Senior Shiite leader Ayatollah Mousavi Ardebili has spoken out in Qom against the current political situation in Iran, announcing that all current and former leaders of the Islamic Republic regime must apologize to the people.
In a statement reported on his information site, the senior cleric made reference to what’s unfolded in the struggle for power since the 1979 Iranian Revolution, saying: “Now I see some deeds and outcomes and wonder if we have been negligent in our responsibilities or are culpable. When our friends were struggling, they had much higher expectations.”
Ayatollah Mousavi Ardebili, who was the head of the supreme judicial council during the time of the late founder of the Islamic Republic, Ayatollah Khomeini, said: “I want to use this opportunity to tell the honourable people of Iran, the families of martyrs, and all the people who worked hard that we stepped in this path in good faith, but perhaps we were negligent, and if any of the current problems and failures are results of my actions, I apologize to everybody.”
Ardebili goes on to add: “I am speaking for myself. I am concerned about my own actions and inactions. If we all had acted appropriately, we would not have reached this situation. I am afraid that all of us, former and current officials of the country, have to apologize to the people, more so those of us that wear the cloak of spiritual leaders.”
The senior member of the clergy went on to urge Islamic Republic leaders to “honestly apologize for their mistakes” without fear of the consequences, stating that honesty and a serious attempt at making amends would result in understanding and reconciliation.
Ayatollah Mousavi Ardebili is one of many clergy members that were severely critical of the 2009 crackdown on protesters who alleged that Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was re-elected through vote fraud.
