Forgive us for We Have Misled You

Hojat-ol-Islam Sheikh Hossein Ansarian is an expert orator. In fact most Shiite clerics are, unlike most Iranian opposition figures who have not had much training or opportunity in public speaking, it is part of a Shiite cleric's training how to keep the people's attention when they speak to them from the pulpits. Hossein Ansarian can be regarded as one of the best amongst Iran's Shiite clerics in public speaking for the masses.
His highly charged sermons during the three special nights, 19th to 21St of Ramadan, in Shiite  calendar from the night Imam Ali was struck by the sword until he died of the injuries three days later, are amongst the busiest sermons throughout the year. Ansarian's sermons are often broadcast from state TV as they were this year.

This year there was a twist to his speech however, Ansarian publicly apologised to the people of Iran for having misled them with slogans and promises that were never delivered.

"We who made up slogans, went on the pulpits and gave statements, we who sent you to the front lines to carry out the revolution, we did not seek power or position and we do not seek it now, but we did not want this present situation either. This was not the revolution we wanted"

As he placed the holy Koran on his head, part of the ceremonies on these nights, he continued saying emotionally: "People, please forgive us, we made promises to you which did not materialise, we didn't want you to be in this dire economic situation, we didn't want to see these soaring prices, the revolution was hijacked by the wrongdoers'

Ansarian's apology which lasted for three minutes ended by telling people, "have no expectation from anyone other than the Hidden Imam who will one day come out of occultation and liberate the world."