Shayan Ghajar

The government’s harsh crackdown in Iran is not restricted to the security forces. It has now moved to the parliament.

Prominent pro-Ahmadinejad Member of Parliament Ruhollah Hosseinian, a former member of the Ministry of Intelligence, spearheaded a proposal in the parliament on January 4 shortening the period of appeals for “enemies of God” accused of disturbing the public order from 25 days to five. Adding to tensions, many hardliners have called for the execution of demonstrators in the past few days. Ayatollah Haeri Shirazi went on state television on January 1 calling for the execution of all protesters, saying that dissent with Supreme Leader Khamenei was an act against God.

Reformist newspapers Kaleme, affiliated with Mir Hossein Moussavi, and Parleman News, affiliated with the reformist members of parliament, responded to the proposal in parliament with accusations from conservative deputy Ali Motahari that Hosseinian “has a special interest in executions.” Motahari implied that Hosseinian’s reason for proposing the shortened appeal period is to expedite the executions of detained protesters and dissidents. Motahari has refused to support the proposal, saying that the root causes of discontent in Iran must be addressed, and that radical punishments would fail to accomplish anything.

This is especially significant because Motahari is ideologically a moderate conservative, not a supporter of the Green Movement. His condemnation of Hosseinian’s eagerness to execute prisoners reveals divisions among conservatives and ultra-conservatives within Parliament on how to deal with the escalating tensions in the Iranian political sphere. Motahari’s call to address the root causes of discontent rather than punish the protesters is a sign that moderate conservatives may be ready for dialogue with the Green Movement.

Editorials in the prominent reformist daily RoozOnline reveal that the Green Movement itself is divided on how to address the escalating tensions. Regarding the use of violence against the aggression of government forces, several editorials plead for peaceful demonstration to remain the core of the Green Movement’s efforts. An editorial by journalist Hoshang Asadi argues that negotiations with the government are the only way to succeed.

However, as the signs and slogans of the protesters grow more radical, such sentiments may already be marginalized among members of the Green Movement. An interview with noted women’s rights activists Fatemeh Haghighatjoo and Mehrangiz Kar on the front page of Rooz Online argues that the harsher the repression by the regime, the smoother the path to their downfall. Significantly, the article’s headline used the word “Revolution” in reference to the consequences the government faces on its current path.