Monday
Aug102009
UPDATED More Iran Drama: Will Rafsanjani Lead This Friday's Prayers?
Monday, August 10, 2009 at 11:00
The Latest from Iran (9 August): Once More on Trial
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UPDATE 10 August, 1740 GMT: OK, EA staff and some well-informed colleagues have put heads together while we wait for some confirmation, any confirmation, from Hashemi Rafsanjani's website.
There is a significant difference between the statement of Seyed Reza Taghavi, the head of the Friday prayers committee, and the alleged statement from Rafsanjani's office. Taghavi's statement indicated that the cancellation was necessary to prevent the "political exploitation" by the opposition of the event. The supposed statement from Rafsanjani said the former President was withdrawing to avoid "likely disturbances". So Rafsanjani, if the statement is true, has put the burden of blame on the security forces, indicating their past attitudes towards protest and demonstration has prevented his appearance.
Still, we have to put our hands up for the moment: is the statement true?
UPDATE 10 August, 1645 GMT: Etemade Melli, the newspaper affiliated with Mehdi Karroubi, has jumped in, considering the statement from the Friday prayers committee: "It seems that such a decision [Rafsanjani's withdrawal from Friday prayers in Tehran] has been made because of concerns that the last blatant display of popular support that greeted Rafsanjani last time will be repeated. The question remains that was this decision made [by the committee] due to governmental pressure or that Rafsanjani himself decided to not lead the prayers".
UPDATE 10 August, 1520 GMT: The Iranian Labor News Agency's report, claiming a statement from Rafsanjani’s office, that the former President will not lead Friday prayers is being cited as fact by international news outlets. BBC Persian is reporting, without referring to ILNA, that Rafsanjavi has stepped aside. CNN is even more blatant (and thus far from completely accurate): "A powerful former president of Iran who has become a critic of the regime will not lead Friday prayers this week, despite earlier reports that he would, his office said Monday."
However, ILNA’s article is curiously close to the line set out by the head of the Friday prayers, Seyed Reza Taghavi (1120 GMT), and there is no statement on Rafsanjani’s website.
It is also worth remembering that, before Rafsanjani led prayers on 17 July, there were false reports on state media that he had withdrawn.
Interpretation for the moment? Until there is confirmation from Rafsanjani’s own people, this should be treated as an attempt either to bump the former President into stepping down or to mislead people that he will not be appearing.
UPDATE 10 August, 1320 GMT: The Iranian Labor News Agency is claiming that Rafsanjani's office has issued a statement saying the former President will not lead Friday prayers this week. for "the prevention of political conflict."
UPDATE 10 August, 1130 GMT: Seyed Reza Taghavi, the head of the commitee for Friday prayers committee, has said Hashemi Rafsanjani will not lead this Friday’s service in Tehran “to prevent political manipulation”.
There has been a bit of a drama regarding Rafsanjani's Friday prayers.
Stage 1, Thursday: Seyed Reza Taghavi, the head of the committee responsible for Friday prayers, states, “It iThe presence of Ayatollah Hashemi is not yet clear and depends upon his health and the queue before him.”
Stage 2, Saturday: Reformist media and a Rafsanjani website state that Rafsanjani is leading the prayers.
Stage 3, Sunday morning: The website removes the statement, a development jubilantly reported by the conservative press.
Stage4,Sunday latest: The website issues a statement explaining why the statement was removed: "
The head of the Expediency Council [Rafsanjani] is extremely committed to stability and the golden mean and finds any deviation from this line and any hint of radicalism to be absolutely unacceptable....
The news regarding Ayatollah Rafsanjani's leadership next Friday is absolutely correct. However, it was removed from on the site out of respect for the committee responsible for Friday Prayers in order to eliminate any hint of encroachment upon the committee's powers and rights....Hopefully [this behavior] will provide the necessary edification for current previous and future generations of the revolution.
Receive our latest updates by email or RSS SUBSCRIBE TO OUR FEED
Buy Us A Cup of Coffee? Help Enduring America Expand Its Coverage and Analysis
UPDATE 10 August, 1740 GMT: OK, EA staff and some well-informed colleagues have put heads together while we wait for some confirmation, any confirmation, from Hashemi Rafsanjani's website. There is a significant difference between the statement of Seyed Reza Taghavi, the head of the Friday prayers committee, and the alleged statement from Rafsanjani's office. Taghavi's statement indicated that the cancellation was necessary to prevent the "political exploitation" by the opposition of the event. The supposed statement from Rafsanjani said the former President was withdrawing to avoid "likely disturbances". So Rafsanjani, if the statement is true, has put the burden of blame on the security forces, indicating their past attitudes towards protest and demonstration has prevented his appearance.
Still, we have to put our hands up for the moment: is the statement true?
UPDATE 10 August, 1645 GMT: Etemade Melli, the newspaper affiliated with Mehdi Karroubi, has jumped in, considering the statement from the Friday prayers committee: "It seems that such a decision [Rafsanjani's withdrawal from Friday prayers in Tehran] has been made because of concerns that the last blatant display of popular support that greeted Rafsanjani last time will be repeated. The question remains that was this decision made [by the committee] due to governmental pressure or that Rafsanjani himself decided to not lead the prayers".
UPDATE 10 August, 1520 GMT: The Iranian Labor News Agency's report, claiming a statement from Rafsanjani’s office, that the former President will not lead Friday prayers is being cited as fact by international news outlets. BBC Persian is reporting, without referring to ILNA, that Rafsanjavi has stepped aside. CNN is even more blatant (and thus far from completely accurate): "A powerful former president of Iran who has become a critic of the regime will not lead Friday prayers this week, despite earlier reports that he would, his office said Monday."
However, ILNA’s article is curiously close to the line set out by the head of the Friday prayers, Seyed Reza Taghavi (1120 GMT), and there is no statement on Rafsanjani’s website.
It is also worth remembering that, before Rafsanjani led prayers on 17 July, there were false reports on state media that he had withdrawn.
Interpretation for the moment? Until there is confirmation from Rafsanjani’s own people, this should be treated as an attempt either to bump the former President into stepping down or to mislead people that he will not be appearing.
UPDATE 10 August, 1320 GMT: The Iranian Labor News Agency is claiming that Rafsanjani's office has issued a statement saying the former President will not lead Friday prayers this week. for "the prevention of political conflict."
UPDATE 10 August, 1130 GMT: Seyed Reza Taghavi, the head of the commitee for Friday prayers committee, has said Hashemi Rafsanjani will not lead this Friday’s service in Tehran “to prevent political manipulation”.
There has been a bit of a drama regarding Rafsanjani's Friday prayers.
Stage 1, Thursday: Seyed Reza Taghavi, the head of the committee responsible for Friday prayers, states, “It iThe presence of Ayatollah Hashemi is not yet clear and depends upon his health and the queue before him.”
Stage 2, Saturday: Reformist media and a Rafsanjani website state that Rafsanjani is leading the prayers.
Stage 3, Sunday morning: The website removes the statement, a development jubilantly reported by the conservative press.
Stage4,Sunday latest: The website issues a statement explaining why the statement was removed: "
The head of the Expediency Council [Rafsanjani] is extremely committed to stability and the golden mean and finds any deviation from this line and any hint of radicalism to be absolutely unacceptable....
The news regarding Ayatollah Rafsanjani's leadership next Friday is absolutely correct. However, it was removed from on the site out of respect for the committee responsible for Friday Prayers in order to eliminate any hint of encroachment upon the committee's powers and rights....Hopefully [this behavior] will provide the necessary edification for current previous and future generations of the revolution.
Reader Comments (1)
[...] Nevermind, thanks. As said, google translate wasn't clear enough to me to be sure what it said. In the meantime, EA has clarified: More Iran Drama: Will Rafsanjani Lead This Friday’s Prayers? | Enduring America [...]