Theocracy today

As you get older, you get more sceptical. About some things. Others become more certain. One thing I'm increasingly convinced about is that religion, when politicised, is always and everywhere about reinforcing the status quo. It does this by attempting to sanctify it and thus putting it beyond criticism. Reminded of this after reading the latest from inside Iran:

"Iran's Supreme Leader has accused the opposition of breaking the law by insulting the Islamic Republic's founder, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini.

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei urged opposition leaders to identify "those behind the insult to Imam Khomeini".

The remarks centre on an alleged incident last Monday during which a poster of Imam Khomeini was torn up.

Opposition leaders say the alleged incident - shown on state television - has been doctored."

Those who enjoin us to respect belief might want to ask themselves what kind of belief is this that is flexible enough to legally proscribe idolatry, if it serves its purpose? That Mir Hossein Mousavi is an unworthy respository of liberal hopes, both in Iran and abroad, is demonstrated in his response:

""I am sure the students have never gone over such boundaries, because we all know they love the imam and are prepared to sacrifice their lives for his goals," Mr Mousavi said, according to newspaper Jomhouri Eslami."

If, heaven forfend, they had gone over these boundaries...