Senior Iranian clerics reject re-election of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad:Qom assembly calls for release of p
source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/jul/05/iranian-clerics-dismiss-election-result
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Deepening splits among Iran's clergy came to the surface today , with a senior clerical group calling Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's re-election "illegitimate".
The Assembly of Scholars and Researchers at Qom seminary, the centre of Shia learning in Iran, rejected the official results and called for the release of political prisoners. "Other candidates' complaints and strong evidence of vote-rigging were ignored … peaceful protests by Iranians were violently oppressed … dozens of Iranians were killed and hundreds were illegally arrested," a statement on its website said. "The outcome is invalid."
It also questioned the credibility of the guardian council, the conservative clerics who said the elections were free and fair. The Qom group said the council no longer had the right "to judge in this case" and that some members had "lost their impartial image in the eyes of the public".
The Qom assembly is a pro-reform group with limited political influence, but the statement is important as it represents an open challenge to the authority of the supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who declared Ahmadinejad the winner and ordered an end to debate on the result.
The Assembly of Scholars and Researchers at Qom seminary, the centre of Shia learning in Iran, rejected the official results and called for the release of political prisoners. "Other candidates' complaints and strong evidence of vote-rigging were ignored … peaceful protests by Iranians were violently oppressed … dozens of Iranians were killed and hundreds were illegally arrested," a statement on its website said. "The outcome is invalid."
It also questioned the credibility of the guardian council, the conservative clerics who said the elections were free and fair. The Qom group said the council no longer had the right "to judge in this case" and that some members had "lost their impartial image in the eyes of the public".
The Qom assembly is a pro-reform group with limited political influence, but the statement is important as it represents an open challenge to the authority of the supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who declared Ahmadinejad the winner and ordered an end to debate on the result.
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kennymotown
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I can not help but think this is all a ploy and in the smoke Israel will attack Iran's nuclear facility's.
- 2 years ago
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kennymotown
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ras_menelik
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Iran,Honduras and now China...................
this revolution will not be on TV catch up on twitter
and youtube! - 2 years ago
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ras_menelik
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pjacobs51
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This could get interesting. Iran, being a theocracy, the "clergy" should have some major political power.
- 2 years ago
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pjacobs51
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twitterbot
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@fwmyork on twitter says "Clerics reject re-election of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad"
- 2 years ago
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twitterbot
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bansheewail
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Yes, they are still fighting for their freedom. Don't let the Jackson Distraction get you.
- 2 years ago
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bansheewail
