in support of them, as well as gathering the support of the clergy in order to speak against these vicious acts.

Iranian people will never forget the gentlemanly generosity of Mehdi Karroubi in defending the rights of the poor and the Sufis and will not forget the crimes and those responsible and will also not forget those who remained silent against these cruel actions.

Iranian people will also not easily forget the silence of the Independent clergy with regard to regimes threats against Hojatoleslam Sheikh Mehdi Karroubi which are aimed at the deposal of Mehdi Karroubi.

Finally, The International Forum for preservation of Human Rights in Iran, strongly condemns all brutal measures against the Sheikh Hojatoleslam Mehdi Karroubi and his family.

The International Forum for preservation of Human Rights in Iran

Tuesday 22nd February 2011 (coinciding with the day Sufi)