Iran’s EX-President Admits ‘Widespread Discontent’

Mir-Hossein Mousavi and Iran’s former reformist President Mohammad Khatami on the sidelines of an event before the 2009 presidential elections (archives - Parliament News)
Mir-Hossein Mousavi and Iran’s former reformist President Mohammad Khatami on the sidelines of an event before the 2009 presidential elections (archives - Parliament News)
TT

Iran’s EX-President Admits ‘Widespread Discontent’

Mir-Hossein Mousavi and Iran’s former reformist President Mohammad Khatami on the sidelines of an event before the 2009 presidential elections (archives - Parliament News)
Mir-Hossein Mousavi and Iran’s former reformist President Mohammad Khatami on the sidelines of an event before the 2009 presidential elections (archives - Parliament News)

Iran’s former reformist President Mohammad Khatami on Sunday admitted that reforms have reached a deadlock in his country and urged returning to the constitution of the “Islamic Republic.”

Khatami’s stance goes against his ally Mir-Hossein Mousavi, who has called for reforming the constitution and proposed an alternative to the current government.

As the 44th anniversary of the 1979 Islamic Revolution approaches, Khatami said that the Iranian society is beset by many troubles, but he called for a return to the constitution.

“Changing and amending the constitution is in order, but by returning to the spirit of the same constitution, many reforms can be made,” said Khatami according to Iranian media.

Unlike Khatami, Mousavi called for drafting a new constitution and submitting it to a popular referendum for a “free and fair” vote. Mousavi said that the aim of doing so is changing the power dynamics and the current formula of the country’s system of government.

“What is evident today is widespread discontent,” said Khatami, according to AFP.

Khatami said he hoped that the use of “non-violent civil methods” could “force the governing system to change its approach and accept reforms.”

The former president also implicitly referred to the widening gap between the establishment and the rest of the people, especially the protesters, the majority of whom are young people.

President from 1997 to 2005 before being forced into silence, Khatami said he regretted that Iran’s population was “disappointed with Reformism as well as with the ruling system.”

Khatami rejected demands to overthrow the regime and said: “In terms of the balance of power and the capabilities and strength of the state, it is not possible to overthrow (the regime).”

He warned that raising slogans for overthrowing the establishment will only lead to more restrictions and damages.

Khatami's statements came after Mousavi sharply criticized the ruling establishment and called for a new constitution and a popular referendum.



Hundreds Rally in Paris for Iranian Women’s Rights

A protester holds a placard as she takes part in a march on the second anniversary of a protest movement sparked by the death in custody of Mahsa Amini, 22, arrested for allegedly violating the dress code for women at Place de la Bastille, in Paris on September 15, 2024. (AFP)
A protester holds a placard as she takes part in a march on the second anniversary of a protest movement sparked by the death in custody of Mahsa Amini, 22, arrested for allegedly violating the dress code for women at Place de la Bastille, in Paris on September 15, 2024. (AFP)
TT

Hundreds Rally in Paris for Iranian Women’s Rights

A protester holds a placard as she takes part in a march on the second anniversary of a protest movement sparked by the death in custody of Mahsa Amini, 22, arrested for allegedly violating the dress code for women at Place de la Bastille, in Paris on September 15, 2024. (AFP)
A protester holds a placard as she takes part in a march on the second anniversary of a protest movement sparked by the death in custody of Mahsa Amini, 22, arrested for allegedly violating the dress code for women at Place de la Bastille, in Paris on September 15, 2024. (AFP)

Hundreds of people marched through Paris on Sunday in support of women's rights and the opposition in Iran, two years after the death of Mahsa Amini sparked protests against the country's religious authorities.

A 22-year-old Iranian Kurd, Amini died in custody after being arrested for allegedly violating the country’s strict dress code for women.

The march, organized by around 20 human rights associations, took place as 34 women began a hunger strike in a Tehran prison to mark the two-year anniversary of her death.

Chirinne Ardakani, a Franco-Iranian lawyer and member of the "Iran Justice" collective, said that the "sacrifices" made by Iranians opposed to the regime were "not in vain".

"Everything has changed in Iran," Ardakani told AFP.

"We've gone from an absolutely patriarchal culture, where there was no question of women being able to reveal themselves in the street, to massive support for these women," the lawyer and activist added.

The march in solidarity with the "Women, Life, Freedom" movement was attended by Benjamin Briere and Louis Arnaud, two Frenchmen who were arrested and arbitrarily detained in Iran.

Iran is accused of arresting Westerners without cause and using them as bargaining chips in state-to-state negotiations, with French diplomats describing these prisoners as "state hostages".

Briere was eventually released in May 2023, while Arnaud was let go the month after.

"Yes, I was in prison, but it is an immense honor to have been able to live among you, freedom fighters, who shared my suffering," Arnaud told the crowd, in his first public address since his release.

Three other French nationals are still being held in Iran.

After Amini died in custody on September 16, 2022, the women-led protests which erupted rattled Iran's leadership that autumn and winter.

But the demonstrations were then crushed by the authorities, with rights group Amnesty International saying security forces used assault rifles and shotguns in the crackdown.

Human rights groups say at least 551 people were killed. Thousands more were arrested, according to the United Nations.