The Genuine Call for Reform is Still Alive (14 April 2010)

In a meeting with social and academia figures, Seyyed Mohammad Khatami, by criticizing the government’s approach in the events after the election, the use of violence and the illegal arrests of the political figures, said: “We are sorry that in the past few months instead of trying to strengthen national unity some movements mostly tried to create an atmosphere of hatred, mistrust and pessimism as well as eliminate significant sections of the society. This situation is most harmful for the establishment, Iran, and the Iranians.” 

Khatami added: “Opening up the political and social environment and ending the security imposed atmosphere in favor of a healthy political environment so that fundamental freedoms would be honored and the main referee would be the constitution could and can create more hope for the future.”

The former president continued: “It seems like there are some who don’t want this window to open and rather have the atmosphere closed.”

He added: “First of all, on the eve of the Persian New Year we witnessed the summons and arrests of new individuals. Second, there has been no news regarding the limited and conditional release of many of the arrested figures. Third, those few who were released conditionally and on heavy bail were very soon returned to the prison.”

Khatami, in expressing concern over some reports regarding the pressure put on political figures to obtain forced confessions in denouncing reformist views and leaders against their will, said: “ Also it was heard that if these dictated statements are not confessed [by temporary released political prisoners], their limited freedoms will be denied again; it was also heard that instead of opening the atmosphere and employing the constitution in favor of fundamental freedoms of the political parties and political activists, there are some projects in preparation to limit the individuals’ and parties’ freedoms even further.”

Khatami emphasised: “These methods will only tighten the atmosphere, make hearts further apart from each other, will increase hatred and cynicism, and will shut down the path toward opening the atmosphere. I am warning again that if this happens most of all the Islamic Republic will be harmed and this will result in poisonous propaganda against the Islamic Republic and will increase the public crisis.”

Khatami hoped: “The influential and sincere figures try to limit the wrong methods and by trying to free more individuals and opening the political atmosphere not only defend the public rights and dignity but also guide the atmosphere to more openness.”

At the end, Mohammad Khatami stressed: “The genuine call for reform is still alive and avoiding violence; providing an atmosphere of dialogue, critique and discussion as well as everyone’s effective activities for the freedom and prosperity of our homeland; and achieving the high goals that improve and strengthens the country’s democracy, which would be compatible with religion and in the context of the revolution, have been the demands of this great nation; and are the unique ways to fulfill the interests of the revolution, country and the people and are the demands of all those who demand the best for the society and the establishment.”