Mousavi in Meeting with Iranian Teachers’ Associations

(Source: Ghalamnews.ir )

Mir Hossein Mousavi in a meeting with Iranian Islamic Teachers’ Association, sent his greetings for the holy month of Shabaan and  said that the religious holidays are opportunities that should be used to the best advantage of the green movement.

He continued “The most important issue is that  the massive green social network formed across the country should use its creativity to utilize the opportunities created by the religious holidays”

“We have many religious holidays, everyday we can explore different means of raising awareness and pursing the goals of the green movement.”

Mousavi referred to the comments made by one of the members present in the meeting- who said  that the government was surprised by the reactions after the election – and continued:  “I actually think they were surprised few weeks before the election. This is because until then, their efforts were to discourage people from participating. If you compare the coverage on the national TV and other public media to the previous presidential elections this becomes clear. They did not expect this massive wave of people to become involved in a short period of time before the elections. That is why they were perplexed and could not flawlessly execute their plans. They did not foresee the powerful reaction from the public. They did not properly understand how deeply people have become involved. They could not fathom why people took to streets  and therefore [the hardliners]  have created a crises for themselves and for the country.”

“The issues we raised and emphasized before the election were normal rights demanded  in those articles of the constitution that have been neglected. Only  parts of the constitution have been implemented. We have read [interpreted] the constitution according to our faction’s interests and set aside those sections that were not in our favor.”

“I have not proposed anything but the rights mentioned in the constitution. A slogan people used in the dawn of the revolution was “in the spring of freedom,  the martyrs are not with us.” What we have been saying is: where is this freedom? Over a million people came to the streets and participated in the rallies on 22^nd of Bahman, 1357 ( February 1979) to ask for freedom. People wanted freedom. Where is this freedom now?“

“The basic rights of people and the dignity of women, human values, freedom of speech, dialogue and our national identity were abandoned issues that we turned to during the election campaign. It is natural that these concerns that came from people themselves, went back and created this wave among them. The future of this movement depends on us and how we can identify these concerns and issues, uphold them and be willing to pay the price of defending them.”

“We have been accused of working outside the framework of the constitution. But we claim that the real frameworks we abide by are founded on people’s heartfelt conviction and the constitution. You [hardliners] are the ones working outside the frameworks. Follow the course of just one of these arrests from the beginning and this becomes clear. There is no need to investigate hundreds of atrocities and shootings committed by un-uniformed militias. It suffices to investigate one case, for example the death of RooholAmini, Aarabi or Agha-Soltan, and it becomes clear the extent of these illegal actions that in no way resembles reactions we expected from the Islamic Republic and the ruling establishment.”

“We did not want to live in a state where certain unknown groups raid dormitories and homes at night,  attack students and people and damage their property. And then all the related government offices such as Ministry of Intelligence or Basij, when inquired, reply that they are not responsible. Where have these groups come from then? Have they landed from Mars? When a murder occurs, the security apparatus is very proficient in finding the murderer, then they are not capable of identifying tens or hundreds of individuals who have committed these crimes? Who believes such a thing? Isn’t this in essence accusing the whole system of spreading lies?”

“People realized that there is an enormous dishonesty behind these events. This was essentially related to the behavior of people who are opposed to the established constitutional structures and all the aspirations and ideals that our people and our system supported. The regime does not have a choice but to return to those ideals and constitutional frameworks. I think if they don’t, people will force them to. People will not retreat from this course they have embarked on.”

“The hardliners were also taken by surprise, since they thought some harsh reactions after the election will quell the protests and send people home. But after forty days people are still in the streets in large numbers despite the hardships they have faced. This goes to show how profound these events are. Yet these gentlemen ( hardliners) have decide to believe that certain groups from outside the country are responsible for these events and raising concern with the embassies will solve the matter. Or they have thought that certain parties or fractions are behind these protests. They have therefore, arrested notable members and leaders of certain political parties in order to force them to confess.”

“Ayatollah Janati [a leader of the Friday prayers and head of the Guardian Council] has said in the Friday prayer sermons that they [security forces, intelligence officers] are getting confessions. How can a cleric who is also a religious scholar – which requires observing certain principles -  speak these words? Where in Islam is forcing confessions mentioned? We are perhaps religious illiterates, and you are the scholar. Explain to us where in our religion, the Koran, or Islamic scriptures getting confessions is advocated? Everything we have heard from the words of Imam Ali is opposed to this. It was to vindicate people, to keep people from confessing against themselves.

“These method wills not bear any results. The reason is that this popular movement is not in the form of a pyramidal hierarchy. But it is a widespread network that has influenced many families. That is the reason this movement has endured this far and to sustain itself in the future, it will have to maintain this direction. It is a danger for its future, if this widespread social movement is reduced to a classical factional opposition.”

“The more they have arrested people, the more prevalent this movement has become. The power of this movement is in spreading awareness. We need to keep reminding people how this government was formed, the way it replaced its ministers, its economical and rampant foreign policies.”

“It is important that the slogans we use are widespread and far-reaching. The green symbol brought a broad notion of unity among many Iranians that symbolized solidarity. Similarly we need to propose a slogan that would encompass Iranians both inside and outside of Iran, and coordinate our activities with respect to that. What I suggest is to stand for the constitution from the perspective of reviving those articles and principles that have been ignored, of which the most important one is freedom. “

“One of these articles is the freedom of assembly. We (I and Mr. Karoubi)  have therefore requested permission to hold a memorial in Tehran Mosala [a large open structure often used for prayers or mass assemblies] in order to put the government to test. We have not planned any activities. We are not even planning to have a speech. We just want to use this facility which has cost hundreds of millions of dollars. Those 13 million as you count them, have a right to use a facility constructed from public budget which essentially belongs to them as well. Let us gather, and only read Koran, just read the Koran.”

“The constitution like the green color can bond us and relate us. We need to remember that for the continuation of this movement – that is, to revive the original values of the Islamic revolution and the values  for which many people sacrificed their lives – we need to depend on the constitution, defend it and turn it into our main slogan.”

“The constitution puts an emphasis on Iranian Identity, but many of the articles of the constitution that can reinforce this identity have in practice wound up threatening it. Relying on Iranian identity is essential for us. Our Iranian identity is not defined separate from our Islamic identity. But there has been negligence in this regard. The emphasis we put on our national identity during the campaign was a call that was heard by Iranians all over the world.”

“During the revolution Imam Khomeini had also tried to gather all minorities and ethnic groups in the name of Iran. The scope of what we defined as the Iranian nation then was such that everyone fit in. It was based on this view that religious minorities were given seats in the parliament.”

“The murders and the arrests are atrocities that were unprecedented even before the revolution. I remind the individuals who commit these horrendous crimes that people remembered and punished those responsible for similar acts before the revolution. People will not forgive these atrocities. How is it possible that a person who believes in the Islamic revolution, Islam and the country, even a criminal, goes to prison and his dead body comes out? Aren’t we followers of Imam Ali? Don’t we remember his advice with regards to his murderer? Have we not talked so much about Islamic justice?”

“This situation is unbearable. Why don’t the rulers of this country cry and mourn over this atrocities? They don’t see them?! They can’t feel them?! These events will lead the country into darkness. They will darken our hearts. If we remain silent it will ruin all of us. The reactions to these events from people, comforts me. These reactions are a sign of well being of our people. People are not content with those who raid homes and damage people’s cars. This contempt is a sign that our nation is alive. Officials with high responsibilities in our government should know if a nation stands opposed to these acts of cruelty, the officials should be on their side to protect these people.“

“The country cannot turn into a prison for 70 million people. I am certain that the the Judiciary is not allowed and given a right to visit many of these prisons and obtain information.“

“Is our Judiciary independent ? Can they, for instance, investigate Roholamini’s case? Now they say he died of meningitis. They should investigate and see why his jaws were broken? If they did, that kind of a judiciary system will save this country. It is in everyone’s interests that they do this.”

“I used the example of Mr. Roholamini, just because his case is more clear. He was a religious person, at one point he was even part of the Basij. But then he joined this green movement. People saw him arrested well and alive, then they gave back his dead body from prison.”

“We have recently heard another name: Amir Javadi . We are Muslims. If you have any dignity, the least you can do , if you have murdered these people, tortured them , abused them, is to at least return their bodies to their families and attend to their families. Stop agonizing people, Stop infuriating people. Stop humiliating people, people have the right to know where their children have been buried.“

“These problems are only resolved if we return to the principles of the revolution and the constitution. More than ever, we need to refer to the values and ideals of the revolution and Imam Khomeini’s views.”

“It is a mistake on the part of the current ruling body to call a popular movement, a street revolt. To think that creating an atmosphere of national security and suppressing the demonstrations will restrain people is misguided.“

“These days and events will remain in the public conscience. To think that few months will pass and people will forget everything and the crisis will be resolved is false.“

“You cannot fool people. May god help us in returning to the path of Islam and the revolution.”