Iran: Death to Montazeri returns opponents in the street

Following the death of Hossein Ali Montazeri, a leading opposition figure, Iranian demonstrators have again gathered in the streets to demand the government resign. Since June, supporters of regime change regularly descend on the streets in spite of intense repression. Read Article

It is in Qom, which held the funeral of Grand Ayatollah Hossein Ali Montazeri What affluédes hundreds of thousands of people from several cities of Iran. (See Video)

Former Dolphin ousted by Ayatollah Khomeini has largely supported the protesters in the month of June On several occasions, the cleric for 87 years has taken an official stance against the repression of demonstrations.

Montazeri had denounced the trials of dissidents arrested in June

He was particularly angered the regime by stressing the illegality of the trials of dissidents arrested in June Several of them were forced to make forced confessions. Hossein Ali Montazeri said:

"The confessions in prison have absolutely no moral or religious value and can be used to impose prison sentences or death. Those who have racked these confessions are criminals and are religiously and legally guilty. "

According to the reformist press, several family members had been arrested following these positions. The official Iranian news was relayed with great discretion to the announcement of the death of Montazeri, and no national mourning has been declared. Mir Hossein Moussavi and Mehdi Karoubi, opponents of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, had called for a day of "public mourning" on Monday and popular participation at the funeral.

Precise instructions to the press obituaries

In a press devoted to the opposition media, Courrier International, citing Radiozamaaneh.com, highlights the lack of information in the official journals:

"The Ministry of Islamic Guidance ordered newspapers not to mention the politics of this dignitary of Islam. They have asked the newspapers to highlight the differences between the Imam Khomeini [founder of the Islamic Republic] and Montazeri. They asked not to mention Montazeri's criticism against the regime.