tEHRAN/washington: The leader rocked,” a young devotee said after supreme guide Ayatollah Ali Khamenei laid down the law in a sermon on Iran’s political unrest during Friday prayers.
Tens of thousands of worshippers gathered at Tehran University to hear Khamenei who made his first public appearance since the controversy over the June 12 presidential election erupted. Defeated Iranian candidates have since been leading daily protests on the capital’s streets that have seen at least seven people killed so far, according to state radio.
Khamenei, Iran’s top most cleric and commander-in-chief, dismissed allegations that Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s re-election was the result of fraud, and he clearly sided with the hardliner, saying his “opinion is closer to mine.”
The supreme leader demanded an end to the street protests and warned the defeated candidates that they would be held responsible for any “blood, violence and chaos” resulting from further demonstrations. “Leader! Just give us an order,” roared the crowd as he spoke strongly against the demonstrations which have rocked Tehran since the election result was announced.
The university itself and the long stretches of roads leading to it were packed with worshippers carrying posters of Khamenei and Ahmadinejad. The crowds also held aloft placards which read: “Leader! We will sacrifice ourselves for you” and “If you just give a sign, we will do everything for you.”
Although some men were distributing pictures of Ahmadinejad, who also attended the prayers, the overwhelming focus of attention of the crowds was Khamenei himself.
When Khamenei said the president’s opinion was closer to his, the crowd shouted: “Allahu Akbar” (God is greatest).
Organisers advised the crowds to ignore any leaflets or material that could be handed out as they left the prayer venue urging them to participate in political rallies.
As the crowds started dispersing, they were urged to chant: “Crime is dictated by America.”
“We won’t leave you alone, Imam” Khamenei, the crowd chanted. “We are all brothers and followers of the leader’s order” and “Even though the plots of enemies are too many, the leader of the revolution foils them.” The worshippers dispersed to shouts of “Death to America! Death to England! Death to Israel!”
Two leading US lawmakers yesterday put forward a resolution condemning the crackdown against Iranian demonstrators following disputed presidential elections. The resolution “expresses its support for all Iranian citizens who embrace the values of freedom, human rights, civil liberties, and rule of law,” according to the text from Democrat Howard Berman, chairman of the House Foreign Affairs committee, and Republican Mike Pence.
It also “condemns the ongoing violence against demonstrators by the government of Iran and pro-government militias, as well as the ongoing government suppression of independent electronic communication through interference with the Internet and cellphones.”
Berman is aiming to hold a committee hearing on the situation in Iran following last week’s elections won by hardline President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
The resolution also supported “the universality of the individual rights and the importance of democratic and fair elections.”
The crisis in Iran has triggered a fierce debate in the United States about the administration’s response to the days of opposition protests - with some saying President Barack Obama has not given enough support to the Tehran demonstrators.
death toll
London-based rights group Amnesty International said yesterday it believed 15 people had been killed in Iran amid protests since disputed elections last week. “All the 15 killings are confirmed,” she said, adding that Amnesty was not yet sure whether they included five students.
Iranian state radio has reported seven people killed in unrest following the polls last Friday. “What is not confirmed is whether five of them were students,” she said.
There have been mass protests since President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was declared winner of the presidential poll ahead of the more moderate Mir Hossein Mousavi. Amnesty also criticised comments by supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in his first public appearance at weekly prayers in Tehran since protests against the poll began.
“We are extremely disturbed at statements made by Ayatollah Khamenei which seem to give the green light to security forces to violently handle protesters exercising their right to demonstrate and express their views,” said Hassiba Hadj Sahraoui, deputy director of its Middle East and North Africa programme.
“If large numbers of people take to the street in protests in the next couple of days, we fear that they will face arbitrary arrest and excessive use of force, as has happened in recent days.”
Khamenei warned during his address that street protests must stop or there was a risk of “blood, violence and chaos.”
Amnesty’s Sahraoui added: “For a head of state to put the onus of security on peaceful demonstrators and not on the security forces is a gross dereliction of duty and a license for abuse.”
