Tehran Friday Sermon becomes more conciliatory

Ayatollah Emami Kashani

Tehran’s Friday Prayers took a more conciliatory note this week with the sermons of Ayatollah Emami Kashani calling on demonstrators to refrain from chanting “particular slogans” and to pull away from those who might chose to do so.

ILNA reports Ayatollah Kashani saying: “Although the current conditions may have several problems, it still has to lead to the reappearance of the last Imam.”

Shiites believe the last Imam has disappeared and his return will bring on the judgment day.

Opposition forces and protesters have announced that they will take to the streets next Thursday to renew their protest to the outcome of the presidential elections and the following events.

MirHosein Mousavi and Mehdi Karroubi, the two disputing candidates of the elections have both invited people to join the demonstrations.

Tehran’s Friday Prayers Leader said today: “I urge those who want to make noise to listen, to join the people and be kind, but of course enemies are a different matter.”

Ayatollah Kashani who is also a member of Iran’s Expediency Council, commented on the Ashura Day protests saying: “During that day’s events, certain slogans were heard which I ask you not to engage in saying them. Let the country remain united.”

The conciliatory tone of this week’s Friday Mass comes in complete contrast to last weeks sermon by Ayatollah Janati which commended the execution of dissidents and called for more hangings to silence the protests.

The conciliatory tone came from other sources in the establishment as well.

Head of the General Auditor’s Office, Hojatoleslam PourMohammadi was quoted saying: “In the past seven months, every time we attack each other, we fall behind from our lives, our work and our progress and the country becomes insecure and this is the utmost desire of our enemies.”

He added: “Even if we are in the right and there is fighting in the scene, we should pull back because fighting leads to destruction. Fires of sedition do not just burn rioters but swallow everyone around it.”