WHO WILL
BE NEW RELIGIOUS LEADER?
In the
article we have recently prepared, there is an assessment
saying that: “All the information the people have about the
health condition of Iranian leader Khamenei is only the
images broadcasted in the state radio and television and not
giving much information… Unfortunately, the fanatical and
oppressive censorship in Iran and restrictions on the
communication lead to worse and non-transparent environment”.
Although almost one month passed after the publication of
our article, the Iranian people still don’t know the facts
entirely. The speculations about the issue do, therefore,
get new dimensions day by day. In the talks made among the
people in recent days, it is frequently said that the
religious leader passed away probably on January 16 or 17,
2007 in the hospital where he was under treatment, the
Iranian authorities plan to make the official announcement
about his death during the Ceremonies of Noah Soup to be
held across the country and meanwhile the Assembly of
Experts completed the consultations to determine the
successor of the Religious Leader.
Now
everybody thinks that the Mullah regime seeks to create the
necessary image which shows people taking the streets to
display their sadness after Khamenei’s death. The fact that
the death of the Religious leader will be announced in the
day of Noah Soup during which we mourn the death of Imam
Hussein, can only indicate the effort to give Khamenei a
“spiritual identity” before the people. Moreover, those who
govern this country with the rules of Shariah know very well
that Iran cannot tolerate the vacuum of power caused by the
death of Ali Khamenei. In case of the death of Khamenei,
it’s obligatory to choose the new religious leader as soon
as possible by establishing rapidly the Shura with 86
members consisting of mujtahed imams.
The
question mark appears just here. Who should be the new
Religious Leader of Iran? What will the meetings of the
Shorae Khobragan (Assembly of Experts) -the supreme Council
who has the authority to choose the Religious Leader-, which
are held to choose the new leader to replace Ali Khamenei,
bring about? Who will be the new Religious Leader?
According
to the information got from the senior authorities who do
not wish to give their names; while it is expected that a
short struggle of power may occur internally in case of the
death of Khamenei, there are some possible alternatives for
the leadership. In this context, there are some assessments
that are frequently voiced in the Iranian political circles:
“It is
likely to establish the Council consisting of three
Religious Leaders”,
“The
strongest possibility among the other ones is the assignment
of Ayatollah Jannati, who is known with his radical views,
as the Religious Leader”,
“Currently, there is an overt rivalry in the country
between Ayatollah Ahmad Jannati, Ayatollah Vaezi Tabasi and
Ayatollah Makarem-Shirazi who is member of the Assembly of
Experts”,
“Ayatollah
Ali Mashkini, Ayatollah Ardabili, Ayatollah Javad Tabrizi,
Ayatollah Montazari being under home detention and other
Ayatollahs have not too much chance”.
The name
of Ayatollah Mahmudi Hashemi Shahroudi, head of the judicial
authority, comes forward as the successor of Khamenei. This
Ayatollah of Iraqi origin, who came to Iran 25 years ago and
got the citizenship of Islamic Republic of Iran, has
advanced rapidly in the state positions and has a positive
image in both conservative and reformist wings. Furthermore,
it is known that his knowledge about religious affairs is
well-built and he is a devout person
There are
reports in the Iranian public indicating that Ayatollah
Mohammad Taghi Mesbah Yazdi, who is known as the teacher of
the President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, will be endorsed to be
assigned as the new Religious Leader by all the means of the
regime and that the President has even contacted personally
with the senior authorities of the Revolutionary Guards
Corps and told them his views in this regard.
