TEHRAN Many politicians and clerics are nowadays underlining the need to carry out reform in society, but different and often contradictory definitions have so far been presented for the term reform' itself.
"The people are really wondering what the term reform' actually means in the Islamic Republic," an expert on social affairs, Ms. Raana Rahimi, commented.
Talking to the TEHRAN TIMES, she said the term reform' should be defined in a clear way so that the people may know where the country is heading in terms of political, cultural and economic development.
The Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei recently defined reform as removing corruption, poverty and discrimination from society.
Referring to this, Ms. Rahimi said, "The Leader's definition of reform is crystal clear, but the government should explore practical ways to put into effect the Leader's guidelines on reform." According to a report dispatched from Qom, speaker of the Experts Assembly Ayatollah Ali Meshkini denounced the American-style reform and said any reform in Iran should be within an Islamic framework.
Meshkini, who is also Friday prayer leader of Qom, said a distinction should be made between the reforms sanctioned by Islam and those inspired by the American culture.
Addressing worshipers at Friday prayer venue in Qom, Ayatollah Meshkini further said that reforms advocated by a number of journalists in Iran are, in fact, American-style and inspired by the culture of that country.
"These reforms are merely aimed at furthering the interests of the Great Satan," he said.
The Friday prayer leader called on the people to exercise greater vigilance in this regard and try to find out what reform really means.