Government Supporters are Angry

The people and prominent reformist figures welcomed Hashemi Rafsanjani’s speech, which was interpreted as supporting the “green movement,” at Tehran historic Friday Prayers this week, though media outlets close to the coup government and Ahmadinejad’s supporters were enraged by it and accused Hashemi Rafsanjani of “supporting law-breakers.”

Members of the Guardian Council and the head of the Qom Seminary School Teachers Association were among the harshest critics of Hashemi Rafsanjani’s remarks.  Noting, “Hashemi is mistaken about the people’s role and their level of satisfaction with the government,” Mohammad Yazdi added, “In Islam, the government’s legitimacy is divine and not popular.”

Yazdi acknowledged that he met with Hashemi Rafsanjani one day before his Friday Prayer remarks: “We spoke with him and asked that he not revive issues that are put to rest at the Friday Prayers.  The Supreme Leader eliminated the danger.  You wanted to revive the danger but the danger will affect you as well.” 

In another part of his speech, Yazdi commented on the reason for the arrest of the recent detainees: “Those who are detained have received money, have committed crimes and provoked the public.  Therefore, they must not be released.  Who are you to say that those arrested must be released?

Yazdi criticized Hashemi Rafsanjani’s failure to thank the Supreme Leader, noting, “You should have supported the Supreme Leader at least as much as he supported you.  Unfortunately, your remarks and behavior were contrary to expectations.”

Noting that all of Hashemi Rafsanjani’s remarks were baseless and without proof, Yazdi noted that he would not approve Mir-Hossein Mousavi’s credentials for office if he remains in charge at the Guardian Council in the next four years, because Mousavi is not committed to the law or reason.

Supporting the Law-Breakers

The hardline Kayhan daily attacked Hashemi Rafsanjani for claiming that the country was “in crisis” in his Friday Prayers speech.  In its main editorial, penned by Hossein Shariatmadari, Kayhan denounced Hashemi Rafsanjani’s speech as being biased in favor of a particular political faction, accusing him of openly supporting the law-breakers.

Shariatmadari wrote, “Although Mr. Hashemi Rafsanjani is recognized as a wise politician, unfortunately, and with all due respect, in his remarks yesterday at the Friday Prayers, contrary to expectations, not much was seen of this particular quality of Mr. Rafsanjani!  Almost everytime e spoke of the recent election, he repeated the irrational and unreasonable claims of those who continue to denounce the election in an unreasonable manner.” 

Hashemi Did Not Thank the Supreme Leader

The state-owned daily Iran also harshly criticized Hashemi Rafsanjani’s speech, writing, “All the suggestions proposed by Hashemi Rafsanjani to exit the political impasse are solely suggestions for Rafsanjani and his affiliates alone to escape the impasse.  Otherwise, people know that the election has ended.” 

 Iran’s editorial also commented on Hashemi Rafsanjani’s suggestion to release the recent detainees: “If some state radio and television authorities had not reverted to excuses to prevent the broadcast of confessions of several prisoners, Mr. Hashemi would not have been able to ask for the release of the detainees who themselves have confessed to participating in conspiracy, sedition and communication with foreign circles.” 

Mojtaba Shakeri, central committee member of the Islamic Revolution Isargaran Society, told the Fars news agency that Hashemi did not fulfill his historic duty, and that he was expected to thank Ayatollah Khamenei but he did not!

Meanwhile, Tehran’s governor reacted to Hashemi Rafsanjani’s request for the release of the prisoners: “Mr. Hashemi’s request for the release of prisoners is in violation of the law.”