Majlis deputies are supposed to be immune from arrest for their comments.
The Tabnak news website said Karami was freed on bail late last month. It did not say when he was arrested.
Karami represents Sanandaj in the Majlis and is the chairman of the independent faction in the Majlis, Being in the minority appears to have denied him the usual protection accorded deputies.
Majlis deputies are not known to have made an issue out of his arrest. A decade ago when the reformists controlled the Majlis and the Judiciary arrested some reformist deputies, the Majlis as an institution launched a loud protest over the arrests, which eventually came to an end.
Tabnak said Karami was charged by Ahmadi-nejad’s government for remarks he made two years ago. The offensive quote was reported to be: “If we review the president’s performance and his attitude toward the Majlis, we will see that he lacks faith in the law, the Majlis, the people and even velay-e faqih [rule by a senior cleric]. And this proves that the president is not honest with the Majlis or the people and violates the law.”
In recent months far stronger criticisms of Ahmadi-nejad have been aired by members of the Majlis majority, but no charges have been filed against any of them thus far.
Tabnak reported Karami refused to withdraw his comments in his first court appearance and instead said, “Soon everyone will find out that the opinions I expressed about the president two years ago were accurate.”
Karami is awaiting his second hearing.
Tabnak said he faces imprisonment from two months to two years if convicted.
