Foreign Threats Knocking on the Door

While the Islamic republic is increasing its pressure on the leaders of Iran’s green movement and their supporters by dissolving reformist parties, banning reformist media and arresting political activists en masse, in his latest remarks former Prime Minister Mir-Hossein Mousavi blasted the government’s oppression in the name of Islam and reiterated his previous positions, calling on the green movement to increase its strength.  Speaking yesterday to a group of “veterans of the Islamic revolution,” Mir-Hossein Mousavi said, “if our regime was functional enough and understood the important reality that the revolution took place in order to respect the beliefs of the people and to provide a more open atmosphere, it would see that most Iranians – who may have diverse interests on issues – are interested in serving the interests of the revolution and the country.”

Criticizing the rulers of the Islamic republic, the 2009 presidential candidate emphasized, “Unfortunately, we have lost our connection with the people over the years. We thought we knew more than them and that we could tell them whatever we wanted and they have to obey. We did not take advantage of our collective intelligence.  The positions and powers conferred on some on th basis of corruption and personal interest caused us to lose our connection with the masses.  Unfortunately we became weak in this area and have only maintained an Islamic exterior.”

Mousavi condemned the Islamic republic’s instrumental use of Islam, adding, “I wish this deterioration had not taken place in the name of Islam.  Why is Islam being blamed today for every problem and shortcoming?”

Mousavi then emphasized the declarations of Shi’ite grand ayatollahs Montazeri, Sanei and Bayat-Zanjani that the government’s suppression of popular protests was “un-Islamic,” emphasizing, “Islam doesn’t beat anyone, it doesn’t arrest, it doesn’t slander, it doesn’t keep people in prison and create oppression. Islam strongly supports a national economy, a great and independent country.  We have the extremely important duty of showing through our behavior and actions that Islam supports our independence and doesn’t permit an iota of our independence to be compromised.”

Mousavi then criticized the elections laws of the Islamic republic for the first time, noting, “The state should not make decisions for the people.  When we look from the outside we see the hideousness of the practice that allows four or five individuals, who we suppose are extremely perfect people in whom the entire virtues of the world are combined, to sit and disqualify a bunch, select another bunch and tell a nation of 75 million people to pick from the picks that they picked.”

Mousavi added, “That is the worst way to treat a nation.” Noting that “We must raise awareness and expand its scope to include villagers, farmers, manufacturers, workers and teachers and tell them, ‘this life is not what you deserve,’” Mousavi added, “If we make progress in this area we will create the preconditions for fundamental change in this country.”