Back to Brief on Iran
In his meeting yesterday with the Syrian Foreign Minister, the clerical regime's president, Khatami, declared that the recent accord between Palestine and Israel is "to the detriment of the people of Palestine and independent Arab countries whose interests are threatened" by Israel. In an implicit threat he said, "We will not let their [Palestinians'] rights be trampled."
Ms. Soona Samsami, representative of the National Council of Resistance in the United States, made the following comment: These remarks show that the religious, terrorist dictatorship ruling Iran continues its policy of hostility and hindering of the Middle East peace process. The leaders and various factions of the mullahs' regime share the same view points and interests. Khatami's remarks encourage terrorist actions in the region.
The NCR's representative emphasized that the first loser of peace in the Middle East is the medieval clerical regime ruling Iran which benefits, more than any other party, from tension in the region. She added, "the western countries' policy of appeasement of Iran's ruling mullahs, especially Khatami, have emboldened that regime in continuing its terrorist and fundamentalist policies."
Khatami's Obedience Toward Khamenei Is Appreciated, State News Agency IRNA, October 26
TEHRAN - The English-language Iran daily in its Monday editorial… highlighted the role Iran's president Mohammad Khatami played in easing the political tensions and encouraging the public at large to vote ''in this most vital nationwide election''.
The daily said, ''people appreciate his (president's) role and are well aware how valuable and broad it is. In fact, the president has been patiently tolerating the existing realities of the society revealing that he is reliable, obedient to the leader, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, and can be trusted by all''.
Advising the factional leaders to end
their political disputes, the daily concluded that the people characterize
republicanism and Islam as legacies of the late imam and they have proved
that they will do everything possible to safeguard the pillars of the system.
Pressured to Vote, Voice Of America, October 26
In Iran, conservative candidates and their allies are celebrating their decisive victory in last Friday's elections of the country's Assembly of Experts…
Voter turnout was lowest in the heavily-populated urban districts of the country…
One political leader whose party boycotted the elections told VOA the higher-than-expected turnout was due to pressure on families who receive government assistance. These families, he said, must prove they have voted in order to continue to receive government support.
Low Turnout Will Prove Troubling for Ruling Mullahs, Reuters, October 26
TEHRAN - Iran's conservative clerics swept to an election victory worthy of any big-city political machine, but such organizational muscle may prove of little value.
Mobilizing their considerable resources-- control of state radio and television, the mosques and, most important, the final selection of candidates-- conservatives dominated Friday's polls for the powerful 86-seat Assembly of Experts.
Still, say analysts, the results will provide little real comfort to the establishment. Particularly troubling will be the low turnout in the capital Tehran, Iran's largest city and the first outlines of a potential challenge to central elements of Iran's Islamic system.
The Interior Ministry put turnout at 46.3 percent, however, some critics question the value of the turnout, swollen by a massive media campaign and calls by respected clerics that voters do their "religious duty."
In addition, they say, many state workers, students and others reliant on state largesse were compelled to take part by the need for an "election stamp" on their identity cards.
Tours of Tehran polling places by Western reporters found lackluster turnout and no signs of the genuine excitement and democratic ferment.
"The lowest nationwide turnout, in Tehran, reflects the highest political awareness there. People, from all walks of life simply decided not to vote," said one analyst.
"Also, the highest turnout came in the most backward provinces, where the notion of "religious duty" is still strong," said the analyst, who asked not to be identified.