Financial news

Iran political prisoners support constitutional change proposed by former prime minister – JURIST

Political prisoners in Iran Sunday expressed support for constitutional change proposed by political opposition figure and former Iranian Prime Minister Mir Houssein Mousavi. In a statement, seven imprisoned political figures, including reformist politician Mostafa Tajzadeh and Faezeh Hashemi, daughter of former Iranian president Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, stated that they “will do their best to advance this proposal and a peaceful and non-violent transition to a completely democratic and developed Iranian structure.”The political prisoners released the proposal Saturday with the help of Mir Hossein Mousavi, who was Prime Minister of Iran from 1981 to 1989, and ran for president in 2009. He has been under house arrest since 2011, but now calls for constitutional change following the widespread unrest and protests across Iran in the wake of the death of Mahsa Amini. Within the statement, Mousavi said “fundamental change” is needed in Iran at this time, and echoed the chant used by Mahsa Amini protestors: “Woman, Life, Freedom.”Mousavi condemned the government of the Islamic state for refusing “to take the smallest step to meet the demands of the people.” He proposed a referendum regarding a new constitution, a new constitutional assembly made of “real representatives of the nation,” and a second referendum to confirm the constitution, which would be based on the rule of law and align with human rights.There have been nationwide protests in Iran since Amini’s death in September 2022, in which she died in Iranian authorities’ custody for improper hijab. The government has responded with violence, arrests, and public executions.