Posted on 10/31/2009 8:13:58 AM PDT by nuconvert
Several Iranian websites, including the official site of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, have published details of an unusual encounter between Khamenei and a student who publicly criticized the Iranian establishment.
The encounter took place in an October 28 meeting between Khamenei and students in Tehran, during which the supreme leader said that questioning the disputed June 12 vote was the "biggest crime."
According to the reports, a student from Sharif University, named by some websites as Mahmud Vahidnia, criticized the Iranian leader, state broadcast media, the postelection crackdown, and the closure of the reformist press -- for a whole 20 minutes.
The student reportedly told Khamenei that he had never seen criticism of Khamenei in the Iranian press. He said those surrounding Khamenei have turned him into “an idol.”
He then went on to accuse state media of biased reporting and giving a false picture of postelection events. He added that since the supreme leader appoints the head of state broadcast media, he is responsible for its content and biased coverage.
On a roll, the unnamed student then criticized “the cycle of power” in Iran, including the conservative Guardians Council and the Assembly of Experts.
According to Khamenei’s website, the Iranian leader reacted by saying that he welcomes criticism and knows that there is a lot of it.
And Khamenei too is not always happy with state television programming. “Don’t assume that because I appoint the head of state television, they bring all their programs to me for approval,” the Iranian leader said.
The Mowj website, which focuses on news from the green opposition movement, reported that some of the participants encouraged the student, but then the cameras were shut down for a few minutes.
In the Islamic Republic, criticizing the supreme leader is considered a red line that few people are willing to cross publically. A number of those who have done so have ended up in prison.
Mowj reported that the student was pressured by security forces present at the meeting.
The Peiknet news website claims that in a meeting with elite students on Wednesday, Iran's leader Seyyed Ali Khamenei left the session after being confronted by a student critic.
During the meeting a post-graduate [PhD] student raised his hand to request to speak. The student, who was denied permission, kept his hand raised until Ayatollah Khamenei said, "Let him speak."
The student then went behind the podium and said, "The group here is not representative of elite students, they are the representatives of the Elite Organizations. Seda Sima [State broadcaster], whose CEO you appoint, lies a lot and is very biased in its reporting. You have created an atmosphere in which no one dares to criticize you. Your cohorts have turned you into a sacred figure that is beyond critique. After the election, I personally participated in the protests to show my dissent and I was beaten up by plainclothes and Basij forces. I leave you with your conscience to reflect on this."
According to Peyknet, the student's speech drew a round of applause from those present.
Ayatollah Khamenei left the meeting without leading the noon prayers scheduled for that day.
http://w.peiknet.com/1388/05aban/07/page/38Khamnehi.htm
So, I guess we are to assume that Khamenei has cheated the grim reaper again?
I suspect he agreed to throw this student to the grim reaper instead of him.
Reminds me of the joke about President Bush visiting an elementary school class. After a short speech the floor was opened to questions from the fifth-graders in the class.
There were the usual kid questions about flying in Air Force One, the First Pet, etc. Then Johnny took the floor and said I have three questions for you. “First, if no one involved in the 9-11 attack was from Iraq why are there killing Iraqis. Second, Al Gore got more votes than you did, how come he’s not President. And third . . .
About that time the bell rang and the teacher announced, with relief, “Recess, we’ll ask more questions when we get back from the playground.
Some time later they’re all back and the President calls on Steve for a question. Steve says, “I have several questions for you, Mr. President. First, if no one from Iraq was involved in the 9-11 attack why are we there? Second, Mr. Gore got more votes than you did on a nationwide basis, how come you’re President and he’s not? Third, Sir, why did the recess bell ring almost 45 minutes early? And finally, where’s Johnny?”
The Expediency Council has approved a plan calling for the relocation of the Iranian capital to a new city by the end of the 20-Year Outlook Plan. The decision to relocate the country's political center to a proper place by the end of the Outlook Plan was approved by the Expediency Council on Saturday.
Wait a second here. Erdogan flew home on the 28th (reported on this thread: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2373205/posts ) after a 2-day visit without meeting with Khamenei. So after being in a coma or in poor health on the 26th and 27th, boom, he wakes up on the 28th and feels well enough to talk to students? Sure.
Maybe they should just get out the dozers and clear the site of Persepolis. It’s a monument to the Time of Ignorance anyway. Thanks AdmSmith.
It could very well be a planted story by the regime
garbage in and garbage out.
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