The Secret Letter

Mousavi exposes IRI killing expat opponents

Share/Save/Bookmark

The Secret Letter
by Omid Memarian
08-Aug-2010
 

Hidden away for more than 20 years, a mystery letter suddenly reappeared last week.

The letter, supposedly written by a Tehran insider turned opposition leader, was explosive: it alleged that Iran sponsors terrorism abroad.

Like a middle manager ignored by his bosses, the letter writer expressed frustration that he was kept in the dark about Iran's involvement in events that he described as “operations abroad.”

“After an airplane is hijacked, we are informed; After a machine gun opens fire on a street in Lebanon and its sound is heard, we learn about it; After explosives are found on our pilgrims in Jeddah, I am informed of it,” said the letter, allegedly written by Mir-Hossein Mousavi, the leader of the Green Movement that sparked massive protests after last year’s fraudulent election.

The letter is an embarrassment for the Iranian government, which has always denied involvement in terrorist attacks beyond its borders. And no matter the origin of this mysterious letter or why it suddenly reappeared, it quickly set the Iranian blogosphere on fire. And for those outside the country, it became a window on the secretive world of Iranian politics.

Mousavi was prime minister when the letter was first published and some say this was his resignation letter. After it was initially published in 1988, he disappeared from politics for decades, reinventing himself last year as the leader of the strongest opposition movement the Islamic Republic has ever seen.

Neither Mousavi nor people close to him have questioned the letter’s authenticity which was reposted by websites including Balatarin.com, the Iranian version of Digg.com, making it a viral sensation.

The original recipient of the letter was President Ali Khamenei, the Supreme Leader of Iran, who has tried to quell the demands of the so-called Green Movement that protested the results of the Iranian elections last year as fraudulent.

The letter was first published in a newspaper by the first president of the Iranian republic who today lives in exile in France. Abolhassan Banisadr re-published the letter on his website, Jomhoori Eslami (Islamic Republic), last week.

“This letter has historical significance now,” Banisadr told The Daily Beast in a telephone interview. “At the time of its initial publication it was significant, too, because it clearly stated that the Iranian regime was involved in terrorist activities abroad; that these actions were not sporadic, but that it was the Iranian government that was engaged in terrorist activities.”

Neither Khamenei nor President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has commented on the letter. But people in Iran speculate that the letter re-emerged at this moment because Mousavi was threatening to reveal secrets in connection with the Iran-Iraq war of the 1980s, having been accused by current Iranian authorities of losing the war. And some hope that Mousavi’s secrecy standoff with the government might cast light on another dark moment in Iran’s history–the mass executions of political prisoners in 1988, which reportedly cost the lives of thousands of people. Within Iran, the executions are a taboo subject. But last month, Mousavi alluded to them, suggesting that his cabinet was kept in the dark.

Omid Memarian is columnist whose writing has appeared in The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, The San Francisco Chronicle and other publications. He was a World Peace Fellow at the UC Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism in 2007-2009 and the 2005 recipient of the Human Rights Defender Award, the highest honor bestowed by Human Rights Watch.

Share/Save/Bookmark

Recently by Omid MemarianCommentsDate
Bad News For Mahmoud
5
Oct 04, 2012
New York Welcome
6
Sep 10, 2012
Do Iranians Really Support Nuclear Enrichment?
19
Jul 05, 2012
more from Omid Memarian
 
MRX1

Guilty

by MRX1 on

The opium fested mousavi is a guilty as the rest of them. Don't fall for these kind of bull crap, secrets letter, he wasn't there, he didn't know, he just woke up, blah,blah.


default

Bavafa

by Doctor X on

Anytim man:)

Shoma Felan Step by step Boro Jelo, forget about which one of those items you need to believe in:)

There are more Fundamental And deeper problems here. Get rid of this "they wanna attack my country" mentality and then we will take it from there.

az ma goftan...


Bavafa

Doctor X:

by Bavafa on

Thanks for the lecture.

However, if I was looking for the confrontation, I would have responded back to him in kind the first time he went wily nilly on me. I went out of my way to keep it civil, yet the arrogance mistaken politeness with weakness.

All I asked, was the same courtesy that he was expecting, that is if I want to care beyond Iran, specially about a country that is hell bent on attacking my home land that ought to be my business.

"The man is saying emphatically and unequivocally he would not care as to what may happen to Israel and you are still doubting his intentions"

Ghasam hazert abbasesh o bavar konim ya doome khoroso.

Mehrdad


default

Bavafa

by Doctor X on

Sorry man, But you seem to be looking for a reason to initiate a confrontation here.

The man is saying emphatically and unequivocally he would not care as to what may happen to Isreal and you are still doubting his intentions? And he is also sounding his opinion, which he has every right to that, based on such and such reasons i really do not have respect for Arabs, at the same time that i do not care about Israelis. And there you go deep trying to dig something up and start an argument. Baba vaghti migeh Narreh dige dooshidan nadare ke aziz e man:))

Looks like a tactic you are using here. I have seen others doing it too. The more one tries to convince you of a certain fact, the more it ends up backfiring.

 


Boomerang

Beemokh

by Boomerang on

You're a dellusional half-wit with the IQ of a three-toed sloth.

"I also believe if your choice is between Iran and iZrael, you would choose the latter, just as your buddy Fred has done so." 

Pull your head out of your rear, then maybe you can use your brains. Think about that for a while. Like I wrote, beemokh, I don't give TWO SHITS about effing Israel, it can go to hell in a hurry and take all the freaking Jews with it, but it just turns out that I care even less for your Iran-hating Arabs! I know you degenerate IRI twits/lefty groupies need a bad guy, i.e., Israel, to survive, but not for us nationalists -- Iran can survive with or without Israel, so long as its being run by those who love Iran and only Iran.

You dig, pal? Oh, I forgot, you ain't my pal no more. I'm so very sad! You're such a beevafa! Now take your "Gazan" freak show and shove it where the glorious Iranian sun don't shine. 

Sassan

 Iran is a prisoner of IRI


Bavafa

Boomerang:

by Bavafa on

See the truth comes out once one is confronted.

Yes I well know your position, that is your head up to the neck stock in iZrael's a$$, it is just that you were ashamed to admitting it. Unfortunately, many of us have left Iran to folks like you, that is why it has turned to suck cluster *&%$.

"if I had to choose between the big bad Israelis and the Arabs, I'd take the Jews any day"

I do certainly believe that. I also believe if your choice is between Iran and iZrael, you would choose the latter, just as your buddy Fred has done so.

BTW, I ain't your pal, that would be wishful thinking on your part.

Done with you, like I am with a TP, so don't bother replying as you will be ignored.

Mehrdad


Boomerang

And you know

by Boomerang on

my writing style because I'm Boom Shakalaka, Spear, Free, Nusha Arzu and Sassan. Are you happy now?

 

 Iran is a prisoner of IRI


Boomerang

Bavafa,

by Boomerang on

Stop parsing words, punchie, you know my postion full well -- if I had to choose between the big bad Israelis and the Arabs, I'd take the Jews any day. Last I checked, the Arabs have invaded, murdered and raped our homeland twice (Qadisiyeh and Khoramshahr) the Jews never. Do you really want to go there? And I know that the Israelis are not our true friends (no need to lecture me), but the Arabs hate us that much more.

As Saddam Hussein's uncle once told him, "God made a mistake when he created flies, Jews and the Persians." This is how most Arabs -- yes, most! -- feel about us. Let the Arabs tend to the Palestinian problem. Not to mention how Arafat's Palestinians significantly helped Saddam during the Iran/Iraq war, killing hundreds of thousands of Iranians. Now go do your Arabic Namaz like a blind tootee and leave Iran to those of us who's sole concern is Iran. I don't give 2 shits about Israel, pal, even less about your poor poor Palestinians.

 

 

 Iran is a prisoner of IRI


Bavafa

Boomerang:

by Bavafa on

First, your sarcastic tone along with changing my ID to a derogatory name has not gone unnoticed nor has been appreciate it, only ignoring it in the interest to keep the conversation civil, that is if you are capable of doing the same.

Now, in regards to leaving you to your fire in your bedroom, I don't believe any one, at least not me, ask you to leave your fire and attend to the houses next door. Maybe you could extend the same courtesy as I have extended to you and not make it your business as why I think I should be paying attention to the fire at home and the neighbors.

I would really appreciate that!

Also, one wonders if you TRUELY cared ONLY about Iran, why would you have bothered to go out of your way and write some thing, insulting mind you, to another person that is writing about some thing that you don't care about, Israel that is?

Doctor X: I believe I know the writing as well

Mehrdad


default

Boomerang

by Doctor X on

Come on man:) I know your writing and I can tell it is you. There is just something about it. But yes, this is a new ID for me.


Boomerang

Doctor X and Bavafa

by Boomerang on

Good doctor: thank you, you stated my postion perfectly. Is this a new ID for you, just curious as you welcomed me back the other day???

Bavafa, my concern is Iran and only Iran. You dig? When my own home is burning like it was Hell's kitchen I'm not going to be too concerned with my neighbor's house down the street. Would you please allow me the opportunity to douse the fire in my own effing bedroom before I tend to the fire in my neighbor's backyard?

I would really appreciate that!

And I'm not even saying what do I care, let the Jews kill the Arabs -- no! -- I'm just saying our concern should be to FIRST stop the torture, rape and murder of innocent Iranians (and the slow death of Iran). After that, we can tend to the poor poor Palestinians! We should have tunnel vision right now because it will take that sort of single-minded focus, uber tenacity and commitment to uproot this dastardly evil, higly Machiavellian, rapist regime (IRI).

 

 Iran is a prisoner of IRI


Maryam Hojjat

MOOSIRvaPIAZ

by Maryam Hojjat on

Thanks for reading & responding to my comment..  I did not realize this was a stunt.  Thanks again


Demo

The Green Hall of Shame!!

by Demo on

It is rather a big shame to learn about these letters now. Why did not Mr. Moose-avi reveal these so called “secrets” during his presidential campaign? Were the Council of the Dead that much “Dead” for not knowing about the old & the hornless Mr. Moose’s secrets when they were hand picking him among 3 others alike to run in the so called presidential marathon? Are there any more secrets for our people to learn from Mr. Moose’s personal green pasture? Would not be the biggest shame of all for our people to learn one day that Khomeni was the real cause of Iran-Iraq (Shia vs Sunni) war to begin & the only person for its dragging it for 8 years? Just as a refernce one should go back & check the printed newspapers of the first week after a 79 years old man had grabbed the power from an escapee king of corruption,


default

Bavafa

by Doctor X on

Boomerang was not Justifying anything. He merely pointed out the difference and motive behind the actions. Both are wrong. We all know that.

Please do not plant the seeds of hatred and start another Blog-fight here:((

We appreciate your efforts in fighting injsutic and unfairness all over the world;))


Anonymouse

It's good 2 have as much documentation on this issue as possible

by Anonymouse on

Colin Powel resigned because he was "kept out of the loop" too. Later he said his Powerpoint presentation at the UN with the CIA Director George Tenet sitting right behind him was the lowest and darkest point of his career. 

Everything is sacred


MM

here is the original Farsi resignation text - shameful

by MM on

The letter is shameful in several fronts:

* There is a parallel government operating behind the scenes

* This parallel government is involved in foreign terrorist operations (we get informed after an airplane is high-jacked or after a machine-gun goes off in streets of Lebanon, ......).  I guess Mousavi wanted to know those operations beforehand

* Which brings the next point which is Mousavi is not complaining that there are “terrorist” operations overseas, but that he is kept out of the loop

* Was there another letter of resignation in 1988 where Mousavi wanted to complain about the prison massacres

//www.greencorrespondents.com/2010/07/blog-post_29.html

 

بسمه تعالی
مقام محترم ریاست جمهوری

برای آنکه دشمنان اسلام و کشور نتوانند سوء استفاده نمایند، اینجانب در استعفانامه خود که برای رسانه ها نیز ارسال گردیده است، دلایل را ذکر نکردم. با این نیت که ذکر آنها انشالله در آینده برای کشورمان و دولتهای بعدی مفید باشد، بصورت خیلی خلاصه به بیان آنها می پردازم:

۱ ـ مسلوب الختیار شدن دولت در سیاست خارجی. امروز امور افغانستان و عراق و لبنان در دست جنابعالی است. نامه هائی به عنوان کشورهای مختلف نوشته میشود بی آنکه دولت از آنها خبری داشته باشد. (اینجانب به عنوان نخست وزیر از این نامه ها جز در موارد استثنائی و آنهم بطور اتفاقی بیخبرم).

نخست وزیر ژاپن برای ریاست محترم مجلس و ریاست محترم مجلس برای نخست وزیر ژاپن نامه مینویسد و اینجانب در یک مراسم عمومی و مردمی از این ماجرا و متن نامه با خبر میشود.

آقای لاریجانی در جایی می گوید از پنج کانال با آمریکا تماس گرفته میشود و بنده بعنوان رئیس هیئت وزیران از این کانالها اطلاعی ندارم.

همه جا صحبت از سیاستهای خارجی دولت جمهوری اسلامی است. بدون آنکه دولت از این سیاستها که در همه جای کشور و جهان بیان میشود، خبر داشته باشد.

۲ ـ عملیات برون مرزی که بدون اطلاع و دستور دولت صورت میگیرد. شما بهتر میدانید که تاکنون فاجعه آفرینی و اثر نامطلوب آنها برای کشور چقدر بوده است. بعد از آنکه هواپیمایی ربوده میشود، از آن باخبر میشویم. وقتی مسلسلی در یکی از خیابانهای لبنان گشوده میشود و صدای آن در همه جا میپیچد، متوجه قضیه میشویم. پس از کشف مواد منفجره از حجاج ما در جده، اینجانب از این امر آگاه میشوم. متاسفانه و علیرغم همه ضرر و زیانی که این حرکت متوجه کشور کرده است، هنوز نظیر این عملیات میتواند هر لحظه و هر ساعت بنام دولت صورت گیرد.

۳ ـ تجزیه سازمان برنامه و بودجه از نخست وزیری که به دلایل سیاسی صورت گرفت، از همان اول ضایعه آفرین بوده و ادامه آن در شرایط نوسازی کشور فاجعه بار خواهد بود. متاسفانه این مشکل و مشکل وزرای مشاور، علیرغم طرح در شورای تشخیص مصلحت، به تاخیر افکنده شده و حل نگردیده است هر چند که بهرحال حق شورای تشخیص مصلحت است و اینجانب انتظاری در این خصوص ندارم.

۴ ـ تجزیه اقتدار مشروع و قانونی دولت و مسئولیت دولت و وزرا توسط شوراهای گوناگون.

۵ ـ عدم قدرت اینجانب به پاسخگویی در مقابل اعضا هیات دولت و نمایندگان محترم مجلس در مورد کارهائی که بدون اطلاع دولت، ولی بنام دولت، صورت میگیرد.

۶ ـ در خاتمه لازم میدانم بار دیگر یادآور شوم که این استعفا، العیاذ بالله، بمعنای قهر اینجانب از نظام و دولت جمهوری اسلامی و مسئولین انقلابی آن نیست که اگر هم بود، با توجه به عظمت انقلاب و ناچیزی اینجانب، یقینا نمیتوانست هیچ تاثیری در روند رشد و توسعه انقلاب اسلامی داشته باشد. این استعفا دلیل ناتوانی اینجانب برای کار بدلیل همین ناتوانی است و درست بدلیل همین ناتوانی است که اینجانب مسئولیت را از خود ساقط می بینم.
میرحسین موسوی
۱۴ شهریور ۱۳۶۷

Bavafa

Boomerang:

by Bavafa on

Hadn't you be so eager to jump in so stealthily in defense of iZrael and took time to get to know each readers position on issues, you would have known that I speak against, sign petitions, join demonstrations far more against the crimes of IRI then iZrael. In fact all you had to do, resist temptation to write in defense of iZrael and kept on reading my comment, you would have seen my view on IRI.

And it may be justified in your eyes to kill Arabs and meanwhile we can call them "Jew-hating Arabs" just to make ourselves feel better, but in my eyes we are all people and murdering is murdering, no matter if they are Iranians, Arabs, Jews or Americans. Of course for some hypocrite who write two blog a day condemning one and praising the other is an easy and obvious task.

Mehrdad


MOOSIRvaPIAZ

cyclicforward

by MOOSIRvaPIAZ on

you know that saying, "shoaaaar dadan asooneh"... well here's the thing, its easy to say we are tired of this or that. the fact of the matter is, nobody is doing anything else about it. until people wake up and realize that they are the ones who will shape irans future and not rely upon figure heads to miraculously save them from their misery, nothing will move forward. until then, the only hope iran has of getting out of this depression and misery is sadly with the current green leadership.

I'm just calling it the way i see it.


cyclicforward

Moosir

by cyclicforward on

We had enough of political stunts of these antiques and people are tired of it. Most people want to see an end to all of IRI. Whether it is Khamenei or Mousavi. We are done with this charade a long time ago and everyone is ready to move on.


MOOSIRvaPIAZ

Maryam Hojjat

by MOOSIRvaPIAZ on

You are not very well versed in politics I see? What he says he wants the old days back, he doesnt literally mean he wants to line up people and execute them. It's a political stunt only served to pander to the sepah and the more traditional crowd who still love Khomeini.


Maryam Hojjat

Mosavi is an accmplice! Fred is Right!

by Maryam Hojjat on

I agree with Fred he is an accomplice , after all he is trying to bring back the regime to those days of Khominie with IRI/IRR shameful constitution. Does not it prove he ia an accomplice? 


Q

Bad Translation

by Q on

Omid,

Thanks for the work, I read the article eslewhere but there is a serious mistake in the translation which you should correct ASAP.

here when you quote the letter:

“After an airplane is hijacked, we are informed; After a machine gun opens fire on a street in Lebanon and its sound is heard, we learn about it; After explosives are found on our pilgrims in Jeddah, I am informed of it,” .

I know you (or the translator) tried to be as literal as possible, but to an American audience this reads as I knew about it ahead of time, and after it was finished they informed me that it was done. This sounded strange to me until I read the farsi and realized the mistake.

The correct translation should be:

It was Only after ..... that I find out about it by reading news, etc...

Most people reading the article think the writer of the letter actually knew about the whole operation which is exactly the opposite point. Of course the anti-Green partisans are manipulating it.


Boomerang

Beevafa

by Boomerang on

"fascist Ezraeli which have so much blood on their hand."

As opposed to the IRI, which doesn't have that much blood on its hand, right? You're full of it, pal. In a big way. The IRI has more Iranian blood on its hands than iZrael and GanghiZ Khan put together, who're you trying to sandbag?

At least the big bad iZraelis kill their mortal enemies (Jew-hating Arabs), the IRI murders, rapes and tortures its own men, women and children!

Who's more culpable, pal?

 

 Iran is a prisoner of IRI


yousef

"There will come a time ....

by yousef on

all these Islamist Rapists, “reformer” or not will have to answer for their crimes of commission and/or omission.

Well said Fred.

I can see these islamist vermins testifying against each other, hoping for mercy from the Iranian nation... 


Bavafa

Yeap, if being an anti

by Bavafa on

Yeap, if being an anti Zionist and against the fascist behavior of Ezrael makes me a "Islamist Palestinian crop-duster", then that's what I am. As long I am not called an AIPAC noocheh, a pro fascist Ezraeli which have so much blood on their hand.

Mehrdad


Fred

Islamist Palestinian crop-duster

by Fred on

First, take remedial reading class.

 second, stick with your usual Palestine-centric Anti-Semite drivel.

Lastly, drink more Zereshk-juice it might lessen the pain.


Bavafa

Dear senior editor of AIPAC @ IC bureau

by Bavafa on

If you admit he knows more then you, then it is a good time to put a lid on it.

Perhaps you can write more about Ezrael since you know more about your country.

Now it regards to Mousavie, clearly he has lost much ground as the so called leader of Green movement, if he ever was their leader. Perhaps this would be a good opportunity for him to set the records straight and show some backbone as a "leader", stand up to and expose IRI as what they are.

Just as wikileak has been exposing America's crimes, Mousavie can be Iranian wikileak

Mehrdad


Demo

Secret Letters Recycling

by Demo on

1978  The Secret Letter (Revealing the secret about Khomeini’s mother origin, that she had been a “Hindu” & had married more than once. Such claim was never disputed later by anybody in Khomeini’s circle).

2010 The Secret Letter (Revealing the 8 years long war crimes between two neighboring   “Muslim” countries ending with the killing a great many of “Muslims” form both sides. The Israel was the sole winner of that bloody war. Khomeini committed suicide & Iraq was hijacked later by US & GB).


Fred

Mien Führer 3

by Fred on

When it comes to the truth about your Islamist Rapist regime's crimes there is only one version of it, no "gray area", only the ugly truth that your Islamist Rapist brethrens have been and are raping and murdering Iranian men, women and children.  

Your Mousavi has to account and answer for his part in the crime against humanity.


MOOSIRvaPIAZ

What do you know about me Fred?

by MOOSIRvaPIAZ on

Quit spinning. I defend facts, something that clearly goes way over your head. And I also realize that there are gray areas, also another thing that is lost by your binary neocon worldview.