At the same time, the clerical regime's President stressed that by "dissidents" he means those who are loyal to the laws of the mullahs' medieval regime and that "opposition" is accepted only if it is within the framework of religious laws and the ruling theocracy.
He described those who go beyond the laws of the state and the religious regime, as the force poised for "overthrow," adding: "If some one moves toward overthrow, he does not have any rights here. For its part, the government is obligated to deal with those who want to overthrow [the state] differently and in their own language."
As such, Khatami promises suppression for the majority of the Iranian people who are opposed to a "religious" state and demand the overthrow of this regime.
In his speech, Khatami again heaped praise on the Ministry of Intelligence. Describing its henchmen as "healthy and invaluable forces," he said the murders were the result of the conduct of those who "attempted to infiltrate in the most important and sensitive centers which safeguard the security of the country."
While none of the perpetrators of the political murders of dissident writers have been identified, Khatami deferred his own responsibility in this case, saying: "The case is being handled by the respectable Judiciary branch which has indeed done a good job in pursuing the matter."
Khatami also tried to suggest that the case is over. He said: "At any rate, with the help of God, the cancerous tumor was removed." Earlier, in order to prevent any leaks of information about the involvement of the regime's most senior leaders in these killings, the case was handed over to a military tribunal.
It becomes clear, therefore, that as far as Khatami is concerned, he can never take any steps toward reforming the mullahs' medieval regime and that his rhetoric about "freedom," "civil society" and "rule of law" is only intended to save the regime in its entirety.
Secretariat of the National Council of Resistance of Iran
April 18, 1999
Back Home