President Khatami (file photo)
27 July 2005 (RFE/RL) -- Outgoing Iranian President Mohamad Khatami said today that his greatest achievement during his time in office was separating Islam from Islamism.
Speaking at a news conference in Tehran, Khatami said he gave Islam a new international image and separated it from the Islamism of the Taliban and Al-Qaeda.
He said he is proud to have presented Islam as a religion compatible with freedom, democracy, and progress.
Khatami also said that he granted people more power to protest their concerns and to criticize the government.
Khatami is officially turning over his presidential post in August to successor Mahmud Ahmadinejad.
(dpa)
For RFE/RL's full coverage of Iran's elections, see "Iran Votes 2005"
He said he is proud to have presented Islam as a religion compatible with freedom, democracy, and progress.
Khatami also said that he granted people more power to protest their concerns and to criticize the government.
Khatami is officially turning over his presidential post in August to successor Mahmud Ahmadinejad.
(dpa)
For RFE/RL's full coverage of Iran's elections, see "Iran Votes 2005"