http://www.tehrantimes.com/index_View.asp?code=211799
January 10, 2010 Taking the law into one's own hands promotes sedition: Leader Tehran Times Political Desk TEHRAN -- Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei has said that any action in which people take the law into their own hands promotes sedition. Everyone should refrain from such actions and everyone should respect the rule of law, he told a gathering of thousands of people from Qom Province in Tehran on Saturday. The Supreme Leader added that the nation's anger over what happened on the day of Ashura is natural, but the people should be alert because the enemy is designing a very complicated and dangerous plot. Under these circumstances, the nation should act very cautiously and, of course, firmly, so that the enemy cannot succeed in their plots, he stated. On December 27, which was Ashura day, which is the martyrdom anniversary of Imam Hussein (AS) and his 72 companions, protesters took to the streets in central Tehran and chanted slogans against top government officials. They clashed with the police and damaged public property. Some of them also committed acts that disrespected religious sanctities. Commenting on the pro-government demonstrations on December 30, which were held in response to the Ashura day incidents, Ayatollah Khamenei stated that the demonstrations were a manifestation of the nation's vigilance. The nation's vigilance is the main factor in the perpetuation of the Islamic system in the face of the efforts of the hegemonic powers, and the enemy's main problem with the country is the nation's vigilance, he observed. The Supreme Leader also ordered officials to discharge their legal duties in regard to the rioters. The officials heard what the people are asking for, and thus, they should properly discharge their duties in regard to the rioters, he said. However, he reiterated that those who do not have "legal duties" should not meddle in these issues. Elaborating on the role of foreigners in the recent unrest, the Supreme Leader stated that since the time before the presidential election of June 2009, the United States, Britain, the Zionists, and counter-revolutionary forces have taken sides with the opponents of the Islamic system, and this is an important criterion for recognizing who is on the right path [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
