Ayatollah Montazeri: Silence is a Sin

Maryam Kashani, Rooz Online: Rooz Special Report

Ayatollah Hassanali Montazeri has been to house imprisonment for years. As one of the oldest founders of the Islamic Revolution that overthrew Iran’s monarchy of Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi in 1979, he was chose to be the second in command of the new republic in the first Experts Assembly for Leadership, an elected body that confirms the highest official position in the country, the Supreme Leader. His strong opposition to the excesses of the regime, particularly the harsh policies towards prisoners and their mass executions in 1988 lead to his removal from that position, and then house-arrest. Officially, the house confinement ended after its first five years, but it is in effect de facto. This cleric who stands high in the religious hierarchy continues to be faithful to the ideals of the revolution for which he worked. Justice and freedom are among two of those that he defends. Among many difference with the current establishment, he opposes the absolute nature of the leadership’s position. Read on for an interview Rooz held with him through the web. READ MORE

Q - As a founder of the Islamic Republic of Iran, what did you have in mind then?
A – Our purpose for the revolution was to establish an Islamic Republic in which the Islamic laws, values, justice and morals would be established all across the nation and the rights of every person, regardless of his faith, would be provided while deprivation and injustice would be done forever for the unprivileged class. Where potentials would blossom so that our nation would become an example for other countries and nations.

Q - There were those who even in the first years of the revolution believed that by overlooking the ideals of the revolution in dealing with its enemies, the foundation was being laid to ignore these ideals in dealing with the supporters of the revolution as well.
A - This is correct. The Quran says this as well. It specifically says that animosity with a tribe does not allow you not to obey justice on them; spread justice as that makes you close to purity. So the requirement to provide justice is not confined to friends, it also includes respecting it in regard to your political and religious opponents as well. Ayatollah Khomeini too emphasized this. But unfortunately the excesses and suppressions of rights by some individuals were pursued under his name, thus questioning this ideal. I made such recommendations to the leaders in those days, something they did not like to hear. They presented these to ayatollah Khomeini as if I was undermining them.

Q – What were the first deviations from the original ideals?
A – These took place in the Revolutionary Courts and pursued by some hardliners which affected other judges. Unnecessary executions and expropriations of property took place. I have mentioned this in my memoirs. Certainly some of these excesses were because of the revolutionary fervor and a response to the cruelties of the pre-revolution regime. But expediency and justice as provided by the Quran required that the higher officials of the regime should have monitored events better and prevented such excesses. Another deviation was absolutism, and the intolerance of thoughts and deeds of some revolutionary personalities that seriously limited freedoms of thought and thus shut the doors of criticism and investigation.

Q- Which groups were the most dedicated to the goals of the revolution?
A – There were many. Those that did the most were either martyred or they lost their health and freedom. Their families too suffered great pain by losing their dear ones.

Q – What specific issue first put you in a position of questioning the trends?
A – Unnecessary executions and confiscations carried out by the Revolutionary Courts. Also unjust behavior of interrogators with their captors. We worked to have special inspectors visit prisons on this, which eventually lead to the Supreme Revolutionary Tribunal and the Amnesty for Prisoners Committee. The Court, which we formed with ayatollah Khomeini, helped save the lives of many prisoners who had been on the death row.

Q – Some say that certain individuals came between you and ayatollah Khomeini and in fact reaped the fruits of the revolution.
A – I do not wish to name individuals. But certain elements in the Ministry of Intelligence disseminated untrue reports about me to ayatollah Khomeini so as to create a negative opinion of me in him. Which they succeeded.

Q – You have written to imprisoned journalist Akbar Ganji’s wife that his situation shames you. What issue bothers you most regarding your actions towards the revolution?
A – I do not see myself as a faultless person free from criticism. The list is long and I cannot go over them in this short space. No human being is completely innocent and repenters are the best sinners.

Q – What is left of the Islamic Revolution that you knew?
A – It would be unjust to ignore the volumes of good work that has been done after the revolution by honest and sincere individuals. But what we promised were very noble causes and ideals which we could not attain. I do not think it is too late to achieve those. If the highest authorities decided to correct the direction of events, they could and much of the suppressed rights could be recovered.

Q – What do you think of the regressive forces?
A - They have existed in all periods. Generally, the masses do no have the power to engage in deep thought and research mental and religious concept, so they cannot identify what is right and wrong from a religious perspective, so they resort to dogmas and some of them become regressive and dogmatic. Their negative impact is no less than that of a learned enemy. Imam Ali was killed by this type of people. Other holy people too mostly had this problem amongst them and governments have always taken advantage and utilized them. But such views and movements can be identified.

Q – What do you think of Iran’s nuclear issue?
A – It is the right of every nation to acquire nuclear energy for peaceful purposes, while its monopoly by major powers weakens the rights of weak states.

Q - What about human rights in Iran?
A – Detaining people who express their opinion or have criticized the government or denying them their social rights, such as those of writers, thinkers, journalists, etc and examples of human rights violations in Iran. During the life of Prophet Mohammad and that of Imam Ali, there were no political prisoners and people were not imprisoned for their views or for the expression of their views.

Q – Under the current circumstances in Iran, what are religious duties and what are unaccepted?
A – Generally, it is the duty of every Muslim to make constructive criticism appropriate to the period, just as silence over the aggression of human rights and injustice is unacceptable (haram) if it results in their passive acceptance and support.

Q – What would be the first thing you would correct or change if you could?
A – Since most of the violations that take place are under legal guises, and the fact that everything that is done eventually leads to the Leader and makes him accountable, giving the Leader total and absolute authority is the principal source of all problems. So the constitution should be revised in a calm atmosphere to change this. If you recall ayatollah Khomeini said on his return to Iran after years of exile that our fathers had no right to determine our political destiny. Every generation has the right to express its opinions about the destiny of its country. Our constitution does not even have the term “absolute” in it. This was added to it at its first revision. Many, including myself, have not seen this.

Q- What is the current relationship between people and religion? Some are concerned about people, while others about religion.
A – From a theoretic perspective, it is not right to separate the two, because no nation can attain freedom (???) without religion. Just as no religion that disregards the wishes of the people shall have no place among people. Because of the way certain officials have acted in the name of religion, there is today a gap between what people wish and religion. This is dangerous and I hope religious thinkers will think about this. God bless Islam and Iran.