Conservatives also criticise Khamenei
Even though the streets of Iranian cities might be clear of demonstrators, the jockeying for positions by leaders, especially religious leaders, and not all reformers, continues. Like Iran’s leading dissident Grand Ayatollah Hossein Ali Montazeri, a leading conservative figure, Mohammad Nourizad, joined the many voices speaking out. Overall, it seems that members of the clerical establishment, including Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei (pictured), are now going at each other.
In a letter picked up by a number of websites, Nourizad, a well-known film producer, directly attacked Khamenei. “As commander in chief of the armed forces, you didn't treat people well after the election. Your agents opened fire, killed the people, beat them, destroyed, and burnt their property. Your role in this can't be ignored,” the letter read. “Your apology can cool down the wrath of the people.”
For his part, on Monday Montazeri called on fellow clergymen to end their silence over the crackdown that followed June’s presidential election.
“The people are saying if this oppression is against Islam, then how come the marjas, who are the guardians of religion and Islam, are not taking any stance against the wrongdoings?” Montazeri said on his website. Instead, the regime was “exploiting the silence of the clergy.”
“Do you think it is worthy to keep silent when it comes to preserving the religion, Islam and people’s reputation?” Montazeri added.
Finally, pro-reform leader Mahdi Karroubi, who ran against Ahmadinejad in June, in a letter that appeared yesterday on his website reiterated his accusations that protesters were tortured and raped in prison.
A three-member panel had summoned Karroubi to retract his charges in a report released last Saturday, claiming there was no evidence to back up Karroubi's claims, which in the panel’s view were “fabricated and aimed at misleading public opinion.”
As for the nuclear talks European sources report that a meeting should take place on 1October in Turkey between Iranian representatives and those of the 5+1 group (the five permanent members of the UN Security Council, i.e. China, France, Russia, United Kingdom and the United States, and Germany). (PD)
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