Hardline cleric condemns persistence of protesters

Kazem Sedighi

Tehran’s Friday Mass Prayers leader, Kazem Sedighi told worshipers that the opposition is trying to “create disturbances and insecurity” and refuses to “repent” from its deeds.

Sedighi commended the pro-government crowd in yesterday’s demonstrations marking the 31st anniversary of Iran’s 1979 Revolution adding: “If we have insight, we will not lose our way in the disturbances.”

In the past months Iranian authorities have spoken often about the necessity of having “insight” in the recent unrest.

Yesterday, when moderate cleric, Ayatollah Hashemi Rafsnajani was joining the demonstrations, the crowd chanted: “Hashemi! Hashemi! Insight! Insight!”

Ayatollah Khamenei, leader of the Islamic Republic also issued a statement today thanking government supporters for showing their “insight” by participating in the February 11 events.

He called the demonstrations a “scene of confrontation with ill-wishers” and put the number of pro-government demonstrators as “tens of millions.” Foreign correspondents have reported a number closer to hundreds of thousands.

Yesterday anti-government demonstrators also took to streets to announce their protests against the June elections and the consequent government.

Iranian media censored all images of protesters and in some cases cut off the sound of their broadcasts to cover anti-government chants.

Protests were also staged at various major cities across Iran. And all over the country dissidents have been reportedly arrested in connection with yesterday’s events.

Kazem Sedighi accused foreign and domestic media for creating divisions between the people. He claimed they are creating the illusion that the Islamic Republic is on the verge of “defeat.”