A Top Cleric Blasts Iran Crisis Response

At Prayer Service, Rafsanjani Called for Release of Protestors, More Freedom of Speech

(CBS)  Thousands of protestors marched through the streets of Tehran today in support of the defeated presidential candidate Mir Hossein Mousavi, but they were driven back by police and tear gas.

They still want the June election results to be overturned, and hoped for a clear message of support from one of Iran's most powerful clerics, Hashemi Rafsanjani, reports CBS News correspondent Elizabeth Palmer.

At a packed Friday prayer service, he described the current political instability as a crisis, and demanded the release of hundreds of protestors who've been arrested. He also called for more freedom of speech.

To Iran's hard-line conservatives, all this will sound like an attack on the government. But it wasn't enough for the crowd outside.

"Traitor," they shouted. "Death to the dictator."

But in a sign that the radical phase of this protest may be over, their champion Mousavi was inside listening, leading to speculation he will join a new, more moderate opposition movement.

"I don't think it's the style of any of the opposition leaders in the present crisis to come out confrontationally," said Massoumeh Torfeh, an Iran analyst. "I think they will tend to go slowly and surely."

That will be disappointing news to the young protestors who still want bigger, faster change than any candidate seems able to deliver.

[YuSoWrong]

Hmmm. I think you should try to focus on the actual news item, not the voices inside your head. All roads DON'T lead us to the Republi"cons", even though you skip down those roads.

[skyk-2009]

Oh was this a wise move on the Presidents part and it's right out of the pages of Martin Luther King. These folks want to be HEARD by THEIR Government and giving that Government a chance to blame the outcry on the "enemy" is no different than the Southern Baptist crying "Communist" when kids came from our North to overturn Jim Crow. For some reasons young people, your future, dying in the streets has a real impact.

[edward1975-2009]

Iran may be in the midst of democracy. At the very least they are allowing their citizens to voice their opposition freely. It's the first step towards change. Have to learn to walk before you can run.

[skyk-2009]

LOL Didn't WE?? LOL

[sjc_1]

He happens to be right. Stopping any violence is necessary, but jailing people that speak out is another issue entirely. Oppressing people by putting them in prison for speaking out is not the way to go.

[nolalou]

Iranian clerics calling for freedom of speech? Wassup with that? I guess they miss the stability of the good old satan U.S. which has now gone totally PC, socialist, and apologetic. So do I.
by wmsshields July 17, 2009 11:10 PM EDT

Sorry, wmsshields but most thinking people who read your tripe think you're a moron. So do I !

[John_Merritt]

Nola:

You don't speak for anyone but yourself, because if you did you would be labeled a 'schizophrenic' because you would have multiple personalities. Now, Messer Shields has his opinion which should be respected right or wrong. I happen to know he is certainly no moron. Have a good weekend.

[skyk-2009]

I have to agree! You do NOT do what he did that's for certain. American went to the Polls and Voted FOR who we have in office. It's time some accepted that reality and started addressing other citizens in a common sense way. It's OBVIOUS to anyone with a Brain that what he's doing is WORKING... we can SEE it!

[wmsshields]

Iranian clerics calling for freedom of speech? Wassup with that? I guess they miss the stability of the good old satan U.S. which has now gone totally PC, socialist, and apologetic. So do I.

[cbsantispin]

When Freedom is not misused or abused, Freedom is the most awesome energy and feeling a human can enjoy and express, anywhere is the World, all over the World. Freedom has a life of its own. Let Freedom Ring!

[John_Merritt]

Yes, but how do you define freedom? A freedom to one is a hindrance to another. Why? Because freedom's are great if everyone benefits from them, but if those freedoms infringe on another's rights, than are they really freedom's?

In the case of Iran I wouldn't know because it appears the majority have spoken and I can only assume they are happy with their present day situation. If that is the case, who are we to say what they should do?

[YuSoWrong]

Let's start by defining Man as a reasoning animal. Morality requires the use of his reason because it is his unique attribute and the means of his survival. Politically, Freedom would include the acknowledged right to use his individual reason. Theocracies are an inherent violation of that right because religion pre-determines what an individual must think. Who are we to say what a one-party theocratic dictatorship should do? We are Americans, we live in the oldest modern republic. We fought a revolution in order to have our say on these issues.

[YuSoWrong]

Not a revolution, but an evolution, which is still a good thing. Europe learned to read books without the official Imprimatur of the Church, and yet the Church continues to claim authority over Europe. Perhaps the ayatollahs will recede into an room and issue pronouncements no one in Iran will bother to read. That kind of Iran will rejoin the civilized nations of the world.