Khatami tells students Iran must remain religious state
17th Dec 2003
Manorama Online, Malaysia
Teheran: President Mohammad Khatami rejected secularization of Iran in remarks to students in Teheran.
''Our revolution and our history has a religious identity and our people want democracy on the basis of religion,'' Khatami said. ''Our geopolitical situation is different and therefore even universities should bear in mind that we cannot implement political tendencies from other countries and,'' the president said, referring to the growing secular trend in Iran among students.
Students - and some liberal circles - repeatedly have called for a referendum on amendment of the constitution in favour of democratically elected bodies, and against appointed bodies which are controlled by the conservative clergy.
The clergy establishment has labelled the calls an effort to undermine the Islamic system and replace it with a secular one.
Khatami warned Iranians against concluding that an Islamic system was not compatible to democracy. Khatami and the Iranian establishment are worried that turnout in February 20 parliamentary elections will be low, which would undermine government legitimacy. Last year, voters boycotted municipal elections.
Iranian students used the be the main force behind the president, however they have manifested frustration over the failure of Khatami's reform efforts. He has been asked to resign and warned of an election boycott.
Khatami has termed the February elections as the most important in the 25-year history of the Islamic Republic.
http://www.manoramaonline.com/servlet/ContentServer?pagename=manorama/MmArticle/CommonFullStory&c=MmArticle&cid=1071655257828&channel=News&p=1002194839100&count=7Iranian students used the be the main force behind the president, however they have manifested frustration over the failure of Khatami's reform efforts. He has been asked to resign and warned of an election boycott. Khatami tells students Iran must remain a religious state.
Uh, why? Because you say so?
The mighty Oz.
Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain.
Iran must remain religious so that blockheaded morons can retain iron-fisted rule--right?