Iran's Khatami condemns "show trial" confessions
The onetime reformist leader warns that the mass trial for those allegedly behind weeks of post-election unrest could further divide the people from the regime.
By Borzou Daragahi
Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
August 2, 2009
Reporting from Beirut — Iran's former President Mohammad Khatami vehemently condemned a series of confessions extracted from his political allies and broadcast on state television as part of what he described as a "show trial."
In comments published today on his website, Khatami, onetime leader of the nation's reformist movement, warned that the confessions aired during Saturday's mass trial for those allegedly behind Iran's weeks of unrest would backfire by further dividing the people from the establishment.
"Such confessions expressed under special circumstances lack any legal standing," he said in a meeting late Saturday, according to the baran.org.ir, the website of a charity he oversees. "The regime and nation were insulted and what we heard in the show trial were repetitions of what we had already heard from special tribunes in violation of legal and religious norms."
The trial opening aired on television as the nation braces for another possible outbreak of violence during events this week marking the launch of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's second term. Many prominent political figures, including Khatami, plan to boycott the ceremonies.
(More here.)
By Borzou Daragahi
Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
August 2, 2009
Reporting from Beirut — Iran's former President Mohammad Khatami vehemently condemned a series of confessions extracted from his political allies and broadcast on state television as part of what he described as a "show trial."
In comments published today on his website, Khatami, onetime leader of the nation's reformist movement, warned that the confessions aired during Saturday's mass trial for those allegedly behind Iran's weeks of unrest would backfire by further dividing the people from the establishment.
"Such confessions expressed under special circumstances lack any legal standing," he said in a meeting late Saturday, according to the baran.org.ir, the website of a charity he oversees. "The regime and nation were insulted and what we heard in the show trial were repetitions of what we had already heard from special tribunes in violation of legal and religious norms."
The trial opening aired on television as the nation braces for another possible outbreak of violence during events this week marking the launch of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's second term. Many prominent political figures, including Khatami, plan to boycott the ceremonies.
(More here.)
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