Iran’s ex-President Khatami banned from public appearances and meetings

The Iran Human Rights website has reported that security forces in the country have banned former president Mohammad Khatami “from making public appearances and receiving political guests for three months.” According to a report in Asharq Al-Awsat, the opposition Kalemeh website has claimed that the Special Clerical Court also sent Khatami a letter asking him “not to take part in any political ceremonies and publicity for three months.”

Such ceremonies and public events, claim sources in Iran, include meetings, theatre performances and concerts. The individuals with whom he should not meet include those who are already barred by the state, government and seminary officials, and student union members.

According to Iran Human Rights, the ban was issued on 5 October, a week after “six prominent reformist politicians, including Khatami’s younger brother, were sentenced to a year in prison on the charge of ‘propaganda against the state’.” They were also, it added, banned from political and media activities for two years.

After news of the ban broke, several reformists posted more than 17,000 tweets under the hashtag #Khatama_Forever.

Read: End house arrest of opposition leaders says Iran’s former President