In the official Friday sermon in Tehran, prayer leader Sayyed Ahmad Khatami noted the importance of the principle of velayat-e faqih, or "rule of the jurisprudent." He repeated claims that foreign elements were involved in Iran's recent election and the protests and rioting that followed, stated that the government of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was legitimate, and criticized Ahmadinejad for appointing his father-in-law as senior vice president.
The following are excerpts and a summary of the sermon: [1]
(To view the MEMRI TV page for Ayatollah Ahmad Khatami, click here http://www.memritv.org/subject/en/380.htm )
Velayat-e Faqih "Best Capital for Iranian Nation"
Tehran interim Friday prayer leader Ayatollah Sayyed Ahmad Khatami said today that velayat e-faqih, or "rule of the jurisprudent," meaning the supervision and leadership of a devout expert in Islamic issues over the country's affairs, was the best capital for Iranian nation because the Islamic Revolution rose from this point.
In his second sermon, at the Tehran University campus, Khatami referred to the importance and history of the velayat-e faqih, and noted that this was the 30th anniversary of the main Friday sermon. He said: "At the beginning of the victory of the Islamic Revolution, the enemies targeted the main pillar of the revolution, i.e. the velayat-e faqih."
He continued, "The Iranian people demonstrated and overthrew the Shah's regime under the leadership of faqih," and added that those who reject the origin of velayat-e faqih did not understand the guidelines of the Household of the Last Messenger of Allah, Hazrat Mohammad (S.A.).
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Khatami said that the Iranian people had given their strong approval to Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, "whose method and policy is as the same of the founder of the Islamic Republic, Imam [Ayatollah Ruhollah] Khomeini."
VP Mashaii Controversial; Ahmadinejad Should Reconsider Appointment
Speaking of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's appointment of his father-in-law Esfandiar Rahim Mashaii as senior vice president, Khatami said that Mashaii was a controversial figure due to his remarks last year that the Iranian nation and the Israeli people are friends, [2] and criticized the appointment. He addressed a request to Ahmadinejad to reconsider the appointment.
So far, Ahmadinejad has refused to remove his father-in-law from the post. [3]
New Government "Legitimate"
Khatami stated that the Ahmadinejad government is legitimate and that a government is "legitimized by law and Sharia when it is confirmed" by the Supreme Leader.
The confirmation ceremony is expected to be held at the end of July or in early August.
He said that raising questions about the issue of the government's legitimacy was a "plot" against the political establishment's authority, and that while this plot had failed, it had inflicted damage.
He added that a referendum had already been held on the election results - on June 12 when some 40 million voters expressed their stance.
Foreign Elements Involved In Election, Protests
Regarding the recent elections in the country, he said that it was known for certain that some of the election headquarters had been in contact with the embassies of England and the U.S., saying: "I do not know how to express my grief when the intelligence minister says during the past month or two, that certain headquarters have contacted foreign embassies and the British Embassy [in Tehran] more than a 100 times... Britain is the old fox of imperialism which has no knowledge but deceit and stratagem."
He also alleged that certain groups had contacted the White House before the election and asked the Americans to wait for a new Iranian government before engaging in diplomatic talks, and reiterated the claim that foreign embassy staff were involved in the elections and in the protests that followed.
Khatami also warned against warming up to "foreigners who do not respect the interests of Iran."
Endnotes:
[1] IRIB.ir, IRNA, ISNA, Mehr, Fars, Press TV (Iran), July 23, 2009.
[2] See MEMRI TV, "Iranian VP for Cultural Heritage Esfandiar Rahim Mashaii: We Are Friends of the Israeli People; Majlis Speaker Ali Larijani: We Are Not", and "Iranian Daily: Remove Ahmadinejad's Veep For Statements Of Friendship With U.S., Israeli People", "Iranian VP Reiterates: Iran Is A Friend Of The American And Israeli Peoples", "Majlis Speaker Larijani: Iranian Envoys Should Not Make Statements Contrary To Iran's Stances", "Ahmadinejad Deputy Calls Iran Friend Of The People Of U.S., Israel - Then Denies Statements"
[3] See The MEMRI Blog: "London Daily: Ahmadinejad To Remove Father-In-Law As VP - In Exchange For Confirmation Of His Gov’t "; "Ahmadinejad To Remove Father-In-Law VP, At Khamenei's Request "; "Ahmadinejad Supporters Attack His Appointment Of Father-In-Law As Vice President "; "Ahmadinejad Appoints Son-In-Law As Office Director."
