Mohammad Khatami, one of Iran’s former presidents, has called for a referendum on the legitimacy of Ahmadinejad’s newly “elected” government. Khatami said that allowing the people to express their opinion of the legitimacy of the Ahmadinejad government in a referendum monitored by a neutral body will help the country move forward. In response, Ayatollah Ali Khamanei, Iran’s supreme leader, warned government officials and clerics to stop opposing the government. In comments made in the presence of Ahmadinejad Khamanei indicated that even high-level clerics would be punished if the anti-government protests continue.
The Iranian people deserve a great deal of respect and credit for the strength they are showing in the face of such difficulties. Let’s hope they find a way to bring about the democratic reforms they need and we need them to have.
Tags: Associated Press, Ayatollah Khamanei, democracy, Iran, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Mohammad khatami, news, politics
