Dictatorship fear in Iran

Press, 19 April 1979, Page 8

Dictatorship fear in Iran

NZPA-Reuter Teheran Ayatollah Mahmoud Taleghani, one of the most influential men in Iran, said yesterday that the country I was in danger of slipping back into dictatorship. His warning came as Dr Karim Sanjabi. the veteran • lawyer and politician who resigned on Monday as Foreign Minister, urged Iran’s (secret Revolutionary Council I believed to be led by Ayatol:lah Ruhollah Khomeiny, to ■ hand over its powers to the provisonal Government. I Ayatollah Taleghani’s warnings were made in a telephone call to his family from a hiding place in the countryside where he fled last week-end in protest against “the trampled rights of the Iranian people.” The Teheran evening newspaper, “Etela’at,” said he had told his sons his protest was “in connection with the deprived masses of the nation, for the sake of guarding the freedom and independence of our beloved country, lest our country once more falls back into the hands of dictatorship

rand despotism.” The action of the popular Ayatollah (spiritual leader) I was the first real sign of , disillusionment among Iran’s , religious leaders with the ’ shadowy body which effec- . tively rules Iran —the Revo- . lutionary Council believed to be led by Ayatollah Khomeiny as unofficial Head . of State. ’ At least 50.000 people . demonstrated in Teheran ( yesterday in support of Aya- , tollah Taleghani, urging him to return to his home and ; office in the capital. Similar t marches were held in other , towns, according to the . State radio. 1 Seven persons, six of them - former members of the • Shah’s personal guard, were executed during Tuesday > night after being sentenced Iby Islamic revolutionary j courts, Iranian radio has rei ported. f The six, Colonel Tarviz f Shemirani. two second lieu--1 tenants, two warrant officers. 1 and a private were found i guilty of taking part in the > repression of anti-Shah de- > monstrations last September.