Karrubi: U.S. Should Not Poke Its Nose in Iran's Internal Affairs
Karrubi's statement came as the U.S. administration said that the court ruling on Hashem Aghajairi represented the violation of human rights and freedom of expression in Iran.
A court in the western Iranian city of Hamedan last week sentenced the university professor Hashem Aghajari to death for allegedly blaspheming Prophet Mohammad (Peace Be Upon Him). The ruling will be definitely overruled by an appeals court.
Speaking at a function to commemorate a prominent Iranian intellectual, late Ali Shariati in Hamedan, Aghajari had challenged the theory of emulation in Shiism underscoring the need for explanations from the religious leaders for the decisions they make on religious matters binding for their followers.
The Majlis speaker recommended the U.S. administration to stop the Zionist crimes against Palestinians if it really advocates human rights.
He said all the Iranian people and officials with different political backings speak with one voice in the face of foreign threats and defend their own country with all their might.
Karrubi also criticized the death sentence against Aghajari, and vowed the issue would be resolved soon.
"I, as a cleric and the spokesman of religious dignitaries with whom I have contacted, announce my hatred and disgust at this 'shameful verdict'," Karrubi said before the Majlis open session.
He further called on the political parties to keep calm regarding the verdict against Aghajari, voicing assurances that the issue is already solved and would be terminated soon.
The Majlis speaker said Aghajari's death sentence affected the whole system and the Islamic Revolution, and hoped such cases would never be repeated in the future.
Karrubi said the Judiciary must consider the consequences of Aghajari's verdict, warning that it could harm the image of the country and Shiism.
He further said that Shiism has always advocated tolerance, logic and dialogue, stressing that issues like Aghajari's should be tolerated.
The speaker further said many with various political inclinations, and also representatives from the conservative personalities, had informed him of their opposition with even Aghajari's summon to the court.
Still, he regretted that certain groups are only trying to trigger and stir up tensions in the society.
"In an open and free society, sometimes a comment is made that may be harmful but must be tolerated and the commentator should only be warned," Karrubi said.
"But sometimes an action is taken that will have severe consequences which harm the whole system, the country, the revolution and political camps," he added, stressing that Aghajari's death sentence was an example of such moves.
Karrubi said Aghajari had made some imprudent, useless and false remarks in Hamedan that immediately drew the opposition of political parties, individuals and the authorities, including President Mohammad Khatami. "We all called for the issue to be terminated, and urged the religious authorities and the Judiciary not to pursue the issue," he said. "But regretfully a certain part of the political parties and the Judiciary did not heed our urge."
He said it had been earlier decided that Aghajari's case be closed after he apologies in that connection in a letter, and regretted that certain parties worsened the issue to turn it into a 'bitter and very ugly incident.' "I declare that the verdict only signifies the idea of a judge, while other judges, the Judiciary, and religious authorities do not accept it, and never consider Aghajari as an apostate," he said.