Mousavi’s meeting with the Consultative Coalition of Reformist Parties in the province of Fars

Source: Rahesabz
Date: Sunday, December 13, 2009

Representatives of a group of reformist parties in Fars province met with Mir Hossein Mousavi for the anniversary of martyrdom of Ayatollah Dastgheib [the father] and recommitted themselves to the ideals of the martyrdom and revolution.
Accroding to Rahesabz, in this meeting Mir Hossein Mousavi highlighted the role of Ayatollah Dastgheib and said: “We lost great many faces during the revolution, it was destined to be this way that great men like Ayatollahs Madani, Dastgheib and Sadoughi and other martyrs who were martyred during their prayers departed from among us. Though their martyrdom was a great tragedy, continuity in the path of Revolution is indebted to their blood.”
Mousavi specially praised Ayatollah Seyed Ali Mohammad Dastgheib [the son] and said: “In this time where lack of media is a significant disadvantage [for us], it is great that people can hear the words of truth from a source of immolation [1]. This is something for which we are very grateful. We expect nothing from other Marjas[1];other than to share what they find as the truth of the matters with people.”

Prime minister of the war era expressed that the main objective of the Revolution was to satisfy people’s needs and demands, and added: “If this becomes prominent in our country, it would allow us to achieve development, and getting rid of corruption in our country.” He added: “if people’s demands are answered, if the spirit of cooperation and people’s power to supervise their government returns then we can talk about ridding [our country] of this corruption, otherwise, no matter how many meetings we organize between the different administrations within the government we can not stop the cultivation of corruption.”
Mousavi added: “Corruption would be wiped off when people are not afraid of saying what is right. The other side of the coin is that corruption will expand more if people are frightened in an atmosphere of fear and feel that they do not have a say.”
The war era prime minister alluded to the incidents after the elections and emphasized that people do dislike deceit. They like to have a system that does not treat different parties and groups with different standards: “The greatest outcome of the election caused a movement in the nation were the national bonds and the union that was created across the country.”
He added: “The miracle of Islam too was its ability to unite all the Arab tribes that were filled with enmity toward one another. Unfortunately today our youth cannot feel the life, affinity and greatness of Islam due to instrumental [and manipulative] use of the religion.
Prime Minister of Imam [Khomeini] viewed the messages of ‘independence, freedom, and republic’ as originating from Imam’s special reading of Islam and said: “If these days we see that our television broadcasts images of tearing down pictures of Imam [Khomeini] and on the other side of the world we see American media broadcasting images of unknown people in an unknown location are putting the picture of the Imam to flames. This shows a bitter reality that a group outside and inside are moving in the same direction to destroy all the original values of the revolution.
He viewed the constitution as the special considerations of Imam to the rights of people and elaborated: “Our nation’s union, loyalty and independence would be achieved only if we consider and value the rights of people. However our wrong interpretation of Islam and the constitution has led to chop the people into different groups, either with us or against us and use the word ‘nation’ to refer to those who are with us, while this word should be applied to encompass the most number of people.
Mousavi said with regret: “we [referring to the authorities] acted in such a way that resulted in the separation among family members. Traditionally [in our families] different generations would sit together and learn from each other, but we interfered with their life in a way that we caused boundaries and split.”

He added: “we neglected to pay attention to the rules against surveillance and inquisition in the constitution; which has resulted in the sense of insecurity in the society.”

Mir Hossein Mousavi emphasized that it’s not possible to interpret the constitution based on one’s own interest and to disregard those parts that deals with the acceptance of pluralism and diversity. He said: “the message of the Green Way of Hope to the people is that you are friends and you can live together despite the diversity and different believes.”

He mentioned that he’s happy to see that after election the young generation shows more interest into understanding and studying the constitution. He said: “these days I see that the young people read the constitution, especially the third section of it and discuss it among themselves. It’s very good; we should take it as a good sign and encourage its continuation.”

He said that not having inquisition has been a source of pride for Islamic civilization and added: “ During the time the church was holding inquisition courts in the western countries, in the Islamic world, different cults and sects were freely discussing and debating [their teachings].”

The ex-prime minister noted that the problems with the election can be resolved with paying attention to the constitution. He referred to the new and under editing: “the comprehensive set of rule for election” and stipulated: “this set of rules can troubleshoot the existing problems if and only if they are in line with the constitution, specifically its introduction, and if they pay attention to the minutes of the assembly of the experts. If they don’t, none of the problems will be resolved.

He referred to the most basic demand that people had the day following the election: “They had a very specific inquiry: “where is my vote?” we all had tried to gain people trust and convince them that their votes would count. When the result came out, many people had questions and speculations. The expectation was that the authorities would provide an answer to these questions and ambiguities; instead the authorities clashed the people and put some of them in the jail. Therefore the people dissatisfaction [with the election result] was not diminished.”

Mousavi continued: “people have the right to ask questions and this right should be respected. Instead [the authorities] clashed them with force. The people demands have escalated, and it’s because their original demand wasn’t dealt with properly. If we had good media coverage, if people would have the answers to their questions, and if they haven’t been dealing with violence, we wouldn’t have seen this subversive behavior.”

He referred to the events that happened during the student day and said: “they let the non student forces invade the universities carrying sticks and clubs, and then they call these forces students in the media. Then they say that students used tear gases against each other! This doesn’t mean anything but people deception. The students don’t even carry butter knives with themselves for not being accused. At least [The authorities] could have been sincere in telling people that in order to control the protests we used forces. People would have preferred this sincerity.”

Mir Hossein added: “people expect this security atmosphere to be removed, because if it continues, it will result into the underground movements, the radicalism will grow, and the possibility to progress and develop will be lost.
He emphasized once again that the protests after the elections were peaceful and continued: “Protests should continue to be peaceful and petitioning should be through legal means. None of us should give excuses to our opponent.”
The Prime Minister of the departed Imam [Khomeini] [2]. continued his remarks by condemning the detainment of many of servants of the Revolution and said: “I have worked with many of these faces and I know that they have never thought twice about serving their country.” For instance, our country’s heavy industry sector is indebted to Mr. Behzad Nabavi’s bright management. He was also one of the highly influential and diligent individuals in the office of the Commander in Chief [of the Armed Forces]. Many of these beloved figures were arrested in the twenty third [of Khordaad 1388][3]. when no demonstrations had begun. We can not consider these demonstrations as riots. What happened was a great rally in silence which [unfortunately] some regarded as public disturbance.”
He continued: “In the court proceeding we have seen after the elections, more than hundred people from different political and intellectual spectrum were brought together [to be prosecuted] so that [the authorities] can induce to their own imagination that all of these people have the same fate and line of thought. They have sat those who have served this Revolution and have martyred family members with those whose accusations are Monarchism and even were arrested months before the elections.
Mir Hossein Mousavi reminded the audience that the green path is a long journey and added: “The conditions to advance in the green path are patience and tolerance. We must make the effort of advancing in this path as a part of our way of life and continue our networking activities and our connections.”
In the end, he asserted: “Being green and becoming green is not specific to any groups or individuals. Green has roots in our history, nationality and culture. Whoever who is dedicated to the ideals of the nation to any degree and appreciates intellect and justice is green, even if (s)he is our opponent.
In the beginning of this meeting, Dr. Masoud Sepehr- the head of Consultative Coalition of Reformist Parties in the province of Fars- presented a report on the activities of this Consultative body and said: “After the elections the Coalition of Reformist Parties in the province of Fars restructured its organization and resumed its activities.”
He mentioned the obstacles that some of the armed forces raised in the Commemoration of the martyrdom of Ayatollah Dastgheib. He reiterated that the goal of the meeting was to renew their covenants with the ideals of Imam [Khomeini], the Revolution and Ayatollah Dastgheib in the presence of the Premier of the departed Imam. He added: “Continuations of such meetings can help easing the heavy ambiance that prevents the presence of the leaders of the Green Movement in other provinces and counties.
In the remainder of the meeting, the representative of the student organization of Culture and Politics Forum of Shiraz University presented a report on the pressures on the students of the university in the months after the elections. He asked for greater attention of the Green Movement leaders towards the student demands and called for a universal formation of a front for the Green Movement.

[1] Source of immolation or Marja’ (Arabic/Persian: مرجع) (Plural: maraji), also known as a marja-i taqlid or marja dini (Arabic/Persian: مرجع تقليد / مرجع ديني), literally means “Source to Imitate/Follow” or “Religious Reference”. It is the label provided to Shia authority, a Grand Ayatollah with the authority to make legal decisions within the confines of Islamic law for followers and less-credentialed clerics. After the Qur’an and the Prophets and Imams, marjas are the highest authority on religious laws in Shia Islam.
[2] Since Mir-Hossein Mousavi was the Primer at the time of Grand Ayatollah Khomeini’s leadership, he is sometimes titled as the Premier of the departed Imam by the Iranian Reformist media

[2] June 13th 2009