Meet Ali
Jul 22nd, 2009 by pedestrian
Ali Motahari is a vile creature – and I’m not saying that because of his appearance.
He is the son of prominent hardline cleric, Morteza Motahari (who was gunned down less than a year after the revolution). He is currently a parliament member, a professor of theology at the University of Tehran and he began his term in parliament on a hardcore pro-Ahmaidnejad, anti-reformist platform.
In an interview on Sunday, July 19th, two days after the Friday prayer led by Rafsanjani:
“In the end, the popularity of the system, is all dependent on how people view this system. According to the leader’s recommendations, we are going to be fully cooperate with the government, but we will not allow false moves like Mashaie.”
[note about the title of the article I've linked to: I'm not sure that Mashaie is a "moderate". I don't know much about him, except that he angered the top clerics for his statement on Israel, for not leaving a gathering of female dancers in a meeting in Turkey. He's also Ahmadinejad's in-law.]
Motahari continued: “Rafsanjani’s words complemented those by the leader and both will go towards creating a more peaceful environment. ”
He then went on to name a high ranking government official [the article does not mention this name] and said: “the system must be kind towards people and must answer their concerns. In fact, that is exactly what Rafsanjani did during his sermon.”
Pointing to the suggestions offered by the head of the expediency council [Rafsanjani]: “Rafsanjani’s suggestions, freeing of political prisoners, attending to the needs of those who have incurred great loss and opening the broadcasting corporation to both sides will greatly help us move out of this current situation.”
Criticizing the position of hardline cleric [Yazdi] who angrily shot back at Rafsanjani: “Anyone in society today has the right to suggest a way out of our quandary, so of course, the prayer leader also has this right. Especially at a time when we hear such terrible treatment towards the prisoners. Yazdi’s criticism of Rafsanjani is irrelevant.”
Motahari went on: “Accorinding to Islamic principles, we must always protect the weak, even if they are our opposition. And in fact, that is what Rafsanjani did. The terrible treatment of prisoners is not Islamic.”
“I agree that there are a small number working to topple the regime, but the problem is that a good number of ordinary people have doubts about the election. Not only did we not answer their concerns, we made the situation worse. But this problem can still be solved.”
Referring to Ahmadinejad’s appointment of Mashaie, Motahari continued: “this appointment shows that Ahmadinejad has no regard for the opinion of the olama or the elite or even public opinion. It would not be totally far fetched to assume he might even use Kordan in his new cabinet, because unfortunately, that is in the nature of Ahmadinejad [to go against everyone].”
It should be noted that Motahari has continuously criticized Ahmadinejad after the June 12th Selection.
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Of course, Mr. Motahari himself has MUCH to answer: he chides Kordan, but he voted for the mafia boss, Sadeq Mahsouli and may do so again. He kept silent for much of the past three years when activists and dissidents were being imprisoned and the media silenced – just not in such vast proportions.
But I also think that this goes to show how DIRE the leader/Ahmadinejad combo have made the current circumstance. For personal gain (after all, Motahari will need votes when he runs again in 1.5 years) or for the mere fact that no one can keep silent amidst atrocity of THIS scale … His words show the deepening rifts that are growing within the very top of the ruling establishment.
Ali Motahari is a vile creature
LOL
One kees thinking of Iraj Mirza’s “Gorbeh shod Zahed O mosalmana!”
Today, Ahmaghinejad has said that he doesn’t think Mashayee should be put away for “expressing an opinion” because people shoudl be given freedom to express opinion!!! WTF!
Really, WHAT THE F.U.C.K?!
But this is why I like these times; it’s come to heed the inconsistency of the IRI!
Iranians should not be fooled by this and other quarrels among robbers and thieves. They were fooled once and they should not to be fooled again.
Khomeini and his mullah clan used Iranians to install themselves in 1979. They told people they will have justice and democracy. Instead of justice and democracy they robbed people of Iran of their national wealth, their individual freedom, their dignity, their proud history, and their respect on the world stage.
People of Iran have been waking up realizing they made a pact with the devil in 1979, a devil equal if not worse than what they had before 1979. Pretense of democracy and election has been for world stage and in an effort to legitimize a government of Tyrant by the Tyrant, and for the Tyrant.
The notion of free election when the government decides who should or should not be a candidate is a joke and insult to intelligence of every Iranian. I hope people are not fooled again and continue their struggle until they have a constitutional government and until they cleanse the country from crimes being perpetrated on them in the name of Islam. I hope they kick clergies out of the government and send them back to mosque where they belong. It is time for a constitutional republic of Iran.
Sorry to disappoint you Megan, but at least the people I know are not working to “kick clergies out”. Some – certainly not all – may wish for more clear separation of religion and state somewhere down the line, but what got them angry and petrified in the first place was not a desire to throw out the ruling system, but to in fact get that very ruling system to respect their votes – a votes they had cast into the ballot box with all the restrictions that came before it.
Pedestrain,
You cannot cure cancer with Aspirin.
It is a pipe dream to expect that regime or mullahs respect people’s votes. People have not had any say in anything for 30 years not even a say in how they dress. How could they expect their votes to be respected? I have listened to many ordinary people who are in heart of this struggle, those who go to the streets and stare the death in the face every day telling you it is not about their votes even though it started that way. They tell you the fraudulent election was the straw that broke the camel’s back, they tell you they risk their lives because they want to do away with the current system of government.
Some as you stated may just want some respect for their votes. I give you that. Those folks, however, are suffering from Stockholm syndrome. They have been kept hostage for so long they identify with their hostage takers and their prison guards. They may be lost with their new found individual freedom if and when it happens but in no time they will get the hang of it and will start cherishing it.
Today, I listened to a 66 -year old woman who described the hellish life they have lived in the past thirty years and especially what they had endured in the past four weeks in Tehran. She summarized her story beautifully by saying they were not afraid any more, and despite all the beating she had been subjected to in the streets of Tehran, she and her two older friends would keep at it until they break free from this thirty-year prison term. She said they were tired of this 30-year journey; they just wanted to go home. Imagine being in your home country and longing for it. Her words just shook me to my core. That to me was not asking for a little respect for her vote. That was putting “expired” stamp on the current system so she can get her home back.
Megan, I think you are wrong. Of course, you are entitled to your opinion.
For an analysis I think is fairly correct, you can check here.
And I’ve had a discussion with someone on the same issue, albeit thanks for keeping your argument civil, he was rude and bitter. But it’s here.
You can certainly get that impression (that this is about changing ruling systems) if you talk to some people. But those I know are for the most part weary of another mass upheaval. Iran needs lots of change. But reactionary politics and mass violence they already experienced once. This is a change that is going to be years, and even decades, in the making.
I think the rest is mostly wishful thinking, especially on the part of Iranian expats. But that is my own opinion.
I think it came from a seemingly simple thought: if men at the helm of the system prove that they can’t be trusted, you either have to change these men or change the way the system works to ensure it works as intended. That’s quite easy to see it as a romantic image of a new Revolution from a foreign perspective and think the Iranians should just overthrown their leaders and instate an occidentally correct regime.
But the question we (poor occidentals) should ask ourselves is what would we do if such kind of things were to happen in our countries? From what I’m seeing in our own history, the response might very well be quite underwhelming.
Directly challenging the system is the best way to end up in a bloody confrontation if not outright civil war and that’s something I’d want to avoid at all cost if I think there is other ways to be heard. So I think I understand why Iranians aren’t so willing to make a revolution for now…
Though I wouldn’t be that much surprised if it ends up by happening should the Iranian government be still turning a deaf ear to the people.
Well, I certainly hope that no matter what the Iranian government does or doesn’t do … this generation will not be as stupid as their fathers! We simply CAN NOT afford to make their mistakes.
به نام خدا
جناب دکتر مطهری عزیز:
برقرار باشید و پاینده.
رای شما در مورد برون رفت از بحران تنها راه حل این اوضاع نه چندان پیچیده است.
خدا حفظتان کند که آدم را در یان بلبشوی عقیدتی امیدوار به بودن منطق الهی انسانی میکند.
خدا نگهدارتان باشد
دوست شما و علامه شهید رحمتی
آقای مطهری ظاهرا اصل قضیه را فراموش کرده اند، به عقیده ما در انتخابات ریاست جمهوری ۱۰۰ درصد تقلب شده است. حجم معترضان نیز گویای این واقیت است.
رهبر جنابعالی نه تنها از این تقلب پشتیبانی کرده بلکه جواب معترضان را با باتوم کردن در مقعدشان ، زیر کردن با ماشین، شلیک کردن به سر و مغز، بمب گذاری در مسکن شخصی کشتن ۱۰۰ ها، زندانی کردن ۱۰۰۰ ها و اعدام ۲ نفر را داده است.
آقای مطهری، رهبر شما ننگ ماست – این رو بفهم و قبول کن که ملت ایران بر پا خسته. ما رهبر شما و حکومت شما را قبول نداریم. ما حکومتی بر اساس پایه های انسانی و عدالت میخواهیم و رژیم اسلامی شما را عاجز از بوجود آوردن همچین دولتی میدانیم.
یک کلام زحمت ما میداری و ارض (متوجه غلط دیکته ارض هستم!) خود میبری – اگر هم فکر میکنی که اکثریت مثل این نوشته فکر نمیکنن تنها راه حل رفراندوم آزاده – آیا شما با رفراندوم جمهوری اسلامی آری یا نه موافقید؟
[...] after nearly a year, individuals like Ali Motahari send letters to Mousavi and ask him to back down, and leave the job to moderate conservatives. The [...]
[...] after nearly a year, individuals like Ali Motahari send letters to Mousavi and ask him to back down, and leave the job to moderate conservatives. The [...]