The World - News from Feb. 13, 1989

The designated successor to the Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini called on Tehran to change the world’s image of Iranians as killers who “frightened the world,” Iran’s news agency reported. The remarks of the Ayatollah Hussein Ali Montazeri echoed recent calls by other Iranian leaders for critical self-examination as the Islamic revolution moves into its second decade. “On many occasions, we showed obstinacy, shouted slogans and frightened the world,” the 64-year-old cleric said. “The people of the world thought our only task here in Iran was to kill. What happened to all the unity, coordination and devotion. . . ?” Montazeri praised Khomeini’s recent granting of amnesty to political prisoners and urged that the jails be emptied and torture be stopped.