Rebel Mike
02-20-2006, 04:16 PM
Iranian cleric: Use of nuclear arms sometimes permissible
By Yossi Melman, Haaretz Correspondent and The Associated Press
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/684232.html
A religious leader in Iran has said that in certain situations it is permissible by Muslim law to use nuclear weapons.
Hojatol-Islam Mohsen Gharavian was quoted by the Iran News as saying that according to Muslim Shariya, "When the world is armed with nuclear weapons, it is permissible to make use of these weapons in order to stand up against this threat."
This is the fist time the Iranian government has not censored such statements from a religious leader, according to Meir Javedanfar, an Israeli of Iranian descent and Middle East analyst at the Middle East Economic and Political Analysis Company. Until now, said Javedanfar, the Iranianian government had given clear instructions against saying anything that could be interpreted to mean that Iran is planning to use its nuclear technology for military purposes.
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Gharavian's statement contradicts the words of other religious leaders, who have declared that Islam does not permit the production or use of nuclear weapons.
Javedanfar said that Gharavian's words testify to the difference of opinion within the Iranian elite, both governmental and religious.
Gharavian is considered a close associate of the conservative Ayatollah Mesbah Yazdi, who recently attempted to rank himself as candidate for the replacement of the ruling Ayatollah Ali Khamenei upon the latter's resignation.
Iran on Friday confirmed that it has begun using centrifugal gas in its uranium enrichment facility.
On Saturday, a gathering of Iranians who claim they are dedicated to becoming suicide bombers warned the United States and Britain of attacks on coalition military bases in Iraq if there were a strike against Tehran's nuclear facilities.
"With more than 1,000 trained martyrdom-seekers, we are ready to attack the American and British sensitive points if they attack Iran's nuclear facilities," said Mohammad Ali Samadi, spokesman of Esteshadion (Martyrdom Seekers). "We have registered more than 52,000 people who willingly are ready to defend their country."
"If they strike, we have a lot of volunteers. Their (U.S. and British) sensitive places are quiet close to Iranian borders," Samadi said after a gathering of about 200 students for a seminar on the suicide-bombing tactics at Tehran's Khajeh Nasir University.
Samadi reviewed the history of the suicide bombing as a weapon, praising it as the most effective Palestinian tactic in their confrontation with Israel.
The organizers also showed video clips of suicide attacks against Israelis, including one in the Morag settlement near Rafah in the Gaza Strip in February 2005. One settler, three Israeli soldiers and the two attackers were killed in the attack.
Hasan Abbasi, the main speaker, also praised suicide bombers but denounced attacks against "innocent people as al-Qaida did in New York."
Abbasi told the audience of potential martyrs that Iran was not seeking nuclear weapons as claimed by the United States and some of its allies.
"Our martyrdom-seekers are our nuclear weapons," said Abbasi, a university instructor and former ranking in the elite Revolutionary Guards.
After his speech, about 50 students filled out membership applications.
"This is a unique opportunity for me to die for God, next to my brothers in Palestine. That was why I signed up," said Reza Haghshenas, 22, an electrical engineering student.
A 23-year-old woman student, Maryam Amereh, said: "We are trying to defend Islam. It's a way to draw the attention of others to our activities."
But Rahim Hasanlu, a 22-year-old industrial management student, sipped his orange juice and declared himself not interested in joining. "I just attended to learn what they're saying, thats all."
Esteshadion was formed in late 2004, calling for members on a sporadic basis at Friday prayer ceremonies, state-sponsored rallies and at the group's occasional meetings.
Those who join have three choices: To train for suicide attacks to defend Iran's national interests, for suicide attacks against Israel or the assassination of British author Salman Rushdie, who was sentenced to death by former Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Khomeini for his 1989 book, "Satanic Verses."
By Yossi Melman, Haaretz Correspondent and The Associated Press
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/684232.html
A religious leader in Iran has said that in certain situations it is permissible by Muslim law to use nuclear weapons.
Hojatol-Islam Mohsen Gharavian was quoted by the Iran News as saying that according to Muslim Shariya, "When the world is armed with nuclear weapons, it is permissible to make use of these weapons in order to stand up against this threat."
This is the fist time the Iranian government has not censored such statements from a religious leader, according to Meir Javedanfar, an Israeli of Iranian descent and Middle East analyst at the Middle East Economic and Political Analysis Company. Until now, said Javedanfar, the Iranianian government had given clear instructions against saying anything that could be interpreted to mean that Iran is planning to use its nuclear technology for military purposes.
Advertisement
Gharavian's statement contradicts the words of other religious leaders, who have declared that Islam does not permit the production or use of nuclear weapons.
Javedanfar said that Gharavian's words testify to the difference of opinion within the Iranian elite, both governmental and religious.
Gharavian is considered a close associate of the conservative Ayatollah Mesbah Yazdi, who recently attempted to rank himself as candidate for the replacement of the ruling Ayatollah Ali Khamenei upon the latter's resignation.
Iran on Friday confirmed that it has begun using centrifugal gas in its uranium enrichment facility.
On Saturday, a gathering of Iranians who claim they are dedicated to becoming suicide bombers warned the United States and Britain of attacks on coalition military bases in Iraq if there were a strike against Tehran's nuclear facilities.
"With more than 1,000 trained martyrdom-seekers, we are ready to attack the American and British sensitive points if they attack Iran's nuclear facilities," said Mohammad Ali Samadi, spokesman of Esteshadion (Martyrdom Seekers). "We have registered more than 52,000 people who willingly are ready to defend their country."
"If they strike, we have a lot of volunteers. Their (U.S. and British) sensitive places are quiet close to Iranian borders," Samadi said after a gathering of about 200 students for a seminar on the suicide-bombing tactics at Tehran's Khajeh Nasir University.
Samadi reviewed the history of the suicide bombing as a weapon, praising it as the most effective Palestinian tactic in their confrontation with Israel.
The organizers also showed video clips of suicide attacks against Israelis, including one in the Morag settlement near Rafah in the Gaza Strip in February 2005. One settler, three Israeli soldiers and the two attackers were killed in the attack.
Hasan Abbasi, the main speaker, also praised suicide bombers but denounced attacks against "innocent people as al-Qaida did in New York."
Abbasi told the audience of potential martyrs that Iran was not seeking nuclear weapons as claimed by the United States and some of its allies.
"Our martyrdom-seekers are our nuclear weapons," said Abbasi, a university instructor and former ranking in the elite Revolutionary Guards.
After his speech, about 50 students filled out membership applications.
"This is a unique opportunity for me to die for God, next to my brothers in Palestine. That was why I signed up," said Reza Haghshenas, 22, an electrical engineering student.
A 23-year-old woman student, Maryam Amereh, said: "We are trying to defend Islam. It's a way to draw the attention of others to our activities."
But Rahim Hasanlu, a 22-year-old industrial management student, sipped his orange juice and declared himself not interested in joining. "I just attended to learn what they're saying, thats all."
Esteshadion was formed in late 2004, calling for members on a sporadic basis at Friday prayer ceremonies, state-sponsored rallies and at the group's occasional meetings.
Those who join have three choices: To train for suicide attacks to defend Iran's national interests, for suicide attacks against Israel or the assassination of British author Salman Rushdie, who was sentenced to death by former Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Khomeini for his 1989 book, "Satanic Verses."