Iranian ex-president Khatami criticizes suppression of protests Parliament pushes for expansion of NRLA feeder in southern Germany

Former Iranian President Mohammed Khatami has warned the country’s current leaders against further repression of protests that have been going on for nearly three months.

“One should not use security as an excuse to suppress freedom,” the Islamic cleric told Shargh daily. Chatami warned that the demands of the protest movement should be taken seriously. With the “beautiful slogan: woman, life, freedom” she pleads for a better future. Politicians should shake her hand “before it’s too late”. Khatami was president between 1997 and 2005.

The reason for the current protests in Iran was the death of the Iranian Kurd Jina Mahsa Amini in mid-September. She died in police custody after being arrested for violating Islamic dress codes. The ex-president is assigned to the reform camp. His moderate views have made the 79-year-old a thorn in the side of the political leadership.

However, according to observers, Khatami could play an important mediating role in the deadlocked political situation. Yet many people who have been taking to the streets in the country for weeks now also reject the views of the reform politicians. Most demonstrators deem reform impossible and are calling for a change of power.

Khatami is also rejected as a “man of the system”, especially by young supporters of the protest movement. As an Islamic cleric, the ex-president advocates mandatory headscarves. By mid-November, he had rejected calls for a change in the political system. (cpf/sda/dpa)