During a meeting with the parliaments' representatives, Iranian ex-president Mohammad Khatami said he wants fair and free elections to be held, "parlemannews" reported.
"We should not raise any charges against the protesters. I am sure, if the judicial system correctly performs its functions, then the plaintiffs and defendants will change place," Khatami said.
The teachers and workers made the largest contribution to the country's development, he said. "Teachers and workers were of great importance during the revolution and war. They still have great importance, but they are not appraised properly," Khatami said.
Khatami criticized the restriction of the country's political parties' and groups' activities, saying that activities of these organizations should be free, as required by the constitution, to hold free elections.
"The parties and groups are not allowed to operate and their activities are limited. They face the threat of closure and the newspapers are just closed. Which of these steps corresponds to the constitution?" Khatami said.
The government must obey the law and fulfill the requirements arising from it, he added.
Khatami said that the protest is not a provocation. "Leader of the Islamic Revolution Imam Khomeini said that we should not assume that no one will criticize us," Khatami said.