Ayatollah Montazeri: "A legitimate state must respect all points of view. It may not oppress all critical views. I fear that this lead to the lost of people’s faith in Islam."

Jihad Watch reader James has sent me a translation of a letter from the Ayatollah Hossein Ali Montazeri, who was a key participant in the Iranian revolution and then a principal opponent of the Ayatollah Khomeini.

Montazeri seems concerned above all that the protests not lead to a serious uprising against the Islamic state. He cautions the regime that cracking down on dissent may lead to "the loss of people's faith in Islam," and warns police that their following orders will not excuse them from the divine judgment.

Is this an indication that the Islamic Republic itself is threatened? Certainly Montazeri has more on his mind than just the legitimacy of this election and the replacement of Ahmadinejad with Mousavi.

[...] Declaring results that no one in their right mind can believe, and despite all the evidence of crafted results, and to counter people protestations, in front of the eyes of the same nation who carried the weight of a revolution and 8 years of war, in front of the eyes of local and foreign reporters, attacked the children of the people with astonishing violence. And now they are attempting a purge, arresting intellectuals, political opponents and Scientifics.

Now, based on my religious duties, I will remind you :

1- A legitimate state must respect all points of view. It may not oppress all critical views. I fear that this lead to the lost of people’s faith in Islam.

2- Given the current circumstances, I expect the government to take all measures to restore people’s confidence. Otherwise, as I have already said, a government not respecting people’s vote has no religious or political legitimacy.

[...]

4- I ask the police and army personals not to “sell their religion”, and beware that receiving orders will not excuse them before god. Recognize the protesting youth as your children. Today censor and cutting telecommunication lines can not hide the truth....