Hossein Ali Montazeri died last night (December 19th 2009) at the age of 87, his death generating various reactions from different opposition groups and figures.
Montazeri was one of the leaders of the Islamic Revolution and at one time the designated successor of Khomeini as the “Supreme Leader.” He was a strong supporter of the Islamic Regime throughout his life and not once did he advocate for a secular and a democratic government.
Although he was a key and powerful figure within the Islamic Regime up to around 1989he never objected to the atrocities committed by the Islamic Regime which included rape, torture and execution of innocent political prisoners, during the early years of the revolution.
He did briefly object to the mass executions of political prisoners in 1988; however his objections were more so to the scale of the executions rather than the executions themselves. He also remained silent for the past 20 years against the rape, torture and execution of thousands of political prisoners. Silence against such atrocities could only be seen as approval of these atrocities.
Montazeri was a supporter of reform within the “un-reformable” Islamic Regime. His crimes against the Iranian people will never be forgotten, and had he lived he would have been tried in criminal courts for the crimes he committed against the Iranian people. His objections to the 1988 mass executions would at best be used as a mitigating factor during his sentencing hearing.
I am quite disappointed in many opposition groups and figures who have decided to create a hero out of this “reformist mullah” who has the blood of thousands of innocent Iranians on his hands.
Why is it that we are so quick to forget the real heroes’ of the people’s movement for a free and democratic Iran, while we have no problem making heroes out of undeserving dictators like Montazeri?
We don’t know or don’t remember the names of thousands of brave men and women who knowingly and willingly sacrificed their lives for a free Iran, but we are quite eager to create a brave hero from a person who may very well have been responsible for the death of those very same young Iranian men and women.
Isn’t time to put an end to this reformist propaganda which ultimately only benefits the Islamic Regime, and to support and remember the real heroes of the pro-democracy Iranian movement?
In memory of all brave young men and women who risked everything for a free, secular and democratic Iran.
In solidarity with all unknown Iranian heroes who are fighting against this barbaric dictatorship called the Islamic Regime.
Down with the Islamic Regime
Long Live Freedom in Iran
Hossein Ali Montazeri died last night (December 19th 2009) at the age of 87, his death generating various reactions from different opposition groups and figures.
