April 14, 2008

Senior Dissident Cleric Lashes Out at Iran's Islamic Establishment

by
The Associated Press

TEHRAN, Iran: Iran's most senior dissident cleric has lashed out at the country's ruling Islamic establishment, accusing it of imposing dictatorship and violating the rights of its people in the name of Islam.

The 1979 Islamic revolution toppled Iran's former monarchy to bring freedom and end despotism, but that supposed liberation never happened, Grand Ayatollah Hossein Ali Montazeri said in comments released by his office.

The Associated Press obtained the statement Monday.

"People are insulted in the name of Islam. Individuals are accused of disloyalty to Islam in the name of Islam," Montazeri said.

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