Iran’s opposition figures have sent messages of condolence to the leading lady of the pro-reform movement, Zahra Rahnavard, whose father died on 29 December after a long period of illness.
 
In the messages, the dissidents praised Rahnavard for making sacrifices to advance the pro-reform movement and said her struggles would not be in vain.
 
Rahnavard’s father Sadegh Kazemi died in a Tehran hospital at the age of 93 after suffering from the Alzheimer disease for a number of years. Rahnavard, who has been under house arrest for over two years, was allowed to visit her father under supervision two weeks before he died.
 
However, security forces prevented a public service for the deceased and Rahnavard was allowed only a short visit to the family home to attend the last rites. Rahnavard and her husband, Mir Hossein Musavi, were not permitted to attend the burial ceremony.
 
The messages to Rahnavard were full of praise for her.
 
“We believe that in the same manner that you endured the most difficult problems and tragedies in the years of struggle before and after the revolution and particularly in the past three years, you will now deal with the loss of your dear father with your exemplary patience and steadfastness,” the Mojahedin of Islamic Revolution said.
 
Others who expressed sympathy with the leading lady of the reform movement were:
- The Coordination Council of the Green Path of Hope 
- The Participation Front 
- Senior Ayatollahs Yusef Sanei, Bayat Zanjani and Mohammad Dastgheib 
- and senior reformist figures Abdollah Nuri and Mohsen Kadivar.