Iraqi cleric spurred by Islamic regime to misrepresent confined Ayatollah’s mental health

Iran Press News: Translation by Banafsheh Zand-Bonazzi.

Aref News, a regime-run news site reported that recently Sheikh Nasseri, one of Iraqs religious figures traveled to Iran in order to visit with and renew relations with his old friend Ayatollah Montazeri.

Nasseri who was interviewed after his visit with Montazeri, said: "Montazeri is in a very bad mental and psychological state." Nasseri who had been in Iran already two months ago had met with directors of Khamneis office. Nasseri is said to have a great deal of influence with Iranian-born Ayatollah Sistani.

Montazeri who is a senior cleric was originally chosen by Khomeini to be his successor however Montazeris liberal views angered Khomeini and he was ousted. In recent years Khamnei, Rafsanjani and Khatami managed to keep Montazeri restrained by keeping him under house arrest in Qom. Mr. Montazeri is still the main opposition figure to the Islamic Republics establishment and as the true core of Islamic reform exposed the deception of the those who have been calling themselves “Reformists” as well as the Velayat'eh Faghih. Mr. Montazeri however did keep up a website through which he responded to various religious inquiries.

It is certain however that this report has been falsified in order to discredit and smear Montazeri who has continually divulged the corruption and vile nature of this regime. In his most recent interview, Montazeri who spoke as alertly and articulately as ever, once again castigated and admonished the clerical establishment of the Islamic Republic of Iran and called for the release of all political prisoner and an end to the regimes nuclear and terrorist activities.