A LEADING Iranian cleric told worshippers at Tehran’s largest Friday prayer gathering yesterday that those who participated in the unrest that has wracked the country following its disputed presidential election earlier this month should be punished “ruthlessly and savagely” and convicted for waging war against God, an offence punishable by death.
“I want the judiciary to . . . punish leading rioters firmly and without showing any mercy, to teach everyone a lesson,” said Ayatollah Ahmad Khatami, an influential cleric said to be close to Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Ayatollah Khatami, a member of the powerful Assembly of Experts, told the thousands gathered at Tehran University that judges should charge the “rioters” as mohareb [those who wage war against God]. “Based on Islamic law, whoever confronts the Islamic state . . . should be convicted as mohareb . . . They should be punished ruthlessly and savagely,” he said.
The ayatollah also claimed that Neda Agha-Soltan, the young woman who has become a posthumous symbol of the recent unrest, was shot dead by demonstrators, not Iranian security forces, as witnesses to her killing have said.
Ms Soltan (26), was shot in the chest as she watched the protests. A video of her dying moments has swept the internet.
The cleric also railed against foreign interference, and accused western governments and media of fomenting unrest. His sermon, which was broadcast live on state media, signalled a further upping of the ante following a week of harsh crackdowns on demonstrators protesting the result of the controversial June 12th election which returned Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to power. The Iranian government has deemed the protests illegal, a position reiterated by the supreme leader some days ago.
Earlier this week, Iran’s judiciary announced that a special court would be set up to make an example of “rioters” seized during the post-election unrest. According to figures published by Iranian state media, more than 400 have been arrested.
Meanwhile, a spokesman for the Guardian Council – the legislative body charged with examining opposition allegations that the election was rigged – reiterated yesterday that the council had found no evidence of fraud in the election which handed Ahmadinejad a landslide victory over his principal challenger, Mir Hussein Mousavi.
“After 10 days of examination, we did not see any major irregularities,” Abbas Ali Kadkhodai told a state news agency. “The reviews showed that the election was the healthiest since the revolution.”
The council was allowed to extend the duration of its investigation into allegations of electoral fraud. But Mr Kadkhodai said that even though the formal inquiry will not conclude until next week, the vote will not be annulled, as per Mr Mousavi’s demand, because no fraud has been detected.
Mr Mousavi has said he is determined to continue challenging the official results. His supporters have been subjected to a widening crackdown after the most violent clashes took place last weekend, resulting in the deaths of at least 10 people. More than 17 have been killed since Ahmadinejad’s victory was declared.