Seyyed Mohammad Khatami, following the condemnation of the Shiraz terrorist incident, stated that governments must adhere to the principles of good governance.
Following the terrorist incident at Shah Cheragh in Shiraz, Seyyed Mohammad Khatami, in a message, condemned violence in any form and expressed sympathy with the survivors of the victims of violence in Shiraz, Tehran, Zahedan, Mazandaran, Kurdistan, and throughout the nation.
The full text of this message is as follows:
In the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. The terrorist incident in Shiraz, which resulted in the death of several of our dear compatriots and injured many more, demonstrated how ruthless and calamitous violence can be. While condemning this vile and painful act, I pray for God’s vast mercy for the dear departed and recovery for the injured. What is happening in our society, whose roots can be traced back for a long time and which is moving towards freedom and life, is noteworthy. However, with great regret, the emergence of violence from any side is distressing. Living is the first right of every human being, and the purpose and mission of systems and governments should be to ensure the living of people.
The criterion for evaluating a system and a government is how much it facilitates the well-being of the people. The demand for a good, safe, and just life from the people is a natural demand, and if they see that the conditions for this life are not provided, they have the right to criticize and even protest. But at all times, criticism and protest must also aim at rejecting violence and should not become tainted with violence themselves, especially in conditions where the ill-wishers of Iran and Iranians outside the country, with inhumane tools like sanctions or promoting violence, harbor false hopes by exploiting the pure blood of the country’s youth.
While offering condolences and expressing sympathy with all those who have lost their loved ones in the recent terrorist incident in Shiraz and before that from Tehran to Zahedan, Mazandaran, Kurdistan, and throughout the nation, I emphasize that violence cannot be answered with violence, although those who commit violence must be confronted.
To improve the situation and create a safe, healthy, and prosperous living environment for all, especially governments, must adhere to the principles of good governance. They should listen to criticism and protests, even if unjust, and create the conditions for the material and spiritual satisfaction of the people. I have also, in my own way, both openly and discreetly, highlighted paths that lead to this blessed outcome, ensuring lasting security, freedom, development, and progress, to the best of my limited understanding and ability. I hope that ears will be attentive and hearts receptive.