Supreme Leader Khamenei backs right to criticize government

Source: AFP, 10-10-2007
TEHRAN: Iran`s supreme leader says the country`s political establishment should be open to criticism, following a rare protest against President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, state radio reported on Wednesday.
"We should be wary of the day when our young people in universities do not have the motivation to raise questions, issues and demands," Ali Khamenei told a group of students and political activists on Tuesday night.
"If sometimes we have said there should be no opposition to the country`s officials, this does not mean there should be no criticism," Khamenei said. "This applies to the leadership too."
Khamenei`s comments came two days after a group of students staged a protest against the hard-line Ahmadinejad ahead of a speech at Tehran University, calling him a "dictator" over a crackdown against student activists.
And even the supreme leader voiced criticism of the current government.
"I have supported [previous] governments. I support this government too. [But] this does not mean that I approve of every detail of the work that is being done," Khameini said.
Criticism of the authority of the supreme leader - who has the final word on all matters of state in the Islamic Republic - is a punishable crime.