Iran's opposition leader slams ruling clerics

[IndianaGreen]

Source: Israel News

Iran's opposition leader slams ruling clerics

Mir Hossein Mousavi criticizes government, clerical leadership; says they 'arrest, beat people in name of Islam'

Associated Press Published: 04.26.10, 18:04 / Israel News

Iran's opposition leader has said that a corrupt power structure is running the country in the name of Islam – his harshest words to date against the hard-line clerical leadership.

Mir Hossein Mousavi, who has often spoken up against the government of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, has also lately stepped up his criticism of Iran's ruling clerics.

In remarks carried late Sunday on his website Kaleme.com, Mousavi said the country's rulers "arrest and beat people in the name of Islam, prevent activities of political parties in the name of Islam, and shut down media in the name of Islam."

The clerical leaders have called pro-opposition protesters enemies of God, or mohareb in Farsi – a crime punishable by death under Iranian law – and have increasingly used the concept as a weapon against opponents.

Iran's judiciary has put more than 100 people on a mass trial on similar charges since August. About a dozen people have been sentenced to death, and more than 80 others have received prison terms ranging from six months to 15 years.

"You call anybody who speaks against you a ... mohareb or overthrower. This is not beneficial to you or the country. This is not compatible with Islam," Mousavi was quoted as saying. "Islam doesn't allow beating, libel, keeping people in prison and imposing restrictions."

Read more: http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3881133,00.html

[benld74]

1. Jus gimme sumofthat ole time religion,,,,,