Disclaimer : Posting this here is not an indication of my support for Mousavi or endorsement of this message 

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From Iran Unfiltered:

Support for Mousavi transition proposal

Over 350 journalists, political activists, and civil society activists signed a statement on Sunday 23 Bahman (February 12) supporting “Mir Hossein Mousavi’s three-stage democratic transition program from the Islamic Republic.” The majority of signatories to this statement reside in Iran. Mir Hossein Mousavi, a former prime minister under house arrest since 2010 following the Green Movement, announced a new political strategy earlier this month by calling for a constitutional referendum in an open letter.

“What remains unresolved now and still is corruption, injustice and suppression of political and civil liberties,” wrote the signatories of the statement on Sunday. The letter blames these problems on the unlimited power granted to the supreme leader by the existing Constitution.

The recent protests and slogan “Women, Life, Freedom” after the death of Mahsa Amini have shocked the political system, they said. The government, with all its power of repression, could not suppress new ideas. “With the current social awakening and the desperation for reform within the existing structure, there is no other option than to put the fate of the nation in its own hands.”

The signatories wrote at the end of this statement, while emphasizing the Islamic Republic’s peaceful and nonviolent transition: “We accept Mir Hossein Mousavi’s message after twelve years of confinement and resistance and conformity with the nation’s protests and demands, and we will insist that his three-stage plan be realized.”

The Islamic Association of University Teachers also declared that fundamental reform is inevitable. The Islamic Association of University Teachers supported proposals issued by Mousavi, Mostafa Tajzadeh, and former president Mohammad Khatami. Khatami’s solutions differ from Mousavi’s and Tajzadeh’s in calling for reforms rather than a constitutional referendum, and the association suggested they aim to achieve the more modest proposal first.

“We received messages or statements from three well-known, respected, and trusted individuals,” the statement said. “Despite being incarcerated, confined, or restricted, they still shared a common understanding of the country. People who are unhappy and worried about its conditions are completely supported by them.”

“The Islamic Association of Universities hopes that Mr. Khatami’s least expensive strategy will succeed. In this way, we will be able to ensure that the strategies of Mr. Mousavi and Tajzadeh, which are full of honesty and compassion, lead to fundamental constitutional reforms in the medium term based on the opinions and participation of all sections of Iranian society.”

Keyvan Samimi opposes appointing leaders from abroad

Keyvan Samimi, a political prisoner recently released from Semnan prison, spoke to Etemad newspaper and indicated that dialogue and leadership for the protest movement must come from within Iran. 

According to Mr. Samimi, the first and most urgent thing to do is to have a dialogue, “and we should not take or talk about too many big steps. Recently, I have noticed that some people abroad are appointing leaders. The reformation movement that starts and the dialogues that are formed will have the content that is needed. Dialogue is necessary for every movement of non-violence reform.”

The constitution must be amended to resolve protests and riots, according to hardline activist Bahonar.

Reformists are not the only ones calling for a change to the constitution, hardliners have begun to as well. A representative of the Islamic Republic of Iran for several terms, and an activist for the influence of the authoritarian movement in Iran, Mohamadreza Bahonar recently said that the constitution should be amended, similar to what Seyyed Mohammad Khatami advocated as well.

He believes that the “riot problem” has been collected, but not resolved, and that the government must continue to work hard, and the people must take charge. Using a constitutional mechanism, he believes the Constitution should be amended. He also suggested a tribune for people to express themselves. in information”.