Influential religious group slams the IRGC commander

The statement has emphasised on the importance of “cleansing the system” as opposed to “preserving it at all costs” as Major General Jafari had suggested while maintaining that preserving the Islamic Republic is not possible through aggression, show of force, arrests and violence which is illegitimate, un-Islamic and inhumane. 

“In order to preserve the system,” this reformist clerical group has urged the release of all political prisoners who have been imprisoned illegally and called for a full and public apology to towards those victimised by the post-election unrest and also the compensation of those affected by the violence. “All offenders including military, judiciary and political officials, who were in any way involved, must be tried according to the law and in a neutral and just court with the presence of their legal representatives.”

The clerical group also call for an end to the unfounded accusation against intellectuals, politicians and religious figures. Their statement criticises “official and unofficial commentaries made recently” that suggest “whatever the [Islamic] system decides, no one has the right to criticise or oppose it.”

The statement is believed to be in response to comments made by Major General Jafari, on 2 September when he accused senior reformist figures of encouraging the massive street demonstrations following the June 12 presidential election and making efforts to weaken the Leader of the Islamic Republic, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and to deviate from the founding principles of the revolution.

The Association of Researchers and Teachers of Qom states that the actions such as “violent and unjust treatment, illegal and inhumane detentions” of people were “undoubtedly carried out by agents and officials of the system.”

While making reference to Imam Khomeini’s cautionary statements in which he explicitly warned against the meddling of the military personnel in the political arena, they state that “recent remarks made by the commander of the IRGC goes against the well-intentioned decisions of his imminence [Imam Khomeini] and against the laws that prohibit the interference of military people in politics.”

Meanwhile they expressed “hope that he will correct his deeds and words.”