Mousavi Began His Campaigning
» Former PM Talked at Tehran University
March 3rd was Mir Hossein Mousavi’s day. He spoke at Tehran University and had his presidential campaign posters distributed, which were topped with the news that his own newspaper would be soon hitting the news stands. These days, he speaks of, “What appears to be necessary for our people is how to combine reforms with principles.”
In his talk at the most prestigious and oldest institution of higher education in Iran, Mousavi talked about justice and freedom, and defined them in these words: “If we take a proper look at these two concepts, we will notice that they are inseparable. Without social justice where people are concerned only with filling their stomach, freedom loses ground. Freedom comes to life when and where people have the opportunity to think. Conversely, in absence of freedom, whether the knowledge of its importance or its actual existence, they cannot move towards justice or towards their basic rights and consequently their own happiness.”
“No society likes its ideological values to be insulted. People like their religious beliefs to be respected,” he continued. “At the same time, they are not happy when a book or a newspaper is banned or shut down on some minor or unacceptable excuse. People can accommodate these two concepts within themselves without any problems. In fact the progress of our country can be conditioned to this accommodation as our society is capable of understanding this. Our normal and attentive society sees no relationship between respect for beliefs and harshness on the media, and believes in gentleness.”
Speaking about the role of the clergy in the country he said, “I think that in general our society respects the clergy, yet they do not want the clergy to become part of the establishment. People do not oppose the support of the clergy for the regime or the government but they expect this as part of their independence so that they are not under the influence of the government.”
Mousavi who was the Prime Minister of Iran during the difficult 8-year war period and is closely associated with Hashemi Rafsanjani, also spoke in support of privatization of industry. “Society welcomes the private sector and work, and also supports privatization. The idea of strengthening the private sector is a proper view but at the same time people do not agree with advocating a profit-driven atmosphere in which everything is for sale or purchase.”
Mousavi, a painter, politician and an architect, was Iran’s last Prime Minister before the Constitution was amended to eliminate the position in 1989. In his talk to university students, he spoke against “surrendering” to the great powers and said, “Our society fully supports the acquisition of nuclear technology. Our society rejects the notion of bending to the demands of the major powers and that they should stop our progress in advanced technology. It is willing to make any sacrifice to stay on its course and expects the same from its officials which is an attribute of standing up for your principles. At the same time, because our society possesses a community reason, it is against unnecessarily inciting the international community.”
In a related news, since the start of Mousavi’s campaigning for the presidency, members of his campaign have been announced while some media have proclaimed the issuance of a license for his newspaper, Kalame Sabz, which translates into the Green Word, under his own name.
His entry into the presidential race has brought forth contrasting comments from the two factions of the government. Abbas Abdi, a reformist writer, wrote a piece in reformist Etemad newspaper that, “Because of the differences between Mr. Khatami and Mr. Karubi, the only hope that one can have is to create a united front under Mousavi.”