Reformist cleric condemns Islamic Republic policies

Ayatollah Dastgheib

Reformist Shiite cleric, Ayatollah Ali Mohammad Dastgheib criticized the activities of government institutions run by the Supreme Leadership claiming “it is not possible that one single person takes control of everything in the country while the law is put aside.”

Ayatollah Dastgheib, speaking for a group of people from Shiraz’s cultural community, added that a Shiite leader and just religious expert should be a mediator and “one person cannot manage 70 million people.”

The reformist cleric criticized the recent actions of the Guardian Council, the National Broadcasting, the Judiciary, the Revolutionary Guards, the police and the military and expressed concern that “today all national issues are managed by the Revolutionary Guards and the Security forces while the people have no say in these issues.”

Ayatollah Dashtgheib has repeatedly criticized the conduct of the tenth presidential elections last June and the following violent confrontations with protesters and called on the Islamic Republic authorities to reconsider their stance against the people.

His support of protesters has made him a target of the pro-government forces who have attacked his home and offices in Shiraz.

Ayatollah Dastgheib urges the Revolutionary Guards, the police and the military to consider the “people’s interests” rather than sacrificing everything for their own interests.

He also urged the judiciary to act “independently only relying on divine orders” and called on the Police force no to meddle in politics.

Ayatollah Dastgheib maintained that people engaged in the 1979 Revolution to gain freedom and “on February 11 of each year they call for the constitution to be carried out to a tee. Neglecting this demand will lead to deviation from the ideals of the February of 1979.”