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Monday
Aug172009

Latest Iran Video: Ayatollah Sane'i's Criticism (12 August)

The Latest from Iran (17 August): Waiting for the Next Manoeuvre
Video: When Hashemi Met Ahmadi (17 August)

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There is Internet flutter today about a speech given by Ayatollah Sane'i to clerics on 12 August, a video of which has just emerged. Sane'i has been a sustained critic of the Government since the election, but this address goes further in its condemnation. It is in Farsi, of course, but Josh Shahryar offers a summary, which we've reprinted below the first of the five videos:

PART 1 of 5

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NrYPN0-Qk4c[/youtube]

SUMMARY: Sane' i had never been so shocked before in his life, as he has been because of what had happened in the events after the elections, especially detentions, deaths and torture – not even during the Islamic Revolution in Iran, when his friends were being tortured by the Imperial regime.

During his speech, he praises [Mir Hossein] Mousavi and other reformist leaders and asks the government as to why they are being oppressed. He declared that all these people who have been detained, tortured and are accused of violence are well-known men that he has known for many a year and none of them were planning to topple the regime, adding, that in terms of piety, Mousavi was the best or one of the best people in Iran.

He said that in Islam, no one had the right to torture someone so severely. He blasted the confessions and said that no confession was valid under any circumstances, if the confession had been obtained through torture. He said the name of Imam Khomeini was being tarnished by the atrocities committed – all in the name of the constitution.

He asked the government, to cease torture, stop persecution and immediately release all political prisoners.

PART 2 of 5

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nejb18GpoyI[/youtube]

PART 3 of 5

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WpWra0XundY&feature=related[/youtube]

PART 4 of 5

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yOVZ1i3b6Wo&feature=related[/youtube]

PART 5 of 5

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5pjeDzUa4BE&feature=related[/youtube]

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