Grand Ayatollah Montazeri Calls For Clerics to Protest Against Iranian Regime

MEMRI/The Lid ^ | 9/14/09 | The Lid

[Shellybenoit]

Grand Ayatollah Hossein Ali Montazeri was one of the leaders of the Iranian Revolution in 1979. At one time he was designated successor to the Ayatollah Khomeini but fell out with Khomeini in 1989 because he disagreed with government policies that infringed on freedom and denied people's rights. He is a senior Islamic scholar and a Grand Marja (religious authority) of Islam.

Montazeri has never been a big fan of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad for his nuclear and economic policies. While agreeing Iran had the right to develop nuclear energy, he called Ahmadinejad's approach to the issue aggressive, saying, "One has to deal with the enemy with wisdom, not provoke it, ... his (provocation) only creates problems for the country." and asked, "don't we have other rights too?" - referring to individual and human rights. Montazeri also criticized the economic performance of Ahmadinejad's administration's, noting the rate of inflation - including the 50% increase in housing costs - arguing that a country cannot be run on "slogans".

In June Montazeri bashed Ahmadinejad and the results of the election. He said, "No one in their right mind can believe" the results were fairly counted. Montazeri called for three days of public mourning for the death of Neda Agha-Soltan and others killed during the June 22nd protests.

Now On the Eve of Iran's Qods Day, Leading Iranian Cleric and Dissident Ayatollah Montazeri is calling on Iranian clerics countrywide to come out openly against the regime.