Tehran's 'religion of death' attacked

A leading dissident Iranian general has called for the immediate creation of a government of national salvation and has urged Tehran to normalise relations with the United States, writes Safa Haeri. In an open letter written from inside Iran, General Azizollah Amir Rahimi, former commander of the military police, accuses the Islamic government of committing 'untold atrocities' by going against Islamic principles of justice and human rights.

'Islam is not the religion of killing, assassination and terrorism . . . The government of national salvation must offer its apologies to the great people of America, because Iran needs friendship with the US.' The general, who runs a serious risk by speaking out, was summoned by a military court, questioned for more than four hours and charged with encouraging counter-revolution and harming the interest of the Islamic regime.