irmo member: modernism without religion doomed to failure

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isfahan, april 23, irna -- a member of the central council of the
islamic revolution's mujahedin organization (irmo) said that president
khatami's art is in offering a version of religion which is blended
with iranian modernism for the progress of reforms in the country.
addressing a round table discussion 'renovation and its
challenges' held on the sidelines of the ongoing amir kabir national
congress here saturday night, hashem aqajari said however religion
does not go against reforms.
he said even prior to the may 23, 1997 the clergy were standing
beside reformists, adding that the clergy had resisted reforms only
when they realized reforms were standing against religion.
aqajari said the art of may 23 is that it has presented an
islamic-iranian pattern of reforms because, he added, modernism and
renovation within the country should inevitably be compatible with the
pattern of culture and religion.
he stressed that efforts to offer modernism in the absence of
religion are doomed to failure.
underlining the need for an optimal unison of the elite with
masses in the process of renovation and preventing a rift in the
political management, aqajari said those who attempt to pit the
velayat-e faqih against the president are against reforms.
he said the prerequisite for reforms is to take social realities
and international circumstances into account, adding that some
reformists behave in a way that provides excuse for those opposing
reforms.
meanwhile, another speaker, sadeq ziba-kalam said the growing
trend of reforms in the country is inevitable.
ziba-kalam, a university professor, said that even if the may 23
embraces defeat, the country will reach the status quo at a different
juncture. because, he added, social grounds underline the need for
realization of a civil and institutionalized society.
however, he stressed that under the status quo the reform movement
is vulnerable and, therefore, some extremism should be avoided.