Khatami, who was speaking for the members of central branch of the Islamic Society of Physicians, emphasized that one of the proud features of religions and particularly Islam is giving value to the dignity of human and said that in the reformists’ view of Islam and that of the Islamic Revolution, human deserve to determine their own fate and that’s why the 56th principle of the constitution explicitly recognizes people’s right to determine their fate.

He added that any thing and any action that obstructs this God-given right is against our beliefs and the Islamic Revolution’s idea and these kinds of actions are in contrast to the God’s will, Islam ideology and spiritual religions. He continued: “People determine their government and governments are chosen by the people and are responsible in front of the people. This has its bases such as elections, free election, and providing requirements for the kind of election that people’s votes are truly accounted and any action in contrast to these is in contrast to Islamic view.”
While indicating that criticizing country’s affairs is not a crime, Khatami added that these days, honest and truthful people are being oppressed and worse than that all these are being done in the name of Islam and the revolution. l
In another part of his speech, Khatami, while referring to the statistics that were given in the earlier talks of the gathering by public health experts about the descend in country’s health standards said that with an unbiased view all areas of industry, agriculture, foreign affairs and different managements are in bad shape and all indexes have fallen and the country has fallen behind. l
Regarding what is being said by different groups about national unity, Khatami said: “Our criterion in this regard is not some weird and strange one; our criterion is this very constitution, the twenty-year-forecast plan, and the established general policies. If there is deviation somewhere, we should all be united to fix this problem and deviation.” l
Mohammad Khatami, in another part of his speech, while indicating that the reformists are proud for defending freedom and freedom of elections, reiterated that they will continue to work on behalf of the people to achieve the 56th principle of the constitution because people deserve freedom, prosperity and justice. l
Khatami while pointing out that unfortunately the theory of brutality against people which had been developed by some is now being utilized, said: “In this country there are those who don’t even believe in this establishment but are willing to live by the legal framework of this establishment and we are proud to defend their rights [too]. We do not oppress them because as citizens they have the same rights as others unless they are, as Imam referred to, trying to conspire and overthrow [the establishment].”

In another part of his remarks, Khatami while warning that in addition to political dissatisfaction, social dissatisfaction too may rise because of the government’s lack of fulfilling its promises, added that by escalating the price of expressing their views and demanding to be free and live freely on people, the government cannot erase the problems. l
In continuation, Khatami called on the government to ease the heavy security atmosphere that is ruling the country and make peace with people so that they can express themselves freely. Khatami added in the upcoming elections people should be able to vote freely and there should be guarantees that the results announced are what people want. l
At the end of his remarks, Khatami expressed hope for a better future, the release of political prisoners and a change in the country’s atmosphere. l