Iranian hardliner, Ahmad Jannati criticized Mohammad Khatami, Iran’s former president for his recent statements about healthy elections and stated that there is no need for the reformists to be present in Iranian elections.
Ayatollah Jannati, Chairman of Iran’s Guardian Council which supervises various aspects of Iranian elections from determining eligibility of candidates to ballot counts and announcement of outcomes, told reporters yesterday: “With the activities that the leaders of sedition have carried out, it is better that they stay out of the political arena and wait for the Americans.”
Iranian establishment refers to reformist leaders who challenged the legitimacy of the 2009 presidential elections and the victory of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad as “leaders of sedition” and claim they were involved in a conspiracy to topple the regime, a contention that opposition leaders adamantly deny.
Most recently reformist leader, Mohammad Khatami told reformist MPs that the reformists can only participate in the next elections if the state releases all political prisoners, and guarantees a healthy and open election.
Several conservative political figures have lashed out at Khatami insisting that rather than making statements about the elctions, he should be prosecuted for his role in fomenting the post-election protests.
In response to recent echoing threats of prosecution from the conservative ranks, Mehdi Karroubi, another opposition leader, announced yesterday that he is ready to face any charges that are brought against him in an open and official court so that people can be the judge of both sides of the argument.
Iranian reformists maintain that the establishment rigged the 2009 presidential elections to secure the victory of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. The conservatives led by Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Khamenei have refused to accept this charge and the government has confronted the protesters with severe violence, widespread arrests and heavy prison terms.
