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| Khatami urges parliamentary probe into election |
| 2009-07-31 |
| [Iran Press TV Latest] Former two-term Iranian president Seyyed Mohammad Khatami calls for a thorough parliamentary investigation into the election and the post-election violence. In a Thursday meeting with the Reformist minority block of Iran's Parliament (Majlis), Khatami spoke about disputes linked to the recent presidential election and its aftermath and about ways of finding a just way out, the Iranian Labor News Agency (ILNA) reported. Pointing to an order to shut down the Kahrizak detention facility outside Tehran, Khatami said that "it is not enough to say that a sub-standard detention center has been shut down. What does 'sub-standard' mean?" The Kahrizak detention center was shut down earlier this week following a report that it did not meet the required standards. "Does it mean that a ventilation fan was faulty or its washrooms were not clean? Lives have been lost and our dear youth, women and men have been subjected to certain treatments," Khatami said. "On the issue of detainees... Of course, they must be released, but that is not enough," he added. Iranians went to the polls on June 12, following which Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was re-elected as president by a landslide. In objection to the result, supporters of the defeated candidates took to the streets and violence ensued. At least 20 people were killed and many protestors were jailed. Khatami condemned the post-election conduct "as contrary to religion, customs and laws regarding those in detention and their families." "All of these harm the Revolution and the society and are against law and fairness," he said. "It is necessary to deal with those responsible for such behaviors and acts according to the law and to compensate for the violated rights and limits." "Every brutal act perpetrated against anyone must be dealt with, but more importantly is the harm that has been done to the public trust, and this is what must be mended," Khatami was quoted by ILNA as saying. He went on to lament the accusations against some of the detained Reformist activists, who were said to have "confessed" to various offences while in detention, according to media reports. "If an offense has been committed, then first there must be precise and clear evidence, not claims that are bandied about and rumors of extracted confessions. Afterwards there must be an open and just court with the participation of a jury and defense attorney to consider the allegations," explained Khatami. Commenting on the position of the Parliament, he said, "In our system, and under our constitution and also the pronouncements of the late Imam Khomeini, the Majlis (parliament) has the highest of places. It can investigate any issue, question ministers and even decide on the eligibility and the competence of the president. Nevertheless, we see that it is prevented from investigating certain issues such as the attack against [Tehran University's] student dormitories, or the conditions of detainees. This means subverting our system." He emphasized that today the Parliament "can put the investigation of the election process on its agenda, and, if a truly independent committee takes over this task, then the results can greatly clarify the events." |
| Posted by:Fred |