Top Reformist Politician On Prison Leave Receives Hero's Welcome

Mostafa Tajzadeh (file photo)

Mostafa Tajzadeh, a former deputy interior minister and a senior member of the Islamic Iran Participation Front and the Islamic Revolution Mujahedin Organization, was allowed to take leave from prison on March 10, reportedly because of the upcoming Iranian new year on March 21.

Tajzadeh was jailed shortly after last year's disputed June 12 presidential vote and was reportedly held for several months in solitary confinement.

Since his release many key reformists figures have visited him and paid their respects. The reformist website "Parlemannews" has posted some pictures of opposition leader Mir Hossein Musavi, reformist cleric Mehdi Karrubi, and others visiting him.

And former President Mohammad Khatami met with Tajzadeh, who served as deputy interior minister during his 1997-2005 tenure.

Tajzadeh campaigned for defeated presidential candidate Musavi. He was among over 100 reformists, activists, and intellectuals put on trial over the postelection unrest. He was reportedly under pressure to make a false televised confession (a picture of Tajzadeh during the postelection show trials).

Tajzadeh famously wrote a love letter to his wife from prison on the anniversary of their wedding that was posted on an opposition website and she wrote back. The public expression of love between the two received a lot of attention because it is very unusual in Iranian society and especially among the more traditional segments.