Speaking to leaders of non-government organizations (NGOs) last Thursday, Raf-sanjani said, “If the public and our youth are not allowed the opportunity and the space to express healthy criticism and to be active [politically], such criticism will not be silenced, it will merely move underground.”
Rafsanjani, the chairman of the Expediency Council, has often advocated permission for free expression of political criticism, but this was the first time he was heard to say the suppression of honest criticism can undermine the government. That theme, however, is a common one heard from academics of politics.
Rafsanjani said, “Open criticism within the framework of the law is part and parcel of youth.” He said criticism helps to keep a country’s leaders on their toes.
According to the Mehr news agency, one of the NGO leaders in the audience complained that the government had refused to renew the licenses of many NGOs and restricted the activities of those that remain. Rafsanjani responded that he believes grassroots groups are vital to the health of both society and the economy.