This is a extended article from YNews.
Khomeini's grandson calls for defeat of Iranian regime
In rare interview for al-Arabiya, Ayatollah Hussein Khomeini says
Islamic revolution deviated from course, abandoned its principles
of democracy and freedom - current regime is religious
dictatorship. Freedom needs to come to Iran in any way possible,
whether by internal development or external interference, he
says
Yitzhak Benhorin
WASHINGTON - The grandson of Ayatollah Khomeini, who led the
Islamic revolution in Iran which brought down the Shahs rule,
claims that the current Iranian regime is a dictatorship by the
religious who control every aspect of life, and calls on foreign
powers to interfere and defeat it.
In an interview with the Arab television station al-Arabiya on the
occasion of 17 years since the death of his grandfather,
Ayatollah
Hussein Khomeini claims that in its current form, the revolution
veered of its original path and neglected its principles of
freedom and democracy. Furthermore, he said that the current rule
of law in Iran is not based on Shiite religious principles, but
rather developed for historical reasons connected to the
persecution of religious figures in pre-revolutionary Iran.
Iran will accumulate true strength only when it re-adopts the
principles of freedom and democracy. Power is not achieved by bombs
and weapons, Khomeini said.
The Middle East Media Research Institute (Memri), which tracks
media in the Arab world, and translated the interview, claims that
in the last four years Khomeini has been held under strict
surveillance in the city of Qum, which has prevented him from
giving interviews to Iranian media for fear he would criticize the
regime. But Khomeinis grandson, 48, managed to share his message
to the world through the Arab communications network.
My grandfathers revolution devoured its children and deviated
from its path, he said. I lived through the revolution and its
calls for freedom and democracy, but now it is chasing its
leaders. As an example of his claims, he cited the story of
Ayatollah Mahmoud Taleghani.
He was frequently jailed during the days of the Shah, and after
the revolution he was pursued by the regime because he criticized
their violations of the law. As a result, he was forced to hide
because he expressed his protests.
Meeting with the Shahs son
In the interview, Khomeini tells of an unusual meeting he had with
the son of the Persian Shah actually a meeting between the leader
of the revolutions grandson and the son of the ousted ruler. He
describes the meeting: It was a normal meeting with a man who
shares a common suffering with me. The reason we suffer is similar,
and it is called tyranny. He stressed that the same tyranny hurts
both of them despite the differences in their political
approach.
Khomeini said that if he reaches the government, he intends to
introduce many changes in the lives of his people. For example, he
claims he would cancel enforced veiling for women and make it a
personal choice.
The Iranian regime chains women by forcing them to wear veils in
the ugliest fashion thats to say, black. Khamanei suggested
allowing women to choose more colorful headscarves. Girls who come
out of school and young women leaving university look depressingly
gloomy. I personally support veiling, but not in this fashion.
Veiling is a personal matter. Many women, relatives of my
grandfather Khameni did not wear veils.
In the interview Khomeini explains the call of US President George
W. Bush to conquer Iran. Freedom needs to come to Iran in any way
possible, whether by internal development or external interference.
If you were a prisoner, what would you do? I want someone to break
into this jail and open the doors.
(06.14.06, 21:44)