TEHRAN – In a stern warning to the anti-government forces, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khameni accused the opposition Sunday, December 13, of insulting the Islamic Republic founder Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini. "They are openly violating the law, they insulted Imam Khomeini," Khamenei said in a hard-hitting televised speech cited by Reuters.
Khamenei said the opposition was violating the law by insulting the memory of Iran’s founder Khomeini.
"Some people violated the law, created riots and encouraged people to stand against the system," he said, referring to opposition leaders.
"They also prepared the ground for the enemies of the revolution...to insult the system."
Tension has increased in Iran since student backers of opposition leader Mir hossein Mousavi last Monday clashed in Tehran with security forces in the largest anti-government demonstration in months.
State television has broadcast footage showing opposition supporters tearing up and trampling on a picture of Khomeini during the Dec. 7 protests.
The insult sparked nationwide protests on Saturday and Sunday, with protestors chanting "Death to America" and "Death to opponents of the Supreme Leader".
"Those who shout slogans in the name of these people (opposition leaders), hoist their pictures and speak of them with respect are in a point which is the exact opposite of the Imam (Khomeini), revolution and Islam," Khamenei said.
"When you see this, step aside.
"I don't believe in purging, I believe in maximum attraction, but it looks as if some people insist on distancing themselves from the system and they have turned a family dispute into a battle against the system," Khamenei said.
Iran sank into political turmoil since the disputed June presidential elections, which saw incumbent Ahmadinejad re-elected in landslide.
Anger
The insult of Iran’s founder has sparked furor in the Islamic Republic, with calls for the punishment of the opposition leaders.
"The people are angry at those who carried out such an act," Ahmadinejad told reporters.
Iran's elite Revolutionary Guards also called for the punishment of those behind the insults against Khomeini.
"Khomeini's followers will not tolerate silence and faltering in exposing, putting on trial and quick punishment of those who committed this outrageous act, which undoubtedly stems from foreign enemies' think-tanks and internal plotters," the Guards said in a statement.
Some reformist websites suggested Mousavi may be arrested.
The opposition earlier accused the authorities of planning to use the reported desecration of Khomeini's picture as a pretext to uproot the reform movement.
"I'm sure students would never do such a thing because we all know they love Imam Khomeini," Mousavi said.
Khamenei, who has openly sided with Ahmadinejad after the disputed elections, insisted Sunday that the polls were lawful.
"Those who stage illegal rallies they have no root in the society," he said.
"The election is over. It was legal and they could not demonstrate their claim (of vote fraud)."
Source: IslamOnline
Khamenei said the opposition was violating the law by insulting the memory of Iran’s founder Khomeini.
"Some people violated the law, created riots and encouraged people to stand against the system," he said, referring to opposition leaders.
"They also prepared the ground for the enemies of the revolution...to insult the system."
Tension has increased in Iran since student backers of opposition leader Mir hossein Mousavi last Monday clashed in Tehran with security forces in the largest anti-government demonstration in months.
State television has broadcast footage showing opposition supporters tearing up and trampling on a picture of Khomeini during the Dec. 7 protests.
The insult sparked nationwide protests on Saturday and Sunday, with protestors chanting "Death to America" and "Death to opponents of the Supreme Leader".
"Those who shout slogans in the name of these people (opposition leaders), hoist their pictures and speak of them with respect are in a point which is the exact opposite of the Imam (Khomeini), revolution and Islam," Khamenei said.
"When you see this, step aside.
"I don't believe in purging, I believe in maximum attraction, but it looks as if some people insist on distancing themselves from the system and they have turned a family dispute into a battle against the system," Khamenei said.
Iran sank into political turmoil since the disputed June presidential elections, which saw incumbent Ahmadinejad re-elected in landslide.
Anger
The insult of Iran’s founder has sparked furor in the Islamic Republic, with calls for the punishment of the opposition leaders.
"The people are angry at those who carried out such an act," Ahmadinejad told reporters.
Iran's elite Revolutionary Guards also called for the punishment of those behind the insults against Khomeini.
"Khomeini's followers will not tolerate silence and faltering in exposing, putting on trial and quick punishment of those who committed this outrageous act, which undoubtedly stems from foreign enemies' think-tanks and internal plotters," the Guards said in a statement.
Some reformist websites suggested Mousavi may be arrested.
The opposition earlier accused the authorities of planning to use the reported desecration of Khomeini's picture as a pretext to uproot the reform movement.
"I'm sure students would never do such a thing because we all know they love Imam Khomeini," Mousavi said.
Khamenei, who has openly sided with Ahmadinejad after the disputed elections, insisted Sunday that the polls were lawful.
"Those who stage illegal rallies they have no root in the society," he said.
"The election is over. It was legal and they could not demonstrate their claim (of vote fraud)."
Source: IslamOnline
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