Grand Ayatollah Montazeri's condemnation of recent crackdown

source: www.roozonline
Ayatollah Montazeri's letter
June 23, 2009
Beating up People is Haram, Religiously Forbidden
In response to the bloody crackdown of demonstrators which have come about because of the public outcry over the June 12th elections, ayatollah Montazeri, a senior Iranian cleric in Qom with a history of criticism of the ruling clerics and establishment dating back to the days of Khomeini, declared 3 days of public mourning for the victims of the recent clashes.

Government sources have announced the death of 13 individuals during demonstrations perpetrated at the hands of the police and plainclothesmen, while others have put the number as high as over 30.
The text of the message of the senior cleric in part reads, “I have unfortunately heard that in the pursuit of their legal rights through peaceful demonstrations, the great Iranian nation has been subjected to physical harm and beatings leading to blood and dust. While announcing my condolences regarding these events and expressing my sympathy with the anguished Iranian people, I announce Wednesday, Thursday and Friday as days of public mourning and express my solemn and categorical support for peaceful movements of the Islamic nation in the defense of its rightful rights within the rights provided by the constitution of the Islamic republic of which the republic is the key pillar of the state.”
Montazeri concludes his statement by stressing, “I do not sanction any act that results in irreparable damage to the republican aspect of the system [i.e. state]. Every man and woman brethren in religion is obliged to provide assistance to the nation to attain its rightful rights. On this basis, any opposition to this aim, particularly physical violence and beating of the nation is interpreted to be in opposition to the fundamental principles of Islam regarding the sovereignty of the people and their self-determination, which I announce as Haram.”
At Least 13 Dead are Admitted
Iran’s state television confirmed the death of 10 individuals on Saturday. Minutes later, Press TV, the Iranian government’s English language television station announced in a news broadcast later that 13 individuals had been killed in the clashes. According to official government statistics, 100 individuals had been injured and over 500 arrested on Saturday.
Unofficial and unconfirmed sources said over 20 individuals had died on Saturday.