Twitter Users Falsely Report Mir Hossein Mousavi Arrested in Iran

Breaking Tweets June 28, 2009

GroundReport Editor's Note 6/28 10:09 PM: The following report is unconfirmed and we do not certify its accuracy. We will continue to update as facts emerge.

Editor's UPDATE 6/29 5:17 PM: It appears that while Iranian authorities did visit Mr. Mousavi in his home, where he is on house arrest, Mr. Mousavi was not arrested or taken into custody. GroundReport is retaining the following post in the interest of public record of the Twitter reports.

According to three sources who have been reliable in the past, Mir Houssein Mousavi has been arrested in Iran. He was arrested at approximately 9:30 p.m. Sunday in Tehran, according to two of these sources.

One wrote to Breaking Tweets in a direct message, “I’m sure,” when asked about the validity of the report. However, Mousavi’s Facebook page is now denying that he's been arrested.

Mousavi lost June 12’s presidential election to Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, though the results have been disputed. It has sparked controversy in the days since and Mousavi supporters have organized protests.

The first to tweet about that Mousavi was arrested was Omid Habibinia, an Iranian journalist who lives in exile in Switzerland.

omidhabibinia Breaking News: Mir Hossein Mousavie Arrested 1 hr Ago. (I am trying to get Conformation from another sources too) #iranelection #iran #neda 28 Jun 2009 from web
omidhabibinia I heard Mousavi arrested at 21.30 in his house by Inteligence Agents, Some Sou not sure it is arrest or an urgent Breifing! #iranelection 29 Jun 2009 from web
omidhabibinia Tomorrow GC will anonce the results of investigation, maybe Mousavi’s arrest is a sign that what they want to annonce tomorrow #iranelection 29 Jun 2009 from web

Iranian-American Lily Mazahery, a lawyer and human rights activist who is well-connected in Iran, also confirmed the story. Mazahery has previously used Twitter to break major news stories from Iran before the media such as Roxana Saberi’s release and Delara Derabi’s execution.

LilyMazahery Mousavi was just arrested in Iran. 29 Jun 2009 from Seesmic Desktop
LilyMazahery As confirmed as all of my other reports have been thus far. RT @vanessatx: @LilyMazahery has it been confirmed? 29 Jun 2009 from Seesmic Desktop
LilyMazahery Moussavi was arrested at approximately 9:30 PM in front of his house as he was returning from Ghoba Mosque. #Iranelections 29 Jun 2009 from Seesmic Desktop

Ebrahim Nabavi, an Iranian satirist and writer currently living in Belgium, posted about the arrest on his Facebook account. A Twitterer in Iran also confirmed the news, but the user name will remain anonymous to protect the user’s identity.

Tags: Mousavi , Arrested