Montazeri’s Statement

The Grand Ayatollah Hossein Ali Montazeri issued a statement a few days ago in regards to the ongoing protests. I’m unable to get an exact date on the letter as Montazeri’s website is down but judging by a few other blogs I’m about eight days late on this one. Not really breaking news but the statement itself is pretty impressive, some ringings of Thoreau’s Civil Disobedience are in the air. Keep in mind that this is not a “priest” speaking in a secular democracy but a majah in a democratic theocracy and as such has a large amount of political power.

This is the statement, some of the formalities are abridged:

In the name of God

People of Iran

These last days, we have witnessed the lively efforts of you brothers and sisters, old and young alike, from any social category, for the 10th presidential elections.

Our youth, hoping to see their rightful will fulfilled, came on the scene and waited patiently. This was the greatest occasion for the government’s officials to bond with their people.

But unfortunately, they used it in the worst way possible. Declaring results that no one in their right mind can believe, and despite all the evidence of crafted results, and to counter people protestations, in front of the eyes of the same nation who carried the weight of a revolution and 8 years of war, in front of the eyes of local and foreign reporters, attacked the children of the people with astonishing violence. And now they are attempting a purge, arresting intellectuals, political opponents and Scientifics.

Now, based on my religious duties, I will remind you :

1- A legitimate state must respect all points of view. It may not oppress all critical views. I fear that this lead to the lost of people’s faith in Islam.

2- Given the current circumstances, I expect the government to take all measures to restore people’s confidence. Otherwise, as I have already said, a government not respecting people’s vote has no religious or political legitimacy.

3- I invite everyone, specially the youth, to continue reclaiming their dues in calm, and not let those who want to associate this movement with chaos succeed.

4- I ask the police and army personals not to “sell their religion”, and beware that receiving orders will not excuse them before god. Recognize the protesting youth as your children. Today censor and cutting telecommunication lines can not hide the truth.

I pray for the greatness of the Iranian people.

Five of the twenty-nine Marjas have spoken up against the election or at least the treatment of the protesters. One has reportedly issued a fatwa making it haraam (forbidden by the faith) to work for the government of Ahmedinejad.

I was going to write “Progress in religion,” but that does not convey the proper meaning. This is not religion progressing, this is the progression and moderation already existing in religion and coming to the forefront to speak out against the state.