Ayatollah Ahmad Khatami, in his first sermon at Tehrans Friday prayers gathering, said that Irans Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki had written a letter to United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan citing human rights abuses in the U.S.
Khatami, a radical Shiite theologian from the city of Qom, was recently handpicked by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei to lead Friday prayers in Tehran.
The Islamic government has an obligation under the constitution to work to end oppression and this action is being carried out by this government. We hope to be able to witness the valuable fruits of this approach, Khatami said.
Referring to Western accusations that Tehran was violating the rights of its citizens, the cleric said, This accusation is very much laughable, especially when it comes from countries were there have been riots against oppression and where they have been forced to instate Marshal Law.
Those who speak about human rights are those whose citizens do not have security.
