Gathering in Tehran for the Release of Mossavi Khoeini

He is Mossavi Khoeini, being taken away by Islamic Republic agents. This was one of the unforgettable pictures when the regime showed its heavy hand on a small gathering of women in Tehran, two weeks ago. Since this picture was taken, the whereabouts of Mossavi Khoeini is still unknown. It is heartbreaking to imagine what he is suffering now at the hands of his interrogators.

If there was one reformist with real guts, who stood up for all of the Iranian dissidents, it was Mossavi Khoeini. He was the one MP who did what he could to make a difference for Iran's political prisoners.

If there was a just cause for protest, Mossavi Khoeini, was there, I mean physically there. He is a man admired by many across the political spectrum of Iranian dissidents, and now he is suffering the same fate as many of those he often tried to help.

Last night's gathering to call for his release brought many of Iran's dissidents together. This is how unity comes about, not in endless Paltalk chatrooms or in Hotel conferences outside Iran, but on the ground.

The participants sang the unofficial national anthem, "Ey Iran" and then read Mossavi Khoeini's very last speech.

Imagine what a big moral boost it would have been for those in the gathering if the Swiss government had arrested judge Mortezavi last week, when the Candian government asked the Swiss authorities to do so for the murder of the Canadian photo-journalist, Ziba Kazemi.

Instead, the Swiss government let Mortezavi go back to Tehran untroubled after representing a UN panel on Human Rights! "tofoo bar tow ey charkhe gardoon tofoo!"

There were no protests from the European Left for the presence of an evil judge who has caused so much death and misery in Iran. After all, Judge Mortezavi in the eyes of the European Left is probably an anti-imperialist. Had it been President Bush, they would have organized themselves fully for widespread protests.

Shirin Ebadi didn't attend the gathering last night but sent a message of solidarity. Lets hope next time Ebadi gets an international audience, she mentions the plight of Mossavi Khoeini too and not just the Guantanamo prisoners.