Ali Khamenei: I Do Not Accept the Term 'Dissident', Dissidence Is Not a Crime

The website of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei published parts of his speech during a Nowruz meeting with some officials of the Islamic Republic, where the leader of Iran stated that he does not accept the term 'dissident'. This meeting took place on April 24, and the website of the Supreme Leader released excerpts from his speech on Wednesday, April 21. Ayatollah Khamenei referred to a meeting in 1996 with a group of journalists and media activists, some of whom he described as 'various kinds'. The Iranian leader added that this meeting was from a time when 'the term dissident had just become popular, and I said I do not accept this term at all'. He stated that the term 'dissident' was propagated by some 'hostile media' in Iran. Khamenei added that 'active elements in these hostile media like to be called dissidents. In essence, they want to say that because we have a different thought, we are under the wrath of the system. Of course, they are not very much under wrath'. He further stated that 'in the Islamic Republic, we do not have a discussion of thought that, for example, if someone has a different thought, we confront him. It is not like that at all'. The Supreme Leader explicitly stated that the discussion of 'dissidents' is a discussion of 'hostility' and 'malice', and 'they do not accept this system and intend to oppose the system'. In his speech on April 24 this year, repeating part of those statements, he said: 'Dissidence is not a crime; it is thought; you think one way, your friend thinks another way, and there is no problem'. He added that this difference of opinion and diversity of views is acceptable as long as the parties do not 'claw at each other' and 'everyone is focused on the revolution and the issue of the revolution is taken seriously'. The Iranian leader interpreted diversity in the Islamic Republic as small rivers that, if 'all flow into this ocean of revolution, it will be beneficial for the revolution'. He also did not consider the existence of diversity as an 'undesirable' matter, but said: 'Provided that we do not act naively and do not act childishly'. His recent statements in support of 'diversity of views' come at a time when for years many individuals and groups in the Islamic Republic have been attacked by media affiliated with the Supreme Leader for 'dissidence' and differences in views and opinions with the Iranian leader, or have been eliminated, tried, or imprisoned. The term 'dissident' became popular during Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani's presidency and, after becoming widespread during Mohammad Khatami's presidency, led to the beginning of open confrontations with intellectuals and civil and media activists. During Mohammad Khatami's presidency, dozens of newspapers were shut down on charges of 'dissidence' and other accusations, and a significant number of journalists and media activists were also arrested and tried. After Khatami's presidency, the confrontation with thinkers, political, civil, and media activists has continued, and reports indicate that these confrontations persisted during Hassan Rouhani's presidency as well.