A prominent reformist in Iran who has been summoned by President Hassan Rouhani’s Intelligence Ministry tweeted “Thank you Rouhani”.
Abdollah Ramezanzadeh supported Rouhani’s bid for the presidency both in 2013 and 2017, like almost all reformist politicians, who saw Rouhani as a better alternative to any conservative or hardliner candidate. The candidate promised more political tolerance and protection of speech, while also making references against the domination of hardliners and the Revolutionary Guard in the country’s powerful institutions.
However, after the bloody protests last November when hundreds were killed by various security forces in the streets, 77 reformists wrote a public letter demanding an investigation and prosecution of those responsible. Ramazanzadeh was one of the signatories.
Although in his tweet on June 20, he does not mention why he has been summoned by the Intelligence Ministry, it is assumed the letter of 77 is the main reason. Other signatories have also been summoned and questioned in recent months.
Ramezanzadeh was the spokesperson of former president Mohammad Khatami, whose election in 1997 was the beginning of the reformist vs conservative politics in the Islamic Republic.
In the end of the tweet announcing the summons, Ramezanzadeh quips, “Thank you Rouhani”, a slogan from the presidential campaign that became a popular hashtag at the time.
