Pear of clashes' cancels Rafsanjani serntn lttp://www.presstv.ir/detaiLaspx?id=103049&secdonid=35 1020101
Tue Aug 11,2009115:35
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‘Fear of clashes' cancels Rafsanjani sermon
Mon, 10 Aug 2009 17:32:01 GMT
As Ayatollah Akbar Hashemi-Rafsanjani's turn to lead
the Friday prayers stirs up controversy in Iran, the
influential cleric reverses Ils decision to deliver the
sermon in order to avoid “clashes” at the event.
The office of Ayatollah Hashemi-Rafsanjani issued a
statement on Monday, explaining that he would not lead
the Friday prayers this week at Tehran University.
The clarification came as on Saturday, the website of
the two-time former president announced that he would
lead the prayers on August 14.
However, head of the Policy-making Council for Friday
prayers leaders Hojjatoleslam Seyyed Reza Taqavi
made a move on Monday to reject the report.
Hojjatoleslam Taqavi acknowledged that based on
regulations, Ai. ust 14th is Ayatollah Hashemi-
Rafsanjani's rotational turn to deliver the sermon.
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He, however, added that “in order to prevent any abuse of the Friday prayers occasion for unconventional and
political reasons” Ayatollah Hashemi Rafsanjani will not lead the prayers.
Shortly after, the statement by the office of Ayatollah Rafsanjani explained that “in order to prevent possible
clashes during the political ritual the head of the Assembly of Experts and Chairman of the Expediency Council
will not lead the Friday prayers.”
The assertion comes after opposition supporters on JiJy 17 made use of Ayatollah Rafsanjari leading the Friday
prayers for the first time since the re-election of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad as president on June 12 to express their
protest at the resuits of the vote.
The protests following the sermon came as the Interior Ministry on many occasions has refused to issue permits
for demonstrations -- gatherings at the Friday prayers venue does not require any authorization.
During the historically-attended sermon, the influential cleric told hundreds of thousands of worshipers -- most of
whom were opposition supporters -- that the ambiguities sixrounding the presidential vote had led to the distrust
of the Iranian nation in the establishment.
“Doubt has been created,” he said. “There are two currents; one has no doubt and is moving ahead. And the
other is a large portion of the wise people who say they have doubts. We need to take action to remove ills
doubt.”
Following his sermon, fresh protests took place in the streets of the Iranian capital, provoking another crackdown
on the worshippers who had crammed into downtown Tehran.
Iran's police department later announced that 40 people were arrested in the protests on July 17.
CS/MD
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The 75-yesrcld P ratollsh Rsfssnjsni heads both the top
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Assembly of Experts, the top clerical bodywhich chooses and
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