Ayatollah Nepo Baby |
I would not pretend to be a constitutional scholar when it comes to Iran, and Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini is just about the last expert I would cite on anything, other than how to have a disastrous funeral. (It’s understandable that mourners might want a souvenir or keepsake from the ceremony, but it’s problematic when they try to walk off with the corpse.)
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But the declaration that Mojtaba Khamenei, a son of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, will be Iran’s next Supreme Leader does make the country’s leadership look a bit more like a hereditary monarchy.
Ayatollah Khomeini wrote in 1970, “Islam proclaims monarchy and hereditary succession wrong and invalid… Islam, then, does not recognize monarchy and hereditary succession; they have no place in Islam.” Under the Iranian Constitution, when there is an opening in the position of Supreme Leader, the Assembly of Experts is supposed to find the figure who is best in “scholarship, as required for performing the functions of religious leader in different fields; justice and piety, as required for the leadership of the Islamic Ummah; and right political and social perspicacity, prudence, courage, administrative facilities, and adequate capability for leadership.”
Apparently, in an amazing coincidence, the assembly of experts determined that in a country of 93 million people, the figure who best meets those criteria just happens to be the son of the previous ayatollah! What are the odds?
Now, I know this is going to shock you, but there’s some evidence that Mojtaba Khamenei might not be the most qualified and pious religious leader. From Janes information services:
Despite Mojtaba’s links to the Supreme Leader’s office and his wide network, he lacks the highest level of religious credentials and standing that would normally be required of a Supreme Leader. Indeed, although he has studied in the seminaries of Qom under prominent conservative scholars, he is not classified as a Mujtahid. A Mujtahid is a senior cleric with the rank of Ayatollah who possesses the religious authority and ability to conduct Ijtihad which is the doctrine of interpreting religious texts and make prescriptions on that interpretation. However, his father Ayatollah Ali Khamenei also did not hold the highest level of religious credentials and the constitution of Iran was amended in order to allow him to be Supreme Leader.
Despite Mojtaba’s links to the Supreme Leader’s office and his wide network, he lacks the highest level of religious credentials and standing that would normally be required of a Supreme Leader.
Indeed, although he has studied in the seminaries of Qom under prominent conservative scholars, he is not classified as a Mujtahid. A Mujtahid is a senior cleric with the rank of Ayatollah who possesses the religious authority and ability to conduct Ijtihad which is the doctrine of interpreting religious texts and make prescriptions on that interpretation. However, his father Ayatollah Ali Khamenei also did not hold the highest level of religious credentials and the constitution of Iran was amended in order to allow him to be Supreme Leader.
I’m starting to think nepotism played a factor in his selection.
Mojtaba Khamenei is described as a hardliner, but let’s face it, you don’t see a lot of soft and moderate ayatollahs.
Keep in mind, the Iranian regime violates the constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran on a daily basis. Among the provisions in the constitution:
“The government must ensure the rights of women in all respects.”
“The dignity, life, property, rights, residence, and occupation of the individual are inviolate.”
“The investigation of individuals’ beliefs is forbidden, and no one may be molested or taken to task simply for holding a certain belief.”
“All forms of torture for the purpose of extracting confession or acquiring information are forbidden.”
The Iranian constitution is effectively just there for decoration, so it’s not surprising that after breaking almost every other provision, the regime would evolve into a de facto hereditary monarchy, not all that different from the Shah’s regime that they overthrew.