TEHRAN – In his first reaction to three days of protests in certain cities across Iran, President Hassan Rouhani told a cabinet meeting on Sunday that people should express their grievances in a way that it would lead to better living condition for citizens and investment in the country. “According to the Constitution and citizenship […]
TEHRAN – In his first reaction to three days of protests in certain cities across Iran, President Hassan Rouhani told a cabinet meeting on Sunday that people should express their grievances in a way that it would lead to better living condition for citizens and investment in the country.
“According to the Constitution and citizenship rights, people are completely free to express criticism and even protest. But at the same time we should note that the way criticism is delivered should be such that it would end in better situations for the country and people’s lives.”
Referring to the economic motivation behind the protests, Rouhani said, “Some of the economic problems of people date back to some years ago, while some others are related to the present day. The government and nation should join hands and help each other. However, people’s criticism does not pertain to the economy alone. People have things to say about corruption and transparency. They say things should be transparent.”
“People criticize that corruption should be fought more seriously, and why some issues are not disclosed to them properly. Criticism in the country’s entire affairs is a right of the people and we believe that the government and country belong to people and people should be able to well express what they wish to.”
The president in the meantime stressed that criticism is different from violence and sabotage of public property. “We welcome criticism. And the related bodies should open way for people’s legal criticism and protest and even demonstrations and congregation. This is a right with people.”
On U.S. President Donald Trump’s meddlesome remarks about the protests, Rouhani said, “This guy who is trying today to sympathize with our people has forgotten that a few months ago he called the Iranian nation terrorist. This guy who is against the Iranian nation from head to toe has no right to sympathize with [them].”
