Khatami blames clerics for failure

[gottaB]

The Iranian president, Mohammad Khatami, yesterday defended his failed attempts to reform the country's theocracy and warned against the dangers of religious "despotism".

In a statement addressed to the country's youth, Mr Khatami alluded to his conservative opponents, saying: "The idea of implementing religious rule through despotism and by force and by ignoring people's demands is the wrong path."

In a 47-page "letter for the future", Mr Khatami said his government had stood for noble principles but had made mistakes and faced obstruction by hardline elements in the clerical establishment.

"Organised and shallow-minded methods to damage the public's opinion and dissuade it from reforms on the one hand, and hasty behaviour in the name of reforms on the other hand, are the two bitter historical phenomena of this period," he said.

Khatami blames clerics for failure....

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For more on the Aghajari case, also see Iran dissident faces death again.

[ludwigb]

1. Khatami

Reformer or enabler?

It's a tough call. I respect the guy, but from what I've read it seems the mullahs could be peacefully overthrown if Khatami's party took a more radical line.