KHAMENEH’I ATTACKS IRANIAN LIBERAL DEMOCRATS AND POLITICAL PARTIES
TEHRAN 4 Nov. (IPS) Ayatollah Ali Khameneh’I, the leader of the Islamic Republic labelled as "traitors" the former revolutionary students turned reformists and accused them of adhering to the Western corrupt social democracy.
This was the harshest attack launched by the egocentric Khameneh’i against some reformists who urged the embattled President Mohammad Khatami to use the 11 September terrorist attack on the United States to improve relations with Washington.
"Unfortunately, the problem with some of our officials is their weak and torpid faith and Islamic thoughts and their attraction to Western political prescriptions", he told students "invited" to meet him in the central city of Esfahan.
Mr. Khamene’hi’s new warnings was a follow up to his efforts to cut short any attempts by some reformists, mainly MMs (members of the Majles) to end Iran’s isolation and strengthens the position of the country in the light of the conditions created as a result of the 11 September operations.
On his instructions, the Iranian Judiciary, which is led by the Iraqi-born Ayatollah Mahmood Hashemi-Shahroodi banned all officials to speak out in public in support of establishing contacts and talking directly with America, using the old "Great Satan" to designate the United States.
Noting the "crimes" of the western liberal democrats in ignoring the legitimate rights of the Palestinians, the "massacre of innocent, defenceless" Muslim people of Afghanistan and the "censorship imposed on the Western media", Mr. Khameneh’I asked why should some of our officials defend western liberal democrats?
Analysts observed that this is the first time that Mr. Khameneh’i brands his opponents as "liberal democrats".
"Why should some of our officials known for their defence of Islam, the revolution and the line of the Imam (Grand Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini) must suddenly change road and become supporters of the Western liberal democracy and face the religious democracy", he said.
He labelled the Iranian liberal democrats as "opportunists" and accused them of "breaking laws" and "betraying" the public opinion.
"Instead of debating their views in scientific and specialised circles, they address themselves to the general public and call it modernism. Lo, this is betraying the public opinion and sheer opportunism", Mr. Khameneh’i said.
"These extremists who in the beginning of the revolution used to brand us as reconciliatory are now on the opposite side, ready to officially apologise to the Americans and the British and throw red carpet for Zionist capitalists", he added.
Mr. Khameneh’i also expressed his antipathy with political parties, saying "some so-called politicians who gathers together under the title of party are interested more in creating artificial excitement and noises by exaggerating minor problems than solving anything".
Looking very philosophical and sounding as he had discovered something absolutely new, Mr. Khameneh’i told the students, most of them poor and illiterate young volunteers brought in by the authorities, "Political parties are a tool to reach the higher echelons and grab power".
This was the first time that Mr. Khameneh’i announced in public his well-known hating of genuine political parties that he considers as a threat to his absolute rule.
"By expressing his antagonism to political parties as the expression of people’s will, the Iranian Fuhrer showed his real face of dictator", commented one Iranian observer. ENDS KHAMENEH’I LIB DEM 41101