Jannati warns of possible cheating in Iraq's upcoming election

Description of Selected News: "Jannati warns of possible cheating in Iraq's upcoming election

TEHRAN (IRNA) -- Tehran Substitute Friday Prayer leader Ayatollah Ahmad Jannati said that the Muslim ulema in Iraq should be alerted to "possible cheatings" during the entire process of elections in Iraq. In his second sermon in this week's Friday Prayers at Tehran University campus, Jannati said that the Iraqi ulema should have some "supervision" over the process of the upcoming elections (scheduled on January 30, 2005) so as "to prevent any possible cheatings." He also called on all Iraqis to participate in the elections to "ensure a bright and secure future for themselves."

Turning to the approaching period for Muslim Hajj pilgrimages, the speaker said that it was "a duty" of all Iranian Hajj pilgrims to speak out regarding problems facing the Islamic world to other Hajj pilgrims in Mecca when they undertake this highly important religious duty, which this year falls from January 12-21.

"It is the duty of all Iranian Hajj pilgrims to make their fellow Muslims aware of the problems facing the Islamic world so to come up with possible solutions and be vigilant vis-a-vis the enemies of Islam," Jannati stressed.

He added that the Iranians who undertake the pilgrimage should use the occasion "to clear Iran and world Shiites of all charges which are being leveled against them." The Friday Prayer speaker, however, did not cite specific charges that were being made against Iran and Shiites. Jannati also criticized some un-Islamic attitudes in universities in the country, and warned that "if students are not taught Islamic values many problems are bound to arise and this is what is happening nowadays.""